cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imaging for Percutaneous Renal Access and Management of Renal Calculi

Percutaneous renal stone surgery requires detailed imaging to define stone burden and delineate the anatomy of the kidney and nearby organs. It is also essential to carry out safe percutaneous access and to assess postoperative outcomes. The emergence of CT as the imaging modality of choice for detecting renal calculi and the ability of CT urography with or without three-dimensional reconstruction to delineate the collecting system makes this the most versatile and sensitive imaging modality for pre- and postoperative evaluation. At present, intravenous urogram continues to play an important role in the evaluation of patients considered for percutaneous nephrostolithotomy. Fluoroscopy re-mains the mainstay of intraoperative imaging, although ultrasound is a useful alternative. Selection and application of appropriate imaging modalities for patients undergoing per-cutaneous nephrostolithotomy enhances the safety and success of the procedure.
Voter and Candidate Reaction to District and at-Large Elections: Buffalo, New York

The behavior of voters and candidates in at-large and ward elections for the Buffalo Common Council is examined. Candidates in ward races spend more per registered voter than do their at-large counterparts, and voters tend to ignore the at-large races more than the ward races. Several reasons for this are considered, and it is concluded that district type has an independent impact on voter and candidate behavior.
Organic chelating agents for decalcification of bones and teeth.

Lower jaws of adult guinea pigs were fixed in 10% neutral formalin 24 hours following intra-arterial and intra-man-dibular injection of the same fluid. They were then decalcified 3 weeks by 3 changes of Versene or Sequestrene (ethylene diamine tetracetic acid, disodium salt). Examination of the sections revealed complete decalcification, excellent fixation and selective staining of bone, cartilage, tooth and other tissues. Comparison with acid-decalcified preparations leads us to conclude that chelate-decalcification is at least as good if not superior to acid-decalcification in the preparation of such hard tissues.
On anion-exchange resin selectivities

Abstract The selectivity of anion-exchange resins in contact with very dilute external solutions (negligible resin invasion by non-exchange electrolyte) is considered due in large part to changes in the solvation of the ions, resulting from differences in the properties of the resin-phase solution and the external dilute aqueous solution. The resin-phase solution is a concentrated electrolyte solution with three significant differences from a dilute electrolyte solution: (a) the cationic species is fixed on the resin matrix; (b) electrostatic forces are stronger; (c) the water molecules in the resin phase have less co-operative structure. The tendency of large univalent ions to be forced out of the dilute solution and into the resin phase because of their small degree of hydration and considerable water-structure-breaking character is considered, as well as the effects of specific group hydration.
Navigating the Human-Animal Boundary

Animals have long figured in anthropology, but human-animal relations have come into focus in recent decades. The topic links anthropology's sub-disciplines by exploring the biological and cultural nature of both humans and animals in the past and present, as well as articulating with similar concerns in other disciplines. While anthropology is defined in terms of the separation of humans from animals, this exploration exposes the permeability of the human-animal boundary, transcended by thinking animals, bestial ancestors, and trans-species empathy. This forces a rethinking of the nature of personhood: is it only for people?
Large structure in the far wakes of two-dimensional bluff bodies

Smoke-wire flow visualization and hot-wire anemometry have been used to study near and far wakes of two-dimensional bluff bodies. For the case of a circular cylinder at 70 < Re < 2000, a very rapid (exponential) decay of velocity fluctuations at the Karman-vortex-street frequency is observed. Beyond this region of decay, larger-scale (lower wavenumber) structure can be seen. In the far wake (beyond one hundred diameters) a broad band of frequencies is selectively amplified and then damped, the centre of the band shifting to lower frequencies as downstream distance is increased. The far-wake structure does not depend directly on the scale or frequency of Karman vortices shed from the cylinder; i.e. it does not result from amalgamation of shed vortices. The growth of this structure is due to hydrodynamic instability of the developing mean wake profile. Under certain conditions amalgamation can take place, but is purely incidental, and is not the driving mechanism responsible for the growth of larger-scale structure. Similar large structure is observed downstream of porous flat plates (Re [approximate] 6000), which do not initially shed Karman-type vortices into the wake. Measured prominent frequencies in the far cylinder wake are in good agreement with those estimated by two-dimensional locally parallel inviscid linear stability theory, when streamwise growth of wake width is taken into account. Finally, three-dimensionality in the far wake of a circular cylinder is briefly discussed and a mechanism for its development is suggested based on a secondary parametric instability of the subharmonic type.
Key success factors of multinational firms in China

This article presents the latest empirical findings on factors critical to the success of multinational companies (MNCs) investing in the People's Republic of China. The study, based on recent face-to-face interviews with managers from MNCs in China, shows that critical success factors for these MNCs include: CEO's long-term commitment to the Chinese market, thorough predeparture training and feasibility studies, patience and persistence, effective use of Chinese intermediaries, bringing a brand name image, establishing wholly owned structures whenever possible, finding qualified local partners in joint ventures, winning trust from Chinese officials and managers, and developing good human resource management. The study has laid a solid foundation for a quantitative survey of these issues in the future. ©1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effect of heparin on cleavage rates and embryo production with four bovine sperm preparation protocols

