cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunodetection of histone epitopes correlates with early stages of apoptosis in activated human peripheral T lymphocytes

By coupling intracellular staining with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated labeling of internucleosomal DNA strand breaks in a flow cytometric assay, we observed a strong correlation between apoptosis-associated DNA strand breaks and immunoreactivity with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) B-F6 in activated human peripheral blood T lymphocytes (PBTs). Although MAb B-F6 has been reported to be specific for the cytokine interleukin-6, Western blot analysis of activated PBT lysates revealed that the predominant protein band detected by this MAb was 17 kd (p17), distinct from the 23-kd core protein and 26- to 30-kd mature glycosylated forms of interleukin-6. Immunoaffinity isolation and amino-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of p17 revealed identity with the histone H2B, a finding confirmed by Western blot analysis of purified histones and by similar staining of activated PBTs with an unrelated anti-histone MAb. Neither histone staining nor DNA strand breakage was observed in freshly isolated PBTs; however, after T cell activation, histone immunoreactivity appeared to precede the appearance of DNA strand breaks, with both increasing to a maximal level by day 3 after activation. Two-parameter confocal immunofluorescence microscopy of histone and DNA staining confirmed a lack of histone immunoreactivity in viable cells and demonstrated co-localization of histone epitopes with abnormally clumped chromatin in apoptotic cells. These data indicate that alteration of histone epitope accessibility is a marker of early apoptosis and suggest that multiparameter flow cytometric analysis of intracellular epitopes may be a powerful tool in the elucidation of intracellular mechanisms of apoptosis.
Management of fracture-dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joints by extension-block splinting.

A closed method is recommended for the treatment of a common injury of the proximal interphalangeal joint, a fracture of the articular surface of the middle phalanx with dorsal dislocation or subluxation. The method uses extension-block splinting (a forearm gauntlet with a dorsal extension along the finger) which allows early active flexion of the proximal interphalangeal joint but prevents extension beyond a predetermined point at which the joint subluxates on dislocates. The method is described and the results in seventeen patients are presented.
Sleeping Aggregations of Aculeate Hymenoptera—II

Gregarious “sleeping” is characteristic of many species of wasps and bees and the behavior involved is sufficiently consistent to suggest that it is basically instinctive. It may be limited primarily to individuals of the same species, or may involve individuals of two or more species. Single-species “sleeping aggregations” may be maintained as separate units which retain their identity without adopting a regular “sleeping” site (e.g., Sphex lucae ), or reassemble on successive nights at a “sleeping” site shared with other species (e.g., Priononyx pubidorsum, Anthidiellum notatum robertsoni ). Individuals that share the same sleeping site exhibit varying degrees of tolerance toward others of the same or different species, and -thus varying degrees of gregariousness. The characteristics of “sleeping plants” utilized by successive generations of wasps and bees may vary, suggesting that the choice may be made by the first users, the others following. A preference is suggested for dead or dry, relatively rigid, moderate-sized (3-6-ft.-tall), multibranched plants with numerous upright or nearly vertical stems of suitable diameter, an exposure to the morning and evening sun, and a certain amount of wind-protection provided by denser plants or other objects. At low population levels, sleeping sites for certain species within the plant appear to be consistent from season to season and from “sleeping plant” to “sleeping plant.” In other cases the choice appears to be fortuitous and varies from season to season and plant to plant. In either event, learning appears to be a factor for many, some individuals returning to the same section of the plant each night, others to the same roost. At high population levels the basic pattern of some of the otherwise consistent species may be modified, and vary from night to night. At low population levels a gradual modification of established patterns may be evident as the season progresses. The sequence of arrival, settling, sleeping, and departure of several of the “regular” members of “sleeping aggregations” is sufficiently consistent to suggest that these reactions may be inherited. Regular members of sleeping aggregations usually involve both sexes of “parasitic” bees, other nonnesting species, and species which do not have nests in the ground or in some other substrate. Irregular and casual members include males of many species and females of a variety of nesting habits. Species which “sleep” individually, even though individuals may sometimes be arranged in small groups, tend to assume a regular sleeping posture which is constant from individual to individual and from night to night (e.g., Ammophila spp., Anthidiellum n. robertsoni ). Those which tend to cluster within the aggregation, either loosely or tightly, do not assume regular postures, either when sleeping gregariously or singly (e.g., Priononyx pubidorsum, Sphex lucae ). The consistency of sleeping patterns exhibited by several species and the uniformity of sleeping position adopted by individuals suggest that each has a selective value, the nature of which requires further study.
Scaling of Optical Forces with Material Response and Nanoscale Geometry

We develop scaling laws which explore the parameters that strongly impact optical forces in nanoscale guided-wave systems and demonstrate their application to device design. These analytical results also provide a benchmark for numerical simulations.
Improving NMR Structures of RNA

