cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ID: 53: SEVER SYMPTOMATIC BABESIOSIS CO-INFECTION WITH LYME DISEASE

Case Presentation A 70-year-old male with known history of controlled hypertension, presented with sudden onset of headaches, fevers, vomiting and low urine output for the past 4 days. The patient had recently emigrated from Bangladesh 6 months ago and had been staying in Eastern Long Island, NY. On admission, the patient found to have anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute kidney injury. Significant labs include hemoglobin of 10.2 g/dl, platelets of 39 109/L, BUN of 87 mg/dl, creatinine of 4.48 mg/dl, prothrombin time of 14.8, AST 55 U/l and ALT 65 U/l, LDH of 359 U/l, fibrinogen of 637 mg/dl, CRP of 17.8 mg/l and ESR of 92 mm/h. Haptoglobin was within normal limits. Peripheral blood smear revealed intracellular ovoid rings resembling both Plasmodium sp. and B. microti rings. The patient was started on a 7-day treatment with doxycycline and quinine to cover either infection. Later on, PCR test for B. microtii came back positive. He showed improvement in both symptoms and laboratory findings. On the day of planned discharge, the patient began to complain of right-sided numbness and difficulty closing the mouth and right eye. The diagnosis of Bell palsy had been established. Borrelia burgdorferi serology then sent and it turned out to be positive. Doxycycline had been restarted for another 2 weeks and the patient was symptoms-free after the new course. Discussion Humans are opportunistic hosts to Babesia when bitten by nymph or adult ticks; the most known ticks are Ixodes. Babesiosis should be considered in patients who have a malaria-like illness in areas endemic for Babesia infection. The symptoms usually begin 2–4 weeks after a tick bite. The presentation includes constitutional symptoms, abdominal pain and dark urine. Labs finding include hemolytic anemia and elevated liver enzymes. Urinalysis reveals hemoglobinuria without red blood cells. The diagnosis of Babesiosis is usually established by microscopic examination of Giems or Wright-stained blood smears, indirect immunofluorescent antibody tests and PCR. In healthy individuals with intact spleens, the symptoms resolve spontaneously without treatment. For mild to moderate babesiosis, combination therapy with atovaquone and azithromycin for 7 days. However, in patients who are asplenic or immunocompromized, babesiosis is quite severe and is associated with higher mortality, the preferred treatment is intravenous clindamycin and oral quinine. In patients who are refractory to pharmacological treatment, red blood cells exchange transfusion has been shown to improve mortality. It is very important to consider other tick-borne agents that may be co-transmitted with Babesia such as B. burgdorferi; the agent of Lyme disease. Co-infection should be considered in patients with a poor response to conventional antimicrobial therapy or atypical clinical presentations. When co-infection is suspected, as in our patient, physicians should consider treating Lyme disease empirically for 2–3 weeks.
Using DNA Fingerprinting to Estimate Relatedness within Social Groups of Pine Voles

Pine voles are assumed to be cooperative breeders that live in extended families. We applied DNA fingerprinting techniques using restriction enzyme Alu I and Jeffrey's probe 33.15 to wild-caught pine voles to estimate relatedness among individuals in social groups. Background band-sharing between unrelated individuals revealed a high degree of genetic variation ( X BS ± SD = 0.28 ± 0.09). Band-sharing values that range from 0.47 ± 0.20 to 0.60 ± 0.12 from putative groups suggest that groups form from simple nuclear families that may contain some unrelated individuals. In two of the five groups, band-sharing values suggest that offspring from previous litters remain philopatric beyond weaning, while parents produce successive litters. Furthermore, within-group band-sharing values are consistent with a monogamous mating system. This study provides preliminary genetic evidence concerning the degree of relatedness among individuals within groups of pine voles in an orchard habitat.
Use of Fitness Bands by Teachers in the Classroom

Wearable technologies are increasingly gaining attention. Gadgets such as Smartwatch, Fitband, Google Glass, and similar healthcare devices can be worn by the consumer and have several benefits in various contexts. This study examined teachers perception on fitness bands and if they have any benefits to classroom teachers. 28 classroom teachers were each given a fitness band for 35 days. Prior to giving them the fitness band, a pre-survey was administered. At the end of the 35 day period a post-survey was administered. Ninety-three percent of the teachers completed both the post and pre-survey in which they responded to change in teacher motivation and teaching practices due to wearing the fitness band. There were also four open ended questions that addressed benefits and challenges of using the fitness band in educational contexts. This study has implications for those considering using fitness band in an educational setting.
Energy Considerations During Exercise

Maintenance of muscular contraction during exercise requires large amounts of chemical energy. Although various sources of energy are available, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the universal intracellular vehicle of chemical energy within skeletal muscle. This article will focus on the various mechanisms of the production and breakdown of ATP.
Antibiotics That Affect the Membrane and Other Structural Targets

