cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization of Wind Energy Capture Using BET

The Blade Element Theory (BET) has been used to predict performance of wind turbines, and to optimize energy extraction from the wind. A literature search shows that the number of parameters that can be varied to attempt optimization within BET varies for different authors. However, a repeated assumption is that the BE should be operating at the incidence angle resulting in maximum lift to drag ratio. In the present work, the incidence angle is one of the parameters varied for optimization, along with five others: the two induction factors, the chord, and the flow and setting angles. The optimization satisfies five equality constraints and three inequality constraints. The optimizer uses Levenberg-Marquardt, Conjugate Gradient or Quasi-Newton methods to maximize the power extracted. The equations adopted employ the Prandtl tip loss and require specification of the airfoil for the section, the radius of the turbine, the wind speed and the radial distribution of solidity. Up to twenty five elements can be specified for each turbine. The influence of airfoils on power coefficients is shown, and deviations from the expected maximum lift to drag positions noted. Comparisons to the performance of small wind turbines from the commercial and open literature are attempted. Whereas such comparisons are difficult in that airfoils and solidities are not often specified, they yield a baseline for establishing the validity of the optimization procedure.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
2,5-Hexanedione-induced changes in the neurofilament subunit pools of rat peripheral nerve.

Abstract Axon atrophy is the principle morphological feature of the peripheral neuropathy induced by 2,5-hexanedione (HD). Axon caliber is determined by a stationary neurofilamentous cytoskeleton that is maintained through dynamic interactions with mobile neurofilament (NF) subunits. To determine the effects of HD on the stationary and mobile NF pools, groups of rats were exposed to HD at dosing schedules (175 mg/kg × 101 days or 400 mg/kg × 26 days) that produced moderate levels of neurological deficits and, as assessed by previous studies, prevalent axon atrophy in peripheral nerve. Sciatic and tibial nerves from HD-intoxicated rats and their age-matched controls were triton-extracted and separated by differential centrifugation into a high-speed pellet (P 1 ) of NF polymer and a corresponding supernatant fraction (S 1 ), which presumably contained mobile monomer. Cytoskeletal proteins (NF–L, NF–M, NF–H and β-tubulin) in each fraction were determined by immunoblot analysis. Results show that regardless of HD dose-rate, triton-soluble NF subunits in the supernatant fractions were significantly reduced, whereas triton-insoluble proteins in the corresponding pellets were inconsistently affected. β-Tubulin also exhibited inconsistent fractional changes, while abnormal higher molecular weight NF proteins were detected primarily in the triton-insoluble fraction. Studies with antibodies directed against phosphorylated (RT97) and non-phosphorylated (SMI32) epitopes on NF–H did not reveal major changes in subunit phosphorylation. These results suggest that HD intoxication is primarily associated with depletion of soluble NF proteins, which could produce axon atrophy through disruption of cytoskeletal turnover and maintenance.
Housing wealth and the economy's adjustment to unanticipated shocks

Abstract This paper explores the effect of housing capital losses on the economy's response to an unanticipated negative shock. The analysis is based on an overlapping-generations model where income is exogenous and mortgage funds come from outside the economy. Because of housing capital losses, the economy exhibits a volatile response to a negative income shock, with transitional rents, house prices, and consumption levels lying below the values achieved in the new steady state. The volatility of the response is shown to depend on the distribution of housing ownership.
Cardiovascular effects of exercise: Role of endothelial shear stress

Experimental, epidemiologic and clinical studies have provided strong evidence that physical exercise has beneficial effects on multiple physiological variables affecting cardiovascular health (lipoprotein levels, rest blood pressure and heart rate, carbohydrate tolerance, neurohormonal activity). Regular exercise has been shown to slow the progression of cardiovascular disease and to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. More recently, exercise-induced increases in blood flow and shear stress have been observed to enhance vascular function and structure. By increasing the release of nitric oxide and prostacyclin, shear stress augments endothelium-dependent vasodilation and inhibits multiple processes involved in atherogenesis and restenosis. In this review we discuss the underlying mechanisms by which exercise-induced blood flow and shear stress exert their salutary effects on cardiovascular remodeling.
Determinants of systematic volatility of corporate bonds

Abstract This paper examines the association between betas of corporate bonds and their duration, coupon, maturity, agency rating, and other attributes. The data consist of monthly returns of 386 bonds, from January 1973 to June 1976. Betas are generated with the SP 2) betas formed with an equity or corporate bond index are negatively related to rating; and 3) duration is superior to coupon and term in explaining beta.
Interdisciplinary collaboration: psychiatric medical backup in the outpatient clinic.

