cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Boosting functional hematolymphopoiesis in humanized mice

Comment on Lan et al, page [487][1] Enhancing human hematolymphopoiesis and especially T-lymphopoiesis remains an important goal for optimizing the current humanized immunodeficient mouse models. Yang's team reports an improved human fetal thymus/liver–implanted immunodeficient mouse model in
Performance of Screen Enclosures under Repeated Loading Cycles

AbstractAluminum screen enclosures suffer from significant damage in hurricanes. In an attempt to identify ways to minimize the damage to screen enclosures, experimental investigations were conducted to study how screen enclosures perform when they are subjected to repeated loading cycles. The loading cycles mimic gradually increasing hurricane winds, while considering the fluctuating nature of the wind. Three types of specimens were constructed and tested. Their overall geometry was the same but their bracing strategies were different. Three damage indices were used to analyze the data. Qualitative assessment and comparison of damage was also conducted. Overall, K-type bracing was most effective followed by cable bracing. Lack of bracing resulted in sudden failure. Beam-to-host connections were very critical in preventing catastrophic failure. Suggestions on how to improve beam-to-host connections are provided along with other measures to mitigate the damage on screen enclosures. Where feasible, the most...
TREATMENT OF ADVANCED CANCER OF THE CERVIX WITH TRANSPERINEAL INTERSTITIAL IRRADIATION

Abstract A pilot study using transperineal interstitial implantation to the parametrium in patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the cervix or with distorted anatomy is presented. Twenty-one consecutive patients (2 cervical stump Stage IB, 3 Stage IIB,15 Stage IIIB, 1 Stage IV,,) received one (12) or two (9) implants following 40–45 Gy whole pelvis external irradiation. In addition 8 patients underwent staging laparotomies concurrently with the first implant procedure. Control of the pelvic tumor was accomplished in 18 of 21 patients (85%) with a mean follow-up of 26 months (range 15 to 48 months). Seven patients (33%) developed long term complications (fistula 3, superficial necrosis of the vagina 1, severe proctitis or cystitis 3). Six of the complications occurred in 8 patients (75 % ) who had radioactive sources placed on the surface of the vaginal obturator as a substitute for the lack of tandem. In contrast, only I in the remaining 13 patients (8%) who did not have obturator sources placed, developed long term complications.
Atomic geometry of Ge(111) sqrt 3 x sqrt 3 R30 degrees-Ag determined by low-energy electron diffraction.

We have carried out a quantitative low-energy electron-diffraction intensity analysis of the Ge(111) \ensuremath{\surd}3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} \ensuremath{\surd}3 R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}-Ag structure. It is found that the Ag atoms arrange according to a honeycomb chained trimer model (HCT) similar to the situation of Si(111) \ensuremath{\surd}3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} \ensuremath{\surd}3 R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}-Ag. This result shows that the Ge-Ge bond is stronger than the Ag-Ag bond on the surface, thus causing the HCT structure to form.
A perturbation theory for solvation thermodynamics: Dipolar-quadrupolar liquids

The thermodynamics of solvation of a dipole in hard sphere solvents with dipoles and quadrupoles is studied by using the Pade approximation for the perturbation expansion of the solvation chemical potential and compared to Monte Carlo simulations. Solvation chemical potentials, energies, and entropies of solvation are obtained at different dipolar and quadrupolar solvent strengths. The effect of nonlinear solvation is analyzed and found not to exceed 10% in the parameter range studied. An agreement between the simulations and the analytical theory is obtained by an empirical rescaling of the triple perturbation integrals of the perturbation expansion. This rescaling does not, however, provide a quantitatively correct partitioning of the solvation free energy into the energy and entropy of solvation.
The rank of a graph after vertex addition

Abstract Let r(G) denote the rank of the adjacency matrix of a graph G. When a vertex and its incident edges are deleted from G, the rank of the resultant graph cannot exceed r(G) and can decrease by at most 2. The problem of determining the exact effect of adding a single vertex to a graph is more difficult, since the number of edges that can be added with this vertex is variable. The rank of the new graph cannot decrease and it can increase by at most 2. We obtain results examining several cases of vertex addition.
A genetically engineered mosquitocidal cyanobacterium

Larvae of the mosquitoAedes aegypti ingested, and developed into adults, on a diet of 1O of 14 different species of cyanobacteria includingAgmenellum quadruplicatum PR-6 (=Synechococcus PCC7002). Mosquito larvae ingested and grew on cells of PR-6 adapted to growth in the absence of NaCl. ThecryIVD gene ofBacillus thuringiensis var.israelensis was cloned into a PR-6 expression vector to form pAQRM56, which was transformed into PR-6. Expression of the CryIVD protein in PR-6 was demonstrated by immunocytochemistry and larvicidal activity. Immunogold labelling indicated production of an electron-dense material among the thylakoid membranes of PR-6. Cells of PR-6 carrying pAQRM56 were toxic to the larvae ofA. aeqypti whereas control cells were not. Growth of PR-6 cells carrying pAQRM56 was slower than the growth of control cells and these cells were also larger.
Ascorbic Acid and Protein Content of Potatoes in Relation to Tuber Anatomy

