cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A CMOS Micro-power and Area Efficient Neural Recording and Stimulation Front-End for Biomedical Applications

This paper presents an ultra-low power and small area analog front-end for an implantable multichannel neural signal recording and stimulation interface, to be used in wirelessly powered implantable Brain-Machine Interfaces. For a given functionality and performance, area, power, and noise-response are the three critical parameters that define the suitability of a design for implantation. The three main components of a typical neural implant are the analog front-end, the digital processor, and the wireless data and power transceiver. Among them, neural front-end is the most power and area hungry module. This paper presents an 8-channel analog front-end prototype for simultaneous recording and stimulation, employing a novel architecture which significantly improves power and area consumption of the chip over current state of the art. In contrast to published architectures, the multichannel recording path is centered on a single super-performing tunable gain-bandwidth amplifier instead of employing a separate stand-alone amplifier for each electrode. The resulting circuitry requires smaller area and less power compared to all previously published designs. Designed in 0.5 $$\upmu $$μm CMOS with VDD of 1.8 V, the 8-channel recording path consume a total of 77 $$\upmu $$μW of power and a net area of 0.24 mm$$^{2}$$2, allowing scalability to a high channel count. The stimulation path utilizes 8 stimulators, each employing an 8-bit multibias DAC with a current amplifier to drive electrode---electrolyte high impedance load. Each stimulator consumes full scale power of 224 $$\upmu $$μW and entire stimulation path occupies an area of 0.32 mm$$^{2}$$2.
Shear behavior of aluminum lattice truss sandwich panel structures

Abstract Age hardenable 6061 aluminum tetrahedral lattice truss core sandwich panels have been fabricated by folding perforated sheets to form highly flexible cellular cores. Flat or curved sandwich panels can be fabricated by furnace brazing the cores to facesheets. Flat sandwich panels with core relative densities between 2 and 10% have been fabricated and tested in the σ ±13 shear orientation (minimum shear strength orientation for a tetrahedral lattice) in the fully annealed (O) and aged (T6) conditions. The shear strength of the lattices increased with relative density, parent alloy yield strength and work hardening rate. Analytical stiffness and strength predictions agree well with measured values for all relative densities and parent alloy heat treatments investigated. The stiffness and strength of 6061-T6 aluminum tetrahedral lattice structures are shown to be comparable to those of conventional 5052-H38 aluminum closed cell hexagonal honeycombs and more than 40% stiffer and stronger than flexible honeycombs used for the cores of curved sandwich panels.
A technique for the analysis of time-varying sampled-data systems

MUCH OF THE LITERATURE in the field of feedback control has been concerned with linear, time-invariant systems. The labor involved in obtaining solutions to even simple problems in time-varying systems may well have discouraged research in this area. Nevertheless, many practical systems unavoidably contain time-varying components, and methods of dealing with such systems are desirable.
First reply: For a less narrow conception of learning

First of all, let me agree with Ms Emery that (a) educational television has not been successful as a school-produced technique, and that (b) she is quite correct in being concerned about possible neurophysiological side-effects from cathode-ray tubes. Where we differ, and basically I think, is in our definition of learning. I f one assumes that the only worthwhile learning is the traditional school curriculum and the skills involved in understanding print, then it will follow that television and some of the computer software will not increase that kind of learning--especially if learning is measured by traditional print methods. I prefer a much broader definition of learning, including what is learned from television and computers, and including non-print learning. Some 2,500 million people in sixty-two countries are now learning from television. They are learning values (with which one can disagree but the learning is there), life-styles, politics, standards of living, world news, and television as a medium. Children in the United States are learning on computers some mathematics, writing, history, analysis and comparisons of data, graphics, simulated science, and practising arithmetic skills, spelling and vocabulary. The issue boils down to what we accept as learning. If we reject everything except traditional school subjects and traditional print as measures of learning, then only one source is valid--formal schooling. I f we accept the fact that man learned long before the printing press was invented, and learned from imagery and speech, and if we accept the fact that new technologies teach us through imagery and sound (and even through print), then I think we have to accept a much broader definition of learning to encompass the
Death anxiety: Does education make a difference?

Abstract This paper reports on the comparisons of hospice care nurses (HCNs) with nonhospice nurses (TCNs) in relation to their education regarding dying and death and their levels of death anxiety. The HCNs had had significantly more educational preparation than did the TCNs in the dying process, death, and the care of the terminally ill. However, the two groups were not significantly different in their levels of death anxiety, as measured by Templer's Death Anxiety Scale. Possible reasons for this finding are discussed
Long-term clinical progress in bone marrow transplanted mucopolysaccharidosis type I patients with a defined genotype

