cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting Controlled-Release Behavior of Degradable PLA-b-PEG-b-PLA Hydrogels

This paper describes the development and application of scaling laws relating bulk-degradation behavior of poly(lactic acid)−poly(ethylene glycol)−poly(lactic acid) (PLA-b-PEG-b-PLA) copolymer hydr...
Diffuse cosmic gamma rays - Present status of theory and observations.

POSITIVE diffuse gamma-ray flux measurements now exist for energies up to the 100 MeV range. The totality of the observations in the 10−3 to 100 MeV range follows an E−2 trend in the differential isotropic photon spectrum but significant features appear. Possible theoretical interpretations of these features are discussed here. New results on the diffuse flux from the galaxy substantiate the pion-decay origin hypothesis for gamma-radiation above 100 MeV.
Natural tracers reveal population structure of albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the eastern North Pacific

R. J. David Wells1,2*, Michael J. Kinney3, Suzanne Kohin4, Heidi Dewar4, Jay R. Rooker1,2, and Owyn E. Snodgrass3 Department of Marine Biology, Texas AM Under Contract to Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
We Seek Work Where We Can: A Comparison of Patterns of Transnational Outmigration from a Rancho in Jalisco and of Internal Migration Into A Mexicali Squatter Settlement

To test the importance of migration networks in internal and transnational migration, two communities were chosen for comparative study: one, a squatter settlement on the U.S.-Mexican border and the other, a rancho (unincorporated rural village) in Jalisco. Mexicali was chosen as the border city for study because, despite high rates of inmigration as well as its position as the state capital of Baja California Norte, it has received less attention than cities such as Tijuana or Ciudad Juarez. The squatter settlement I call "Colonia Popular" was chosen from among several others because: (1) it was new enough, having been established in the last months of 1983, to contain many of the original invaders; (2) it has been in existence long enough so that patterns of kin-mediated chain migration would be evident; and (3) it was small enough to attempt to do a universal sample.
C-band variability in the common chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes

Sequential G- and C-banding was used to investigate the nature of intra-specific variation in the C-bands of the common chimpanzee. Twenty-five chimpanzees constituted the final sample. While no significant variation in the centromeric C-bands was detected, several prominent variations in the telomeric C-bands were noted. The most striking variants were of chromosome arms 8p, 9p, 10p, 19p, and the five satellited chromosomes, noted as obvious consistent disparities in the amount of heterochromatin between homologs. Most variants were found in one or two individuals; but the variant chromosome 19 was found in nine individuals. Additionally, two of the chimpanzees appeared to be heterozygous for a heterochromatic feature considered to be a cytotaxonomic marker of the pygmy chimpanzee.
On the influence of damage evolution in an incompressible material with matrix displaying tension-compression asymmetry

Abstract A strong difference between the behavior in tension versus compression is observed at the polycrystal level, if either twinning or non-Schmid type slip are contributors to plastic deformation at the single crystal level. Despite recent progress in modeling the effects of this asymmetry in yielding, its influence on damage evolution remains a challenge. In a recent paper [1] we presented a new constitutive model for voided polycrystal that incorporates the effects of the tension-compression asymmetry of the incompressible matrix on the overall dilatational plastic behavior. In this contribution, this model is used to investigate the influence of the tension-compression asymmetry of the matrix on void evolution for uniaxial loading conditions. It is shown that if the matrix tensile strength is higher than its compressive strength, void growth and damage distribution are similar to that in classical materials obeying Gurson's [2] criterion. On the other hand, for certain porous polycrystals in which the matrix tensile strength is lower than its compressive strength, void growth rate is much slower. Damage distribution is significantly different; the location of the zone of maximum porosity shifts from the center of the specimen outwards. Furthermore, the influence of the evolving microstructure on void growth is studied. It is shown that void growth is significantly affected by the rate of change of the matrix strength differential with plastic strain.
A two-dimensional, TVD numerical scheme for inviscid, high Mach number flows in chemical equilibrium

A new algorithm has been developed for hypervelocity flows in chemical equilibrium. Solutions have been achieved for Mach numbers up to 15 with no adverse effect on convergence. Two methods of coupling an equilibrium chemistry package have been tested, with the simpler method proving to be more robust. Improvements in boundary conditions are still required for a production-quality code.
Depurination of plant ribosomes by pokeweed antiviral protein

Mammalian ribosomes have been shown to be enzymatically modified by ribosomal inactivating protein (RIPs) via specific depurination of rRNA. Here we report that ribosomes isolated from wheat germ contain intact and undepurinated rRNA and are depurinated by pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP). Pokeweed ribosomes isolated under the same conditions are depurinated. Total RNA isolated from pokeweed in the presence of strong denaturants was found to pbe partially depurinated. We conclude that wheat germ ribosomes are resistant to the endogenous RIP, tritin, but are sensitive to PAP and that pokeweed ribosomes can be depurinated by the N-glycosidase activity of endogenous PAP during isolation.
The Magnetic Moment of the Electron

THE hypothesis of the spinning electron assigns to the electron an angular momentum h/4π and a magnetic moment eh/4πmc. Dirac1 showed that the spectroscopic duplexity pointed out by Heisenberg can be explained more satisfactorily by modifying the wave equation. In his theory the angular momentum is still h/4π. The magnetic moment μ, however, is only approximately the Bohr magneton μ0. Using Darwin's2 explicit expressions for the four ψ's, the magnetic moment of the electron in the field of a charge Ze is easily calculated. The result is where a is the fine structure constant 7.3 × 10-3. Substituting Z = 92 for uranium, we obtain μ = 0.83,μ0.
Lack-of-fit Tests for Generalized Linear Models via Splines.

