cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Directed Mutation in Escherichia Coli: Theory and Mechanisms

For a haploid unicellular organism, such as Escherichia coli, that reproduces asexually by binary fission, the concept of “self”, or more appropriately, “individual”, may be indistinguishable from the concept of organism. Controversy has arisen in the past about whether and how such creatures maintain themselves as a species since every new mutant that appears could, theoretically, give rise to a clone of unique descendants. Indeed, based largely upon protein electrophoresis patterns it has been estimated that the worldwide population of E. coli consists of only 102–103 such clones [1]. This result implies that E. coli in the wild rarely engage in chromosomal recombination, and that the genetic exchanges that take place via extrachromosomal elements leave chromosomal genes largely unchanged [1, 2]. (However, see Reference 3 for an alternative interpretation).
Information Share in Options Markets: The Role of Volume, Volatility, and Earnings Announcements

Information Share in Options Markets: The Role of Volume, Volatility, and Earnings Announcements
Evaluation of Biliary Bacterial Resistance in Patients with Frequent Biliary Instrumentation, One Size Does Not Fit All

Bacteremia due to cholangitis can occur as a complication of biliary instrumentation. Biliary sepsis can result from frequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We hypothesized that routine use of antibiotics in patients who require frequent ERCPs leads to cholangitis resistant to empiric antibiotics used to treat biliary sepsis. We retrospectively reviewed patients with frequent biliary instrumentation and blood stream infection due to cholangitis. Conventional empiric antibiotics were defined as broad-spectrum antibacterial agents predominantly used for community-acquired infections and surgical prophylaxis. Broad-spectrum antibacterial agents used for hospital-onset/multidrug-resistant infections were defined as broad-spectrum MDR antibiotics. Seventy-eight patients had bacteremia secondary to cholangitis from biliary obstruction. Over 50% of bacteria were not sensitive to conventional empiric antibiotics for biliary sepsis. Thirty-seven patients did not receive post-procedural antibiotics and forty-one patients did. Of the ones who did, 58% later had a bloodstream infection with bacteria resistant to the antibiotic used for prophylaxis, and 26 patients (63%) required a broad-spectrum MDR antibiotic for treatment. The number of ERCPs was not associated with resistance to prophylactic antibiotics (p 0.7103) or needing broad-spectrum MDR antibiotics for treatment of cholangitis-associated bacteremia (p 0.1868). Routine use of antibiotic prophylaxis after ERCP was associated with trend toward need for broad-spectrum MDR antibiotics for cholangitis-associated bacteremia, Chi-square 3.7, 0 0.0540. Bacterial resistance to conventional empiric antibiotics is an emerging problem. Blood cultures are needed to guide therapy.
Utilization of Electrodiagnostic Testing for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by General Practitioners Prior to Hand Surgery Consultation

Background:Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral mononeuropathy and thus is frequently encountered by general practitioners (GPs). The aim of this study is to investigate the referral pattern of GPs with regard to electrodiagnostic (EDX) testing for suspected CTS prior to hand surgery consultation, as well as to investigate the results of EDX testing for suspected CTS when requested by GPs prior to evaluation by a hand surgeon. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients referred to our hand surgery clinic over a consecutive 2-year period for suspected CTS. Results: A total of 403 patients were referred to our hand surgery clinic from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. Of the 403, 295 (73.2%) were referred by GPs. GPs obtained prereferral EDX testing in 198 (67.1%) of these patients. EDX testing confirmed their diagnosis in 177 patients (89.4%). There were 21 patients (10.6%) identified with normal EDX testing and a more likely diagnosis reached based on clinical examination. Co...
Pedagogy for the Ethical Dimensions of Energy Transitions from Ethiopia to Appalachia

Education on energy ethics is a crucial part of engaging students in learning about energy systems and energy transitions that needs further development. This article describes the use of case studies and active learning tools to achieve learning outcomes related to the ethical and social dimensions of energy. It discusses a daylong workshop held for undergraduate and graduate students at Michigan State University in February 2017 and evaluates pre- and postlearning outcomes. Two case studies are described that highlight ethical trade-offs in energy transitions. An international case study on Ethiopia and the Grand Renaissance Dam illustrates the benefits and drawbacks of cross-border electricity trade related to energy access, economic growth, and the energy-water nexus. A domestic case study on coal miners and coal towns in Appalachia examines the layered influences of place attachment and the challenges of economic diversification post-peak coal extraction.
Two-Level Volt/Var Control Strategy in Distribution Networks with Intermittent Renewables

This paper proposes a two-level Volt/Var control strategy in distribution networks considering the integration of intermittent renewables. It combines central and local control schemes. The central control collects loads and distributed generation (DG) measurements to optimize reactive power set-point of DG units to keep voltages within allowable limits. In addition, the central control uses a scenario-based approach to optimize local control parameters. This strategy considers the uncertainty related to photovoltaic (PV) systems, which is applied to a radial distribution feeder with high PV penetration. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in regulating voltage within limits and dealing with the fluctuation of DGs.
Bringing Nuance to Automated Exam and Classroom Response System Grading: A Tool for Rapid, Flexible, and Scalable Partial-Credit Scoring.