Localization of the nutrients ascorbic acid and protein in the tuber was investigated. Katahdin, Norking Russet, and Shepody potato cultivars were used in this study. Cortex and pith areas were compared for ascorbic acid and protein content. Ascorbic acid of all the three cultivars was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the pith than in the outer cortex region and the protein content was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the cortex than the pith area. The pith region was significantly (p<0.05) higher in nonprotein nitrogen than the cortex area. Since only 2% of the protein content of the entire tuber was located in the peel, peeling the tuber did not cause a significant loss of protein.
Coherent Stacking of Crosswell Prestack Migrated Sections

I present a stacking method that estimates and partially corrects the mispositioning errors of crosswell migrated reflections in common image gathers. Such errors can result in an incoherent summation of images and a subsequent deterioration in the quality of the stacked migrated section. The technique is based on the crosswell migration residual moveout equation and it sums up the prestack images along lines of maximum coherency. Numerical results show that the coherent stacking can partially correct the mispositioning errors of images and, therefore, it can be a useful tool in subsurface imaging.
The Military—A Systematic Analysis

The military personality, then, is a contrasting duality, conditioned in the military environment and expressed differentially according to the role of dominance or subordination that is appropriate in given situations. The military regimen is calculated to cultivate the formation of an ideal soldierly type which will fall into the appropriate patterns without disorganizing effects upon the self or upon the organization. A question logically suggested is whether there might be a transfer of the dual personality characteristics of the military person to his social relationships in civilian society, in situations analogous in fact but without the peculiarly military aura. Is the "psychosis" cured in a different medium? The implications for study of civilian readjustments in business and the professions, in voluntary organizations, and in the conduct of personal relations are clear. By the very nature of the tradition-ridden military hierarchy, deference and subordination of individuality are fostered. Regard for individuality and personality is not a virtue of the military. Deprivation of certain egoistic values is a price the career soldier must pay. Buttressing the stratified arrangement is an elaborate ritual which is learned early and constantly reinforced and reemphasized, and which becomes a part of soldierly equipment with sanctions of its own. Add the imposed routine and standardization characteristic of the military and the cult of discipline is complete.
TRANSKINGDOM TRANSFER OF THE PHOSPHOGLUCOSE ISOMERASE GENE

Previous analysis of the gene encoding phosphoglucose isomerase (Pgi) suggests that this gene may have been transferred between a eukaryote and a bacterium. However, excluding the alternative hypothesis of ancient gene duplication has proven difficult because of both insufficient sampling of taxa and an earlier misidentification of a bacterialPgi sequence. This paper presents a phylogenetic analysis of published completePgi sequences together with analysis of new partialPgi sequences from six species of bacteria. The data identify a group of bacterialPgi sequences, including sequences fromEscherichia coli andHaemophilus influenzae, which are more closely related to eukaryoticPgi sequences than to other bacterial sequences. The topology of gene trees constructed using several different methods are all consistent with the hypothesis of lateral gene transfer andnot ancient gene duplication. Furthermore, an estimate of a molecular clock forPgi dates the divergence of theE. coli andH. influenzae sequences from the animal sequences to between 470 and 650 million years ago, well after other estimates of the divergence between eukaryotes and bacteria. This study provides the most convincing evidence to date of the transkingdom transfer of a nuclear gene.
Reading, writing, filming, dreaming, dressing

A conversation with Mieke Bal, as recounted by longtime friend, Michael Ann Holly. Many subjects emerge along the way, both serious and light: about the state of the world, about the discipline of art history, about reading art and writing about seeing, about memories and past times.
Transport of leucine in the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis

The amino acid leucine was transported by the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis. The Km for transport was 10.8 μM; the Vmax was 8.7 nmoles min−1 mg−1 chlorophyll a. Transport of leucine was energy dependent: uptake of leucine was inhibited in the dark, and by DCMU and cyanide. Transport was neither dependent on nor enhanced by Na+. Prior growth of cells with leucine did not repress transport of [14C]-leucine. Alanine, glycine, valine, and methionine were strong competitive inhibitors of leucine uptake; serine, threonine, isoleucine, norleucine, and d-alanine competitively inhibited to a lesser degree. Other amino acids or amino acid analogues, including d-leucine, α-aminoisobutyrate, and d-serine did not inhibit the transport of leucine.
Darwin's and Wallace's Revolutionary Research Programme

AbstractResearch programmes are sets of problems preferred on epistemic grounds and including preferred heuristics for inquiry. Charles Lyell's research programme for biogeograpy includes the probl...
Zooming in on the Quark Gluon Plasma