Cubic B-splines are used to estimate the nonparametric component of a semiparametric generalized linear model. A penalized log-likelihood ratio test statistic is constructed for the null hypothesis of the linearity of the nonparametric function. When the number of knots is fixed, its limiting null distribution is the distribution of a linear combination of independent chi-squared random variables, each with one df. The smoothing parameter is determined by giving a specified value for its asymptotically expected value under the null hypothesis. A simulation study is conducted to evaluate its power performance; a real-life dataset is used to illustrate its practical use.
Baseline estimation with semidynamic and geometric satellite methods

Accurate relative positioning via dynamic satellite methods is a complicated process. In an attempt to simplify this process a semidynamic method has been investigated in a real data environment. In this method quasi-simultaneous observations from pairs of stations are transformed to Simultaneous Range Differences(SRD's). With this transformation it is anticipated to reduce the effects of orbital and observational residual biases and, therefore, to obtain baselines the accuracy of which is less sensitive to the overall orbital accuracy and yet compatible to that of the observations. Using laser range observations to Lageos collected during theMERIT Main Campaign, baselines have been estimated via both theSRD and the geometric methods. Baselines estimated via the geometric method are independent of orbital errors and any inconsistencies affecting the implementation of the Terrestrial Reference Frame, and therefore they have been used in the present study as standards of comparison. From this comparison it was concluded that for baselines of regional extent, theSRD method is very efficient and at least as accurate as the more complex dynamic methods.
PULMONARY AND CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF A TOTALLY SYNTHETIC, PROTEINFREE SURFACTANT IN PRETERM LAMBS

Tracheal instillation of surface active material improves lung expansion and survival. However, totally synthetic surface active materials have not been as effective as preparations derived from animal sources. We tested the effectiveness of a synthetic surfactant (DPPC, hexadecanol and tyloxapol) (EXO) in preterm lambs 131-133d gestation (term = 150d) delivered by C-section, paralyzed and mechanically-ventilated for 11 hr. 15 lambs received 5 ml/kg of EXO (75 mg lipid/kg) by tracheal instillation at delivery; 5 received 5 ml/kg of a surface active material prepared from adult sheep alveolar washes (SAM) (50 mg lipid/kg); 10 received nothing (Controls). PIP and FIO2 were adjusted to normalize PaCO2 and PaO2. The EXO group survived longer (12/15 alive at 11 hr) than the control animals (3/10 at 11 hr)(p .08). Other measurements were similar in the EXO and SAM groups. EXO, a totally synthetic surfactant, produces significant improvement in survival and respiratory status in preterm lambs.
Conducting a campaign to improve hand hygiene in non-acute health care:

In 2004 the National Patient Safety Agency launched the cleanyourhands campaign to improve hand hygiene in acute NHS trusts in England and Wales through the provision of near patient alcohol hand-rub combined with regularly refreshed prompts. Calls have been made since the campaign started for it to be extended to non-acute healthcare, but the diversity of services and settings in the non-acute sector presents many challenges to successful implementation.
Chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve induces the up-regulation of descending inhibitory noradrenergic innervation to the lumbar dorsal horn of mice

Abstract Peripheral nerve injury in rodents results in hypersensitivity to mechanical and thermal stimuli accompanied by reduced antinociceptive efficacy of opioids and, in some models, sensitivity to sympathetic blockade. α2-Adrenergic receptor agonists increase in potency and efficacy after nerve injury in rodents and effectively relieve neuropathic pain in humans who do not get pain relief from opioids. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. It has been well known that the major noradrenergic innervation of the spinal dorsal horn originates from the locus coeruleus nucleus (LC) in the brainstem. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine whether peripheral nerve injury that causes neuropathic pain modulates the noradrenergic innervation to the lumbar dorsal horn, in order to determine the possible anatomical substrates underlying increased potency and efficacy of noradrenergic receptor agonists in alleviating neuropathic pain. At 2 weeks after chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, a remarkable increase in tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DβH) immunoreactive (IR) axonal terminals was observed in the ipsilateral L4–L6 dorsal horn. Consistently, greater numbers of both TH- and DβH-IR neurons were detected in the ipsilateral LC. Interestingly, in the lower lumbar and upper sacral spinal dorsal horn, numerous TH-IR neurons were observed in the superficial dorsal horn (primarily lamina I). CCI of the sciatic nerve did not change the number of these TH-IR cells. These findings suggest that augmented descending inhibitory noradrenergic innervation to the dorsal horn could be one of the mechanisms underlying the increased effectiveness in the anti-allodynic effect elicited by α2-adrenergic receptor agonists.
Notch receptor expression in human brain arteriovenous malformations.

