cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Small, Smaller, Smallest: Minimal Structural Requirements for a Fully Functional Box C/D Modification Guide RNA

Site-specific 2'-O-ribose methylation is an abundant post-transcriptional modification mediated by small non-coding nuclear RNAs known as box C/D modification guide RNAs. The minimal structural requirements for these guide RNAs to function in higher eukaryotes are still unclear. To address this question, we generated a series of mutant variants of Drosophila box C/D scaRNA:MeU2-C28 and tested their modification guide activities in the Xenopus oocyte system. Our data suggest that box C/D guide RNA function requires either a terminal or an internal consensus kink-turn structure. We identified the minimal functional box C/D guide RNA. It consists of a single-domain molecule with (i) a terminal stem with a consensus kink-turn domain, (ii) one box C and box D connected by a 14-nucleotide antisense element and (iii) a one-nucleotide spacer between the box C and the antisense element. In this single domain RNA, the sequence of the spacer is more important than its length. We suggest that the secondary structure of box C/D RNAs, essential for guide RNA function, is more complex than generally supposed. At the same time, the expression of functional extremely short single-domain box C/D RNAs is possible in higher eukaryotes.
The effect of nostalgia on self-continuity, pride, and intention to visit a sport team's hometown.

The primary purpose of the current study was to develop a theoretical model regarding nostalgia, self-continuity, pride, and the intention to visit a sport team's hometown and examine the moderatin...
Antiphospholipid syndrome and the relationship between laboratory assay positivity and prevalence of non‐bacterial thrombotic endocarditis: A retrospective cohort study

Background Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a potential complication of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) manifesting as noninfectious lesions on one or more cardiac valves. There are limited tools to inform clinicians regarding which APS patients would benefit most from echocardiographic screening for this complication. Objectives We tested the hypothesis that the risk of both prevalent and incident NBTE is directly related to the number of positive laboratory assays for APS. Patients/methods In this single-center, retrospective, cohort study design, consecutive patients with confirmed APS seen at Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN (1/1/1993-6/26/2016), were identified by searching a centralized electronic database. Demographic data, clinical presentation, echocardiographic features, laboratory findings, and survival data were scrutinized. Results During the study period, 611 patients met the diagnostic criteria for APS and 386 (63%) underwent echocardiography. Of these, 58 (15%) were found to have NBTE. NBTE was more common in those with double (19.4%) and triple-positive laboratory criteria (27.0%) compared with single-positive disease (5.7%, P 1 positive laboratory assay (P 1 positive laboratory assay (relative risk 20.1; 95% confidence interval 1.3-316.6; P Conclusion Antiphospholipid syndrome carries a high prevalence of NBTE (15%). This prevalence is particularly high for patients with either double- or triple-positive laboratory criteria.
Membranes as the third genetic code

Biological membranes and their compositions influence cellular function, age and disease states of organisms. They achieve this by effecting the outcome of bound enzymes/proteins and carbohydrate moieties. While the membrane-bound carbohydrates give rise to antigenicity, membranes impact the eventual outcome of protein structures that would function even outside their enclosure. This is achieved by membrane modulation of translational and post-translational protein folding. Thus, the eventual 3D structures and functions of proteins might not be solely dependent on their primary amino acid sequences and surrounding environments. The 3D protein structures would also depend on enclosing membrane properties such as fluidity, other intrinsic and extrinsic proteins and carbohydrate functionalities. Also, membranes moderate DNA activities with consequences on gene activation-inactivation mechanisms. Consequently, membranes are almost indispensable to the functioning of other cell compositions and serve to modulate these other components. Besides, membrane lipid compositions are also moderated by nutrition and diets and the converse is true. Thus, it could be argued that membranes are the third genetic codes. Suggestively, membranes are at the center of the interplay between nature and nurture in health and disease states.
Ankle Fractures: The Current State of Online Patient Information.

Background. We assessed the quality, accuracy, and readability of websites for ankle fractures. Methods. Ankle Fracture, Broken Ankle, and Fibular Fracture were entered into 3 search engines. The f...
A Physics-Based Signal Processing Approach for Noninvasive Ultrasonic Characterization of Multiphase Oil–Water–Gas Flows in a Pipe

A signal processing technique is presented for determining the composition of multiphase oil–water–gas flow in a pipe using noninvasive ultrasonic speed of sound measurements from a transmitter–receiver pair bonded to diametrically opposite sides of a pipe. A linear chirp excitation is used to send broadband ultrasonic energy that propagates in two paths from transmitter to receiver such as: 1) a wave through the pipe wall and then the multiphase mixture and 2) ultrasonic guided waves along the pipe wall in the circumferential direction. As the ultrasonic attenuation of the multiphase mixture increases, the amplitude of the signal through the fluid mixture decreases relative to that of circumferential guided waves, making it difficult to determine the time of arrival of the fluid-path signal and, hence, the speed of sound in the mixture. The proposed signal processing technique overcomes this challenge by using: 1) a guided wave subtraction approach to suppress the strength of guided wave signals relative to the fluid-path signal and 2) a Gaussian reconstruction approach for synthetic enhancement of the fluid-path signal by output signal reconstruction at frequencies corresponding to peak transmission of ultrasonic energy. The efficacy of the technique is demonstrated using experiments carried out in a field-scale flow loop with varying compositions of oil–water–gas mixtures. It is shown that the proposed approach can enhance the signal detectability by approximately 20 dB in comparison with the traditional approach that does not utilize guided wave subtraction and also improves the gas tolerance of composition measurements up to 20% in gas volume fraction.
Temperature overshoot as the cause of physical changes in resistive switching devices during electro-formation