The provision of psychiatric medical backup to nonphysician therapists is currently an inportant issue in inpatient and outpatient practice. Like all team approaches, backup offers the possibility of increased efficiency, professional growth, and access to treatment. At the same time, the psychiatrist providing medical backup is confronted with practical and ethical dilemmas in meeting his or her responsibilities. The authors define the role of psychiatrist medical backup and propose a collaborative model for outpatient practice. Issues to be considered in the planning of backup arrangements are discussed. The importance of clear role definition and communication between collaborators is emphasized.
Prenatal and Neighborhood Correlates of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

This study investigates the link between prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs, parental perceptions of neighborhood safety and support, and the diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) among a nationally representative sample of youth. A subset of variables from a larger study, the 2001–2004 National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A), as well as its supplemental parental surveys, was analyzed in this study. This study used a specific selection of 5,924 adolescents and their parents from the NCS-A. Results suggest a correlation between prenatal caffeine use and a subsequent ODD diagnosis in female adolescents. Overall correlations between neighborhood drug use/sales and minority status and a subsequent diagnosis of ODD in adolescents were also found. Social, environmental, and professional implications of these findings are also discussed.
Immediate correction and adaptation based on viewing a prismatically displaced scene

It was shown that when observers view a scene of a room through displacing prisms there is an immediate correction of the prismatic distortion. Objects appear to lie in a direction closer to their true direction than to that produced by the refraction of the prisms. It was also shown that a brief period of exposure to the prismatically viewed scene, without movement or sight of the body, results in substantial adaptation to the displacement.
Clinical Features and Differential Diagnosis of Aortic Dissection: Experience With 236 Cases (1980 Through 1990)

Acute aortic dissection is the most common fatal condition that involves the aorta; nevertheless, despite major advances in noninvasive diagnosis, the correct antemortem diagnosis is made in less than half the cases. To promote continued improvement in the prompt recognition of aortic dissection, we present a review of the Mayo Clinic experience with 235 patients who had 236 substantiated aortic dissections. At the time of initial assessment, 158 patients (67%) had acute and 78 patients (33%) had chronic aortic dissection. Hypertension was the most common predisposing factor (78% of patients overall). The acute onset of severe chest pain was the most common initial complaint (74%), but 33 patients (15%) had painless aortic dissection and abnormal chest roentgenographic findings. Less common manifestations included congestive heart failure, syncope, cerebrovascular accident, shock, paraplegia, and lower extremity ischemia. The initial clinical impression was aortic dissection in 62% of patients overall. In 17 patients (28%), the correct diagnosis was not made before postmortem examination. Although the clinical features of aortic dissection have gained wider appreciation, the diagnosis still remains unsuspected in a substantial number of patients. In a patient who has a catastrophic illness and unexplained symptoms that could be of vascular origin, especially in the presence of chest pain, aortic dissection should always be included in the differential diagnosis.
Changes in atomic positions for Sb and Bi with hydrostatic pressure

Abstract The effect of pressure on the atomic positional parameter u for Sb and Bi has been determined at room temperature by single crystal X-ray diffraction under hydrostatic pressures to 3 kbar.
A mechanized and standardized pivot shifter: technical description and first evaluation.

The pivot shift test (PST) is a complex, multiplanar maneuver used to assess rotatory instability of the knee. The grading is subjective due to the broad range of examination techniques and lack of tibiofemoral motion quantification. The goal of this study was to develop and evaluate a mechanized device for quantitative assessment of the PST. We constructed a mechanized pivot shifter (MPS). In five cadaveric hip-to-toes specimens, the anterior cruciate ligament was resected. We used a surgical navigation system for acquisition of the tibiofemoral motion path during the PST. Two sets of measurements were obtained for the MPS and for two examiners performing the manual technique. Mean lateral compartment translation magnitudes for each MPS measurement were 13.5 mm (σ = 6.7) and 13.6 mm (σ = 6.7). For examiner 1, 14.9 mm (σ = 6.5) and 15.7 mm (σ = 6.3). For examiner 2, 16.9 mm (σ = 6.3) and 16.1 mm (σ = 5.2). Differences were not significant (n.s.). The MPS had narrower limits of agreement than both examiner 1 and examiner 2. The MPS demonstrated no significant differences in the tibiofemoral translation magnitudes compared to the manual technique. It resulted in better test–retest reliability and more consistent measurements of tibiofemoral translation when compared to manual PST. The high repeatability factor conferred by the MPS is a clinical advantage.
Endocrine disruptors and childhood social impairment.

Prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors has the potential to impact early brain development. Neurodevelopmental toxicity in utero may manifest as psychosocial deficits later in childhood. This study investigates prenatal exposure to two ubiquitous endocrine disruptors, the phthalate esters and bisphenol A (BPA), and social behavior in a sample of adolescent inner-city children. Third trimester urines of women enrolled in the Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Study between 1998 and 2002 (n = 404) were analyzed for phthalate metabolites and BPA. Mother-child pairs were asked to return for a follow-up assessment when the child was between the ages of 7 to 9 years. At this visit, mothers completed the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) (n = 137), a quantitative scale for measuring the severity of social impairment related to Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in the general population. In adjusted general linear models increasing log-transformed low molecular weight phthalate (LMW) metabolite concentrations were associated with greater social deficits (β = 1.53, 95% CI 0.25-2.8). Among the subscales, LMWP were also associated with poorer Social Cognition (β = 1.40, 95% CI 0.1-2.7); Social Communication (β = 1.86, 95% CI 0.5-3.2) and Social Awareness (β = 1.25, 95% CI 0.1-2.4), but not for Autistic Mannerisms or Social Motivation. No significant association with BPA was found (β = 1.18, 95% CI: -0.75, 3.11). Prenatal phthalate exposure was associated with childhood social impairment in a multiethnic urban population. Even mild degrees of impaired social functioning in otherwise healthy individuals can have very important adverse effects over a child's lifetime. These results extend our previous finding of atypical neonatal and early childhood behaviors in relation to prenatal phthalate exposure.
Advanced manufacturing for the disc drive industry

The disc drive industry has evolved over the last decade from the garage shop start-up environment of Silicon Valley to a sophisticated, high-volume, worldwide, world class manufacturing system. Advances in all aspects of the disc drive industry have been enormous. Although many other aspects of disc drive manufacturing have had significant changes and improvements, this paper will address only the mechanical assembly process. Advances in tooling, processes, automation, Information Technology, and Statistical Process Control, and their effects on Disc Drive production are discussed.
Airborne Spectral Measurements of Ocean Directional Reflectance

The Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR) was flown aboard the University of Washington Convair 580 (CV-580) research aircraft during the Chesapeake Lighthouse and Aircraft Measurements for Satellites (CLAMS) field campaign and obtained measurements of bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of the ocean in July and August 2001 under different illumination conditions with solar zenith angles ranging from 15° to 46°. The BRDF measurements were accompanied by concurrent measurements of atmospheric aerosol optical thickness and column water vapor above the airplane. The method of spherical harmonics with Cox–Munk wave-slope distribution is used in a new algorithm developed for this study to solve the atmosphere–ocean radiative transfer problem and to remove the effects of the atmosphere from airborne measurements. The algorithm retrieves simultaneously the wind speed and full ocean BRDF (sun’s glitter and water-leaving radiance) from CAR measurements and evaluates total albedo and equivalent albedo for the water-leaving radiance outside the glitter. Results show good overall agreement with other measurements and theoretical simulations, with the anisotropy of the water-leaving radiance clearly seen. However, the water-leaving radiance does not show a strong dependence on solar zenith angle as suggested by some theoretical studies. The spectral albedo was found to vary from 4.1%–5.1% at 0.472 m to 2.4%–3.5% for 0.682 m. The equivalent water-leaving albedo ranges from 1.0%–2.4% at 0.472 m to 0.1%–0.6% for 0.682 m and 0.1%–0.3% for 0.870 m. Results of the validation of the Cox–Munk model under the conditions measured show that although the model reproduces the shape of sun’s glitter on average with an accuracy of better than 30%, it underestimates the center of the sun’s glitter reflectance by about 30% for low wind speeds ( 2–3 ms 1 ). In cases of high wind speed, the model with Gram–Charlier expansion seems to provide the best fit.
Multi-layer parasitic microstrip array antenna on LTCC substrate for millimeter-wave system-on-package

This paper proposes a novel multi-layer parasitic microstrip array antenna (MPMAA) structure for compact and low-cost quasi-millimeter-wave and millimeter-wave system-on-package modules. The design and performance of the proposed array antenna are described. The developed prototype MPMAA employs a multi-layer low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate that is well suited to the assembly of MMIC chips. The fabricated MPMAA exhibits a -16 dB return loss and a 50-degree 3-dB beam width at 25 GHz. The spacing of the top layer of the parasitic array constructed by 2/spl times/2 elements has a free space wavelength of 0.37. The fabricated MPMAA realizes both compact and high directional gain.
Cationic liposome-DNA complexes: from liquid crystal science to gene delivery applications

At present, there is an unprecedented level of interest in the properties and structures of complexes consisting of DNA mixed with oppositely charged cationic liposomes (CLs). The interest arises because the complexes mimic natural viruses as chemical carriers of DNA into cells in worldwide human gene therapy clinical trials. However, since our understanding of the mechanisms of action of CL–DNA complexes interacting with cells remains poor, significant additional insights and discoveries will be required before the development of efficient chemical carriers suitable for long-term therapeutic applications. Recent studies describe synchrotron X-ray diffraction, which has revealed the liquid crystalline nature of CL–DNA complexes, and three-dimensional laser-scanning confocal microscopy, which reveals CL–DNA pathways and interactions with cells. The importance of the liquid crystalline structures in biological function is revealed in the application of these modern techniques in combination with functional transfection efficiency measurements, which shows that the mechanism of gene release from complexes in the cell cytoplasm is dependent on their precise liquid crystalline nature and the physical and chemical parameters (for example, the membrane charge density) of the complexes. In §5, we describe some recent new results aimed at developing bionanotube vectors for gene delivery.
A similarity analysis of the droplet trajectory equation

