cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microphenomenology and Numerical Relations

The last two decades or so have borne witness to a modest revival of in terest in the possibility that numerical relations are, at bottom, perceived properties or relations of some sort.1 In an earlier era writers as divergent as J. S. Mill and Edmund Husserl pursued just such a possibility, only to be swept out of the mathematical mainstream with a battery of broadsides from Gottlob Frege.2 Despite more recent arguments that numerical under standing is somehow derived from experience, however, no analysis of quan titative perception yet offered seems able to account adequately for the perception of arithmetical equations as simple as 1 + 2 = 3. Without a satisfactory analysis of "equality"?clearly, the pivotal relation in arithmetic?we can expect the possible empirical foundations of mathematics to continue to be generally ignored. For that reason I should like to introduce the use of a method, which I call "microphenomenology," for reconstructing the complex relations of which we are aware when we "see" that, say, 1 pebble and 2 more pebbles make 3. Microphenomenology enables us to analyze the sorts of distinctions that focal attention would have to make in order for us perceptually to ap prehend numbers and their relations. The analysis seems to indicate that numbers are specific magnitudes of certain identity/difference complexes among arithmetical units. The equality we find between 1 + 2 and 3 things thus appears to be an interchangeability of two phenomenal structures resulting from alternative ways of focusing on the differences among the un its. In short, I shall be outlining and defending an hypothesis that bears some structural resemblance to that of J. S. Mill, but which I hope avoids the lat ter? problems through a more thorough analysis of the experience of numbers.
The thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin (trh) gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus: Sequence variation and implications for detection and function

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of bacterial food-related illness associated with the consumption of undercooked seafood. Only a small subset of strains is pathogenic. Most clinical strains encode for the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) and/or the TDH-related hemolysin (TRH). In this work, we amplify and sequence the trh gene from over 80 trh+strains of this bacterium and identify thirteen genetically distinct alleles, most of which have not been deposited in GenBank previously. Sequence data was used to design new primers for more reliable detection of trh by endpoint PCR. We also designed a new quantitative PCR assay to target a more conserved gene that is genetically-linked to trh. This gene, ureR, encodes the transcriptional regulator for the urease gene cluster immediately upstream of trh. We propose that this ureR assay can be a useful screening tool as a surrogate for direct detection of trh that circumvents challenges associated with trh sequence variation.
Combinatorics for Coxeter groups of types B n and D n

In Section 11.5.2 we saw that the groupB n is isomorphic to the set of allsigned permutations. These are permutations $$\displaystyle{w:\{ -n,\ldots,-1,0,1,\ldots,n\} \rightarrow \{-n,\ldots,-1,0,1,\ldots,n\},}$$ such that\(w(-i) = -w(i)\) for alli. Notice that this forcesw(0) = 0 and the elementw is completely determined byw(1), …, w(n). In one-line notation, we writew = w(1)⋯w(n) with bars to indicate negative numbers. For example, ifw is determined by\(w(1) = -3\),w(2) = 4,w(3) = 5,\(w(4) = -1\) andw(5) = 2, we write\(w =\bar{ 3}45\bar{1}2\).
Automatic Test System of LIN Bus Based on LIN Description File

Aimed at many weaknesses in the LIN bus testing system like weak compatibility,absent malfunction definitions,difficulties in designing the test equipment and low degree of automation,a new LIN bus automatic test system was proposed based on the LIN description file.The system hardware design consists of upper PC and PIC18F6520 mircocotroller.The upper test software analyses and transforms the LIN description file and the data configured by users which can incarnate the action of the LIN bus application layer's into the test sets of the system,realizes the automatic test of the vehicle LIN bus ECU and definitions of the malfunction's frames ID.The system can realize automatical test and malfunction's definitions for different LIN bus systems according to different LIN description file and data configured by users,so it was significant for upgrading the automation design's lever of the vehicle LIN bus system.The system has been applied in LIN bus ECU test process of the Great Wall motor's Harvard models,and has got a good results.
A Comparison of the Structure, Synthesis, and Properties of Insensitive Energetic Compounds

The continued interest in improving the safety of munitions towards unintentional insults has led to a significant amount of research in the synthesis of new insensitive energetic compounds. This paper discusses various approaches to the synthesis of insensitive energetic compounds, theoretical modeling and correlations of structural properties that contribute to reducing the sensitivity of energetic compounds, and how synthetic chemists integrate theoretical predictions into the design and synthesis of new insensitive energetic compounds.
Assessment of economic status in trauma registries: A new algorithm for generating population-specific clustering-based models of economic status for time-constrained low-resource settings.