The roles of the Notch pathway proteins in normal adult vascular physiology and the pathogenesis of brain arteriovenous malformations are not well-understood. Notch 1 and 4 have been detected in human and mutant mice vascular malformations respectively. Although mutations in the human Notch 3 gene caused a genetic form of vascular stroke and dementia, its role in arteriovenous malformations development has been unknown. In this study, we performed immunohistochemistry screening on tissue microarrays containing eight surgically resected human brain arteriovenous malformations and 10 control surgical epilepsy samples. The tissue microarrays were evaluated for Notch 1–4 expression. We have found that compared to normal brain vascular tissue Notch-3 was dramatically increased in brain arteriovenous malformations. Similarly, Notch 4 labelling was also increased in vascular malformations and was confirmed by western blot analysis. Notch 2 was not detectable in any of the human vessels analysed. Using both immunohistochemistry on microarrays and western blot analysis, we have found that Notch-1 expression was detectable in control vessels, and discovered a significant decrease of Notch 1 expression in vascular malformations. We have demonstrated that Notch 3 and 4, and not Notch 1, were highly increased in human arteriovenous malformations. Our findings suggested that Notch 4, and more importantly, Notch 3, may play a role in the development and pathobiology of human arteriovenous malformations.
Analysis of Canadian Population With Potential Geographic Access to Intravenous Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose—We sought to identify the Canadian population with potential access to intravenous tissue plasminogen activator within 3 hours of onset of acute ischemic stroke. Methods—Assuming that 60 minutes is needed for stroke recognition, emergency room evaluation, and administration of tissue plasminogen activator, 120 minutes remain for transport, using a 3-hour treatment window. Ambulance databases were analyzed for transport times of 60, 90, and 120 minutes and were found to correspond to transport distances of 32, 64, and 105 kilometers (20, 40, and 65 miles), respectively. Using Geographical Information System (GIS) software, these radii were overlaid on thematic maps of Canadian hospitals identified as having a third- or fourth-generation CT and with a neurologist and an emergency physician on staff. Analysis was then performed on complete Canadian census data from 1991 and the interim 1996 census count. Results—67.3%, 78.2%, and 85.3% of the total Canadian population were within 32, 6...
FLUORINE MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTRA AND TACTICITIES OF POLY(VINYL TRIFLUOROACETATE)

Abstract : Fluorine magnetic resonance spectra of poly(vinyl trifluoroacetate) samples of different tacticities were investigated, along with those of model compounds. These polymers represent the first case where the line order in respect to stereostructure does not agree with that expected from the spectra of model compounds. More than four peaks were observed for signals from the trifluoromethyl groups of the polymers and the relative peak positions differed from those previously reported. The intensity ratios of the peaks were affected by the solvent employed. Therefore the spectra cannot be interpreted in terms of triad stereosequences. Seemingly longer stereosequences or other influences have to be considered to interpret the spectra. (Author)
Transcriptional Regulation of Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus-encoded Oncogene Viral Interferon Regulatory Factor by a Novel Transcriptional Silencer, Tis

Viral interferon regulatory factor (vIRF) encoded by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) has been shown to transform NIH3T3 and Rat-1 cells, inhibit interferon signal transduction, and regulate the expression of KSHV genes. We had previously characterized the vIRF core promoter and defined a 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-responsive region in the upstream regulatory sequence of vIRF gene. Here, we have further identified a novel transcriptional silencer, named Tis in this region. Tis represses the promoter activities of vIRF and heterologous herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase genes in both position- and orientation-independent manners. Deletion analysis has identified a cis-element of 23 nucleotides that is essential for the negative regulation. Two Tis-binding protein complexes, named vR1 and vR2, were observed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays using nuclear extracts from both KSHV-negative and -positive cell lines. A sequence fragment GAGTTAATAGGTAGAG in the cis-element was shown to be required for the DNA-protein interactions as well as the repression of vIRF promoter activity. Point-mutation analysis identified TTAAT and GTTAATAG as the core sequence motifs for the binding of vR1 and vR2, respectively. These results define the function of a novel transcriptional silencer in the regulation of vIRF gene expression.
Whirl Dynamics of Pendulous Flywheels Using Bond Graphs

Abstract Bond graphs are used to generate the equations of motion of a whirling flywheel. The formulation is shown to be a natural one when control forces and moments are included for active control of the whirling modes. Critical frequencies are interpreted as rotational speeds at which non-zero equilibrium configurations exist for displacements (as opposed to the more familiar momenta) and arise when the system dynamics matrix of the complete whirl motion has two zero eigenvalues. In addition, oscillatory modes corresponding to non-zero eigenvalues are examined. Time simulations and other numerical results are given for an example flywheel system which has been proposed for electric utility energy storage.
AIRS Infrared Polarization Sensitivity and In-Flight Observations

