cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-Molecule Studies of the E. Coli Translesion Replisome

Translesion polymerases (TLS pols) are enzymes that replicate over naturally occurring DNA lesions that slip past repair mechanisms, as part of the damage tolerance pathway. Found in all three domains of life, TLS pols have unique structural features that allow them to replicate over DNA adducts and modifications that would otherwise stall the replisome. This evolved ability comes at a sacrifice - the inability of TLS pols to incorporate opposite undamaged DNA with high fidelity - suggesting careful regulation of polymerase access to the replication fork.We report a multiplexed, single-molecule assay to observe real-time DNA synthesis by a minimal E. coli replisome in vitro and have observed switching between Pol III, the replicative polymerase, and one of its translesion counterparts, Pol IV.
Bedside placement of pH-guided transpyloric small bowel feeding tubes in critically ill infants and small children.

Background and Methods: The small bowel of critically ill infants and small children was cannulated using a soft feeding tube with a pH sensor at the distal tip. By monitoring pH, the tubes were guided through the stomach into the small bowel. Results: Successful placements were performed in 36 of 37 (97%) attempts in 29 critically ill patients whose age was 7.9 ± 6.3 months and weight was 5.9 ± 2.6 kg. Continuous jejunal feedings were administered for 3.7 ± 3.1 weeks without difficulties or complications in all but one patient. Conclusion: pH-guided jejunal tube placement provides a safe, easy bedside alternative to fluoroscopic, endoscopic or surgical placement in critically ill infants and small children. (journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition21:112-114, 1997)
Ethnic Differences in the Statements Made by Inmates About to be Executed in Texas

The last statements prior to execution of 331 inmates on the Texas death row from 1982 to 2009 were examined using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count computer program. African Americans and Hispanic Americans had more words related to positive emotions and feelings than did Euro-Americans, whereas Hispanic Americans had more words related to religion. The similarities in their last statements outweighed the differences.
Parallelism revisited: The nature of the null argument in ASL as compared to the Romance-style pro

Previous research has argued that the null argument surfacing in ASL is comparable to its Spanish counterpart — agreement licensed pro (e.g. Rizzi 1986). This analysis has been applied to both subjects and objects of either all verb classes (Bahan et al. 2000) or agreeing verbs only (Lillo-Martin 1991). In this squib, I demonstrate that the nature of both the null subject and the null object in ASL does not neatly parallel that of Spanish, taken here to be a representative of consistent null subject languages (Biberauer et al. 2010).
NFκB Expression during Cold Ischemia Correlates with Postreperfusion Graft Function

Abstract In liver transplantation, activation of NFκB occurs upon reperfusion, yet few data exist regarding NFκB activation during cold ischemia. We hypothesized that activation of NFκB may initially occur during cold ischemia, prior to reperfusion, and serve as an important determinant of postreperfusion function. To test this hypothesis, serial biopsies during porcine liver harvest were obtained immediately upon laparotomy, upon completion of dissection, after 45 and 120 min of cold ischemia, and 60 and 180 min after reperfusion. Nuclear extracts were isolated for Western blot analysis of NFκB. Hepatic function was assessed through bile output and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) activity. NFκB expression was maximal at 45 min of cold ischemia and decreased by 120 min. The expression at 120 min of cold ischemia correlated with markers of postreperfusion function, namely bile flow and SDH activity. During reperfusion a second distinct peak occurred at 180 min. Increased expression of NFκB at 180 min of reperfusion correlated directly with prior expression at 120 min during cold ischemia and with increased SDH activity. These data indicate that nuclear expression of NFκB demonstrate two distinct peaks of activity, one during cold ischemia and one after reperfusion. Enhanced expression of NFκB during cold ischemia not only correlates directly with NFκB expression during reperfusion, but also correlates inversely with postreperfusion graft function.
CONFIGURATION AND TERMINAL SEQUENCES OF THE SIMIAN VARICELLA VIRUS GENOME

The simian varicella virus (SVV) genome is a linear DNA molecule consisting of a unique short (US) and a unique long (UL) region. The US is bounded by internal (IR) and terminal inverted repeats and inverts such that virion DNA contains equimolar amounts of two genome isomers. We have sequenced the right and leftward termini and the UL-IR junction region of the SVV genome. A sequence motif common to other herpesviruses, consisting of A and T residues surrounded by G+C-rich regions, was found near the rightward terminus of the SVV genome. Sequence analysis showed no repeats surrounding the UL region of the genome. Nucleic acid hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using primers from the right end leftward ends of the SVV genome indicated that the UL region inverts. PCR amplification also showed that, compared with virion DNA, SVV genomes with connected termini are increased in infected cell DNA, suggesting the presence of circular or concatemeric genomic molecules.
A role for cortical nNOS/NK1 neurons in coupling homeostatic sleep drive to EEG slow wave activity

