cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Benefits of obtaining test-negative Level 4 classification for beef producers in the Voluntary Bovine Johne's Disease Control Program

The US Voluntary Bovine Johne's Disease Control Program (VBJDCP) stipulates the national standards for Johne's disease (JD) control, and herds classified as test-negative at Level 4 of the VBJDCP have the greatest likelihood of being non-infected. A questionnaire survey of owners of VBJDCP test-negative Level 4 beef herds was conducted to describe perceived benefits of attaining Level 4 status. Thirty-nine of the 40 producers returned completed or partially completed surveys. Sixty-four percent (23/36) of herds contained 50 or less test eligible cattle. Twenty-seven percent (10/37) of producers reported increased marketing opportunities as a goal for enrollment in the VBJDCP. Classification at test-negative Level 4 status in the VBJDCP led to increased marketing opportunities for more than one-third (13/35) of the producers. Twenty-five percent (9/36) of the producers reported significant and 39% (14/36) marginal benefits (financial and non-financial) as a result of participation in the VBJDCP. The median (range) reported annual benefit was $0 ($0, $10,000), whilst the median (range) annual cost of implementing and sustaining the VBJDCP on ranches was $200 ($0, $5000). It is suggested that greater publicity about the VBJDCP in the beef cattle industry will increase its chances of success by increasing awareness amongst producers concerned about herd health/disease monitoring, and through improved marketing opportunities.
Regulation of cessation of respiration and killing by cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate and its receptor protein after far-ultraviolet irradiation of Escherichia coli.

When Escherichia coli B/r cultures are irradiated with ultraviolet light (UV) (254 nm), those cells that are killed stop respiring by 60 min after irradiation. Post-UV treatment with cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) causes more cells to stop respiring and to die. We have studied these effects at a UV fluence of 52 J/m2 in a wild-type E. coli K12 strain and in mutants defective in cAMP metabolism. Strain CA 8000 has crp+ and cya+ genes for the cAMP receptor protein (CRP) (required for transcription of operons regulated by cAMP) and for adenylate cyclase, respectively; CA 7901 is crp-; and CA 8306 is a cya deletion (Δ). The wild-type culture showed a small transient cessation of respiration, and addition of cAMP caused cessation to be nearly complete. The crp- culture showed no evidence of cessation of respiration, and cAMP had no effect. The Δcya mutant also showed no cessation of respiration, but cAMP (5 mM) caused as complete inhibition as in the wild type. cAMP caused a 10-fold loss in viability of UV-irradiated wild-type and Δcya liquid cultures but had no effect on the cpr- culture. Respiration and viability changes were also studied in a double mutant, CA8404 Δcya crp*, which has an altered CRP that is, with respect to the lac operon, independent of cAMP. The respiration response to UV was similar to that of the wild-type culture, and both respiration and viability of cells in liquid culture were sensitive to cAMP. The survival data, obtained by plating immediately after irradiation, show the wild type, Δcya strains, and Δcya crp* to be equally sensitive and the crp- strain to be more resistant. We conclude that cessation of respiration and cell killing after UV irradiation are regulated by cAMP and the CRP.
Nd and Sr isotope systematics of clastic metasediments from Isua, West Greenland: Identification of pre‐3.8 Ga Differentiated Crustal Components

A detailed Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic study of the Isua clastic metasediments has been performed in the context of recently established stratigraphy for the Isua section. Samples from the sequence B are investigated for the first time. A clear correlation between lithology and isotopic characteristics is pointed out. The results indicate the existence of at least three distinct components for each of the distinct sequences A and B. It is suggested that some of these components may be derived from continental crustal sources that predate the time of depositon of these sediments by as much as about 0.4 b.y. A large pre-3.8 Ga continental crust is also inferred by the data.
Estimating efficiency by cost frontiers: a comparison of parametric and nonparametric methods

Two methods of estimating efficiency by cost frontiers are analysed here by way of generalizing Farrell's convex hull method and illustrated by an empirical application.
Considerations in dental treatment of children with ectodermal dysplasia

Dental treatment involving a maxillary overlay denture and a mandibular cast denture in a 6-year-old boy with ectodermal dysplasia resulted in an improvement in his personality. Ectodermal dysplasias pose a challenge in habiittation of function and appearance of the dentition. The latter is important in the developing personality of the child. A maxillary overlay denture and mandibular cast denture with a Baker bar and cast gold thimble crowns were constructed for a 6½-year-old boy with this condition. The parents reported improvement in the child’s attitude after dental treatment.
Open border CONOPS simulation