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) is a space-based instrument that measures the upwelling atmospheric spectrum in the infrared. AIRS is one of several instruments on the EOS-Aqua spacecraft launched on May 4, 2002: Typically, instrument polarization is not a concern in the infrared because the scene is usually not significantly polarized. A small amount of polarization is expected over ocean, which can be seen in the AIRS 3.7 (micro)m window channels. The polarization is seen as a signal difference between two channels with the same center frequency but different polarizations. The observations are compared to a model that relies on measurements of instrument polarization made pre-flight. A first look at a comparison of the observations of sea surface polarization to expectations is presented.
Reinvigorating the Study of Careers.

Abstract Before discussing how to innovate the study of career development using insights from life-span psychology and life course sociology, researchers might benefit from reconsidering whether they are studying careers or studying vocational behavior. While the word “career” seems ubiquitous in vocational psychology research, there are important differences between the study of vocational behavior, occupational roles, and career development. In this article, I urge researchers to (a) reconsider the meaning of career and research on career development, (b) adopt prospective, longitudinal research designs, and (c) concentrate first on processes of development and then on the content of careers. Considering these suggestions may ready vocational psychology for true innovations such as studying human development through work and relationships.
Root- and shoot-specific responses of individual glutamine synthetase genes of maize to nitrate and ammonium

The responses of the five cytosolic-type glutamine synthetase (GS1) genes of maize to treatment of hydroponically grown seedlings with 10 mM KNO3 or 10 mM NH4Cl were analyzed. Non-coding 3′ gene-specific hybridization probes and radioanalytic imaging were used to quantitate individual gene transcript levels in excised roots and shoots before treatment and at selected times after treatment. Genes GS1−1 and GS1−2 exhibited distinct organ-specific responses to treatment with either nitrogen source. The GS1−1 transcript level increased over three-fold in roots, but changed little if any in shoots. In contrast, the GS1−2 transcript level increased over two-fold in shoots, but decreased in roots after treatment. Increased transcript levels were evident at 4 h after treatment with either nitrogen source, with maximum accumulations present at 8 h after treatment with ammonium and at 10–12 h after treatment with nitrate. The GS1−3 gene transcript level showed little or no change after treatment with either nitrogen source. The GS1−4 gene transcript level remained constant in shoots of treated seedlings, whereas in roots, it exhibited relatively minor, but complex responses to these two nitrogen sources. The GS1−5 gene transcript is present in very small amounts in seedlings, making it difficult to analyze its response to metabolites in young plants. These results provide support for the possibility that different cytosolic GS genes of maize play distinct roles in nitrogen metabolism during plant growth and differentiation.
Incidence of clinically significant seroma after breast and axillary surgery.

treatment. 3 We hypothesized that seromas occur more frequently in extensive surgical procedures or in those that require a drainage tube. In addition, we theorized that seroma and surgical site infection (SSI) were directly correlated.The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequency of seromas that require intervention, to assess variation based on the extent of the breast or axillary surgical procedure, and to evaluate the incidence of SSI in relation to seroma occurrence.
Water takes a peculiar turn in the Gulf Stream

An unusual phenomenon was spotted in the April and May 1994 sea surface temperature images of the Gulf Stream. A large amount of water left the Gulf Stream between 33°N and 34°N and moved east into the Sargasso Sea (Figures lb and lc). On April 29 this water mass could be seen as far east as 62°W (Figure 2). No similar event is evident in the 10-year image archive beginning in 1979 at the University of Rhode Island.
Resistance to fracture of two all-ceramic crown materials following endodontic access

Statement of problem There is currently no protocol for managing endodontic access openings for all-ceramic crowns. A direct restorative material is generally used to repair the access opening, rendering a repaired crown as the definitive restoration. This endodontic procedure, however, may weaken the restoration or initiate microcracks that may propagate, resulting in premature failure of the restoration. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate how an endodontic access opening prepared through an all-ceramic crown altered the structural integrity of the ceramic, and the effect of a repair of this access on the load to failure of an all-ceramic crown. Material and methods Twenty-four alumina (Procera) and 24 zirconia (Procera) crowns were fabricated and cemented (Rely X Luting Plus Cement) onto duplicate epoxy resin dies. Twelve crowns of each were accessed to simulate root canal treatment therapy. Surface defects of all accessed specimens were evaluated with an environmental scanning electron microscope. The specimens were repaired with a porcelain repair system (standard adhesive resin/composite resin protocol) and were loaded to failure in a universal testing machine. Observations made visually and microscopically noted veneer delamination from the core, core fracture, shear within the veneer porcelain, or a combination thereof. A Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine if a significant difference (α=.05) in load to failure existed between the 4 groups, and a Mann-Whitney test with a Bonferroni correction ( P Results All specimens exhibited edge chipping around the access openings. Some displayed larger chips within the veneering porcelain, and 4 zirconia crowns showed radial crack formation. There was a significant difference in load to failure among all groups with the exception of the alumina intact and repaired specimens ( P =.695). The alumina crowns generally showed fracture of the coping with the veneering porcelain still bonded to the core, whereas the zirconia copings tended not to fracture but experienced veneering porcelain delamination. Conclusion Endodontic access through all-ceramic crowns resulted in a significant loss of strength in the zirconia specimens but not in the alumina specimens.
The Problem of Japan: Qualitative Studies and International Educational Comparisons