Although the neural circuitry underlying homeostatic sleep regulation is little understood, cortical neurons immunoreactive for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1) have been proposed to be involved in this physiological process. By systematically manipulating the durations of sleep deprivation and subsequent recovery sleep, we show that activation of cortical nNOS/NK1 neurons is directly related to non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep time, NREM bout duration, and EEG δ power during NREM sleep, an index of preexisting homeostatic sleep drive. Conversely, nNOS knockout mice show reduced NREM sleep time, shorter NREM bouts, and decreased power in the low δ range during NREM sleep, despite constitutively elevated sleep drive. Cortical NK1 neurons are still activated in response to sleep deprivation in these mice but, in the absence of nNOS, they are unable to up-regulate NREM δ power appropriately. These findings support the hypothesis that cortical nNOS/NK1 neurons translate homeostatic sleep drive into up-regulation of NREM δ power through an NO-dependent mechanism.
Measurement of Atmospheric Attenuation at 1.3 and 0.87 mm with an Harmonic Mixing Radiometer

The atmospheric attenuation at 1.3 and 0.87 mm was measured above Mount Hamilton, California in the period December 5 to December 9, 1973. The measured value of the zenith attenuation varied from 1 to 5 dB at 1.3 mm over this five-day period, and was 2.5 dB at 0.87 mm on December 9, 1973. The total beamwidth of the 120" Lick Observatory telescope used in the Coude configuration was measured to be 3' at 1.3 mm.
Associations Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Financial Barriers to Care Among Women Veterans and Women Non-Veterans

The authors of this study examined the association between health-related quality of life and financial barriers to care, defined as not getting the needed care due to cost considerations. To better understand health-related quality of life among women veterans, the authors compared women veterans to women non-veterans. The authors conducted cross-sectional analyses using data from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. The authors assessed four health-related quality of life measures: (1) general health; (2) physical health; (3) mental health; and (4) functional status. The authors performed multinomial logistic regressions to examine the relationship between financial barriers to receiving healthcare and health-related quality of life measures after controlling for other independent variables. The authors included women veterans not in active military duty (N = 3,747) and a matched sample of women non-veterans (N = 3,747), selected using a propensity score method so that they would ...
Broad wavenumber turbulence and transport during Ohmic and electron cyclotron heating in the DIII-D tokamak

The response of plasma parameters and broad wavenumber turbulence (1–39 cm−1, kρs = 0.1–10, relevant to ion temperature gradient, trapped electron mode and electron temperature gradient mode turbulence, here ρs = ion gyroradius) to auxiliary electron cyclotron heating (ECH) is reported on. One fluid thermal fluxes and diffusivities increase appreciably with ECH. Significant changes to the density fluctuations over the full range of measured wavenumbers are observed, with an increase for lower wavenumbers and a more spatially complicated response at high k. Spatially resolved high k measurements (k = 39 cm−1, kρs = 4–10) show a varying response to ECH, with decreasing at r/a = 0.35 and increasing at r/a = 0.6 and 1. These variations were found to have a positive correlation with ∇Te evaluated at nearby locations, consistent with a ∇Te drive. Comparison of the changes in high k fluctuation levels with linear gyrokinetic growth rates show qualitative agreement at the innermost location, r/a = 0.35 and disagreement at r/a = 0.6.
A theory of extended quantisation

A new theory of quantisation is presented. After arguments are given indicating that mass-energy in the universe is quantised, this quantisation is mathematically related to the lifespan and maximum size of the universe. Various consequences are then deduced, such as the existence of a minimum force.
Involvement of endogenous dopamine and DA-1 receptors in the renal effects of atrial natriuretic factor in rats

The precise mechanism of the diuretic and natriuretic effects of Atrial Natriuretic Factor (ANF) is still unclear. The present study was undertaken with the aim of elucidating the mechanism of interaction between ANF, dopamine (DA) and DA receptors in the renal effects of ANF in rats. In pentobarbital anesthetized rats, ANF infusion (10 micrograms/kg/hour) produced marked diuresis and natriuresis which was accompanied by significant hypotension, bradycardia and also a modest increase in glomerular filtration rate. However, there was no accompanying increase in urinary DA excretion during ANF infusion. Pretreatment with SCH 23390, a selective DA-1 receptor antagonist caused significant attenuation of the diuretic and natriuretic effects of ANF whereas the hemodynamic changes produced by ANF were still evident in SCH 23390 treated animals. Plasma ANF levels were elevated to the same magnitude in both the control and SCH 23390 treated groups. Pretreatment with carbidopa, a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor also significantly blunted the diuretic and natriuretic effects of ANF. The antagonism of the ANF-induced diuresis and natriuresis by SCH 23390 and carbidopa was comparable in magnitude. These results suggest that endogenous DA, via activation of DA-1 receptors plays a permissive role in the renal effects of ANF, perhaps by enhancing tubular responsiveness to ANF. However, there does not appear to be a stimulatory effect of ANF on renal DA production or release.
Myosin surface loop 4 modulates inhibition of actomyosin 1b ATPase activity by tropomyosin.