Abstract Objectives Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the world's poor bear a disproportionate share of the global burden of injury. Data regarding disparities in injury are vital to inform injury prevention and trauma systems strengthening interventions targeted towards vulnerable populations, but are limited in LMICs. We aim to facilitate injury disparities research by generating a standardized methodology for assessing economic status in resource-limited country trauma registries where complex metrics such as income, expenditures, and wealth index are infeasible to assess. Methods To address this need, we developed a cluster analysis-based algorithm for generating simple population-specific metrics of economic status using nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) household assets data. For a limited number of variables, g , our algorithm performs weighted k-medoids clustering of the population using all combinations of g asset variables and selects the combination of variables and number of clusters that maximize average silhouette width (ASW). Results In simulated datasets containing both randomly distributed variables and "true" population clusters defined by correlated categorical variables, the algorithm selected the correct variable combination and appropriate cluster numbers unless variable correlation was very weak. When used with 2011 Cameroonian DHS data, our algorithm identified twenty economic clusters with ASW 0.80, indicating well-defined population clusters. Conclusions This economic model for assessing health disparities will be used in the new Cameroonian six-hospital centralized trauma registry. By describing our standardized methodology and algorithm for generating economic clustering models, we aim to facilitate measurement of health disparities in other trauma registries in resource-limited countries.
Enhancing Information Literacy for Preservice Elementary Teachers: A Case Study from the United States.

ABSTRACTThrough this study, a librarian and faculty team aimed to determine the extent to which a one-credit information literacy course deepened preservice teachers' understanding of information literacy. We employed a treatment and control group design; treatment participants received 15 hours of information literacy instruction while control participants received no direct information literacy instruction. Data sources included a questionnaire and think-aloud cognitive tasks. Analysis revealed that the one-credit course was insufficient for deepening preservice teachers' information literacy skills, leading to recommendations to enhance and expand instruction and recommendations for future study. Preparing teachers with effective information literacy skills who are also equipped to instruct youth to navigate the challenges of 21st Century information literacy is an important endeavor that requires collaboration and continuous assessment.
THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG QUESTION OF OXIDATIVE AND ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM STRESSES IN CANCER THERAPY

Cellular responses to oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are among the most evolutionarily conserved pathways within the cell. Tumor cells commonly encounter both ER and oxidative stress due to high levels of metabolism, including increased rates of protein translation. Yet drugs aimed primarily at interference with these stress response pathways comprise only a small portion of currently available anti-neoplastic agents. Moreover, little is known about the interrelating connection between ER stress and oxidative stress caused by these few anticancer drugs. For instance, it is generally accepted that intracellular oxidative stress induced by proteasome inhibitors is a byproduct of ER stress. Here, we report a mechanism underlying the ability of proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (BTZ) to directly induce both oxidative and ER stress in multiple myeloma (MM) cells via transcriptional repression of the gene encoding mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD2). TXNRD2 is critical for maintenance of intracellular redox status and detoxification of reactive oxygen species. Depletion of TXNRD2 to the levels detected in BTZ-treated cells causes oxidative stress, ER stress and death similar to those induced by proteasome inhibitors. Reciprocally, restoration of near-wildtype TXNRD2 levels in MM cells treated with proteasome inhibitors reduces oxidative stress, ER stress and cell death by ~46%, ~35% and ~50%, respectively, compared to cells with depleted TXNRD2 levels. Moreover, cells from three MM cell lines selected for resistance to BTZ demonstrate elevated levels of TXNRD2, indirectly confirming its functional role in BTZ resistance. Accordingly, ectopic expression of TXNRD2 in MM cell xenografts in immunocompromised mice blunts the therapeutic effects of BTZ. Our data identifies TXNRD2 as a potential clinically relevant target, inhibition of which is critical for proteasome inhibitor-dependent cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and ER stress.
Novel FRET-Based Radiosensitization Using Quantum Dot-Photosensitizer Conjugates

A novel radiosensitizer was synthesized by covalently conjugating quantum dots (QDs) to a photosensitizer. We hypothesized that QDs excited by 6-MV X-rays would serve as an energy donor to activate the photosensitizer. Photon emission from QDs was linearly proportional to radiation dose rate. Donor quenching in conjugates indicated that activation of photosensitizer occurred by Forster resonance energy transfer. Radiation treatment of lung carcinoma cells with conjugate increased cell killing by 34% compared to radiation alone. Cell toxicity in non-irradiated controls was negligible. Thus, this conjugate acts via a novel mechanism of radiosensitization that will improve treatment of deeply seated tumors.
Challenges training left-handed surgeons

Abstract Background Being left-handed (LH) is considered a disadvantage in surgical training. We sought to understand the perspectives of LH trainees and surgical educators on the challenges and modifications in training LH surgeons. Methods A survey was distributed to surgeons, surgical residents, and medical students about challenges teaching and learning surgical technique. Results 25 LH surgeons, 65 right-handed (RH) surgeons, and 39 LH trainees completed the survey. Compared to LH surgeons, RH surgeons reported more difficulty (46% vs 16%, p = 0.003) and less comfort teaching LH trainees (28% vs 4%, p = 0.002), and 10 (15%) reported that LH trainees have less technical ability. RH surgeons identified challenges translating technique to LH trainees and physical limitations of an environment optimized for right-handed mechanics. Conclusions The disadvantage LH surgical trainees face is due to barriers in training rather than inherent lesser ability. Nonetheless, minimal modifications are made to overcome these barriers.
Glenohumeral Joint Kinematics following Clavicular Fracture and Repairs