Resistive switching devices based on transition metal oxides require formation of a conductive filament in order for the device to be able to switch. Such filaments have been proposed to form by the reduction of oxide due to the application of the electric field, but this report seeks to rebut that interpretation. Frequently reported physical changes during electro-formation include delamination of electrodes, crystallization of functional oxide, intermixing of electrode and oxide materials, and extensive loss of oxygen presumably to the ambient. Here, we show that most of these effects are not inherent to the formation and switching processes and instead are due to an experimental artifact: the discharge of parasitic capacitances in the forming circuit. Discharge of typical BNC cables can raise the temperature of the filament to between 2000 and 5000 K resulting in extensive physical changes. Discharge and associated effects mentioned above can be eliminated using an on-chip load element without affecting the ability to switch.
A Dynamical Method for Measuring Masses of Stars with Transiting Planets

As a planet transits the face of a star, it accelerates along the line-of-sight. The changing delay in the propagation of photons produces an apparent deceleration of the planet across the sky throughout the transit. This persistent transverse deceleration breaks the time-reversal symmetry in the transit lightcurve of a spherical planet in a circular orbit around a perfectly symmetric star. For `hot Jupiter' systems, ingress advances at a higher rate than egress by a fraction of 10^{-4}-10^{-3}. Forthcoming space telescopes such as Kepler or COROT will reach the sensitivity required to detect this asymmetry. The scaling of the fractional asymmetry with stellar mass M and planetary orbital radius R as M/R^2 is different from the scaling of the orbital period as (M/R^3)^{-1/2}. Therefore, this effect constitutes a new method for a purely dynamical determination of the mass of the star, which is currently inferred indirectly with theoretical uncertainties based on spectral modeling. Radial velocity data for the reflex motion of the star can then be used to determine the planet's mass. Although orbital eccentricity could introduce a larger asymmetry than the light propagation delay, the eccentricity is expected to decay by tidal dissipation to negligible values for a close-in planet with no perturbing third body. Future detection of the eclipse of a planet's emission by its star could be used to measure the light propagation delay across the orbital diameter, 46.7(R/7x10^{11}cm) seconds, and also determine the stellar mass from the orbital period.
Calibration and data collection protocols for reliable lattice parameter values in electron pair distribution function studies

Different protocols for calibrating electron pair distribution function (ePDF) measurements are explored and described for quantitative studies on nanomaterials. It is found that the most accurate approach to determine the camera length is to use a standard calibration sample of Au nanoparticles from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Different protocols for data collection are also explored, as are possible operational errors, to find the best approaches for accurate data collection for quantitative ePDF studies.
Arid Ecosystem Vegetation Canopy-Gap Dichotomy: Influence on Soil Microbial Composition and Nutrient Cycling Functional Potential

Increasing temperatures and drought in desert ecosystems are predicted to cause decreased vegetation density combined with barren ground expansion. It remains unclear how nutrient availability, microbial diversity, and the associated functional capacity vary between vegetated-canopy and gap soils. The specific aim of this study was to characterize canopy vs gap microsite effect on soil microbial diversity, the capacity of gap soils to serve as a canopy-soil microbial reservoir, nitrogen (N)-mineralization genetic potential (ureC gene abundance) and urease enzyme activity, and microbial-nutrient pool associations in four arid-hyperarid geolocations of the western Sonoran Desert, Arizona (USA). Microsite combined with geolocation explained 57% and 45.8% of the observed variation in bacterial/archaeal and fungal community composition, respectively. A core microbiome of amplicon sequence variants was shared between the canopy and gap soil communities; however, canopy-soils included abundant taxa that were not present in associated gap communities, thereby suggesting that these taxa cannot be sourced from the associated gap soils. Linear mixed-effects models showed that canopy-soils have significantly higher microbial richness, nutrient content, and organic N-mineralization genetic and functional capacity. Furthermore, ureC gene abundance was detected in all samples suggesting that ureC is a relevant indicator of N-mineralization in deserts. Additionally, novel phylogenetic associations were observed for ureC with the majority belonging to Actinobacteria and uncharacterized bacteria. Thus, key N-mineralization functional capacity is associated with a dominant desert phylum. Overall, these results suggest that lower microbial diversity and functional capacity in gap soils may impact ecosystem sustainability as aridity drives open-space expansion in deserts.
Grafted Nickel-Promoter Catalysts for Dry Reforming of Methane Identified through High-Throughput Experimentation