We present here an extension of Morrison’s and Ruder’s “Sequence-Response Questions” (SRQs) that allows for more nuance in the assessment of student responses to these questions. We have implemented grading software (which we call ANGST, “Automated Nuanced Grading & Statistics Tool”) in a Microsoft Excel sheet that can take SRQ answer data from any source and flexibly and automatically grade these responses with partial credit. This allows for instructors to assess a range of understanding of material from student-generated answers as in a traditional written exam, while still reducing grading workload for large classes. It also allows instructors to do automated statistical analysis on the most popular answers, and subanswers, either from sources like exams or classroom response systems (CRSs), to determine common misunderstandings and facilitate adjustments to instruction.
New feature selection methods based on opposition-based learning and self-adaptive cohort intelligence for predicting patient no-shows

Abstract Patient no-shows have significant adverse effects on healthcare systems. Therefore, predicting patients’ no-shows is necessary to use their appointment slots effectively. In the literature, filter feature selection methods have been prominently used for patient no-show prediction. However, filter methods are less effective than wrapper methods. This paper presents new wrapper methods based on three variants of the proposed algorithm, Opposition-based Self-Adaptive Cohort Intelligence (OSACI). The three variants of OSACI are referred to in this paper as OSACI-Init, OSACI-Update, and OSACI-Init_Update, which are formed by the integration of Self-Adaptive Cohort Intelligence (SACI) with three Opposition-based Learning (OBL) strategies; namely: OBL initialization, OBL update, and OBL initialization and update, respectively. The performance of the proposed algorithms was examined and compared with that of Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Differential Evolution (DE), and SACI in terms of AUC, sensitivity, specificity, dimensionality reduction, and convergence speed. Patient no-show data of a primary care clinic in upstate New York was used in the numerical experiments. The results showed that the proposed algorithms outperformed the other compared algorithms by achieving higher dimensionality reduction and better convergence speed while achieving comparable AUC, sensitivity, and specificity scores.
Association of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children With Preterm Birth and Infant Mortality

Importance Nearly 4 in 10 expectant mothers in the United States received Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits during pregnancy between 2011 and 2017. Despite public support for the program, empirical evidence of the success of the program varies substantially. Objective To assess the association of WIC program participation during pregnancy by low-income expectant mothers covered by Medicaid with infant mortality by gestational age at birth and by maternal race/ethnicity in comparison with their counterparts who did not receive WIC benefits. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study obtained data from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2017, from US live birth certificates. Data were from 11 148 261 expectant mothers who delivered live births in states that have implemented the 2003 revision of the US live birth certificate and whose insurance coverage and receipt of WIC benefits were recorded on the birth certificates. Data analysis was performed from June 2019 to October 2019. Exposures Receipt of WIC benefits during pregnancy. Main Outcomes and Measures The first outcome was gestational age at birth: extremely preterm ( Results Among the 11 148 261 expectant mothers who delivered live births between 2011 and 2017 and were covered by Medicaid during pregnancy, the modal age at delivery was 20 to 24 years, the predominant race/ethnicity was non-Hispanic white (4 257 790 [38.2%]), and 8 145 770 (73.1%) received WIC benefits during pregnancy. The proportion of expectant mothers covered by Medicaid who also received WIC benefits decreased from 2011 to 2017 (79.3% to 67.9%;P Conclusions and Relevance This study found that receipt of WIC benefits among expectant mothers with Medicaid coverage was associated with lower risk of preterm birth and infant mortality.
Multiplex protein-specific microscopy with ultraviolet surface excitation.

Immunohistochemical techniques, such as immunofluorescence (IF) staining, enable microscopic imaging of local protein expression within tissue samples. Molecular profiling enabled by IF is critical to understanding pathogenesis and is often involved in complex diagnoses. A recent innovation, known as microscopy with ultraviolet surface excitation (MUSE), uses deep ultraviolet (≈280 nm) illumination to excite labels at the tissue surface, providing equivalent images without fixation, embedding, and sectioning. However, MUSE has not yet been integrated into traditional IF pipelines. This limits its application in more complex diagnoses that rely on protein-specific markers. This paper aims to broaden the applicability of MUSE to multiplex immunohistochemistry using quantum dot nanoparticles. We demonstrate the advantages of quantum dot labels for protein-specific MUSE imaging on both paraffin-embedded and intact tissue, significantly expanding MUSE applicability to protein-specific applications. Furthermore, with recent innovations in three-dimensional ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy, this opens the door to three-dimensional IF imaging with quantum dots using ultraviolet excitation.
Biomechanical Evaluation of Passive Back-Support Exoskeletons in a Precision Manual Assembly Task: "Expected" Effects on Trunk Muscle Activity, Perceived Exertion, and Task Performance.

ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of two different passive back-support exoskeleton (BSE) designs, in terms of trunk muscle activity, perceived low-back exertion, and task performance.BackgroundBSEs ...
Social Influences on Obesity: Current Knowledge, Emerging Methods, and Directions for Future Research and Practice.

Individuals tend to be socially connected with those of similar weight and obesity status. To inform future research and intervention development, we reviewed recent literature examining social influences on weight with a focus on mechanisms of social influence, populations studied, and emerging analytical methods. Social networks appear to influence weight gain and weight loss. It remains unclear what underlying mechanisms (e.g., social norms, social comparison, behavioral modeling) drive this relationship. Stochastic actor-oriented modeling is an important method in the field, but other work has leveraged natural experiment or randomized designs to study social influence. Future networks and obesity research should examine social influence mechanisms, focus on diverse populations across the life course, and carefully consider how to adequately control for competing factors of social selection and physical environments.
Percutaneous Cordotomy for Pain Palliation in Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study Protocol.

Background Cancer pain, one of the most common symptoms for patients with advanced cancer, is often refractory to maximal medical therapy. A controlled clinical trial is needed to provide definitive evidence to support the use of ablative procedures such as cordotomy for patients with medically refractory cancer pain. Objective To assess the efficacy of cordotomy for patients with unilateral advanced cancer pain using a controlled clinical trial study design. The secondary objectives are to define the patient experience of cordotomy for medically refractory cancer pain as well as to determine the utility of magnetic resonance imaging as a non-invasive biomarker for successful cordotomy. Methods We will undertake a single-institution, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial of cordotomy in patients with refractory cancer pain. Patients in the cordotomy arm will undergo a percutaneous computed tomography-guided cordotomy at C1-C2, while patients in the control arm will undergo a similar procedure where the needle will not penetrate the thecal sac. The primary endpoint will be the reduction in pain intensity, as measured by the Edmonton Symptoms Assessment Scale. Expected outcomes We expect that patients randomized to cordotomy will have a significantly greater reduction in pain intensity than those patients randomized to the control surgical intervention. Discussion This randomized clinical trial comparing cordotomy with a control intervention will provide the level of evidence necessary to determine whether cordotomy should be the standard of care intervention for patients with advanced cancer pain.
Nonlinear Measure of EEG Complexity in the Eker Rat model of Autism Disorder: a Pilot Study

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a severe pathological condition often accompanied by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and epilepsy. Recently, conclusions resulting from exploration of animal models suggested inhibition of mTOR to be a potential effective treatment. The EEG activity in Tsc2+/- (Eker) rat model has never been explored before. In this pilot study, we performed nonlinear EEG analysis to characterize its significant alterations resulting from treatment based on mTORi (inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin), as well as from induction of developmental status epilepticus (DSE). Our results based of approximate entropy calculations confirmed that Everolimus (mTOR inhibitor) has a different influence on the regularity of EEG oscillations in wild-type and Tsc2+/- individuals. Moreover, we did not observe any alteration of EEG pattern complexity in adult rats with a history of DSE, and conclude that genotype (Tsc2+/-) and DSE state are probably influenced by different mechanisms of mTORi, with potential for clinical practice.
Black Lives Matter: Strategies Through REVOLUTION

[ ]you can write a letter to your unit's or organization's leadership, regularly ask how patients' culture impacts their well-being and the nursing care received, and collectively ensure that the voices of Black nurses are heard Remember that creating an equitable and inclusive health care system and society is a personal and collective journey Karen Jennings Mathis, PhD, CNP, PMHNP-BC Assistant Professor and PMH Track Coordinator College of Nursing University of Rhode Island Nursing Education Center Providence, Rhode Island Nadia Ali Muhammad Ali Charania, PhD, RN Clinical Assistant Professor University of Michigan School of Nursing Ann Arbor, Michigan The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise
Spectral dynamics and gas-phase oxidation of laser-produced plutonium plasmas

We report results and analysis from a series of laser ablation experiments conducted to study high-temperature plutonium (Pu) spectroscopy and gas-phase oxidation. Time-resolved emission spectra were compared to a Pu I spectral model to infer plasma temperature. At later times in the laser-produced plasma evolution, temperatures are lower, and resonant emission bands indicative of molecular species are observed. We tentatively assign these bands to plutonium oxides (PuxOy).
“Maybe You Should Try It This Way Instead”: Youth Activism Amid Managerialist Subterfuge:

The authors theorize what we call managerialist subterfuge, drawing on distinct ethnographic studies to examine how adult “partners” leverage the language and strategies of corporate managerialism ...
Phylogenomic subsampling and the search for phylogenetically reliable loci

