cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pseudoinfectious Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus: a New Means of Alphavirus Attenuation

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a reemerging virus that causes a severe and often fatal disease in equids and humans. In spite of a continuous public health threat, to date, no vaccines or antiviral drugs have been developed for human use. Experimental vaccines demonstrate either poor efficiency or severe adverse effects. In this study, we developed a new strategy of alphavirus modification aimed at making these viruses capable of replication and efficient induction of the immune response without causing a progressive infection, which might lead to disease development. To achieve this, we developed a pseudoinfectious virus (PIV) version of VEEV. VEE PIV mimics natural viral infection in that it efficiently replicates its genome, expresses all of the viral structural proteins, and releases viral particles at levels similar to those found in wild-type VEEV-infected cells. However, the mutations introduced into the capsid protein make this protein almost incapable of packaging the PIV genome, and most of the released virions lack genetic material and do not produce a spreading infection. Thus, VEE PIV mimics viral infection in terms of antigen production but is safer due to its inability to incorporate the viral genome into released virions. These genome-free virions are referred to as virus-like particles (VLPs). Importantly, the capsid-specific mutations introduced make the PIV a very strong inducer of the innate immune response and add self-adjuvant characteristics to the designed virus. This unique strategy of virus modification can be applied for vaccine development against other alphaviruses.
Recent developments in EUV reflectometry at the Advanced Light Source

In order to satisfy the metrology requirements of multilayer coatings for EUVL optics and masks, improvements have been made to the reflectometry beamline at the Advanced Light Source. The precision in determining multilayer peak reflectance and wavelength has been improved by reducing the measurement noise. The peak reflectance of a typical Mo/Si multilayer can now be measured with a precision of 0.08% rms (relative) and the centroid wavelength with a precision of 0.007% rms. It has now been possible to determine the contribution of scattered light to the spectral purity. Under the typical measurement conditions the scattered light accounts for about 1.3% of the incident beam. With an appropriate slit it is possible to reduce the scattered light to 0.25%. By correcting for the remaining scattered light, it is estimated that a reflectance accuracy of 0.1% (absolute) is obtained for a typical Mo/Si multilayer.
Impact of computerized dosing on eptifibatide-associated bleeding and mortality.

Objective The study aimed to determine the impact on eptifibatide-associated bleeding by implementing a computerized dosing algorithm in the cardiac catheterization suite. Background Excessive dosing of eptifibatide is associated with increased bleeding rates and hospital mortality. Although dosing adjustments based on renal function has been recommended, its implementation and clinical impact have not been assessed in daily practice. Methods A computerized algorithm was implemented in January 2006 to calculate appropriate eptifibatide infusion dose (1 μg kg −1 min −1 for creatinine clearance −1 min −1 for creatinine clearance ≥50 mL/min) using the Cockroft-Gault formula. All patients had hemoglobin measured before and the day after the procedure. Bleeding within 24 hours and mortality during hospitalization were compared in consecutive patients before and after implementation of the algorithm. Results A total of 334 patients qualified for inclusion (pre-algorithm n=91, post-algorithm n=243). There was an increase in the proportion of patients receiving recommended doses of eptifibatide dosing (74.7% pre-algorithm vs 97.5% post-algorithm, P ≤ .0001). Twenty-four–hour bleeding complications as classified using 3 major bleeding classification systems were reduced as was hospital mortality (4.4% vs 0%, P = .005). Packed red blood cell transfusion rates were similar between both groups (4.4% pre-algorithm vs 2.1% post-algorithm, P = .26). Conclusions In patients receiving eptifibatide in the catheterization laboratory before percutaneous coronary intervention, implementation of a computerized algorithm was associated with appropriate dosing and reduced bleeding and mortality.
Nucleotide Oligomerization and Binding Domain 2-Dependent Dendritic Cell Activation Is Necessary for Innate Immunity and Optimal CD8+ T Cell Responses to Influenza A Virus Infection

Nucleotide oligomerization and binding domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) are important in the innate immune response to viral infection. Recent findings have implicated NLRP3, NOD2, and NLRX1 as important players in the innate antiviral response, but their roles in the generation of adaptive immunity to viruses are less clear. We demonstrate here that NOD2 is critical for both innate and adaptive immune responses necessary for controlling viral replication and survival during influenza A virus (IAV) infection. Nod2−/− mice have reduced beta interferon (IFN-β) levels and fewer activated dendritic cells (DCs), and the DCs are more prone to cell death in the lungs of Nod2−/− mice during IAV infection. In agreement with the role for DCs in priming adaptive immunity, the generation of virus-specific CD8+ T cells and their activation and production of IFN-γ were lower in Nod2−/− mice. Furthermore, Nod2−/− DCs, when cocultured with T cells in vitro, have a lower costimulatory capacity. Thus, Nod2−/− DCs are unable to efficiently prime CD8+ T cells. These findings demonstrate that Nod2 is critical for the generation of both innate and adaptive immune responses necessary for controlling IAV infection. IMPORTANCE The innate immune system is the host's first line of defense against invading pathogens and is also necessary for alerting and activating T and B cells to initiate the adaptive immune response. We demonstrate here that the innate immune receptor NOD2 is required for the production of antiviral type I interferons and the activation and survival of dendritic cells that, in turn, alert T cells to the presence of influenza A virus infection. In mice that are missing NOD2, interferon levels are lower, and the CD8+ T cell response is impaired. As a result, the animals cannot control virus replication in their lungs as efficiently. This discovery helps us understand how the body naturally responds to virus infection and may help in the development of vaccines that use NOD2 to stimulate the CD8+ T cell response, thus providing better protection against influenza A virus infection.
A Field Trip to Plasticity