I find my new interpreter fully charged with the new ideas. He thinks enthusiastically the same as I do on my pet projects, viz—to make a National text-book on chemistry, to advocate the education of women, to abolish the drinking of sake, the wearing of swords, the promiscuous bathing of the sexes. . . . I feel grateful that I have already accomplished so much, and that my right-hand-men, my tongues in this land, are such congenial and aspiring men. It only makes me more earnest, more intent on forgetting the magnitude of the work, the difficulties, as well as overlooking the dirt, the foulness and the vile side of the Japanese question.
Enhancing biological analyses with three dimensional field asymmetric ion mobility, low field drift tube ion mobility and mass spectrometry (μFAIMS/IMS-MS) separations

Multidimensional high throughput separations are ideal for analyzing distinct ion characteristics simultaneously in one analysis. We report on the first evaluation of a platform coupling a high speed field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry microchip (μFAIMS) with drift tube ion mobility and mass spectrometry (IMS-MS). The μFAIMS/IMS-MS platform was used to analyze biological samples and simultaneously acquire multidimensional FAIMS compensation fields, IMS drift times, and accurate ion masses for the detected features. These separations thereby increased the overall measurement separation power, resulting in greater information content and more complete characterization of the complex samples. The separation conditions were optimized for sensitivity and resolving power by the selection of gas compositions and pressures in the FAIMS and IMS separation stages. The resulting performance provided three dimensional separations, benefitting both broad complex mixture studies and targeted analyses by improving isomeric separations and allowing detection of species obscured by interfering peaks.
Monitoring Poultry Processing Waste Water with Total Organic Carbon

Abstract BOD5, COD and total organic carbon were measured in the waste water from six locations in a poultry processing plant and from a processing plant’s waste treatment facility. Total organic carbon correlated with BOD5 and COD and was a good indication of the waste treatment facility efficiency.
Copper(II) Spectra in Nitrate‐Containing Glasses

The visible and near-infrared spectra were determined for small quantities of Cu(II) in nitrate-containing glasses. The ligands around the Cu(II) ion were changed from all nitrate to mixed nitrate-chloride. Changes in the spectra arising from these changes in the ligands are discussed. The Cu(II) ion ligand field bands can be interpreted as resulting from distorted octahedral symmetry and change little from one glass to another. However, large changes in the charge transfer band were produced by varying the Cu(II) and chloride ion concentrations.
Case studies of applying Gibson's ecological approach to mobile robots

Gibson's ecological approach to perception has recently received significant attention in the robotics literature, The approach relies on the identification and application of affordances for a behaviour. However, determining suitable affordances has been treated as an art rather than a science. This paper presents a methodology for deciding whether an affordance-based approach should be pursued for a specific behaviour and for isolating a reliable affordance. Three case studies on three mobile robots are presented which used this methodology successfully. The case studies illustrate the advantages and limitations of affordances, as well as offer practical insights into applying the ecological approach.
Prevalence and Detailed Mapping of the Gonococcal Genetic Island in Neisseria meningitidis

The 57-kb gonococcal genetic island (GGI) encodes a type IV secretion system (T4SS) that is found in most strains of N. gonorrhoeae. This T4SS functions to secrete single-stranded DNA that is active in natural transformation. The GGI has also been found in some strains of N. meningitidis. We screened 126 isolates of N. meningitidis and found the GGI in 17.5% of strains, with the prevalence varying widely among serogroups. The GGI is found in a significant number of serogroup C, W-135, and X strains but was not found in strains of serogroup A, B, or Y. Through detailed PCR mapping and DNA sequencing, we identified five distinct GGI types in meningococci. DNA sequencing and a genetic assay revealed that the GGI was likely integrated into the meningococcal chromosome by the site-specific recombinase XerCD and that the GGI can be excised and lost from the genome. Functional studies showed that in contrast with the gonococcal T4SS, the meningococcal T4SS does not secrete DNA, nor does it confer Ton-independent intracellular survival. Deletion of T4SS genes did not affect association with or invasion of host cells. These results demonstrate that the GGI is found in a significant proportion of meningococcal strains and that while some strains carry multiple insertions and deletions in the GGI, other strains carry intact T4SS genes and may produce functional secretion systems.
Patient's experience with comorbidity management in primary care: a qualitative study of comorbid pain and obesity.