Abstract High-throughput synthesis of a series of monometallic and bimetallic catalysts (45 bimetallic and 50 monometallic samples) consisting of nickel and one of nine different metal promoters (B, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Sn, V and Zn) supported on one of five different metal oxides (alumina, ceria, magnesia, silica and titania) is carried out via organometallic grafting using a robotic platform. The catalysts are evaluated for their activity and selectivity for the dry reforming of methane at a feed ratio of CH4:CO2 of 1 at 650–800 °C in a parallel flow reactor system. The type of oxide support prevails over the type of additive for both catalyst activity and stability. On Al2O3 and MgO, Fe was found to be the best promoter; on SiO2, Cu is the best promoter at 700 °C and higher, while on TiO2, Mn is found to enhance the conversion at 800 °C. On CeO2, all additives except Fe have beneficial effects. Twenty-five catalysts show > 90% methane conversion with ten catalysts showing > 95% conversion at 800 °C with the H2:CO ratios ranging from 0.8 to 1.2. Amongst the ten highest performers, NiFe/Al2O3 and NiFe/MgO are more active than Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/MgO, respectively and were stable over a period of 25 h at 800 °C. Characterization on the as-prepared samples reveals highly dispersed phase, while after reduction in H2, highly dispersed and reduced nickel particles up to 10 nm are formed. The particles do not increase in size under dry reforming reaction conditions at 800 °C. An increased hydrogen consumption observed during H2-TPR of the nickel particles is positively correlated with methane conversion for Al2O3-based catalysts. The resistance to deactivation by coking and variation in coke structure are investigated by spectroscopic and microscopic methods to identify the relationship between metal promoters, alloy formation, and type of surface carbon deposits. Carbon whiskers were observed on the ten selected spent samples and are preferentially deposited on Ni rather than on the promoters. Carbon nanotube formation and metal particle removal from support were not observed to cause deactivation while amorphous carbon formation was clearly linked to catalyst deactivation, as amorphous carbon could encapsulate Ni, either on the support or at the end of the carbon nanotube. The organometallic grafting technique is an efficient and suitable technique for synthesizing highly dispersed and homogeneous phases which lead to high conversion and high durability for dry reforming of methane.
Toward Fail Safety for Security Decisions

I was thinking about what I wanted to write about for my first editorial in IEEE Security & Privacy, when I came across this statement in the 2019 Application Security Risk Report by Micro Focus1 (free, but it requires registration): “Because people are prone to error, manual security tasks that can otherwise be automated are at risk of being done incorrectly.” While this is not a surprising statement in and of itself, it reminded me of the many ad hoc decisions being made by people in various roles in computing systems—from programmers to administrators to end users—that we require to be correct for a system to achieve security goals.
The purification and properties of beef liver mitochondrial monoamine oxidase.

Publisher Summary Despite many difficulties, some progress in beef liver mitochondrial monoamine oxidase purification has occurred in recent years. This chapter discusses some experiments in this regard. In the experiments, the enzyme was assayed by the spectrophotometric method using benzylamine as substrate. All enzyme purification steps were conducted at 4 ° C. Enzyme preparations when treated with ammonium sulfate were centrifuged at 12,000 X g for 20 minutes in the Servall centrifuge. Triton X-100, although very effective in disrupting mitochondria, can denature the enzyme when used at high concentrations and if left in contact with the enzyme in solution for more than a day. The homogeneity of purified enzyme is based on the following criteria: (1) the purified enzyme is homogeneous when analyzed by starch block electrophoresis, (2) the purified enzyme runs as a single chromatographic component on DEAE-cellulose or hydroxylapatite, (3) rechromatography on Sephadex G-200 shows one component, (4) analysis for the NH,-terminal amino acid has disclosed one main component, and (5) analysis of the purified enzyme by means of free boundary electrophoresis at pH 7.4 has showed the presence of one symmetrical component.
Adaptive switching linear predictor for lossless image compression

Linear prediction has been extensively researched and a significant number of techniques have been proposed to enhance its effectiveness, among them switching linear predictors. In this paper, we propose a general framework for designing a family of adaptive switching linear predictors. In addition, we will utilize the proposed framework to construct a concrete implementation based on set partitions and relational operators.
Comparison between Process Model based Controllers

Process model based control (PMBC) refers to methods that use a nonlinear process model directly--without linearization--for process control. Nonlinear IMC and GCC have been compared on an idealized SISO CSTR. Both methods gave nearly the same performance throughout a wide range of reactor nonlinearity. A SISO heat exchanger was used to further study GMC. The CSTR was an open loop unstable, lumped parameter process without deadtime and with a large sample time to process time constant ratio. By contrast, the heat exchanger was an open loop stable, distributed parameter process with transport delay and a small sample to process time constant ratio. In spite of these differences, GMC gave robust control over a wide range of process nonlinearity while remaining relatively insensitive to process-model mismatch. Optimally tuned GMC parameters, performed equally well for both linear and nonlinear process extremes. By contrast, nonlinear IMC filter parameters must change with process nonlinearity. Additionally, it is illustrated that GMC can yield excellent results even with a steady state process model.
Abstract 2669: Targeting the tumor vasculature with antibody drug conjugates