This paper presents a simulation-based approach for analyzing open border security systems and architecture. This approach extends conventional, stand-alone sensor-based and communications based modeling, into a fully automated and integrated border security analysis suite which includes border security strategy trade-offs as well as resource utilization and cost effectiveness estimation. The analysis of the Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) is accomplished via a discrete event simulation of Border Protection assets and forces against various threat scenarios. The focus of this simulation is to estimate and assess the effectiveness of various Border Protection solutions (personnel, equipment, CONOPs) in three dimensions-probability of apprehension of intruders, percent resource utilization, and cost effectiveness. The analysis suite also provides the engineering analytical capabilities needed to provide efficient and reliable engineering trade studies over various sized geographic regions and various terrain effects (flat earth, mountainous, and maritime).
Clasp Retention: The Effects of Five Variables

An attempt was made to determine the relative retention of each of the four most commonly used clasp assemblies. They are the rest, proximal plate, I bar (RPI); rest, proximal plate, facial circumferential arm (RPA); modified T; and Akers (facial and lingual circumferential arms). A mandibular bilateral distal extension base removable partial denture design was selected because it is most commonly used. A test model was made by removing all mandibular molars from a Columbia Dentoform and replacing the ivorine second bicuspids with natural teeth. These, in turn, were later replaced with gold crowns that were identical in contour to the natural teeth. Eight removable partial dentures were constructed using preformed plastic lingual bars, minor connectors, denture base retention loops, and clasps. Artificial teeth and the denture bases were processed to each framework as for a clinical patient. Each removable partial denture was placed in the Instron testing machine and pulled from the test model. The investigation examined the effectiveness of each of four types of clasps in resisting displacing forces, in both vertical (occlusal) and mesio-occlusal directions. Each clasp was tested using natural teeth and gold crowns, in dry and wet environments, both with and without indirect retainers. Results indicate that, (1) The RPA clasp was the most retentive of all on natural abutments, against both directions of pull, but only slightly so over the RPI clasp with a vertical pull. (2) The Akers clasp was most retentive against a mesio-occlusal pull on the gold abutments. (3) Natural tooth structure gives slightly more frictional resistance than a gold surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
On the J -integral in periodically layered composites

When a heterogeneous elastic material is represented by an effective homogeneous elastic solid, average stress and strain fields are used. The meaning of the J-integral in the effective homogeneous solid is investigated. A periodically layered medium is considered. The relation between the J-integrals in the original layered medium and the effective medium is derived.
Hyperlipidemia in rats fed retinoic acid.

This report describes a series of experiments that attempt to characterize the lipidemia accompanying retinoic acid administration. After feeding young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, 1.2 Retinol Equivalents (R.E.) retinyl acetate plus supplemental retinoic acid (100 μg/g dry diet) for three days and fasting for 6–8 hr, triglyceride, cholesterol, and phospholipid content of various serum lipoprotein fractions were determined. When compared to unsupplemented controls, both the serum very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and the high density lipoprotein (HDL) fractions of the retinoic acid-fed rats were found to harbor an elevated triglyceride content. While VLDL cholesterol and phospholipid content were also elevated, total serum cholesterol and phospholipids were not statistically altered. The detergent Triton WR-1339 was used to depress serum triglyceride clearance in order to assess the effects of retinoic acid feeding on serum triglyceride levels. Triglyceride accumulation started earlier after Triton treatment and was greater when rats were fed 100 μg/g retinoic acid for three days prior to testing. Red and white gastrocnemius muscle, cardiac ventricular muscle, and perirenal adipose tissue were removed from rats following retinoic acid feeding. Analysis of these tissues for lipoprotein lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) activity showed a decrease in adipose tissue, a large depression in both areas of gastrocnemius muscle and no change in cardiac muscle as a result of retinoic acid feeding.
Quantifying feedforward control: a linear scaling model for fingertip forces and object weight

The ability to predict the optimal fingertip forces according to object properties before the object is lifted is known as feedforward control, and it is thought to occur due to the formation of internal representations of the object's properties. The control of fingertip forces to objects of different weights has been studied extensively by using a custom-made grip device instrumented with force sensors. Feedforward control is measured by the rate of change of the vertical (load) force before the object is lifted. However, the precise relationship between the rate of change of load force and object weight and how it varies across healthy individuals in a population is not clearly understood. Using sets of 10 different weights, we have shown that there is a log-linear relationship between the fingertip load force rates and weight among neurologically intact individuals. We found that after one practice lift, as the weight increased, the peak load force rate (PLFR) increased by a fixed percentage, and this proportionality was common among the healthy subjects. However, at any given weight, the level of PLFR varied across individuals and was related to the efficiency of the muscles involved in lifting the object, in this case the wrist and finger extensor muscles. These results quantify feedforward control during grasp and lift among healthy individuals and provide new benchmarks to interpret data from neurologically impaired populations as well as a means to assess the effect of interventions on restoration of feedforward control and its relationship to muscular control.
A deeper look at national culture and leadership in the hospitality industry