Aim The aim of this research is to examine perceptions of those with comorbid chronic pain and obesity regarding their experience of comorbidity management in primary care settings. Background Chronic pain and obesity are common comorbidities frequently managed in primary care settings. Evidence suggests individuals with this comorbidity may be at risk for suboptimal clinical interactions; however, treatment experiences and preferences of those with comorbid chronic pain and obesity have received little attention. Methods Semi-structured interviews conducted with 30 primary care patients with mean body mass index=36.8 and comorbid persistent pain. The constant comparative method was used to analyze data. Findings Participants discussed frustration with a perceived lack of information tailored to their needs and a desire for a personalized treatment experience. Participants found available medical approaches unsatisfying and sought a more holistic approach to management. Discussions also focused around the need for providers to initiate efforts at education and motivation enhancement and to show concern for and understanding of the unique difficulties associated with comorbidity. Findings suggest providers should engage in integrated communication regarding weight and pain, targeting this multimorbidity using methods aligned with priorities discussed by patients.
Translating Research Into Practice: The Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) Treatment Recommendations

Beginning in 1992, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and the National Institute of Mental Health funded the Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) to develop and disseminate recommendations for the treatment of schizophrenia based on existing scientific evidence. These Treatment Recommendations, presented here in final form for the first time, are based on exhaustive reviews of the treatment outcomes literature (previously published in Schizophrenia Bulletin, Vol. 21, No. 4, 1995) and focus on those treatments for which there is substantial evidence of efficacy. The recommendations address antipsychotic agents, adjunctive pharmacotherapies, electroconvulsive therapy, psychological interventions, family interventions, vocational rehabilitation, and assertive community treatment/intensive case management. Support for each recommendation is referenced to the previous PORT literature reviews, and the recommendations are rated according to the level of supporting evidence. The PORT Treatment Recommendations provide a basis for moving toward "evidence-based" practice for schizophrenia and identify both the strengths and limitations in our current knowledge base.
Fuzzy logic control: a systematic design methodology

The authors present a systematic methodology for the design of a fuzzy logic control system. The basic design idea is the concept of an indirect control approach where selection of control parameters relies on the estimates of the process parameters. In the formulation of the fuzzy control problem, the process relation and the desired transition relation play an important role. In the proposed approach, an offline fuzzy identification scheme is used to identify the process relation of the unknown plant; an optimal control algorithm, based on the cell state space, is used to specify the desired transition relation. The use of the transition relation makes it possible to design the fuzzy optimal control systematically. >
Simultaneous recovery of two ultrashort laser pulses from a single spectrogram

We introduce a technique for simultaneously measuring the time-dependent intensity and phase of two independent and arbitrary ultrashort laser pulses from a single measured spectrogram. This two-pulse method is mathematically equivalent to the problem of blind deconvolution, and we use an algorithm analogous to those used for deblurring two-dimensional images to recover the two pulses. We demonstrate the method by simultaneously retrieving the intensity and the phase of two different pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser, one of which is chirped by propagation through glass.
Diet and Ectoparasites of the Southern Short-Tailed Shrew (Blarina carolinensis) in Louisiana

ABSTRACT. Diet items and ectoparasites were identified from 15 southern short-tailed shrews (Blarina carolinensis) captured during a one-year study (December 2009—November 2010). Twenty different diet items were found in 13 southern short-tailed shrews. Collectively, insects made up the bulk of these shrews' diet (92%), with Diptera and Hymenoptera being most prevalent. Plant material and arachnids occurred 46% of the time. Six of the diet items identified are new reports for the southern short-tailed shrew. Nine ectoparasite species were collected from 11 of the southern short-tailed shrews, comprising 8 species of mites and one species of tick. Orycteroxenus soricis and Androlaelaps fahrenholzi were the most frequent (36%) ectoparasites collected. Two of the ectoparasites (Ornithonyssus bacoti and Ixodes scapularis) are new host records, and 5 of the 8 species of mites collected were not previously reported as occurring in Louisiana.
Suppressor Mutations in the Study of Photosystem I Biogenesis: sll0088 Is a Previously Unidentified Gene Involved in Reaction Center Accumulation in Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803

