cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The mechanism for producing two symmetries at the head-tail junction of bacteriophages: a hypothesis.

Some double-stranded DNA bacteriophages consist of DNA packaged in a proteinaceous capsid. The capsid has a DNA-enclosing outer shell (head) attached to an external projection (tail). At the head-tail junction is a ring of subunits (connector) that has either six or twelve-fold rotational symmetry, and is joined to the head at an axis of the head's five-fold rotational symmetry. The head is made of subunits in either an icosahedral array or an array consisting of two icosahedral hemispheres separated by a cylinder of subunits. During infection of a host, the head with connector is assembled as a procapsid that subsequently packages DNA and joins a tail. The mechanism for producing two symmetries at the head-tail junction has in the past been an unsolved problem. The observation that the connector of bacteriophage T7 does not nucleate asembly of the outer shell of T7's icosahedral procapsid (P. Serwer and R. H. Watson [1982] J. Virol. 42, 595–601) places a constraint on a solution for the above problem. To solve the above problem for icosahedral procapsids, it is proposed here that: (a) assembly of the outer shell of procapsids is nucleated by a six-membered ring of hexameric aggregates of the major outer shell protein, (b) the connector is assembled in the center of this ring, (c) one of the hexamers dissociates from the ring, creating a five-membered ring and forcing the connector to the inside of the outer shell. A related mechanism is proposed for nucleation of the elongated procapsid of bacteriophage T4.
Quantum field theory, horizons and thermodynamics

Abstract The aim of the article is to obtain an intuitive understanding of the recently explored deep connections between thermal physics, quantum field theory and general relativity. A special case in which a detector moves with constant acceleration through a quantum vacuum is examined to clarify the fact that such a detector becomes thermally excited, with a temperature proportional to its acceleration. An elementary physical explanation of this fundamental result is provided. The uniformly accelerated observer finds his space-time manifold bounded by an event horizon and so realizes a ‘model’ black hole. Real black holes also have thermal properties when quantum effects are taken into account; these are described and the correspondences with the accelerated case are pointed out. In particular, an elementary account is given of the thermal Hawking radiation emitted by the black holes formed by collapsed stars.
Characterization of keto disaccharides in solution by deuterium-induced, differential isotope-shift 13C-N.M.R. spectroscopy

Abstract The chemical-shift assignments and tautomeric distribution of three fructose-containing disaccharides, lactulose, cellobiulose, and maltulose have been established with the 13C deuterium-induced, differential isotope-shift (d.i.s.) technique. A number of 13C resonance assignments, which could not have been made previously, are described for the spectrum of maltulose based on observed isotope perturbations. The observed d.i.s. values for the glycosylated C-4′ carbon resonances of the pyranose tautomers were found to be sensitive to the stereochemistry of the glycosidic linkage. Fructopyranose forms dominate the tautomeric distribution of each keto disaccharide, with the percentage of fructofuranose forms increasing with temperature. As much as 2.5% open-chain “keto” form of disaccharide was detected in solution.
Late Holocene Tectonics and Paleoseismicity, Southern Cascadia Subduction Zone

Holocene deformation indicative of large subduction-zone earthquakes has occurred on two large thrust fault systems in the Humboldt Bay region of northern California. Displaced stratigraphic markers record three offsets of 5 to 7 meters each on the Little Salmon fault during the past 1700 years. Smaller and less frequent Holocene displacements have occurred in the Mad River fault zone. Elsewhere, as many as five episodes of sudden subsidence of marsh peats and fossil forests and uplift of marine terraces are recorded. Carbon-14 dates suggest that the faulting, subsidence, and uplift events were synchronous. Relations between magnitude and various fault-offset parameters indicate that earthquakes accompanying displacements on the Little Salmon fault had magnitudes of at least 7.6 to 7.8. More likely this faulting accompanied rupture of the boundary between the Gorda and North American plates, and magnitudes were about 8.4 or greater.
Bayesian games as stochastic processes

This paper examines stochastic processes generated by sequential games each of whose “states” includes a distribution and whose up-dating rules for state transitions may include Bayes operators. General properties of discrete-time Markov processes are applied to specific games such as iterated matrix games, including Prisoners' Dilemma, and to a new model for the Asch experiments on conflict and conformity.
Trafficking of dopamine transporters in psychostimulant actions

Brain dopamine (DA) plays a pivotal role in drug addiction. Since the plasma membrane DA transporter (DAT) is critical for terminating DA neurotransmission, it is important to understand how DATs are regulated and this regulation impacts drug addiction. The number of cell surface DATs is controlled by constitutive and regulated endocytic trafficking. Psychostimulants impact this trafficking. Amphetamines, DAT substrates, cause rapid up-regulation and slower down-regulation of DAT whereas cocaine, a DAT inhibitor, increases surface DATs. Recent reports have begun to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of these psychostimulant effects and link changes in DAT trafficking to psychostimulant-induced reward/reinforcement in animal models.
Analysis of U.S. savings bonds