Structural studies of the class I myosin, MyoE, led to the predictions that loop 4, a surface loop near the actin-binding region that is longer in class I myosins than in other myosin subclasses, might limit binding of myosins I to actin when actin-binding proteins, like tropomyosin, are present, and might account for the exclusion of myosin I from stress fibers. To test these hypotheses, mutant molecules of the related mammalian class I myosin, Myo1b, in which loop 4 was truncated (from an amino acid sequence of RMNGLDES to NGLD) or replaced with the shorter and distinct loop 4 found in Dictyostelium myosin II (GAGEGA), were expressed in vitro and their interaction with actin and with actin-tropomyosin was tested. Saturating amounts of expressed fibroblast tropomyosin-2 resulted in a decrease in the maximum actin-activated Mg2+-ATPase activity of wild-type Myo1b but had little or no effect on the actin-activated Mg2+-ATPase activity of the two mutants. In motility assays, few actin filaments bound tightl...
M-harmonic Besovp-spaces and Hankel operators in the Bergman space on the ball in ℂn

In this paper, we characterize the Hardy class ofM-harmonic functions on the unit ballB in ℂn in terms of the Berezin transform. We define and study the Besovp-spaces ofM-harmonic functions. For anM-harmonic symbolf, we give various criteria for the Hankel operatorsHf andHf to be bounded, compact or in the Schatten-von-Neumann classSp. These criteria establish a close relationship among Besovp-spaces, Berezin transform, the invariant Laplacian, and Hankel operators on the unit ballB.
Molecular-dynamics approach for determining the vacancy heat of transport

Abstract We develop an approach for using equilibrium and nonequilibrium molecular-dynamics simulations to determine the heat of transport of a vacancy in a Lennard–Jones fcc crystal. The approach depends on computing the entropy and internal energy changes that accompany the hopping of a vacancy either parallel or antiparallel to a temperature gradient. We find that the internal energy, expressed in terms of the vacancy formation energy, is essentially unchanged during vacancy hops. However, we show that entropy is generated during vacancy hops, indicating the presence of dissipative processes. We show theoretically how the computation of the entropy generation is directly related to the reduced heat of transport. From an estimate of the enthalpy of vacancy formation, we determine the heat of transport, which is found to be positive in contradiction to previously-published results using a different method. The heat of transport we predict is quite close to the enthalpy of vacancy formation.
Dense spermatozoa in stallion ejaculates contain lower concentrations of mRNAs encoding the sperm specific calcium channel 1, ornithine decarboxylase antizyme 3, aromatase, and estrogen receptor alpha than less dense spermatozoa

Stallions are unique among livestock in that, like men, they commonly receive medical treatment for subfertility. In both species, about 15% of individuals have normal semen parameters but are subfertile, indicating a need for novel analyses of spermatozoa function. One procedure for improving fertilizing capability of stallions and men is isolation of dense spermatozoa from an ejaculate for use in artificial insemination. In the current study, dense and less dense spermatozoa were purified by density gradient centrifugation from individual ejaculates from seven reproductively normal adult stallions. The RNA isolated from the spermatozoa seemed to be naturally fragmented to an average length of 250 bases, consistent with reports of spermatozoa RNA from other species. The DNAse treatment of RNA prepared from spermatozoa removed any genomic DNA contamination, as assessed by PCR with intron spanning primers for the protamine 1 (PRM1) gene. Concentrations of seven mRNAs in spermatozoa, correlated with the fertility of men and bulls, were quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in dense and less dense spermatozoa. Concentrations of four mRNAs were two- to four-fold lower in dense spermatozoa compared with less dense spermatozoa: Encoding the spermatozoa-specific calcium channel (P 0.1). These results identify new differences in mRNA concentrations in populations of spermatozoa with dissimilar densities.
FIELD STUDIES ON PESTICIDES AND BIRDS: UNEXPECTED AND UNIQUE RELATIONS

We review the advantages and disadvantages of experimental and field stud- ies for determining effects of pesticides on birds. Important problems or principles initially discovered in the field include effects of DDT (through its metabolite DDE) on eggshell thickness, reproductive success, and population stability; trophic-level bioaccumulation of the lipid-soluble organochlorine pesticides; indirect effects on productivity and survival through reductions in the food supply and cover by herbicides and insecticides; unexpected toxic effects and routes of exposure of organophosphorus compounds such as famphur and dimethoate; effects related to simultaneous application at full strength of several pesticides of different classes; and others. Also, potentially serious bird problems with dicofol, based on laboratory studies, later proved negligible in the field. In refining field tests of pesticides, the selection of a species or group of species to study is important, because exposure routes may vary greatly, and 10-fold interspecific differences in sensitivity to pesticides are rel- atively common. Although there are limitations with field investigations, particularly un- controllable variables that must be addressed, the value of a well-designed field study far outweighs its shortcomings.
Embedded systems security co-design