A procedure is established to reduce the number of similarity parameters in the trajectory equation for particles in a moving fluid. This is accomplished by the use of an approximate sphere drag law to derive a new trajectory scaling parameter. The modified inertia parameter proposed by Langmuir specifically for the aircraft icing problem is analyzed and for the first time a closed-form solution is obtained. Both experimental and analytical results are presented to verify this new trajectory scaling parameter.
An Analysis of Drawbeads in Sheet Metal Forming: Part I—Problem Formulation

The development of a one-dimensional finite strain elasto-plastic shell model appropriate for use in modelling straight drawbeads is outlined. Numerical results obtained using a finite element technique are shown for practical bead designs. The sheet deformation is divided into two phases: that when the binder locks the sheet metal to form the bead, and that when the punch advances to form the panel, pulling the sheet and (possibly) drawing material through the bead. The effects of friction coefficient, bead geometry, and material properties are investigated, resulting in strain distribution diagrams and force-displacement curves for several bead designs.
Comorbid mental health and substance abuse issues among individuals in recovery homes: Prospective environmental mediators.

Individuals with comorbid internalizing psychological symptoms and substance abuse issues often have more negative outcomes and evidence a relative disparity in treatment gains compared to those with only substance abuse issues. The present study examined social mechanisms over time for individuals living in self-governed recovery homes (Oxford Houses) such as 12-step group activities and social support, which likely influence both abstinence and psychological outcomes. Participants (n = 567) from a national US sample of Oxford Houses completed baseline and multiple follow-up self-report assessments over a one-year period. A structural equation model was utilized to evaluate predicted relationships among baseline symptoms, 12-step activities, social support, and outcome variables. Results indicated that internalizing symptoms were associated with subsequent mutual-help activities, but not directly with social support. Living in an Oxford House for six months and number of 12-step meetings attended were partially mediated by social support variables in predicting abstinence outcomes, but not psychological outcomes. Environments such as Oxford Houses may be viable options for recovering individuals with comorbid internalizing psychological problems, although social support mechanisms primarily promote abstinence. Implications for future research and for Oxford House policies are discussed.
Scheduling n jobs on one machine to minimize the maximum tardiness with minimum number

Abstract The “one machine” scheduling problem is considered with the dual objective of minimizing the maximum tardiness with minimum number of tardy jobs. A simple procedure is introduced to obtain an optimal schedule with minimum “maximum tardiness” when the set of nontardy jobs is specified. A branch and bound algorithm is presented to obtain the optimal schedule that minimizes the maximum tardiness with minimum number of tardy jobs. A condition is also given to identify an initial set of early jobs. Several theorems are formulated and proved in order to justify the elimination of much branching.
Analysis of uncertain data: Evaluation of given hypotheses

We consider the problem of heuristic evaluation of given hypotheses based on limited observations, in situations when available data are insufficient for rigorous statistical analysis.
Acoustic characterization of microbubble dynamics in laser-induced optical breakdown

A real-time acoustic technique to characterize microbubbles produced by laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) in water was developed. Femtosecond laser pulses are focused just inside the surface of a small liquid tank. A tightly focused, high frequency, single-element ultrasonic transducer is positioned so its focus coincides axially and laterally with this laser focus. When optical breakdown occurs, a bubble forms and a pressure wave is emitted (i.e., acoustic emission). In addition to this acoustic signal, the microbubble is actively probed with pulse-echo measurements from the same transducer. After the bubble forms, received pulse-echo signals have an extra pulse, describing the bubble location and providing a measure of axial bubble size. Wavefield plots of successive recordings illustrate the generation, growth, and collapse of cavitation bubbles due to optical breakdown. These same plots also can be used to quantify LIOB thresholds.
Does Peacekeeping Keep Peace? International Intervention and the Duration of Peace After Civil War

This article examines international interventions in the aftermath of civil wars to see whether peace lasts longer when peacekeepers are present than when they are absent. Because peacekeeping is not applied to cases at random, I first address the question of where international personnel tend to be deployed. I then attempt to control for factors that might affect both the likelihood of peacekeepers being sent and the ease or difficulty of maintaining peace so as to avoid spurious findings. I find, in a nutshell, that peacekeeping after civil wars does indeed make an important contribution to the stability of peace.
Dendritic Cells Loaded with Tumor B Cells Elicit Broad Immunity against Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 but Fail To Prevent Long-Term Latency