Abstract U.S. savings bonds are complex contracts. Financial planners have traditionally paid little attention to savings bonds, in part because they often offer below-market interest rates. However, they sometimes offer above-market interest rates, especially when one learns how to view and value their option features. All savings bonds contain put options that protect the investor against a rise in interest rates. Thus, they can be viewed as short-term, intermediate-term, or long-term bonds. The EE bonds also offer several tax options. We show how savings bonds can be used to beat the kiddie tax, to finance postsecondary education, and in retirement planning.
Expression of dioxin-responsive genes in human endometrial cells in culture.

To investigate expression of dioxin-responsive genes in human endometrial cells with exposure to 2,3,7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), human endometrial stromal cells immortalized with temperature-sensitive SV40 T antigen were used for the experiments. Cells were treated with 0.1% DMSO or 0.1, 1, 10, or 100 nM TCDD for 24 h. Induction of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) mRNAs was analyzed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Expression of IL-1beta or PAI-2 mRNA in response to TCDD was increased in a dose-dependent fashion. The maximum increases of PAI-2 and IL-1beta mRNAs were observed at 100 and 10 nM TCDD, respectively. While cycloheximide treatment did not show a significant difference of PAI-2 mRNA levels between control and TCDD-treated cells, mRNA stability assay using actinomycin D showed that PAI-2 mRNA in TCDD-treated cells was about twofold more stable than the control cells. While expression of CYP1A1 mRNA was not detected and levels of ARNT mRNA were not altered by TCDD exposure, the amount of AhR mRNA was decreased dose dependently. The present study represents an initial attempt to determine the responses of dioxin-responsive genes in human endometrial cells following TCDD exposure. The results demonstrated that IL-1beta and PAI-2 genes are induced dose dependently in human endometrial cells with exposure to TCDD and expression of PAI-2 mRNA is controlled at the posttranscriptional level.
Finite area beta-plane dipoles

Abstract We study a class of vortex dipoles consisting of two patches of uniform potential vorticity in an otherwise quiescent flow on a β-plane. Steadily propagating solutions that are desingularised analogues of point vortex dipoles are found and compared with the point vortex solutions. Like the point vortex dipoles, both rapidly and slowly propagating solutions exist. Numerical simulations show that the slow solutions are unstable and break up under the influence of weak external perturbations. The fast solutions are more robust. The minimum dipole strength necessary for the existence of a steadily propagating solution is less than that found for point vortex dipoles.
Molecular geometry/toxicity correlations for laterally tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Abstract Correlations between infrared data and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) LD–50 values suggest that molecular geometry, polarizability and steric PCDD/receptor interactions are associated with isomer toxicity.
The effect of heavy metals on laboratory populations of two polychaetes with comparisons to the water quality conditions and standards in Southern California marine waters

Abstract Polychaetous annelid assays were performed with laboratory inbred cultures of juvenile and adult Neanthes arenaceodentata and Capitella capitata to cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc in sea water. Data were presented as 96-h and 28-day LC 50 concentrations. Mercury and copper were the two most toxic with zinc and chromium generally the next most toxic followed by lead and cadmium. The adult stages of both species were more tolerant to these metals than the juveniles. Comparisons of these six metals present in the two large domestic sewage outfalls in Los Angeles County indicate that the amount of copper and zinc present in the effluent exceeds the 28-day LC 50 of these two polychaetes. The results were compared to the water quality standards for discharges in the State of California.
A molecular model of adsorption in a dilute semiflexible porous network

A Monte Carlo simulation study has been made of adsorption and desorption of a gas in a semiflexible porous network with a porosity of over 95%, which is comparable with that of silica aerogels. Although dilute, the network has substantial effects on the properties of confined fluids. Network flexibility is shown to make a significant difference to both the adsorption/desorption isotherms and the fluid phase coexistence when compared with the case where the network is rigid. For one of the systems studied the solid volume changes by as much as 30% during desorption. This is qualitatively similar to an effect seen in nitrogen adsorption/desorption in some silica aerogels.
DFT Calculations on the Role of Base in the Reaction between CO2 and Monoethanolamine

DFT calculations using a PCM solvation model were carried out to examine the reaction pathways for the formation of carbamate from CO2 and monoethanolamine (MEA) in the presence of an additional proton acceptor, MEA or H2O. In both cases, the zwitterionic species [HO(CH2)2NH2+—COO−] has a lower energy than the reactants. Proton transfer from the zwitterionic species to the base (MEA) produced a carbamate product with an accompanying gradual decrease in energy. However, a similar process for the water case resulted in an implausible increase in energy, which suggests that MEA is suitable as a base but H2O is not.
Roundoff noise upper bounds for cascaded recursive digital filter structures

