cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deviation fromSU3 symmetry of VPP coupling constants in a field theory of vector mesons

TheSU3 breaking in the effective coupling constants for a vector meson decaying into two ps mesons is discussed from the point of view of a Lagrangian field theory of vector mesons, essentially based on the Ward identity and the Johnson sum rule. With reasonable approximations, the results of current algebra or of sum rules for the spectral functions ofSU3 symmetry are reproduced, although the dynamical assumption on the symmetry breaking is not the same.
Parameter Identifiability for Three Sediment Entrainment Equations

A process-based erosion model is used to study parameterization problems of sediment entrainment equations in overland flow areas. One of the equations for entrainment by flow is developed based on a theory of excess stream power, while the other two relate to excess hydraulic shear. The investigation is conducted in two steps. The first step examines parameter optimization for simulated data sets where the parameter values are known. In the second step, parameter optimization for the most robust equation is examined using experimental data from rainfall simulator plots. Results demonstrate that although the model is capable of estimating total sediment yields with relatively small errors in parameter estimates, the converse is true when the optimization is performed for sediment concentrations. Although sediment yields calculated from simulated sediment concentrations match well with observed data, the parameter estimates generally underestimate sediment concentrations on the rising limb of the sediment graphs, and they overestimate them on the falling limb. This difficulty might be related to structural problems in the model, and unique solutions for parameter estimates cannot be obtained.
Effects of Literacy Environment on Literacy Development of Kindergarten Children

Abstract Two issues surrounding kindergarten are constantly debated by parents, teachers, school boards, and state departments of education: age of entrance to kindergarten and curriculum. In this study, we focused on both issues in relation to literacy development. The purpose of the study was to examine two different kindergarten literacy frameworks (environment and events) and their effect on the literacy development of 83 children—with particular focus on a group of children who were younger than their peers upon entrance to kindergarten. Data were collected through teacher and student observations, teacher interviews, and pre- and postmeasures of literacy achievement. Data analysis revealed that the two teachers were noticeably different in terms of their use of time, behaviors, content focus, and stance (one-to-one, small groups, etc.); these differences reflect the teachers' literacy philosophy and their perceived freedom to make choices. There were also notable differences in how the children used...
Service integration of blood borne viral infections in HIV/AIDS prevention sites

Background Outbreaks of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) in HIV infected men who have sex with men (MSM) were recently reported in Europe, Australia, and New York City (Vogel & Rockstroh, 2009). Acute HCV infection is defined as a newly identified viral HCV antibody with either jaundice, serum alanine amino-transverse (ATL) levels >400 IU/L (CDC, 2007). In addition to known acute hepatitis C cases, an at risk population may be defined as men who have sex with men (MSM), who did not already have chronic hepatitis C and who reported sexual and/or drug-related risk behaviors within the prior 6 months (Taylor, 2009). A comprehensive strategy is needed to identify and treat populations at risk for blood borne viral infections.
Liquid crystalline order in fluids with hydrogen bonds

Abstract A mean-field theory of liquid crystalline ordering in hydrogen bonded liquids is proposed. It is shown that hydrogen bonds may cause liquid crystalline ordering. For a simple example of spherical molecules containing hydrogen bonding functional groups the existence of a nematic phase is predicted and the thermodynamics of the phase transition is discussed.
Mesenteric border linear ulcer in Crohn disease: historical, radiologic, and pathologic perspectives

Linear ulcers located along the mesenteric border of the small intestine are an important, virtually pathognomonic sign of Crohn disease. A long, thin, linear barium collection extends parallel to the mesenteric border of the distal small intestine, accentuated by a thin radiolucency comparable to an ulcer collar (Fig. 1). Sacculation or folding of relatively uninvolved small bowel is seen opposite the mesenteric border ulcer. Folds extend from the antimesenteric border toward the ulcer. Although mesenteric border ulcers change as Crohn disease progresses, they are still recognized in about 30% of all patients. Because mesenteric border ulcers are so characteristic of Crohn disease, they deserve to be designated as a ‘‘sign,’’ hence our use of ‘‘the mesenteric border linear ulcer sign of Crohn disease’’ (MBUS). This article will review the historical aspects, radiologic features, and pathologic basis of the mesenteric border ulcer sign of Crohn disease.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors potentiate 8-OH-DPAT-induced stimulus control in the pigeon

Abstract The effects of two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, fluoxetine and citalopram, and a nonselective monoamine reuptake inhibitor, imipramine, were characterized in pigeons that had been trained to discriminate 0.64 mg/kg of 8-hydroxy-(2-di- n -propylamino)tetralin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT), a 5-HT 1A receptor agonist, from saline. Neither fluoxetine, citalopram, nor imipramine generalized to the 8-OH-DPAT-induced stimulus cue. However, when administered in addition to 8-OH-DPAT, both fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) and citalopram (10 mg/kg) lowered the ED 50 for generalization of 8-OH-DPAT from 0.16 mg/kg (8-OH-DPAT by itself) to 0.05 mg/kg (fluoxetine+8-OH-DPAT) and 0.06 mg/kg (citalopram+8-OH-DPAT). Under similar conditions, imipramine (1 mg/kg) had no effect on the generalization curve for 8-OH-DPAT. The data support the hypothesis that activation of the 5-HT 1A receptor may be relevant to the mechanism of action of serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Changing patterns in IT skill sets 1988-2003: a content analysis of classified advertising