Here, we show that modern solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structures of RNA exhibit more steric clashes and conformational ambiguities than their crystallographic X-ray counterparts. To tackle these issues, we developed RNA-ff1, a new force field for structure calculation with Xplor-NIH. Using seven published NMR datasets, RNA-ff1 improves covalent geometry and MolProbity validation criteria for clashes and backbone conformation in most cases, relative to both the previous Xplor-NIH force field and the original structures associated with the experimental data. In addition, with smaller base-pair step rises in helical stems, RNA-ff1 structures enjoy more favorable base stacking. Finally, structural accuracy improves in the majority of cases, as supported by complete residual dipolar coupling cross-validation. Thus, the reported advances show great promise in bridging the quality gap that separates NMR and X-ray structures of RNA.
Vapor Deposited Thin Films and Their Densification During Ion Beam Assisted Deposition

A computer simulation is presented of the reduction of void volume by incident energetic ions during Ion Beam Assisted Deposition (IBAD) of thin Ge films. The objective of the work is to understand the important mechanisms of thin film densification during IBAD. The density is affected by a number of mechanisms including: absorption of recoil atoms by voids and by diffusion of residual interstitials and vacancies. Simulations of Ge deposition under Ar ion bombardment were made using the collision cascade code MARLOWE with realistic void-sizes and for beam energies up to 500 eV. MARLOWE was used to obtain void volume loss as a function of void depth, void volume, and ion energy. The fate of residual interstitials and vacancies is taken into account. In order to model IBAD it is important to be able to model the deposition process. We describe our three-dimensional Molecular Dynamics simulations of the vapor deposition of Ni on a Ni (100) surface under low atom mobility conditions. We found the deposited film to have a packing density of about 80% of the nominal value and to contain ribbon-like voids.
Improving Tele-robotic Landmine Detection through Augmented Reality Devices:

Tele-robotic landmine/UXO (unexploded ordinance) detection and disposal is a real world example of a complex human robot interaction task. This study demonstrates that the use of augmented reality interfaces, designed based on a theoretically driven framework, can significantly improve performance, and that these same devices can be used as effective training technologies. Participants in this study were assigned to one of four experimental conditions (two uni-sensory and one multisensory augmented reality interface, and a control group). All participants were trained in tele-robotic landmine detection and the groups performed these tasks first with augmentation (session one) and then without (session two/transfer task). The results show that participants in the augmented groups significantly outperformed the control group in terms of the numbers of landmines correctly identified (in both sessions). The multisensory condition was found to result in both significantly increased landmine detection and signi...
Needle-free Microscopy for Malaria Diagnostics

This is a proof-of-concept study to assess whether in vivo confocal microscopy coupled with topical proflavine staining can be used to recognize malaria-infected RBCs. Results from a chicken embryo model indicate this may be feasible.
Constituents of a Theory

Valuable though the insights contained in the transcommunal approaches that we have examined may be, they represent only the beginnings of full-scale theories of constitutive justice. The interdependence model, the eudaemonist-recognition model, the pragmatic-democratic model, and the deconstructionist model all present promising trajectories for developing constructive, systematic frameworks for evaluating prospective rationales for moral and political boundaries around communities of justice, even as they identify problems and lacunae that such frameworks need to address.
Cryogenic Telescope Test Facility

An optical test Dewar has been constructed with the unique capability to test mirrors of diameter ≤ 1 m, f≤6, at temperatures from 300 to 5 K with a ZYGO Mark IV/V interferometer. The facility possesses extensive thermometry throughout for characterization of the test chamber thermal environment and Dewar performance. Optical access is controlled with cryogenically cooled shutters. The entire Dewar is vibration isolated by 40 dB where the fundamental resonances of the Dewar structure are highest. The facility has been brought on line for its first user, the Infrared Telescope Technology Testbed (ITTT) for the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) at JPL. The design requirements for this facility and the resultant design and implementation experiences and challenges will be presented.
Incidence and Management of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Psoriatic Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Population-Based Study.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) including hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia (HL), diabetes mellitus (DM), and obesity among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to the general population, and to examine the treatment of incident CVRFs in PsA and RA compared to controls. Methods: A cohort study was conducted within The Health Improvement Network, a medical record database in the United Kingdom, using data from 1994 to 2014. Patients age 18-89 with PsA or RA were matched to controls on practice and start date. The prevalence and incidence of CVRFs identified by diagnostic codes were calculated. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the relative incidence of these cardiovascular risk factors. Finally, pharmacologic therapies for incident CVRFs were examined. Results: Study subjects included patients with PsA (N=12,548), RA (N=53,215), and controls (N=389,269). The prevalence of all CVRFs was significantly elevated in PsA. Only the prevalence of DM and obesity was increased in RA. Incidence of HTN, HL, and DM was elevated in PsA and RA. Receipt of therapy within one year following incident diagnosis of CVRFs was not substantially different between the groups; approximately 85%, 65%, and 45% of patients received prescriptions for HTN, HL, and DM, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with PsA have an increased prevalence of CVRFs, and both patients with PsA and RA have increased incidence of new diagnosis of CVRFs. Pharmacologic treatment of CVRFs in patients with PsA and RA was similar to controls in the UK. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Critical Role of CD4+Foxp3+ T Cells In Gvhd Prevention with High-Dose Posttransplant Cyclophosphamide (Cy).