It is still unknown whether a noninfectious gammaherpesvirus vaccine is able to prevent or reduce virus persistence. This led us to use dendritic cells loaded with tumor B cells as a vaccine approach for the murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (γHV68) model of infection. Dendritic cells loaded with UV-irradiated latently infected tumor B cells induce broad, strong, and long-lasting immunity against γHV68. Dendritic cell vaccination prevents the enlargement of lymph nodes and severely limits acute infection and early latency but does not prevent γHV68 from establishing long-term latency. Our findings support the concept that attenuated viruses may be the best vaccine option for preventing gammaherpesvirus persistence.
Studies on the developing cerebellums. Ultrastructure of the growth cones

The fine structure of the cerebellar cortex in rats was examined between the first and forty-fifth post-natal day. The formation and growth of axon and dendrites are reported here. As inferred from these observations, the process starts under the cell membrane as a local accumulation of vesicles without any visible content, about 1,100 A in size. This is followed by an outward bulging of the membrane which then becomes filled with vesicles and is known as the primary growth cone. In axons the synaptic and growth cone vesicles coexist until the third week or longer. In dendrites secondary growth cones exist at the tip of the branching dendrites and spines. Variations in the shape of the growth cone vesicles related to the age of the animal are described, and the importance of attempting to isolate the growth cones and the vesicles is emphasized.
FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY OF THE MOUTH OF THE BOWHEAD WHALE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION

Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) hauled out on shore-fast ice by Inupiat whale hunters off Barrow, Alaska were examined. Anatomical observations confirmed the occurrence of a large, well-muscled tongue. Temporomandibular articulations were synovial. The mandibular symphysis was unfused. Standard measurement of baleen plates and close-range photogrammetry of a baleen rack confirmed that the anterior portion of the baleen rack is strongly convex, in contrast to its shape in balaenopterids. Moderate force applied to the lower lip in a lateral direction caused a pronounced abduction of the lower jaw. These observations support a conclusion that during feeding, the tongue may deflect the incoming flow of prey-laden water from side to side in the mouth, to convey prey slurries into the postlingual recess. Abduction of the lower lip likely would establish a channel for acceleration of flow around the outside of the baleen racks, reducing external pressures and drawing water out through the baleen. Thus, the shape of the baleen rack in the bowhead appears to be an adaptation to reduce the amplitude of the bow wave projected during feeding, the simultaneous advantage being concentration of prey slurries inside the mouth. It may also impart a configuration to the bow wave that stimulates countereffective evasive effort by actively mobile prey. Final compaction of a concentrated prey slurry in the postlingual recess probably involves retraction of the tongue against the oropharyngeal wall. These insights notably enable consideration of certain threats to bowheads and right whales (Balaenidae) associated with oil spills and oral entanglement. Previous research on the ‘‘physiologic’’ effects of fouling of baleen with oil is judged to be inadequate with respect to this taxonomic family. Oral entanglement with nonbiodegradable marine debris is predicted to be lethal because of interference with a critical hydrostatic oral seal.
The (mis-)use of telegraphic input in child language intervention

Abstract Purpose To present an argument against the use of ungrammatical, telegraphic phrases and sentences as input to young children with speech and language delays. Method I first describe and exemplify what I mean by «telegraphic input» and contrast it with fully grammatical alternatives. Next, I examine some of the factors that serve as rationale for the use of telegraphic input with children with language impairment and illustrate the pervasiveness of this practice in early interventions for English-speaking children. Finally, I provide four discrete but related arguments to support my recommendation that professionals working with children with language delay should avoid the use of telegraphic input. These arguments against telegraphic input in language intervention include: a) the clinical advantages of telegraphic speech have not been demonstrated; b) telegraphic input may affirm the child's immature grammar and even slow learning; c) when comprehension exceeds production, telegraphic input may limit development in comprehension; and d) children process grammatical cues in the input that they cannot produce. Results and conclusions The evidence that is available to date provides no compelling advantages to the use of telegraphic models to children who have typical or impaired language learning and raises some concerns that frequent use of telegraphic input could have a negative impact on development. Therefore, until clinical evidence appears demonstrating superior responsivity to and no negative impact of telegraphic input, clinicians should avoid using such input in their clinical management of children with language delay.
Multiresolution wavelet analysis of ERPs for the detection of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease, a neurological disorder usually seen in elderly people, is the most common of all cortical dementias. It can only be diagnosed with certainty via an autopsy. Neurologists usually diagnose Alzheimer's disease from symptoms; however, misdiagnosis can be a problem. Additional techniques to increase the accuracy of ante-mortem diagnoses would be useful. In this study, event related potentials (ERPs) of two groups of patients were acquired. One group had been diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease and the other group as not having Alzheimer's disease. The ERPs were analyzed using multiresolution wavelet analysis techniques. The analyzed signals were then used to train a multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network to distinguish the signals belonging to the two groups of patients. Initial results demonstrated the feasibility of this approach.
Site-Specific Proteolytic Cleavage of the Amino Terminus of Herpes Simplex Virus Glycoprotein K on Virion Particles Inhibits Virus Entry