Antibiotics as well as antiseptics and disinfectants that affect the bacterial cell membrane and other structural targets are discussed. Background biochemistry information on lipids and membranes is provided. The antibiotics include gramicidin, tyrocidine, polymyxin, daptomycin, bacteriocins, lantibiotics, triclosan, isoniazid, magainin, and defensin. Inhibitors targeting the cell division protein, FtsZ are also included. Mechanisms of action of the antibiotics and resistance development against the antibiotics are discussed.
Narrating Unity at the European Union’s New History Museum: A Cultural-Process Approach to the Study of Collective Memory

Power in sociological studies of memory is commonly understood as a function of political interests that are successfully framed as an inclusive and convincing story about selected elements of the past. By showing how negotiations of memory are driven by dynamics of symbolic exchange and by distinguishing techniques of narration emerging from this process, I develop a theoretical model that helps to better understand the locus of symbolic power in mnemonic agency. I consider the case of the plans surrounding a European history museum to show how persistent notions of cultural unity can be drafted in democratic societies.
Blast Injury in a Civilian Trauma Setting is Associated with a Delay in Diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury

High-pressure waves (blast) account for the majority of combat injuries and are becoming increasingly common in terrorist attacks. To our knowledge, there are no data evaluating the epidemiology of blast injury in a domestic nonterrorist setting. Data were analyzed retrospectively on patients admitted with any type of blast injury over a 10-year period at a busy urban trauma center. Injuries were classified by etiology of explosion and anatomical location. Eighty-nine cases of blast injury were identified in 57,392 patients (0.2%) treated over the study period. The majority of patients were male (78%) with a mean age of 40 +/- 17 years. The mean Injury Severity Score was 13 +/- 11 with an admission Trauma and Injury Severity Score of 0.9 +/- 0.2 and Revised Trauma Score of 7.5 +/- 0.8. The mean intensive care unit and hospital length of stay was 2 +/- 7 days and 4.6 +/- 10 days, respectively, with an overall mortality rate of 4.5 per cent. Private dwelling explosion [n = 31 (35%)] was the most common etiology followed by industrial pressure blast [n = 20 (22%)], industrial gas explosion [n = 16 (18%)], military training-related explosion [n = 15 (17%)], home explosive device [n = 8 (9%)], and fireworks explosion [n = 1 (1%)]. Maxillofacial injuries were the most common injury (n = 78) followed by upper extremity orthopedic (n = 29), head injury (n = 32), abdominal (n = 30), lower extremity orthopedic (n = 29), and thoracic (n = 19). The majority of patients with head injury [28 of 32 (88%)] presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15. CT scans on admission were initially positive for brain injury in 14 of 28 patients (50%). Seven patients (25%) who did not have a CT scan on admission had a CT performed later in their hospital course as a result of mental status change and were positive for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Three patients (11%) had a negative admission CT with a subsequently positive CT for TBI over the next 48 hours. The remaining four patients (14%) were diagnosed with skull fractures. All patients (n = 4) with an admission Glasgow Coma Scale score of less than 8 died from diffuse axonal injury. Blast injury is a complicated disease process, which may evolve over time, particularly with TBI. The missed injury rate for TBI in patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 was 36 per cent. More studies are needed in the area of blast injury to better understand this disease process.
Some Evidence on the Early Price Effects of Attorney Advertising in the USA

When the US Supreme Court gave attorneys in the US the right to advertise their fees for routine legal services, the Court assumed that such fees would fall as a result of attorney advertising. According to economic theory, however, it is not clear what impact seller advertising will have on market prices. A major research effort designed to measure the price effects of attorney advertising in the USA began one year after the Bates decision. Some of the major findings of that study are presented in this paper. While none of the study's results so far indicates that the price effects of attorney advertising in the short run are likely to be substantial, the results suggest that the level of routine legal service fees may fall slightly or remain unchanged in constant dollar terms as a result of attorneys' use of advertising to promote their services and prices.
Demonstration of frequency-bin entanglement in an integrated optical microresonator

For the first time, we present a verification of frequency-bin entanglement and phase coherence of an on-chip biphoton frequency comb through a novel two-photon interference measurement scheme and the estimation of the density matrix.
Comparison of Canopy Cover Estimations From Airborne LiDAR, Aerial Imagery, and Satellite Imagery