Abstract 3749 Regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to the maintenance of self-tolerance and have been shown to ameliorate acute GVHD both in murine models and in the clinical setting. However, translation of results and mechanistic insights from animal models to the clinic is difficult due to inherent incongruities in the use of post-grafting immunosuppression for prevention of GVHD. Administration of high-dose cyclophosphamide (Cy) in mouse models of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and its identical use as a short course single agent prophylaxis for GVHD in a HLA-matched setting provides an ideal model for studying the interaction between postgrafting immunosuppression and Tregs. We explored the hypothesis that Tregs play a critical role in prevention of GVHD in a MHC-matched mouse model of alloBMT using C57Bl/6-Foxp3-DTR mice (H-2 b , CD45.2 + ) as donors, in which Foxp3+ Tregs can be selectively depleted in vivo by administration of diptheria toxin (DT; 2 doses on days 0 and +1). Donor mice were further crossed with those expressing luciferase (luc+) so that the in vivo expansion and engraftment of transplanted T cells could be noninvasively tracked by bioluminescent imaging (BLI) in addition to standard metrics of GVHD severity. We transplanted 1.2×10 7 splenocytes (or purified conventional T cells) from C57Bl/6-luc+-Foxp3-DTR mice (H-2 b , CD45.2 + ) plus 1×10 7 bone marrow (BM) cells from B6-Ly5.2 (H-2 b , CD45.1 + ) donors into myeloablatively conditioned allogeneic Balb/b recipients (H-2 b , CD45.2 + , 775 cGy) to induce acute GVHD. BLI on day 4 post-BMT revealed a significantly higher bioluminescent signal (photons/second/mouse) in animals treated with DT compared to PBS recipients (p neg T cells co-cultured with allogeneic DCs and treated with mafosfamide. While exposure to increasing doses of the drug (2.5 and 12.5 μg/ml) caused a proportionally higher cell kill, the surviving T cells showed a marked induction of GFP expression in comparison to cells in the untreated culture. Taken together, these results suggest that Tregs are critical for prevention of GVHD in the context of GVHD prophylaxis with single agent high-dose Cy and that this approach besides limiting alloreactive T cell expansion may also foster conversion of naive peripheral CD4+ T cells into CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Transthoracic Gastroplasty (Collis) and Nissen Fundoplication

Short esophagus due to reflux esophagitis Recurrent gastroesophageal reflux with stricture after an antireflux procedure
Dielectric aspects of biological materials

Advances in understanding the dielectric properties of biological substances continue to suffer from sporadic flurries of activity in specific areas that change with temporary fashion. In 1970 there was a relative preponderance of effort on thin lipid layers constructed as analogues to cellular membranes. Some work on proteins, polypeptides and whole cells was also reported. Most of these studies attempt to use dielectric data for structure analysis, a most difficult and often inconclusive procedure.
Abstract 19403: Abnormal Conduction is Predictive of a Higher Risk of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Myotonic Dystrophy Patients

Introduction: Permanent pacing is often indicated in myotonic dystrophy (MD) patients due to a high risk of conduction disease; however, the risk factors for ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and indica...
Measurement and Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate in Children

Rapid, accurate, and precise measures of kidney function are essential for daily management of patients. While plasma and urinary clearances provide the greatest accuracy for assessing glomerular filtration rate (GFR), these are often impractical particularly for the care of children. Serum creatinine, the most commonly used endogenous marker, is simple, convenient, and practical but less accurate because of the influence of non-GFR determinants such as muscle mass, which increases with age in children. GFR estimating equations have been developed for adults and children to improve the accuracy of endogenous biomarkers, such as creatinine and cystatin C, by accounting for some of the non-GFR determinants, thus enhancing the practitioner's ability to assess GFR. In the steady state, when height is used as a surrogate for growth, there is a strong correlation between height/SCr and GFR. Current national guidelines recommend routine reporting of the estimated GFR alongside the serum creatinine value for adults using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine-based formula and the updated Schwartz "bedside" formula (CKiD 2009) for children.
Degradation of Glyphosate by Mn-Oxide May Bypass Sarcosine and Form Glycine Directly after C-N Bond Cleavage.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient of the common herbicide Roundup. The increasing presence of glyphosate and its byproducts has raised concerns about its potential impact on the environment and human health. In this research, we investigated abiotic pathways of glyphosate degradation as catalyzed by birnessite under aerobic and neutral pH conditions to determine whether certain pathways have the potential to generate less harmful intermediate products. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were utilized to identify and quantify reaction products, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to investigate the bond critical point (BCP) properties of the C–N bond in glyphosate and Mn(IV)-complexed glyphosate. We found that sarcosine, the commonly recognized precursor to glycine, was not present at detectable levels in any of our experiments despite the fact that its half-life (∼13.6 h) was greater than our sampling intervals. Abiotic ...
Textualism in the Lower Courts: Lessons from Judges Interpreting Consumer Legislation