Two mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS-I) patients, subjected to bone marrow transplantation (BMT) more than 10 years ago, have recently had their α-L-iduronidase genotypes defined. Both patients, homozygous for the relatively common W402X mutation, received BMT when they were 14 and 11 months of age, and are now 12 and 14 years old, respectively. Untreated MPS-I patients, homozygous for W402X, have an extremely severe clinical phenotype with rapid clinical deterioration and death before 6 years of age. The 12-year-old patient, with limited mobility, is coping well at school, while the other patient is wheelchair-bound with severe disability in his lower limbs, and attends a school for the physically handicapped. Both patients have less than normal intelligence with slowly continuing losses. A third MPS-I patients, diagnosed at the age of 6 months, was felt, prior to BMT at 14 months, to have a severe phenotype. Twelve years post-BMT, he is ambulatory, albeit with restricted movement, and has normal intelligence. This patient did not have a defined MPS-I genotype and had α-L-iduronidase protein and activity consistent with a less severe outcome than the first two patients. We conclude that BMT has significantly slowed down the clinical regression of the W402X phenotype. We propose that if further gains are to be made, BMT should be performed within the first few months of life. Early diagnosis is therefore essential.
THE BEECH FORESTS OF WISCONSIN-CHANGES IN FOREST COMPOSITION AND THE NATURE OF THE BEECH BORDER'

The forests of Wisconsin in which beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) is a component are of particular interest because of the limitation of this species to the eastern part of the state. Although touched upon in several earlier studies, these forests have not been examined throughout their range in the state. A phytosociological study was undertaken to gain information on three primary considerations: the status of the beech forest composition since the early 1800s; the nature of the beech border; and the relationship of present-day forests to other forests of the state without beech. The last of these three is to be reported on in a later paper, with the first two being taken up in the present paper. For these aspects of the study, the records of the original land survey were of primary value in providing information on the resettlement conditions of the forest. Presentday forest composition was compared with that of the past and species behavior along transects across the beech border was studied.
Modelling the economic impact of recombinant activated Factor VII compared to activated prothrombin-complex concentrate in the home treatment of a mild to moderate bleed in adults with inhibitors to clotting Factors VIII and IX in the UK

SummaryThis study estimated the costs and consequences of using recombinant activated Factor VII (rFVIIa; NovoSeven®) at home, compared to activated prothrombin-complex concentrate (aPCC; FEIBA®*) at home, to manage a minor (i.e. mild to moderate) bleeding episode in adults with high titre, high responding inhibitors (>10 BU). The analysis was performed from the perspective of the UK's National Health Service (NHS).NovoSeven and FEIBA are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk and Baxter Healthcare, respectively.Clinical outcomes and resource utilisation attributable to managing a minor bleed were obtained from published literature, supplemented with information about treatment patterns and associated resource utilisation derived from interviews with a panel of 22 consultant haematologists experienced in managing inhibitor patients. Using these data sources a decision tree modelling the management of a minor bleed, initially at home, was constructed. Unit resource costs at 1999/2000 prices were applied to ...
Rapid transcriptional response of apple to fire blight disease revealed by cDNA suppression subtractive hybridization analysis

Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is a destructive disease of many tree and shrub species of the Rosaceae. Suppression subtractive cDNA hybridization (SSH) was used to identify genes that are differentially up- and down-regulated in apple (Malus x domestica) in response to challenge with E. amylovora. cDNA libraries were constructed from E. amylovora- and mock-challenged apple leaf tissue at various time intervals after challenge treatment, ranging from 0.25 to 72 h post-inoculation (hpi), and utilized in SSH. Gel electrophoresis of PCR-amplified SSH cDNAs indicated a greater quantity and size diversity in the down-regulated EST population at early times after challenge (1 and 2 hpi) compared to early up-regulated sequences and to sequences down-regulated at later (24 and 48 hpi) times after challenge. A total of 468 non-redundant Malus ESTs isolated by SSH in response to E. amylovora challenge were characterized by bioinformatic analysis. Many of ESTs identified following E. amylovora challenge of apple were similar to genes previously reported to respond to bacterial challenge in Arabidopsis thaliana. The results indicate that there was a substantial early (1 and 2 hpi) transcriptional response in apple to fire blight disease involving both the down- and up-regulation of host genes. Additionally, genes identified responding to fire blight challenge early (1 and 2 hpi) differed from those identified later (25, 48, and 72 hpi) in the infection process.
The utility of annual surveillance bronchoscopy in heart-lung transplant recipients.

Bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy (TBBx) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has an appreciable yield in detecting asymptomatic abnormalities in heart-lung transplant recipients (HLTR) during the early postoperative period. The utility of annual surveillance procedures has not been critically evaluated. We reviewed all annual bronchoscopies performed on 29 HLTR to determine the frequency of asymptomatic abnormalities. Surveillance bronchoscopies (SB) were performed on asymptomatic subjects with unchanged lung function compared with baseline. Surveillance/clinical bronchoscopies (SCB) were those performed in patients with stable decrements in lung function. Nineteen patients underwent 48 SB and 8 had 18 SCB. Five of 15 (33%) SB performed at one year yielded an abnormal TBBx (1 grade 2 acute rejection [AR], 1 grade 1 AR, 1 grade 1 AR with obliterative bronchiolitis [OB] and 2 Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia). At 2 or more years, TBBx was abnormal in 2 of 33 (6%, p=0.024 compared with first year TBBx) (1 grade 1 AR, 1 lymphocytic bronchiolitis). Pathogens were identified in BAL in 19 (40%) SB. Fourteen (78%) SCB were abnormal. Nine (50%) revealed an abnormal TBBx (all OB), but only 2 (11%) of these altered patient management. Seven (39%) demonstrated pathogens in BAL. We conclude that in HLTR (1) surveillance TBBx rarely yields positive findings 2 or more years post-transplant, (2) surveillance TBBx seldom alters management in patients with stable decrements in lung function, and (3) BAL is useful to screen for potential pathogens.
Formation of N-malonyl-l-tryptophan in water-stressed tomato leaves

Abstract Excised tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Castlemart) leaves subjected to water loss of 20 to 30% of their fresh weight increased dramatically both tryptophan and N- malonyl- l -tryptophan (M- l -Trp) content. The identity of M- l -Trp was confirmed by chiral TLC, by oxidation of the released Trp residue with l -amino acid oxidase, and by mass spectrometry. Wilted leaves administered exogenous d - or l -Trp formed the corresponding malonyl-conjugate. N- malonyl- d -tryptophan (M- d -Trp) or M- l -Trp, respectively. Crude leaf extracts were able to N-malonylate both l - and d -Trp in vitro. The activity was higher in mature leaves than in immature leaves and was increased by water stress. Since most of the previous reports have assumed that all endogenous MTrp is M- d -Trp without actual chiral identification, our present results suggest that the current literature concerning the natural occurrence of M- d -Trp needs to be re-examined.
Systemic Isolation and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Cytophaga columnaris from Commercially Reared Channel Catfish

Abstract A selective medium was used for the isolation of Cytophaga columnaris in 154 routine cases submitted to the Louisiana Aquatic Animal Diagnostic Laboratory. In 46 cases, systemic C. columnaris that would not have been detected with routine cytophaga media was isolated from diseased channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Strain variation in susceptibility to Romet (sulfadimethoxine and ormetoprim, 5:1) was noted. Of the 86 strains tested, 83 (97%) were regarded as susceptible. All strains tested were susceptible to Terramycin (oxytetracycline HCl). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Romet on representative strains of C. columnaris ranged from 7.81 to 15.62 μg/mL. The MIC of Terramycin on selected strains was 0.195 μg/mL.
An interpersonal relations and group process approach to affective education for young children

Abstract Early childhood education programs need to emphasize affective growth and effective interpersonal skills for young children. Teachers have a significant influence on children's affective disposition toward themselves and school. They must be provided with skills to develop children's emotional growth and their interpersonal relations skills. This article attempts to stimulate school psychologists to determine whether their teachers have the competencies necessary to produce positive pupil growth and to train those teachers who lack these skills. A brief review of research on selected aspects of teacher behavior is presented. Specific teacher behaviors related to desired affective growth in young children are discussed. The final section presents in-service training program components; a system for observation, analysis of teacher behavior, and feedback; and the steps in providing an in-service program.
Evaluation of Selected Keyboarding Software

(1991). Evaluation of Selected Keyboarding Software. Journal of Education for Business: Vol. 66, No. 5, pp. 299-303.
Axial rarefaction wave in a radially expanding tube of pressurized gas

Abstract The nature of an axial rarefaction wave propagating into an expanding tube of high-pressure gas is examined theoretically for the special case in which the tube is assumed to expand uniformly along its length at constant radial velocity. Governing equations are derived which show that the rarefaction wave must propagate into the tube with continually decreasing amplitudes and wave speeds. In addition, higher pressure levels and associated axial particle velocities are required to propagate faster than lower ones so that the overall length of the wave must continually increase as it moves into the tube. Details are worked out for the case of an expanding tube filled with pressurized air.
Suffering as a consideration in ethical decision making.

Erhics committees and ethics consultants are becoming more involved in helping individuals make decisions and in advising institutions and legislatures about drafting policy. The role of these committees and consultants has been acknowledged in law, and their function is generally considered salutory and helpful. Ethics consultants and committees, furthermore, play a critical role in educating students and members of the hospital community and the public at large. More over, many ethicists engage in scholarky activities to expand the boundaries of our understanding and, in turn, facilitate our capacity for helping. The role of the ethicist and of the ethics committee is thus manifold. Ethics committees and ethics consultants somehow “in competition” is a mistaken notion: when ethics committees, ethics consultants, and the community work smoothly together, much good can be accomplished.
Having a Primary Care Provider and Receipt of Recommended Preventive Care Among Men in New York City