Heparin is often added to fertilization media to induce sperm capacitation. However, recent observations from the bovine IVF industry have indicated that heparin may not be necessary to induce sperm capacitation when cryopreserved bovine sperm are separated through Percoll gradients. The objective of these studies was to determine if the addition of heparin to fertilization media was required following separation of frozen–thawed bovine sperm. Experiment 1 was conducted to determine the effect of heparin on cleavage rates and embryo production when using Percoll, BSA or washing sperm separation protocols. Experiment 2 was conducted to determine the effect of heparin on cleavage rates and embryonic development when using a new sperm separation protocol (PureSperm®). In Experiment 1, regardless of sperm separation protocol, heparin increased cleavage rates and embryo production (P 0.05). However, heparin increased cleavage rates for both protocols and improved embryo production for the PureSperm® protocol (P<0.05). In conclusion, use of heparin in fertilization media improves in vitro embryo production when using cryopreserved bovine sperm. Furthermore, PureSperm® can be used as an alternative to Percoll for bovine sperm separation.
Towards a thermodynamics of active matter

Self-propulsion allows living systems to display self-organization and unusual phase behavior. Unlike passive systems in thermal equilibrium, active matter systems are not constrained by conventional thermodynamic laws. A question arises, however, as to what extent, if any, can concepts from classical thermodynamics be applied to nonequilibrium systems like active matter. Here we use the new swim pressure perspective to develop a simple theory for predicting phase separation in active matter. Using purely mechanical arguments we generate a phase diagram with a spinodal and critical point, and define a nonequilibrium chemical potential to interpret the “binodal.” We provide a generalization of thermodynamic concepts like the free energy and temperature for nonequilibrium active systems. Our theory agrees with existing simulation data both qualitatively and quantitatively and may provide a framework for understanding and predicting the behavior of nonequilibrium active systems.
Effect of Preparturient 17β-Estradiol and Relaxin on Parturition and Pup Survival in the Rat

This study examined the requirement for 17 beta-estradiol (E) and relaxin (R) during the preparturient period (approximately the last 30 h of gestation) for normal parturition and pup survival in the rat. On the evening of day 21 of pregnancy, primiparous Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally ovariectomized or sham operated and fitted with Silastic capsules containing one of four doses of E (6.0, 11.4, 45.6, or 68.4 micrograms in sesame oil) or sesame oil only. These rats were also injected sc with either 200 micrograms highly purified porcine R dissolved in 200 microliter 5% beeswax in corn oil or R vehicle three times (approximately 8 to 10-h intervals) beginning at ovariectomy. The durations of straining and delivery were increasingly prolonged with increasing doses of E in the ovariectomized groups that received E but no R. In rats that received the two highest doses of E there was a reduction in the percentage of pups born alive and a reduction in pups surviving on day 2 postpartum, and one or two undelivered fetuses were retained in utero in some animals 3 days postpartum. The administration of R with the two highest doses of E restored all parturition parameters to values not different from those of intact controls. In the absence of both E and R, all measured parturition parameters were abnormal, and administration of R in the absence of E only partially restored them to control values. Two major conclusions are drawn. First, E treatment alone to pregnant rats ovariectomized on day 21 fails to elicit normal parturition; indeed, with increasing doses of E, parturition parameters and pup survival become increasingly adversely affected. Second, R treatment of E-treated ovariectomized rats during the immediate preparturient period restores parturition parameters and pup survival to the levels of intact sham-operated controls.
The pulmonary response and clearance of Ludox colloidal silica after a 4-week inhalation exposure in rats.

Abstract Rats were exposed to Ludox colloidal silica (CS) at concentrations of 0, 10, 50, and 150 mg/m3 for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Rats were killed after 4 weeks of exposure and 10 days or 3 months postexposure (PE). The exposure concentration of 10 mg/m3 Ludox CS is considered to be the no-effect concentration. There were no exposure-related clinical signs in any group. After 4 weeks exposure, lung weights were increased significantly in rats exposed to 50 and 150 mg/m3 Ludox CS, but lung weights were similar to those of controls at 3 months PE. After 4 weeks exposure to 50 mg/m3 Ludox CS, a slight alveolar macrophage response, polymorphonuclear leukocytic infiltration, and Type II pneumocyte hyperplasia in alveolar duct regions were present. After 3 months PE, these pulmonary lesions had almost disappeared with removal of most dust-laden alveolar macrophages (AMs). The pulmonary response to 150 mg/m3 Ludox CS was similar in character but increased in magnitude from that seen at 50 mg/m3. At 3 months PE, most particleladen AMs had disappeared and the remaining AMs were aggregated and sharply demarcated. A few aggregates of particleladen AMs appeared to transform into silicotic nodules comprising macrophages, epithelioid cells, and lymphocytic infiltration in some animals. Some silicotic nodules showed reticular fiber networks with minute collagen fiber deposition. Tracheobronchial lymph nodes were enlarged with aggregates of particleladen AMs and hyperplastic histiocytic cells. Lung-deposited Ludox cleared rapidly from the lungs with half-times of approximately 40 and 50 days for the 50 and 150 mg/m3 groups, respectively.
Treatment and monitoring of coagulation abnormalities in children undergoing heart surgery.