There is an ever increasing concern about security threats as embedded systems are moving towards networked applications. Model based approaches have proven to be effective techniques for embedded systems design. However, existing modeling tools were not designed to meet the current and future security challenges of networked embedded systems. In this paper, we propose a framework to incorporate security modeling into embedded system design. We've developed a security analysis tool that can easily integrate with existing tool chains to create co-design environments that addresses security, functionality and system architecture aspects of embedded systems concurrently.
The Role of Coiled-coil α-Helices and Disulfide Bonds in the Assembly and Stabilization of Cartilage Matrix Protein Subunits A MUTATIONAL ANALYSIS

Cartilage matrix protein (CMP) exists as a disulfide-bonded homotrimer in the matrix of cartilage. Each monomer consists of two CMP-A domains that are separated by an epidermal growth factor-like domain. A heptad repeat-containing tail makes up the carboxyl-terminal domain of the protein. The secreted form of CMP contains 12 cysteine residues numbered C1 through C12. Two of these are in each of the CMP-A domains, six are in the epidermal growth factor-like domain, and two are in the heptad repeat-containing tail. Two major categories of mutant CMPs were generated to analyze the oligomerization process of CMP: a mini-CMP and a heptadless full-length CMP. The mini-CMP consists of the CMP-A2 domain and the heptad repeat-containing tail. In addition, a number of mutations affecting C9 through C12 were generated within the full-length, the mini-, and the heptad-less CMPs. The mutational analysis indicates that the heptad repeats are necessary for the initiation of CMP trimerization and that the two cysteines in the heptad repeat-containing tail are both necessary and sufficient to form intermolecular disulfide bonds in either full-length or mini-CMP. The two cysteines within a CMP-A domain form an intradomain disulfide bond.
Despin of a liquid-filled cylinder caused by coning

Conclusions The improved thermal joint can reduce contact resistance at metal-to-metal interfaces by up to a factor of 10. Through proper selection of materials and surface treatment, the joining surfaces may be separated easily after solidification of the low-melting-point alloy. The segmented surface can also provide low thermal resistance during high inertial accelerations. While this technology is being developed to improve thermal control of airborne electronics, it potentially can be applied to many interface heat-transfer problems where low contact resistance and ease of joint disassembly are desired.
Determination of steroids by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

On-line atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) were evaluated for the analysis of a variety of steroids. Steroids were classified into three major groups based on the spectra and the sensitivities observed: (I) those containing a 3-one, 4-ene functional group, (II) those containing at least one ketone group without conjugation, and (III) those containing hydroxy group(s) only. In the APCI mode, the best sensitivity and the lowest detection limit for all three groups were obtained by using a mobile phase consisting of methanol and 1%–2% acetic acid in water. The APCI spectra were characterized by MH+, MH+-H2O, MH+-2H2O, etc., with the degree of H2O loss being compound dependent: group I steroids produced stable MH+ and group III steroids showed extensive water loss. In the electrospray mode the best sensitivity and the lowest detection limit for the first two groups were obtained when pure methanol and water were used as the mobile phase. This condition produced abundant stable MNa+ due to ubiquitous sodium. Detection limits in the 5–15 pg range can be easily achieved using ESI LC/MS. Addition of ammonium acetate or use of acetonitrile in the mobile phase, common in the LC/MS analysis of steroids, decreased the sensitivity for the group I and II steroids and thus should be avoided. For group III steroids, the detection limit can be improved by the addition of acetic acid to the mobile phase.
Filtering bleb thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator.

The Journal welcomes letters that describe unusual clinical or pathologic findings, experimental results, and new instruments or techniques. The title and the names of all authors appear in the Table of Contents and are retrievable through the Index Medicus and other standard indexing services. Letters must not duplicate data previously published or submitted for publication. Each letter must be accompanied by a signed disclosure statement and copyright transfer agreement published in each issue of The Journal . Letters must be typewritten, double-spaced, on 8 1/2 x 11-inch bond paper with 1 1/2-inch margins on all four sides. (See Instructions to Authors.) They should not exceed 500 words of text. A maximum of two black-and-white figures may be used; they should be cropped to a width of 3 inches (one column). Color figures cannot be used. References should be limited to five. Letters may be referred to outside editorial referees for evaluation or may be reviewed by members of the Editorial Board. All letters are published promptly after acceptance. Authors do not receive galley proofs but if the editorial changes are extensive, the corrected typescript is submitted to them for approval. These instructions markedly limit the opportunity for an extended discussion or review. Therefore, The Journal does not publish correspondence concerning previously published letters.
Rheology of the deep upper mantle and its implications for the preservation of the continental roots: A review