Our treasured individuality relies on the brain’s powerful capacity to adapt to environmental changes within limits imposed by an individual genetic blueprint. Even in the case of monozygotic twins who were reared together, the impact of the poorly defined “nonshared environment” results in visible behavioral differences. Now, Freund et al. show that, like monozygous twins, genetically identical mice can also develop unique personalities. The authors found that experience-based individuality in mice depended on active field exploration. Genetically identical mice that were allowed to wander freely through an enriched environment for 3 months displayed a significant increase in de novo hippocampal neurogenesis as compared with that of control mice. The latter process feeds the brain with freshly generated neurons that become integrated into neuronal networks and thereby increase brain plasticity—the organ’s ability to change as a result of experience. In a set of elegant experiments, Freund et al . showed a direct correlation between the broadness of exploration and the amount of neurogenesis in individual mice. This finding suggests that individual environmental experiences shape hippocampal connections according to individual needs and thereby ensure environmental adaptability over the mouse’s lifetime. Similar to the human twin studies, unfettered roaming in rich environments spurred the emergence of “behavioral individuality” (defined by the diversity of spatial exploration) and a mouse-specific “life space” (the area of an identical environment occupied most frequently by an individual mouse). Future studies are needed to define the molecular mechanisms that enable mice to translate life experiences into biological processes that contribute to hippocampal neurogenesis and brain plasticity. It is exciting to envision the existence of experience-induced ligands that, once identified, may help humans to maximize brain adaptation to the ever-increasing flow of information. J. Freund et al ., Emergence of individuality in genetically identical mice. Science 340 , 756–759 (2013). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/340/6133/756
Effects of growth factors and growth factor-extracellular matrix interactions on mouse trophoblast outgrowth in vitro.

A variety of cell types at the blastocyst implantation site produce growth factors that could play important role(s) in the implantation process. Recent evidence indicates that decidual cells and/or embryos produce transforming growth factor-a (TGFat), epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1). Furthermore, receptors for EGF, PDGF, and CSF-1 have been detected on embryonic and trophoblastic cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of these growth factors and possibly growth factor-extracellular matrix interactions on mouse blastocyst attachment and trophoblast outgrowth in vitro. Various dilutions of the growth factors TGF-a, EGF, PDGF, FGF, and CSF-1 were added to cultures of 5-day-old hatched blastocysts in fibronectin-coated plastic wells. Blastocysts were scored for attachment, trophoblast outgrowth, and surface area at 24, 48, and 72 h. Each of these growth factors significantly enhanced trophoblast outgrowth, and a cocktail containing all of the growth factors had a significantly stronger effect. PDGF and FGF, but no other growth factors, also enhanced trophoblast outgrowth following pulsatile incubation with the fibronectin matrix coating of the culture wells, indicating that interactions between these growth factors and extracellular matrix elements could influence implantation. This study suggests that various growth factors may play an important role in the implantation process, that synergistic effects may be obtained by combinations of growth factors, and that interactions between certain growth factors and extracellular matrix elements may be significant. Further characterization of the cells and factors involved in implantation events will contribute to the understanding of mechanisms underlying normal pregnancy and early abortion.
Arch corrector for conformal optical systems

This paper discusses a novel approach to correct conformal missile dome aberrations with the addition of unique correction elements. For purposes of this study, an elliptical conformal dome with a fineness ratio of 1.0 and an index of refraction of 1.7 is used. A rotationally symmetric element, referred to as a 'fixed corrector', is capable o f some correction for roll-nod or azimuth- elevation gimbaling schemes. A non-rotationally symmetric corrector, referred to as an 'arch corrector' is capable of correcting roll-nod gimbaled missile seekers. Both methods are compared and the performance in terms of aberrations versus gimbal angle are reported.
Global Transcriptome Analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi during Association with Human Neuroglial Cells