To assess the role of having a primary care provider (PCP) in men’s up-to-date receipt of recommended preventive services (colonoscopy, pneumococcal and seasonal influenza vaccination, cholesterol and blood pressure screenings), data from the 2005 and 2006 New York City Community Health Surveys (N = 3,728 [2006], 2,810 [2005]) were analyzed. PCP prevalence and men’s uptake of each service, overall and by age, race/ethnicity, education, income, insurance status, marital status, and nativity, were evaluated. After controlling for insurance status and other factors, having a PCP significantly predicted receipt of each service (adjusted prevalence ratio from 1.12 [1.08, 1.16] to 1.72 [1.35, 2.22]) and total services. Colonoscopy and seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccination receipt were below 70% with or without a PCP. Efforts to increase the proportion of men having a PCP are needed to improve receipt of recommended services. Maximizing awareness and provision of low-use preventive services may be useful.
American Style or Turkish Chair: The Triumph of Bodily Comfort

This article investigates the reciprocal influence of Ottoman Turkish and American interiors in the development of seating furniture. Seating furniture is unique because it involves a direct and physical interaction between the piece of furniture and the body, while at the same time it is part of a public space where social interactions occur. I will argue that the interactions between the Ottoman Turks and Americans are reflected in the way these traditions modified their seating furniture as they sought to mediate cultural, political and social differences between them. The concept of bodily comfort will serve as a common thread in understanding the origin of the expression "American style" (Amerikan stili or Amerikan tarzi) in modern Turkish language, the "Turkish chairs" in Victorian America in the late nineteenth century and the English language use of words such as sofa, ottoman and divan.
Myelin Po-protein, more than just a structural protein?

The protein P0 has long been proposed to be responsible for the compact nature of peripheral myelin through interactions of both its extracellular and cytoplasmic domains. Recent studies support such a role for P0's extracellular region while more precise mapping of its adhesive domains are ongoing. As P0 is a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily and perhaps bears the closest similarity to the ancestral molecule of this whole family, these studies may also have more general implications for adhesive interactions. In addition, although long believed to be purely an inert, structural molecule, P0 has been reported to promote neurite outgrowth, which suggests a more dynamic role for this interesting molecule.
Percutaneous cholecystostomy in patients with acute cholecystitis: experience of 45 patients at a US referral center.

BACKGROUND: Standard treatment for acute cholecystitis is cholecystectomy, but some patients are at high risk for immediate surgery. Percutaneous cholecystostomy might be the procedure of choice in this group. We reviewed the experience of percutaneous cholecystostomy in a large tertiary center population. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy, and recorded indications for cholecystostomy, duration of tube placement, clinical outcome, death within 30 days of procedure, complications, bacteriology of aspirated bile, gallbladder contents, and performance of interval cholecystectomy. RESULTS: Forty-five patients (mean age 63 years) had cholecystostomy tubes placed from July 1999 to March 2002. All had confirmed or presumed acute cholecystitis. Mean duration of tube insertion was 54.3 days. Thirty-six patients improved clinically within 5 days. Nine patients died within 30 days; only one death was directly related to gallbladder sepsis. Nine patients subsequently had laparoscopic cholecystectomy, eight had open cholecystectomy, and two had cholecystoenterostomy. Cholecystectomy was planned in another five patients. Cholecystostomy tubes leaked in two patients, blocked in four, and dislodged in one. One patient developed a hemoperitoneum. Bile aspirated at cholecystostomy was culture positive in 12 patients, negative in 16, and not sent or recorded in 17. Twenty-two patients had gallstones, 10 had sludge, 9 had both, and 4 had neither. CONCLUSIONS: In experienced hands, percutaneous cholecystostomy is easy to perform, with low complication and high success rates. It is the procedure of choice in patients with acute cholecystitis unfit for emergency surgery. Patients often improve clinically, so that cholecystectomy can be done electively.
Rapid incorporation kinetics and improved fidelity of a novel class of 3′-OH unblocked reversible terminators

Recent developments of unique nucleotide probes have expanded our understanding of DNA polymerase function, providing many benefits to techniques involving next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. The cyclic reversible termination (CRT) methoddependsonefficientbase-selectiveincorporation of reversible terminators by DNA polymerases. Most terminators are designed with 3 0 -O-blocking groups but are incorporated with low efficiency and fidelity. We have developed a novel class of 3 0 -OH unblocked nucleotides, called Lightning Terminators TM , which have a terminating 2-nitrobenzyl moiety attached to hydroxymethylated nucleobases. A key structural feature of this photocleavable group displays a ‘molecular tuning’ effect with respect to single-base termination and improved nucleotide fidelity. Using Therminator TM DNA polymerase, we demonstrate that these 3 0 -OH unblocked terminators exhibit superior enzymatic performance compared to two other reversible terminators, 3 0 -O-amino-TTP and 3 0 -O-azidomethyl-TTP. Lightning Terminators TM show maximum incorporation rates (kpol )t hat range from 35 to 45nt/s, comparable to the fastest NGS chemistries, yet with catalytic efficiencies (kpol/KD) comparable to natural nucleotides. Pre-steady-state kinetic studies of thymidine analogs revealed that the major determinant for improvednucleotide selectivity is a significant reduction in kpol by >1000-fold over TTP misincorporation. These studies highlight the importance of structure–function relationships of modified nucleotides in dictating polymerase performance.
A microfabricated biosensor for detecting foodborne bioterrorism agents