This paper examines trends in required job skills for IT professionals. Through an empirical study of classified job advertising for IT professionals over the past 17 years, we evaluate whether the observed trends support earlier predictions offered by researchers who sought to anticipate future job and skill demands (Leitheiser 1992; Trauth, Farwell, & Lee 1993). Many of the findings are consistent with previous studies and support the notion that employers are seeking an ever-increasing number and variety of skill sets from the new hires. In addition, we found ongoing evidence of a recruitment gap (Todd, McKeen & Gallupe 1995) where, despite many firms' stated emphasis on well-rounded individuals with business knowledge and strong "soft skills," the job advertising aspect of the recruiting process continues to focus on "hard skills". The changing demand patterns for IT professionals necessitate life-long learning skills not only for IT practitioners but also for the academics who teach them.
SU-E-T-327: The Update of a XML Composing Tool for TrueBeam Developer Mode

Purpose: To introduce a major upgrade of a novel XML beam composing tool to scientists and engineers who strive to translate certain capabilities of TrueBeam Developer Mode to future clinical benefits of radiation therapy. Methods: TrueBeam Developer Mode provides the users with a test bed for unconventional plans utilizing certain unique features not accessible at the clinical mode. To access the full set of capabilities, a XML beam definition file accommodating all parameters including kV/MV imaging triggers in the plan can be locally loaded at this mode, however it is difficult and laborious to compose one in a text editor. In this study, a stand-along interactive XML beam composing application, TrueBeam TeachMod, was developed on Windows platforms to assist users in making their unique plans in a WYSWYG manner. A conventional plan can be imported in a DICOM RT object as the start of the beam editing process in which trajectories of all axes of a TrueBeam machine can be modified to the intended values at any control point. TeachMod also includes libraries of predefined imaging and treatment procedures to further expedite the process. Results: The TeachMod application is a major of the TeachMod module within DICOManTX. It fully supportsmore » TrueBeam 2.0. Trajectories of all axes including all MLC leaves can be graphically rendered and edited as needed. The time for XML beam composing has been reduced to a negligible amount regardless the complexity of the plan. A good understanding of XML language and TrueBeam schema is not required though preferred. Conclusion: Creating XML beams manually in a text editor will be a lengthy error-prone process for sophisticated plans. A XML beam composing tool is highly desirable for R and D activities. It will bridge the gap between scopes of TrueBeam capabilities and their clinical application potentials.« less
A sensor and computation grid enabled engineering model for drilling vibration research

Across many fields of science and engineering computers now play a significant role in scientific discovery through both large scale simulation and real time data acquisition. As these scientific simulations increasingly require new levels of complexity and fidelity, and leveraging increasing computational capabilities, scientists are migrating their applications back and forth from workstations to supercomputers, high performance clusters, and new distributed grids of computers. For applications which depend on live real world data, the migration to varied and distributed resources provides additional challenges.
Toward a stellar gyroscope for spacecraft attitude determination

A stellar gyroscope is a star tracker that can operate at high slew rates and high update rates. Stellar gyroscopes can potentially eliminate the need for conventional inertial gyros onboard a spacecraft and will eventually revolutionize attitude determination systems on all spacecraft. A conceptual design of a stellar gyroscope will be presented along with simulations of the stellar gyroscope performance. The simulations show that it is feasible to make spacecraft attitude determination relying exclusively on stellar gyroscopes. It is projected that the stellar gyroscope will be able to determine slew rates up to 420 deg/s and will be able to determine the absolute attitude at slew rates up to 50 deg/s.
Changes of Glaciers and Climate in Northwestern North America during the Late Twentieth Century

Abstract About 75% of 46 glaciers measured using repeat airborne altimetry in Alaska and northwestern Canada have been losing mass at an increasing rate from the mid-1990s to the middle of the first decade of the twenty-first century, relative to an earlier period beginning in the 1950s–70s. The remaining glaciers have been either gaining mass during the more recent period or continuing to lose mass, but at a decreasing rate. Temperature and precipitation data at 67 climate stations were examined to explain these changes. Nearly all significant changes in winter (October–April) and summer (May–September) air temperatures were positive (2.0° ± 0.8° and 1.0° ± 0.4°C) between 1950 and 2002, and all seasonally averaged values of freezing level heights (FLH) increased during the same time period. A small increase in precipitation was observed, but these changes were significant at only 17% of the stations. Regional glacier changes, modeled using mass balance sensitivities and climate station temperature and pr...
Renormalization-Group Verification of Crossover with Respect to the Lattice Anisotropy Parameter