Abstract Over the last thirty years, heavy ion experiments have recorded a wealth of data ranging from collisions of nuclei from S N N = 2 GeV up to the highest energy of 200 GeV as provided by the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, RHIC. It is at these high energies that the predictions of QCD come into play and new phenomena are sought that may illuminate our view of the basic structure of matter. Measurements at RHIC have revealed compelling evidence for the existence of a new form of nuclear matter at extremely high densities and temperatures. This medium allows for the predictions of QCD to be tested, and new phenomena explored, under conditions where the relevant degrees of freedom, over nuclear volumes, are expected to be those of quarks and gluons, rather than of hadrons. This is the realm of the quark gluon plasma. However, detailed analyses of the data also make it clear that this hot, dense medium has properties that are surprising, and not yet fully understood in terms of the early expectations for the quark gluon plasma. In this talk I give a brief review of the major findings and discuss the current understanding of the state of matter created.
Curious cases of 3,6-dinitropyrazolo[4,3-c]pyrazole-based energetic cocrystals with high nitrogen content: an alternative to salt formation

Two structurally interesting 3,6-dinitropyrazolo[4,3-c]pyrazole-based energetic cocrystals were prepared and confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. As novel energetic materials, these two unusual neutral acid-base complexes possess high nitrogen content, good detonation properties, and improved impact and friction sensitivities which highlight their potential energetic applications.
ΔMs = ±2 Transitions of Benzophenone and Derivatives in the Phosphorescent Triplet State via Fast-Scan Flash-Synchronized ESR:

ΔMs = ±2 transitions of benzophenone, p-hydroxybenzophenone, p-methyl-benzophenone, p-aminobenzophenone, benzyl, xanthane-9-one, fluorene-9-one, and thio-xanthane-9-one in EPA glass at 77 K were observed with a fast-scan flash-synchronized X-band ESR spectrometer. Instrumentation which may be useful in the observation of ΔMs = ±2 transitions in similar short-lived S≠O molecules is discussed.
Accurate techniques to evaluate CDMA bit error rates in multipath channels with imperfect power control

In this paper, a simplified expression for the improved Gaussian approximation (SEIGA) is presented for accurately evaluating direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) bit error rates in multipath channels and systems with imperfect power control. Previous techniques for evaluating bit error rate performance of these systems can lead to overly optimistic results under a variety of conditions, particularly when directional or adaptive antennas are used at the base station. In this paper, we demonstrate the accuracy of these new techniques for evaluating bit error rates in both narrowband and wideband multipath channels and illustrate these techniques by providing a system example in which adaptive antennas are applied to CDMA cellular radio systems.
The derivation and use of biosynthetic incorporation and dilution values

Abstract Mathematical expressions governing incorporation and dilution values in a simple, three component biosynthetic system are established and used to track the influence of pathway structure and sampling time on the numerical value of these parameters. A more productive manner of using the incorporation concept is suggested.
The amount eaten in meals by humans is a power function of the number of people present

The influence of social factors on the eating behaviors of humans was investigated by paying 153 adults to maintain 7-day diaries of everything they ingested and the number of other people present. Over 3800 meals were separated according to the number of other people present at the meal. Meal size, macronutrient composition, and the deprivation ratio was found to increase while the satiety ratio decreased as a function of the number of people present in a fashion best described by a power function. Meal duration and the rate of intake were best described as linear functions of the number of people present. Meals eaten in large groups were over 75% larger than when eaten alone. The findings suggest that social facilitation of naturally occurring meal intake by humans is an extremely potent influence on intake that is an instance of a very general phenomenon governing many forms of behavior.
Measuring study time distributions: Implications for designing computer-based courses

In both traditional lecture-test courses and courses delivered over the World-Wide Web (WWW), both beginning and experienced college students reported studying almost exclusively just before exams. Automatic measures (computer records, WWW page hits, and electronic mail archives) confirmed the self-reported distributions of study times. Weekly deadlines produced weekly volleys of taking on-line quizzes, a pattern that was reflected in self-reports of study times. However, on-line study materials were used primarily for review for regularly scheduled in-class exams. Thus, regardless of course format, students engaged in massed practice and did not experience study aids at appropriate times. Computer technology provides new forms of learning for students, as well as opportunities for instructors to observe patterns of student study time. Management of instructional contingencies will be necessary to bring students into contact with the rich cognitive aids enabled by technology.
Women’s concerns about the emotional impact of awareness of heritable breast cancer risk and its implications for their children

Women tested for mutations in BRCA1/2 genes who have minor-aged children confront difficult decisions about if, when, and how to share information about hereditary cancer risk with their children. These choices are often seemingly influenced by how mothers anticipate the emotional burdens they and their children will experience in response to test results. Here, we investigate the association between maternal cognitions, pretest psychological well-being, and coping style with mothers’ anticipated emotional reactions to learning that they are BRCA1/2 mutation carriers (N = 205). In a linear regression model adjusted for maternal demographics, stronger tendencies to ruminate about information (B = .14, p = .03), greater psychological strain (B = .14, p < .001), and poorer appraisals of one’s ability to cope with genetic test results conveying increased breast cancer risk information (B = −.25, p < .001) were significantly associated with anticipating more negative affect surrounding BRCA1/2 mutation identification in mothers. Our data contribute to the growing awareness of special concerns that mothers have about knowing their BRCA1/2 mutation status and highlight the need for more tailored patient education and counseling resources to improve outcomes among women at risk and their children.
Directional Abnormalities of Vestibular and Optokinetic Responses in Cerebellar Disease