Abstract Phylogenomic subsampling is a procedure by which small sets of loci are selected from large genome-scale datasets and used for phylogenetic inference. This step is often motivated by either computational limitations associated with the use of complex inference methods, or as a means of testing the robustness of phylogenetic results by discarding loci that are deemed potentially misleading. Although many alternative methods of phylogenomic subsampling have been proposed, little effort has gone into comparing their behavior across different datasets. Here, I calculate multiple gene properties for a range of phylogenomic datasets spanning animal, fungal and plant clades, uncovering a remarkable predictability in their patterns of covariance. I also show how these patterns provide a means for ordering loci by both their rate of evolution and their relative phylogenetic usefulness. This method of retrieving phylogenetically useful loci is found to be among the top performing when compared to alternative subsampling protocols. Relatively common approaches such as minimizing potential sources of systematic bias or increasing the clock-likeness of the data are found to fare worse than selecting loci at random. Likewise, the general utility of rate-based subsampling is found to be limited: loci evolving at both low and high rates are among the least effective, and even those evolving at optimal rates can still widely differ in usefulness. This study shows that many common subsampling approaches introduce unintended effects in off-target gene properties, and proposes an alternative multivariate method that simultaneously optimizes phylogenetic signal while controlling for known sources of bias.
Eye tracking data analytics in virtual reality training: Application in Deepwater Horizon oil drilling operation:

Virtual reality (VR) enable us to train in a safe environment using computer-generated simulations. One such simulated environment is the Deepwater Horizon operation, and VR enables us to evaluate ...
State-level rurality and cigarette smoking-associated cancer incidence and mortality: Do individual-level trends translate to population-level outcomes?

Abstract County-level analyses demonstrate that overall cancer incidence is generally lower in rural areas, though incidence and mortality from tobacco-associated cancers are higher than in non-rural areas and have experienced slower declines over time. The goal of our study was to examine state-level rurality and smoking-related cancer outcomes. We used publicly-available national data to quantify rurality, cigarette smoking prevalence, and smoking-attributable cancer incidence and mortality at the state level and to estimate the population-attributable fraction of cancer deaths attributable to smoking for each state, overall and by gender, for 12 smoking-associated cancers. Accounting for a 15-year lag between smoking exposure and cancer diagnosis, the median proportion of smoking-attributable cancer deaths was 28.2% in Virginia (24.6% rural) and ranged from 19.9% in Utah (9.4% rural) to 35.1% in Kentucky (41.6% rural). By gender, the highest proportion of smoking-attributable cancer deaths for women (29.5%) was in a largely urban state (Nevada, 5.8% rural) and for men (38.0%) in a largely rural state (Kentucky). Regression analyses categorizing state-level rurality into low (0–13.9%), moderate (15.3–29.9%) and high (33.6–61.3%) levels showed that high rurality was associated with 5.8% higher cigarette smoking prevalence, higher age-adjusted smoking-associated cancer incidence (44.3 more cases per 100,000 population), higher smoking-associated cancer mortality (29.8 more deaths per 100,000 population), and 3.4% higher proportion of smoking-attributable cancer deaths compared with low rurality. Our findings highlight the magnitude of the relationship between state-level rurality and smoking-attributable cancer outcomes and the importance of tobacco control in reducing cancer disparities in rural populations.
INTERFACIAL X-RAY SCATTERING FROM SMALL SURFACES: ADAPTING MINERAL-FLUID STRUCTURE METHODS FOR MICROCRYSTALLINE MATERIALS

Crystal truncation rod (CTR) X-ray diffraction is an invaluable tool for measuring mineral surface and adsorbate structures, and has been applied to several environmentally and geochemically important systems. Traditionally, the method has been restricted to single crystals with lateral dimensions >3 mm. Minerals that meet this size criterion represent a minute fraction of those that are relevant to interfacial geochemistry questions, however. Crystal screening, data collection, and CTR measurement methods have been developed for crystals of <0.3 mm in lateral size using the manganese oxide mineral chalcophanite (ZnMn3O7·3H2O) as a case study. This work demonstrates the feasibility of applying the CTR technique to previously inaccessible surfaces, opening up a large suite of candidate substrates for future study.
Solving Difficult Structures

Common difficulties encountered in direct phase determination procedures, particularly for structures containing only light atoms, include: (l) Fragment of structure; (2) Fragment or molecule misplaced with respect to origin; (3) Elements of pseudo- symmetry; (4) Many indistinguishable phase sets; (5) Limited data; (6) Large cavities with disordered solvent; (7) Flexible molecules with disordered side chains; (8) Small values of l/N1/2 and, consequently, low probabilities for triplets; (9) No structure or recognizable fragment resulting from strong incorrect indications from triplets and quartets.
Development and Characterization of the Bonding and Integration Technologies Needed for Fabricating Silicon Carbide Based Injector Components