Clinical use of vascular targeting antibody drug conjugates (VT-ADCs) has not yet been explored. Herein, we preclinically demonstrate utility, mechanisms and advantages of VT-ADCs as targeted cancer therapeutics. A monoclonal human IgG 1 antibody selective for murine VEGFR2 (B3) is non-VEGF-A neutralizing and traffics to the lysosome. B3 was conjugated to a proprietary auristatin microtubule inhibitor with a non-cleavable maleimidocaproyl linker, resulting in the proof-of-concept VT-ADC, B3-mcMTI. In vitro, free-payload and anti-VEGFR2-mcMTI selectively inhibit proliferating endothelial cells (ECs) with pM and low nM IC 50 s - suggesting that even with a broadly expressed, low-level target, a VT-ADC should be potent and tumor specific. To test this in vivo, we treated three cell line xenografts (CLX, HT29, Ls174T, A498) and a colorectal carcinoma patient derived xenograft (CRC PDX) with B3-mcMTI at 3 mg/kg q4d, resulting in tumor stasis in four models. In the HT29 colon carcinoma CLX and the CRC PDX model, B3-mcMTI was superior to VEGF-neutralizing antibody G6-31 (anti-VEGF mAb). In standard-of-care (SOC) chemotherapy (irinotecan and 5-FU) combination studies in HT29, B3-mcMTI had improved anti-tumor activity over SOC alone, and, moreover, was as effective in inhibiting tumor growth as a single agent ADC as anti-VEGF mAb combined with SOC. In the 4T1 orthotopic anti-VEGF resistant breast carcinoma setting, B3-mcMTI outperformed anti-VEGF mAb, and when combined with SOC (paclitaxel) demonstrated improved activity over single agent without an increase in metastases. B3-mcMTI internalization in endothelial cells is VEGFR2-mediated, with antibody binding and active payload releasing in normal and tumor tissues at concentrations above the in vitro IC 50 s; however, payload activity as measured by quantitative image analysis of pharmacodynamic biomarkers such as phospho-Histone H3 and cleaved caspase 3 is overwhelmingly localized to tumor ECs. Targeted vessels are smooth muscle invested, suggesting that VT-ADCs may target vasculature that contributes to anti-VEGF resistance. In conclusion, VT-ADCs are effective both as single agents and when combined with SOC, and VT-ADCs may overcome resistance mechanisms to standard anti-angiogenics. Taken together, these data suggest that payloads selective for proliferating ECs enable ADC-mediated targeting of widely expressed EC surface proteins, supporting the clinical pursuit of VT-ADCs. Citation Format: Andrea T. Hooper, Chao-Pei Betty Chang, Kimberly Marquette, Jonathon Golas, Justin Lucas, Timothy Nichols, Judy Lucas, Gavriil Maria, Edward Rosfjord, Anton Xavier, Nathan Scott, Sadhana Jain, Wei Cao, Mauricio Leal, Andreas Maderna, Magali Guffroy, Xiang Zheng, Lioudmila Tchistiakova, Frank Loganzo, Hans-Peter Gerber, Chad May. Targeting the tumor vasculature with antibody drug conjugates. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2669. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2669
Oxidation of d- and l-Valine by Enzymes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Norton, J. E. (University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, Oklahoma City), and J. R. Sokatch. Oxidation of d- and l-valine by enzymes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Bacteriol. 92:116-120. 1966.-Cell-free extracts prepared from Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown on dl-valine catalyzed the consumption of oxygen with several d-amino acids, but not with the corresponding l-amino acids. The product of d-valine oxidation was identified as 2-oxoisovalerate by the preparation and characterization of 2-oxoisovalerate 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone. The enzyme catalyzing d-amino acid oxidation was present in extracts of cells grown on valine, but not on glucose, had a pH optimum of approximately 9.0, consumed 1 atom of oxygen per mole of keto acid produced, and was not stimulated by any of the usual electron transport cofactors. It was not possible to demonstrate either the direct oxidation of l-valine or the conversion of l- to d-valine by these enzyme preparations. However, a possible route of l-valine metabolism by transamination with 2-oxoglutarate with regeneration of the amino group acceptor by glutamate oxidation was established by identification of the transaminase and l-glutamate dehydrogenase in these enzyme preparations.
A Review of: “Ilana Nash. American Sweethearts: Teenage Girls in Twentieth-Century Popular Culture”

It is overwhelmingly clear that Ilana Nash is smitten by the teenage heroine Nancy Drew. And why shouldn't she be? As her enormously readable and lucidly illustrated American Sweethearts: Teenage G...
Post-stroke Administration of Ethanol and Normobaric Oxygen Preserves Oxidative Metabolism By Modulating Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex in Transient and Permanent Ischemic Stroke (P1.099)