Two upper bounds on the variance of roundoff noise at the output of a cascade digital filterstructure are established. Some of these bounds are easier to compute than the exact roundoff-noise variance.Algorithms utilising these bounds for the generation of low-noise cascade realisation (by proper pairing ofpoles and zeros and ordering of the 2nd-and/or lst-order sections) are suggested. An exhaustive search toobtain such a realisation becomes economically feasible because of the reduced complexity of computations.Illustrative examples are given, showing the application of one of these algorithms.
Multi-Index Multi-Object Content-Based Retrieval

In many large-scale content-based retrieval (CBR) applications, the input to the search process is a complex query that may be composed of several constituent parts. The proposed approach performs CBR queries by breaking down a complex query into several smaller heterogeneous queries. Object-based queries in an imagery search application can be performed by executing a search over several distinct feature space indexes. For example, CBR indexes may exist for spectral, texture, and shape feature vectors extracted from objects. A query for similar objects can be completed by aggregating the results from these multiple indexes. Complementing this concept, a multi-object search can be used to identify relevant groups of objects which match a given set of query objects. For example, a set of objects identified in satellite imagery could be used as a CBR query in order to identify similar groups of objects. Thus, a query can be performed for each object, and these results can be aggregated into multi-object search results by determining the optimal match of the query objects to those in each resulting group. We introduce the absence penalty method and obligatory object query algorithms for performing multi-index and multi-object CBR searches and provide experimental results that show that the proposed approaches efficiently provide search results with a high degree of precision with minimal error. The experimental results shown demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed methods; moreover, through the fusion of multi-index and multi-object search techniques, we are able to construct new sophisticated query mechanisms.
Liquid crystal and polymer dispersions: morphological control (Invited Paper)

Liquid crystal and polymer dispersions (LCPD) have potential application as flat panel displays, switchable lenses, optical switches, Bragg gratings, photonic crystals, diffractive optics, hyper-spectral filters, and etc. Precise morphological control of the phase-separated morphology of LCPDs is required to meet the rigorous requirements for the numerous applications. Liquid crystal and polymer dispersions (LCPDs) are micro or nano-structured materials fabricated using one of several phase separation techniques. The micro- or nano-structured morphology of LCPDs ranges from a polymeric network suspended in a liquid crystal solvent (polymer stabilized liquid crystals [PSLC] to random or spatially periodic micron or sub-micron sized liquid crystal droplet dispersions in a solid polymer matrix of polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) and the holographically formed PDLC (H-PDLC). The goal of this investigation is to identify the material properties and processing conditions required for more precise control of the phase-separated morphology of PDLCs. The investigation entailed construction of thermal phase diagrams for liquid crystal and monomer/pre-polymer mixtures to identify the compositionally dependent phase separation temperatures. The investigation also entailed inducing phase separation of the mixtures via ultra-violent light initiated polymerization at carefully chosen cure temperatures based on the thermal phase diagrams. The phase-separated morphology was correlated with the cure temperature, liquid crystal component, and mixture composition.
Novel Polymeric reagent for synthesizing 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl L-prolinyl derivatives for chiral high-performance liquid chromatography of amino acids

Abstract The synthesis of a novel polymer-supported 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-L-proline reagent for derivatizing nucleophiles is described. The new polymer, containing a 1-hydroxybenzotriazole activated ester, is highly reactive. Significant improvement in the ease of use and the rate of reaction with strong and weak nucleophiles is achieved. In this study, the utility of the solid-phase reagent for derivatizing amino acids for chiral high-performance liquid chromatography is described. Derivatization is accomplished simply by mixing a sample of the amino acid in acetonitrile with the polymer at room temperature for 10 min. Racemization of amino acids under the mild reaction conditions is not observed. Despite 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-L-prolinyl-D,L-amino acids are diastereoisomeric, the isomers are not separated by simple reversed-phase chromatography. Since these derivatives posses the necessary functional groups for metal chelation, mobile phases containing chiral Cu(II) complexes wee used to resolve the optical isomers. Excellent resolution of all the D and L enantiomers of natural amino acids was achieved by using Cu(II)-L-histidine methyl ester and Cu(II)-l-proline eluents on reversed phases columns with various concentrations of acetonitrile. The separated derivatives were detected in the low-nanogram range by fluorescence at 315 nm with excitation at 275 nm.
Visualization of steady streaming near oscillating spheroids

Experimental studies of steady streaming flows are presented for spheroids of various aspect ratios oscillating in a viscous fluid along their axis of symmetry at Reynolds numbers up to 150 and normalized oscillation amplitudes up to 1.2. The steady streaming component of the flow is visualized using phase-locked particle pathline images along the central plane of the spheroid. The extent of the inner region of the flow, characterized by the distance to the stagnation points, appears to depend on a length scale based on the spheroid aspect ratio and equivalent radius. Spheroids were also oscillated at a nonzero angle with respect to their axis of symmetry. The angular displacement of the stagnation points on the surface of these obliquely oscillated spheroids is related to the aspect ratio and the angle of oscillation.
Induction of a trophoblast-like phenotype by hydralazine in the p19 embryonic carcinoma cell line.