Directional abnormalities of vestibular and optokinetic responses in patients with cerebellar degeneration are reported. Three-axis magnetic search-coil recordings of the eye and head were performed in eight cerebellar patients. Among these patients, examples of directional cross-coupling were found during (1) high-frequency, high-acceleration head thrusts; (2) constant-velocity chair rotations with the head fixed; (3) constant-velocity optokinetic stimulation; and (4) following repetitive head shaking. Cross-coupling during horizontal head thrusts consisted of an inappropriate upward eye-velocity component. In some patients, sustained constant-velocity yaw-axis chair rotations produced a mixed horizontal-torsional nystagmus and/or an increase in the baseline vertical slow-phase velocity. Following horizontal head shaking, some patients showed an increase in the slow-phase velocity of their downbeat nystagmus. These various forms of cross-coupling did not necessarily occur to the same degree in a given patient; this suggests that different mechanisms may be responsible. It is suggested that cross-coupling during head thrusts may reflect a loss of calibration of brainstem connections involved in the direct vestibular pathways, perhaps due to dysfunction of the flocculus. Cross-coupling during constant-velocity rotations and following head shaking may result from a misorientation of the angular eye-velocity vector in the velocity-storage system. Finally, responses to horizontal optokinetic stimulation included an inappropriate torsional component in some patients. This suggests that the underlying organization of horizontal optokinetic tracking is in labyrinthine coordinates. The findings are also consistent with prior animal-lesion studies that have shown a role for the vestibulocerebellum in the control of the direction of the VOR.
Emetic Exposure and Desensitization Procedures in the Reduction of Nausea and a Fear of Emesis

An emetic syrup was titrated according to a reduction schedule to recreate graduated levels of nausea in the exposure of a 34-year-old female who developed the fear of nausea and emesis (vomiting) after vomiting on stage during a piano recital. In this particular case, the patient was taught breathing retraining and anxiety-reduction techniques such as double swallowing, in addition to some imagery as a desensitization procedure to avoid reacting to nausea by vomiting. Results in similar case designs suggest that, at times, artificial methods such as the above may be used to create variations of a situation that cannot always be duplicated through pure imaginal exposure or during in vivo exposure, especially when the stimulus involves certain physiological responses such as a gastric regurgitation. A 2-year follow-up yielded no indication of relapse and a full return to prebaseline status.
Microfabricated electrochemical analysis system for heavy metal detection

A low power, hand-held system has been developed for the measurement of heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions. The system consists of an electrode array sensor, a high performance single chip potentiostat and a microcontroller circuit. The sensor is a microfabricated array of iridium electrodes, onto which a thin film of mercury is electroplated. Quantitative heavy metal analysis is performed using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Measured results show a one part-per-billion sensitivity and multiple use capability.
Burns in men secondary to spouse abuse.

A retrospective study of adult patients admitted to the burn center identified 61 male patients who claimed their injury to be secondary to spouse abuse. This may not be a true prevalence, because there may be many more unidentified cases. Few data are available concerning male spouse abuse in literature. Increased awareness is necessary to identify these patients for adequate psychosocial rehabilitation and to prevent a second injury. Language: en
Leisure Satisfaction and Psychologic Weil‐Being in Old Age: Effects of Health and Income*

From a study (probability sampling methods) of the response of 74 older adults residing in a high-rise pbulic housing complex, it was concluded that the association between leisure satisfaction and psychologic well-being is substantial and seems relatively unaffected by self-rated levels of health and income.
Production of hydroxy fatty acids from unsaturated fatty acids byFlavobacterium sp. DS5 hydratase, a C‐10 positional‐ andcis unsaturation‐specific enzyme

A new microbial isolate,Flavobacterium sp. DS5, converted oleic and linoleic acids to their corresponding 10-keto-and 10-hydroxy fatty acids. The hydration enzyme seems to be specific to the C-10 position. Conversion products from α- and γ-linolenic acids were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance as 10-hydroxy-12(Z),15(Z)-octadecadienoic and 10-hydroxy-6(Z),12(Z)-octadecadienoic acids, respectively. Products from other 9(Z)-unsaturated fatty acids also were identified as their corresponding 10-hydroxy- and 10-keto-fatty acids.Trans unsaturated fatty acid was not converted. From these results, it is concluded that strain DS5 hydratase is indeed a C-10 positional-specific andcis-specific enzyme. DS5 hydratase prefers an 18-carbon monounsaturated fatty acid. Among the C18 unsaturated fatty acids, an additional double bond at either side of the 9,10-position lowers the enzyme hydration activity. Because hydratases from other microbes also convert 9(Z)-unsaturated fatty acids to 10-hydroxy fatty acids, the C-10 positional specificity of microbial hydratases may be universal.
Sabadilla alkaloids VII. Sabatine and its alkamine sabine