Abstract The longevity of deep continental roots depends critically on the rheological properties of upper mantle minerals under deep upper mantle conditions. Geodynamic studies suggest that the rheological contrast between the deep continental and oceanic upper mantle is a key factor that controls the longevity of the continental roots. Current understanding of rheological properties of deep upper mantle is reviewed to examine how a large enough rheological contrast between the continental and oceanic upper mantle develops that leads to the longevity of the deep continental roots. Based on the microstructures of naturally deformed deep continental rocks as well as on the observations of seismic anisotropy, it is concluded that power-law dislocation creep dominates in most of the deep upper mantle. Deformation by power-law creep is sensitive to water content and therefore the removal of water by partial melting to form depleted continental roots is a likely mechanism to establish a large rheological contrast. The results of experimental studies on the influence of temperature, pressure and water content on plastic flow by power-law dislocation creep are reviewed. The degree of rheological contrast depends critically on the dependence of effective viscosity on water content under “wet” (water-rich) conditions but it is also sensitive to the effective viscosity under “dry” (water-free) conditions that depends critically on the influence of pressure on deformation. Based on the analysis of thermodynamics of defects and high-temperature creep, it is shown that a robust estimate of the influence of water and pressure can be made only by the combination of low-pressure ( 5 GPa) studies. A wide range of flow laws has been reported, leading to nearly 10 orders of magnitude differences in estimated viscosities under the deep upper mantle conditions. However, based on the examination of several criteria, it is concluded that relatively robust experimental data are now available for power-law dislocation creep in olivine both under “dry” (water-free) and “wet” (water-saturated) conditions. These data show that the influence of water is large (a change in viscosity up to ∼ 4 orders of magnitude for a constant stress) at the depth of ∼ 200–400 km. I conclude that the conditions for survival of a deep root for a few billions of years can be satisfied when “dry” olivine rheology with a relatively large activation volume (> (10–15) × 10− 6 m3/mol)) is used and the substantial water removal occurs to these depths. High degree of water removal requires a large degree of melting in the deep upper mantle that could have occurred in the Archean where geotherm was likely hotter than the current one by ∼ 200 K presumably with the help of water.
The "ulnar fovea sign" for defining ulnar wrist pain: an analysis of sensitivity and specificity.

Purpose Eliciting tenderness in the region of the ulnar fovea is a possibly useful clinical test for defining the source of ulnar-sided wrist pain. Until now, no reports of the clinical sensitivity and specificity of this test have been available. Based on anecdotal observations, a hypothesis was developed stating that ulnar fovea tenderness (positive "ulnar fovea sign") is sensitive and specific in detecting two ulnar-sided wrist conditions: foveal disruption of the distal radioulnar ligaments and ulnotriquetral (UT) ligament injuries. Methods The clinical records of 272 consecutive patients with wrist arthroscopy performed by the senior author from 1998 through to 2005 were reviewed. Relevant clinical and surgical data were abstracted. The ulnar fovea sign test is executed by pressing the examiner's thumb distally into the interval between the ulnar styloid process and flexor carpi ulnaris tendon, between the volar surface of the ulnar head and the pisiform. A positive ulnar fovea sign is designated when there is exquisite tenderness that the patient claims replicates their pain, with comparisons made with the contralateral side. Results There were a total of 90 foveal disruptions and 68 UT ligament injuries diagnosed during wrist arthroscopy. The ulnar fovea sign was positive in 156 patients. The sensitivity of the fovea sign in detecting foveal disruptions and/or UT ligament injuries was 95.2%. Its specificity was 86.5%. Conclusions The hypothesis stating that the ulnar fovea sign is a useful clinical maneuver to detect foveal disruptions and UT ligament tears is supported. The conditions represent 2 common sources of ulnar-sided wrist pain. The differentiation between the 2 conditions may be made clinically, where UT ligament tears are typically associated with a stable distal radioulnar joint and foveal disruptions are typically associated with an unstable distal radioulnar joint. Type of study/level of evidence Diagnostic II.
Distribution, composition and transport of suspended sediment in Redondo Submarine Canyon and vicinity (California)

Abstract Redondo Canyon, in the southern half of Santa Monica Bay, is an active submarine canyon through which sands and silts are transported by periodic submarine slides and turbid flows. Stream, surface waves, rip currents, and internal waves are capable of placing sediment into suspension over the continental shelf. In addition, submarine slumping is a primary mechanism for the suspension of material within submarine canyons. This material is transported over the shelf by density suspension at the thermocline, suspension by internal waves, and near-bottom currents. The subsurface distribution of suspended sediment is controlled by the canyon's topographic effects on current flow. Wind-driven currents, however, control the distribution of surface suspended sediment. Surface concentrations are generally higher on both sides of the canyon than directly over the axis, and decrease in concentration with distance from shore. Suspended sediment concentrations are high at the surface, primarily because of floating grains which are held by surface tension. Values are relatively high down to the thermocline, below which they rapidly decrease. Near the bottom, concentrations are very high. It is within this zone that some of the highest suspended sediment percentages occur, apparently due to the suspension of material by bottom turbulence created by near-bottom currents, as well as the presence of material suspended within the nearshore area and in the process of seaward transport.
Developmental Outcomes for Children of Young Mothers