Objective: Administration of Ethanol combined with Normobaric oxygen (NBO) confirms neuroprotection by restoring the activity of PDHC after ischemic stroke. Background: Ischemic stroke induces metabolic disarray where the entire framework of normal cellular metabolism is detrimentally altered. A central regulatory site of metabolism, Pyruvate Dehydrogeanse Complex (PDHC) sits at the cross-roads of two fundamental metabolic systems: the aerobic citric acid cycle and glycolysis. Down regulation of PDHC in stroke has been proposed to explain impaired brain catabolism after ischemic injury. In this study, we combined Ethanol and Normobaric oxygen (NBO) to develop a powerful non-drug treatment to modulate PDHC and its two dedicated regulatory proteins, namely PDPhosphatase and PDKinase, leading to improved energy supply and reduced oxidative damage. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to transient (4h) or permanent (24h) middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by 24h reperfusion or no reperfusion. In both models, rats received intraperitoneal injections of saline, two doses of Ethanol (1.5 at onset of reperfusion followed by 1.0 g/kg in 2 hours) for transient stroke or Ethanol plus 95%NBO (for 6 hours) for permanent stroke. Infract volume, neurological deficits and the protein levels of PDHC, PDK, and PDP were all assessed. Oxidative metabolism was determined by ADP/ATP ratios and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Results: Our therapy enhanced the oxidative metabolism profile of the cell by decreasing ADP/ATP ratios and ROS levels. In transient ischemic stroke but not in permanent stroke, administration of Ethanol significantly raised the levels of PDHC and PDP in the ischemic brain issue. This was accompanied by the simultaneous decrease in PDK protein levels. Our therapy of NBO combined with EtOH synergistically had better outcomes on PDHC, PDP and PDK in the permanent ischemic stroke group, as compared to Ethanol or NBO alone. Conclusion: Ethanol/NBO treatment confirms neuroprotection in stroke by affecting brain catabolism. It modulates the damaging cascade of events by bringing the concentration of active PDHC back to metabolic levels. Disclosure: Dr. Elmadhoun has nothing to disclose. Dr. Peng has nothing to disclose. Dr. Geng has nothing to disclose. Dr. Guthikonda has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ding has nothing to disclose.
An integrated optimization environment for structural configuration design

The relatively recent efforts for designing lightweight structures have motivated increasing use of formal mathematical optimization techniques for selecting the shape and sizes of structural members. How to obtain rigorous optimal topologies has been an elusive goal until the very recent introduction of the homogenization method. This dissertation describes a system for designing complete structures starting only with an available space and loading and boundary specifications. A three-phase design process is followed: generate an approximate topological image with homogenization (Phase I), process the image to obtain a practical realistic structure (Phase II), and refine the final topology by detailed shape and size optimization (Phase III). An overview of the system is given together with several practical examples. The emphasis of this dissertation is on the appropriate design and implementation of the image interpretation module in Phase II. Image processing and computer vision techniques are used in conjunction with insights from mechanics and knowledge about fabrication processes to implement the system. The main concentration of this dissertation is on two-dimensional structures. In Phase II, two types of models are distinguished for two-dimensional structures, namely, skeletal and plain stress/plain strain models. Different approaches are taken for the treatment of both models in Phase II. For skeletal structures their skeleton is useful, whereas for solid structures the information on their boundaries is pertinent. Techniques to extract and process this information are described. For each type of structure a fabrication domain is chosen, and rules are devised whose application to the representations in Phase II generates designs that are more easily manufacturable. For solid structures casting is chosen as the fabrication domain and, for skeletal structures weldments of trusses are explored. Extraction of other useful properties, such as, symmetry and immobility, for two-dimensional structures is discussed. Interpretation of three-dimensional images is more challenging, and the techniques described for two-dimensional structures cannot easily be extended to apply to three-dimensional structures. A novel algorithm is devised that converts the spatial enumeration scheme generated in Phase I into a constructive solid geometry (CSG) scheme. The CSG representation is at a higher level of abstraction and can be used for further manipulation of the design.
Instrumentation I: Looking ahead: Optical fibers, and tunable coherent sources and filters at infrared and optical frequencies, may key the future in test equipment

Every once in a while I am asked to dust off my crystal ball (single-crystal, of course) and discourse on the future of instrumentation, or what the Hewlett-Packard 1984 catalogue will offer. I always approach such an assignment with a great deal of trepidation because I am acutely aware of my limitations as a prophet and of the many unforeseeable discoveries that have occurred during my lifetime, that continue to occur, and that profoundly affect the course of our technology. But such excuses rarely dissuade my petitioners and so, at the risk of exposing myself to future ridicule, here are a few thoughts on what may lie ahead. But first let me back up a few decades and get a running start.
Improved Cooling of Electromagnetics by Directed Airflow