Summary Bleeding is a considerable clinical problem during and after pediatric heart surgery. While the primary cause of bleeding is surgical trauma, its treatment is often complicated by the presence of coagulopathy. The principle causes of coagulopathy are discussed to provide a context for treatment. The role of laboratory and point of care tests, which aim to identify the cause of bleeding in the individual patient, is also discussed. An attempt is made to examine the current evidence for available therapies, including use of blood products and, more recently proposed, approaches based on human or recombinant factor concentrates.
Lignin depolymerization over Ni/C catalyst in methanol, a continuation: effect of substrate and catalyst loading

Conversion of lignin to fuels and chemicals is a significant challenge given the intrinsic heterogeneity of lignin. Towards development of selective processes for lignin depolymerization, herein we further expand on a catalytic system, Ni/C in methanol, for the conversion of wood lignin into methoxypropylphenols (Song et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 2013, 6, 994–1007). We find that the product spectrum and yield vary significantly across catalyst loading and biomass type and origin. Poplar and eucalyptus result in lower monomer yields than those found for birch. These results suggest that catalytic systems for selective lignin depolymerization must carefully consider the nature of the substrate to achieve high yields of individual, upgradeable products.
A three-phase three winding topology for Dual Active Bridge and its D-Q mode control

A new Dual Active Bridge (DAB) topology is proposed with a 15-kV SiC-IGBT based three-level inverter at the high-voltage side and 1200-V SiC-MOSFET based paralleled two-level inverter at the low-voltage side. The proposed DAB is an integral part of a solid state transformer which connects a 13.8-kV distribution grid and a 480-V utility grid. The three-level inverter connected at the high-voltage side and a pair of two-level inverters connected at the low-voltage sides (in Y/Δ) of the high frequency link transformer help to reduce dominant harmonic currents. Thus harmonic-free currents in the high frequency link transformer are achieved without pulse-width modulation. A simple control is proposed and validated with simulation results.
Editorial Commentary: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: Patient and Physician Attitudes

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown in numerous case series to be a rapidly acting (within hours to weeks), safe (no serious adverse effects definitely attributed to FMT), and highly effective (worldwide average success rate, 91%) therapy for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), even when all other treatments have failed. At present, there remain only 2 impediments to its wide-scale acceptance into the anti-CDI armamentarium. The first is the lack of a randomized controlled trial to prove its effectiveness against a valid comparator. Two current studies will be of value in this regard. The first, the so-called FECAL (Fecal therapy to Eliminate Clostridium difficile Associated Longstanding diarrhoea) trial, has already been completed, and its results are eagerly awaited. In this 3-armed study by Van Nood and colleagues from Amsterdam [1], vancomycin alone (group 1) or with colon lavage (group 2) was compared with nasoduodenal tube administration of FMT after vancomycin and colon lavage (group 3). The second study, whose principal investigators are Colleen Kelly and myself, was recently approved by the National Institutes of Health. This study has a randomized, controlled, blinded design: FMT with either donor stool or patient (recipient) stool (placebo) is used to treat patients with ≥3 recurrences of CDI; failure to respond to treatment will enable the recipient to subsequently receive donor stool in an open fashion. The second impediment to acceptance of FMT, which seems more common in physicians than in patients, is the “yuck” factor. In a prior questionnaire-type study, using data generated by 5 academic physician practices in disparate areas across the United States from patients who had undergone FMT for recurrent CDI and were followed up for ≥3 months, 2 major conclusions were reached. First, 91% of patients were cured by the first FMT, and 98% were either cured by a second FMT or responded to vancomycin, which they had not responded to before FMT. Second, 73% of patients said they would undergo FMT again, and 53% said they would opt to undergo FMT as initial therapy for a future CDI episode [2]. The present study by Zipursky and
A note on stopping rules in EM-ML reconstructions of ECT images

The use of the expectation-maximization algorithm to obtain pseudo-maximum likelihood estimates (i.e. the EM-ML algorithm) of radiopharmaceutical distributions based on data collected from emission computed tomography (ECT) systems is now a well developed area, as witnessed by a number of recent articles on that topic, including the detailed study of the relative performance of EM-ML and FBP reconstructions provided in J. Llacer et al. (ibid., vol. 12, p. 215-31, 1993). However, there remains considerable confusion in the field regarding appropriate stopping rules for EM-ML algorithms, and in this correspondence the author attempts to detail a shortcoming of one of the more recent and innovative stopping rule criteria. In particular, the author discusses the effect of total photon counts on stopping criteria based on cross-validation. >
Varying penetration ratios of wind turbine technologies for voltage and frequency stability