Advanced ceramic bonding and integration technologies play a critical role in the fabrication and application of silicon carbide based components for a number of aerospace and ground based applications. One such application is a lean direct injector for a turbine engine to achieve low NOx emissions. Ceramic to ceramic diffusion bonding and ceramic to metal brazing technologies are being developed for this injector application. For the diffusion bonding technology, titanium interlayers (coatings and foils) were used to aid in the joining of silicon carbide (SiC) substrates. The influence of such variables as surface finish, interlayer thickness, and processing time were investigated. Electron microprobe analysis was used to identify the reaction formed phases. In the diffusion bonds, an intermediate phase, Ti5Si3Cx, formed that is thermally incompatible in its thermal expansion and caused thermal stresses and cracking during the processing cool-down. Thinner interlayers of pure titanium and/or longer processing times resulted in an optimized microstructure. Tensile tests on the joined materials resulted in strengths of 13-28 MPa depending on the SiC substrate material. Nondestructive evaluation using ultrasonic immersion showed well formed bonds. For the joining technology of brazing Kovar fuel tubes to silicon carbide, preliminary development of the joining approach has begun. Various technical issues and requirements for the injector application are addressed.
Improving forecast accuracy by a segmented rate of change in technology forecasting using data envelopment analysis (TFDEA)

Technology forecasting using data envelopment analysis (TFDEA) captures technological advancement from the evolution of the state-of-the-art (SOA) frontier. Within this process, TFDEA combines rates of changes (RoC) from past technologies that have been superseded by superior technologies. However, it was occasionally observed in previous applications that forecasting based on a single aggregated RoC did not consider the unique growth patterns of each technology segment, which resulted in a conservative or aggressive forecasting. This study proposes a procedure to improve the forecasting accuracy by identifying local rates of change for each frontier segment that may represent different product families. This approach is applied to six previously published applications using a rolling origin hold-out sample tests to validate its performance compared to the traditional TFDEA approach. The results indicate that the segmented rate of change approach determines different rates of change for product niches that result in more accurate forecasts.
Growth kinetics of three species of Tetrahymena on solid agar

A nutrient-agar method without liquid overlay has been developed for cultivation of ciliates. Three species of Tetrahymena-T. pyriformis strain W, T. rostrata strain UNI, and T. vorax strain V/sub 2/S, representing the 3 main groups of Tetrahymena species, were used; however the method should apply to other ciliates. Growth on the surface of the agar was facilitated by an optimal surface-to-volume ratio yielding a high density of ciliates and short generation times. At the highest density achieved, the cells became irregularly hexagonal and formed a monolayer tissue on the agar. Ciliates grown on agar were like those in liquid culture, typical oral ciliature, food-vacuole formation, and typical cortical patterns being retained. Advantages of this method include high cell density, easy recovery, and optimal O/sub 2/ supply. The organisms can also be cultivated on the surface of sterile cellulose-nitrate filters, facilitating in situ fixation and staining as well as transfer into different media by transfer of filters with cells, without prior centrifugation and resuspension.
Current proposals for parallel C

As powerful microprocessors become increasingly cheaper, there is a growing trend towards distributed processing on groups of these processors, both in the forms of networks of workstations, as well as distributed-memory computers where each processing node has its own local memory, and there is no global memory. Parallel applications are constructed by starting a program on each of the nodes in the network or distributed-memory computer, and having the individual programs communicate by sending messages to each other. Common message-passing libraries, such as MPI, PVM, and P4, are available to enhance portability across different platforms.There is an obvious analogy between sending messages between the nodes involved in these parallel applications and sending messages between objects in an object-oriented application. But programming with message passing libraries is cumbersome. Programs are easier to write when the programmer can use a familiar language.With this in mind, there has been much work on extending object-oriented languages to support parallelism, especially C++. However, there are many differences between the various proposals. Some use language extensions and require compiler support, while others use class libraries. Some support control parallelism, while others support data parallelism. In this presentation, we describe the features of some competing proposals for adding parallelism to C++. We also code a simple example in each of the proposals.
Comparison of Geothermal Power Conversion Cycles

Geothermal power conversion cycles are compared with respect to recovery of the available wellhead power. The cycles compared are flash steam, in which steam turbines are driven by steam separated from one or more flash stages; binary, in which heat is transferred from the brine to an organic turbine cycle; flash binary, in which heat is transferred from flashed steam to an organic turbine cycle; and dual steam, in which two-phase expanders are driven by the flashing steam-brine mixture and steam turbines by the separated steam. Expander efficiencies assumed are 0.7 for steam turbines, 0.8 for organic turbines, and 0.6 for two-phase expanders. The fraction of available wellhead power delivered by each cycle is found to be about the same at all brine temperatures: 0.65 with one stage and 0.7 with four stages for dual stream; 0.4 with one stage and 0.6 with four stages for flash steam; 0.5 for binary; and 0.3 with one stage and 0.5 with four stages for flash binary.
Programming with Transition Diagrams