This study tested the association between mothers early age at first birth and various life outcomes for her children in later adolescence and early adulthood. Data were analyzed from the Rochester Youth Development Study an ongoing panel study of adolescents enrolled in seventh or eighth grade in Rochester Public Schools in 1988 (N = 729). Boys born to mothers who began childbearing before age 19 had elevated risks of drug use gang membership unemployment and early parenthood. Girls born to young mothers only had elevated risks of early parenthood. Of the mediators tested low maternal education had the largest mediating effects. The findings suggest that the risks associated with being born to a young mother are substantial but perhaps disproportionately so for boys. (authors)
Implementing Property-Tax Reform in Transitional Countries: The Experience of Albania and Poland

Central and Eastern European countries are undergoing a radical transformation from command to market economics. Although priority has focused on privatisation, these countries have intitiated extensive political and fiscal decentralization. Despite the recent establishment of new local governments, these countries arc struggling to develop rapidly the legislative and administrative foundations related to expenditure and revenue responsibilities, control of state-owned assets, and the relationship between regional and central governments. One remaining obstacle to effective decentralization is the lack of adequate local revenue. Although there is a wide diversity in the structure of local revenue systems, theory and experience indicate that user charges and property taxes traditionally provide the primary base for an effective and stable local revenue system. This paper focuses on the important role which property taxation can play in providing the foundation for stable local revenue systems in the transi...
Low-latitude measurements of neutral thermospheric helium dominance near 400 km during extreme solar minimum

[1] Since the middle of 2008 solar activity has been unusually low, resulting in unusual atmospheric conditions, including significant changes in the pressure and neutral constituents at altitudes near 400 km at low latitudes. These attributes have been measured by the Coupled Ion-Neutral Dynamics Investigation instruments aboard the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS) satellite. The cross-track sensor aboard C/NOFS is designed to measure the neutral pressure in an atmosphere with pressures larger than 10−8 Torr, from which the atmospheric scale height can be estimated. In the contracted thermosphere during the current solar minimum (analyzed from June 2008 to August 2009), the instrument data indicate a dominance of neutral helium near the satellite perigee (400 km). This conclusion is found to be consistent with the measured mean drag on the satellite, thus validating the basic functionality of the cross-track sensor.
The effects of HCV infection and management on health-related quality of life.

Infection with HCV leads to an array of symptoms that compromise health-related quality of life (HRQL). Chronic hepatitis C is treated primarily with pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) and an inosine 5′ monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor, ribavirin (RBV), with the goal of achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR). SVR reduces the rate of hepatic fibrosis and other disease-related complications and, in turn, increases HRQL. Although combination therapy with peg-IFN and RBV produces SVRs in more than 50% of treated patients, it is associated with side effects that can reduce short-term HRQL, can lead to dose reductions and discontinuations, and may impair treatment response. Fatigue and depression are common symptoms of chronic HCV infection that may also be caused by IFN-based therapy. Hemolytic anemia and IFN-mediated bone marrow suppression are well-known consequences of IFN/RBV therapy, often resulting in dose reductions or discontinuations, and have the potential to affect SVR rates. Management of these symptoms is vital to successful outcomes and generally relies on therapy that is adjunctive to the primary treatment of the viral infection itself. Several new drugs with the potential to increase SVR rates without compromising HRQL are in development. Conclusion: The relationship of chronic HCV infection, treatment, and HRQL is complex. Successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C requires an understanding of the intricacies of this relationship and appropriate management of treatment-related symptoms. (HEPATOLOGY 2007;45:806–816.)
ESTEST: a framework for the validation and verification of electronic structure codes

We present a framework for the verification and validation (V&V) of electronic structure simulation software. Electronic structure computations involve numerous parameters and approximations that determine their accuracy and reliability. As a large number of simulation data coming from several electronic structure codes are becoming available, the associated V&V process is becoming increasingly complex. We introduce ESTEST as a framework for facilitating the verification and validation of electronic structure computations. ESTEST software enables the V&V, comparison and sharing of simulation data by constructing a unified representation of code outputs, populating and organizing a query database with these representations and interfacing the data through a web service that offers ways to search, view, compare, visualize and post-process the data. We present examples of V&V as well as comparison and analysis from our implementation, and justify the details of each of the innovative features of this software. The present implementation supports electronic structure codes such as Qbox, Quantum Espresso, ABINIT, and the Exciting code. An online demonstration is available at http://estest.ucdavis.edu.
Development and laboratory performance evaluation of a personal cascade impactor.