A corrected molecular formula is proposed for the monoacetate alkaloid sabatine, C 29 H 47–49 O 8 N, and its alkamine sabine, C 27 H 45 O 7 N. It has been shown that sabine neither isomerizes nor possesses the masked α-ketol system present in other highly oxygenated alkamines isolated from Sabadilla or from other Veratrum species.
Scanning Electron Microscopy of Blue Cheese: Mold Growth during Maturation

Abstract Commercial Blue cheese loaves were prepared for scanning electron microscopy at 5, 13, 21, 55, and 65 days of maturation. The internal structure at 5 days appeared to be markedly porous and to contain many crevices. Some conidia were ungerminated at this stage. At 13 days most of the conidia had germinated, and the mycelia followed existing openings in the curd structure. Dense masses of mycelia supporting enumerable spores characterized 21-day-old cheese. These mycelial masses appeared to have undergone extensive degeneration during additional ripening for 34 and 44 days. Some of the morphological and structural developments appeared to coincide roughly with the appearance of certain measures of quality that are related to the timing of various manufacturing events.
“Nauseating” Displays of Loyalty: Monitoring the Factional Bargain through Ideological Campaigns in China

Autocrats, as factional patrons, only find out the true loyalty of clients during a serious political challenge, when they are least able to enforce the factional bargain. In autocracies with norms against cults of personalities, public, exaggerated praises may constitute an alternative way for clients to signal loyalty credibly. By suffering the social cost of being despised by others, sycophants credibly signal their affinity to a particular leader, thus deterring factional rivals from recruiting them into an alternative coalition. This article develops a measure of such “nauseating” displays of loyalty in China through content analysis of provincial newspapers between 2000 and 2004. OLS and PCSE estimations are used to inquire whether provincial faction members were more likely to echo an ideological campaign launched by their patron. Further analysis explores whether faction members in rich and poor localities echoed the campaign in different ways. The findings suggest that ideological campaigns funct...
Genome scale transcriptome analysis of shoot organogenesis in Populus

Background: Our aim is to improve knowledge of gene regulatory circuits important to dedifferentiation, redifferentiation, and adventitious meristem organization during in vitro regeneration of plants. Regeneration of transgenic cells remains a major obstacle to research and commercial deployment of most taxa of transgenic plants, and woody species are particularly recalcitrant. The model woody species Populus, due to its genome sequence and amenability to in vitro manipulation, is an excellent species for study in this area. The genes recognized may help to guide the development of new tools for improving the efficiency of plant regeneration and transformation. Results: We analyzed gene expression during poplar in vitro dedifferentiation and shoot regeneration using an Affymetrix array representing over 56,000 poplar transcripts. We focused on callus induction and shoot formation, thus we sampled RNAs from tissues: prior to callus induction, 3 days and 15 days after callus induction, and 3 days and 8 days after the start of shoot induction. We used a female hybrid white poplar clone (INRA 717-1 B4, Populus tremula × P. alba) that is used widely as a model transgenic genotype. Approximately 15% of the monitored genes were significantly up-or down-regulated when controlling the false discovery rate (FDR) at 0.01; over 3,000 genes had a 5-fold or greater change in expression. We found a large initial change in expression after the beginning of hormone treatment (at the earliest stage of callus induction), and then a much smaller number of additional differentially expressed genes at subsequent regeneration stages. A total of 588 transcription factors that were distributed in 45 gene families were differentially regulated. Genes that showed strong differential expression included components of auxin and cytokinin signaling, selected cell division genes, and genes related to plastid development and photosynthesis. When compared with data on in vitro callogenesis in Arabidopsis, 25% (1,260) of up-regulated and 22% (748) of down-regulated genes were in common with the genes regulated in poplar during callus induction. Conclusion: The major regulatory events during plant cell organogenesis occur at early stages of dedifferentiation. The regulatory circuits reflect the combinational effects of transcriptional control and hormone signaling, and associated changes in light environment imposed during dedifferentiation.
Tracking of Time-Varying Number of Moving Targets in Wireless Sensor Fields by Particle Filtering

In this paper, we consider tracking time-varying number of targets which move along a two-dimensional area monitored by a network of wireless sensors. We propose a novel fusion algorithm based on particle filtering that accounts for both detection of the number of active targets in the field and estimation of their positions and velocities. The method uses measurements collected by acoustic sensors, where the measurements represent superposition of received powers of signals transmitted by the targets. Computer simulations are provided to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method in scenarios with zero, one, and two targets.
High Resolution 2-D Imaging with Spectrally Thinned Wideband Waveforms