This paper examines the ability of a power system to accommodate wind generation with varying ratios of doubly-fed induction generator and fixed speed induction generator turbines from both static and dynamic aspects. By controlling the ratio between the two types of turbines, voltage stability is maintained for steady-state conditions for a large range of varying wind speeds. Using the ratio determined from the static analysis, the dynamic analysis explores the voltage and frequency characteristics of the system under contingency conditions. An initial analysis was carried out on the IEEE 30 bus test system. The results of this analysis are presented in this paper and detail how by varying the ratio of the turbine types the frequency stability and voltage stability can be improved.
Malaria parasites tolerate a broad range of ionic environments and do not require host cation remodelling

Malaria parasites grow within erythrocytes, but are also free in host plasma between cycles of asexual replication. As a result, the parasite is exposed to fluctuating levels of Na(+) and K(+) , ions assumed to serve important roles for the human pathogen, Plasmodium falciparum. We examined these assumptions and the parasite's ionic requirements by establishing continuous culture in novel sucrose-based media. With sucrose as the primary osmoticant and K(+) and Cl(-) as the main extracellular ions, we obtained parasite growth and propagation at rates indistinguishable from those in physiological media. These conditions abolish long-known increases in intracellular Na(+) via parasite-induced channels, excluding a requirement for erythrocyte cation remodelling. We also dissected Na(+) , K(+) and Cl(-) requirements and found that unexpectedly low concentrations of each ion meet the parasite's demands. Surprisingly, growth was not adversely affected by up to 148 mM K(+) , suggesting that low extracellular K(+) is not an essential trigger for erythrocyte invasion. At the same time, merozoite egress and invasion required a threshold ionic strength, suggesting critical electrostatic interactions between macromolecules at these stages. These findings provide insights into transmembrane signalling in malaria and reveal fundamental differences between host and parasite ionic requirements.
Nanoelectromechanics of piezoelectric indentation and applications to scanning probe microscopies of ferroelectric materials

Nanoelectromechanics of piezoelectric indentation, including the structure of coupled electroelastic fields and stiffness relations, is analysed for flat, spherical, and conical indenter geometries. Exact solutions in elementary functions for electroelastic fields inside the material are obtained using the recently established correspondence principle between the elastic and the piezoelectric problems. The stiffness relations fully describe the indentation process and relate indentation depth, indentation force and bias to the relevant material properties and indenter parameters. This extends the results of Hertzian mechanics to piezoelectric materials. The stiffness relations are utilized for quantitative understanding of the electromechanical scanning probe microscopies (SPM) of ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials, including piezoresponse force microscopy, atomic force acoustic microscopy, scanning near-field acoustic microscopy, and heterodyne ultrasonic-electrostatic force microscopy. The structure of the electroelastic field yields a quantitative measure of signal generation volume in electromechanical SPMs and also provides a quantitative basis for the analysis of tip-induced polarisation switching and local hysteresis loop measurements.
One-Hop vs. Two-Hop Routing in Simple Networks with Fading: An Outage Probability Analysis Addressing Spectral Efficiency

This paper compares one-hop and two-hop routing in a simple three node network consisting of two mobiles and a base station. The channel model assumes additive white Gaussian noise, attenuation due to path loss, and slow Rayleigh fading; the network is assumed to use time division multiple access to ameliorate interference for two-hop routing. The outage probabilities of the two schemes are compared to derive conclusions about the relative advantages of multi-hop (two-hop) routing as a function of required end-to-end spectral efficiency. This analysis is carried out under two different assumptions regarding the allocation of power between the mobiles - one scenario in which a total sum power is allocated optimally and another scenario in which each mobile is allocated the same fixed power. The analysis also includes two different assumptions about the receiver's operation in two-hop mode - one in which the receiver bases its estimate of the data solely on the signal transmitted by the relay, and another in which the receiver uses code combining to exploit both the relay-transmitted signal and the source-transmitted signal. For the case in which the receiver ignores the source-transmitted signal, it is shown that one-hop routing outperforms two-hop routing when the required end-to-end spectral efficiency is above R* = log2(2alpha-1 -1), where alpha is the path loss exponent. When code combining is employed at the receiver, this "critical rate" is substantially increased.
Suppression of vortex shedding for flow around a circular cylinder using optimal control

Adjoint formulation is employed for the optimal control of flow around a rotating cylinder, governed by the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations. The main objective consists of suppressing Karman vortex shedding in the wake of the cylinder by controlling the angular velocity of the rotating body, which can be constant in time or time-dependent. Since the numerical control problem is ill-posed, regularization is employed. An empirical logarithmic law relating the regularization coefficient to the Reynolds number was derived for 60 ≤ Re ≤ 140. Optimal values of the angular velocity of the cylinder are obtained for Reynolds numbers ranging from Re = 60 to Re = 1000
Spatiotemporal Modeling of Asian Citrus Canker Risks: Implications for Insurance and Indemnification Fund Models