Canopy cover is an important forest structure parameter for many applications in ecology, hydrology, and forest management. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a promising tool for estimating canopy cover because it can penetrate forest canopy. Various algorithms have been developed to calculate canopy cover from LiDAR data. However, little attention was paid to evaluating how different factors, such as estimation algorithm, LiDAR point density and scan angle, influence canopy cover estimates; and how LiDAR-derived canopy cover differs from estimates using traditional methods, such as field measurements, aerial and satellite imagery. In this study, we systematically compared canopy cover estimations from LiDAR data, quick field measurements, aerial imagery, and satellite imagery using different algorithms. The results show that LiDAR-derived canopy cover estimates are marginally influenced by the estimation algorithms. LiDAR data with a point density of 1 point/m2 can generate comparable canopy cover estimates to data with a higher density. The uncertainty of canopy cover estimates from LiDAR data increased drastically as scan angles exceed 12°. Plot-level canopy cover estimates derived from quick field measurements do not have strong correlation with LiDAR-derived estimations. Both the aerial imagery-derived and satellite imagery-derived canopy cover estimates are comparable to LiDAR-derived canopy cover estimates at the forest stand scale, but tend to be overestimated in sparse forests and be underestimated in dense forests, particularly for the aerial imagery-derived estimates. The results from this study can provide practical guidance for the selection of data sources, sampling schemes, and estimation methods in regional canopy cover mapping.
Determining the Oncologic Safety of Autologous Fat Grafting as a Reconstructive Modality: An Institutional Review of Breast Cancer Recurrence Rates and Surgical Outcomes.

Background The increasing use of autologous fat grafting in breast cancer patients has raised concerns regarding its oncologic safety. This study evaluated patient outcomes and tumor recurrence following mastectomy reconstruction and autologous fat grafting. Methods Retrospective chart review identified patients who underwent mastectomy followed by breast reconstruction from 2010 to 2015. Eight hundred twenty-nine breasts met inclusion criteria: 248 (30.0 percent) underwent autologous fat grafting, whereas 581 (70.0 percent) breasts did not. Patient demographics, cancer characteristics, oncologic treatment, surgical treatment, surgical complications, local recurrence, and distant metastases were analyzed. Results Autologous fat grafting patients and control patients were of similar body mass index, smoking status, and BRCA status. Patients who underwent fat grafting were significantly younger than control patients and were less likely to have diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. The two groups represented similar distributions of BRCA status, Oncotype scores, and hormone receptor status. Patients underwent one to four grafting procedures: one procedure in 83.1 percent, two procedures in 13.7 percent, three in 2.8 percent, and four in 0.4 percent. Mean follow-up time from initial surgery was 45.6 months in the fat grafting group and 38.8 months in controls. The overall complication rate following fat grafting was 9.4 percent. Among breasts undergoing surgery for therapeutic indications, there were similar rates of local recurrence (fat grafting group, 2.5 percent; controls, 1.9 percent; p = 0.747). Interestingly, mean time to recurrence was significantly longer in the fat grafting group (52.3 months versus 22.8 months from initial surgery; p = 0.016). Conclusions Autologous fat grafting is a powerful tool in breast reconstruction. This large, single-institution study provides valuable evidence-based support for its oncologic safety. Clinical question/level of evidence Therapeutic, III.
Tubal sterilization or vasectomy: how do married couples make the choice?

Objective To examine the relative importance of husband, wife, and couple factors as determinants of sterilization method choice. Design Married couples seeking sterilization interviewed before surgery and again 1 year later. Setting Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program subscribers seeking care at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Santa Clara, California. Participants Two hundred married women seeking a tubal sterilization and their husbands and 200 married men seeking a vasectomy and their wives. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measure Sterilization method chosen. Results In a logistic regression model, nine predictor variables correctly classified 94.9% of 395 couples ( P Conclusions The choice of a sterilization method is achieved primarily through processes that involve both spouses. The motivations of both husband and wife, their mutual influence and communication, their present pattern of contraceptive use, and what they know about the satisfactions or dissatisfactions of other people who have had sterilizations are all factors that should be taken into account when the clinician helps a patient make the method-choice decision.
A comparative study of data mining and statistical learning techniques for prediction of cancer survivability

Huge efforts are being made by computer scientists and statisticians to design and implement algorithms and techniques for efficient storage, management, processing, and analysis of biological database. Data mining is an emerging area of computational intelligence that offers new theories, techniques and tools for processing large volumes of data (Sriraam, Natasha & Kaur, Data mining approaches for kidney dialysis treatment, 2006). The data mining and statistical learning techniques were used to discover consistent and useful patterns in large datasets. These techniques are used in a computational biology and bioinformatics fields. Computational biology and bioinformatics seeks to solve biological problems by combining aspects of biology, computer science, mathematics, and other disciplines (Adams, Matheson & Pruim, BLASTED: Integrating biology and computation, 2008). The main focus of this study is to expand understanding of how biologists, medical practitioners and scientists would benefit from data mining and statistical learning techniques in prediction of breast cancer survivability and prognosis using R statistical computing tool and Weka machine learning tool. In this dissertation, data mining and statistical learning techniques were applied to breast cancer datasets for survival analysis. The breast cancer dataset from University of California, Irvine (UCI) machine learning database system and National Cancer Institute (NCI) biological database system were used for prediction and comparative study of the data mining and statistical learning techniques. The results of the classifiers or models were mixed, logistic regression did outperform decision tree, SVM, AdaBoost, Bagging and naive Bayes algorithms based on accuracy. However, the artificial neural network showed slight improvement over logistic regression, and the decision tree resulted in slightly higher classification accuracy over AdaBoost, Bagging and naive Bayes' models in terms of accuracy. Results were mixed as to which algorithm is the most optimal model, and it appeared that the performance of each algorithm depends on the size, high dimensionality of data representation and cleanliness of the dataset.
Molecular Pathogenesis of Fungal Infections