Background The purpose of this biomechanical study was to determine the effect of shortened clavicle malunion on the center of rotation of the glenohumeral (GH) joint, and the capacity of repair to restore baseline kinematics. Methods Six shoulders underwent automated abduction (ABD) and abbreviated throwing motion (ATM) using a 7-DoF automated upper extremity testing system in combination with an infrared motion capture system to measure the center of rotation of the GH joint. ATM was defined as pure lateral abduction and late cocking phase to the end of acceleration. Torsos with intact clavicle underwent testing to establish baseline kinematics. Then, the clavicles were subjected to midshaft fracture followed by kinematics testing. The fractured clavicles underwent repairs first by clavicle length restoration with plate fixation, and then by wiring of fragments with a 2-cm overlap to simulate shortened malunion. Kinematic testing was conducted after each repair technique. Center of rotation of the GH joint was plotted across all axes to outline 3D motion trajectory and area under the curve. Results Throughout ABD, malunion resulted in increased posterior and superior translation compared to baseline. Plate fixation restored posterior and superior translations at lower abduction angles but resulted in excess anterior and inferior translation at overhead angles. Throughout ATM, all conditions were significantly anterior and superior to baseline. Translation with malunion was situated anterior to the fractured and ORIF conditions at lower angles of external rotation. Plate fixation did not restore baseline anteroposterior or superoinferior translation at any angle measured. Conclusions This study illustrates the complex interplay of the clavicle and the GH joint. While abnormal clavicle alignment alters shoulder motion, restoration of clavicle length does not necessarily restore GH kinematics to baseline. Rehabilitation of the injured shoulder must address the osseous injury and the dynamic forces of the shoulder girdle.
Jonathan W. Amy and the Amy Facility for Instrumentation Development

This Perspective describes the unique Jonathan Amy Facility for Chemical Instrumentation in the Department of Chemistry at Purdue University, tracing its history and mode of operation. It also describes aspects of the career of its namesake and some of his insights which have been central to analytical instrumentation development, improvement, and utilization, both at Purdue and nationally.
Echographic Diagnosis of Large Choroidal Melanomas

The use of standardized echography for the diagnosis of choroidal melanomas has been well established. Using this technique several authors have reported very high degrees of accuracy in differentiating choroidal melanomas from other types of tumours (Ossoinig et al. 1975; Hodes and Choromokos. 1977; Fuller et al. 1979). These reports have included tumors ranging from 1.7 mm to 16 mm in thickness. The classical echographic criteria using the standardized A-scan include the presence of 1) a solid lesion (maximal high surface spikes showing no after movement), 2) a regular internal structure, 3) low to medium reflectivity (10 to 60% spike height), and 4) internal vascularity. An additional important criterion using the B-scan is a mushroom or collar button shape of the tumor. (Coleman et al. 1974)
VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS IN PATIENTS MANAGED WITH IBRUTINIB FOR CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY

Ibrutinib is a novel Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor associated with dramatic improvements in outcomes of various B-cell hematologic malignancies and is now standard therapy. However, Ibrutinib is associated with a >4-fold increased risk of incident atrial arrhythmias. Recently, an alarming
Health-e-Eater: Dinnertime Companion Robot and Magic Plate for Improving Eating Habits in Children from Low-Income Families

Obesity causes physical and mental health problems (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression). Currently, 1 in 3 American children are overweight or obese, and the prevalence of this issue is increasing. Disproportionately affected are children from low-income families. As unhealthy eating habits are the primary driver of this epidemic, we designed Health-e-Eater - a system for encouraging children aged 2-5 from low-income families to eat healthy food, leading to better nutritional intake and the development of healthy eating habits. Health-e-Eater is a low-cost system consisting of a magic plate and a robotic companion, which motivates and educates during dinnertime.
Cardiovascular Adaptive Homeostasis in Exercise