A renormalization-group demonstration of the relation $\ensuremath{\phi}=\ensuremath{\gamma}$ is sketched for crossover with respect to the anisotropy parameter $R$ in systems with lattice anisotropy. Our work extends the existing knowledge of the crossover phenomena to noninteger lattice dimensions.
Underlying considerations of patient rights in psychotherapy

Abstract This article presents the rationale for a Bill of Rights for Patients in Psychotherapy, and summarizes the efforts of the author to attain the support of the American Psychological Association for such a Bill.
A Chimeric Kinesin-5 Motor Tracks Plus-Ends of Microtubules

Kinesin-5 is necessary for bipolar spindle formation during mitosis. Besides its unique homotetrameric configuration, determined by the coiled-coil domain, the kinesin-5 motor domain also possesses specific properties suitable for its spindle organizing function. To study the walking properties of functional kinesin-5 dimers, we fused the kinesin-5 head and neck linker domain to the coiled-coil rod of kinesin-1. We report that a chimeric kinesin-5 head/kinesin-1 rod construct with 14 aa neck linker tracks plus-ends of both growing and static (taxol-stabilized) microtubules with a mean residence time of roughly 7 seconds. The same construct having a 18 aa neck linker, as found in wild-type kinesin-5, also remained bound to the plus-end of static microtubules, but labeling at growing microtubule plus-ends was not observed. These phenomena explain previous reported end-to-end tethering of microtubules following antiparallel sliding by full length kinesin-5. This end-labeling presumably occurs because the motor walks to the end of the microtubule and is unable to take a subsequent step. We hypothesize that kinesin-5 remains bound at the plus-ends of microtubule by a single head in the ATP state and that hydrolysis and dissociation of this head requires binding of the tethered head to the next binding site on the microtubule. Computational modeling based on this hypothesis predicts that motor accumulation at the plus-ends of growing microtubules relies on motor processivity, consistent with experimental observations. Our studies reveal a property intrinsic to the kinesin-5 head domain that is distinct from transport motors such as kinesin-1 and kinesin-2.
Amperometric determination of alcohols, aldehydes and carboxylic acids with an immobilized alcohol oxidase enzyme electrode.

Abstract A new enzyme electrode has been developed for the rapid and simple measurements of blood ethanol. A platinum electrode was coupled with immobilized alcohol oxidase, sensing the dissolved oxygen consumption amperometrically. Blood ethanol can be measured within several minutes without any pretreatments. The only reagent required is phosphate buffer. The enzyme electrode was found to respond not only to alcohols but also to aldehydes and carboxylic acids.
Hepatic ultrasonic changes in workers exposed to perchloroethylene.

OBJECTIVE--To determine if subclinical hepatotoxicity is associated with exposure to perchloroethylene at concentrations commonly experienced in the workplace, and whether surveillance with serum hepatic transaminase activity underestimates such effects. METHODS--Hepatic parenchymal echogenicity on ultrasonography and serum hepatic transaminase activity were compared in 29 community based dry cleaning operators exposed to perchloroethylene, and a control group of 29 non-exposed laundry workers. Perchloroethylene exposure was assessed by work history and air monitoring. RESULTS--Mean hepatic transaminase activities were minimally increased in dry cleaners compared with laundry workers. Increased alanine aminotransferase activities, between 1.0 and 1.5 times the normal limits, were found in five of 27 (19%) dry cleaners compared with one of 26 (4%) laundry workers. In contrast, diffuse parenchymal changes in echogenicity, as determined by hepatic ultrasonography, were increased nearly twofold in dry cleaners, occurring in 18 of 27 (67%) dry cleaners compared with 10 of 26 (39%) laundry workers (P
Barnes Hospital and the Washington University Medical Center.

✓ The author documents the development of the Medical School at Washington University since 1891, when the St. Louis Medical College was first included as part of the University. In 1909, Robert Brookings, President of the Corporation of Washington University, acquired a large endowment and moved the clinical and hospital facilities to a new location, enabled by the estate of Robert Barnes. Harvey Cushing was offered the chair of surgery but eventually decided in favor of Harvard University in 1910. Dr. Ernest Sachs was recruited to Washington University by Dr. Fred Murphy, and in 1919 became the first ever Professor of Neurological Surgery. The history of neurosurgery and those who served it at the Washington University Medical Center and Barnes Hospital is recounted.
Comparative performance analysis of time–frequency distributions for spectroscopic optical coherence tomography

The analysis of spectroscopic optical coherence tomography (SOCT) signals suffers the trade-off between time resolution and frequency resolution. Various joint time–frequency distributions (TFDs) can optimize this trade-off. Synthesized signals were generated and experimentally acquired data were obtained to compare and validate several different TFDs under different SOCT imaging schemes. Specific criteria were designed to quantify the TFD performance. We found that different SOCT imaging schemes require different optimal TFDs. Cohen’s class TFDs generate the most compact time–frequency (TF) analysis, while linear TFDs offer the most reliable TF analysis. In both cases, if some prior information is known, model-based TF analysis can improve the performance.
Aerobic stability of wheat and orchardgrass round-bale silages during winter.