As adherence and entry of a pathogen into a host cell are key components to an infection, identifying the molecular mechanisms responsible for cellular association will provide a better understanding of a microbe's pathogenesis. We previously established an in vitro model for Borrelia burgdorferi infection of human neuroglial cells. To expand on our earlier study, we performed B. burgdorferi whole-genome expression analysis following a 20-hour infection of human neuroglial cells to identify borrelial genes that were differentially regulated during host-cell association compared with cultured Borrelia in cell-free medium. This study identifies several regulated genes, the products of which may be important mediators of cellular pathogenesis.
Identificar la sepsis demasiado tarde

Resumen La concienciacion de la campana sobre sepsis y la adherencia a las recomendaciones de la SSC siguen siendo un reto para muchos profesionales sanitarios, con resultados variables, pero los hospitales siguen notifi constantemente la reduccion de la mortalidad asociada a la sepsis con la adherencia a las directrices de la SSC 19,20 . Este estudio de un caso es probablemente muy similar a muchos de los cientos de miles de personas que murieron de sepsis en 2010. ?Habria supuesto alguna diferencia para esta paciente el seguimiento de las directrices de la SSC? Es dificil de saberlo a ciencia cierta, pero este caso ilustra la importancia de permanecer informado acerca de las ultimas investigaciones y directrices en materia de salud. Visite www.survivingsepsia.org para conocer mas acerca de las directrices para el tratamiento de la sepsis. ■
Scale-Invariant Registratiou of Monocular Endoscopic Images to CT-Scans for Sinus Surgery

We present a scale-invariant registration method for 3D structures reconstructed from a monocular endoscopic camera to pre-operative CT-scans. The presented approach is based on a previously presented method [2] for reconstruction of a scaled 3D model of the environment from unknown camera motion. We use this scaleless reconstruction as input to a PCA-based algorithm that recovers the scale and pose parameters of the camera in the coordinate frame of the CT scan. The result is used in an ICP registration method to refine the registration estimates.
Beaver Ponds: Resurgent Nitrogen Sinks for Rural Watersheds in the Northeastern United States

Beaver-created ponds and dams, on the rise in the northeastern United States, reshape headwater stream networks from extensive, free-flowing reaches to complexes of ponds, wetlands, and connecting streams. We examined seasonal and annual rates of nitrate transformations in three beaver ponds in Rhode Island under enriched nitrate-nitrogen (N) conditions through the use of N mass balance techniques on soil core mesocosm incubations. We recovered approximately 93% of the nitrate N from our mesocosm incubations. Of the added nitrate N, 22 to 39% was transformed during the course of the incubation. Denitrification had the highest rates of transformation (97-236 mg N m d), followed by assimilation into the organic soil N pool (41-93 mg N m d) and ammonium generation (11-14 mg N m d). Our denitrification rates exceeded those in several studies of freshwater ponds and wetlands; however, rates in those ecosystems may have been limited by low concentrations of nitrate. Assuming a density of 0.7 beaver ponds km of catchment area, we estimated that in nitrate-enriched watersheds, beaver pond denitrification can remove approximately 50 to 450 kg nitrate N km catchment area. In rural watersheds of southern New England with high N loading (i.e., 1000 kg km), denitrification from beaver ponds may remove 5 to 45% of watershed nitrate N loading. Beaver ponds represent a relatively new and substantial sink for watershed N if current beaver populations persist.
Computer Simulations of Dense Sphere Assemblies

Summary Results are presented from several numerical experiments done on dense sphere assemblies in three dimensions. The experiments are intended for comparison with physical experiments, described by Ishibashi and Chen (ref. 1) and the theoretical results of Jenkins (ref. 2). Periodic boundaries are used to eliminate boundary effects; the effect of sample size is studied in one series of tests, using linear contact stiffnesses. In another test series, contact stiffnesses are nonlinear, according to the Hertz theory. In general, numerical and physical results agree, except for the volume strain observed in a triaxial extension test: this discrepancy may indicate the presence of an initial fabric in the physical sample.
A Broader Look at Patent Royalties and Antitrust

It is well known in antitrust economics that competitors can rely on patent licensing with supracompetitive royalties as a surrogate for price fixing. This paper addresses a number of alternative situations in which patent royalty agreements may raise antitrust concerns, even if the royalty rate is ostensibly reasonable (implying the agreement is not transparently anticompetitive). First, a royalty may serve effectively as a vertical restraint, preventing the downstream firm from passing too much of the licensing value through to consumers, which may enhance joint profits. Second, licensing to a rival creates an "alignment effect" by giving the licensor a stake in its rival's success, thereby diminishing inter-party competition. This is the same problem that arises when a firm buys stock in a competitor. Consequently, even if the royalty rate is reasonable, the arrangement may reduce consumer welfare overall. Indeed, it creates essentially the same welfare tradeoff as horizontal merger: it engenders some procompetitive efficiencies, but it makes the market less competitive. Additionally, offsetting (i.e. reciprocal) license payments between competitors often warrant scrutiny even if each royalty appears individually reasonable. Even under cross-licensing, offsetting payments are generally unnecessary for the parties to reach a mutually-beneficial agreement, which is the relevant antitrust question. Instead, the practical effect of offsetting royalties is to replicate a collusive agreement to restrain consumer pass-through, ensuring the firms retain more of the licensing surplus. The results shed new light on the competitive impact of patent pools, which typically create widespread royalty offset and alignment between competing members, even if patents are complementary.
Early Man in Indonesia