Asiatic citrus canker is an infectious disease that is a signiflcant hazard to commercial citrus production in Florida. Our paper examines spatio-temporal models of the risks of citrus canker transmission. The State of Florida implemented an inspection program that checks every commercial grove several times each year. We use data from over 338,000 inspections over the 1998-2004 period to evaluate the risks associated with canker infection. Simple models describing the risks of infection are used to evaluate risks and associated indemnity/insurance fund contribution rates. Fruit type, grove size, and a history of recent infections in neighboring areas are found to be important determinants of canker infection risks. Conditional risks are estimated from the models and are used to price annual contracts which would pay producers a pre-specifled indemnity in the event that their grove is found to be infected with canker.
On the same page: The value of paid and volunteer leaders sharing mental models in churches

Abstract We examine the idea that mental models shared among paid and volun-teer leaders are associated with improved financial performance in non-profit organizations. Our empirical analysis of thirty-seven churches yields evidence that organizations are more effective if paid and volunteer leaders have a shared task mental model—that is, if they report similar conceptual-izations of organizational goals and decision-making processes. These find-ings suggest that the extent of leaders’ agreement on organizational goals and the processes of how decisions are made matter for organizational per-formance. We argue that it is as important to ensure that everyone is on the same page with regard to goals and how decisions are made as it is to have the “right” goals or right decision processes in place. Implications for prac-tice and future research on shared mental models are discussed. “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” —Anais Nin G etting people “on the same page” means having people see an issue the same way, and share the same reference points, the same images, the same vocabulary. Such cognitive unity is believed to facilitate understanding, communication, decision making, and ultimately effective operations. Yet a number of re-search studies suggest that achieving this cognitive unity is diffi-cult because individuals tend to rely on their own idiosyncratic rep-resentation of an issue. For example, managers’ perceptions differ among one another (Mezias and Starbuck, 2003) and people’s or-ganizational roles affect what they see (Mezias, Grinyer, and Guth, 2001; Payne and Pugh, 1976)
Integrating Phase-Change Memory Cell With Ge Nanowire Diode for Crosspoint Memory—Experimental Demonstration and Analysis

In this paper, we demonstrate a novel phase-change memory cell utilizing a low-temperature in situ doped single crystalline germanium nanowire diode as a bottom electrode as well as a memory-cell selection device. The integrated memory cell shows promising characteristics such as low programming current, large set/reset resistance ratio, and rectifying behavior, which is required for high-density 3-D crosspoint memory. The small contact area determined by the diameter of nanowires enables low programming current below 200 for reset and 50 for set. The average resistance ratio of set/reset state programmed by repetitive pulse programming is 82, which is large enough for large-array operation. The heterojunction formed between in situ doped Ge nanowires and Si substrate provides isolation for crosspoint-memory operation.
CT scan in the management of acute appendicitis.

Abstract Background. Recent studies demonstrate a 98% accuracy of a CT scan in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. We aimed to determine the accuracy and clinical value of CT scans in patients suspected of having acute appendicitis. Patients and materials. We reviewed outcomes of 125 patients over a 5-month period who had CT scans for the initial diagnosis of acute appendicitis. CT scan interpretations were correlated with surgical and pathologic findings. Follow-up was attempted in all patients who did not undergo appendectomy. Results. CT scans and clinical courses were complete in 110 patients (88%); 14 patients were lost to follow-up and 1 was excluded. One patient had two CT scans. Thus, there were 111 CT scans available for review. Radiologic interpretation of these CT scans yielded 36 positive (33%), 67 negative (60%), and 8 indeterminate (7%), resulting in a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 89%, a PPV of 78%, and a NPV of 96%. Conclusions. CT scan may be useful in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, but the reported high accuracy rate was not reproduced at our institution. CT scan was not clinically useful in 21% of patients. We conclude that a CT scan may be beneficial in the diagnosis of appendicitis with selected patients who have equivocal findings. Thus, at our institution, the accuracy of a CT scan does not justify its routine use in patients with clinical findings of appendicitis.
Phorbol ester-induced down modulation of tailless CD4 receptors requires prior binding of gp120 and suggests a role for accessory molecules.

The entry of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 into cells proceeds via a fusion mechanism that is initiated by binding of the viral glycoprotein gp120-gp41 to its cellular receptor CD4. Species- and tissue-specific restrictions to viral entry suggested the participation of additional membrane components in the postbinding fusion events. In a previous study (H. Golding, J. Manischewitz, L. Vujcic, R. Blumenthal, and D. Dimitrov, J. Virol. 68:1962-1968, 1994), it was found that phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope-mediated cell fusion by inducing down modulation of an accessory component(s) in the CD4-expressing cells. The fusion inhibition was seen in a variety of cells, including T-cell transfectants expressing engineered CD4 receptors (CD4.401 and CD4.CD8) which are not susceptible to down modulation by PMA treatment. In the current study, it was found that preincubation of A2.01.CD4.401 cells with soluble monomeric gp120 for 1 h at 37 degrees C primed them for PMA-induced down modulation (up to 70%) of the tailless CD4 receptors. The gp120-priming effect was temperature dependent, and the down modulation may have occurred via clathrin-coated pits. Importantly, nonhuman cell lines expressing tailless CD4 molecules did not down modulate their CD4 receptors under the same conditions. The gp120-dependent PMA-induced down modulation of tailless CD4 receptors could be efficiently blocked by the human monoclonal antibodies 48D and 17B, which bind with increased avidity to gp120 that was previously bound to CD4 (M. Thali, J. P. Moore, C. Furman, M. Charles, D. D. Ho, J. Robinson, and J. Sodroski, J. Virol. 67:3978-3988, 1993). These findings suggest that gp120 binding to cellular CD4 receptors induces conformational changes leading to association of the gp120-CD4 complexes with accessory transmembrane molecules that are susceptible to PMA-induced down modulation and can target the virions to clathrin-coated pits.
The Effects of Flow Through Highly Porous Adsorbents on Adsorption Rates with Favorable (Nonlinear) Isotherms