Many judges and legal scholars advocate for a textualist approach to statutory interpretation, as opposed to a more contextual or evolutive approach. This article examines how judges interpreted state consumer legislation in over 200 cases. The author concludes that textualist approaches were no more likely to yield consistent, predictable results than other interpretive techniques.
Angiotensin II stimulates protein phosphatase 2A activity in cultured neuronal cells via type 2 receptors in a pertussis toxin sensitive fashion.

Recent studies have suggested a role for an inhibitory G protein (Gi) and protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in the angiotensin II (Ang II) type 2 (AT2) receptor mediated stimulation of neuronal K+ currents. In the present study we have directly analyzed the effects of Ang II on PP2A activity in neurons cultured from newborn rat hypothalamus and brainstem. Ang II elicited time (30 min - 24 h)- and concentration (10 nM -1 μM)-dependent increases in PP2A activity in these cells. This effect of Ang II involved AT2 receptors, since it was inhibited by the AT2 receptor selective ligand PD123319 (1 μM), but not by the Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist losartan (1 μM). Furthermore, the stimulatory effects of Ang II on PP2A activity were inhibited by pretreatment of cultures with pertussis toxin (PTX) (200 ng/ml; 24 h) indicating the involvement of an inhibitory G-protein; and by cycloheximide (CHX) (1 μg/ml; 30 min) indicating a requirement for protein synthesis. These effects of Ang II appear to be via activation of PP2A, since Western Blot analyses revealed no effects of this peptide on the protein levels of the catalytic subunit of PP2A in cultured neurons. In summary, these data suggest that PP2A is a key component of the intracellular pathways coupled to neuronal AT2 receptors.
The role of APOE4 in Alzheimer’s disease: strategies for future therapeutic interventions

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia affecting almost 50 million people worldwide. The e4 allele of Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the strongest known genetic risk factor for late-onset AD cases, with homozygous APOE4 carriers being approximately 15-times more likely to develop the disease. With 25% of the population being APOE4 carriers, understanding the role of this allele in AD pathogenesis and pathophysiology is crucial. Though the exact mechanism by which e4 allele increases the risk for AD is unknown, the processes mediated by APOE, including cholesterol transport, synapse formation, modulation of neurite outgrowth, synaptic plasticity, destabilization of microtubules, and β-amyloid clearance, suggest potential therapeutic targets. This review will summarize the impact of APOE on neurons and neuronal signaling, the interactions between APOE and AD pathology, and the association with memory decline. We will then describe current treatments targeting APOE4, complications associated with the current therapies, and suggestions for future areas of research and treatment.
Real-Time Density and Thickness Estimation of Thin Asphalt Pavement Overlay During Compaction Using Ground Penetrating Radar Data

Achieving desired density is crucial for thin asphalt concrete (AC) overlay construction quality control and quality assurance purposes. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) can be implemented for AC pavement layer thickness and density prediction during compaction. However, the overlapping of GPR reflections from surface and bottom of the thin AC overlay, as well as the presence of surface moisture, jeopardizes the prediction accuracy. In this study, a pavement model with thin AC overlay was simulated using gprMax, a finite-difference time-domain-based tool. Surface moisture was simulated as a 2-mm film with mixed electrical properties of water and AC. A nonlinear optimization method was used to address the overlapping and surface moisture issues simultaneously. The error of the thin AC overlay dielectric constant and thickness prediction results was less than 7% and 10%, respectively. Field test during thin overlay compaction was also performed to validate the proposed method. The AC overlay thickness and density estimation accuracies were 91% and 99%, respectively.
Comments on “How to reveal the correct elemental concentration profiles in poled multicomponent silicate glasses from the data of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)”

Abstract In the recent article entitled “How to reveal the correct elemental concentration profiles in poled multicomponent silicate glasses from the data of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS),” a SIMS data treatment is proposed, and is predicated on the assumption of the “true” depth profile for poled glasses having a fixed concentration of network-formers like silicon, under the auspices of such species being “immovable” during poling. Deliberated herein are the assumptions underlying this treatment, and particularly highlighting experimental evidence that should lead one to expect that the volumetric concentration of network-formers like silicon should, in fact, be altered during poling (through effects such as network repolymerization). These points cast serious concerns on the fundamental premise underlying the data treatment.
Parent–Child Relationship Satisfaction: The Influence of Family Communication Orientations and Relational Maintenance Behaviors:

This study examined emerging adults’ satisfaction with parent–child relationships as a function of family communication orientations and relational maintenance behaviors. Two hundred and eleven eme...
Implementation of The Surviving Sepsis Campaign In Patients With Heart Failure And Sepsis. Does The Age Matter

Objective The impact of the Survival Sepsis Campaign in patients with heart failure (HF) and sepsis is unknown. Furthermore, there is limited data on the impact of age on clinically relevant outcomes in this population. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 618 patients with HF that developed sepsis. Based on age, patients were stratified into the elderly (age ≥75 years), middle-aged (55-74 years), and young adults (18-54 years). Primary outcomes included all-cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes include the development of pulmonary edema requiring interventions (diuretics vs. mechanical ventilation), cardiogenic shock, post-admission acute kidney injury (AKI), hospital length of stay (LOS), and 30-day HF-related readmission rate. Results chronic comorbidities such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and HF with preserved ejection fraction were more common in the elderly, while end-stage renal disease and HF with reduced ejection fraction were most likely present in young adults (See table 1).Predictors of poor outcomes such as quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) (p=0.1752), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (p=0.1186), and acute decompensated heart failure national registry (ADHERE) (p=0.1465) were similar among the three age groups. However, younger aged patients were most likely to have elevated NT-pro BNP, lactic acid, total bilirubin, and low albumin. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign Bundle (i.e., broad-spectrum antimicrobials and intravenous crystalloids) was equally implemented in all three age groups (p=NS). Outcomes for the elderly, middle age, and young adult population, in-hospital mortality was 33% vs. 30% vs. 24%, p=0.3881, respectively. The elderly had the lowest incidence of cardiogenic shock (p Conclusion Elderly patients with HF that develop sepsis had proportionally higher mortality (33% vs. 30% vs. 24%) despite having fewer predictors of mortality, less in-hospital complications, and shorter LOS than other age groups. These findings suggest that the generalization of the surviving sepsis campaign in patients with HF and sepsis may be deleterious. It should be individualized based on the age group.
Connected Learning, Collapsed Contexts: Examining Teens’ Sociotechnical Ecosystems Through the Lens of Digital Badges

Researchers and designers have incorporated social media affordances into learning technologies to engage young people and support personally relevant learning, but youth may reject these attempts because they do not meet user expectations. Through in-depth case studies, we explore the sociotechnical ecosystems of six teens (ages 15-18) working at a science center that had recently introduced a digital badge system to track and recognize their learning. By analyzing interviews, observations, ecological momentary assessments, and system data, we examined tensions in how badges as connected learning technologies operate in teens' sociotechnical ecosystems. We found that, due to issues of unwanted context collapse and incongruent identity representations, youth only used certain affordances of the system and did so sporadically. Additionally, we noted that some features seemed to prioritize values of adult stakeholders over youth. Using badges as a lens, we reveal critical tensions and offer design recommendations for networked learning technologies.
Pediatric Trials Network: Stakeholder views on thanking families and providing study findings on pragmatic pediatric clinical research.

Abstract We conducted formative research using in-depth interviews to identify preferences for and anticipated responses to receiving thank you notes and lay summaries of aggregate results among caregivers and adolescent participants of pragmatic pediatric studies conducted by the National Institute of Health-sponsored Pediatric Trials Network. We analyzed the data using qualitative thematic analysis. Nearly all participants said receiving a thank you note would make them feel valued, appreciated, and proud because they contributed to science. Similarly, nearly all participants said that receiving a lay summary of research results would make them aware of their role in improving the lives of children, feel like they are an active partner in research, and believe that researchers want to keep them informed. Participants also said that receiving a thank you note or lay summary may motivate them to participate in future research. Providing thank you notes as part of study participation should become a standard clinical trial practice, similar to the practice of providing lay summaries.
Perspectives on the Changing Landscape of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Control

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is an insect-transmitted viral disease of wild and domestic ruminants. It was first described following a 1955 epizootic in North American white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), a species which is highly susceptible to the causative agent of EHD, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). EHDV has been detected globally across tropical and temperate regions, largely corresponding to the presence of Culicoides spp. biting midges which transmit the virus between ruminant hosts. It regularly causes high morbidity and mortality in wild and captive deer populations in endemic areas during epizootics. Although cattle historically have been less susceptible to EHDV, reports of clinical disease in cattle have increased in the past two decades. There is a pressing need to identify new methods to prevent and mitigate outbreaks and reduce the considerable impacts of EHDV on livestock and wildlife. This review discusses recent research advancements towards the control of EHDV, including the development of new investigative tools and progress in basic and applied research focused on virus detection, disease mitigation, and vector control. The potential impacts and implications of these advancements on EHD management are also discussed.
Hormesis : a revolution in biology, toxicology and medicine