Opportunistic fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised. Fungi have evolved complex and coordinated mechanisms to survive in the environment and the mammalian host. These include the ability to adhere to and colonize a variety of sites (e.g., skin, gastrointestinal mucosa, and intravenous catheters), invade tissue, establish localized disease, and disseminate. Fungi must adapt to “stressors” in the host, including nutrient acquisition, pH, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates. Knowledge of the immunopathogenesis of fungal infections has paved the way to promising preclinical studies and clinical trials of immunotherapy. The availability of genomic databases for key fungal pathogens will shed light on fungal pathogenesis and response to stressors both from host defense pathways and antifungal drugs, and will identify promising targets for drug development.
New Eclipsing Close Binary Star In The Constellation of Sextants

During a Center for Backyard Astrophysics (CBA)photometric campaign on cataclysmic variable VZ Sex,one of the field stars was serendipitously discovered tobe a variable by the author. A finding chart for thenew variable is shown in Figure 1, the new variablenoted as “var.” The coordinates of the object are(J2000) 09
Using administrative lists to estimate census omissions.

We present a method for estimating omission rates from censuses. Our method is based on the merger of administrative lists sampling from these lists and matching against census rolls. We describe the method present the results of a test in New York City...in 1980 and evalute the results. We compare our proposed method to other procedures for estimating omission rates. (EXCERPT)
Intracellular Sterol Esterification: Two Acyl CoA:Cholesterol Acyltransferases in Mammals

The formation of sterol esters from free sterols and fatty acyl CoAs is a fundamental pathway in lipid metabolism of eukaryotic cells. In vertebrates, the sterol esterification reaction is catalyzed by acyl CoA:cholesterol acytransferase (ACAT; EC 2.3.1.26), an enzyme located primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition to its role in cellular cholesterol homeostasis, ACAT has been hypothesized to participate in a number of processes involving mammalian cholesterol metabolism. Recent studies have provided evidence that more than one ACAT enzyme exists in mammals. Here we review the recent research that has led to the identification and characterization of two mammalian ACAT enzymes, ACAT-1 and ACAT-2.
Iterative Spectral Solution of Boltzmann’s Equation for Semiconductor Devices

An iterative spectral method for solving Boltzmann’s equation is formulated. It is used to analyze collisionless transport in a one-dimensional silicon device structure. The obtained distribution functions are compared with exact analytical solutions. It is found that the spectral method is a highly efficient alternative to Monte Carlo.
Limb-Sparing Surgery for Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Functional and Rehabilitation Considerations

Multimodality limb-sparing approaches now represent the treatment of choice for patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities. Patients undergoing limb-sparing treatment have survival comparable with that of those treated with amputation, with a potentially better functional outcome. Full realization of an improved quality of life for patients treated with limb-sparing approaches requires a timely, appropriately performed biopsy; proper surgical technique; and a committed team of rehabilitation specialists. Furthermore, the nonsurgical components of multimodality therapy, radiation and chemotherapy for example, can influence the overall functional outcome as dramatically as does the surgical procedure. This article details the essential elements for successful limb salvage with an optimal functional result in patients with extremity sarcomas.
Performance of Container Network Technologies in Cloud Environments

Container technology is ubiquitous for software systems deployed in the cloud. Container networking between hosts is an integral part of any containerized software system that exists on more than one host. While local networking performance has been explored in previous literature, performance of networking technologies that allow containers to communicate between different hosts deployed in cloud environments has not. In this paper, we explore the network performance and system impact of different container networks on popular public clouds using iperf3. Our results show that for 1 Gbps network requirements, there are only minor differences across cloud platforms and network technologies. However, for network requirements exceeding 5 Gbps or requiring encryption there are significant differences.
Intra-articular treatment options for knee osteoarthritis

Intra-articular drug delivery has a number of advantages over systemic administration; however, for the past 20 years, intra-articular treatment options for the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA) have been limited to analgesics, glucocorticoids, hyaluronic acid (HA) and a small number of unproven alternative therapies. Although HA and glucocorticoids can provide clinically meaningful benefits to an appreciable number of patients, emerging evidence indicates that the apparent effectiveness of these treatments is largely a result of other factors, including the placebo effect. Biologic drugs that target inflammatory processes are used to manage rheumatoid arthritis, but have not translated well into use in OA. A lack of high-level evidence and methodological limitations hinder our understanding of so-called ‘stem’ cell therapies and, although the off-label administration of intra-articular cell therapies (such as platelet-rich plasma and bone marrow aspirate concentrate) is common, high-quality clinical data are needed before these treatments can be recommended. A number of promising intra-articular treatments are currently in clinical development in the United States, including small-molecule and biologic therapies, devices and gene therapies. Although the prospect of new, non-surgical treatments for OA is exciting, the benefits of new treatments must be carefully weighed against their costs and potential risks. Intra-articular therapies for knee osteoarthritis (OA) are causing excitement among clinicians and patients, but care should be taken when choosing which therapy to use. In this Review, Vangsness and colleagues critically appraise current and future intra-articular therapies for knee OA.
Nano- and micro-indentation testing of sintered UO2 fuel pellets with controlled microstructure and stoichiometry