A biosensor for the detection of pathogenic bacteria was developed for biosecurity applications. The sensor was fabricated using photolithography and incorporates heterobifunctional crosslinkers and immobilized antibodies. The sensor detected the change in impedance caused by the presence of bacteria immobilized on interdigitated gold electrodes and was fabricated from (100) silicon with a 2-/spl mu/m layer of thermal oxide as an insulating layer. The sensor has a large active area of 9.6 mm/sup 2/ and consists of two interdigital gold electrode arrays each measuring 0.8 /spl times/ 6 mm. Pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella infantis were tested in serially diluted pure culture. Analyte specific antibodies were immobilized to the oxide between the electrodes to create a biological sensing surface. After immersing the biosensor in solution, the impedance across the interdigital electrodes was measured. Bacteria cells present in the sample solution attached to the antibodies and became tethered to the electrode array thereby causing a change in measured impedance. The biosensor was able to discriminate between different cellular concentrations from 10/sup 4/ - 10/sup 7/ CFU/mL (colony-forming units per milliliter) in solution. The sample testing process, including data acquisition, required 5 min. The design, fabrication, and testing of the biosensor is discussed along with the implications of these findings toward further biosensor development.
Making memories that last a lifetime: heritable functions of self-renewing memory CD8 T cells

Clonal expansion of virus-specific naive T cells during an acute viral infection results in the formation of memory CD8 T cells that provide the host with long-term protective immunity against the pathogen. Memory CD8 T cells display enhanced effector functions compared with their naive precursors, allowing them to respond more rapidly and effectively to antigen re-encounter. The enhanced functions of memory CD8 T cells are mediated by heritable changes in gene regulation. Expression of select transcription factors along with locus-specific epigenetic modifications are coupled to and are essential in the formation of memory-specific gene expression patterns. Here, we will review the changes in gene expression that accompany development of memory CD8 T cells and discuss chromatin modifications as a potential means for heritable propagation of these changes during homeostatic cell division of self-renewing memory CD8 T cells. Also, we will discuss therapies that manipulate heritable gene regulation as a potential mechanism to restore function to non-functional memory CD8 T cells to combat chronic viral infection.
Azithromycin in DuraSite® for the treatment of blepharitis

Blepharitis is a common inflammatory disease of the eyelid. Posterior blepharitis affects the posterior lamella of the eyelid and involves inflammation of the meibomian glands, whereas anterior blepharitis affects the anterior lamella of the eyelid and the eyelashes; either version can be inflammatory or infectious in nature. Each of these conditions can incite or propagate the other; anterior blepharitis, if not treated, can lead to meibomian gland disease, and vice versa. Blepharitis is typically chronic, and can be associated with a variety of systemic diseases such as dermatitis, as well as ocular diseases such as dry eye, conjunctivitis, or keratitis. The standard treatment regimen historically consists of lid hygiene with warm compresses and eyelid scrubs, although these treatment modalities may have limited efficacy for many patients, especially those with more severe disease. Adjunctive treatment includes systemic and topical antibiotics, topical corticosteroids, and tear replacement therapy. Topical antibiotics are recommended to decrease the bacterial load, and topical corticosteroids may help in cases of severe inflammation. Azithromycin ophthalmic solution 1% in DuraSite((R)) (AzaSite((R)); Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Durham, North Carolina, USA) has been proposed as a novel treatment for posterior blepharitis, based on its well-known anti-infective profile, its anti-inflammatory properties, its excellent tissue penetration, and its regulatory approval for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis. This review focuses on an off-label indication for topical azithromycin 1% in DuraSite for the treatment of blepharitis.
Adenovirus Type 7 Induces Interleukin-8 in a Lung Slice Model and Requires Activation of Erk

Adenovirus (Ad), particularly Ad type 7 (Ad7), causes severe lung infection and pneumonia. Initially, Ad causes neutrophilic inflammation of the distal airways and alveoli. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is the major lung neutrophil chemotaxin, and we have shown that Ad7 induces IL-8 release from the A549 alveolar epithelial cell line. We sought to determine whether ex vivo human and bovine lung tissue containing primary pneumocytes could be used as a more accurate and relevant model to study Ad acute inflammation. We found that cultured lung tissue preserved normal lung architecture for more than 10 days. IL-8 was generated upon exposure of the lung organ culture to Ad7. IL-8 production required activation of the Ras/Erk pathway, since a pharmacological inhibitor blocked the appearance of IL-8 in the medium. Both human and bovine lung explants supported replication of Ad7, and immunohistochemistry experiments demonstrated the presence of the Ad hexon antigen within alveolar epithelial cells. These findings show that our novel human lung organ culture accurately reproduces the in vivo infectious disease process. Thus, this organ culture model represents a valuable tool for studying the acute innate immune response to respiratory infections.
Immune Response to and Faecal Shedding of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in Young Dairy Calves, and the Association Between Test Results in the Calves and the Infection Status of their Dams