Adaptive Homeostasis has been defined as, "The transient expansion or contraction of the homeostatic range in response to exposure to sub-toxic, non-damaging, signaling molecules or events, or the removal or cessation of such molecules or events." (Davies, 2016). I propose that one of the most significant examples of adaptive homeostasis may be the adaptation of the cardiovascular system to exercise training. In particular, endurance type training involves the generation of increased levels of free radicals such as ubisemiquinone, superoxide, nitric oxide, and other (non-radical) reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), in a repetitive manner, typically several times per week. As long as the training intensity and duration are sub-maximal and not exhaustive these reactive species do not cause damage, but rather activate signal transduction pathways to induce mitochondrial biogenesis-the foundation of increased exercise endurance. Particularly important are the NFκB and Nrf2 signal transduction pathways which respond to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species generated during exercise. As with other examples of adaptive homeostasis the effects are transient, lasting only as long as the training is maintained. Unfortunately, the ability to adapt to exercise training declines with age, perhaps as a result of impaired Nrf2 and NFκB signaling, as does adaptive homeostasis capacity in general. Since this is an Hypothesis/Theory Paper and not a review, I have not tried to provide a comprehensive discussion of all the literature relating to exercise adaptation and the cardiovascular system. Rather, I have attempted to develop the Hypothesis or Theory that adaptive homeostasis is the foundation for adaptation of the cardiovascular system to exercise training, largely based on work from my own laboratory, that of close collaborators, and that of key contributors over a period of almost 40 years.
Comparison of three-dimensional multi-segmental foot models used in clinical gait laboratories.

Abstract Background Many skin-mounted three-dimensional multi-segmented foot models are currently in use for gait analysis. Evidence regarding the repeatability of models, including between trial and between assessors, is mixed, and there are no between model comparisons of kinematic results. Research question This study explores differences in kinematics and repeatability between five three-dimensional multi-segmented foot models. The five models include duPont, Heidelberg, Oxford Child, Leardini, and Utah. Methods Hind foot, forefoot, and hallux angles were calculated with each model for ten individuals. Two physical therapists applied markers three times to each individual to assess within and between therapist variability. Standard deviations were used to evaluate marker placement variability. Locally weighted regression smoothing with alpha-adjusted serial T tests analysis was used to assess kinematic similarities. Results All five models had similar variability, however, the Leardini model showed high standard deviations in plantarflexion/dorsiflexion angles. P-value curves for the gait cycle were used to assess kinematic similarities. The duPont and Oxford models had the most similar kinematics. Conclusions All models demonstrated similar marker placement variability. Lower variability was noted in the sagittal and coronal planes compared to rotation in the transverse plane, suggesting a higher minimal detectable change when clinically considering rotation and a need for additional research. Between the five models, the duPont and Oxford shared the most kinematic similarities. While patterns of movement were very similar between all models, offsets were often present and need to be considered when evaluating published data.
Modelling the impact of new patient visits on risk adjusted access at 2 clinics.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect new outpatient clinic visits has on the availability of follow-up visits for established patients when patient visit frequency is risk adjusted. DATA SOURCES Diagnosis codes for patients from 2 Internal Medicine Clinics were extracted through billing data. STUDY DESIGN The HHS-HCC risk adjusted scores for each clinic were determined based upon the average of all clinic practitioners' profiles. These scores were then used to project encounter frequencies for established patients, and for new patients entering the clinic based on risk and time of entry into the clinics. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A distinct mean risk frequency distribution for physicians in each clinic could be defined providing model parameters. Within the model, follow-up visit utilization at the highest risk adjusted visit frequencies would require more follow-up slots than currently available when new patient no-show rates and annual patient loss are included. Patients seen at an intermediate or lower visit risk adjusted frequency could be accommodated when new patient no-show rates and annual patient clinic loss are considered. CONCLUSIONS Value-based care is driven by control of cost while maintaining quality of care. In order to control cost, there has been a drive to increase visit frequency in primary care for those patients at increased risk. Adding new patients to primary care clinics limits the availability of follow-up slots that accrue over time for those at highest risk, thereby limiting disease and, potentially, cost control. If frequency of established care visits can be reduced by improved disease control, closing the practice to new patients, hiring health care extenders, or providing non-face to face care models then quality and cost of care may be improved.
How Can Small and Medium Enterprises Maintain a Balance of Research and Development

The objective of this project is to gain a better understanding of how small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) balance research and development (R&D) activities. We explore modern R&D tools and methodologies through literature research. These tools and methodologies are then aligned with “External Variables and Internal Conditions” as identified by Keizer et al. and a framework is created [1]. This framework is applied to a case study. The case study examines HECO, the Hawaiian Electric company, representing a small enterprise. The results of this analysis show that the proposed framework for understanding SME R&D programs is viable.
Shock wave propagation in elastic nonconductors with continuous external radiation

In this paper we study the influence of a continuous external radiation field on the growth and decay of one-dimensional shock waves in elastic nonconductors. The general shock amplitude equation is derived and applied to the problem of a wave entering an unstrained region which is either radiantly heated or radiantly cooled.
Studies on methanol-oxidizing bacteria. I. Isolation and growth studies.