The transformers in aircraft power conversion are often very heavy and represent a significant fuel or range penalty. Being thermally sized, improved cooling methods would allow downsizing and thereby reduced weight. Since the conductive paths in these metal “dense” devices are good, the controlling thermal resistance is typically the convective coefficient. The goal of this study was to optimize the convective air cooling across transformers by parametrically testing candidate shroud geometries to minimize average and hot spot surface temperatures with minimal fan power. Experimental results from a low velocity wind tunnel were well correlated by CFD modeling, providing confidence in continued shroud development with only CFD or experimentally. A simple cubic test block was selected as surrogate to generalize and simplify both test methods and results. A new “goodness” parameter was developed that included both the heat transfer performance and pressure penalty for a comparative index of shroud designs.The work was divided into two phases. Phase-A used numerical modeling to study a variety of different shapes to select the best for experimental testing. Phase-B included the testing and further parametric evaluation with CFD studies. A parameter was developed that quantified the effect of conductive spreading on the test article surface.Presented here are the results of these studies, where several general shroud shapes emerged as high performance in comparative evaluation. Following the down select, specific geometrical dimensions relative to the duct and mock transformer sizes were further optimized.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A preliminary investigation of urinary testosterone and cortisol levels in wild male mountain gorillas.

Urinary steroid hormone levels were measured in wild male mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) to determine how levels of testosterone and cortisol corresponded with age and social rank. Urine samples were collected noninvasively from 18 males, ranging in age from 3–26 years, in three groups of wild mountain gorillas at the Karisoke Research Center, Rwanda, Africa, and samples were analyzed using radioimmunoassay procedures. Males were classified as being immature (<7 years), maturing (10–13 years), or adult (+13 years of age). Immature males had significantly lower levels of testosterone and higher levels of cortisol than both maturing and adult males. No differences in testosterone or cortisol levels were found between maturing and adult males. Dominant males exhibited a trend toward significantly higher levels of testosterone than subordinate males, but no difference was found between cortisol levels of dominant and subordinate males. These results suggest that the increase in testosterone associated with puberty occurs prior to any outward sign of development of secondary sexual characteristics. Within-group male–male competition may affect testosterone levels, but the lack of difference in cortisol levels between dominant and subordinate males suggests that subordinate males are not socially stressed, at least as measured by cortisol. Am. J. Primatol. 43:51–64, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Designing optimal comb compatibilizers: AC and BC combs at an A/B interface

We used a self-consistent mean field theory to determine the adsorption behavior of AC and BC comb copolymers at the interface between two immiscible homopolymers, A and B. The backbones of the AC combs are composed of A monomers, and the aide chains (teeth) are formed from C units. In a similar manner, the BC combs have a B backbone and C teeth. The C segments are themselves immiscible with both the A and B homopolymers. Taking into account the effect of micelle formation, we calculate the reduction in interfacial tension caused by the adsorption of these combs at the A/B interface. At the interface, the combs form a «bilayer»: the C teeth associate across the A/B boundary and the backbones remain localized in the respective homopolymers. Our results show that for an optimal choice of comb architecture, the interfacial tension can be reduced to zero. Consequently, these combs constitute effective compatibilizers and emulsifying agents
New epr spectra in neutron-irradiated silicon (II)

Abstract Four new EPR spectra, arising from intrinsic defects in silicon created by neutron-irradiation, are resolved. Each spectrum is briefly discussed. Further detailed studies are required to establish defect models.
Achromatization of optical waveguide components

An investigation aimed at reducing chromatic variations in the performance of optical waveguide devices is described. Methods to achromatize the characteristics of integrated optics lenses, input/output couplers, and beam-splitters are presented with the goal of eliminating, or minimizing, any performance variations over a wavelength interval at least on the order of the operating range of presently available laser diode sources. It is shown that an achromatic waveguide lens can be made using a mode-index/diffractive doublet. With this approach, it is possible to cancel the longitudinal chromatic aberrations of the refractive lens with an appropriate diffractive component. Achromatic input/output couplers are described which use an external diffraction grating to correct for the angular dispersion of either prism or grating couplers. It is shown that double grating couplers can be used to obtain an achromatic wavelength range on the order of ten nanometers, and that hybrid prism/grating couplers can yield an achromatic range of several hundred nanometers. It is also shown that the angular chromatic dispersion of waveguide grating beam-splitters can be corrected using a second grating that is appropriately specified. This permits a guided optical beam to be split into two or more separate beams whose directions are independent of wavelength. These achromatic waveguide components can be combined in various configurations to reduce the wavelength sensitivity of devices such as optical disk pickup heads.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Normalized difference vegetation index calculations from JPEG2000-compressed Landsat 7 images