The objectives of this study were to: (i) evaluate the results of an intradermal skin test, a modified IFN-gamma test, and a commercial ELISA in commercially raised dairy calves at 2, 4, 6 and 8 months of age relative to faecal shedding of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP); (ii) determine the proportion of 8-month-old calves shedding MAP in faeces as detected by culture and One Tube Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (OTSN-PCR) and (iii) explore the association between results of tests described above in the calves and the Paratuberculosis (PTB) status of their dams as determined by faecal culture and/or serology. The study calves belonged to two dairy herds with different risk of exposure to MAP (high and low) and were enrolled based on their dam's ELISA results prior to calving. Approximately 3% of the calves were shedding MAP in faeces at 8 months of age. No agreement was observed among the evaluated immunity-based tests or between the immunity-based tests and the detection of MAP in faeces. Although no association was observed between the infection status of the dam and the results from the IFN-gamma and skin tests on the calves, there is an indication that calves born from dams that were faecal shedders might be at a higher risk of testing positive to the IFN-gamma test at 8 months of age. The disagreement among all tests evaluated in this calf cohort suggests that the detection of MAP infection in young stock requires the use of combined multiple tests. The early detection of PTB in calves is a challenge that requires further exploration of new methods to confirm infection status. These new testing methods should be both affordable and compatible with regular husbandry practices.
Computer-assisted instruction as a supplement to lectures in an introductory psychology class

Educational benefits of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) were investigated. A quasi-experimental design contrasted learning outcomes of students in an introductory psychology class that incorporated CAI exercises to students in a lecture-only introductory psychology class. A number of potential mediating variables, such as instructor, size of class, textbook, and year in school, were controlled. Analysis of students’ final examination scores indicated that students in the lecture-plus-CAI section obtained higher scores than students in the lecture-only section, and these higher scores were due to their better performance on concepts that were taught in both lecture and CAI exercises. These findings offer modest support for the use of CAI as a supplement to lecture in teaching psychology, particularly for domain-specific learning.
Knowledge discovery and data mining for enhanced sustainability of physical ecosystems

Physical ecosystems, such as an IT ecosystem, consist of multiple disparate entities that generate large volumes of data related to their environmental and operational state. Knowledge discovery and data mining techniques can be applied to identify the current state, and use knowledge derived from historical data to transform the system to a more sustainable operational state.
Performance bounds for high-speed communications systems

Markov modulated Poisson processes (MMPP) with time-varying (possibly stochastic) rates are often used to model traffics in high-speed communications systems. For systems with MMPP arrivals, we obtain bounds for moment generating functions of the queue length processes and exponential bounds for the tail distributions. These bounds are useful for characterizing quality of service a system can provide to its users. An approach utilizing the theory of differential equations is adopted. The bounds given in this paper are tighter than those previously available for the same type of system. In fact, the bounds can be made arbitrarily tight given sufficient computational effort.
Correlation of amino acid preference and mammalian viral genome type

Motivation: In the event of an outbreak of a disease caused by an initially unknown pathogen, the ability to characterize anonymous sequences prior to isolation and culturing of the pathogen will be helpful. We show that it is possible to classify viral sequences by genome type (dsDNA, ssDNA, ssRNA positive strand, ssRNA negative strand, retroid) using amino acid distribution. Results: In this paper we describe the results of analysis of amino acid preference in mammalian viruses. The study was carried out at the genome level as well as two shorter sequence levels: short (300 amino acids) and medium length (660 amino acids). The analysis indicates a correlation between the viral genome types dsDNA, ssDNA, ssRNA positive strand, ssRNA negative strand and retroid and amino acid preference. We investigated three different models of amino acid preference. The simplest amino acid preference model, 1-AAP, is a normalized description of the frequency of amino acids in genomes of a viral genome type. A slightly more complex model is the ordered pair amino acid preference model (2-AAP), which characterizes genomes of different viral genome types by the frequency of ordered pairs of amino acids. The most complex and accurate model is the ordered triple amino acid preference model (3-AAP), which is based on ordered triples of amino acids. The results demonstrate that mammalian viral genome types differ in their amino acid preference. Availability: The tools used to format and analyze data and supplementary material are available at http://www.cse.sc.edu/~rose/aminoPreference/index.html Contact: [email protected]
Performance characterization of a new high resolution PET scintillation detector.

