cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic analysis of the herpes simplex virus type 1 UL9 gene: isolation of a LacZ insertion mutant and expression in eukaryotic cells.

Abstract HSV-1 host range mutants in complementation group 1–36 (hr27 and hr1 56) whose mutations map in the UL9 gene, encoding the origin binding protein, are unable to form plaques or synthesize viral DNA or late viral proteins when grown in nonpermissive Vero cells (Carmichael, E. P., Kosovsky, M. J., Weller, S. K., 1988, J. Virol. 62, 91–99). These defects are complemented efficiently by growth in the permissive cell line, S22, which contains the wild type version of several HSV genes including UL9. In this report the precise nature and location of the lesions in host range mutants hr27 and hr1 56 were determined by DNA sequencing; both mutants were found to contain identical single-base-pair substitutions at codons 309 and 311 in the UL9 open reading frame. This region lies within the putative helicase domain of the UL9 protein. The UL9 gene was disrupted by the insertion of an insertional mutagen ICP6::lacZ in which the Escherichia coli lacZ gene is expressed under control of the viral ICP6 promoter. Hr94, a viral mutant containing this insertion, does not form plaques or synthesize viral DNA when grown in Vero cells, although both defects are complemented efficiently on permissive cell lines. These results confirm that the UL9 gene product is essential for viral growth and DNA replication. Furthermore, since no detectable UL9 protein is synthesized in hr94-infected cells, this virus provides a useful genetic background for further structure-function analysis since no potentially interfering nonfunctional UL9 protein will be expressed. We have expressed the UL9 open reading frame under the control of the strong and inducible HSV-1 ICP6 promoter and have derived Vero cell lines containing variable copy numbers of the ICP6:: UL9 construct. Cells whose copy number of this construct exceeded approximately 120 are unable to support efficient plaque formation by wild-type virus. Cell lines with low copy numbers of this construct are able to complement hr27, hr1 56, and hr94.
Analysis of interfacial stresses between a NiTi coupler and a tube under large plastic deformation

Abstract An elastoplastic stress analysis of a NiTi coupler and a stainless steel tube was performed to predict the interfacial contact zone and corresponding contact pressure distribution. The tubecoupler junction was analyzed using the ADINA finite element program. The predicted deformations match the measured values well at the inner tube surface. The corresponding interface stresses are to be correlated with ultrasonic reflection measurements from the interface.
Efficiencies of some small second-order designs

Abstract Hybrid designs H310 and H311B are compared with Box—Behnken (BBD) and central composite (CCD) designs for estimation and testing in second-order models having k = 3 regressor variables. For linear coefficients these designs are ordered in efficiency as CCD ≻ BBD ≻ H311B ≻ H310, for interaction coefficients as BBD ≻ CCD ≻ H310 ≻ H311B, and for the intercept as H310 ≻ {H311B, BBD, CCD}. Conclusions are less direct regarding the pure quadratic coefficients, which are examined in detail.
Effects of ecological restoration on microbial activity, microbial functional diversity, and soil organic matter in mixed-oak forests of southern Ohio, USA

Abstract As a result of many decades of fire suppression and atmospheric deposition the deciduous forests of eastern North America have changed significantly in stem density, basal area, tree size-frequency distribution, and community structure. Consequently, soil organic matter quality and quantity, nutrient availability, and microbial activity have likely been altered. This study evaluated the effects of four alternative forest ecosystem restoration strategies on soil microbial activity, microbial functional diversity, soil organic C, and soil N status in two mixed-oak ( Quercus spp.) forests in southern Ohio, USA. The soils of these forests were sampled during the fourth growing season after application of (1) prescribed fire, (2) thinning of the understory and midstory to pre-settlement characteristics, (3) the combination of fire and thinning, and (4) an untreated control. Prescribed fire, with or without thinning, resulted in increased bacterial but not fungal activity when assessed using Biolog ® . In contrast, assays of acid phosphatase and phenol oxidase activity indicated greater microbial activity in the thinning treatment than in the other three treatments. Functional diversity of both bacteria and fungi was affected by restoration treatment, with the bacterial and fungal assemblages present in the thin + burn sites and the fungal assemblage present in the thinned sites differing significantly from those of the control and burned sites. Treatments did not result in significant differences in soil organic C content among experimental sites; however, the soil C:N ratio was significantly greater in thinned sites than in sites given the other three treatments. Similarly, there were no significant differences in dissolve inorganic N, dissolved organic N, or microbial biomass N among treatments. Bacterial and fungal functional diversity was altered significantly. Based on Biolog ® utilization treatments the bacterial assemblage in the thin-only treatment appeared to be relatively N-limited and the fungal assemblage relatively C-limited, whereas in the thin + burn treatment this was reversed. Although effects of restoration treatments on soil organic matter and overall microbial activity may not persist through the fourth post-treatment year, effects on microbial functional diversity are persistent.
A Geographic Information System Framework for the Management of Sensor Deployments