Abstract Dense nanocrystalline and microcrystalline UO2 samples with controlled grain structure and stoichiometry were prepared by high energy ball milling and spark plasma sintering (SPS). Nano-indentation and micro-indentation testing were performed at different temperatures of 25 °C, 300 °C, and 600 °C in order to study the mechanical properties of the sintered fuels as functions of grain structure and temperature. Nanocrystalline UO2 display higher hardness than microcrystalline counterpart, consistent with the Hall-Petch strengthening mechanism. Greater Young's modulus and fracture toughness are also identified for the nanocrystalline UO2, and hardness and Young's modulus decrease with temperature, suggesting better ductility of oxide fuels at high temperature and small length scale. Hyper-stoichiometric UO2 specimen displays higher hardness and fracture toughness than stoichiometric UO2, due to the impediment of the crack propagation by the oxygen interstitial atoms. These results are useful in understanding the mechanical properties of the high burn-up structure (HBS) formed in nuclear fuels during reactor operation, and also provide critical experimental data as the input for the development and validation of the MARMOT fracture model of nuclear fuels.
Validating Enterovirus D68-2A pro as an Antiviral Drug Target and the Discovery of Telaprevir as a Potent D68-2A pro Inhibitor.

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a viral pathogen that leads to severe respiratory illness and has been linked with the development of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in children. No vaccines or antivirals are currently available for EV-D68 infection, and treatment options for hospitalized patients are limited to supportive care. Here, we report the expression of the EV-D68 2A protease (2Apro) and characterization of its enzymatic activity. Furthermore, we discovered that telaprevir, an FDA-approved drug used for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, is a potent antiviral against EV-D68 by targeting the 2Apro enzyme. Using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based substrate cleavage assay, we showed that the purified EV-D68 2Apro has proteolytic activity selective against a peptide sequence corresponding to the viral VP1-2A polyprotein junction. Telaprevir inhibits EV-D68 2Apro through a nearly irreversible, biphasic binding mechanism. In cell culture, telaprevir showed submicromolar-to-low-micromolar potency against several recently circulating neurotropic strains of EV-D68 in different human cell lines. To further confirm the antiviral drug target, serial viral passage experiments were performed to select for resistance against telaprevir. An N84T mutation near the active site of 2Apro was identified in resistant viruses, and this mutation reduced the potency of telaprevir in both the enzymatic and cellular antiviral assays. Collectively, we report for the first time the in vitro enzymatic activity of EV-D68 2Apro and the identification of telaprevir as a potent EV-D68 2Apro inhibitor. These findings implicate EV-D68 2Apro as an antiviral drug target and highlight the repurposing potential of telaprevir to treat EV-D68 infection.IMPORTANCE A 2014 EV-D68 outbreak in the United States has been linked to the development of acute flaccid myelitis in children. Unfortunately, no treatment options against EV-D68 are currently available, and the development of effective therapeutics is urgently needed. Here, we characterize and validate a new EV-D68 drug target, the 2Apro, and identify telaprevir-an FDA-approved drug used to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections-as a potent antiviral with a novel mechanism of action toward 2Apro 2Apro functions as a viral protease that cleaves a peptide sequence corresponding to the VP1-2A polyprotein junction. The binding of telaprevir potently inhibits its enzymatic activity, and using drug resistance selection, we show that the potent antiviral activity of telaprevir was due to 2Apro inhibition. This is the first inhibitor to selectively target the 2Apro from EV-D68 and can be used as a starting point for the development of therapeutics with selective activity against EV-D68.
Neurologic basis of manual medicine

Recent advances in the basic sciences have moved forward our understanding of complex reflex pathways and the numerous neuro transmitters involved. This article proceeds along three broad levels of understanding, i.e., the peripheral (or infraspinal), spinal, and supraspinal aspects of the involved physiology. The different receptor types, innervation, and reflex mechanisms, including those of the autonomic nervous system, are addressed
Oxidative Carbonylation of Primary Amines to Ureas Using Tungsten Carbonyl Catalysts1

The iodo-bridged tungsten(IV) dimer [(CO)2W(NPh)I2]2 (1) has been demonstrated to be a catalyst for the oxidative carbonylation of primary amines to 1,3-disubstituted ureas. The amine complexes (CO)2I2W(NPh)(NH2R) [R = n-Bu (2a), R = n-Pr (2b), R = t-Bu (2c)] and [(CO)2IW(NPh)(NH2R)2]+ [R = n-Bu (4a), R = n-Pr (4b)] have been isolated from reactions of 1 with primary amines. Complexes 2a−c and 4a−b have been shown to lie along the pathway to the catalytically active species. In addition, it has been determined that primary amines can be oxidatively carbonylated to 1,3-disubstituted ureas using W(CO)6 as catalyst and I2 as the oxidant.
A Novel, Highly Sensitive Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for the Diagnosis of Subarachnoid and Ventricular Neurocysticercosis and for Assessing Responses to Treatment.