In situations where the avoidance of goto statements would be inhibiting, programs can be methodically constructed by using transition diagrams. The key requirement is that the relevant assertions must be simple enough to permit exhaustive reasoning. The method is illustrated by programs for fast exponentiation, merging, and path-finding in a directed graph.
Genomic characteristics of coxsackievirus A8 strains associated with hand, foot, and mouth disease and herpangina

Coxsackievirus A8 (CV-A8), a member of the genus Enterovirus of the family Picornaviridae, can cause a variety of infectious diseases, such as hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), herpangina (HA), encephalitis, paralysis, myelitis, and meningitis. This is a first report of complete genome sequences of CV-A8 strains associated with HFMD/HA since the prototype strain Donovan was identified in 1949. The complete genome sequences of eight new CV-A8 strains showed 19.2 %-20.6 % nucleotide differences when compared to the prototype strain Donovan, and 81.5 %-99.9 % similarity to each other. The topology of a polyphyletic tree based on complete capsid protein gene sequences indicated that the new CV-A8 strains and Donovan are monophyletic. However, seven CV-A8 strains clustered with CV-A10 and CV-A2 in the 5'UTR and P2 region, respectively. In the P3 region, three and four CV-A8 strains grouped with CV-A6 and CV-A2, respectively. Seven CV-A8 strains segregated from Donovan and grouped in a separate lineage in the 3'UTR. The strain CVA8/SZ266/CHN/2014 was most similar to EV71 in the nonstructural proteins regions. Phylogenetic analysis classified worldwide CV-A8 isolates into four distinct clusters, and almost all Chinese and Thai CV-A8 strains evolved independently in their respective lineages, which indicated geographical evolution of CV-A8.
Solar, Geomagnetic and Auroral Variations Observed in Historical Data

The use of historical data sets to investigate solar and solar-terrestrial variability was demonstrated dramatically by J.A. Eddy when he described the Maunder Minimum. The historical record can also be examined for evidence of less dramatic changes such as those associated with the 88 year cycle in auroral activity. Power spectral analyses of historical auroral data from 450 AD to 1450 AD show a strong line at 88.4 ± 0.7 years verifying the existence of the Gleissberg cycle in auroras during that 1,000 years. The relation of these results to observations recorded since 1700 will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on developing a description of the changes in solar and solar terrestrial phenomena during the 1900 and 1815 minima in sunspot cycle amplitude and auroral and geomagnetic disturbance levels.
The MotA transcription factor from bacteriophage T4 contains a novel DNA-binding domain : the 'double wing' motif.

MotA is a transcription factor from bacteriophage T4 that helps adapt the host Escherichia coli transcription apparatus to T4 middle promoters. We have determined the crystal structure of the C-terminal DNA-binding domain of MotA (MotCF) to 1.6 A resolution using multiwavelength, anomalous diffraction methods. The structure reveals a novel DNA-binding alpha/beta motif that contains an exposed beta-sheet surface that mediates interactions with the DNA. Independent biochemical experiments have shown that MotCF binds to one surface of a single turn of DNA through interactions in adjacent major and minor grooves. We present a model of the interaction in which beta-ribbons at opposite corners of the six-stranded beta-sheet penetrate the DNA grooves, and call the motif a 'double wing' to emphasize similarities to the 'winged-helix' motif. The model is consistent with data on how MotA functions at middle promoters, and provides an explanation for why MotA can form non-specific multimers on DNA.
Photosynthetic and dark carbon metabolism in unicellular blue-green algae.

0946 09 1. The kinetics of 14CO2 incorporation into cellular intermediates was used to determine the primary pathway of carbon fixation by four genetically diverse unicellular blue-green algae. In each case label was first detected in 3-phosphoglycerate and then in compounds of the reductive pentose cycle. 2. A light to dark transition evoked the same response in all four strains: Immediate cessation of biosynthesis, rapid increase in the concentration of 6-phosphogluconate and changes in the concentrations of sugar mono- and diphosphates. On the other hand, after the first few seconds of dark incubation little or comparatively slow change was noted in the concentrations of 3-phosphoglycerate, phosphoenolpyruvate, citrate, aspartate, and glutamate. 3. For one strain (aphanocapsa 6308) an experiment using both 32P and 14CO2 as tracers revealed comparatively rapid turnover of metabolites common to the oxidative pentose cycle during dark incubation. Much slower turnover of labeled carbon was found in other metabolites of glycolysis and the biosynthetic portions of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. 4. During dark incubation of Aphanocapsa 6308 the concentration of adenosine triphosphate decreased to approximately 50% of the photosynthetic value within the first 50 sec. In the same period, adenosine diphosphate nearly doubled in concentration. By 4 min after the beginning of the dark period, the steady-state levels of the two adenylates had been restored to photosynthetic levels.
Mobility of the β1-γ 1 ′ martensitic interface in Cu-Al-Ni: Part II. Model calculations