A prototype Geographic Information System (GIS) framework has been developed to map, manage, and monitor sensors with respect to other geographic features, including land base and in-plant features. The GIS framework supports geographic placement and subsequent discovery, query, and tasking of sensors in a network-centric environment using Web services. The framework couples the GIS feature placement logic of sensors with an extensible ontology which captures the capabilities, properties, protocols, integrity constraints, and other parameters of interest for a large variety of sensor types. The approach is significant in that custom, GIS-based interfaces can be rapidly developed via the integration of sensors and sensor networks into applications without having detailed knowledge of the sensors' underlying device drivers by leveraging service-oriented computing infrastructure within the GIS framework.
Controlled sensing for sequential multihypothesis testing

The problem of controlled sensing for multihypothesis testing is considered. Prior to decision making, a controller sequentially chooses among a set of control actions to shape the quality of the observations. The goal is to design an efficient control policy, a stopping rule and a final decision rule, to minimize the expected stopping time subject to hard constraints on the risks associated with wrong decisions about each hypothesis. We propose a sequential test, which is shown to be asymptotically optimal when the risks are sufficiently small. Optimality is based on a derived lower bound on the minimum expected stopping time of tests in the class of tests satisfying the predefined risk constraints. Furthermore, by viewing the variable-length coding problem as a special case of sequential multihypothesis testing with observation control, we recover the classic result of Burnasev on the expected coding length for variable-length coding over Discrete Memoryless Channels (DMCs) at zero rate.
Lack of correlation-length scaling for an array of boxes

Finite-size scaling theory predicts that uniformly small critical systems that have the same dimensionality and belong to the same universality class will scale as a function of the ratio of the spatial length L to the correlation length ζ. This should occur for all temperatures within the critical region. Measurements of the heat capacity of liquid 4He confined to a two-dimensional (2D) planar geometry agree well with this prediction when the 4He is normal but disagree near the specific heat maximum where the confined 4He becomes superfluid. Data for 4He confined to 1D structures show a similar behavior (however the lack of data collapse is not as dramatic). Recent measurements of the heat capacity from two 0D confinements, which differ by a factor of two in size, fail to scale at any temperature within the critical region. This lack of scaling may be due to the interaction of neighboring boxes through the shallow channels used to fill them. This is quite surprising since the liquid in the channels is not superfluid at the temperatures of interest for the helium in the boxes. Furthermore, measurements of the superfluid density of the helium within the channels reveal a critical temperature that is higher than expected suggesting that the normal fluid is affected by the already superfluid regions at each end of these channels. Both of these anomalies might be explained by a proximity effect analogous to what is seen when normal metals are sandwiched between two superconductors.
Signal transduction by G proteins: 1994 edition.

AbstractFindings from the last two years in signal transduction research, including the elucidation of the crystal structure of α1, the uncovering of multiple roles for lipidation, the mimicry of receptor action with peptides, and both the in vitro reconstitution of inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and the in cell reconstitution of receptor-G protein coupling in transient and stable expression studies, are integrated into a “current” view of the receptor → G protein → effector pathway. The question is raised whether receptor or βγ is the nucleotide exchange factor, and the central participation of Mg2+ in G protein activation and the change in affinity of the G protein for Mg2+ during receptor-stimulated activation are stressed.
Electron microscopy of precious opal

Abstract Replica and transmission electron microscopy reveal that the structure of precious opal consists of amorphous silica spheres having diameters of the order of the wavelength of visible light. In regions displaying vivid diffraction coloration the spheres are very uniform in size and are arranged in close-packed cubic arrays, while in milky colored regions the spheres are randomly sized and disordered. Crystallographic fracture and twinning relationships have been observed in ordered regions.
Effects of stochastic interest rates in decision making under risk: A Markov decision process model for forest management

Abstract Most economic studies of forest decision making under risk assume a fixed interest rate. This paper investigated some implications of this stochastic nature of interest rates. Markov decision process (MDP) models, used previously to integrate stochastic stand growth and prices, can be extended to include variable interest rates as well. This method was applied to Douglas-fir/western hemlock forests in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. An MDP model was used to find the harvest decisions that maximized the forest value of a stand in a particular state, given the price level and interest rate. This optimal policy was compared with the policy that would hold in the same context but with an interest rate fixed at its historical average. The results showed that when the interest rate was lower than its historical average, the best decision differed for 52 of the 192 possible combinations of stand state and price level. Assuming a fixed interest rate underestimated the forest value by 4% to 16% depending on the initial condition. However, applying the harvest policy derived with a fixed interest rate led to a loss of no more than 7% depending on the initial condition. Taking explicit account of the variability of interest rate in setting harvest policies had some unexpected ecological benefits.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio Comparison for Dispersive and Non-dispersive Flame Atomic Fluorescence Measurements