Abstract This paper presents the design and laboratory evaluation of a personal cascade impactor. The system is compact, lightweight, and uses a single battery-operated sampling pump. It operates at a flow rate of 5 L/min and consists of four impaction stages, each equipped with slit-shaped acceleration nozzles, and a backup filter. The impactor was calibrated using polydisperse particles. The 50% cut points of the four stages were 9.6, 2.6, 1.0, and 0.5 μm, respectively. The backup filter is placed downstream of the fourth stage and is used to collect the particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 0.5 μm (dp < 0.5 μm). The major feature of this novel sampler is its ability not only to fractionate the particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 μm to the various size fractions, but also to collect them onto relatively small polyurethane foam substrates without using adhesives. Although the impaction substrates are not coated with adhesives such as grease or mineral oil, particle bounce...
The Appeal of the Underdog

When people observe competitions, they are often drawn to figures that are seen as disadvantaged or unlikely to prevail. The present research tested the scope and limits of people's support for underdogs. The first two studies demonstrated, in the context of Olympic matches (Study 1) and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Study 2), that observers' support for a competitor increased when framing it as an underdog. The final two studies explored mechanisms underlying support for underdogs. Study 3 showed that participants attributed more effort to a team when they believed it to be an underdog, and perceptions of effort mediated liking. In Study 4, participants reading a hypothetical sporting event supported a team with a low probability of success and labeled it an underdog unless it had greater resources than an opponent, suggesting that low expectations by themselves do not engender support if positive outcomes are not seen as deserved.
Minority carrier lifetime studies of narrow bandgap antimonide superlattices

In this study optical modulation response and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to study mid-wave Ga-free InAs/InAsSb superlattices. The minority carrier lifetimes in the different samples varied from 480 ns to 4700 ns, partly due to different background doping concentrations. It was shown that the photoluminescence intensity can be used as a fast non-destructive tool to predict the material quality. It was also demonstrated that it is crucial to use a low excitation power in the photoluminescence measurements in order to get a good correlation between the photoluminescence intensity and the minority carrier lifetime.
An Efficient Synthesis of Functionalized Helicenes

[5]- and [6]helicenebisquinones can be prepared easily and in quantity by combining enol ethers of 1,4-diacetylbenzene or 2,7-diacetylnaphthalene with p-benzoquinone. Similar diethenyl aromatics that either have no ether functions or have them attached not to the double bonds, but to the aromatic rings, give the corresponding helicenes in only low yields and low purities. [6]Helicenebisquinone 11c is resolved into its enantiomers. An X-ray diffraction analysis of the adduct of one of these enantiomers and l-prolinol shows the absolute stereochemistry of 11c and the regiochemistry with which the amine adds to the quinone.
C4ISR Architectures: I. Developing a Process for C4ISR Architecture Design

The C4ISR Architecture Framework document issued by the Department of Defense specifies three views of an information architecture and defines a set of products that describe each view. These architecture views are to serve as the basis for C4ISR system development and acquisition. The Framework does not provide a process for architecture design. In this paper, information architectures are described in the context of Structured Analysis, and then the architecture views of the Framework and the related products are interpreted in that context. A methodology for architecture design is developed that is then implemented using Structured Analysis and object orientation in two companion papers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Syst Eng 3: 225‐247, 2000
Mechanically flexible hybrid mat consisting of TiO2 and SiO2 nanofibers electrospun via dual spinnerets for photo-detector

Abstract A hybrid mat consisting of anatase-phase TiO2 nanofibers (~75 wt.%) and structurally amorphous SiO2 nanofibers (~25 wt.%) was prepared for the first time by electrospinning with dual spinnerets followed by pyrolysis in air at 500 °C. Unlike many other TiO2 nanostructures, the TiO2/SiO2 hybrid mat was mechanically flexible; after being sensitized with N719 dye, the dye-sensitized mat was then assembled as a photo-detector for visible light. The fabricated photo-detector was also flexible; it exhibited excellent sensitivity and reproducibility/reversibility under varied light intensities, and it also showed high performance under the bending condition. Additionally, it is envisioned that the reported method could be a general approach for the preparation of flexible hybrid mats with different electrospun nanofibers of semiconducting metal oxides (e.g., TiO2 and ZnO) for various applications.
Measuring the stiffness of bacterial cells from growth rates in hydrogels of tunable elasticity

Although bacterial cells are known to experience large forces from osmotic pressure differences and their local microenvironment, quantitative measurements of the mechanical properties of growing bacterial cells have been limited. We provide an experimental approach and theoretical framework for measuring the mechanical properties of live bacteria. We encapsulated bacteria in agarose with a user-defined stiffness, measured the growth rate of individual cells and fit data to a thin-shell mechanical model to extract the effective longitudinal Young's modulus of the cell envelope of Escherichia coli (50-150 MPa), Bacillus subtilis (100-200 MPa) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (100-200 MPa). Our data provide estimates of cell wall stiffness similar to values obtained via the more labour-intensive technique of atomic force microscopy. To address physiological perturbations that produce changes in cellular mechanical properties, we tested the effect of A22-induced MreB depolymerization on the stiffness of E. coli. The effective longitudinal Young's modulus was not significantly affected by A22 treatment at short time scales, supporting a model in which the interactions between MreB and the cell wall persist on the same time scale as growth. Our technique therefore enables the rapid determination of how changes in genotype and biochemistry affect the mechanical properties of the bacterial envelope.
Error Analysis of Coarse-Graining for Stochastic Lattice Dynamics