Abstract Chemicals that affect cellular differentiation through epigenetic mechanisms have potential utility in treating a wide range of diseases. Hydralazine decreases DNA methylation in some cell types but its effect on differentiation has not been well explored. After five days of exposure to hydralazine, P19 embryocarcinoma cells displayed a giant cell morphology and were binucleate, indicative of a trophoblast-like morphology. Other trophoblast-like properties included the intermediary filament Troma-1/cytokeratin 8 and the transcription factor Tead4. A decrease in CpG methylation at three sites in the TEAD4 promoter and the B1 repeated sequence was observed. Knocking down expression of Tead4 with siRNA blocked the increase in Troma-1/cytokeratin 8 and over expression of Tead4 induced the expression of Troma-1/cytokeratin 8. Cells treated for 5 days with hydralazine were no longer capable of undergoing retinoic acid-mediated neuronal differentiation. An irreversible loss of the pluripotent transcription factor Oct-4 was observed following hydralazine exposure. In summary, hydralazine induces P19 cells to assume a trophoblast-like phenotype by upregulating Tead4 expression through a mechanism involving DNA demethylation.
Reversal or protection by light of the ethidium bromide induced petite mutation in yeast

An intermediate in the ethidium bromide (EB) induced petite mutation pathway may be destabilized by daylight light to cause a reversion to the normal grande phenotype. Starved cells preincubated in the dark for up to 6 h with 100 μg/ml EB could be reverted to grandes after one hour of light exposure, whereas similarly treated cells maintained in the dark expressed the petite mutation in more than 80 percent of the population. In addition, the production of petite mutants by EB in buffer could be prevented if cell suspensions were exposed to light immediately upon the addition of EB. Photoreversal of the EB-derived petite mutation in growing cells was less efficient presumably because the availability of an energy source caused a continuation of mutation events beyond the light revertible step to a non-reversible fixation of the mutation. Cells treated with EB in growth media at 4° C were more responsive to light protection and reversal of the mutation. This may be due to the cold inhibition of an enzyme which comes into play beyond the light sensitive step in the mutation pathway.
A Local Proinflammatory Signalling Loop Facilitates Adverse Age-Associated Arterial Remodeling

Background The coincidence of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) infiltration and collagen deposition within a diffusely thickened intima is a salient feature of central arterial wall inflammation that accompanies advancing age. However, the molecular mechanisms involved remain undefined.
Diffraction Studies of the Chemical Bond

Abstract A number of accurate diffraction studies are discussed which have yielded information of theoretical chemical interest. The information is two-fold: accurate atomic parameters can be obtained and compared with theoretical calculations through bond length-bond order curves and through analysis of molecular geometry. In addition, more direct information on chemical bonding can be obtained from combined X-ray and neutron diffraction analyses. The experimental charge density obtained in this way can be compared with theory without use of empirical correlation curves. It is concluded that accurate diffraction data have a potential for the study of chemical bonding which is as yet largely unexplored.
Using program flowcharts in the development of macros for spreadsheet applications

Abstract Accounting and business curricula are being changed to provide increased emphasis on information systems concepts. Much of that change involves the use of microcomputer spreadsheet packages. For decades, program flowcharts have been used in developing programs in languages such as COBOL, FORTRAN, and BASIC, but little evidence is available to indicate that program flowcharts are being used in developing complex spreadsheet macros. Students in accounting information systems classes were required to prepare program flowcharts prior to developing a spreadsheet that required complex macros. Student feedback indicated that they would prepare program flowcharts in the future when they develop complex spreadsheet macros.
Synthesis of a caged glutamate for efficient one- and two-photon photorelease on living cells

We have synthesized a biologically inert, photosensitive derivative of the major excitatory amino acid, L-glutamate (which we call MDNI-glu) that makes more efficient use of incident light than all other caged glutamates. Laser flash photolysis of MDNI-glu in acutely isolated hippocampal brain slices evoked a rapid increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in astrocytes.
ALTERATIONS IN THE ABSORPTION OF SULFISOXAZOLE FROM GUINEA PIG INTESTINE.