Signal-to-noise ratios achievable with dispersive and nondispersive atomic fluorescence systems are compared. In this comparison particular attention has been devoted to considerations affecting optimization of the dispersive system with low and high background flames. Relative signal and noise values are reported for Hg and Fe atomic fluorescence with dispersive, solar-blind nondispersive, and filter nondispersive systems with C2H2-air, separated C2H2-air, H2-air, and H2-O2-Ar flames. It is concluded that, when due consideration is given to optimization of the dispersive system for atomic fluorescence measurements, use of a nondispersive system will not generally provide an improvement in the measurement signal-to-noise ratio and may result in a decreased signal-to-noise ratio with an atomizer of even moderate background emission, such as the separated C2H2-air flame.
High-rate material modelling and validation using the Taylor cylinder impact test

Taylor cylinder impact testing is used to validate anisotropic elastoplastic constitutive modelling by comparing polycrystal computed yieldsurface shapes (topography) with measured shapes from post...
Somatic embryogenesis from isolated scutella of wheat: effects of physical, physiological and genetic factors☆

Induction of high frequency somatic embryogenesis from in vitro culture of isolated scutella has been referred to as the Enhanced Regeneration System (ERS). In the present study, the importance of such factors as genotype, culture medium, explant size and cold pretreatment in the induction of somatic embryogenesis and regeneration response of isolated scutella was assessed in a complete block design experiment. Two species of wheat, Triticum aestivum and T. durum were compared and the findings between the two differed. The relative importance of genotype effect prevailed over all factors. In cultivars with similar embryogenic potential, the effect of explant size and cold pretreatment had major influence on the induction and regeneration frequencies. The use of an induction medium composed of amino acids and double Murashige and Skoog salt concentration, favorably increased the regeneration frequency in T. aestivum, whereas the regeneration frequency in T. durum decreased due to developmentally arrested embryos.
Perceptual and Physiological Responses during Exercise in Cool and Cold Water

This investigation examined the interaction of exposure to cold water stress with both perceived exertion and thermal sensation during exercise. Eight male volunteers performed arm, leg, and combined arm and leg exercise for 45 min. in water at 20 and 26 degrees C. Exercise was performed at a low (n = 7) and a high (n = 8) intensity relative to the ergometer specific peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak). In general, percent VO2 peak did not differ between types of exercise in either 20 or 26 degrees C water. During low intensity exercise when power output was matched across water temperatures (Tw), percent VO2 peak was greater in 20 degrees C water (52%) compared to 26 degrees C water (42%). Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) did not differ between Tw. During high intensity exercise when percent VO2 peak was matched across Tw, RPE was lower during exercise in 20 degrees C compared to 26 degrees C. Multiple correlation analyses comparing both final RPE and thermal sensation (TS) with physiological and thermal measures were performed across type of exercise and Tw. RPE was moderately correlated with heart rate (r = 0.68) and ventilation (r = 0.61), whereas very slight relationships were established with TS (r = 0.16), skin and rectal temperatures (r = 0.10 and r = 0.20). TS was moderately correlated with skin and rectal temperatures (r = 0.64 and r = 0.73), whereas low correlations existed between TS and both heart rate (r = 0.32) and ventilation (r = -0.12). These data suggest that the change in oxygen uptake associated with exercise in cold water does not add to the over-all perception of exertion. This perception appears to be related to cardiopulmonary variables rather than thermal measures, whereas thermal sensation is related to thermal measures and not cardiopulmonary variables.
Ligand-Directed Molecular Architectures: Self-Assembly of Two-Dimensional Rectangular Metallacycles and Three-Dimensional Trigonal or Tetragonal Prisms

Three angular ditopic ligands (1,3-bis(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-4,6-dimethylbenzene L1, 1,3-bis(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene L2, and 1,4-bis(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene L3) and one tripodal ligand 1,3,5-tris(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene L4 have been prepared. Reaction of these shape-specific designed ligands with different metal salts affords a series of discrete molecular architectures: [Ag2L12](BF4)2 1, [Ag2L22](CF3SO3)2 2, [CF3SO3- ⊂ Ag2L32]CF3SO3 3, [CF3SO3- ⊂ Ag2L33]CF3SO3 4, [ClO4- ⊂ Cu2L24](ClO4)3 5, [4H2O ⊂ Ni2L24Cl4]·6H2O 6, [BF4- ⊂ Ag3L42](BF4)2 7, [ClO4- ⊂ Ag3L42](ClO4)2 8, and [CuI32- ⊂ Cu3L42]2[Cu2I4] 9. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, ESI-MS, IR, and NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. 1 is a dinuclear metallacycle with 2-fold rotational symmetry in which two syn-conformational L1ligands are connected by two linearly coordinated Ag+ ions. 2 and 3 are structurally related, consisting of rectangular...
Activation of Gold on Titania: Adsorption and Reaction of SO2 on Au/TiO2(110)