The coarse-grained Monte Carlo (CGMC) algorithm was originally proposed in the series of works [M. A. Katsoulakis, A. J. Majda, and D. G. Vlachos, J. Comput. Phys., 186 (2003), pp. 250-278; M. A. Katsoulakis, A. J. Majda, and D. G. Vlachos, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 100 (2003), pp. 782-787; M. A. Katsoulakis and D. G. Vlachos, J. Chem. Phys., 119 (2003), pp. 9412-9427]. In this paper we further investigate the approximation properties of the coarse-graining procedure and provide both analytical and numerical evidence that the hierarchy of the coarse models is built in a systematic way that allows for error control in both transient and long-time simulations. We demonstrate that the numerical accuracy of the CGMC algorithm as an approximation of stochastic lattice spin flip dynamics is of order two in terms of the coarse-graining ratio and that the natural small parameter is the coarse-graining ratio over the range of particle/particle interactions. The error estimate is shown to hold in the weak convergence sense. We employ the derived analytical results to guide CGMC algorithms and demonstrate a CPU speed-up in demanding computational regimes that involve nucleation, phase transitions, and metastability.
Quadtrees and Hypercubes: Grid Embedding Strategies Based on Spatial Data Structure Addressing

A uniform toroidal addressing scheme for k-trees, or spacial data structures, is given. These include bintrees, for decomposing the line, or partitioning linear arrays; quadtrees, for two-dimensional structures; octrees, for three dimensions; etc. Reinterpretation of these addresses as hypercube node identifiers affords simple conceptualization of processor grids of arbitrary Euclidean dimension. Use of gray code produces a hierarchy of topological neighborhoods reflectes in the addresses themselves and, with this, fast multicast algorithms for various multiple-processor subgroups
Comparison of trust in public vs private health care providers in rural Cambodia

How trust in providers affects health care-seeking behaviour is not well understood. Focus groups and household surveys were conducted in Cambodia to examine how villagers describe their trust in public and private providers, and to assess whether a difference exists in provider trust levels. Our findings suggest the reasons for trusting public and private providers differ, and that villagers' trust in and relationship with providers is one of the important considerations affecting where they seek care. People believed that public providers were 'honest' and 'sincere', did not 'bad mouth people' and explained the 'status of [the] disease'. Villagers trusted public providers for their skills and abilities, and for an effective referral system. In contrast, respondents noted that seeing private providers was 'comfortable and easy', that they 'come to our home' and patients can 'owe [them] some money'. Private providers were trusted for being very friendly and approachable, extremely thorough and careful, and easy to contact. Among those who sought care in the past 30 days, trust in the health care provider was listed as the fifth and second most important consideration for choosing public or private providers, respectively. This study illustrates the importance of trust as a unique concept that can affect people's choice of health care providers in a low-income country.
Metabolic modeling identifies key constraints on an engineered glycine betaine synthesis pathway in tobacco.

Previous work has shown that tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants engineered to express spinach choline monooxygenase in the chloroplast accumulate very little glycine betaine (GlyBet) unless supplied with choline (Cho). We therefore used metabolic modeling in conjunction with [14C]Cho labeling experiments and in vivo 31P NMR analyses to define the constraints on GlyBet synthesis, and hence the processes likely to require further engineering. The [14C]Cho doses used were large enough to markedly perturb Cho and phosphocholine pool sizes, which enabled development and testing of models with rates dynamically responsive to pool sizes, permitting estimation of the kinetic properties of Cho metabolism enzymes and transport systems in vivo. This revealed that import of Cho into the chloroplast is a major constraint on GlyBet synthesis, the import rate being approximately 100-fold lower than the rates of Cho phosphorylation and transport into the vacuole, with which import competes. Simulation studies suggested that, were the chloroplast transport limitation corrected, additional engineering interventions would still be needed to achieve levels of GlyBet as high as those in plants that accumulate GlyBet naturally. This study reveals the rigidity of the Cho metabolism network and illustrates how computer modeling can help guide rational metabolic engineering design.
Multirate multicast service provisioning I: an algorithm for optimal price splitting along multicast trees

In this two-part paper we present a general framework for addressing the optimal rare control problem in multirate multicast where the objective is the maximization of a social welfare function expressed by the sum of the users’ utility functions. Specifically, we propose a market-based mechanism that satisfies the informational constraints imposed by the decentralization of information in multirate multicast service provisioning, and achieves an optimal solution to the corresponding centralized optimization problem. In Part I we discover properties of an optimal solution to the centralized problem. Based on these properties, we develop a distributed algorithm that determines how link prices are split among users whose connections along a multicast tree share the same link.