The history of the discoveries of Early Man in Indonesia has been marked by bold speculations and surprising successes alternating with frustrated hopes and discouraging lulls from the time when the first explorer in search of his remains set foot on Java's soil. This explorer was Eugene Dubois. He came to the island in 1889 for the outspoken purpose of finding the “missing link” and—he found it. What particular considerations induced him to seek after such a creature—at this time rather an idea than a substantiality—on this seemingly forlorn outpost of the Asiatic continent, we do not know. Dubois never told what prompted, him to look for such a phantom in Indonesia. But the fact is that he quit his position at the Department of Anatomy of the University of Amsterdam and entered the military service of the Dutch colonies as a health officer. In April 1889, he was delegated to “extend his studies to the tertiary and diluvial fauna of Java.” From that year until 1895 Dubois explored all the localities known from earlier investigations to be particularly rich in fossil remains, and assembled from them a large collection of plants and animals.
Ventilation and the Response to Hypercapnia after Morphine in Opioid-naive and Opioid-tolerant Rats.

Background Opioid-related deaths are a leading cause of accidental death, with most occurring in patients receiving chronic pain therapy. Respiratory arrest is the usual cause of death, but mechanisms increasing that risk with increased length of treatment remain unclear. Repeated administration produces tolerance to opioid analgesia, prompting increased dosing, but depression of ventilation may not gain tolerance to the same degree. This study addresses differences in the degree to which chronic morphine (1) produces tolerance to ventilatory depression versus analgesia and (2) alters the magnitude and time course of ventilatory depression. Methods Juvenile rats received subcutaneous morphine for 3 days (n = 116) or vehicle control (n = 119) and were then tested on day 4 following one of a range of morphine doses for (a) analgesia by paw withdraw from heat or (b) respiratory parameters by plethysmography-respirometry. Results Rats receiving chronic morphine showed significant tolerance to morphine sedation and analgesia (five times increased ED50). When sedation was achieved for all animals in a dose group (lowest effective doses: opioid-tolerant, 15 mg/kg; opioid-naive, 3 mg/kg), the opioid-tolerant showed similar magnitudes of depressed ventilation (-41.4 ± 7.0%, mean ± SD) and hypercapnic response (-80.9 ± 15.7%) as found for morphine-naive (-35.5 ± 16.9% and -67.7 ± 15.1%, respectively). Ventilation recovered due to tidal volume without recovery of respiratory rate or hypercapnic sensitivity and more slowly in morphine-tolerant. Conclusions In rats, gaining tolerance to morphine analgesia does not reduce ventilatory depression effects when sedated and may inhibit recovery of ventilation.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disorder in adults worldwide. NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represent the hepatic manifestation of “metabolic syndrome.” NAFLD-related cirrhosis is becoming the most common cause of cirrhosis, a cause of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, and rarely intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The prevalence of NAFLD after age 75 tends to decrease perhaps due to early mortality from comorbid effects of the metabolic syndrome. Most people with NAFLD are asymptomatic. The majority of patients come to the clinician’s attention usually because of abnormal serum aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase. A minority of patients progress to NASH, cirrhosis, and even hepatoma. The diagnosis of NAFLD is made clinically, but NASH is a histological term. Presence of inflammatory cells, ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes, Mallory bodies and perivenular collagen deposition. The treatment is with lifestyle modification, weight reduction, and pharmacological agents. In addition to lipid-lowering agents, metformin, vitamins E and C and rosiglitazone, ursodeoxycholic acid, and pentoxifylline are suggested therapies.
Empirical Analysis of Technology Diffusion in the Biotechnology Sector in San Diego - Stage of Development and Licensing University Inventions by Start-Up and Established Firms

In this paper I analyze the correlation between the licensing activity by start-ups and established firms (mainly in the biotech sector) and the inventions’ stages of development. Using data from the San Diego region on licensing new technologies and a new variable to characterize the inventions, stage of development. I also study the correlation between this variable and two other outcomes: patenting activity and royalty generation. The decision of firms to license at various stages of development could be affected by comparative advantage principle or by asymmetry of information.The main results show that the established firms are more likely to license more advanced stage inventions, while start-up firms are more likely to license embryonic and early stage inventions. The results regarding the likelihood of royalty generations by start up and established firms across stages of development also follow a similar pattern. The findings could further the understanding of how technology diffusion process takes place in the biotechnology sector. In addition it has implication with regard to the process of firm creation process and management.
Osteogenesis imperfecta: a histometric analysis.