Synchrotron-based high-resolution photoemission and first-principles density-functional slab calculations were used to study the interaction of gold with titania and the chemistry of SO2 on Au/TiO2(110) surfaces. The deposition of Au nanoparticles on TiO2(110) produces a system with an extraordinary ability to adsorb and dissociate SO2. In this respect, Au/TiO2 is much more chemically active than metallic gold or stoichiometric titania. On Au(111) and rough polycrystalline surfaces of gold, SO2 bonds weakly and desorbs intact at temperatures below 200 K. For the adsorption of SO2 on TiO2(110) at 300 K, SO4 is the only product (SO2 + Ooxide → SO4,ads). In contrast, Au/TiO2(110) surfaces (θAu ≤ 0.5 ML) fully dissociate the SO2 molecule under identical reaction conditions. Interactions with titania electronically perturb gold, making it more chemically active. Furthermore, our experimental and theoretical results show quite clearly that not only gold is perturbed when gold and titania interact. The adsorbed ...
Energy-Based Fatigue Life Prediction for Combined Low Cycle and High Cycle Fatigue

Gas turbine engine components are subjected to both low and high cycle fatigue as a result of mechanical and vibrational loading. Mechanical loading is generally within the low cycle fatigue regime and attributed to throttle up/throttle down cycles of various flight maneuvers or engine start-up/shut-down cycles over the course of a component’s lifetime. Vibrational loading causes high cycle fatigue of a multiaxial stress state, and is attributed to various forced and free vibration sources manifested as high order bending or torsion modes. Understanding the interaction of these two fatigue regimes is necessary to develop robust design techniques for gas turbine engines and turbomachinery in general. Furthermore, applying a method to accurately predict fatigue performance from a reduced data set can greatly reduce time and material costs. This study investigates commonly used fatigue life prediction models and techniques in their ability to accurately model fatigue lives of Al 6061-T651 cylindrical test specimens subjected to various stress ratios, mean stresses, and high cycle/low cycle interaction. Comparisons between these models are made and modifications are proposed than can account for these complex loading effects where appropriate.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
INTERFERENCE TERMS IN THE MULTIPERIPHERAL MODEL.

Abstract The customary assumption of the neglect of interference or crossed graph terms is investigated within a simple multiperipheral model and found to be completely unjustified. The inclusion of these terms, in a multi-Regge model, allows the correct prediction of the ratio of Kp to πp cross sections and of the energy dependences of inelastic cross sections and pion multiplicities. A natural explanation is provided for dramatic structures observed in correlation functions.
Relationship Between Degree of Pectin Methylation and Tissue Firmness of Cucumber Pickles

The relationship between pectin methylation and tissue firmness was examined in cucumber pickles exposed to pre-brining and brining treatments. Tissue treated with CaCl2 prior to or during brining, blanched before brining or held at 2°C during brine storage resisted softening. Although all treatments reduced the degree of esterification (DE) of pectic substances, less demethylation occurred in treatments that protected against softening. Join point regression analysis of the data indicated that maximum firmness of mesocarp tissue was attained when the DE of pectins was 12.3 ± 1.2 or greater. Firmness declined concomitantly when the DE declined below 12.3 ± 1.2. Methods that protect against excessive demethylation of pectins appear to be important in retarding softening of cucumber pickle tissue during storage in brine.
Handedness and Sex Differences in Intelligence: Evidence from the Medical College Admission Test

Our analysis of Medical College Admission Test subtest scores by writing hand preference and sex suggests that (a) right hemispheric dominance is associated with intellectual giftedness in verbal reasoning (left-handers obtained higher scores on the verbal reasoning test and were overrepresented in the upper tail of the distribution), (b) different patterns of brain lateralization are associated with different subcomponents of cognition (right-handers scored higher, on average, on the writing test and were overrepresented in the upper tail of the distribution), and (c) men generally score higher than women on tests of scientific knowledge (the most striking differences between men and women were on the biological and physical science tests).
Xeroderma pigmentosum variants have decreased repair of ultraviolet-damaged DNA.

XERODERMA pigmentosum (XP) is an inherited human disease characterised by the development of pigmentation abnormalities and numerous malignancies on sun-exposed areas1. Fibroblasts from typical patients with XP are defective in the repair of ultraviolet-produced damage of their DNA: These cells show (with respect to normal fibroblasts) decreased amounts of ultraviolet-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis1–3, less ultraviolet-induced uptake of bromodeoxyuridine into parental DNA (refs 2 and 4), and greater sensitivity to ultraviolet irradiation in terms of colony forming ability5–7. The relationship of the DNA repair defect(s) to the clinical manifestations of XP, however, has been obscured by the finding of a group of patients, designated XP ‘variants’8, who have the clinical manifestations of the disease1,8, but whose cells lack the repair defects (Table 1). Using a sensitive host-cell reactivation technique, I have found that fibroblasts from patients belonging to all five known variant kindreds have defects in the repair of DNA damaged by ultraviolet irradiation.
Chemical kinetic modeling of exhaust hydrocarbon oxidation