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein K (gK) is expressed on virions and functions in entry, inasmuch as HSV-1(KOS) virions devoid of gK enter cells substantially slower than is the case for the parental KOS virus (T. P. Foster, G. V. Rybachuk, and K. G. Kousoulas, J. Virol. 75:12431-12438, 2001). Deletion of the amino-terminal 68-amino-acid (aa) portion of gK caused a reduction in efficiency and kinetics of virus entry similar to that of the gK-null virus in comparison to the HSV-1(F) parental virus. The UL20 membrane protein and gK were readily detected on double-gradient-purified virion preparations. Immuno-electron microscopy confirmed the presence of gK and UL20 on purified virions. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments using purified virions revealed that gK interacted with UL20, as has been shown in virus-infected cells (T. P. Foster, V. N. Chouljenko, and K. G. Kousoulas, J. Virol. 82:6310-6323, 2008). Scanning of the HSV-1(F) viral genome revealed the presence of a single putative tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease site within gD, while additional TEV predicted sites were found within the UL5 (helicase-primase helicase subunit), UL23 (thymidine kinase), UL25 (DNA packaging tegument protein), and UL52 (helicase-primase primase subunit) proteins. The recombinant virus gDΔTEV was engineered to eliminate the single predicted gD TEV protease site without appreciably affecting its replication characteristics. The mutant virus gK-V5-TEV was subsequently constructed by insertion of a gene sequence encoding a V5 epitope tag in frame with the TEV protease site immediately after gK amino acid 68. The gK-V5-TEV, R-gK-V5-TEV (revertant virus), and gDΔTEV viruses exhibited similar plaque morphologies and replication characteristics. Treatment of the gK-V5-TEV virions with TEV protease caused approximately 32 to 34% reduction of virus entry, while treatment of gDΔTEV virions caused slightly increased virus entry. These results provide direct evidence that the gK and UL20 proteins, which are genetically and functionally linked to gB-mediated virus-induced cell fusion, are structural components of virions and function in virus entry. Site-specific cleavage of viral glycoproteins on mature and fully infectious virions utilizing unique protease sites may serve as a generalizable method of uncoupling the roles of viral glycoproteins in virus entry and virion assembly.
Endovascular Procedures in the Management of DVT

The post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) develops in 25%-50% of patients with proximal lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) despite the use of standard anticoagulant therapy and elastic compression stockings. PTS is a major cause of quality of life impairment in DVT patients and often leads to limiting venous claudication, work disability, and venous ulcers. Endovascular thrombolytic procedures that eliminate venous thrombus, restore venous flow, and show strong potential to prevent PTS are now under study in multicenter randomized clinical trials. In addition, endovascular procedures can be used to treat valvular reflux and venous obstruction and thereby provide symptom improvement to patients with chronic established PTS.
The effects of variable soil damping on soil-structure dynamics

This study examines the effects of variable dynamic dissipative and elastic soil characteristics on the dynamic response of a soil-structure system. Three equivalent linear modeling techniques (linear hysteretic and Kelvin-Voight constitutive models and weighted modal time history analysis) are used to incorporate the soil and structure’s unique dissipative characteristics. The soil’s critical viscous damping ratio and shear modulus are iteratively determined based upon experimentally observed, upper and lower bound strain-dependent stiffness degradation and damping curves. It is found that the three techniques produce consistent results: as the shear modulus increases, so does the primary natural frequency of the response; as the damping ratio of the soil increases, the magnitude of the response decreases. It is also found that variations in response due to using different values for a soil’s dynamic characteristics are dependent upon the equivalent linear modeling technique used. The impact of soil damping variability is seen to be as influential upon the dynamic response of a structure as shear modulus variability, because dissipative variations have a direct impact on the magnitudes of the displacement responses. The effects of variable soil damping should therefore be considered in addition to stiffness parameters as part of the dynamic characteristics of a system when determining a system’s dynamic performance.
mLogic: All spin logic device and circuits

Emerging electronic devices utilizing spin based effects and phenomena, such as spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM), have gathered a great spectrum of effort, ranging from basic scientific research to technology development [1][2][3][4]. In this talk, we present a novel all spin logic circuits, referred to as mLogic, based on a four terminal device, referred to as mCell, that utilizes Spin Hall Effect (SHE) along with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya-Interaction (DMI) at metallic interfaces for its operation [5].
Drug Side Effect Symptoms and Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication

BACKGROUND Non-adherence to antihypertensive medication increases the risk of uncontrolled hypertension. Antihypertensive drug-related symptoms (side effects) are frequently cited as a main cause of non-adherence, but with little support from prospective studies. We evaluated the association between drug side effects and prospective adherence to treatment. METHODS We collected data on the number and dose of antihypertensive drugs at enrollment and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow-up in a cohort of 175 hypertensive patients starting or restarting antihypertensive treatment (mean age: 50 years; 58% women). During the follow-up visits, we gathered data on 24 side effects during the last month and the pill count adherence ratio (PCAR = pills taken out of number prescribed × 100) since the previous visit. The association between side effects at a visit and adherence through the next visit was estimated using mixed effect models. RESULTS Eighty-five percent of the participants experienced side effects, and 34.5% became non-adherent (PCAR <80%). After adjusting for confounders, PCAR was 6.0 percentage points lower (P = 0.04) among individuals with number of side effects above the median value (4 symptoms). Also, in individuals with genitourinary side effects, PCAR was 7.1 percentage points lower (P = 0.02) than in those without such side effects. Specifically, PCAR was 6.5 (P = 0.06) and 7.6 (P = 0.01) percentage points lower among individuals with excessive urination and decrease in sexual drive, respectively. CONCLUSION Antihypertensive drug side effects was associated with drug adherence but only excessive urination and decrease in sexual drive significantly predicted lower adherence. These symptoms could be used as markers to screen out patients at high risk of non-adherence.
A Small Power’s Struggle for Independence in the Independent Era: The Case of Sri Lanka

AbstractCan a small state stand up to some of the major powerful states? If the answer is yes, what sort of socio-political environment would enable a small state to stand up to powerful states and effectively relieve hegemonic pressure from powerful states? This paper argues that Sri Lanka, a small and weak state, managed in the last few years, to effectively relieve hegemonic pressure from India and is standing up to the the usa. The Sri Lankan case demonstrates that a small state can effectively relieve hegemonic pressure from powerful states if its political milieu entails the following three elements: (1) the will of the political leadership, (2) a supportive population, and (3) patronage of major rival states.
Ptychogaster Cubensis, A Wood-Decaying Fungus of Southern Oaks and Waxmyrtle

Routine isolations from decay in living hardwoods occasionally reveal the presence of fungi not previously known to invade living trees. The decay fungi may be species that fruit commonly on old logs or stumps, as Stereum gausapatumn Fries in oaks and Polyporus glomeratus Peck in maple, or little known fungi such as Poria Andersonii (Ellis & Ev.) Neum. and Polyporus cormnpactus Overh. in oaks. Identification of cultures of the former group do not present such a difficult problem since it is usually possible to obtain sporophore cultures for comparison, but cultures of the latter group are much more difficult to identify. However, the identity of an isolate is sometimes suggested through comparisons of some microscopic features of the culture with described characteristics of sporophores. For instance, Overholts (6) described the context of P. comwpactus as composed largely of hyaline chlamydospores, whereas the most distinguishing characteristic of cultures of this fungus are the conspicuous masses of similar chlamydospores. The identities of cultures of Poria Aindersonii and Polyporus gloimeratus were first suspected by the presence of abundant hyphal setae which are conspicuous in sporophores of these species (1). In 1935 Hepting (2) referred to 60 unidentified isolates obtained in a decay study in Mississippi Delta hardwoods. Among these was a culture from decay in the heartwood of willow oak (Quercus phellos L.) that formed abundant brown conidia. Another culture of what appeared to be the same fungus species was isolated in 1938 from heartwood of a living water oak (Q. nligra L.) from Florida. At that time a careful search of the literature disclosed the fact that brown conidia described by Patouillard (7, p. 133)
Definitions and Properties of the Median, Quartiles, and Other Positional Means

(1938). Definitions and Properties of the Median, Quartiles, and Other Positional Means. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 45, No. 5, pp. 302-306.
ANTITHROMBOTIC EFFECTS OF TICAGRELOR VERSUS CLOPIDOGREL LOADING DOSE IN DIABETIC PATIENTS

Diabetic patients have higher platelet reactivity and reduced sensitivity to clopidogrel. Ticagrelor, with its faster and more potent antiplatelet effects, lowers adverse events more than clopidogrel in CAD patients, but its effectiveness in diabetic population did not show significant improvement
Generalization of the tensor renormalization group approach to 3-D or higher dimensions

Abstract In this paper, a way of generalizing the tensor renormalization group (TRG) is proposed. Mathematically, the connection between patterns of tensor renormalization group and the concept of truncation sequence in polytope geometry is discovered. A theoretical contraction framework is therefore proposed. Furthermore, the canonical polyadic decomposition is introduced to tensor network theory. A numerical verification of this method on the 3-D Ising model is carried out.
Characterization of the interactions between procoagulant albumin and human endothelial cells