A research program is under way at the Valley Forge Research Center to demonstrate that a unique form of pulse compression (when combined with techniques developed at VFRC for improved angular resolution) allows the presentation of high resolution two-dimensional images from a low bandwidth radar system. The pulse compression system provides the required improvement in the range resolution, and ISAR with adaptive beamforming for self-calibration purposes is used to achieve high resolution in azimuth. This technique was successfully demonstrated at VFRC many years ago [1].
Mechanical design of a distal arm exoskeleton for stroke and spinal cord injury rehabilitation

Robotic rehabilitation has gained significant traction in recent years, due to the clinical demonstration of its efficacy in restoring function for upper extremity movements and locomotor skills, demonstrated primarily in stroke populations. In this paper, we present the design of MAHI Exo II, a robotic exoskeleton for the rehabilitation of upper extremity after stroke, spinal cord injury, or other brain injuries. The five degree-of-freedom robot enables elbow flexion-extension, forearm pronation-supination, wrist flexion-extension, and radial-ulnar deviation. The device offers several significant design improvements compared to its predecessor, MAHI Exo I. Specifically, issues with backlash and singularities in the wrist mechanism have been resolved, torque output has been increased in the forearm and elbow joints, a passive degree of freedom has been added to allow shoulder abduction thereby improving alignment especially for users who are wheelchair-bound, and the hardware now enables simplified and fast swapping of treatment side. These modifications are discussed in the paper, and results for the range of motion and maximum torque output capabilities of the new design and its predecessor are presented. The efficacy of the MAHI Exo II will soon be validated in a series of clinical evaluations with both stroke and spinal cord injury patients.
The Importance of Health Literacy in Patient Education

Low health literacy has a negative impact on a patient's health status and use of the health care system. Patients with low health literacy levels cannot make decisions regarding their health care or follow instructions on medications and health maintenance behaviors. It is the health care provider's responsibility to ensure that patients with low health literacy levels are identified and measures are taken to ensure those patients understand their options and instructions. To educate these patients, health care providers need to develop resources that are easily understood and interview skills that can ensure patient comprehension. This review discusses the prevalence of health literacy and its impact on patients and the health care system, and provides recommendations for creating supplemental literature at the appropriate level. The use of these tools and improved physician interview skills will establish a better physician/patient relationship and continue to encourage patient participation in the hea...
Herd behaviour in the Turkish banking sector

This study looks for evidence of investor herding in the Turkish banking sector. We apply the methodology of Chang et al. (2000) to daily stock returns between 2007 and 2012 and find evidence of herding. This result is robust under model specifications that control for market and firm fundamentals. Herding behaviour shows asymmetric effects, and investors herd only in rising markets.
Filament assembly properties of the sarcomeric myosin heavy chain.

Abstract Meat is the edible muscle tissue of animals. The sarcomere is the fundamental functional unit of muscle. Growth and development of muscle is accomplished by the highly ordered accretion and assembly of the constituent proteins in the sarcomere. Primary amino acid sequence elements of the constitutive proteins carry the information necessary for determining the final architecture of the sarcomere. The mechanisms by which the constitutive proteins are assembled and function together to form the sarcomere and produce muscle contraction is just now beginning to be understood. The predominant protein in the sarcomere, found in the thick filament system, is myosin. In physiological buffers purified myosin spontaneously assembles into a synthetic thick filament with a dramatic resemblance to the native thick filament. Some of the amino acid sequence elements contributing to myosin's assembly properties may also be critical to myosin's solubility function, which is so crucial to the manufacture of high quality prepared meat products. This review summarizes recent experimental results contributing to our understanding of the mechanism of sarcomeric muscle myosin assembly.
American Orientalism and American Exceptionalism: A Critical Rethinking of US Hegemony

In this essay, we argue that critical International Relations (IR) scholars must consider American Orientalism in tandem with American Exceptionalism in order to better understand US identity, foreign policymaking, and hegemony. We claim that American Exceptionalism is a particular type of American Orientalism, a style of thought about the distinctions between the “West” and the “East” that gives grounding to the foundational narrative of “America.” While Exceptionalism and Orientalism both deploy similar discursive, ontological, and epistemological claims about the “West” and its non-western “Others,” Exceptionalism is also rooted specifically in American political thought that developed in contradistinction to Europe. As such, we demonstrate that different logics of othering are at work between the West and the non-West, and among Western powers. We implore critical IR scholars to interrogate how the United States and Europe alternatively collude and clash in wielding normative power over their non-Western Others. We claim such research is important for exploring the staying power of American hegemony and understanding the implications of European challenges to American foreign policy, particularly given recent concerns about a so-called transatlantic divide.
Determination of Vessel Cross-Sectional Area by Thresholding in Radon Space:

The cross-sectional area of a blood vessel determines its resistance, and thus is a regulator of local blood flow. However, the cross-sections of penetrating vessels in the cortex can be non-circular, and dilation and constriction can change the shape of the vessels. We show that observed vessel shape changes can introduce large errors in flux calculations when using a single diameter measurement. Because of these shape changes, typical diameter measurement approaches, such as the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) that depend on a single diameter axis will generate erroneous results, especially when calculating flux. Here, we present an automated method--thresholding in Radon space (TiRS)--for determining the cross-sectional area of a convex object, such as a penetrating vessel observed with two-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM). The thresholded image is transformed back to image space and contiguous pixels are segmented. The TiRS method is analogous to taking the FWHM across multiple axes and is more robust to noise and shape changes than FWHM and thresholding methods. We demonstrate the superior precision of the TiRS method with in vivo 2PLSM measurements of vessel diameter.
Benefits and Risks of Blood Transfusion in Surgical Patients

This article attempts to put into a risk-related perspective modern red blood cell (RBC) transfusion therapy. When making the decision to transfuse, RBCs or blood products, it is important to weigh the risks and benefits of the proposed therapy. It is equally important to evaluate the risk of not transfusing and the morbidity and mortality associated with that decision. After nearly a century of use, RBC transfusions continue to be associated with a variety of risks. Although the initial risks of mismatch and infectious disease transmission are ever decreasing, new risk considerations, particularly immunosuppression, are being uncovered. Because of the nearly universal worldwide fear of transfusion-related transmission of infectious disease a more conservative transfusion policy has generally taken hold. Transfusion avoidance philosophies and then increased use of autologous RBCs have become commonplace. This article puts a decision-oriented slant on the risk and benefit of transfusion therapy. The issues behind the inability to discern a defined benefit as well as a commentary on the newly perceived risks is provided. Overall, when increased oxygen delivery is required, the addition of RBCs has an apparent survival benefit in some specific patients. In these patients the risk of transfusion-related complication is minimized compared to the mortality outcome. For cancer and trauma patients, if transfusion is immunosuppressive and therefore detrimental, alternatives must be considered. The newest question is whether the act of transfusion, independent of the form, allogeneic or autologous, is of itself immunosuppressive.
A prospective randomized trial of two popular mononuclear cell collection sets for autologous peripheral blood stem cell collection in multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: The COBE Spectra AutoPBSC collection set (AUTO-kit; CaridianBCT) is a popular dual-stage collection set for peripheral blood progenitor (PBPC) collection. Although the AUTO-kit is purportedly equivalent to the white blood cell (WBC) collection set (WBC-kit) for PBPC collection, improved CD34 yields after switching from the AUTO-kit to the WBC-kit were anecdotally observed, particularly in patients with higher WBC counts. A prospective, randomized trial of the AUTO- and WBC-kits for PBPC collection in multiple myeloma (MM) patients was therefore designed. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixty-eight MM patients were prospectively randomly assigned to either the WBC-kit or the AUTO-kit for PBPC collection. Primary study variables included the number of leukapheresis procedures per transplant, CD34/kg yield per procedure, and cumulative CD34/kg yield per mobilization cycle. Results were compared relative to collection kit and mobilization regimen. Statistics and graphics were performed with commercial software. RESULTS: CD34/kg yields were higher with the WBC-kit, with 94% of chemotherapy-mobilized MM patients collecting 6 million CD34/kg in a single mobilization (p = 0.06). The WBC-kit also had a faster CD34 collection rate relative to peripheral CD34 counts. The AUTO-kit was significantly sensitive to high WBC counts, with a 50% decrease in CD34 collection efficiency and CD34 collection rate. This effect was specific to MM and not observed in lymphoma patients. Granulocyte–colony-stimulating factor mobilization and the AUTO-kit were associated with an increased incidence and severity of infusion reactions. CONCLUSIONS: The WBC-kit performed consistently better than the AUTO-kit for PBPC collection in chemotherapy-mobilized MM patients, with fewer procedures per mobilization, superior collection rates, and a decreased incidence of infusion reactions.
The protein network as a tool for finding novel drug targets.

Proteins are often referred to as the molecular workhorses of the cell since they are responsible for the majority of functions within a living cell. From the generation of energy, to the replication of DNA, proteins play a central role inmost cellular functions. Because of their importance to cellular viability, proteins are commonly the target of therapeutic drugs, ranging from antimicrobial to anticancer drugs. With the rise of drug resistant and multi-drug resistant forms of many diseases, it has become increasingly important to develop new strategies to identify alternative drug targets. One such strategy arises from the analysis of protein networks. Protein networks help define individual proteins within the context of all other cellular proteins. In this chapter we discuss methods for the identification and analysis of genome-wide protein networks, and discuss how protein networks can be used to aid the identification of novel drug targets.
The Brain Prize 2011: From Microcircuit Organization to Constellations of Brain Rhythms

The Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Foundation awarded the inaugural Brain Prize 2011 to Peter Somogyi, Tamas Freund and Gyorgy Buzsaki ‘for their wide-ranging, technically and conceptually brilliant research on the functional organization of neuronal circuits in the cerebral cortex, especially in the hippocampus, a region that is crucial for certain forms of memory’. The present article highlights key findings and major conceptual contributions by these three scientists that were recognized by the award.
The outlook in business and related fields