Abstract Numerical simulations of the oxidation of unburned hydrocarbons from spark ignition engines were made based on full-chemistry, zero-dimensional models and compared with experiments for engine-out hydrocarbons and exhaust port oxidation. Simple correlations can be drawn between calculated results for hydrocarbon oxidation half-lives in plug or stirred reactors and measured hydrocarbon emissions. The extent of reaction through the exhaust port was simulated using calculated temperature histories for each burned gas mass element leaving the cylinder, coupled to detailed chemical kinetic rate equations. The results show that, for the fuels considered, the extent of oxidation of the remaining unburned fuel measured through the exhaust can be bracketed by the calculated results for the well-mixed (average) and core (adiabatically expanded) temperatures in the exhaust. Most of the oxidation is shown to occur at the very early exhaust times. For the paraffins considered, comparisons of simulations and experiments suggest that fuel oxidation is partially controlled by the mixing of cold gases at the initial stages of exhaust, where temperatures are high and the cold unburned mixture emerges from the wall layers into the exhaust jet. These conclusions are supported by the relatively small measured dependence on fuel type of the extent of oxidation in the exhaust, and by the resulting ratio of fuel to nonfuel hydrocarbons in the exhaust port exit.
Continuous measurement of backrest elevation in critical care: a research strategy.

Objective To develop and test a procedure for continuous measurement of backrest elevation in critical care for enhancing the precision of this measurement for research purposes. Design Descriptive, correlational. SETTING AND MEASUREMENTS: Backrest elevation, defined as the height of the head of the bed in degrees of elevation above horizontal, can be continuously monitored by using two transducers, one attached to the bed frame just distal to the head of the bed gatch and another attached to the bed frame at the top of the bed. By monitoring the differential head pressure between the two pressure channels, the height of the head of the bed can be calculated. A total of 30 random measurements of backrest elevation, from 0 degrees to 60 degrees, were taken by using the backrest elevation measurement on the bed frame, a handheld protractor, and the pressure differential between two transducers attached to the bed frame. Data collectors recorded one measurement independent of the other measurements. All measurements were conducted on the same bed. Results When the transduced method was compared with measurements by using a protractor, the Bland-Altman analysis technique yielded upper and lower limits of agreement of 8.93 degrees and -5.91 degrees, respectively. The bias was 1.51 degrees, and the precision was 3.71 degreees. Conclusions The measurement technique described here was developed for research purposes to add precision to research studies examining the appropriate height of the backrest. However, the procedure could be used in a continuous quality improvement process to enhance compliance with patient care procedures involving backrest elevation or to confirm actual nursing practice and its correlation with patient outcome. In light of the risks associated with the use of supine positioning in critically ill and mechanically ventilated patients, the information gained from continuous measurement of backrest position could be an extremely valuable research tool.
Effects of Interviewer Age on Reporting of Sexual and Reproductive Behavior of Hispanic and African American Youth

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the effects of interviewer age on the reporting of personal behaviors including sexual experience, abortion, live births, and condom use. Data were drawn from a household probability sample of 1,435 urban, low-income, African American and Hispanic youths 15 to 24 years of age conducted in 1991. The results indicate that interviewer age does play a role in the reporting of sensitive behaviors, although the effects were not uniform for gender and ethnic groups. The strongest effects were observed for Hispanic women who reported more sexual activity to younger interviewers. Implications for making comparisons of sexual risk behaviors between ethnic groups with sample survey data are discussed.
Postponement: an evolving supply chain concept

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess and document the progress of postponement research, identify current gaps, and provide direction for future research efforts.Design/methodology/approach – Postponement literature published from 1999 to 2006 was reviewed.Findings – The review revealed a significant increase in the number of postponement research efforts, many of which at least partially addressed past challenges noted in previous research. Several opportunities to continue addressing these past challenges were identified. Future researchers are challenged to validate new postponement concepts and extend postponement research beyond its manufacturing context. Other challenges call for the continued assessment of the relationship between postponement and uncertainty and the investigation into the slow rate of postponement adoption among practitioners.Research limitations/implications – This effort is not an exhaustive review of all postponement research. This review does not consider unpublish...
Next-Generation Parametric Reduced-Order Models

Abstract Novel parametric reduced-order models are proposed for fast reanalysis to predict the dynamic response of complex structures, which suffered thickness variations caused by design changes or damage in one or more substructures. Parametric reduced-order models developed previously have two important challenges to overcome to improve accuracy and performance: (a) the transformation matrix is not mathematically stable and (b) the Taylor series parameterization techniques do not capture thickness variations of the structure modeled with solid-type elements due to the highly nonlinear dependence on thickness changes. Thus, herein, a new transformation matrix and novel parameterization techniques are proposed. Usual reduced-order models have an additional challenge, namely the difficulty in reducing the interface degrees of freedom. Thus a way of reducing the interface degrees of freedom is also proposed. The predicted vibration responses of complex structures are shown to agree very well with results obtained using a much more computationally expensive commercial tool.
Monoclonal Antibodies against Apple 1-Aminocyclopropane-l-Carboxylate Synthase