Sixteen patients, eight severely affected (osteogenesis imperfecta congenita), seven moderately (osteogenesis imperfecta tarda), and one mildly (no bone deformity) had iliac-crest biopsy specimens analyzed quantitatively to determine number of osteocytes, fractional areas of bone, length of resorption surface, and other histological parameters per area of the histological preparations. The osteocytes were profuse and the fractional areas of bone were diminished in all cases as compared with controls, and the findings correlated with the clinical severity of the disease. Patches of fiber bone were the only marked abnormality found in the mild case, although the parameters mentioned differed from normal controls significantly.
Research on Fault Diagnosis of Core Engines Based on Wavelet Analysis

The core engine,as core of aero-engine,has a complex structure and operates in an adverse environment. Great losses will result in case of its failure. From the point of view of wavelet analysis,this thesis analyzes shortcomings of traditional Fourier transformation and windowed Fourier transformation. Under consideration of the specific requirement on the fault diagnosis for core engines,it proposes some diagnosis methods based on fault frequency,frequency discontinuity point and feature vectors. The simulation result shows that wavelet analysis can withdraw weak fault feature signal timely and accurately. An overall solution of fault diagnosis of the core engine is given at the end.
Analysis of brucellosis monitor results in Anyang between 2004 and 2013

Objective This study was to find brucellosis epidemic factors in Anyang so as to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of brucellosis. Methods Statistical software SPSS16.0 and Excel were used to statistically analyze the monitoring results of brucellosis in the past 10 years. Results The brucellosis epidemic in Anyang was ascending with cases covering all counties. The majority of patients were farmers, more of males(χ2=261.85, P0.001), concentrated in the age between 40 to 60 years old. Cases occurred year around, and peaked in March ~ June which accounted for 51.13% of the whole year. There were redundant transmission routes, with direct contact as the major one. Conclusion Governments are suggested to pay more attention on brucellosis epidemic, promote the cooperation between departments, strengthen supervision and the implementation of animal quarantine and immunization measures, increase the monitoring of key population, and reinforce the professional team so as to reduce the incidence of brucellosis.
Fludarabine phosphate therapy in other lymphoid malignancies.

The promising results obtained with Fludara I.V. (fludarabine phosphate) treatment in the common indolent B-cell neoplasms have led to their further evaluation in other unusual B-cell malignancies, in Hodgkin's disease, and in T-cell diseases. A significant response rate has been found among patients with macroglobulinemic lymphoma, those with prolymphocytic leukemia or prolymphocytoid variant of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and those with mycosis fungoides. The limited therapeutic data in hairy-cell leukemia and in Hodgkin's disease are also interesting.
Driving technology innovation through social entrepreneurship at Prezi

Purpose – There has been a profound neglect in most of the literature dealing with social entrepreneurship on the relationship between social entrepreneurship and technological innovation. The purpose of this paper is to provide new insights into that relationship by using the case of Prezi, a Budapest, Hungary-based mission-driven software company. Design/methodology/approach – The research approach used for this paper is qualitative in nature and uses the case study methodology. Evidence was based on interpretative/qualitative interviews and direct observations. Findings – Using the example of Prezi, the authors show that social entrepreneurial activities and projects could act as an important innovation source for technology-based industries. Originality/value – The authors use the case of Prezi and describe several of Prezi’s socially driven projects and show how they influence those involved with the company to continuously innovate and solve problems that have positive impact in the community as wel...
Separation and Characterization of Phagocytes from Human Colon

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the separation and characterization of phagocytes from human colon. The availability of tissue depends upon the size and emphasis of the surgical service of the institution and may be unpredictable because of operating schedules and various clinical factors. The sizes of the resections vary and some are so small as to preclude adequate numbers of cells for separation. Counter streaming centrifugation provides satisfactory recovery and does not reduce viability. However, in comparative studies, elutriated cells demonstrate peak phagocytic activity earlier than unelutriated populations, suggesting a stimulatory effect of the centrifugation process. The chapter presents certain techniques for evaluating receptor expression and phagocytic capabilities of phagocyte suspensions in use reflecting functional integrity of the cell populations. The techniques of phagocyte separation from human colon mucosa are tedious and require careful attention to detail, but each individual step is relatively uncomplicated and uses methods available in most laboratories studying cell suspension. Flow cytometry is an extremely useful complementary tool with a number of broad applications. A number of changes in the elutriation procedure are possible, including variations in media density, double elutriations, and altering centrifugal force.
Upload Planning for Mobile Data Collection in Smart Community Internet-of-Things Deployments