Three methanol-oxidizing bacteria were isolated by enrichment culture technique from soil. Two of them werePseudomonas spp. The third one was obligate methylotroph. Their growth characteristics have been described. Cell-suspension experiments withPseudomonas RJ1 suggest that methanol-, formaldehyde-, and formate-oxidizing enzymes were present. Formate-oxidizing enzyme was detected only fromPseudomonas RJ1. It had a pH optimum of 7.0 and required nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) for activity. Cyanide at 1 × 10−5 m concentration inhibited the enzyme activity completely.
Multiphoton Microscopy of Collagen Structure in Ex Vivo Human Skin Following Electrochemical Therapy

Objectives Injury to healthy dermis and the dermoepidermal junction initiates a robust healing process consisting of fibrous tissue overgrowth, collagen deposition, and scar formation. The conventional management of scars and other skin injuries has largely relied upon surgical soft tissue transfer to resurface and/or replace damaged and dysmorphic tissue with new skin. However, these strategies are invasive, expensive, and may further exacerbate integumentary injury. In this study, we examine the creation of in situ redox generated pH changes in fresh human skin. We believe this process of "electrochemical therapy" (ECT) leads to changes in collagen matrix structure. Our objective is to map local tissue pH landscapes and image changes in collagen structure of non-injured skin following ECT. Study design Ex vivo human study involving ECT of human skin. Methods Remnant fresh ex vivo human facial skin from facelift operations was enveloped in saline-soaked gauze for a maximum of 2 hours prior to ECT and imaging. ECT was performed by inserting platinum-plated needle electrodes connected to a DC power supply. Voltage (4, 5, or 6 V) and time (3, 4, or 5 minutes) were varied systematically. High frequency ultrasound (25 MHz) was performed immediately after ECT on each sample. Treated samples were also imaged using multiphoton microscopy (MPM) with second harmonic generation (SHG) to specifically visualize collagen fibers in the dermis. The pH landscapes were mapped using indicator dyes in bisected specimens and the MPM images were compared with histologic findings. Results Above 4 V and 3 minutes, a profound reduction in dermal collagen SHG signal was observed at the anode. Although there was less blunting of SHG signal seen at the cathode, a decrease in the fluorescence of the dermoepidermal junction was observed. The pH application suggests ECT spatial selectivity and a direct relationship between voltage and application time. Ultrasound demonstrated gas formation between the anode and cathode, which is consistent with ECT's mechanism of action. Importantly, these electrochemical changes occurred without disrupting dermal and epidermal histologic architecture. Conclusion ECT alters tissue pH leading to dermal collagen structural change. These results offer additional insight into the translational potential of ECT to locally remodel the soft-tissue matrix. Future directions aim to expand into a skin injury model to determine if similar collagen effects are observed in vivo. ECT is incredibly inexpensive (~$5) and may be a means to treat soft tissue injuries using simple needle-based devices and DC battery power supplies. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimizing Hybrid Plate Fixation with a Locked, Oblique End Screw in Osteoporotic Fractures.

Background The end screw in a fracture plate creates the greatest resistance to bending. For osteoporotic fractures treated with plates, there is some question as to the optimal screw insertion technique for the screw farthest from the fracture. A locked, oblique end screw was previously shown to increase resistance to periprosthetic fracture. It is unknown, however, how this end screw configuration would resist pullout when subjected to bending. Methods Narrow, low contact 3.5 mm locking compression plates with 6 and 12 holes were anchored to simulated bone material with material properties representing osteoporotic bone. Four configurations were evaluated for the end screw: perpendicular and angulated 30 degrees away from the fracture for both non-locked and locked screws (n=6 per group). The constructs were subjected to 3 point bending until the peak load and finally total construct failure was achieved. Results Peak force, stiffness, energy to peak load, and the failure mode of each construct were determined. All four 12-hole construct groups failed by gross plastic bending deformation of the plate at the fulcrum past a previously established clinically relevant limit for failure (15°). All 12-hole plate constructs failed at statistically higher loads and energy than any of the 6-hole plate constructs, with the exception of the 6-hole locked, oblique construct. Conclusion The locked, oblique end screw provides equivalent pull out strength for 3.5 mm low contact plates regardless of plate length. Combined with its resistance to periprosthetic fracture, this end screw configuration appears to be the best option for the construct integrity of hybrid plating for osteoporotic fractures. Clinical relevance Osteoporotic fractures are challenging to treat. The current study and the existing literature show that resistance to both bending loads and refracture at the end of a plate are minimized with a locked screw angled away from the fracture.
Intelligent Power Management for the Hybrid Energy Storage of the Ship Power System

Due to the increased adoption of the onboard electric loads, medium voltage direct current system (MVDC), which contains energy storage devices, is attracting a lot of interest in ship power system studies. To ensure proper operation of such a system, suitable management system is required to maintain the voltage of the MVDC bus and confirm load-generation balance. Consequently, this paper proposes a decentralized intelligent power management algorithm to control the hybrid storage devices on modern ship power systems, considering pulsed loads. The management algorithm differentiates between the transient and steady-state needs and take the proper decision of insertion/removal of the appropriate storage device and reference values. The algorithm is validated through MATLAB and the results showed that the proposed management strategy was able to maintain the voltage of the MVDC bus and ensure proper usage of the different energy storage devices.
112-Gb/s PAM4 ADC-Based SERDES Receiver With Resonant AFE for Long-Reach Channels