Background Treatment of subarachnoid neurocysticercosis (NCC) is complicated, and assays that can guide treatment are not widely available. The reproducibility and scalability of molecular-based biomarkers would be of great use. Methods The Taenia solium genome was mined and primers and probes were designed to target repeats with the highest coverage; the most sensitive, specific, and efficient repeat (TsolR13) was selected for clinical testing. We tested 46 plasma samples and 36 cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) samples taken from patients with subarachnoid or ventricular disease using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results The analytic sensitivity of TsolR13 was 97.3% at 240 attograms (ag) of T. solium genomic DNA and 100% analytic specificity. The clinical sensitivity in detecting active subarachnoid or ventricular disease in symptomatic patients was 100% in CSF and 81.3% in plasma. The predictive ability to distinguish active from cured disease was better for CSF (94.4% of those cured had negative qPCR results) than for plasma (86.7% of those cured tested negative). Some subjects also had plasma DNA detectable intermittently for years after being cured. Overall, the test performance was equivalent to T. solium antigen detection. Conclusions A qPCR test for the detection of the highly repetitive Tsol13 sequence has been developed and shown to be highly sensitive and specific for NCC, but also useful as a test of cure in CSF and for the definitive diagnosis of NCC in plasma.
Impact of Race on the Association of Mineral Metabolism With Heart Failure: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background Alterations in mineral metabolism, such as high phosphorus, high parathyroid hormone (PTH), and high fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) have been identified as potential risk factors for heart failure (HF). Important differences in the prevalence of mineral metabolism abnormalities and in the risk of HF have been reported across race and/or ethnic groups. In this study, we evaluated whether the associations of mineral metabolism markers with HF differed by race and/or ethnicity. Methods We included participants free of cardiovascular disease from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis to quantify rates of HF overall and across race and/or ethnic groups. Using Cox models, we tested associations of baseline higher phosphorus (>4 mg/dL), PTH greater than 65 pg/mL, and FGF-23 greater than 46.5 pg/mL with incident HF, and for interactions by race and/or ethnicity, adjusting for sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors. Results Among the 6413 participants, median follow-up time was 14.9 years. The incidence rate for HF was highest for African Americans and lowest for Chinese (4.71 and 2.42 per 1000 person-years, respectively). The prevalence of elevated PTH (18.8% vs 7.4%) but not FGF-23 (23.1% vs 28.8%) was higher in African Americans vs Whites. In multivariable models, the associations of elevated PTH (hazard ratio [HR] 1.50, 95% CI: 1.13-1.99) and FGF-23 (HR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.07-1.75) with incident HF were statistically significant. However, the interactions by race and/or ethnicity were not statistically significant. Conclusions In a multiethnic population, higher PTH and FGF-23 were associated with risk of HF in African American and Hispanic individuals. There is no evidence that race and/or ethnicity modifies the association of altered mineral metabolism with risk of HF.
Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees, Volume 7: March to Removal, Part 2, Death in the Land and Mission, 1825-1827

Nineteenth-century Moravian missionaries were assiduous recordkeepers. For those who lived in Native nations, their nearly daily accounting of life created a rich trove for historians. But for all ...
An aerothermoelastic analysis framework with reduced-order modeling applied to composite panels in hypersonic flows

Abstract This study describes the enhancement of a computational framework for aerothermoelasticity using novel model order reduction techniques and efficient coupling schemes. First, the fluid solver for hypersonic aerothermodynamics is accelerated using a reduced order model. The flexibility of the reduced order model is enhanced using a novel correction and scaling technique, which accounts for non-uniform temperature distribution, varying flight conditions and geometrical scales using analytical pointwise models. Secondly, based on the reduced order model, a tightly-coupled scheme and linearized stability analysis are developed for fast aerothermoelastic simulation of extended flight time and automatic identification of aerothermoelastic instabilities, respectively. The enhanced framework is accelerated by a factor of 1 0 4 so that near-real-time aerothermoelastic simulation is achieved. Finally, using the enhanced framework, the aerothermoelastic response of a generic skin panel is studied emphasizing the effect of flow orientation angle and material orthotropicity on the aerothermoelastic stability boundary. It is found that a combination of flow orientation angle and material orientation can significantly extend the aerothermoelastic stability boundary, i.e. the time elapsed before the onset of structural failure.
Seasonal human coronavirus antibodies are boosted upon SARS-CoV-2 infection but not associated with protection