To increase diffusion rates into adsorbents, efforts are being made to increase the porosity of adsorbents by increasing both the number of porous passages into the particles and the size of those passages. These efforts can eventually result in some flow of fluid through the particles from the pressure drop through the adsorption bed. Earlier papers have pointed out that such flows can contribute to the effective mass transfer rates. This paper extends the earlier studies by considering the effects of nonlinear (favorable) isotherms.
Observations and models of inertial waves in the deep ocean

A study of the structure of the inertial peak in deep ocean kinetic energy is presented, based on records taken from Polymode arrays deployed in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Results are interpreted in terms of both local sources and turning point effects on internal waves generated at lower latitudes, and it is found that three classes of environment and their corresponding spectra emerge from peak height variations: (1) the 1500-m level near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, with the greatest peak height of 18 dB; (2) the upper and deep ocean over rough topography and the deep ocean underneath the Gulf Stream, with the intermediate peak height of 11.5 dB; and (3) the deep ocean over smooth topography, with the lowest peak height of 7.5 dB. Using the globally valid wave functions obtained by Munk and Phillips (1968), frequency spectra near f are calculated numerically. The model is latitudinally dependent, with the frequency shift and bandwidth of the inertial peak decreasing with latitude.
An Improved Single Flight Technique for Radar Stereo

An improved technique for obtaining stereo radar image pairs is described. The technique uses a unique combination of two different radar beam pattern characteristics. The resulting stereo radar images are illuminated from very nearly the same aircraft position which results in radar shadow and backscatter characteristics which are very similar and in improved image registration possibilities. The reduction in illumination angle and aircraft position differences is shown to be nearly an order of magnitude or more when compared with a previously proposed single flight technique which used two vertical fan beam patterns at different azimuth angles. As a related sidelight it is shown that this previous technique requlres the two fan beam patterns to generate parallax on the images and thus can not be implemented with synthetic arrays squinted at two different squint angles.
Arboreal Beetles of Neotropical Forests: Taxonomic Supplement for the AGRA VIRGATA and OHAUSI Groups with a New Species and Additional Distribution Records (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Abstract In the genus Agra, the virgata group is a circum-Amazonian-Middle American lineage, consists of 10 highly characteristic species that have a composite range extending from the tropics of Mexico to Bolivia, east as far as the Brazilian State of Goias. The majority of species are found on the periphery of the Amazon Basin, the rest in Middle America. Members of the virgata group and some brentid beetles (e.g., Arrhenodes gnatho (Licht.)) have similar bright and contrasting colors and elytral pattern and are sometimes found together. No connection or interaction between these two is known at present that could explain this similarity. Agra mime, new species, is described and attributed to the virgata group. The type locality is: Ecuador: Napo Province, 20 km east of Puerto Napo, Alinahui, 450 m, 01°00′S, 077°25′W. A revised key and checklist of the virgata group species are provided. A map of all known localities for the 10 species in the group is provided. A general discussion is included of the ne...
Marriage as Legal Metaphor: Commentary on Rachel Adler

In Rachel Adler's paper, "The Battered Wife of God: Violence, Law and the Feminist Critqiue of the Prophets," she calls our attention to the metaphor drawn in the Prophets between marriage and covenant. Prior to the drawing of this metaphor, as Adler points out, marriage was not conceived of as a covenant, but only as a species of commercial contract, whereby sexual chattel was transferred from one owner (the father) to another (the husband). Adler demonstrates how the marriage-covenant metaphor simultaneously transforms the conception of marriage and the conception of covenant (between Israel and God) to which marriage is analogized. I consider several different layers of the marriage-covenant metaphor to which Adler draws our attention, paying special attention to the idea of the marriage-covenant as a LEGAL metaphor. I consider how understandings of marriage-as-contract, common to the biblical and Anglo-American legal traditions, epitomize the idea of a "legal fiction," particularly insofar as the wife's legal persona is obliterated. Following Amos Funkenstein, I trace the use of legal fictions and metaphors to ancient and medieval modes of biblical-legal exegisis, which were used to explain away embarassing anthropomorphisisms and seeming contradictions of science. I then consider the sense in which the marriage-covenant metaphor described by Adler is a LEGAL metaphor, calling attention to the idea of a constructive violation of the law which Adler places at the heart of her analysis: it is God's SUSPENSION (i.e., violation) of the harsh laws against adultery (which technically preclude mercy and forgiveness) that transforms the "marriage" between Israel and God into a "covenant," and simultaneosly redefines covenant as a RECIPROCAL relationship of mutual vulunerability. Finally I consider how the marriage-covenant, as described by Adler, can serve as a metaphor OF law, and vice verse: just as one of the functions of the law is simulataneously to bridge and to maintain a gap between reality and our ideal visions of a better a world (as Robert Cover maintained), so too, metaphor must simulatenously link and preserve a gap between the two dissimilar terms which are being analogized in order to retain its metaphorical power. So, too, must the gap between the two partners in marriage be maintained, lest one be devoured by the fiction of coverture, the fiction that the two are one. Just as a completely adequate metaphor would not be a metaphor, a completely adequate marriage would not be a marriage, and a completely adequate law would not be law. We need the gaps and breaches and even the violations to sustain and reform these most precious insitutions.
Socio‐Cultural Incorporation of Skilled Migrants at Work: Employer and Migrant Perspectives