Abstract Using recently developed technology, balage is often stored in large (1.2×1.2m) round bales that are wrapped in plastic film with an in-line wrapper. The aerobic stability of this fermented forage is important, particularly during winter months when it is fed to livestock or sold as a cash crop. Two types of forage, orchardgrass [ Dactylis glomerata L.; 54.4% dry matter (DM)] and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.; 62.4% DM), were packaged in large round bales and wrapped with an in-line wrapper during May 2002. Twenty-one bales of each balage type were unwrapped and exposed to air on Dec. 10, 2002 for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, or 32 d (ambient temperature range=0.6 to 19.4°C) to evaluate aerobic stability. For both orchardgrass and wheat balage, final bale weight, concentration of DM, and pH were not affected by exposure time. Across both balage types, DM recoveries were ≥97% for all bales, indicating that both balage types were very stable when exposed to air. For orchardgrass balage, exposure time had no effect on concentrations of NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, cellulose, or lignin, thereby indicating that little deterioration occurred. Similarly, no contrast relating any fiber component with exposure time was significant for wheat balage. Concentrations of crude protein (CP) were not affected by exposure time for wheat balage, but there was a tendency for exposed orchardgrass bales to have greater concentrations of CP than bales sampled on d 0. Exposure time had no effect on 48-h in situ digestibility of DM for wheat balage, but there was a tendency for a linear increase with exposure time for orchardgrass balage. However, the overall range (78.2 to 80.5%) over the 32-d exposure period was very narrow, and this response is probably of limited biological significance. Generally, concentrations of fermentation acids were low, primarily because of the high concentration of DM within these balages, and only minimal changes in these acids were observed over the exposure interval. These results suggest that the balage evaluated in this trial during winter conditions was very stable after exposure to air for up to 32 d. This should allow for considerable flexibility with respect to feeding, transport, and marketing of balage during winter months without significant aerobic deterioration.
Increasing the Timeliness of US Annual Input-Output Accounts

The timeliness of the US input-output (I-O) accounts is a major concern for policymakers and industry analysts, as well as academics. In response, the Bureau of Economic Analysis initiated research in 2001 to identify, develop and implement an estimating method for producing more timely and reliable annual I-O accounts than are currently available. The research included reviewing the frameworks and methods currently used by other statistical agencies and academic researchers, obtaining more timely industry source data, and developing enhanced methods and processes for the automated updating and balancing of annual I-O tables. The results of this research indicate that our new automated updating and balancing method can reduce the time lag for producing the annual I-O accounts from three years to one year without reducing quality. Our method is based on an adjusted RAS process that simultaneously balances the I-O table in producers' and purchasers' prices; uses more exogenous data; and processes tables at ...
Geoscience Field Education: A Recent Resurgence

Field education traditionally has been an integral component of undergraduate geoscience curricula. Students have learned the fundamentals of field techniques during core geology courses and have honed their field credentials during class-specific field trips, semester-long field courses, and capstone summer field camps. In many geoscience departments, field camp remains a graduation requirement, and more than 100 field camps currently are offered by U.S. universities and colleges (see http://geology.com/field-camp.shtml). During the past several decades, however, many geoscience departments have moved away from traditional geologic fieldwork and toward a broader theoretical and laboratory-intensive focus that encompasses a range of subdisciplines. Trends that have influenced these shifts include (1) the decline in the late twentieth century of the petroleum and mining industries, which have consistently championed the values of fieldwork; (2) a decrease in the number of professional jobs that incorporate field mapping; (3) a decline in the number of geoscience majors nationwide [American Geological Institute (AGI), 2009]; and (4) barriers to fieldwork, including time requirements, cost, liability, and decreasing access to field sites.
One-year expression from high-capacity adenoviral vectors in the brains of animals with pre-existing anti-adenoviral immunity: clinical implications.