Hormesis: What it is and Why it Matters.- Hormesis: Once Marginalized, Evidence Now Supports Hormesis as the Most Fundamental Dose Response.- The Fundamental Role of Hormesis in Evolution.- Transcriptional Mediators of Cellular Hormesis.- The Devil is in the Dose: Complexity of Receptor Systems and Responses.- Exercise-Induced Hormesis.- Dietary Energy Intake, Hormesis, and Health.- Couch Potato: The Antithesis of Hormesis.- Hormesis and Aging.- The Hormetic Pharmacy: The Future of Natural Products and Man-Made Drugs in Disease Prevention and Treatment.
Why everyone should know how to program a computer

The notion of programming a computer usually connotes the idea of writing computer programs in general purpose, block structured languages such as Pascal, C, FORTRAN, etc. The need for people to become proficient in such languages, even for scientists and engineers, is perceived to have diminished as powerful software tools have become available. In this paper we argue that the need for students to be familiar with the basic fundamentals of programming a computer are stronger than ever, regardless of whether they intend to become computer programmers. We discuss a software based approach developed for students in all curricula which addresses this need by introducing the concepts of programming a computer in more intuitive and friendly environments than those afforded by traditional programming languages.
Joint estimation for incorporating MRI anatomic images into SPECT reconstruction

To improve SPECT reconstruction using spatially-correlated magnetic resonance (MR) images as a source of side information, one must account for mismatch between MRI anatomical information and SPECT functional information. The authors investigate an approach which incorporates the anatomical information into SPECT reconstruction by using region labels representing the anatomical regions extracted from MRI. Each SPECT pixel corresponds to one region label. Both SPECT pixel mean intensities and region labels are jointly estimated by a penalized Maximum-Likelihood criterion using an iterative Space-Alternating Generalized EM algorithm. The likelihood function incorporates both the SPECT noise distribution and the MRI side information measurement statistics. Since the region labels are estimated jointly from both segmented MRI and SPECT projection data, only those anatomical regions that match SPECT functional regions are represented by the estimated labels, and are used to constrain the SPECT reconstruction. The artifacts due to the mismatched MR anatomical region information are reduced using joint estimation. By comparing image quality and the Bias vs. Variance tradeoffs, the authors see that the joint estimation has the potential to improve the SPECT estimation result. >
Antibiotic resistance. A vancomycin surprise.

Bacteria are becoming increasingly clever, and can now outwit most of the antibiotics that we throw at them. The results of a new study show not only that some clinical isolates of penicillin-resistantS. pneumoniaeare also tolerant to vancomycin, but they also give us a clue to how the bacteria do this. The key is a two-component signal-transduction system.
Microstimulation of visual cortex to restore vision

This review argues that one reason why a functional visuo-cortical prosthetic device has not been developed to restore even minimal vision to blind individuals is because there is no animal model to guide the design and development of such a device. Over the past 8 years we have been conducting electrical microstimulation experiments on alert behaving monkeys with the aim of better understanding how electrical stimulation of the striate cortex (area V1) affects oculo- and skeleto-motor behaviors. Based on this work and upon review of the literature, we arrive at several conclusions: (1) As with the development of the cochlear implant, the development of a visuo-cortical prosthesis can be accelerated by using animals to test the perceptual effects of microstimulating V1 in intact and blind monkeys. (2) Although a saccade-based paradigm is very convenient for studying the effectiveness of delivering stimulation to V1 to elicit saccadic eye movements, it is less ideal for probing the volitional state of monkeys, as they perceive electrically induced phosphenes. (3) Electrical stimulation of V1 can delay visually guided saccades generated to a punctate target positioned in the receptive field of the stimulated neurons. We call the region of visual space affected by the stimulation a delay field. The study of delay fields has proven to be an efficient way to study the size and shape of phosphenes generated by stimulation of macaque V1. (4) An alternative approach to ascertain what monkeys see during electrical stimulation of V1 is to have them signal the detection of current with a lever press. Monkeys can readily detect currents of 1-2 microA delivered to V1. In order to evoke featured phosphenes currents of under 5 microA will be necessary. (5) Partially lesioning the retinae of monkeys is superior to completely lesioning the retinae when determining how blindness affects phosphene induction. We finish by proposing a future experimental paradigm designed to determine what monkeys see when stimulation is delivered to V1, by assessing how electrical fields generated through multiple electrodes interact for the production of phosphenes, and by depicting a V1 circuit that could mediate electrically induced phosphenes.
Metal complexes of fluorophosphines: XIV. Structures of five zerovalent metal complexes of methylaminobis(difluorophosphine)