Migration studies have predominantly investigated the socio-cultural incorporation of low-skilled migrants and refugees, fuelled by concerns that these migrants may pose a burden on the state and a threat to social cohesion. Few studies have investigated the socio-cultural incorporation of skilled migrants, perhaps assuming that they will fare well in a country of destination. Using the petroleum industry in Norway as a case study, this article examines the workplace as a key site of transmission of norms and values of the host society. We investigate firm initiatives for the socio-cultural incorporation of skilled migrants and analyse the challenges that these workers experience in the workplace. We then discuss the roles of non-state actors in the incorporation process and offer suggestions that may enhance the socio-cultural incorporation of skilled migrants into the host society.
Regulatory CD4 T cells differentially modulate HIV-1 infection of polarized M1 and M2 macrophages (VIR9P.1156)

Macrophages are long-lived, widely distributed and relatively resistant to HIV-1 cytotoxicity. Effector macrophages are functionally polarized into M1 (pro-inflammatory) and M2 (anti-inflammatory) phenotypes. M1 macrophages suppress CCR5 (R5) HIV-1 replication, while M2 macrophages promote it. Recently, regulatory CD4 T cells (Tregs) were shown to inhibit HIV-1 infection of co-cultured CD4 T cells, but their effect on macrophage infection is unknown. Using an in vitro model of polarization, we generated M1 (GM-CSF+IFN-γ+LPS) and M2 (M-CSF+IL-4) macrophages with predicted phenotypes and infected them with R5 HIV-1 reporter viruses. We consistently found higher levels of HIV-1 (GFP and luciferase reporter viruses) infection of the M2 cells. Next, we co-cultured Tregs with HIV-1 infected polarized M1 and M2 MDM at a 1:1 ratio. Treg co-cultures yielded decreased HIV-1 infection of M1 but increased infection of M2 macrophages. Surprisingly, our results showed that Tregs mediate divergent effects on HIV-1 infection of M1 and M2 MDM depending on their polarization into a M1 or M2 phenotype. We are currently exploring whether Treg-mediated effects on HIV-1 infection of MDM are cytokine dependent and/or cell contact dependent using a transwell system and inhibitory cytokine antibodies. The research will provide increased knowledge of the role Tregs play in HIV-1, as well as a new understanding of how the M1 to M2 macrophage switch contributes to HIV-1/AIDS pathogenesis.
Informal employment in India: Voluntary choice or a result of labor market segmentation?

As of 2011–12, informal workers in India comprise 85.8 percent of the total labor force. This paper uses India’s National Sample Survey data on Employment and Unemployment (2011–12) to test whether the large share of informal employment is due to labor market segmentation or a result of competitive choice. Results show that workers can freely enter informal employment. In contrast, there is no evidence of self-selection into formal employment. Based on this evidence, we cannot reject the labor market segmentation hypothesis for the Indian labor market. The wage gap decomposition results show that informal workers earn less than formal workers not only because they are less skilled, but also because they receive lower returns to their endowments compared to the formal workers. Thus, policies that focus on skill development may be necessary but are not sufficient to increase formal job opportunities and reduce the formal-informal wage gap.
Experimental Study of Mechanical Properties of Sacked Cemented-Soil

Sacked cemented-soil is a kind of new building material.A series of experiment had been carried out about sacked cemented-soil examination of a 2 160 mm×1 000 mm×2 250 mm test parapet.This article analyzes the unconfined compressive strength of sacked cemented-soil in parapet under the condition of different curing time,different accumulated load and being soaked or not.It also discusses the influence of the unconfined compressive strength that produced by model-bag,accumulated load,age curing time and soak.It got the conclusion that the strength RDS of the sacked cemented-soil with different curing time and the strength RDS of the sacked cemented-soil with different accumulated load in the same condition.It also got the ratio of the unconfined compressive strength between soaked and without soaked.The whole study provides experimental foundations for its use in practice.
Ultrasensitive detection and characterization of molecules with infrared plasmonic metamaterials