A 112-Gb/s PAM4 analog-to-digital converter (ADC)-based serializer/de-serializer transceiver (SERDES) receiver is implemented on Intel’s 10-nm FinFET process. The receiver consists of a low-noise resonant analog front end (AFE) which provides equalization and gain at 28 GHz, a 64-way time-interleaved ADC, digital equalization consisting of a 16-tap feed-forward equalizer (FFE), and a 1-tap decision-feedback equalizer (DFE), as well as a clock and data recovery (CDR) loop utilizing a 7-GHz digitally controlled oscillator (DCO). Long-reach, −35 dB Nyquist channels are supported by a pre-forward error correction (FEC) bit error rate (BER) of 1e-6, thus making it compatible with existing and projected IEEE Ethernet specifications.
Multifaceted HIV-1 Vif interactions with human E3 ubiquitin ligase and APOBEC3s

APOBEC3 (A3) proteins are a family of host antiviral restriction factors that potently inhibit various retroviral infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1. To overcome this restriction, HIV-1 virion infectivity factor (Vif) recruits the cellular cofactor CBFβ to assist in targeting A3 proteins to a host E3 ligase complex for polyubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Intervention of the Vif-A3 interactions could be a promising therapeutic strategy to facilitate A3-mediated suppression of HIV-1 in patients. In this structural snapshot, we review the structural features of the recently determined structure of human A3F in complex with HIV-1 Vif and its cofactor CBFβ, discuss insights into the molecular principles of Vif-A3 interplay during the arms race between the virus and host, and highlight the therapeutic implications.
The Pros and Cons of Left Bundle Branch Pacing: A Single Center Experience.

Background: Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) has recently emerged as a promising alternative modality for conduction system pacing. However, limited real-world data exists on the advantages and com...
Navigation for Aviation

This chapter examines aviation navigation signals and technologies, focusing on those that can have meaningful impact on development of the uture airspace. Radio navigation, particularly from terrestrial sources, has long been the primary means of instrument‐based navigation due to its all‐weather performance. The chapter focuses on the aviation navigation technologies that will be part of the airspace in the next 50 years. It describes essential surveillance technologies and how these technologies can be used for navigation. Navigation based on environmental sensing has been and will be important for aviation navigation. While inertial displacement, barometric pressure, magnetic field, and vision already have a long history in aircraft navigation, the growth of unmanned aerial vehicle will increase their importance even more to cover the deficiencies and gaps that arise when using satellite and terrestrial radio signals.
Aging of the sensory systems: hearing and vision disorders

Abstract Our senses, including hearing and vision, play critical roles for survival. For example, the auditory system, which detects sound, and the visual system, which detects visible light, play essential roles in locating food, avoiding predators, and/or finding a mate in a variety of species. Aging can affect all of these sensory systems, but the auditory and visual systems are thought to be more vulnerable. The auditory and visual systems contain specialized sensory receptors: hair cells that detect sound waves in the cochlea and photoreceptor cells that detect visible light in the eyes. Age-related changes in the structures and functions of these sensory receptors and the cochlear and retinal ganglion neurons result in hearing and visual impairments, including age-related hearing loss, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. A growing body of evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the age-related structural or functional changes to these sensory receptors, leading to hearing or vision impairments. This chapter reviews the current literature on genetic and molecular aspects of the aging of the auditory and visual systems, and examines the link between aging, mitochondrial dysfunction, and hearing and vision in rodents and humans.
Whole Body PMHS Response in Injurious Experimental Accelerative Loading Events

Previous studies involving whole-body post-mortem human surrogates (PHMS) have generated biomechanical response specifications for physically simulated accelerative loading intended to reproduce seat and floor velocity histories occurring in under-body blast (UBB) events (e.g.,. References 10, 11, 21 These previous studies employed loading conditions that only rarely produced injuries to the foot/ankle and pelvis, which are body regions of interest for injury assessment in staged UBB testing using anthropomorphic test devices. To investigate more injurious whole-body conditions, three series of tests were conducted with PMHS that were equipped with military personal protective equipment and seated in an upright posture. These tests used higher velocity and shorter duration floor and seat inputs than were previously used with the goal of producing pelvis and foot/ankle fractures. A total of nine PMHS that were approximately midsize in stature and mass were equally allocated across three loading conditions, including a 15.5 m/s, 2.5 ms time-to-peak (TTP) floor velocity pulse with a 10 m/s, 7.5 ms TTP seat pulse; a 13 m/s, 2.5 ms TTP floor pulse with a 9.0 m/s, 5 ms TTP seat pulse; and a 10 m/s, 2.5 ms TTP floor pulse with a 6.5 m/s, 7.5 ms TTP seat pulse. In the first two conditions, the seat was padded with a ~ 120-mm-thick foam cushion to elongate the pulse experienced by the PMHS. Of the nine PMHS tests, five resulted in pelvic ring fractures, five resulted in a total of eight foot/ankle fractures (i.e., two unilateral and three bilateral fractures), and one produced a femur fracture. Test results were used to develop corridors describing the variability in kinematics and in forces applied to the feet, forces applied to the pelvis and buttocks in rigid seat tests, and in forces applied to the seat foam in padded seat tests. These corridors and the body-region specific injury/no-injury response data can be used to assess the performance and predictive capability of anthropomorphic test devices and computational models used as human surrogates in simulated UBB testing.
Rates of aziridinium alkylation of polynucleotides and ribonucleic acids.