We report here on the isolation of monoclonal antibodies that recognize both native and denatured forms of ACC synthase and their use in the purification and characterization of ACC synthase from apple fruit tissue
“Click here for HIV”: An Analysis of Internet-Based Bug Chasers and Bug Givers

This study presents an examination of characteristics of men who engage in bareback sex for purposes of bug chasing and bug giving. Drawing on personal ads posted on an Internet website geared for men seeking male sexual partners, the present analysis focuses on identifying characteristics of men seeking to become HIV infected (bug chasers) and men seeking to intentionally infect others with HIV (bug givers). Nearly one in ten ads posted during a one-year period are identified as from bug chasers or bug givers and serve as the sample for analysis. Results reveal a profile of bug chasers and bug givers, with demographic, appearance, sexual activity preferences, and degree of openness differences between the two groups.
Familiarity With and Advocacy of Healthy People 2010 Goals by Mississippi Chiropractic Association Members

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the familiarity with and stated advocacy of Healthy People 2010 objectives by member doctors of the Mississippi Chiropractic Association. Methods Peer experts established face validity of a questionnaire regarding the Leading Health Indicators. This survey was distributed to 157 Mississippi Chiropractic Association members in 2009 during a conference and a follow-up by postal mail. Results Most doctors of chiropractic in the sample (n = 68, or 43% response) consider themselves wellness-oriented health care providers. Forty-two percent had read, 29% had not read, and another 29% were unsure whether they had read the Healthy People 2010 national objectives. Almost half (44%) strongly or somewhat agreed that their office practice reflects support for the Healthy People 2010 objective. In contrast, 27% disagree and 29% were unsure if their practice reflects the Healthy People 2010 objectives. There were differences between support and practice behaviors for some of the objectives. Chiropractors who have read the objectives tend to be more supportive of the national goals. Doctors of chiropractic in this sample are supportive of most Leading Health Indicators, and the majority reports that they incorporate these public health goals into their practices. Conclusion Familiarity with reading the Health People objectives seems to be related to reported practice behaviors. There is a need to improve the percentage of practicing doctors of chiropractic who are familiar with Healthy People objectives. Future health education initiatives may assist doctors of chiropractic in further incorporating public health objectives into their practice behaviors and improving quality health care.
Framework for analog test coverage

Measurement of the quality of tests run during high volume manufacturing of microprocessors is important to ensure desired outgoing product quality. For digital logic on die, such measurement is performed using techniques such as fast event-driven fault simulation using mature fault models such as stuck-at and transition faults. For analog modules on die, such test quality measurement is not performed in practice due to lack of (a) mature fault models to describe analog failures, and (b) automated, efficient and accurate fault simulation methods. This work is a first step towards our objective of establishing a practical methodology to measure analog test quality. We show promising results of a semi-automated fault simulation approach on analog modules of a high speed serial IO receiver that compares (a) two manufacturing tests in terms of their defect detection capability as measured by their fault coverages for gross and parametric faults, and, (b) the accuracy and performance of using models versus schematics for fault effect propagation.
Iron-deficiency anemia is a common presenting issue with giant paraesophageal hernia and resolves following repair.

A significant percentage of patients with paraesophageal hernia (PEH) will have a co-existing diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia which will resolve following surgical repair. Between 2000 and 2010, 270 patients underwent operative repair of PEH. Of this group, 123 patients (45.6 %) reported a preexisting diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia. The study group consisted of 77 patients with a documented preoperative hemoglobin level (Hb) consistent with iron-deficiency anemia and a follow-up level at least 3 months following surgery. Of the 77 patients included, 72 underwent elective repair, median age was 75 (39–91) years, and 65 % were female. Cameron erosions were identified preoperatively in 32 %. Mean preoperative hemoglobin was 9.6 (4.4–13.6) g/dl and postoperative hemoglobin was 13.2 (10.7–17) g/dl at 3–12 months and 13.6 (9.7–17.2) g/dl at more than 1 year. Ninety percent of patients had a rise in postoperative hemoglobin level by at least 1 g/dL. Anemia resolved in 55 (71 %) patients, more often in women and younger patients (<70 years). Twenty-nine of 40 (73 %) patients on iron therapy discontinued this postoperatively. A significant number of patients who present with giant PEH will present with iron-deficiency anemia. Elective repair will result in resolution of the anemia in more than 70 % of patients. PEH is underappreciated as a source of iron-deficiency anemia, and appropriate patients should be considered for elective repair.
The Promise of Sonic Translation: Performing the Festive Sacred in Morocco