A bachelor's degree is required for many high-wage jobs, but the community college has an important role to play as an entry and reentry point for a growing number of occupations.
Effect of semen sampling frequency on concentrations of zidovudine and male genital tract glandular markers, fructose, PSA, and sperm count

The study of antiretroviral drugs in semen is of interest in understanding the relationship between drug concentration and HIV transmission/resistance risk. The ability to sample semen more frequently than the traditional 48–72 hr interval would greatly facilitate these PK studies. We studied the effect of sampling interval on semen drug concentration. Six healthy subjects received continuous IV infusions of zidovudine (ZDV) to maintain steady state and exclude blood concentration as an experimental variable. ZDV concentration was measured in paired semen and blood samples collected at diminishing time intervals (48, 24, 12, 8, 4, 2, 1 hrs) over a 5 day period. We also measured seminal volume, PSA, fructose, and sperm counts in semen. All parameters were tested for changes related to sampling interval. All but 1 subject submitted all 7 paired semen and blood samples. Zidovudine S:B ratios were not significantly different (p = 0.60) across sampling time intervals, but were highly variable, ranging from 1.33 to 20.7 (median 3.4). Semen volume and fructose concentration significantly decreased (p=0.003 and 0.001, respectively) at sampling intervals < 4 hrs. PSA and sperm counts did not change with sampling interval. We have shown that 1 hour sampling intervals are feasible. ZDV S:B ratios, while not affected by 1 hour sampling intervals, were so variable as to limit our ability to detect small changes. Fructose, a seminal vesicle marker, is decreased by sampling this frequently. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P15–P15; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.055
Anti-stress effects of dehydroepiandrosterone: protection of rats against repeated immobilization stress-induced weight loss, glucocorticoid receptor production, and lipid peroxidation.

Abstract In the present study, we have (i) examined the biological effects of repeated immobilization stress, and (ii) tested the hypothesis that the adrenal steroid hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an anti-stress hormone, using male Sprague–Dawley rats. Rats (N = 6) were divided into the following four groups: (i) control, (ii) repeated immobilization stress (2 hr daily, for 60 days), (iii) repeated immobilization stress (2 hr daily, for 60 days) plus daily i.p. administration of 5 mg DHEA/0.1 mL DMSO, and (iv) daily i.p. administration of 5 mg DHEA/0.1 mL DMSO alone. Results obtained showed that repeated immobilization stress resulted in a significant (25%) inhibition in body weight gain, a significant increase in adrenal weight, an increase in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the liver, thymus, and spleen, decreased plasma triglyceride levels, and increased lipid peroxidation in the liver and heart as compared with control unstressed animals. Interestingly, DHEA administration resulted in a significant reversal in stress-induced inhibition in body weight gain, adrenal weight, GR levels in liver, thymus, and spleen, and lipid peroxidation levels in the liver and heart. In addition, animals treated with DHEA alone without stress showed a significant (15%) inhibition in body weight gain and an almost 60% decrease in plasma triglyceride levels as compared with control unstressed animals. It is concluded that DHEA acts as an anti-stress hormone in rats, as shown in its antagonizing the effects of repeated immobilization stress on total body weight, adrenal weight, GR levels, and free radical generation.
Antigenic Property of Renal Cortex.

Summary1. Ten rabbits were treated with extracts of bloodfree rat kidneys. Eight of the sera obtained from these rabbits induced severe renal disease in rats, weighing 50-70 g, when injected in a dose of 0.19 to 1.2 cc.2. Nine rabbits were treated with extracts of renal cortex obtained from rats. Eight of the sera obtained from these rabbits induced severe renal disease in rats, weighing 50-70 g, when injected in a dose of 0.2-1.15 cc.3. Seven rabbits were treated with extracts of renal medulla obtained from rats. Only one of the sera obtained from these rabbits induced severe renal disease in rats weighing from 50-70 g when injected in a dose of 1.5-2.1 cc.4. It is concluded that the antigen of renal tissue is localised in the renal cortex.
Precision determination of energies of gamma rays in Sm 152 , Gd 152, 154, 155, 156 , Yb 170 , and Os 188

With the help of the bent-crystal gamma-ray diffraction spectrometer the energies of 13 gamma rays, most of them belonging to rotational levels, have been determined with high precision. Rotational parameters are presented for the nuclei of Sm152, Gd154, and Gd156. A complete level scheme is given for Gd155.
Synthetic Efforts toward the Isoindolinone Core of Muironolide A

Studies directed toward the isoindolinone core of muironolide A are described. An initial plan to implement an intramolecular Diels–Alder cycloaddition was thwarted by an undesired conjugate addition during the attempted preparation of the Diels–Alder substrate. A revised retrosynthetic analysis revealed a direct, albeit challenging, intermolecular Diels–Alder disconnection. Toward this end, a sterically hindered and electronically deactivated diene was utilized with N-phenylmaleimide to achieve a Diels–­Alder cycloaddition.