The main challenge of gene therapy is to provide long-term, efficient transgene expression. Long-term transgene expression from first generation adenoviral vectors (Advs) delivered to the central nervous system (CNS) is elicited in animals not previously exposed to adenovirus (Ad). However, upon systemic immunization against Ad, transgene expression from a first generation Adv is abolished. High-capacity Advs (HC-Advs) provide sustained very long-term transgene expression in the brain, even in animals pre-immunized against Ad. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a HC-Adv in the brain would allow for long-term transgene expression, for up to 1 year, in the brain of mice immunized against Ad prior to delivery of the vector to the striatum. In naive animals, the expression of β-galactosidase from Adv or HC-Adv was sustained for 1 year. In animals immunized prior to vector delivery, expression from a first generation Adv was abolished. These results point to a very long-term HC-Adv-mediated transgene expression in the brain, even in animals that had been immunized systemically against Ad before the delivery of HC-Adv into the brain. This study therefore indicates the utility of HC-Adv as a powerful gene therapy vector for chronic neurological disorders, even in patients who had been pre-exposed to Ad prior to gene therapy.
Targeted overexpression of growth hormone by adenoviral gene transfer preserves myocardial function and ventricular geometry in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Abstract Background. – Post-infarction heart failure is characterized by progressive left ventricular dilatation and wall thinning, with both systolic and diastolic cardiac dysfunction. Human growth hormone (GH) stimulates cardiac hypertrophy when secreted in excess and directly enhances cardiomyocyte contractile function. We hypothesized that local myocardial overexpression of GH could prevent ventricular remodeling and heart failure following myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Methods and Results. – Rats underwent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery with direct intramyocardial injection of adenovirus encoding human GH ( n = 8) or null virus as control ( n = 8). Six weeks following MI, Adeno-GH treated animals had significant preservation of both systolic and diastolic cardiac function compared to Null animals (maximum d P /d t GH 2927 ± 83 vs Null 1622 ± 159 mmHg/sec, p P /d t –2409 ± 82 vs –1195 ± 179 mmHg/sec, p p p Conclusions. – Treatment with Adeno-GH following MI resulted in reduced ventricular dilatation, increased local myocardial hypertrophy, and preservation of both systolic and diastolic cardiac function. No significant systemic exposure to growth hormone transgene was observed. The induction of regional hypertrophy is a novel approach to treating heart failure, and may be useful to treat or prevent post-infarction ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Sosa in perspective

Ernest Sosa draws a distinction between animal knowledge and reflective knowledge, and this distinction forms the centerpiece of his new book, A Virtue Epistemology. This paper argues that the distinction cannot do the work which Sosa assigns to it.
PACU—Why Hand Washing Is Vital!

Hand washing is one of the oldest methods of reducing infections. Recent evidence based research has re-confirmed the efficacy of proper hand hygiene and recommendations for hand hygiene by the CDC and WHO are outlined. The PACU is a unique environment; patients are in a "cross-road of infection;" many patients are exposed to infections coming from various wards brought to the PACU through the OR. The PACU nurse is not only responsible for observing and monitoring the patient's vital signs but is also responsible for making sure patients are not exposed to an additional risk, e.g. a hand-transmitted infection.
Evaluation of Mite-Away-II for fall control of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in colonies of the honey bee Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the northeastern USA.

Mite-Away II™, a recently-registered product with a proprietary formulation of formic acid, was evaluated under field conditions in commercial apiaries in upstate New York (USA) for the fall control of Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman in colonies of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. Ambient temperatures during the treatment period were in the lower half of the range recommended on the label, but were typical for early fall in upstate New York. Average mite mortality was 60.2 ± 2.2% in the Mite-Away II group and 23.3 ± 2.6% in the untreated control group. These means were significantly different from each other, but the level of control was only moderate. These results demonstrate that Mite-Away II may not always provide an adequate level of control even when the temperature at the time of application falls within the recommended range stated on the product’s label. To make the best use of temperature-sensitive products, I suggest that the current, single-value, economic treatment threshold be replaced with an economic treatment range. The limits for this range are specified by two pest density values. The lower limit is the usual pest density that triggers a treatment. The upper limit is the maximum pest density that one can expect to reduce to a level below the lower limit given the temperatures expected during the treatment period. When the actual pest density exceeds the upper limit, the product should not be recommended; or, a warning should be included indicating that acceptable control may not be achieved.
Congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot)

Abstract Congenital talipes equinovarus (‘clubfoot’) refers to foot deformity characterized by equinus of the hindfoot, adductus and varus of the mid-foot and a high arch (cavus). The annual incidence in the UK is about 1 per 1000 live births; the condition is bilateral in 50% of cases and there is a male preponderance (3:1). There is a polygenic inheritance for sensitivity to unknown environmental factors. Most ‘fixed’ clubfeet are idiopathic, but clubfoot can be associated with a number of syndromes (e.g. arthrogryposis, Larson’s, Downs). Underlying neurological causes must be excluded, particularly in stiff bilateral clubfeet. The aim of management is to correct the deformity early and fully, and maintain correction with growth until skeletal maturity; this should result in a flexible, pain-free plantigrade foot. The trend towards surgical management has reversed during the past decade, with the Ponseti method of serial casting followed by bracing the first-line management in the newly diagnosed clubfoot. Most feet treated by this method (95%) achieve an excellent result. Surgery tends to be reserved for recurrent deformity (posteromedial release, Ilizarov method, reconstructive surgery) or as a salvage procedure (hindfoot fusion).
Probing and Manipulating Enzyme Activity and Conformational Dynamics by Single-Molecule Afm-FRET and Magnetic Tweezers-FRET Ultramicroscopy