ABSTRACT How do international music festivals produce experiences of the sacred in multifaith audiences? What is their part in creating transnational communities of affect? In this article, I theorize what I call “the promise of sonic translation”: the trust in the ultimate translatability of aural (as opposed to textual) codes. This promise, I assert, produces the “festive sacred,” a configuration of aesthetic and embodied practices associated with festivity wherein people of different religions and nations create and cohabit an experience of the sacred through heightened attention to auditory and sense-based modes of devotion conceived as “universal.” The festive sacred is a transnational (thus mobile) phenomenon inextricable from the enterprise of sacred tourism. Such festive forms not only produce a Turnerian communitas but also create new transnational categories that mediate religious sentiment and reenchant the world.
Synthesis of linked carbon monolayers: Films, balloons, tubes, and pleated sheets

Because of their potential for use in advanced electronic, nanomechanical, and other applications, large two-dimensional, carbon-rich networks have become an important target to the scientific community. Current methods for the synthesis of these materials have many limitations including lack of molecular-level control and poor diversity. Here, we present a method for the synthesis of two-dimensional carbon nanomaterials synthesized by Mo- and Cu-catalyzed cross-linking of alkyne-containing self-assembled monolayers on SiO2 and Si3N4. When deposited and cross-linked on flat surfaces, spheres, cylinders, or textured substrates, monolayers take the form of these templates and retain their structure on template removal. These nanomaterials can also be transferred from surface to surface and suspended over cavities without tearing. This approach to the synthesis of monolayer carbon networks greatly expands the chemistry, morphology, and size of carbon films accessible for analysis and device applications.
Target signal enhancement in near-surface controlled-source electromagnetic data

Controlled-source electromagnetic-conductivity profiles and maps were obtained on the Brazos Valley, Texas, floodplain to study the fractal statistics of geologic noise and the effects of man-made conductive metal targets. Fourier transform, discrete wavelet transforms, and variogram analyses were used. Targets tend to flatten the power-law power spectrum at small wavenumbers and shift power to higher wavenumbers. Detection and localization of targets can be achieved using wavelet spectrogram techniques. Additionally, variograms from pure background conductivity maps show a power-law trend for all lags, whereas, in the presence of targets, a short power-law trend is followed by a sill corresponding to a loss in spatial correlation. A simple preprocessing step that combines responses from two perpendicular transmitter-receiver orientations enhances the localization of targets and rejects background signals in profiles and 2D apparent-conductivity maps. Finally, a field example shows how the use of wavelet filtering is able to separate target responses from the geologic background.
Total zinc in zinc battery plates by EDTA titration

Zinc battery plate electrodes are analyzed for zinc oxide, zinc chloride, zinc fluoride, zinc carbonate, zinc oxychloride, total zinc, zinc as the metal, and trace metals. A variety of methods are used to determine each of these components. The amount of zinc in each of the zinc compounds is determined by multiplying the percent of the compound by the ratio of the molecular weights of zinc to the zinc compound. This percent zinc is subtracted from percent total zinc and the operation is performed for every zinc compound determined. The remaining zinc value after these subtractions represents zinc as the metal. Zinc metal is the charged state on the anode. Percent total zinc is required in all these calculations. The importance of these components cannot be overemphasized. The presence, or absence, of certain components in the zinc electrode can influence its behavior in a zinc-silver oxide primary battery. Passivation layers, tendency to dendritic growth, corrosion rates, voltage rise times, current density, porosity, surface area, electrochemical capacity, and other considerations make it imperative that the chemical composition of the zinc electrode be known. The focus of this project was to evaluate the existing method for total zinc and to develop a better method. The existing method uses the disodium salt of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) with Eriochrome Black T as the indicator. >
Positive predictive value of a point-of-care testing strategy on first-draw specimens for the emergency department-based detection of acute coronary syndromes.

Abstract Context.—The rapid and accurate diagnosis of the etiology of chest pain is of central importance in the triage of patients presenting to emergency departments. The “first-draw” sensitivity of serum cardiac markers is known to be low on initial presentation; however, less is understood regarding the predictive value of a positive test in this situation. Objective.—To determine the ability of a critical pathway combining medical history and physical examination, electrocardiographic findings, point-of-care testing, and central laboratory data to accurately predict the presence of acute coronary ischemia. Methods.—We investigated the positive predictive value of a testing algorithm for first-draw specimens in clinical practice, combining a qualitative, point-of-care, triple-screen testing panel for cardiac markers, including myoglobin, creatine kinase–MB, and cardiac troponin I, with confirmation of the rapid assay in the central hospital laboratory by quantitative assays for creatine kinase–MB and ...
Dynamic self-assembly in living systems as computation