The effect of neostigmine on the absorption of sulfisoxazole into everted sacs of guinea pig intestine was determined and the results related to the blood levels of the sulfonamide after oral administration. The results indicate that neostigmine enhanced the absorption, thereby elevating the total blood level of sulfonamide.
Calculation of basin-scale surface fluxes by combining remotely sensed data and atmospheric properties in a semiarid landscape

Optical remote sensing data collected during the Monsoon '90 experiment in the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed in southern Arizona were used to estimate basin-scale surface temperature, net radiation (Rn) and soil heat flux (G). These were combined with several atmospheric boundary-layer (ABL) models to allow computation of basin-scale surface fluxes of sensible (H) and latent heat (LE). The calculated fluxes were compared to averages from a network of surface flux stations. One ABL model calculatedH using a bulk similarity approach for wind and temperature with remotely sensed surface temperature as the lower boundary condition. With basin-scale estimates ofRn andG, LE was solved as a residual. The other ABL model applied atmospheric profiles from a series of soundings in the conservation equations of temperature and humidity in the mixed layer to computeH andLE directly. By combining theseH values withRn andG, calculation ofLE by residual also was performed. The ABL-derivedH values differed from the averages from the surface network by roughly 20 and 30% for the bulk similarity and conservation approaches, respectively. ForLE, these same differences were around 10 and 70%. The disparity was reduced to nearly 30% for the conservation approach whenLE was solved as a residual. Days with significant spatial variation in surface soil moisture and/or cloud cover were associated with most of the disagreement between the ABL-derived and surface-based values. This was particularly true for conservation estimates ofLE. The bulk similarity method appeared less sensitive non-ideal environmental conditions. This may in part be due to the use of remotely sensed information, which provided a lower boundary value of surface temperature and estimates ofRn andG over the study area, thereby allowing for residual calculations ofLE. Such information clearly has utility for assessing the surface energy and water balance at basin scale.
The sweep-envelope differential equation algorithm and its application to NC machining verification

Abstract A new method, called the sweep-envelope differential equation, for characterizing swept volume boundaries is introduced. This method is used as the theoretical foundation of an algorithm for computing swept volumes using the trajectories of the sweep-envelope differential equation which start at the initial grazing points of the moving object. The major advantages of this algorithm are: (1) the grazing point set need essentially only be computed at the initial position of the object—the remaining grazing points are generated by the flow of the sweep-envelope equation—so the computation complexity is drastically reduced; and (2) it provides automatic connectivity for computed boundary points that facilitates integration with standard algorithms and cad software for visual realization and Boolean operations. Examples are presented that illustrate successful integration of a prototype program (based on the algorithm) with commercial NC verification software.
Successful Treatment of a Locally Invasive Cryptococcoma Mimicking Primary Thyroid Cancer With Fluconazole

A patient with no immune compromise and no constitutional or pulmonary symptoms presented with an enlarging neck mass abutting the thyroid gland and extending through the pleura into the lung. Microbiologic evaluation revealed a diagnosis of cryptococcoma, and the patient responded well to oral fluconazole therapy. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case describing a locally invasive cryptococcoma mimicking a primary thyroid malignancy in the absence of systemic symptoms.
Effect of glycosylation inhibitors and acidotropic amines on the synthesis, processing, and intracellular-extracellular distribution of α-l-fucosidase in B-lymphoblastoid cells☆

N-Methyldeoxynojirimycin, 1-deoxymannojirimycin, and monensin interferred with normal processing of asparagine-linked oligosaccharide chains of alpha-L-fucosidase in lymphoid cells by blocking conversion of high-mannose oligosaccharides of newly made precursor enzyme to complex oligosaccharides of mature intracellular and extracellular forms of enzyme. These compounds did not substantially alter the distribution of newly made alpha-L-fucosidase between intracellular and extracellular compartments. Thus, sorting of newly made alpha-L-fucosidase molecules that are retained intracellularly from molecules that are eventually secreted does not require terminal glycosylation or the trimming of glucose or alpha-D-(1----2)-linked mannose residues from carbohydrate chains. Chloroquine and ammonium chloride had no substantial effect on the structural processing or on the intracellular-extracellular distribution of alpha-L-fucosidase in lymphoid cells. In other cell types, these weak bases caused a massive secretion and an intracellular deficiency of acid hydrolases. The different responses to weak bases in lymphoid cells and the other cell types can be explained either by an inability of these agents to neutralize the pH of intracellular organelles in lymphoid cells or by a routing mechanism in lymphoid cells that is independent of pH.
Real-world project experience for IT students through honors scholars program

The purpose of this poster presentation is to describe how the honors scholars program at the College of Applied Science at the University of Cincinnati helped Information Technology (IT) students to implement real-world projects, engaged in community service and thus enriched their student life. A team of students and faculty in the Honors program and the construction professionals at the Messer Construction Company developed a web based knowledge base to tap the experience o construction professionals in the company. Through the honors credits projects students developed web sites for community organizations.
Young adults' use and output level settings of personal music systems.