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly spread within the human population. Although SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus, most humans had been previously exposed to other antigenically distinct common seasonal human coronaviruses (hCoVs) before the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we quantified levels of SARS-CoV-2-reactive antibodies and hCoV-reactive antibodies in serum samples collected from 204 humans before the COVID-19 pandemic. We then quantified pre-pandemic antibody levels in serum from a separate cohort of 252 individuals who became PCR-confirmed infected with SARS-CoV-2. Finally, we longitudinally measured hCoV and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the serum of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Our studies indicate that most individuals possessed hCoV-reactive antibodies before the COVID-19 pandemic. We determined that ∼23% of these individuals possessed non-neutralizing antibodies that cross-reacted with SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins. These antibodies were not associated with protection against SARS-CoV-2 infections or hospitalizations, but paradoxically these hCoV cross-reactive antibodies were boosted upon SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Tsar and Sultan: Russian encounters with the Ottoman Empire: by Victor Taki, London, I.B. Tauris, 2016, 320 pp., $130 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-784-53184-3

The rumours of Orientalism’s demise are greatly exaggerated. Edward Said’s paradigm continues to inspire new elegant, eloquent, and erudite studies such as Victor Taki’s based on new perspectives a...
Measurements of electron impact K-shell ionization cross sections of Cr21+ ions

We present relative cross section measurements of the inner-shell ionization of highly charged chromium ions by high-energy (7–30 keV) electrons. The measurements use a technique based on high-reso...
Retinal pigment epithelium lipid metabolic demands and therapeutic restoration

One of the defining features of the retina is the tight metabolic coupling between cells such as photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). This necessitates the compartmentalization and proper substrate availability required for specialized processes such as photo-transduction. Glucose metabolism is preferential in many human cell types for adenosine triphosphate generation, yet fatty acid β-oxidation generates essential fuel for RPE. Here, we provide a brief overview of metabolic demands in both the healthy and dystrophic RPE with an emphasis on fatty acid oxidation. We outline therapies aimed at renormalizing this metabolism and explore future avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Ultrasensitive multispecies spectroscopic breath analysis for real-time health monitoring and diagnostics.

Breath analysis enables rapid, noninvasive diagnostics, as well as long-term monitoring of human health, through the identification and quantification of exhaled biomarkers. Here, we demonstrate the remarkable capabilities of mid-infrared (mid-IR) cavity-enhanced direct-frequency comb spectroscopy (CE-DFCS) applied to breath analysis. We simultaneously detect and monitor as a function of time four breath biomarkers— C H 3 OH, C H 4 , H 2 O, and HDO—as well as illustrate the feasibility of detecting at least six more ( H 2 CO, C 2 H 6 , OCS, C 2 H 4 , C S 2 , and N H 3 ) without modifications to the experimental apparatus. We achieve ultrahigh detection sensitivity at the parts-per-trillion level. This is made possible by the combination of the broadband spectral coverage of a frequency comb, the high spectral resolution afforded by the individual comb teeth, and the sensitivity enhancement resulting from a high-finesse cavity. Exploiting recent advances in frequency comb, optical coating, and photodetector technologies, we can access a large variety of biomarkers with strong carbon–hydrogen-bond spectral signatures in the mid-IR.
Localized Quantum Chemistry on Quantum Computers

Quantum chemistry calculations of large, strongly correlated systems are typically limited by the computation cost that scales exponentially with the size of the system. Quantum algorithms, designed specifically for quantum computers, can alleviate this, but the resources required are still too large for today’s quantum devices. Here we present a quantum algorithm that combines a localization of multireference wave functions of chemical systems with quantum phase estimation (QPE) and variational unitary coupled cluster singles and doubles (UCCSD) to compute their ground state energy. Our algorithm, termed “local active space unitary coupled cluster” (LAS-UCC), scales linearly with system size for certain geometries, providing a polynomial reduction in the total number of gates compared with QPE, while providing accuracy above that of the variational quantum eigensolver using the UCCSD ansatz and also above that of the classical local active space self-consistent field. The accuracy of LAS-UCC is demonstrated by dissociating (H2)2 into two H2 molecules and by breaking the two double bonds in trans-butadiene and resources estimates are provided for linear chains of up to 20 H2 molecules.
Codebook design for hybrid beamforming in millimeter wave systems

Small cell networks utilizing millimeter wave (mmWave) links are expected to enhance system throughput, since the wide bandwidths at mmWave frequencies can afford high data rates. Due to mmWave's unfavorable channel conditions, it is necessary for mmWave communication systems to use beamforming with a large number of antennas to generate sharp and strong beams. In this paper, we propose a codebook design algorithm for the beamforming by considering the directional characteristic of mmWave links. The proposed codebook design algorithm can be easily adapted to different kinds of antenna arrays. Simulation results show that the proposed codebook outperforms previously reported codebooks for mmWave systems.
The computer scientist in context: faculty search committee service