An ongoing problem in remote sensing is that imagery generally consumes considerable amounts of memory and transmittance bandwidth, thus limiting the amount of data acquired. The use of high quality image compression algorithms, such as the wavelet-based JPEG2000, has been proposed to reduce much of the memory and bandwidth overhead; however, these compression algorithms are often lossy and the remote sensing community has been wary to implement such algorithms for fear of degradation of the data. We explore this issue for the JPEG2000 compression algorithm applied to Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) imagery. The work examines the effect that lossy compression can have on the retrieval of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). We have computed the NDVI from JPEG2000 compressed red and NIR Landsat-7 ETM+ images and compared with the uncompressed values at each pixel. In addition, we examine the effects of compression on the NDVI product itself. We show that both the spatial distribution of NDVI and the overall NDVI pixel statistics in the image change very little after the images have been compressed then reconstructed over a wide range of bitrates.
Legislative challenges to the Sony safe harbor rule

Congressional proposals to regulate infringement-enabling technologies are described and the implications discussed.
Correction/Clarification about FDA Review Documents

Essay [1] about how the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) review of documents can serve as a source of clinical trials data, but she follows it up with the statement, “However, it is difﬁ cult to have conﬁ dence in data released by sponsors when the data have not been subjected to external, independent peer review. Furthermore, this information is not integrated with other data, or indexed” [2].While I agree with the second assertion, the ﬁ rst assertion—that the data are not subjected to external, independent peer review—is off the mark. FDA reviews are indeed external and independent to the sponsor. These reviews are conducted not by the sponsors but by physicians and scientists employed by the United States government. True, the data originate with the sponsor. However, once the sponsor submits data to the FDA, a level of rigor and scrutiny is applied to them that is arguably higher than what occurs in the typical journal manuscript review process. First, FDA reviewers typically revisit the original protocol submitted before the study was conducted in order to verify that the sponsor has not engaged in hypothesizing after the results are known (“HARKing”) [3]. By contrast, journal reviewers typically do not have access to the original protocol. As a result, they must trust that HARKing has not occurred, a dubious assumption in view of recent data [4]. Second, FDA statistical reviewers obtain the raw data from the sponsor, and determine whether the sponsor’s ﬁ ndings can be replicated. By contrast, journal reviewers typically have access to only the summary statistics reported (perhaps selectively) to them by the authors or the sponsors. Consequently, reviewers can only speculate whether they could replicate the ﬁ ndings. As a result, I believe that the FDA review process warrants a higher level of conﬁ dence than the conventional journal manuscript review process. Erick Turner
Radical alternating copolymerization of vinyl ethers

New alternating equimolar copolymers of electrophilic trisubstituted ethylenes, methyl 3-phenyl-2-cyanopropenoate and 2-phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethene, with ethyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, t-butyl, 2-chloroethyl, and phenyl vinyl ethers were prepared by free radical initiation. Chemical compositions of the copolymers are 1 : 1 in broad ranges of monomer ratios. The copolymerization rate of both electrophilic monomers with the vinyl ethers increase in the series 2-chloroethyl > ethyl > phenyl > n-butyl > i-butyl > t-butyl. These variations in the reactivity of the vinyl ethers are discussed in terms of their preferred conformations in donor-acceptor complexes with electrophilic trisubstituted ethylenes. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Physical Play and Cognitive Development: Integrating Activity, Cognition, and Education

We propose that humans may have evolved a special sensitivity to certain types of social information during rough-and-tumble play that facilitates social cognition. The cognitive benefits of physical play are described as providing a break from demanding intellectual tasks, and are hypothesized to be related to gender differences in spatial cognition.
The resolution of adolescence in college

This article discusses five prominent developmental tasks encountered by the college student during late adolescence and early adulthood. The manner used to resolve these tasks is crucial not only to the student's adaptation at college but to his eventual life style. The five tasks are: (a) the shift in the nature of one's relationship with one's parents, i.e., from a child-parent to an adult-adult relationship; (b) the resolution of a personal sexual identity; (c) the creation of a value system which fits the student as a truly unique individual; (d) the development of the capacity for true human intimacy; and (e) the choice of a life's work.
Measuring Computer Anxiety: The Computer Anxiety Scale

The Computer Anxiety Scale (CAS) is a measure of perceptions by students of their anxiety in different situations related to computers. Involving 225 college students, this study examines the reliability and factorial validity of the CAS. The data suggest that the CAS is an effective and reliable means of measuring student anxiety toward computers.
Evidence for regulation following amputation and tissue grafting in the developing mouse limb.

Procedures are now available to experimentally manipulate postimplantation mouse embryos in situ and allow development to continue into postnatal life (Muneoka, K., N. Wanek, and S.V. Bryant (1986) J. Exp. Zool., 239:289-293). We have investigated the ability of the well-formed hindlimb bud to regulate following two experimental operations: amputation and wedge grafts designed to confront anterior and posterior cells. After comparing the resultant limbs with the fate maps of the relevant stages, we conclude that the developing hindlimb bud at stage 7/8 (equivalent to stage 27/28 of the chick) is capable of partial regeneration of the peripheral digits following amputation and capable of supernumerary digit tip formation after grafting of a wedge of anterior tissue to a posterior position.
MMPI differences among black, Mexican-American, and white male offenders.