Objectives There are growing concerns over noise exposure via personal music system use by young adults. One purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of personal music system use and the listening patterns associated with these systems in a large sample of young adults. A second purpose of this study was to measure the dB SPL in the ear canal of young adults while they blindly set the volume of a personal music system to four settings. Design In the first study, the personal music system use survey was completed by 1016 students at various locations on the San Diego State University campus. Questions included sex, age, ethnicity, race, and whether or not they used a personal music system. Students who answered Yes to using a personal music system were instructed to complete the remaining 11 closed-set questions. These questions dealt with type of earphones used with the system, most common listening environment, length of time per day the system was used, and the volume setting. The differences between women and men and across ethnicity and race were evaluated for the questions. In the second study, a probe microphone placed in the ear canal of 32 participants was used to determine the dB SPL of four loudness categories at which the participants blindly set the level of a personal music system: low, medium or comfortable, loud, and very loud. Results In study 1, over 90% of the participants who completed the survey reported using a personal music system. Over 50% of those who use a personal music system reported listening between 1 and 3 hrs and almost 90% reported listening at either a medium or loud volume. Men were significantly more likely to report listening to their system for a longer duration compared with women and more likely to report listening at a very loud volume. There was a trend for Hispanic or Latino students to report listening for longer durations compared with Not Hispanic or Latino students, but this difference was not statistically significant. Black or African American students were significantly more likely to report listening to their personal music system between 3 and 5 hrs and more than 5 hrs and to report listening at a very loud volume compared with other racial groups. In study 2, the mean dB SPL values for low, medium or comfortable, loud, and very loud were 62.0, 71.6, 87.7, and 97.8 dB SPL, respectively. Men set the level of very loud significantly higher than women. Conclusions It is clear that a vast majority of young adults who completed the personal music system use survey listen to a system using earphones. Most of the respondents listen between 1 and 3 hrs a day at a medium or loud volume. Based on the probe microphone measurement results, the volume settings for reported durations may not be hazardous for hearing. Long-term use of personal music systems, however, in combination with other noise exposures (i.e., recreational, occupational), and their effect on hearing remains a question for additional research.
HMM Speech Recognition with Neural Net Discrimination

Two approaches were explored which integrate neural net classifiers with Hidden Markov Model (HMM) speech recognizers. Both attempt to improve speech pattern discrimination while retaining the temporal processing advantages of HMMs. One approach used neural nets to provide second-stage discrimination following an HMM recognizer. On a small vocabulary task, Radial Basis Function (RBF) and back-propagation neural nets reduced the error rate substantially (from 7.9% to 4.2% for the RBF classifier). In a larger vocabulary task, neural net classifiers did not reduce the error rate. They, however, outperformed Gaussian, Gaussian mixture, and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifiers. In another approach, neural nets functioned as low-level acoustic-phonetic feature extractors. When classifying phonemes based on single 10 msec. frames, discriminant RBF neural net classifiers outperformed Gaussian mixture classifiers. Performance, however, differed little when classifying phones by accumulating scores across all frames in phonetic segments using a single node HMM recognizer.
Foreign Bodies and National Scales: Medical Tourism in Thailand:

Medical tourism describes a new pattern of movement of people for medical care, particularly from wealthier to poorer countries. Using the example of Thailand, where annually a million non-Thai patients seek medical treatment, this article provides a critical analysis of the political economic contexts for this medical migration. Drawing on urban geography and heterodox economics, the article considers medical tourism as an interaction of bodily, national, and global scales shaped by processes of globalization. This approach provides a thick context for the transnational care of bodies while proposing that the bodily scale also has a role in reformulating the scale of the nation.
The physiologic determination of the vapor permeation efficiency of clothing

Abstract Two calculations of the coefficient for vapor permeation efficiency ( F pcl ) have been proposed for use in the rational (heat balance) approach to heat stress problems caused by wearing protective clothing—one proposed by Candas et al. (1987) and a second (derived from K e η ′ ) proposed by Kenney et al. (1987). Both of these coefficients are based on the concept of sweating efficiency and each is used in the calculation of E max , the maximal evaporative capacity of the environment. This paper compares these 2 approaches based on data collected across several clothing ensembles common to industry. In general, the lighter and more permeable the ensemble, the closer the agreement between the two coefficients. However, as clothing becomes impermeable (e.g., vapor-barrier clothing made of plastic, coated Tyvek®, etc.), use of the former F pcl significantly overestimates E max . It is suggested that either calculation can be used for lightweight clothing (although Candas F pcl is simpler to calculate) but that the F pcl calculated by Kenney and co-workers is preferable for heavier ensembles.
The superficial femoral artery as a conduit: an alternative to prosthetic material.