Infrared vibrational spectroscopy is an effective technique which enables the direct probe of molecular fingerprints, and such detection can be further enhanced by the emerging engineered plasmonic metamaterials. Here we experimentally demonstrate ultrasensitive detection and characterization of polymer molecules based on an asymmetric infrared plasmonic metamaterial, and quantitatively analyze the molecule detection sensitivity and molecule-structure interactions. A sharp, non-radiative Fano resonance supported by the plasmonic metamaterial exhibits strongly enhanced near-field, and the resonance frequency is tailored to match the vibrational fingerprint of the target molecule. By utilizing the near-field nature of the plasmonic excitation, significantly enhanced absorption signal of molecules in the infrared spectroscopy are obtained, enabling ultrasensitive detection of only minute quantities of organic molecules. The enhancement of molecular absorption up to 10(5) fold is obtained, and sensitive detection of molecules at zeptomole levels (corresponding to a few tens of molecules within a unit cell) is achieved with high signal-to-noise ratio in our experiment. The demonstrated infrared plasmonic metamaterial sensing platform offers great potential for improving the specificity and sensitivity of label-free, biochemical detection.
Synthesis and characterization of aluminum carbide-derived carbon with residual aluminum-based nanoparticles

Abstract An in-depth study on the etching process for producing carbide-derived carbons from Al 4 C 3 has been performed. These materials were investigated at a range of etching temperatures from 300 to 900 °C and a range of times from 15 min to 6 h. By altering the etching time and temperature, the surface area, residual aluminum content, and pore size distribution can be tuned. A maximum surface area of 1126 m 2 g −1 was observed for materials etched at 500 °C for 1 h. The pore size has shown to be tunable from ≤0.7 to 8 nm. Interestingly, aluminum-based nanoparticles were observed via TEM and SEM for partially etched samples, with evidence of tunable metal species on the surface of the Al 4 C 3 -CDC samples at different etching temperatures between 300 and 700 °C. Characterization of the aluminum species present over this temperature range took place using solid-state 27 Al NMR. The formation of crystalline α-Al 2 O 3 was observed at etching temperatures of 700 °C. The results of this work provide detailed synthesis strategies for controlling not only the porosity and surface area of a carbide-derived carbon, but also the extent and type of residual metal nanoparticles embedded in the final structure.
Mild traumatic brain injury induces structural and functional disconnection of local neocortical inhibitory networks via parvalbumin interneuron diffuse axonal injury

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) plays a major role in cortical network dysfunction posited to cause excitatory/inhibitory imbalance after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Current thought holds that white matter (WM) is uniquely vulnerable to DAI. However, clinically diagnosed mTBI is not always associated with WM DAI. This suggests an undetected neocortical pathophysiology, implicating GABAergic interneurons. To evaluate this possibility, we used mild central fluid percussion injury to generate DAI in mice with Cre-driven tdTomato labeling of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons. We followed tdTomato+ profiles using confocal and electron microscopy, together with patch-clamp analysis to probe for DAI-mediated neocortical GABAergic interneuron disruption. Within 3 h post-mTBI tdTomato+ perisomatic axonal injury (PSAI) was found across somatosensory layers 2-6. The DAI marker amyloid precursor protein colocalized with GAD67 immunoreactivity within tdTomato+ PSAI, representing the majority of GABAergic interneuron DAI. At 24 h post-mTBI, we used phospho-c-Jun, a surrogate DAI marker, for retrograde assessments of sustaining somas. Via this approach, we estimated DAI occurs in ~9% of total tdTomato+ interneurons, representing ~14% of pan-neuronal DAI. Patch-clamp recordings of tdTomato+ interneurons revealed decreased inhibitory transmission. Overall, these data show that PV interneuron DAI is a consistent and significant feature of experimental mTBI with important implications for cortical network dysfunction.
Cortrak-Assisted Feeding Tube Insertion: A Comprehensive Review of Adverse Events in the MAUDE Database.

BACKGROUND Electromagnetic devices to guide feeding tube placement such as the CORTRAK Enteral Access System have shown promising results; however, researchers in recent studies have expressed concern that a higher level of user expertise may be required for safe use. OBJECTIVES To review adverse events related to CORTRAK-assisted feeding tube insertion reported in the Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. METHODS A retrospective, secondary analysis of the MAUDE database was performed to evaluate adverse events (ie, injury or death of patient) related to CORTRAK. RESULTS Fifty-four adverse events between January 1, 2006 and February 29, 2016 were identified and reviewed. Most events (98%) involved feeding tube placement in the lungs (37%, left lung; 46%, right lung; 15%, not specified). Lung complications included pneumothorax (77%) and pneumonitis (21%). Death occurred in 17% of lung placements. Clinicians failed to recognize placement in 89% of CORTRAK insertion tracings reviewed. CONCLUSIONS Lung placement is not unique to CORTRAK and is an inherent risk of all feeding tube insertions. In known or suspected lung placement, feeding tubes should be removed and radiography performed to assess for pneumothorax. Clinicians must observe closely for lung placement and discriminate lung from gastric placement on insertion tracings. Clinicians require specialized training and experience to develop competency in using the CORTRAK device, although the exact amount of experience needed is unknown.