In this paper, we develop effective solutions for enabling mobile sensing/data collection in community IoT deployments where sensing/communication coverage is intermittent and varying. Specifically, we address the optimized upload planning problem, i.e. determine optimal schedules for upload of gathered information to enable timely data collection in dynamic settings. We develop a two-phase approach and associated policies, where an initial upload plan is generated with prior knowledge of upload opportunities and data needs, and a subsequent runtime adaptation phase alters the plan based on dynamic network and data conditions. To validate our approach, we designed and built SCALECycle, a prototype mobile data collection platform and deployed it in real world community settings; measurements from testbeds in Rockville, MD and Irvine, CA are used to drive extensive simulations. Experimental results indicate that a judicious combination of policies in the two phases of upload planning (a balanced delay-opportunity-priority method with Lyapunov-inspired upload adaptation) can result in a 30-60% improvement in overall utility of collected data compared with opportunistic operation along with 30% reduction in collection delays /overheads.
Spatial variability of the surf zone fish and macroinvertebrate community within dissipative sandy beaches in Oregon, USA

Habitat heterogeneity can influence biological communities by providing a diversity of areas that can be occupied by different species. Sandy beach surf zones are often considered homogenous environments; however, sand bars moved by currents and waves can produce trench-like shapes or troughs that provide heterogeneity. The influence of habitat heterogeneity produced by sand movement is unclear despite the fact that surf zones are an important habitat for larval and juvenile fish and macrocrustaceans. To determine if, and how, the fish and macroinvertebrate communities present in trough and non-trough or flat areas of Oregon surf zones differ, we compared species assemblages in both areas at three beaches adjacent to estuary mouths over 2 years. Troughs had different communities compared with flat areas, with higher total catch (mean ± SD = 123.2 ± 122.1 versus 43.6 ± 44.5 individuals × 100 m−2) and taxon richness (6.7 ± 2.7 versus 4.0 ± 2.3 taxa); these differences were potentially due to water movement, prey availability and sediment size. The fish and macroinvertebrate communities did not vary between years but there were significant differences among beaches, with the most distinct community present at the only beach adjacent to an estuary without a jetty at its mouth, which was possibly due to higher species movement between the surf zones and estuary. Fish and macrocrustacean surf zone communities varied spatially within and among beaches in relation to habitat heterogeneity provided by sand movement and, potentially, the influence of adjacent habitats.
Ethnicity versus Race

Ethnicity versus race is a conceptual distinction between different criteria for classifying humans, the social processes that transform those criteria into social realities, and positions in a debate on the goals of ethnic/racial studies. Keywords: ethnicity; race; race and ethnicity; racism; sociological and social theory
Monsoon Revolution: Republicans, Sultans, and Empires in Oman, 1965–1976. By Abdel Razzaq Takriti. (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2013. Pp. xii, 340. $125.00.)

The author of this book is a specialist in revolutionary movements and political ideologies in the Arab World and their relationship to Afro‐Asian transnational trends. In this study, he seeks “his...
Large Regions of Uniparental Disomy (UPD) Establish Clonal Hematopoietic Stem Cell Selection in a Subset of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) Patients with Normal Bone Marrow Cell Karyotypes.

Abstract Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) comprise a large group of hematological diseases sharing clinical features, but the diverse mechanisms underlying their molecular pathogenesis remain largely undefined. In this study, we used high-density 250K SNP arrays to analyze matched constitutional (buccal) and whole bone marrow DNAs from 36 patients with MDS. In 14 cases, we also selected CD34+ stem and progenitor cells for comparison. 23 of the cases were cytogenetically normal. Whereas regions of genomic amplification were rare, we found distinct regions of heterozygous deletion in 9 patients, most frequently targeting chromosomes 5q, 7q, 17p and 20q. In one patient with a large heterozygous 5q deletion, a smaller region in 5q34 was homozygously lost. Based on genotyping we could identify regions of uniparental disomy (UPD) in 4 patients, three of whom had normal bone marrow karyotypes. Two of the regions of UPD targeted chromosome 7q, suggesting that the frequency of 7q deletion is underestimated by conventional cytogenetics, and that a mutation has occurred in these cases within the reduplicated region involved in UPD. Comparison with constitutional DNA was critical for accurate SNP analysis in MDS, allowing us to focus on acquired clonal abnormalities and control for changes due to inherited copy number variation or unusual regions of germline homozygosity. For example, one case had several large blocks of germline homozygosity distributed over various chromosomes, and by comparison with the buccal DNA we were able to discern that these regions did not result from clonal somatic abnormalities associated with MDS. The analysis of CD34+ cellular DNA in 14 cases revealed that all aberrations identified in the stem and progenitor fraction were also identified in whole bone marrow DNA. This finding emphasizes the dominance and stem cell involvement of the abnormal clone in MDS, which makes purification of CD34 cells unnecessary for SNP array analysis in this disease. Most, but not all, clonal deletions evident by cytogenetic analysis were detected as copy number alterations by SNP array, possibly indicating that such abnormalities occurred in subpopulations of the cytogenetically analyzed MDS cells. Thus, SNP array and cytogenetic analysis are complementary methods for the identification of abnormal clones in MDS patients, each detecting overlapping but distinct subsets of patients. Our data indicate that SNP array analysis should be performed in all patients with MDS and normal bone marrow cytogenetics, in order to help discriminate patients with UPD indicating cell autonomous clonal stem cell malignancy from those who might have extrinsically mediated bone marrow failure syndromes.
Transmission of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia mayonii in Relation to Duration of Attachment by Nymphal Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae).