Abstract The occluded superficial femoral artery is almost universally present in atherosclerosis obliterans and requires vascular reconstruction. As an alternative autogenous conduit, when a suitable saphenous vein is not available, the properly prepared superficial femoral artery can obviate the need for prosthetic material. The technique for preparing the artery for use as a graft is discussed. A case of the superficial femoral artery used as an autogenous conduit is presented. (JVASC SURG 1985;2:739-40.)
What is prescription labeling communicating to doctors about hepatotoxic drugs? A study of FDA approved product labeling

Purpose The objective of this study was to evaluate the informativeness and consistency of product labeling of hepatotoxic drugs marketed in the United States. Methods We searched the Physicians' Desk Reference—2000 for prescription drugs with hepatic failure and/or hepatic necrosis listed in the labeling. We used a six-item checklist to evaluate the ‘informativeness’ and consistency of the labeling content. An informativeness score equaled the proportion of checklist items present in each drug's labeling. Results Ninety-five prescription drugs were included in the study. Eleven (12%) of the drugs had information related to hepatic failure in a Black Boxed Warning, 52 (54%) in the Warnings section and 32 (34%) in the Adverse Reactions section of the label. The mean informativeness score was 35%; the score was significantly higher, 61%, when the risk was perceived to be high. The informativeness of labeling was not affected by the time of the labeling, but differed across the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Review Division responsible for the labeling. Conclusions The information provided in labeling is variable and affected by many factors, including the perceived level of risk and review division strategy. Product labeling may benefit from current FDA initiatives to improve the consistency of risk-related labeling. Published in 2003 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of Desert Dust Radiative Forcing on Sahel Precipitation: Relative Importance of Dust Compared to Sea Surface Temperature Variations, Vegetation Changes, and Greenhouse Gas Warming

The role of direct radiative forcing of desert dust aerosol in the change from wet to dry climate observed in the African Sahel region in the last half of the twentieth century is investigated using simulations with an atmospheric general circulation model. The model simulations are conducted either forced by the observed sea surface temperature (SST) or coupled with the interactive SST using the Slab Ocean Model (SOM). The simulation model uses dust that is less absorbing in the solar wavelengths and has larger particle sizes than other simulation studies. As a result, simulations show less shortwave absorption within the atmosphere and larger longwave radiative forcing by dust. Simulations using SOM show reduced precipitation over the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) including the Sahel region and increased precipitation south of the ITCZ when dust radiative forcing is included. In SST-forced simulations, on the other hand, significant precipitation changes are restricted to over North Africa. These changes are considered to be due to the cooling of global tropical oceans as well as the cooling of the troposphere over North Africa in response to dust radiative forcing. The model simulation of dust cannot capture the magnitude of the observed increase of desert dust when allowing dust to respond to changes in simulated climate, even including changes in vegetation, similar to previous studies. If the model is forced to capture observed changes in desert dust, the direct radiative forcing by the increase of North African dust can explain up to 30% of the observed precipitation reduction in the Sahel between wet and dry periods. A large part of this effect comes through atmospheric forcing of dust, and dust forcing on the Atlantic Ocean SST appears to have a smaller impact. The changes in the North and South Atlantic SSTs may account for up to 50% of the Sahel precipitation reduction. Vegetation loss in the Sahel region may explain about 10% of the observed drying, but this effect is statistically insignificant because of the small number of years in the simulation. Greenhouse gas warming seems to have an impact to increase Sahel precipitation that is opposite to the observed change. Although the estimated values of impacts are likely to be model dependent, analyses suggest the importance of direct radiative forcing of dust and feedbacks in modulating Sahel precipitation.
Transmittance and reflectance measurements and complex dielectric permittivity of liquid solutions in millimeter waves

This paper, for the first time, presents complex dielectric permittivity measurement of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium based solution in the wide frequency range, from 40 to 85 GHz. Permittivity measurements of water solutions of pure salt and cane sugar have also been performed. Transmittance and reflectance spectra have been recorded by using a free-space quasi-optical millimeter-wave spectrometer, equipped with a high-power backward-wave oscillator as the source of tunable coherent radiation. The real and imaginary parts of the dielectric permittivity as functions of frequency are computed from the transmittance and reflectance spectra.
Test structure for characterization of polycrystalline silicon as a diffusion source for advanced devices