Single-molecule conformational manipulation provides unique methods for studying the relationship between function and structure of biomolecules, and for exploring novel properties of biomolecules under complex local environments. Enzymatic reactions are traditionally studied at the ensemble level, despite significant static and dynamic inhomogeneities. We have developed and applied AFM/Magnetic Tweezers force manipulation combined single-molecule spectroscopy to study the mechanisms and dynamics of enzymatic reactions involved with kinase and lysozyme proteins. Enzymatic reaction turnovers and the associated structure changes of individual protein molecules under pico-Newton force manipulations were observed simultaneously in real-time by single-molecule FRET detections. By a repetitive pulling-releasing manipulation of a Cy3-Cy5 dye labeled kinase molecules under the conditions with and without enzymatic substrates, we observed and analyzed the enzymatic conformational dynamics. We demonstrated that the enzyme conformational flexibility can be regulated by enzyme-substrate interaction, an experimental evidence of protein-substrate folding-binding interaction mechanism. Our new approach is applicable to a wide range of single-molecule AFM-FRET measurements for protein conformational changes under enzymatic reactions, including controls of enzymatic reactivity by mechanical-force manipulating protein conformations.Reference:1. Qing Guo, Yufan He, H. Peter Lu, “Repetitive Force Pulling-Releasing Manipulation of Enzymatic Conformational Fluctuations and Enzyme-Substrate Interactions by Single-Molecule FRET-Magnetic Tweezers Microscopy,” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 16, 13052 −13058 (2014).2. H. Peter Lu, “Sizing up single-molecule enzymatic conformational dynamics,” Chem. Soc. Rev., Invited Review Article, 43, 1118-1143 (2014).3. Yufan He, Maolin Lu, H. Peter Lu, “Single-Molecule Photon Stamping FRET Spectroscopy Study of Enzymatic Conformational Dynamics,” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 15, 770-775 (2013) (Cover page).4. Yufan He, Maolin Lu, Jin Cao, H. Peter Lu, “Manipulating Protein Conformations by Single-Molecule AFM-FRET Nanoscopy,” ACS Nano, 6, 1221-1229 (2012).
Prediction of bond dissociation energies using neural network, statistical, and quantum mechanical approaches

Abstract Bond dissociation energies (BDEs) are extremely important in chemistry. However, they are notoriously difficult to calculate accurately using quantum mechanical (QM) techniques. Therefore, an alternative that gives similar accuracy to correlated QM techniques, but requires reduced computer time and resources, would be very useful for describing diverse chemical systems. Oxos provide a large library of experimental BDE data with which to assess the potential of different computational methods. Neural network, multiple linear regression, and multiconfiguration self-consistent field calculations are compared. A neural network outperforms MCSCF quantum calculations by a factor of 2.5 in prediction of BDEs for 52 element-oxos, incorporating main group, transition, lanthanide and actinide metal elements. The average absolute difference versus experiment is approximately 12.5 kcal mol −1 for neural network methods versus 28.4 kcal mol −1 for MCSCF calculations.
Quantitative Longitudinal Imaging of Vascular Inflammation and Treatment by Ezetimibe in apoE Mice by FMT Using New Optical Imaging Biomarkers of Cathepsin Activity and αvβ3 Integrin

Inflammation as a core pathological event of atherosclerotic lesions is associated with the secretion of cathepsin proteases and the expression of integrin. We employed fluorescence molecular tomographic (FMT) noninvasive imaging of these molecular activities using cathepsin sensing (ProSense, CatB FAST) and integrin (IntegriSense) near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) agents. A statistically significant increase in the ProSense and IntegriSense signal was observed within the chest region of apoE−/− mice () versus C57BL/6 mice starting 25 and 22 weeks on high cholesterol diet, respectively. In a treatment study using ezetimibe (7 mg/kg), there was a statistically significant reduction in the ProSense and CatB FAST chest signal of treated () versus untreated apoE−/− mice at 31 and 21 weeks on high cholesterol diet, respectively. The signal of ProSense and CatB FAST correlated with macrophage counts and was found associated with inflammatory cells by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry of cells dissociated from aortas. This report demonstrates that cathepsin and integrin NIRF agents can be used as molecular imaging biomarkers for longitudinal detection of atherosclerosis, and cathepsin agents can monitor anti-inflammatory effects of ezetimibe with applications in preclinical testing of therapeutics and potentially for early diagnosis of atherosclerosis in patients.
The Relationship of Personal, Family, and Abuse-Specific Factors to Children’s Clinical Presentation Following Childhood Sexual Abuse