The exceptionally high rate of alkylation of guanine units in double helix DNA (k g /kw1 = 150,000) (P rice , C. C., G aucher , G. M., K oneru , P., S hibakawa , R., S owa , J. R., and Y amaguchi , M. (1968) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 166, 327) has now been observed for tRNA (k g /kw = 97,000), rRNA (k g /kw = 93,000), and a 1:1 mixture of polyguanylic and polycytidylic acid (k g /kw = 80,000). The unreactivity of adenine units in double helix DNA (1) has also been found in a 1:1 mixture of polyadenylic and polyuridylic acids. Poly(A), poly(C), and poly(G) all show markedly greater base reactivity than their monomers, ascribed partly to enhanced reactivity from stacking of the bases in the polymers. Poly(G), poly(C), tRNA, and rRNA showed sharp rate changes after 5 to 10% reaction, interpreted as due to “denaturation” or degradation resulting from alkylation of the bases and/or the phosphate groups. Very high initial reactivities (kp/kw ≃ 106) for the phosphate groups, in poly(A), (A)n·(U)n, tRNA, and rRNA, are ascribed to electrostatic effects, neutralized as alkylation proceeds.
Design in an undergraduate controls laboratory

For the last seven years, the electrical engineering department has centered the undergraduate controls curriculum around the design of a controller that causes a second order system to meet a design specification. The students first characterize the performance of a second order system (a DC servomotor). Then they decide on the design specification that the system must meet. Next the students design and implement an analog controller in hardware. The semester finishes with the students repeating the design using a digital controller. This paper describes the experiences with this approach to a hardware oriented undergraduate controls laboratory and the problems that were encountered and solved.
ISS potable water sampling and chemical analysis : Expeditions 6 & 7

Ever since the first crew arrived at the International Space Station (ISS), archival potable water samples have been collected and returned to the ground for detailed chemical analysis in order to verify that the water supplies onboard are suitable for crew consumption. The Columbia tragedy, unfortunately, has had a dramatic impact on continued ISS operations. A major portion of the ISS water supply had previously consisted of Shuttle-transferred water. The other two remaining sources of potable water, i.e., reclaimed humidity condensate and Russian-launched ground water, are together insufficient to maintain 3-person crews. The Expedition 7 crew launched in April of 2003 was, therefore, reduced from three to two persons. Without the Shuttle, resupply of ISS crews and supplies is dependent entirely on Russian launch vehicles (Soyuz and Progress) with severely limited up and down mass. As a result, the chemical archival sample collection frequency has been temporarily reduced from monthly to quarterly, with a sample volume of only 250 instead of 750 milliliters. This smaller sample volume has necessitated reductions in the number of analyses that can be performed, including turbidity, total dissolved solids, dissolved silver, total iodine, pH, and/or conductivity. This paper reports the analytical results for archival samples of reclaimed condensate and ground-supplied potable water collected during Expeditions 6 and 7 and compares them to ISS water quality standards.
Construction of a lethal mutation in the synthesis of the major acidic phospholipids of Escherichia coli

In order to determine if the major acidic phospholipids of Escherichia coli are essential to the organism, we constructed a null allele (pgsA30) of the pgsA gene thus rendering the organism incapable of synthesizing phosphatidylglycerol or cardiolipin. In strains carrying the pgsA30 allele cell viability, synthesis of gene product and the ability to synthesize the two major acidic phospholipids were dependent on the presence of a functional copy of the pgsA gene carried on a plasmid which was temperature-sensitive for replication. Growth ceased at the temperature restrictive for plasmid replication when the acidic phospholipid content dropped to about 10% of wild type levels which is slightly higher than the level reported in cells carrying the pgsA3 allele in a genetic background derived from strain SD12; the latter cells, which are capable of synthesizing low levels of acidic phospholipids, were previously shown to have no abnormal growth phenotype (Miyazaki, C., Kuroda, M., Ohta, A., and Shibuya, I. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 82, 7530-7534). The pgsA30 allele, unlike the pgsA3 allele, could not support growth in strain SD12. Neither allele could support growth in two other independently derived strains of E. coli. Therefore, there is a direct dependence of cell viability on a functional pgsA gene product. Strain SD12 appears to contain a suppressor which allows cells with a reduced capability to synthesize acidic phospholipid (pgsA3 allele) to grow, but cannot support growth in cells with a complete lack of synthetic capability (pgsA30 allele).
A Review of “Carl Sauer on Culture and Landscape: Readings and Commentaries”: William M. Denevan and Kent Mathewson, eds. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2009. xxii and 458 pp., appendix, bibliography, and index. $40.00 paperback (ISBN 978-0-8071-3394-1)