The interaction of the twinnedβ -1-γ 1 ′ , martensitic interface with various experimentally observed obstacle particles is analyzed using a specific dislocation model for the interface. The strain interaction of particles with simple shears and tetragonal distortions and their modulus interactions are treated as functions of particle crystallographic orientation, particle position with respect to interfacial intersection, and particle size. Differences from previous predictions of a simple general interface model arise primarily from differences in the assumed interfacial trajectory relative to the particles. The finite-particle calculations indicate that the point-particle approximation is valid for a particle radius less than one-tenth the interfacial twin period. Overall agreement with the experimentally measured interfacial mobility behavior is greatly improved over the previous simple model prediction. The measured athermal component of the driving force for interfacial motion is consistent with the strain and modulus interaction with 2H-phase particles. The activation-energy /driving-force relations obtained from the thermally activated component are reasonably represented by the strain interaction with the fine-scale atomic displacements of the tweed structure.
Widely tunable monolithically integrated 40 Gbit/s wavelength converter with label modulation function

40 Gbit/s operation of a novel monolithically integrated wavelength converter consisting of a sampled grating DBR laser, a long SOA and a delay interferometer (DI)-MZI is reported. Error-free 40 Gbit/s wavelength conversion for three different probe wavelengths, and 10 Gbit/s intensity modulation by the DI-MZI for the optical label coding, are demonstrated.
Topex orbit sustenance maneuver design

A trade-off analysis between maneuver period, execution errors, and orbit determination uncertainties is carried out for the Ocean Topography Experiment spacecraft for a given nodal equatorial constraint. Semimajor axis and eccentricity are controlled with minimum impulse using the linear theory of optimal transfer between close coplanar near-circular orbits. Ellipses of equal minimum and average maneuver periods are presented in the (3 execution error, 3 orbit determination uncertainty) space for different nodal equatorial constraints enabling the determination of the appropriate combination of execution errors and orbit determination uncertainties that guarantees a mission required minimum maneuver period for a given nodal deadband.
Pharmacy: Small Hospitals, Nursing Homes Served by Consultant Pharmacists

(1967). Pharmacy: Small Hospitals, Nursing Homes Served by Consultant Pharmacists. Hospital Topics: Vol. 45, No. 9, pp. 95-97.
A quntitative demonstration of the domain of convergence of multipole representations of molecular potentials

Abstract The electrostatic potential of an approximate LCAO MO wavefunction is evaluated by two type of Taylor expansion of the 1/ r operator. The region of convergence of the expansion series is established by comparison of the potential calculated in these approximations with that calculated by rigorous evaluation of all (two-and three-center) integrals entering the exact expression. It is shown that segmental atomic moments (up to octopole) form an adequate representation of the molecular charge distribution for computation of potentials at points approaching the van der Waals radius.
Conservation and sex-specific splicing of the transformer gene in the calliphorids Cochliomyia hominivorax, Cochliomyia macellaria and Lucilia sericata.

Transformer (TRA) promotes female development in several dipteran species including the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina, the Mediterranean fruit fly, housefly and Drosophila melanogaster. tra transcripts are sex-specifically spliced such that only the female form encodes full length functional protein. The presence of six predicted TRA/TRA2 binding sites in the sex-specific female intron of the L. cuprina gene suggested that tra splicing is auto-regulated as in medfly and housefly. With the aim of identifying conserved motifs that may play a role in tra sex-specific splicing, here we have isolated and characterized the tra gene from three additional blowfly species, L. sericata, Cochliomyia hominivorax and C. macellaria. The blowfly adult male and female transcripts differ in the choice of splice donor site in the first intron, with males using a site downstream of the site used in females. The tra genes all contain a single TRA/TRA2 site in the male exon and a cluster of four to five sites in the male intron. However, overall the sex-specific intron sequences are poorly conserved in closely related blowflies. The most conserved regions are around the exon/intron junctions, the 3′ end of the intron and near the cluster of TRA/TRA2 sites. We propose a model for sex specific regulation of tra splicing that incorporates the conserved features identified in this study. In L. sericata embryos, the male tra transcript was first detected at around the time of cellular blastoderm formation. RNAi experiments showed that tra is required for female development in L. sericata and C. macellaria. The isolation of the tra gene from the New World screwworm fly C. hominivorax, a major livestock pest, will facilitate the development of a “male-only” strain for genetic control programs.
Bombardment thruster investigations at the Lewis Research Center

Mercury electron bombardment thrusters, discussing mission, design, ground tests, components and thrust vectoring
Geropsychology: meaning in life for adults over seventy.