The recently recognized Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia mayonii, has been detected in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis Say ticks and is associated with human disease in the Upper Midwest. Although experimentally shown to be vector competent, studies have been lacking to determine the duration of time from attachment of a single B. mayonii-infected I. scapularis nymph to transmission of spirochetes to a host. If B. mayonii spirochetes were found to be transmitted within the first 24 h after tick attachment, in contrast to Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes (>24 h), then current recommendations for tick checks and prompt tick removal as a way to prevent transmission of Lyme disease spirochetes would need to be amended. We therefore conducted a study to determine the probability of transmission of B. mayonii spirochetes from single infected nymphal I. scapularis ticks to susceptible experimental mouse hosts at three time points postattachment (24, 48, and 72 h) and for a complete feed (>72-96 h). No evidence of infection with or exposure to B. mayonii occurred in mice that were fed upon by a single infected nymph for 24 or 48 h. The probability of transmission by a single infected nymphal tick was 31% after 72 h of attachment and 57% for a complete feed. In addition, due to unintended simultaneous feeding upon some mice by two B. mayonii-infected nymphs, we recorded a single occasion in which feeding for 48 h by two infected nymphs resulted in transmission and viable infection in the mouse. We conclude that the duration of attachment of a single infected nymphal I. scapularis tick required for transmission of B. mayonii appears to be similar to that for B. burgdorferi: transmission is minimal for the first 24 h of attachment, rare up to 48 h, but then increases distinctly by 72 h postattachment.
Distributive Information Justice (And Its Limits)

In this chapter, I seek to go beyond contemporary theories of information privacy by subjective the standard information flow models to analysis from the perspective of justice. I examine two perspectives. At the least, one can see privacy as connected to justice instrumentally, that is, privacy is valuable not as a requirement of justice directly but because it is a useful means of justice. This is, I argue, hardly adequate as an entire theory of information justice but it is too easily given short shrift in discussions of privacy (especially by the wealthiest Silicon Valley titans who can protect their interests more directly). A more robust approach looks to theories of distributive justice. Theories of distribution that focus on the distributive process can address two significant weaknesses in information flow models of privacy, weak conceptions of informed consent and the inability to address the original acquisition of information. Pattern theories of distributive justice shift the focus from distributing information to distributing privacy rights, and provide significant insight into what it means to have rights to be left alone or forgotten. Each of these theories makes useful contributions to our understanding or privacy. But they are not wholly adequate to the task; for this, one needs to understand justice structurally as well as distributively.
Lattice-Mediated Magnetic Order Melting in Multiferroic Mott Insulators

One fascinating topic in the field of nonequilibrium dynamics concerns the manipulation and control of magnetic order using ultrashort laser pulses. This subject has rapidly improved in the last decade, due to its relevance for modern data storage and processing technology by Kirilyuk et al. (Rev Mod Phys 82(3):2731, 2010 [1]). The ultimate success of this research field is intimately related to the comprehension of the response that a specific magnetic material will exhibit upon the interaction with a tailored light pulse. Being able to predict the pathway followed by the energy and the angular momentum from the initial photons to the spin degrees of freedom can pave the route to the development of novel materials with superior functionalities.
Motor Coordination for Functional Human Behaviors: Perspectives From A Speech Motor Data Base

The term coordination , justifiably, is almost as common in discussions of motor systems as the word control In this vein, speech motor coordination provides a potential model system for examining this phenomenon. For speech and for most natural motor tasks, generating properly timed and measured multiple muscle contractions is a primary role of the motorsensory system. However, the understanding of the neurobiological processes underlying motor coordination has been hampered by several difficulties. First, single joint or oversimplified behaviors have been emphasized: it is dimcult to examine coordination if the number of elements being coordinated is unnaturally restricted. Second, many investigators have utilized superficial measures of behavior (keystrokes, speech acoustic signals, cursive writing patterns), thus largely ignoring the multiple underlying motor actions that are the crux of coordination. Finally, several lines of study, apparently aimed at coordination, have consisted largely of blanket searches for invariant patterns in certain aspects of system output-primarily without scientific hypotheses regarding biological processes. Fortunately, recent analyses of speech motor actions not only address some of these difficulties but also offer some more concrete data on underlying neurobiological mechanisms.
Evolution-based Learning of Ontological Knowledge for a Large-scale Multi-agent Simulation