This is the first edited collection of Carl Sauer's works to be published in nearly thirty years. The field of cultural geography has undergone many developments and debates in the span of time sin...
Efficient synchronization: let them eat QOLB

Efficient synchronization primitives are essential for achieving high performance in fine-grain, shared-memory parallel programs. One function of synchronization primitives is to enable exclusive access to shared data and critical sections of code. This paper makes three contributions. (1) We enumerate the five sources of overhead that locking synchronization primitives can incur. (2) We describe four mechanisms (local spinning, queue-based locking, collocation, and synchronized prefetch) that reduce these synchronization overheads. (3) With detailed simulations, we show the extent to which these four mechanisms can improve the performance of shared-memory programs. We evaluate the space of these mechanisms using seventeen synchronization constructs, which are formed from six base typed of locks (TEST&SET, TEST&TEST&SET, MCS, LH, M, and QOLB). We show that large performance gains (speedups of more than 1.5 for three of five benchmarks) can be achieved if at least three optimizing mechanisms are used simultaneously. We find that QOLB, which incorporates all four mechanisms, outperforms all other primitives (including reactive synchronization) in all cases. Finally, we demonstrate the superior performance of a low-cost implementation of QOLB, which runs on an unmodified cluster of commodity workstations.
An extension of the Bourne typology of reference group influence on product-related decisions

The Bourne (1957) typology of reference group influence on product ownership and brand decisions has received broad exposure and generated recent research on aspects of the typology's foundations. Although updates have recently been offered to the proposed product placements forwarded by Bourne, the typology itself is believed to be of limited present use without incorporating a third decision to the framework—the type or style of product. The merit of adding this third dimension was assessed using two samples of undergraduate students and a set of thirty student-generated product categories. Results of student perceptions provided general support for the study's basic premise. Implications and research directions are provided.
"Candidatus Ovobacter propellens": a large conspicuous prokaryote with an unusual motility behaviour.

A new type of bacterium “Candidatus Ovobacter propellens” is described. It is a large ovoid species with a number of unusual features including special intracellular membrane systems and a huge flagellar tuft consisting of about 400 flagella. “Ovobacter” lives in oxygen gradients in the surface layer of sulphidic marine sediments at an O2-tension of about 0.5% atmospheric saturation. It swims continuously and very fast (up to 1 mm s−1). Its mode of swimming and its chemosensory behaviour towards O2 are described in detail.
Beyond creativity: ADHD drug therapy as a moral damper on a child's future success.

*The views represented in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the American Medical Association.
Control of genital herpes recurrences using progressive muscle relaxation

The efficacy of Progressive Music Relaxation Training in controlling severe, recurrent genital herpes was investigated using a multiple baseline across subjects design. After a minimum of three months of daily baseline recordings of the presence of a herpes sore, subjects were individually trained in standard progressive muscle relaxation and were instructed to use the skill whenever they felt stressed. Subjects kept data for a minimum of three months after training. T-tests conducted on individual data revealed that five of the eight subjects evidenced a significant decrease in recurrence frequency. these findings are congruent with previous uncontrolled research on the effectiveness of stress reduction strategies in controlling herpes outbreaks.
Molecular crystals and the polar theories of the continua Experimental values of material coefficients for KNO3

Abstract The connection between the lattice dynamics of molecular crystals and the theories of polar continua is indicated. In particular: the concepts in microrotation theories with and without stretching are interpreted in view of molecular crystals and the method to calculate the material coefficients for micropolar theory of the continua from optical (Raman or infrared) experiments is indicated. Numerical values are determined for KNO 3 crystal whose rotational and ionic optical mode frequencies have been measured by Raman scattering.
Location, Location, Location…Identifying Hot spots of International Conflict

This article introduces new variables summarizing the geographic location of Militarized Interstate Disputes (MIDs) and “hot spots” of these locations for the years 1816 to 2001. Three exercises are detailed: (1) the specification and collection of geographic location data for each MID onset; (2) the generation of static map representations of these data; and (3) the application of spatial cluster analysis techniques to examine their geographic distribution. Initially, I address the protocol followed while carrying out the first two of these steps - offering thoughts on the coding procedures and examples of the mapped representations of the data. I then detail the techniques used to conduct spatial cluster analysis. The results of these analyses confirm the apparent evidence of the mapped presentations of the data, offering evidence in support of the a priori expectation that dispute onsets are clustered in space and time; revealing apparent “hot spots” of conflict across most regions of the world. I conclude with a discussion of potential applications of this new MID location dataset.