Abstract Increased internationalization and demographic shifts have made multicultural management a prime concern for hospitality leaders. Past research suggests that cultural similarity between managers and subordinates impacts employees’ appraisal of their leaders and work-related attitudes. Extending this line of research, the purpose of this paper is to examine more closely how employees evaluate leaders with varying national cultures and identify any subsequent employee responses. First, the results of an open-ended questionnaire on cultural influences, perceived leadership and work-related outcomes administered to 112 hospitality managers and staff members in a highly multicultural environment are discussed. Next, perspectives drawn from in-depth interviews with 12 hospitality stakeholders help to synthesize the findings. The results suggest that this is a highly complex issue, which can have a significant impact on employee reactions their leaders and the service received by guests. Implications for hospitality leaders are discussed.
Computational Drug Design Targeting Protein-Protein Interactions

Novel discoveries in molecular disease pathways within the cell, combined with increasing information regarding protein binding partners has lead to a new approach in drug discovery. There is interest in designing drugs to modulate protein-protein interactions as opposed to solely targeting the catalytic active site within a single enzyme or protein. There are many challenges in this new approach to drug discovery, particularly since the protein-protein interface has a larger surface area, can comprise a discontinuous epitope, and is more amorphous and less well defined than the typical drug design target, a small contained enzyme-binding pocket. Computational methods to predict modes of protein-protein interaction, as well as protein interface hot spots, have garnered significant interest, in order to facilitate the development of drugs to successfully disrupt and inhibit protein-protein interactions. This review summarizes some current methods available for computational protein-protein docking, as well as tabulating some examples of the successful design of antagonists and small molecule inhibitors for protein-protein interactions. Several of these drugs are now beginning to appear in the clinic.
Lebesgue anisotropic image denoising

The importance of image denoising can never be overemphasized due to the crucial role it plays in image processing and understanding. As the procedure to weed out noises from real visual signals, it stands as the actual foundation for other analysis schemes. A great many techniques have been developed by researchers from a wide array of disciplines such as signal processing, information theory, numerical analysis, computational physics, and computer vision. Extremely impressive progress has been made in the last several decades such as Gaussian and median filtering, Markov random field-based filtering. To avoid the oversmoothing artifact for filtering schemes, Perona and Malik developed the now-classic anisotropic denoising method. Thanks to Koenderink's insightful observation and other researchers' work, it was later discovered that just as Gaussian filtering is the solution to the diffusion-type partial differential equation (PDE), the anisotropic denoising can also be put as the solution to another PDE, which aligns change rate with spatial derivative. The PDE-based image denoising has thus received great attentions from mathematicians and computer scientists alike. In this paper, in the light of the problems of PDE-based scheme, we first retrace the mathematics underlying the Gaussian and median filtering, then instead of working on the original image macroblocks whereof the computation of derivatives is ill-posed, we take the Lebesgue's perspective by grouping intensity values that are neighbors to site p in value and location into a set. The median of this set then assumes the new value at p. Empirical studies suggested extremely encouraging performances by use of this simple Lebesgue anisotropic denoising method. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 15, 64–73, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.20039
The Liberty Lobby and the American Right: Race, Conspiracy, and Culture

Few organizations feature such a classic synthesis of contemporary far rightist ideas and attitudes as the Liberty Lobby. Though neglected by scholarly research in the past, the Liberty Lobby is a strong and enduring organization that propagates theories of white supremacy, anti-Semitism, and the viability of nationalism. By examining the well-developed ideology and articulate adherents of the Liberty Lobby, Mintz traces the development of the contemporary right, going beyond a general sociological description of the rightist movement or a sensationalist expose. In the context of how the Liberty Lobby differs from the more conservative network and from other far right organizations, intraright rivalry and accommodation are highlighted. Finally, Mintz explores the ideas and personalities of the people who have shaped the Lobby intellectually.
Incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle in spaniels.