Biochemical reactions taking place in living systems that map different inputs to specific outputs are intuitively recognized as performing information processing. Conventional wisdom distinguishes such proteins, whose primary function is to transfer and process information, from proteins that perform the vast majority of the construction, maintenance, and actuation tasks of the cell (assembling and disassembling macromolecular structures, producing movement, and synthesizing and degrading molecules). In this paper, we examine the computing capabilities of biological processes in the context of the formal model of computing known as the random access machine (RAM) [Dewdney AK (1993) The New Turing Omnibus. Computer Science Press, New York], which is equivalent to a Turing machine [Minsky ML (1967) Computation: Finite and Infinite Machines. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ]. When viewed from the RAM perspective, we observe that many of these dynamic self-assembly processes --- synthesis, degradation, assembly, movement --- do carry out computational operations. We also show that the same computing model is applicable at other hierarchical levels of biological systems (e.g., cellular or organism networks as well as molecular networks). We present stochastic simulations of idealized protein networks designed explicitly to carry out a numeric calculation. We explore the reliability of such computations and discuss error-correction strategies (algorithms) employed by living systems. Finally, we discuss some real examples of dynamic self-assembly processes that occur in living systems, and describe the RAM computer programs they implement. Thus, by viewing the processes of living systems from the RAM perspective, a far greater fraction of these processes can be understood as computing than has been previously recognized.
Total ozone mapping by integrating databases from remote sensing instruments and empirical models

Atmospheric studies often require the generation of high-resolution maps of ozone distribution across space and time. The high natural variability of ozone concentrations and the different levels of accuracy of the algorithms used to generate data from remote sensing instruments introduce major sources of uncertainty in ozone modeling and mapping. These aspects of atmospheric ozone distribution cannot be confronted satisfactorily by means of conventional interpolation and statistical data analysis. We suggest that the techniques of Modern Spatiotemporal Geostatistics (MSG) can be used efficiently to integrate salient (although of varying uncertainty) physical knowledge bases about atmospheric ozone in order to generate and update realistic pictures of ozone distribution across space and time. The MSG techniques rely on a powerful scientific methodology that does not make the restrictive modeling assumptions of previous techniques. A numerical study is discussed involving datasets generated by measuring instruments onboard the Nimbus 7 satellite. In addition to exact (hard) ozone data, the MSG techniques process uncertain measurements and secondary (soft) information in terms of total ozone-tropopause pressure empirical relationships. Nonlinear estimators are used, in general, and non-Gaussian probability laws are automatically incorporated. The proposed total ozone analysis can take into consideration major sources of error in the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer solar backscatter ultraviolet tropospheric ozone residual (related to data sampling, etc.) and produce high spatial resolution maps that are more accurate and informative than those obtained by conventional interpolation techniques.
DPSK demodulator based on optical discriminator filter

A 10-Gb/s differential phase-shift-keying (DPSK) demodulator is demonstrated based on an ultranarrow 6.2-GHz optical discriminator filter. The DPSK demodulator operates with a conventional direct detection p-i-n receiver, while still outperforming on-off keying by 1.2 dB.
Epigenetic induction of adaptive immune response in multiple myeloma: sequential azacitidine and lenalidomide generate cancer testis antigen‐specific cellular immunity

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) undergoing high dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) remain at risk for disease progression. Induction of the expression of highly immunogenic cancer testis antigens (CTA) in malignant plasma cells in MM patients may trigger a protective immune response following SCT. We initiated a phase II clinical trial of the DNA hypomethylating agent, azacitidine (Aza) administered sequentially with lenalidomide (Rev) in patients with MM. Three cycles of Aza and Rev were administered and autologous lymphocytes were collected following the 2nd and 3rd cycles of Aza-Rev and cryopreserved. Subsequent stem cell mobilization was followed by high-dose melphalan and SCT. Autologous lymphocyte infusion (ALI) was performed in the second month following transplantation. Fourteen patients have completed the investigational therapy; autologous lymphocytes were collected from all of the patients. Thirteen patients have successfully completed SCT and 11 have undergone ALI. Six patients tested have demonstrated CTA up-regulation in either unfractionated bone marrow (n = 4) or CD138+ cells (n = 2). CTA (CTAG1B)-specific T cell response has been observed in all three patients tested and persists following SCT. Epigenetic induction of an adaptive immune response to cancer testis antigens is safe and feasible in MM patients undergoing SCT.
DEFINING THE TRADE SPACE OF MORE EFFICIENT METHODS OF SATELLITE DISPOSAL

In the past 40 years, mankind has launched thousands of tons of material into orbit around Earth. A result of these launches is an ever-increasing population of orbital debris and dead satellites. Orbital debris mitigation policy is beginning to be written, but more effective and efficient disposal methods must be developed. Currently, in some aerospace institutions, there is a push toward smaller, distributed satellite systems that might include hundreds or thousands of satellites. In light of such developments, the need for effective satellite disposal methods is even more crucial. A study has been undertaken that details the best disposal method based on a spacecraft's mass and end of life altitude. The best system is defined as the one that can deorbit a satellite within one year with a minimum system mass. The trade space that is laid out includes use of tethers, thrusters, and "drag parachutes" and may include other methods as technology continues to develop.