Performance of a new high resolution PET detection concept is presented. In this new concept, annihilation radiation enters the scintillator detectors edge-on. Each detector module comprises two 8 × 8 LYSO scintillator arrays of 0.91 × 0.91 × 1 mm3 crystals coupled to two position-sensitive avalanche photodiodes (PSAPDs) mounted on a flex circuit. Appropriate crystal segmentation allows the recording of all three spatial coordinates of the interaction(s) simultaneously with submillimeter resolution. We report an average energy resolution of 14.6 ± 1.7% for 511 keV photons at FWHM. Coincident time resolution was determined to be 2.98 ± 0.13 ns FWHM on average. The coincidence point spread function (PSF) has an average FWHM of 0.837 ± 0.049 mm (using a spherical source) and is uniform across the arrays. Both PSF and coincident time resolution degrade when Compton interactions are included in the data. Different blurring factors were evaluated theoretically, resulting in a calculated PSF of 0.793 mm, in good agreement with the measured value.
Ancestor-descendant relationships and the reconstruction of the Tree of Life

The reconstruction of the Tree of Life has been a primary goal in biology since Darwin coined the expression, the “great Tree of Life” in On the Origin of Species : “The affinities of all the beings of the same class have sometimes been represented by a great tree. I believe this simile largely speaks the truth. The green and budding twigs may represent existing species; and those produced during each former year may represent the long succession of extinct species….As buds give rise by growth to fresh buds, and these, if vigorous, branch out and overtop on all sides many a feebler branch, so by generation I believe it has been with the great Tree of Life, which fills with its dead and broken branches the crust of the earth, and covers the surface with its ever branching and beautiful ramifications” (Darwin 1859: pp. 129–130). Ernst Haeckel was the first biologist who attempted to reconstruct the Darwinian Tree of Life. However, he could not reach his goal because his method of tree reconstruction was deeply anchored in the pre-Darwinian scala naturae (Dayrat 2003). A segment of the Darwinian Tree of Life is illustrated in the unique figure published in On the Origin of Species . This figure, which Darwin referred to as a “branching diagram,” represents ancestor-descendant relationships (ADR). Pointing out that Darwin's Tree of Life represents ADR is not controversial. It simply is a fact. However, it might be more controversial to point out a paradoxical situation: why does an overwhelming majority of the trees currently published represent sister-group relationships (SGR)? Given that reconstructing the Darwinian Tree of Life is one of today's foremost goals in systematic biology, one would expect that the reconstruction of ADR would arouse greater interest among biologists. Certainly, only SGR can be …
Gastric emptying of ingested fat emulsion in rats: implications for studies of fat-induced satiety

Evidence that ingested fat acts in the intestine to produce satiety stems from studies showing that intraintestinal infusion of fat emulsion inhibits eating behavior of rats. In this study, we determined the appropriateness of infusion parameters used in these behavioral studies by measuring gastric emptying rates of both the aqueous and lipid components of Intralipid ingested normally by rats. Stomach contents were collected at different times 0-40 min after rats ingested Intralipid containing [14C]polyethylene glycol (PEG) and phenol red (PR) and were assayed for PEG, PR, and fat. The proportion of ingested fat remaining in the stomach was significantly greater than the proportion of ingested PEG or PR at all time points examined. Despite initial gastric emptying of fat during ingestion, consumption of Intralipid (0.5 or 1.1 kcal/ml) did not suppress subsequent solid food intake. The results indicate that 1) ingested fat emulsion rapidly partitions in the rat stomach into an aqueous phase, which empties rapidly, and a lipid phase, which empties slowly, and 2) normal ingestion of Intralipid is not immediately satiating. These observations raise questions about the physiological significance of the rapid and marked suppression of feeding behavior produced by intraintestinal infusion of Intralipid.
Instructional Course Lectures, The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - Growth Factors as Therapeutic Agents*†

Many of the diseases treated by orthopaedic surgeons reflect a failure of the function of specific populations of cells. Skeletal deformities often stem directly or indirectly from the abnormal function of the cells of the growth plate and preosseous cartilage. Impaired healing after an injury is a failure of resident and immigrant cells to restore the tissue at the site of injury. Degenerative osteoarthrosis results from a diminished ability of the cells to balance the repair and degradation of articular cartilage. Osteoporosis is a failure of bone cells to maintain normal bone mass and architecture. Thus, an understanding of the regulation of cell behavior may provide important insight into the cause of orthopaedic diseases, and the ability to control cell behavior would be a powerful tool in the treatment of these diseases. Recent advances in cell and molecular biology have brought us to the point that manipulation of cell behavior is both plausible and feasible. One of the principal candidates for altering cell behavior is the class of molecules known as growth factors. These are small proteins that serve as signaling agents for cells. Despite being present in plasma or tissue at concentrations that are generally measured in billionths of a gram, growth factors are the principal effectors of such critical functions as cell division, matrix synthesis, and tissue differentiation in virtually every organ system. The role of growth factors in orthopaedic disease has been the subject of considerable interest and investigation recently. This lecture will focus on four specific, relatively common musculoskeletal processes or disorders in which growth factors play an important role: skeletal growth, fracture-healing, repair of articular cartilage, and osteoporosis. To our knowledge, no comprehensive taxonomy has been developed for the factors that regulate cells. General terms such as hormone, cytokine, and growth factor are principally of …
Lower-Extremity CTA