The results of the data mining (Weiss 1998) process can be used in many different ways. Therefore, the form of the knowledge collected will have a major impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of its use in a given application. In this paper we examine the problem of extracting knowledge for use by agents in a large-scale multi-agent system (Russell 1995). Here, the knowledge is ontological knowledge that represents constraints that the physical and social environments placed upon the agents and their interactions. The ontological knowledge represents the semantic building blocks around which the world models are formed. For an agent in a particular model, only the things in his ontology can exist and it cannot perceive things that are not represented in the ontology. An ontology (Fox et al 1998) is a basic level of knowledge representation scheme, a formal definition of entities and their properties, interactions, behaviors and constraints. Each agents’ decisions need to be checked against these constraints prior to their execution. In a complex multiagent system, hundreds of thousands of agents may need to check these constraints regularly which means that a successful data mining activity will need to produce a relatively small set of syntactically simple rules for the process to be efficient. Fox et al (1998) have used data mining techniques to produce corporate ontogenies. There are several factors that can influence the nature of the ontological constraints that are produced. First, the nature of the data collection and measurement process and the uncertainty induced into the data set by the presence of noise. Second, the nature of the representation used to express the extracted patterns; e.q. whether it allows for uncertainty or not. Third, the data mining technique employed and the assumptions that it makes about the collected data. Fourth, how these constraints will be stored, accessed, and used by the agents involved.
Physically-Based Simulation of Soft Tissue Deformations

Physicians are increasingly performing surgical procedures using minimally invasive instruments that operate inside the body through narrow openings. This reduces disturbance to healthy tissue, minimizes risk of infection, and speeds recovery. However, these procedures are often challenging for physicians to visualize and perform due to reduced visual and tactile feedback compared with traditional open surgical procedures. Fast and accurate computer simulations of these procedures can facilitate physician training and assist in pre-operative planning and optimization.
The Dietary Inflammatory Index and All-Cause, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer Mortality in the Multiethnic Cohort Study.

Diet quality based on inflammatory potential, assessed by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), has been related to mortality, but studies from racially/ethnically diverse populations are scarce. Using data from the Multiethnic Cohort Study in Hawaii and California, we investigated the association of the DII with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality, both overall and by race/ethnicity. The analysis included 150,405 African Americans, Native Hawaiians, Japanese Americans, Latinos, and Whites aged 45–75 years, with 47,436 deaths during an average follow-up of 18.2 ± 4.9 years. In multivariable-adjusted Cox models, the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest vs. lowest quintile of the DII in men and women were 1.15 (1.09–1.21) and 1.22 (1.14–1.28) for all-cause, 1.13 (1.03–1.23) and 1.29 (1.17–1.42) for CVD, and 1.10 (1.00–1.21) and 1.13 (1.02–1.26) for cancer mortality. In men, an increased risk of all-cause mortality with higher DII scores was found in all racial/ethnic groups except for Native Hawaiians (P for heterogeneity < 0.001). Similarly, in women, an increased risk of CVD mortality was found in the four racial/ethnic groups, but not in Native Hawaiians. These findings support the association of a pro-inflammatory diet with a higher risk of mortality and suggest the association may vary by race/ethnicity.
The Set of Assumptions Randomized Control Trials Make and Their Implications for the Role of Such Experiments in Evidence‐Based Child and Adolescent Development Research

This chapter highlights the key assumptions underlying Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) and illustrates them with regard to the practice of RCTs in the realm of child and adolescent development. Given the prominence of RCTs in policy research, we analyze the possible ways in which these assumptions might not be met by single randomized experiments, thereby making it difficult to draw valid causal inference from single studies. We frame this discussion within the categories of internal validity, statistical conclusion validity, construct validity, and external validity and address the debate about the "gold standard" status accorded to RCTs.
A tale of two cities: the just war tradition and cultural heritage in times of war

This article explores the plight of cultural heritage within the just war tradition. It traces the fate of two cities seen through the eyes of just war thinkers across time: Corinth and Tenochtitla...
Antiferromagnetism and spin density waves in three-dimensional Dirac metals

We study possible magnetic instabilities in Dirac semimetals. We find that Dirac electrons naturally host antiferromagnetic or spin-density wave ground states, though their specific configurations may vary depending on a specific model, as well as chemical potential and temperature. We also discuss paramagnetic susceptibility of Dirac semimetals. In the cases when Dirac electrons do not have orbital momentum, the magnetic properties may be $\ensuremath{\mu}$ and $T$ independent.