In previous work, some members of our group isolated mutant strains of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 in which point mutations had been inserted into the psaC gene to alter the cysteine residues to the F(A) and F(B) iron-sulfur clusters in the PsaC subunit of photosystem I (J. P. Yu, I. R. Vassiliev, Y. S. Jung, J. H. Golbeck, and L. McIntosh, J. Biol. Chem. 272:8032-8039, 1997). These mutant strains did not grow photoautotrophically due to suppressed levels of chlorophyll a and photosystem I. In the results described here, we show that suppressor mutations produced strains that are capable of photoautotrophic growth at moderate light intensity (20 micromol m(-2) s(-1)). Two separate suppressor strains of C14S(PsaC), termed C14S(PsaC)-R62 and C14S(PsaC)-R18, were studied and found to have mutations in a previously uncharacterized open reading frame of the Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 genome named sll0088. C14S(PsaC)-R62 was found to substitute Pro for Arg at residue 161 as the result of a G482-->C change in sll0088, and C14S(PsaC)-R18 was found to have a three-amino-acid insertion of Gly-Tyr-Phe following Cys231 as the result of a TGGTTATTT duplication at T690 in sll0088. These suppressor strains showed near-wild-type levels of chlorophyll a and photosystem I, yet the serine oxygen ligand to F(B) was retained as shown by the retention of the S > or = 3/2 spin state of the [4Fe-4S] cluster. The inactivation of sll0088 by insertion of a kanamycin resistance cartridge in the primary C14S(PsaC) mutant produced an engineered suppressor strain capable of photoautotrophic growth. There was no difference in psaC gene expression or in the amount of PsaC protein assembled in thylakoids between the wild type and an sll0088 deletion mutant. The sll0088 gene encodes a protein predicted to be a transcriptional regulator with sequence similarities to transcription factors in other prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, including Arabidopsis thaliana. The protein contains a typical helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif and can be classified as a negative regulator by phylogenetic analysis. This suggests that the product of sll0088 has a role in regulating the biogenesis of photosystem I.
The Catholic High School and American Educational Reform: Challenges and Opportunities

This paper provides answers to two questions. First, what challenges and opportunities does the movement to reform American public education, and to make it more accountable, raise for Catholic high schools? Second, what challenges and opportunities does the effectiveness of Catholic high schools in educating disadvantaged students raise for American public education?
Mood improvements following exercise and quiet rest in bulimic women

The purposes of this investigation were to assess selected mood state responses to a single session of both aerobic exercise and a quiet rest condition in bulimic women and to determine their physical activity and fitness levels. Nine outpatients who met DSM-III-R criteria for bulimia nervosa and 9 age-, weight and gender-matched non-bulimic controls were studied. Self-reports of physical activity and objective measures of physical fitness, including Vo2 peak, maximal treadmill time, and resting heart rate, were obtained. Bulimics had an above-average level of physical fitness (Vo2 peak = 46.5 ± 9.3 ml·kg−1·min−1) that did not differ significantly from the controls. Subjects completed 2 randomly assigned, counterbalanced sessions involving 20 min of submaximal walking at 70% of peak Vo2 and on a separate day sitting quietly for 20 min. Fifteen minutes before and 10 and 20 min following both conditions, heart rate, blood pressure and mood state were measured. The bulimics exhibited significant reductions in anxiety, depression and systolic blood pressure following both the submaximal exercise and quiet rest conditions. The bulimic women experienced improvements in mood in association with vigorous walking exercise that were equal in magnitude to those occurring with quiet rest and had levels of physical fitness that were above average, but clearly did not engage in excessive exercise. The findings suggest that both acute exercise and quiet rest have transient psychological benefits for bulimic women.
FORMLESS: A Day at Lima's Office of Formalization

In 2009–2010, a team of officials at Lima's Office of Formalization worked to formalize (legalize) the hundreds of markets that operate informally in the downtown area of the city. To persuade businesses to apply for an operating license, the Office lowered the threshold of requirements and simplified the procedure. This strategy was akin to the legal reform program promoted by Hernando de Soto's 1986 influential study of informality, El otro sendero: La revolucion informal. But at what point does simplifying the law, in its aim to bring state regulation closer to the realities of informal vendors, produce, rather, the informalization of the legal and bureaucratic apparatus? Drawing on fieldwork at Lima's Office of Formalization and at the downtown markets of Mesa Redonda and El Hueco, this article is an ethnographic examination of informality not as the absence of legal or bureaucratic form but as a sequence of countless operations engaged in its deformation. Georges Bataille's theories of general economy and l'informe (the formless) frame this study of the formlessness of bureaucratic form and of informal vendors’ unrelenting desire for autonomy from the state.
Social Network Influence on Electoral Outcomes

Social networks tend to shape our views about the world. Our study conducts an empirical analysis on social network dynamics using Twitter data; specifically, this research analyzes how social networks aect political decisions. We study how social networks influence voting decisions and determine whether or not people vote ‘correctly’ based on their tweets or what they believe. We collect Twitter data on a daily basis which allows us to gather dynamic social network measurements. We collected tweets before, during, and after the 2012 Presidential election and analyze the content to see if we can predict how people will vote. We are able to identify how these individuals ‘should’ vote based on their ideological, lexicographic profile. We use lexicographical analysis to check if ideological key words are present in a user’s tweets and if the overall sentiment on this issue was positive or negative. We utilize this data to determine how people should have voted. These results may conflict with an individual’s verbal declaration of political ideology. We are able to determine what percentage of the population voted correctly in the last election. Additionally, we examine the social network structure in Twitter and how it aects voting. We show that an individual’s political ideology is influenced by others in their network.
Cell-matrix mechanobiology: Applications to brain tumors and design of tissue engineering scaffolds