Test structures designed for measuring diffusion of impurities in both lateral and vertical directions in deposited films are described. The impact of predeposition cleans on the diffusion of impurities across film-film and film-substrate interfaces can be investigated. Although the structures are designed for studying diffusion in polycrystalline silicon, the basic idea could be applied to other films. A general description of the test structures is given, and results obtained for the lateral diffusion of arsenic in polycrystalline silicon are presented. From these results, the effective lateral diffusion coefficient for arsenic in polycrystalline silicon is determined to be 1.410 exp(-2.63/kT)(cm/sup 2//s). >
Thiosulfate Reductase of Desulfovibrio vulgaris

The thiosulfate reductase of Desulfovibrio vulgaris has been purified and some of its properties have been determined. Only one protein component was detected when the purified enzyme was subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at p H values of 8.9, 8.0, and 7.6. In the presence of H 2 , the enzyme, when coupled to hydrogenase and with methyl viologen as an electron carrier, catalyzed the reduction of thiosulfate to hydogen sulfide. The use of specifically labeled 35 S-thiosulfate revealed that the outer sulfur atom was reduced to sulfide and the inner sulfur atom was released as sulfite. Thus, the enzyme catalyzes the reductive dismutation of thiosulfate to sulfide and sulfite. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined by sedimentation equilibrium (16,300) and amino acid analysis (15,500). The enzyme sedimented as a single, symmetrical component with a calculated sedimentation coefficient of 2.21 S . Amino acid analysis revealed the presence of two half-cystine residues per mole of enzyme and a total of 128 amino acid residues. Carbohydrate and organic phosphorus analyses revealed the presence of 9.2 moles of carbohydrate and 4.8 moles of phosphate per mole of enzyme. The substrate specificity of the enzyme was studied. Images
Regulatory features of transcription in isolated mitochondria from Artemia franciscana embryos.

Optimal conditions were developed for an in organello transcriptional run-on assay using mitochondria isolated from Artemia franciscana embryos to investigate potential regulatory features of RNA s...
CRISPR/Cas9 and cancer targets: future possibilities and present challenges

All cancers have multiple mutations that can largely be grouped into certain classes depending on the function of the gene in which they lie and these include oncogenic changes that enhance cellular proliferation, loss of function of tumor suppressors that regulate cell growth potential and induction of metabolic enzymes that confer resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Thus the ability to correct such mutations is an important goal in cancer treatment. Recent research has led to the developments of reagents which specifically target nucleotide sequences within the cellular genome and these have a huge potential for expanding our anticancer armamentarium. One such a reagent is the clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated 9 (Cas9) system, a powerful, highly specific and adaptable tool that provides unparalleled control for editing the cellular genome. In this short review, we discuss the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 against human cancers and the current difficulties in translating this for novel therapeutic approaches.
Oviposition behavior and larval development of the European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on sweet versus hot peppers.

Infestation of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a key pest of peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), was studied to explore the cause of infestation differences in pungent versus sweet types of peppers. Our objectives were to determine whether O. nubilalis adults show an ovipositional preference or larval development effects among pepper types that vary in levels of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, which is measured in Scoville heat units (SHU). Five pepper types with a range in hotness were tested: bell (0 SHU), sweet banana (0 SHU), hot wax (1125 SHU), jalapeno (5,000 SHU), and cayenne (40,000 SHU). Oviposition was studied after artificial infestation in laboratory cages, small and large field cages, and after natural infestation in choice and no-choice field trials. No ovipositional preference was detected for cage no-choice or choice assays. Field choice oviposition trials with 5 pepper types had no differences in either egg mass density or larval infestation. A no-choi...
Synthesis and Characterization of Hematite Nanotube Arrays for Photocatalysis

The synthesis and characterization of hematite nanotube arrays for use as photocatalysts are described in this paper. Novel morphologies, including multilayered and wave-like nanotube arrays, were synthesized via electrochemical anodization of iron foils in electrolytic solutions containing ammonium fluoride, ethylene glycol, and water. The nanotube formation mechanism was investigated by tracking the current response data during anodization. The results indicate that there are four distinct stages associated with the evolution of the nanotube arrays: an ohmic response stage, an oxide film formation stage, a chemical dissolution/pitting stage, and a steady-state growth stage. Morphological, optical, and photoelectrochemical properties of the resulting materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE). The IPCE for the ...
PROGNOSTIC UTILITY OF CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN THE ABSENCE OF STENOSIS: A PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTER INTERNATIONAL STUDY OF 6,656 PATIENTS UNDERGOING CORONARY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC ANGIOGRAPHY

Coronary atherosclerosis can exist in the absence of concurrent stenosis due to positive arterial remodeling, but whether these lesions are related to future adverse prognosis is unknown. We explored the prevalence and prognosis for stable patients who exhibited atherosclerotic plaque without