Abstract Normal human plasma contains procoagulant albumin (PC-AI), an anionic form of albumin that induces tissue factor (TF) activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and monocytes. In this study, we investigated both the interactions between HUVEC and PC-AI and the mechanism by which PC-AI induces TF activity. Binding of PC-AI to HUVEC was specific and reversible. Further studies indicated that membrane-bound PC-AI was not internalized by HUVEC. A potential receptor on HUVEC was suggested by studies in which the capacity of a variety of reagents to inhibit the activity of PC-AI was quantitated. Induction of TF activity by PC-AI was antagonized by dex-tran sulfate, heparin, fucoidan, and concanavalin A but not by ovalbumin, polyglutamic acid, or polyvinyl sulfate. This competition profile bears similarities to those reported for scavenger receptors that have been identified on both HUVEC and monocytes. Involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in the PC-AI—induced enhancement of TF activity was suggested by experiments in which staurosporine, an inhibitor of PKC, suppressed the activity of PC-AI. The induction of TF activity by PC-AI was further characterized by using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Increased TF mRNA was first seen after 1 hour of incubation with PC-AI. Maximal observed expression occurred at 2 hours, but at 5 hours, expression had significantly decreased. Monocytes could also be induced to express TF mRNA after a 2-hour incubation with PC-AI. These results suggest that the functionally relevant binding of PC-AI to HUVEC may be mediated through interactions with a membrane constituent that has some of the properties of a scavenger receptor and that this interaction augments TF activity by enhancing transcription of TF mRNA, at least in part, by a mechanism that is dependent on activation of PKC.
Dynamic DNA Methylation Regulates Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia.

Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) is a persistent behavioral sensitization that develops after repeated levodopa (l-DOPA) exposure in Parkinson disease patients. LID is a consequence of sustained changes in the transcriptional behavior of striatal neurons following dopaminergic stimulation. In neurons, transcriptional regulation through dynamic DNA methylation has been shown pivotal to many long-term behavioral modifications; however, its role in LID has not yet been explored. Using a rodent model, we show LID development leads to the aberrant expression of DNA demethylating enzymes and locus-specific changes to DNA methylation at the promoter regions of genes aberrantly transcribed following l-DOPA treatment. Looking for dynamic DNA methylation in LID genome-wide, we used reduced representation bisulfite sequencing and found an extensive reorganization of the dorsal striatal methylome. LID development led to significant demethylation at many important regulatory areas of aberrantly transcribed genes. We used pharmacologic treatments that alter DNA methylation bidirectionally and found them able to modulate dyskinetic behaviors. Together, these findings demonstrate that l-DOPA induces widespread changes to striatal DNA methylation and that these modifications are required for the development and maintenance of LID. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) develops after repeated levodopa (l-DOPA) exposure in Parkinson disease patients and remains one of the primary obstacles to effective treatment. LID behaviors are a consequence of striatal neuron sensitization due to sustained changes in transcriptional behavior; however, the mechanisms responsible for the long-term maintenance of this cellular priming remain uncertain. Regulation of dynamic DNA methylation has been shown pivotal to the maintenance of several long-term behavioral modifications, yet its role in LID has not yet been explored. In this work, we report a pivotal role for the reorganization of DNA methylation in the development of LID and show that modification of DNA methylation may be a novel therapeutic target for use in preventing or reversing dyskinetic behaviors.
Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Grades 23 and 24 creep strength enhanced ferritic steels

Grades 23 and 24 creep strength enhanced ferritic (CSEF) steels are relatively new materials that have been designed with improved high-temperature strength compared to conventional 2.25Cr–1Mo alloys. These new steels share alloying strategies that were used in the past for CrMo derivatives such as the CrMoV steels. Grades 23 and 24 are often grouped with similar CSEF steels in terms of mechanical properties and fabrication characteristics. However, recent experience indicates that these alloys require more unique care to ensure adequate properties for the intended service in both the base metal and welds. The differences in behaviour between these new steels and more conventional CrMo steels can be attributed to relatively minor variations in composition that lead to rather significant differences in microstructure. This review summarises technical information and practical experience on the manufacture and use of Grades 23 and 24 CSEF steels for power generation applications. Factors that influence the ...
A 92-dB DR, 24.3-mW, 1.25-MHz BW Sigma–Delta Modulator Using Dynamically Biased Op Amp Sharing

A 2–2 cascaded switched-capacitor $\Sigma \Delta $ modulator is presented for design of low-voltage, low-power, broadband analog-to-digital conversion. To reduce power dissipation in both analog and digital circuits and ensure low-voltage operation, a half-sample delayed-input feedforward architecture is employed in combination with 4-bit quantization, which results in reduced integrator output swings and relaxed timing constraint in the feedback path. The integrator power is further reduced by sharing an op amp in the two integrators in each stage and periodically changing the op amp bias condition between a high-current and a low-current mode using a fast low-power high-precision charge pump circuit. Implemented in a 0.18- $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS technology, the experimental prototype achieves a 92-dB dynamic range, a 91-dB peak signal-to-noise ratio, and an 84-dB peak signal-to-noise plus distortion ratio, respectively for a signal bandwidth of 1.25 MHz. Operated at a 40-MHz sampling rate, the modulator dissipates 24.3 mW from a 1 V supply.