It is becoming increasingly clear that mechanical and other biophysical signals from the extracellular matrix (ECM) can powerfully influence a wide variety of fundamental cell behaviors, including proliferation, differentiation, death, and motility. This concept has significant implications both for understanding the pathophysiology of disease and the design of biointerfaces found in cellular microdevices and tissue engineering platforms. Here we briefly review recent progress from our laboratory in investigating the role of ECM-derived mechanical signals in the specific context of two systems: The growth and spread of malignant brain tumors and the design of microscale cardiac tissue engineering systems. In both cases, mechanical signals encoded in the ECM govern motility, mechanics, and/or proliferation in profound and unexpected ways and rely upon the cell’s reciprocal ability to generate contractile force through myosin and its molecular regulators.
Stripe-teeth metamaterial Al- and Nb-based rectennas (Presentation Recording)

Unlike a semiconductor, where the absorption is limited by the band gap, a “microrectenna array” could theoretically very efficiently rectify any desired portion of the infrared frequency spectrum (25 - 400 THz). We investigated vertical metal-insulator-metal (MIM) diodes that rectify vertical high-frequency fields produced by a metamaterial planar stripe-teeth Al or Au array (above the diodes), similar to stripe arrays that have demonstrated near-perfect absorption in the infrared due to critical coupling [1]. Using our design rules that maximize asymmetry (and therefore the component of the electric field pointed into the substrate, analogous to Second Harmonic Generation), we designed, fabricated, and analyzed these metamaterial-based microrectenna arrays. NbOx and Al2O3 were produced by anodization and ALD, respectively. Smaller visible-light Pt-NbOx-Nb rectennas have produced output power when illuminated by visible (514 nm) light [2]. The resonances of these new Au/NbOx/Nb and Al/Al2O3/Al microrectenna arrays, with larger dimensions and more complex nanostructures than in Ref. 1, were characterized by microscopic FTIR microscopy and agreed well with FDTD models, once the experimental refractive index values were entered into the model. Current-voltage measurements were carried out, showed that the Al/Al2O3/Al diodes have very large barrier heights and breakdown voltages, and were compared to our model of the MIM diode. We calculate expected THz-rectification using classical [3] and quantum [4] rectification models, and compare to measurements of direct current output, under infrared illumination. [1] C. Wu, et. al., Phys. Rev. B 84 (2011) 075102. [2] R. M. Osgood III, et. al., Proc. SPIE 8096, 809610 (2011). [3] A. Sanchez, et. al., J. Appl. Phys. 49 (1978) 5270. [4] J. R. Tucker and M. J. Feldman, Rev. of Mod. Phys. 57, (1985)1055.
Chromatin Modulation of Herpesvirus Lytic Gene Expression: Managing Nucleosome Density and Heterochromatic Histone Modifications

ABSTRACT Like their cellular hosts, herpesviruses are subject to the regulatory impacts of chromatin assembled on their genomes. Upon infection, these viruses are assembled into domains of chromatin with heterochromatic signatures that suppress viral gene expression or euchromatic characteristics that promote gene expression. The organization and modulation of these chromatin domains appear to be intimately linked to the coordinated expression of the different classes of viral genes and thus ultimately play an important role in the progression of productive infection or the establishment and maintenance of viral latency. A recent report from the Knipe laboratory (J. S. Lee, P. Raja, and D. M. Knipe, mBio 7:e02007-15, 2016) contributes to the understanding of the dynamic modulation of chromatin assembled on the herpes simplex virus genome by monitoring the levels of characteristic heterochromatic histone modifications (histone H3 lysine 9 and 27 methylation) associated with a model viral early gene during the progression of lytic infection. Additionally, this study builds upon previous observations that the viral immediate-early protein ICP0 plays a role in reducing the levels of heterochromatin associated with the early genes.
Experimental evaluations of sequential adaptive processing for fetal electrocardiograms (ECGs)

Previously published results demonstrated that a sequential combination of adaptive linear prediction (LPC), adaptive noise cancellation (ANC), and IIR comb filtering (CF) can effectively remove maternal interference from noninvasive fetal ECGs. This paper presents experimental results to show how LPC-ANC sequential processing can extract fetal signals from noninvasive abdominal measurements. Experimental results demonstrate how various combinations of time-domain and transform-domain adaptive filters can effectively extract the fetal component from noninvasive abdominal fetal ECG's. Experimental results also illustrate that sequential processing followed by single stage comb filtering and newly proposed adaptive comb filtering is an effective form of sequential processing.
Location Algorithm for and Error Analysis of MSSR Radio Interference Source

This paper lists the matrix equation based on the space coordinates and the time difference parameter from two monopulse secondary surveillance radars( MSSR) to locate the radio interference source accurately. The space coordinates of the radio interference source are acquired with the minimum norm solution in Euclid norm space.Two auxiliary space surfaces are located with the help of two radars' original video,two-dimensional planar localization algorithm and the introduced new azimuth angle concept. The error analysis and location discrimination are made,which shows that the location ambiguity can be eliminated by means of original video from mode S receiving processor.