Many Assistant Professors are assigned to serve on faculty search committees with little or no training. This paper will describe the necessary components of a good faculty search committee by likening the process of hiring (and continuing to employ) a computer science professor to the software design process.
A taxonomy for learning object technology

The objective of this study was to determine how object technology learning takes place and the complexities associated with the learning process from the software practitioner's view. In this paper we investigate the cognitive factors that are likely to impact object-technology adoption or implementation. This paper reports the results of a field investigation conducted on thirteen U.S. corporations and provides an taxonomy for learning object-oriented technology. This model will aid practitioners who are in need of guidance in transferring their skills from the procedural paradigm to the object paradigm as well as provide guidance for curriculum developers confronted with teaching object-oriented coding and design.
Factors Affecting Organic Acid Production by Sourdough (San Francisco) Bacteria

Previous workers from this laboratory observed considerable variation in the proportions of acetic and lactic acids produced in pure broth culture as compared to consistently high proportions of acetic acid produced in the sourdough and flour suspension systems. In the latter the proportion of acetic acid was always in the range of 20 to 35% of the total, whereas in pure broth culture frequently less than 5% acetic acid was produced. In the natural environment, the sourdough bacteria, tentatively identified as lactobacilli, coexist with a yeast, Saccharomyces exiguus, and this study was undertaken to determine whether this yeast or flour ingredients including glucose or other factors were involved in this variable production of acetic acid. The proportion of acetic acid produced in broth culture on maltose, the preferred carbohydrate source, was found to depend almost entirely on the degree of aeration. Essentially anaerobic conditions, as obtained by thorough evacuation and flushing with CO(2) or N(2), resulted in very low (5% or less) proportions of acetic acid. Aerobic conditions, achieved by continuous shaking in cotton-plugged flasks, yielded high levels (23 to 39% of the total) of acetic acid. Similar effects of aeration were observed with glucose as the substrate, although growth was considerably slower, or in nonsterile flour suspension systems. It is theorized that, under aerobic conditions, the reduced pyridine nucleotides generated in the dissimilation of carbohydrate are oxidized directly by molecular oxygen, thereby becoming unavailable for the reduction of the acetyl phosphate intermediate to ethyl alcohol, the usual product of anaerobic dissimilation of glucose by heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Comparative studies with known strains of homo- and heterofermentative lactobacilli showed similar effects of aeration only on the heterofermentative strains, lending additional support to the tentative grouping by previous workers from this laboratory of the sourdough bacteria with the heterofermentative lactobacilli.
Computer-Aided Simultaneous Engineering for Components Manufactured in Small and Medium Lot-Sizes

This paper presents a methodology for the simultaneous product and process design of components manufactured in small and medium lot-sizes. A key aspect of this methodology is to ensure that such components are manufacturable for the lowest possible cost in specially designed manufacturing facilities such as manufacturing cells. A computer-based design environment is proposed to cooperatively assist product designers in performing this task. The design environment is based on the model-based reasoning concept. Explicit product and manufacturing facility models are presented to support the reasoning process. These models are based on a combination of feature-based, geometric and process performance models. The reasoning mechanism is based on the Multiple Cooperative Knowledge Sources (MCKS) paradigm with explicit separation of domain and control knowledge. Domain knowledge sources deal with the product and process refinement activities while control knowledge sources deal with managing the concurrency between these two activities. The framework of the design environment is described in detail and justifications are provided for the modeling and reasoning mechanisms chosen. Preliminary results obtained from an implementation of the design environment for the simultaneous product and process design of Bearing Cages are presented. The paper concludes by summarizing the main contributions of this research and presents directions for future research work.
An Evaluation of Local Heating as a Means of Fuel Evaporation for Gasoline Engines

The technique of evaporating fuel by localized heating before entering the intake manifold is evaluated as a means of improving A/F ratio control. Techniques currently in use are briefly discussed, and attempts to analyze fuel evaporation in S.I. engines are reviewed. A test fixture which includes all the essential features of production feasible hardware is used to develop a basis of understanding for the evaporation process. Tests are conducted on a flow bench using water as ''fuel,'' and on an engine using isooctane and gasoline. A heat-mass transfer analogy is described and used to predict evaporation rates for water and isooctane. Predicted and measured rates are compared for both bench and engine tests. Engine tests with gasoline show the ability of the test configuration to evaporate all part throttle fuel flow before it enters the intake manifold. Results are presented which show the ability of local heating to reduce A/F excursions on the 1.6 Liter engine by 80% over the ambient temperature range of 0/sup 0/F to 70/sup 0/F. Results showing the elimination of cylinder to cylinder A/F maldistribution are presented, and recommended operating temperatures and heat inputs for engine operation are also presented.