Lower-extremity CTA has evolved into an accurate, robust, and widely available test for noninvasive vascular imaging of the lower extremities in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). This chapter reviews the acquisition and contrast medium administration techniques for peripheral CTA. Visualization of atherosclerotic disease with CTA in general requires “angiography- like” 3D images (such as VR or MIP images); however—notably in the presence of vessel wall calcifications and stents—cross-sectional views (such as CPRs) are also required to accurately assess the flow lumen of the aorta down to the pedal arteries. Adequate visualization and mapping of atherosclerotic lesions in patients with PAOD is not only a prerequisite for generating a dictated report, but more importantly, standardized postprocessed images serve as a treatment planning tool and are the key to communicating the findings to the treating physician. Treatment decisions (surgical versus transluminal revascularization, or conservative treatment), and percutaneous treatment planning (access site, antegrade versus retrograde puncture) can be made in the majority of patients with PAOD based on lower-extremity CTA.
The Costs of Inheritance in Semantic Networks

Questioning texts represented in semantic relations1 requires the recognition that synonyms, instances, and hyponyms may all satisfy a questioned term. A basic procedure for accomplishing such loose matching using inheritance from a taxonomic organization of the dictionary is defined in analogy with the unification algorithm used for theorem proving, and the costs of its application are analyzed. It is concluded that inheritance logic can profitably be included in the basic questioning procedure.
Investing in Sponsor-Backed Ipos: The Case of Hertz

In November 2006, Alec Berg, a successful hedge fund manager, must decide whether to invest in the initial public offering (IPO) of the Hertz Corporation. The IPO followed a leveraged buyout (LBO) of Hertz that was completed in December 2005 by three prominent private equity firms that had combined to purchase Hertz from the Ford Motor Company for $14.9 billion. The LBO sponsors had borrowed an additional $1 billion on top of the buyout financing to pay themselves a special dividend in June 2006. This loan would be repaid with the IPO proceeds and any remaining proceeds from the IPO would go to the sponsors. The IPO generated widespread criticism with respect to the speed with which the IPO was conducted and the payment of special dividends. In the face of this criticism, the demand for the Hertz IPO weakened, and the offer price was reduced from the initial file price range of $16-$18 to just $15. Berg must assess whether at $15 per share, Hertz offers an attractive investment for this fund. The case provides the necessary information for students to analyze the sponsors’ returns on their investment in Hertz and the attractiveness of the $15 offer price to public shareholders. The case also offers an opportunity for students to discuss the controversy surrounding the payment of special dividends and the claim that private equity sponsors invest with a long-term perspective that creates value for the company.
Biophysics: Unfolding the brain

The folded surface of the human brain, although striking, continues to evade understanding. Experiments with swelling gels now fuel the notion that brain folding is modulated by physical forces, and not by genetic, biological or chemical events alone.
IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE SCORES AND EXERCISE CAPACITY WITH REMOTE PULMONARY ARTERY PRESSURE MONITORING IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE

The impact of remote pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) monitoring on quality of life (QOL) and exercise capacity in outpatients with chronic heart failure is unknown. Sixty six outpatients with NYHA class III heart failure were screened for implantation of a PAP monitoring device, CardioMEMS (CM).
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors that Cause Variability in Wing Length in the Elm Spanworm, Ennomos subsignarius

In an earlier paper (Drooz 1965) it was shown that larvae of the elm spanworm, Ennomos subsignarius (Hubner), fed foliage of pignut hickory, Carya glabra (Mill.) Sweet, produced heavier and more fecund adults than those reared on either northern red oak, Quercus rubra L., or white oak, Q. alba L. Campbell[2][1] suggested that somatic, as well as reproductive tissues, might be affected by nutritional differences in the host. To investigate this suggestion, wing length was studied in relation to 4 different host diets. [1]: #fn-1
Synthesis and reactions of unsaturated sugars

Procedures for the introduction of the alkene type of unsaturation into cyclic sugar derivatives, from trans- and from cis-diol precursors, have been evaluated. The trans-diol system in methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-glycopyranoside (1) was converted into the corresponding alkene, methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside (6), by treatment of various disulfonic esters (2, 3, 4, or 5) of 1 with potassium ethylxanthate. The latter reagent also converted the epoxide 8 and the episulfide 9 into 6. The esters 2, 3,4, and 5 could also be converted into 6 by the Tipson-Cohen procedure, namely, the action of sodium iodidezinc dust. The cis-diol analog of 1, methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-mannopyranoside (11), was converted into the alkene 6 by way of the 2,3-thionocarbonate 10. The alkene 6 is extremely acid-labile, and under very mild hydrolytic conditions, it is converted into 2-(d-glycero-1,2-dihydroxyethyl)furan (7). Treatment of 1,2-O-isopropylidene-5,6-di-O-(p-tolylsulfony)-α-d-glucofuranose with sodium iodide-zinc dust in acetone gave the 5,6-alkene, together with 3,6-anhydro-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-O(ptolylsulfonyl)-α-d-glucofuranose.