Abstract Details are presented of single crystal X-ray diffraction determinations of the structures of the five zerovalent metal complexes Cr[PF 2 N(CH 3 ) 2 ] 4 [(PF 2 ) 2 NCH 3 ], Fe[(PF 2 ) 2 NCH 3 ] 4 , and [CH 3 N(PF 2 ) 2 ] 3 Co 2 L 2 (L = CO, CH 3 NHPF 2 , and (CH 3 ) 2 NPF 2 ). The chromium atom in Cr[PF 2 N(CH 3 ) 2 ] 4 [(PF 2 ) 2 NCH 3 ] has a distorted octahedral coordination with four monodentate (CH 3 ) 2 NPF 2 ligands and one bidentate CH 3 N(PF 2 ) 2 ligand; the small bite of the latter ligand distorts one of the idealized 90° angles of the CrP 6 octahedron to 67°. The iron atom in Fe[(PF 2 ) 2 NCH 3 ] 4 has a distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination with three monodentate CH 3 N(PF 2 ) 2 ligands and one bidentate CH 3 N(PF 2 ) 2 ligand. The bidentate CH 3 N(PF 2 ) 2 ligand in Fe[(PF 2 ) 2 NCH 3 ] 4 is coordinated to an axial and an equatorial position of the FeP 5 trigonal bipyramid and because of its small bite squeezes the relevant P ax -Fe-P eq angle from the ideal value of 90° down to 69°. The structures of the binuclear cobalt complexes [CH 3 N(PF 2 ) 2 ] 3 Co 2 L 2 (L = CO, (CH 3 ) 2 NPF 2 , and CH 3 NHPF 2 ) may be regarded as consisting of two CoCoLP 3 trigonal bipyramids linked through a cobalt-cobalt bond. Further linking of the two trigonal bipyramids occurs through the three biligate bimetallic CH 3 N(PF 2 ) 2 ligands, each of which bridges an equatorial position of one trigonal bipyramid with an equatorial position of the other trigonal bipyramid thereby leading to a [3.3.3]propellane structure in which the edge shared by the three five-membered chelate rings is the cobalt-cobalt bond. Significant deviations from three-fold symmetry occur in these trigonal bipyramids and in a given binuclear cobalt complex the two trigonal bipyramids are twisted by about 30° relative to each other.
Chapter 3 Development of the corticospinal system and spinal motor circuits.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses animal and human studies that elucidate the principles of the development of the corticospinal (CS) system. The chapter focuses on the relationship between the principles of development in animals and impairments in CS development in humans. An overview of the spinal targets of the CS projection, motoneurons, and interneurons, as well as the mechanisms that determine how they are generated from precursor cells is presented. These are important new results that are likely to yield future insights into how neural circuits are formed between the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord. The development of the descending CS projection to the spinal gray matter and that of the cortical motor map are explored. The motor cortex is a key site for integrating inputs from different subcortical motor centers and the spinal cord and for integrating descending control and somatic sensory inputs.
Mass Spectrometry in Process Analysis

The mass spectrometer can provide a versatile, highly specific and sensitive tool for the analysis and control of industrial processes. More common techniques for industrial process control are gas chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. Ion mobility spectrometry and chemical sensors are slowly being introduced. Although mass spectrometry is relatively more complex and expensive to implement than these other techniques, the sensitivity and specificity offered is often unmatched. This article gives a general review of the roots of mass spectrometry as it applies to on-line process control. A short discussion of instrumentation commonly used in the practice of this technique has been added and limited only to the more popular and currently commercially available instruments. These include sector, quadrupole and time-of-flight mass spectrometers. The capabilities and specifications of the different classes of mass spectrometers are discussed and compared. Specific sampling methodology for the operation of these instruments in on-line processes is given. Also included is a discussion of common practices in the reduction of interferences and deconvolution of mass spectra from mixtures. In-depth examples of industrial process and control applications have been selected and are discussed in the areas of biotechnology, technical incineration, petrochemical, and semiconductor production.
A study of 2,987 consecutive episiotomies

Abstract Two thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven consecutive episiotomies have been considered from the standpoint of immediate healing, coincident morbidity, incidence of infection, and end-results. We believe that a sufficiently large series has been summarized to eliminate the majority of errors which might be due to individual factors. The following conclusions are presented: 1. Infection of the episiotomy wound is a minor but significant cause of puerperal morbidity. 2. The incidence of infection is greater in those cases repaired with silkworm gut suture but the average infection in this group is less severe. 3. The incidence of infection in both types of repair increases rapidly with the complexity of associated obstetric procedures. 4. Morbidity and end results depend upon factors other than the type of suture material used in the repair.
Peripheral sympathetic pathways to gastroduodenal region of the guinea pig