MMPI scores of black, Mexican-American, and white male offenders were compared in order to investigate whether cultural and/or socioeconomomic factors affect this personality inventory. Comparisons were performed on unmatched and matched (education and occupation) groups that utilized all profiles or valid ones only and examined both trait (individual scales) and type (Goldberg indices) differences. Black-white differences on the MA, K, and HY scales appeared to reflect cultural factors, while differences on MF and alcoholism seemed to be accounted for by socioeconomic differences among the groups. Cultural facotors seemed to be related to differences between Mexican Americans and whites on the L, K, and overcontrolled hostility scales, while socioeconomic factors appeared to explain differences on the Hs scale. Type differences were not apparent except that Mexican-Americans were classified more often as psychiatric, while whites and blacks scored well into the sociopathic range.
Current Approaches in the Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The limited sensitivity of the historical treatment response criteria for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has resulted in a different paradigm for treatment compared with most other cancers presenting with widely disseminated disease. Initial cytotoxic induction chemotherapy is often able to reduce tumor burden to a level sufficient to meet the current criteria for “complete” remission. Nevertheless, most AML patients ultimately die from their disease, most commonly as clinically evident relapsed AML. Despite a variety of available salvage therapy options, prognosis in patients with relapsed or refractory AML is generally poor. In this review, we outline the commonly utilized salvage cytotoxic therapy interventions and then highlight novel investigational efforts currently in clinical trials using both pathway-targeted agents and immunotherapy based approaches. We conclude that there is no current standard of care for adult relapsed or refractory AML other than offering referral to an appropriate clinical trial.
Point of choice nutrition information, federal regulations, and consumer health education: a critical view

Efforts to provide simple, available, and useful nutrition information in the marketplace that would help consumers make healthful food choices have generated considerable controversy in recent years. Disagreements have emerged among various interests: the scientific community, public health organizations, government regulatory agencies, food producers and marketers, and consumer groups. Central to these controversies are issues such as the lack of definitive scientific evidence about nutrition and disease prevention, opinions about the need for consensus and standardization of information, the motives of private sector information suppliers, and the effectiveness of nutrition information in improving food choices. TWQ articles which recently appeared in the] ournal of Nutrition Education touch on these issues but fail, in our view, to give adequate attention to these disagreements and controversies. Pennington et al. (1) described the current situation regarding grocery store nutrition information programs, and Pennington and Vanderveen (2) critiqued the lack of use of consistent, standardized descriptive terms for foods with special dietary characteristics. Pennington et al. reported on a survey of 83 major grocery store chains which found that 36% of the stores used in-store nutrition information programs, but that their use of terminology, criteria for identification of foods with special nutritional qualities, and modes of presentation (e.g., color-coding schemes) varied widely (1). Elsewhere in the same journal issue, Pennington and Vanderveen reviewed the history of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations defining descriptors
Late life function and disability instrument in African American women: function component.

Obesity, age, and comorbidity can lead to limitations in physical function, especially in middle aged, community-dwelling, African American women. To determine the clinical implications of limitations in physical function, instruments that assess physical function need to be tested in this population. The purpose of the authors in this secondary analysis was to report the internal consistency and validity of the Physical Function component of the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument in middle-aged, community-dwelling, African American women. In 2006, 126 community-dwelling African American women completed the Physical Function component, the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, and the 6 Minute Walk Test at baseline. Results indicated Cronbach's alphas were excellent (all >.92) for the Physical Function component and the three subscales. The Physical Function component correlated directly with the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (r = .37, p < .01) and the 6 Minute Walk Test (r = .36, p...
Heterogeneous deformation resulting from stress gradients in calcite single crystals

The stress gradient calculated from an isotropic elastic approximation does not directly reflect the distribution of permanent deformation in a crystal of the same shape under the same conditions. However, with additional crystallographic constraints, it serves to predict locations where twinning and slip are first activated in a stressed crystal. In this study, thick-walled hollow cylinders were cored from single calcite crystals parallel to 〈0001〉 and \(\langle 40\bar 41\rangle\). One cylinder of each orientation was loaded at room temperature under one of two conditions: internal pressure (Pp)=60 MPa, external pressure (Pc)=100 MPa, or Pp = 20 MPa, Pc= 50 MPa. These conditions would produce a radial stress gradient in an isotropic elastic cylinder. Mechanical twins in the deformed calcite samples had a hexagonal distribution in the 〈0001〉 oriented cylinder and an orthorhombic distribution in the \(\langle 40\bar 41\rangle\) oriented cylinder.
What accounts for the difference between singlet phenylphosphinidene and singlet phenylnitrene in reactivity toward ring expansion

(8/8)CASSCF and (8/8)CASPT2 calculations have been performed in order to investigate the potential surface for the ring expansion of the 1A2 state of phenylphosphinidene (1c) to 1-phospha-1,2,4,6-c...