Each of 25 residents in a convalescent center who had CAs ranging from 72 to 99 yr. was rated by a confidante or close relative on the Life Satisfaction Index, a Likert-type scale of six categories, each with a description of a source of meaning in life. The respondents rated Relationships as the most important category followed closely by Health; Service and Belief were given intermediate ratings; Growth and Life Work were least important. For the 20 convalescent residents who had ratings from respondents on all categories, a one-way analysis of variance for ratings across the six categories yielded a significant F ratio. Subsequent tests indicated only chance differences between Relationships and Health, but these two categories were significantly more important than all the remaining categories as sources for meaning in life. The implication for assessing fit of person and environment was noted.
Chronic hypoglycemia in childhood

Summary Two cases of persistent chronic postabsorptive hypoglycemia in children are described. The first child, I. S., presented a condition which is probably familial. The enlarged liver showed no glycogen but extensive fatty infiltration of the liver. There was sufficient hepatic tissue to perform its metabolic functions except that of glycogenesis. This primary failure to form glycogen from glucose, and the consequent absence of deposits of glycogen in the liver resulted in its secondary inability to mobilize the glucose and maintain a normal blood sugar level. A hypothesis is advanced for the presence of the fatty infiltration, e.g., the conversion of the glucose into fat since the dextrose could not be transformed into glycogen. The nature of the hypoglycemia of the second child is still not definitely known. The associated organic central nervous system condition has raised the question as to whether this lesion is not responsible for the hyperinsulinism rather than that we are dealing with a purely pancreatic hyperinsulinism due to neoplasm or hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the islands of Langerhans. It is felt that, since to date there has been described no definite case of hypoglycemia due to a central nervous system lesion and since, on the other hand, there are a sufficient number of unquestionable cases of hyperinsulinism due to a pancreatic lesion, we are probably dealing with pancreatic hyperinsulinism and that the central nervous system changes are either secondary or independent of the primary condition.
High-pressure ammonia adsorption and dissociation on clean fe(111) and oxygen-precovered fe(111) studied by sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy.

The adsorption of gases N2, H2, O2, and NH3 that play a role in ammonia synthesis have been studied on the Fe(111) crystal surface by Sum Frequency Generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy using an integrated ultrahigh vacuum/high-pressure system. SFG spectra are presented for the dissociation intermediates, NH2 (∼3325 cm-1) and NH (∼3235 cm-1) under high pressure of ammonia (200 Torr) on the clean Fe(111) surface. Addition of 0.5 Torr of oxygen to 200 Torr of ammonia does not significantly change the bonding of dissociation intermediates to the surface. However, it leads to a phase change of nearly 180° between the resonant and nonresonant second-order nonlinear susceptibility of the surface, demonstrated as a reversal of the SFG spectral features. Heating the surface in the presence of 200 Torr of ammonia and 0.5 Torr of oxygen reduces the oxygen coverage, which can be seen from the SFG spectra as another relative phase change of 180°. The reduction of the oxide is also supported by Auger electron spec...
Alcohol expectancies, social and environmental cues as determinants of drinking and perceived reinforcement

Increasing evidence suggests that outcome expectancies and environmental cues interact to influence post-drinking behaviors. Using an experimental methodology in a simulated social drinking setting, this research tested the potential influence of expectations for the effects of drinking, environmental cues, and beverage content on ad lib consumption and post-drinking self-perception. Eighty-eight moderate to heavy-drinking males were randomly assigned to one of eight experimental conditions in which beverage content (alcohol or placebo), social environment (friendly or unfriendly), and physical environment (simulated bar or residence) were varied. Subjects were further divided into high and low groups on three outcome expectancy factors. Unaffected by environmental cues, beverage self-administration increased when subjects strongly expected behavioral impairment from drinking but received placebo beverage. Post-drinking reports of disinhibition increased in response to friendly social cues but were not affected by beverage content or amount. Results therefore suggest that individual's beliefs about the effects of drinking influence the amounts of beverage they consume, whereas social cues more greatly affect post-drinking self-perception.
Predictive value of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in newly-diagnosed and recurrent ovarian cancer patients.

Abstract Objective To determine whether circulating tumor cells (CTCs), as detected and enumerated by the Veridex CellSearch TM system, could predict for clinical outcomes in women with newly diagnosed or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods Serial measurements of CTC s and paired serum CA125 were collected in a series of 78 women with newly diagnosed or recurrent ovarian cancer seen at our institution over a period of 15months. Clinical data were abstracted from patient medical records. CTCs were detected and enumerated by the CellSearch TM protocol, and patients were divided into CTC negative ( Results At least one CTC was isolated from the peripheral blood of over 80% of the women participating in this study, with a range from 0 to 8. No correlations were observed between CTC numbers and clinical characteristics or outcomes. Although both serum CA125 and CTC number exhibited an overall significant decreasing trend over time, there was no correlation observed between change in CTCs and CA125. Conclusion Using the FDA-approved CellSearch TM system, CTCs can be isolated from women with newly diagnosed or recurrent ovarian cancer. However, CTC numbers do not significantly correlate with clinical characteristics or patient outcomes. Future studies should focus on phenotypic characterization of CTCs and whether different isolation protocols yield a higher number of CTCs or add prognostic value.