The sympathetic pathways to the stomach and duodenum of the guinea pig were studied by electrical nerve stimulation and by gastric distension in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro preparation consisted of the stomach and duodenum connected by para-arterial nerves to the celiac plexus. Gastroduodenal motility was measured with intraluminal pressure catheters. Stimulation of splanchnic nerves resulted in inhibition of propulsive contractions of both the stomach and duodenum. Stimulation of the left gastric nerve inhibited the stomach but not the duodenum, and stimulation of the gastroduodenal nerve inhibited the duodenum only. When the gastroduodenal nerve was stimulated, excitatory postsynaptic potentials were elicited in 18% of the cells from which intracellular recordings were made in the celiac ganglia. When the stomach was distended to a pressure of 5-7 cmH2O, propulsive contractions in the duodenum stopped in 86% of the distensions in the in vivo preparations and in 62% of the distensions in the in vitro preparations. Section of the gastroduodenal nerve eliminated the distension-induced inhibition of duodenal propulsion in vitro. These experiments describe the efferent sympathetic pathways to the celiac plexus of the guinea pig and demonstrate reflex pathways to the celiac plexus that can mediate a gastroduodenal inhibitory reflex.
Dynamic softening of copper during deformation at high temperatures and strain rates

Abstract The response of single crystals of pure copper to hot deformation was investigated and found to be similar to that of a polycrystalline aggregate. The flow curve exhibited an oscillation in the flow stress before attaining a steady state when deformed under the conditions of low Z (Zener-Holloman parameter) and a single maximum when deformed under conditions of high Z. However, the strain to the peak stress was consistently higher for single crystals than for polycrystals deformed under identical conditions. The critical strain to initiate dynamic recrystallization in single crystals was found to be less than the strain to the peak stress, and the difference gradually increased upon increasing Z. Interrupted compression tests performed on polycrystalline copper and aluminium demonstrated that dynamic recrystallization is essentially quasi-static in nature. However, dynamic recovery is achieved through the accelerated softening kinetics which are assisted by the applied stress and/or strain rate. Both optical and transmission electron microscopy observations reveal that the dynamically recrystallized structure is essentially composed of annealing twins. The association of the occurrence of annealing twins with dynamic softening has led to the proposal of a mechanism for dynamic recrystallization. This mechanism can account for the structural instability which must occur within the deformation time necessary for dynamic recrystallization. In this view, the role of stacking fault energy in initiating dynamic recrystallization is exerted through its influence on twin boundary interfacial energy.
Predictors of Knowledge Gains Using Simulation in the Education of Prelicensure Nursing Students

Gains in knowledge and self-efficacy using human patient simulation (HPS) in the education of prelicensure nursing students have been reported. However, the predictors of improved learning outcomes using this teaching methodology are not known. Using a two-group (participated in HPS, did not participate in HPS), repeated-measures, experimental design, we examined the predictors of higher scores on a Knowledge Questionnaire in 162 students (age = 25.7 ± 6.6, gender = 85.5% female) from four prelicensure cohorts at three nursing schools. Statistical analysis consisted of t-tests, ANOVA and stepwise logistic regression. Covariates included age, gender, learning style, baseline critical thinking, baseline self-efficacy, group membership (control or experimental), and school. Membership in the experimental group was the only statistically significant independent predictor (P < .001) of knowledge gains among the covariates entered into the regression analysis. Members of the control group were two times less likely than those in the experimental group to be in the higher scored group (P < .001), yet this changed once the control group participated in HPS. Our findings show that HPS can independently improve test scores. This study provides evidence that HPS; is an effective teaching methodology for prelicensure nursing students regardless of age, learning style, or critical thinking ability.
Systematic Visualization Suite for En Route Air Traffic Flows and Flight Encounters

DOI: 10.2514/1.54512 This paper describes a suite of visualization software developed over several years of research by Rowan University in collaboration with Fairfield University and in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through a collaborative research development agreement. The visualization suite aids analysts in the evaluation of air traffic data: particularly, the accuracy of conflict probes within decision support tools (DSTs). Within this suite are two software applications developed in Java. The first visualization tool is called ScenarioGUI (scenario graphical user interface), and it is used to evaluate new advanced air traffic concepts within U.S. National Airspace System. The second visualization tool is called FlightGUI (flight graphical user interface), which helps the FAAvisualizeareasofinterestduringthetestingandevaluationofnewDSTsbeingdeployedintothe field.Twocase studies of real-world examples are provided, showcasing the process of using these tools to discover insights into the data. The end product is a capability that helps the FAA determine appropriate requirements for such future systems, and an ability to purge test data in order to illustrate reasons for inaccuracies and errors through visualization that may otherwise go unnoticed through typical regression and statistical system testing.
Geosecs II, the 1970 North Atlantic station: Hydrographic features, oxygen, and nutrients

Abstract Profiles of salinity, temperature, oxygen and nutrients for a station at 35°46.5′N and 67°59.8′W show the influence of the five major sources of deep water in the North Atlantic Ocean. The presence of distinct, identifiable cores of water types, far removed from their sources, together with linear relationships between salinity and both oxygen and silicate in the deep water suggest that horizontal mixing processes predominate over vertical dissipation and in situ production or loss processes in determining the distribution of these tracers in the deep western Atlantic Ocean.