Past literature has proposed potential variables (e.g., age, gender, attributional style) that may relate to clinical presentation following childhood sexual abuse (CSA). However, few studies have tested these relationships. The current study examined multiple factors related to clinical presentation following CSA in 101 children and adolescents presenting for treatment at Project SAFE, a parallel group treatment for children/teens and their nonoffending parents. Using clusters developed in a previous study, relationships between proposed variables and pretreatment clinical presentation were examined. Results indicated that attributions about the abuse, parental mental health, and severity of abuse related to the differentiated clinical presentation. These results are important because pinpointing correlates to clinical presentation following CSA helps elucidate differences among those with a history of CSA and gives greater insight into the impact sexual abuse has on children. Knowing these differences may also benefit treatment providers in the development of individual treatment goals during therapy.
Peak power and bandwidth efficient linear modulation

In portable wireless communication systems, power consumption is of major concern. Traditional modulation and coding schemes have been designed from the standpoint of minimizing average power. However, for linear power amplifiers needed for spectrally efficient modulation formats, amplifier efficiency and hence power consumption are determined by the peak power of the transmitted signal. This paper looks into modulation formats which minimize peak power and retain high spectral efficiency. Peak power is broken into a sum (in terms of decibels) of average power and a peak-to-average power ratio, and a variety of modulation formats are evaluated in terms of peak power efficiency in both a Gaussian noise and Rayleigh fading channel. A generalized phase shift keying (PSK) modulation format is developed and shown to offer superior peak power efficiency relative to that of commonly used linear modulation formats. Two schemes are presented for reducing the peak-to-average power ratio of various modulation formats. First, data translation codes are used to avoid data sequences which cause large peaks in the transmitted signal. This approach was found to be most productive in quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) formats. Finally, an adaptive peak suppression algorithm is presented which further reduces the peak-to-average power ratios of the PSK and generalized PSK formats. The peak suppression algorithm is also applicable to /spl pi//4-QPSK and was found to improve peak power efficiency of that format by about 1.25 dB over a Rayleigh fading channel.
Principles shaping grammatical practices: an exploration

This article explores the principles of interaction that shape grammatical practices of conversational speech cross-linguistically. Seven such principles are explored, and the grammatical practices they give rise to are illustrated. The role of these principles in shaping non-linguistic behavior is also touched on.
Mixed Reality Tabletop (MRT): A Low-Cost Teleconferencing Framework for Mixed-Reality Applications

Todays technology enables a rich set of virtual and mixedreality applications and provides a degree of connectivity and interactivity beyond that of traditional teleconferencing scenarios. In this paper, we present the Mixed-Reality Tabletop (MRT), an example of a teleconferencing framework for networked mixed reality in which real and virtual worlds coexist and users can focus on the task instead of computer interaction. For example, students could use real-world objects to participate in physical simulations such as orbital motion, collisions, and fluid flow in a common virtual environment. Our framework isolates the lowlevel system details from the developer and provides a simple programming interface for developing novel applications in as little as a few minutes, using low-cost hardware. We discuss our implementation complete with methods of hand and object tracking, user interface, and example applications focused on remote teaching and learning.
The Mozart effect on task performance in a laparoscopic surgical simulator.

The Mozart Effect is a phenomenon whereby certain pieces of music induce temporary enhancement in “spatial temporal reasoning.” To determine whether the Mozart Effect can improve surgical performan...
Dynamic Equibiaxial Flexural Strength of Borosilicate Glass at High Temperatures

A novel high temperature ring-on-ring Kolsky bar technique was established in this study to investigate the dynamic equibiaxial flexural strength of borosilicate glass at elevated temperatures. The application of this technique has realized non-contact heating of the glass specimen and prevented the introduction of thermalshock upon specimen engagement. Experimental results have demonstrated a profound temperature dependence on the flexural strength. Vickers indentation has been introduced on glass surface to create controllable surface cracks. These surface cracks were then heat treated with the same thermal history as those tested in a high temperature dynamic experiment. The evolution of crack morphology at 200°C, 550°C and 650°C were examined and discussed based on the different regions on the strength-temperature chart. It was found that residual stress relaxation may have played an important role in the strengthening below 200°C, while crack healing and blunting may account for the strengthening above 500°C.
Disability Studies in Education: The Need for a Plurality of Perspectives on Disability

This article asserts that the field of special education, historically founded on conceptions of disability originating within scientific, psychological, and medical frameworks, will benefit from acknowledging broader understandings of disability. Although well intended, traditional understandings of disability in special education have inadvertently inhibited the development of theory, limited research methods, narrowed pedagogical practice, and determined largely segregated policies for educating students with disabilities. Since the passage of P.L. 94-142, along with the growth of the Disability Rights Movements, meanings of disability have expanded and evolved, no longer constrained to the deficit-based medical model. For many individuals, disability is primarily best understood within social, cultural, and historical contexts. As career-long educators, the authors describe the emergence of Disability Studies in Education, illustrating ways it offers them the means to engage with longstanding tensions...
Fast recovery in distributed shared virtual memory systems

The problem of system failure and recovery of distributed shared virtual memory (DSVM) is studied. Most DSVM systems use the notion of tokens to indicate a site's access rights on the data pages it caches, and a locating scheme to get to the most up-to-date version of a data page. The problem is to recovery this token directory after a site has failed. The authors' solution is to treat the token directory at each site as a fragment of a global token database and the page migration activities as token transactions that update this distributed database. By the use of the unilateral commit protocol for token transactions, fast recovery of the token state at minimal run-time overhead of token transaction execution is achieved. >
Static forces on the anode wires in a straw chamber

This paper derives equations for the deflection of an anode wire in a proportional straw chamber under electrostatic forces due to misalignments of the wire, deformation of the straw tube surface, and gravity.
Hookers, Judges, and Bail Forfeitures The Importance of Internally Generated Demands on Policy-Implementing Institutions

Many common models of the policy-implementing process assume that all the goals of any system are imposed on it from outside, by legislatures or other discretionary authorities. Because of this, they lack the ability to identify much of what is specifically political about public administration. For instance, bail is supposed to be used solely to require the presence of accused persons at their trials. But there is evidence that the administration of bail is often manipulated to respond to political pressures and used to "export" prostitutes or to operate informal systems of preventive detention. Research could detect these pressures if models contained variables representing what happens within the system itself.
Changes in ultrasonographic echogenicity and visibility of needles with changes in angles of insonation.

PURPOSE To objectively compare the echogenicity of several types of needles at clinically important angles of insonation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four commercial needles (Echotip, Mini-Stick, Echo-Coat, Surflo) and a prototype dimpled needle were tested in a liver phantom at angles of insonation ranging from 90° to 15°. Photodensity measurement determined echogenicity levels in arbitrary echogenicity units (EU). RESULTS At 90° angles of insonation all needles were easily seen (60–76 EU) and echogenic levels were similar ( P P CONCLUSION With angulation, all needles drop in echogenicity, with prototype dimpled and Echotip best maintaining visibility at clinically important angles.
Chilaiditi's syndrome.

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Understanding public support for stem cell research: Media communication, interpersonal communication and trust in key actors

This paper analyzes data from a 2005 telephone survey of 1200 people in the US that included questions about attitudes toward stem cell research and a broad range of communication variables. After all controls, trust in university scientists and religious leaders, exposure to national television news, familiarity, and religious service attendance produced statistically significant main effects on perception of research benefits, together explaining about 31% of the variance. Interpersonal communication may also have contingent effects.
Gas bubble entrainment by plunging laminar liquid jets

A free, vertical jet of liquid plunging into a uiescent surface of the same liquid entrains the surrounding gas into the receiving liquid to form bubbles. The entrainment characteristics of such jets of Newtonian liquids of varying physical properties have been investigated by means of high-speed photography. Although both laminar and turbulent jets entrain gas bubbles, the mechanisms governing the entrainment process of the two types of jets are clearly different. Entrainment by turbulent jets results from the disturbances on the free surface caused by the jet instability; entrainment by laminar jets is accomplished by the formation of a thin shell of gas around the jet at the point of entrance, by the development of oscillations in the shell, and by its subsequent breakup into bubbles. Entrainment occurs only when the average jet velocity exceeds a certain critical value termed minimum entrainment velocity. For a laminar jet having a flat velocity profile at the point of entrance, the following correlation permits prediction of the minimum entrainment velocity: where the dimensionless numbers are based on the liquid properties and the jet diameter at the point where the jet meets the surface of the receiving liquid.
QT dispersion after beta-blocker therapy (carvedilol or metoprolol) in children with heart failure.

TWA can be measured during bicycle and treadmill exercise. The results of TWA measured during treadmill exercise are remarkably similar to the results of TWA measured during bicycle exercise. These data also provide valuable information about how these 2 types of exercise influence the conduct and interpretation of TWA tests and provide guidance about how to reduce the number of indeterminate TWA tests.
Suppression of TLR9 Immunostimulatory Motifs in the Genome of a Gammaherpesvirus

Multiple receptors within the innate immune system have evolved to recognize nucleic acids as signatures of viral infection. It is believed that this specificity is essential for viral detection, as viruses often lack other invariant features that can serve as suitable targets for innate receptors. One such innate receptor, TLR9, has been implicated in the detection of many dsDNA viruses. In this study, we investigate the detection of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) by TLR9. We find that the genomic DNA of the murine CMV, a very potent inducer of innate responses. Genome-wide analysis of the number of stimulatory versus nonstimulatory CpG motifs present in the genome of each virus reveals that the MHV68 genome contains only a fraction of the number of immunostimulatory motifs present in murine CMV. Notably, MHV68 appears to have selectively suppressed the number of stimulatory motifs through cytosine to thymine conversion. These data suggest that certain viruses may have evolved and modified their genomic content to avoid recognition by nucleic acid-sensing receptors of the innate immune system.