An evaluation of 157 dogs with humeral fractures was performed. Cocker spaniels were more likely to have humeral condylar fractures (HCFs) than other breeds (P < .001). Male cocker spaniels were at increased risk (P < .001). Cocker spaniels had more bilateral HCFs than other breeds of dogs (P < .001). Eighteen dogs (17 purebred spaniels and 1 crossbred spaniel) with HCFs of unknown cause or occurring with normal activity were further studied, using radiography of their humeral condyle bilaterally (n = 18), computed tomography (n = 3), biopsy (n = 2), bone scintigraphy (n = 2), and genetic evaluation (n = 8). Fourteen of these 18 dogs had a nonfractured contralateral condyle. Twelve (86%) of the 14 nonfractured humeral condyles had a radiolucent line within the center of the condyle, 13 (93%) had radiographic signs of degenerative joint disease and an abnormal medial coronoid process, and six (43%) had periosteal proliferation involving the lateral epicondyle. Examination of biopsy samples from the fracture sites of two cocker spaniels showed fibrous tissue present at the fracture surfaces. The results of this study suggest an association between incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle in cocker spaniels and Brittany spaniels and a high prevalence of HCFs. Eight affected cocker spaniels with available pedigree information were found to be genetically related, suggesting that incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle may be a genetic disease with a recessive mode of inheritance.
A Highly Automated Semi Custom Design Approach for VLSI

This paper describes a structured approach for VLSI chip design coupled to automatic physical design tools providing a quasi custom capability with a drastic reduction of design resources and time.
Cardiac Contractile and Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Function after Acute Ethanol Consumption

Since the contractile status of the myocardium depends on tight regulation of calcium concentration by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), we investigated the possibility that acute ethanol-induced alterations in the calcium pump function of the SR could contribute to the myocardial depression seen after acute ethanol exposure. In this study, LV function (Langendorff preparation) was significantly reduced after ethanol (ETOH, 2.0 ml/kg, iv) in adult guinea pigs. Compared to control hearts (N= 10), hearts from ethanol-treated animals (N= 10) had significantly lower peak systolic LVP (84 ± 2 vs 67 ± 4 mmHg,P< 0.005), +dP/dt max (1175 ± 54 vs 967 ± 54 mmHg/sec,P< 0.02), and −dP/dt max (1087 ± 42 vs 892 ± 52 mmHg/sec,P< 0.02) and at a maximal isoproterenol dose of 30 ng/ml, had lower LVP (150 ± 5 vs 90 ± 6 mmHg,P< 0.02), +dP/dt max (3400 ± 120 vs 1800 ± 40 mmHg/sec,P= 0.001), and −dP/dt max (2500 ± 50 vs 1520 ± 40 mmHg/sec,P< 0.002) than control hearts. SR calcium ATPase activity was not altered by ethanol (control: 70.6 ± 2.6 μmol/mg protein/hr,N= 10; ETOH: 81.3 ± 6.9,N= 8). Maximal calcium uptake, however, was decreased 25% in SR vesicles isolated from ethanol-treated (3.8 ± 0.27 μmol/mg,N= 10) compared to control hearts (5.1 ± 0.20,N= 10,P< 0.01). Our data confirm that moderate doses of ethanol depress cardiac contractile function, and our finding that acute ethanol exposure decreased calcium uptake by the SR in the face of no change in calcium ATPase activity suggests that ethanol uncoupled ATP hydrolysis and calcium transport.
Josephson-junction ladders and quantum fluctuations.

A ladder of Josephson junctions provides a realization of the discrete sine-Gordon chain. The spring constant and incommensurability can be varied by the supercurrent and the magnetic field. As the magnetic field is increased there is a transition to a vortex state. Due to charging effects (quantum fluctuations) the ladder becomes normal in the vicinity of this transition.
Detecting submerged features in water: modeling, sensors, and measurements

It is becoming more important to understand the remote sensing systems and associated autonomous or semi-autonomous methodologies (robotic & mechatronics) that may be utilized in freshwater and marine aquatic environments. This need comes from several issues related not only to advances in our scientific understanding and technological capabilities, but also from the desire to insure that the risk associated with UXO (unexploded ordnance), related submerged mines, as well as submerged targets (such as submerged aquatic vegetation) and debris left from previous human activities are remotely sensed and identified followed by reduced risks through detection and removal. This paper will describe (a) remote sensing systems, (b) platforms (fixed and mobile, as well as to demonstrate (c) the value of thinking in terms of scalability as well as modularity in the design and application of new systems now being constructed within our laboratory and other laboratories, as well as future systems. New remote sensing systems - moving or fixed sensing systems, as well as autonomous or semi-autonomous robotic and mechatronic systems will be essential to secure domestic preparedness for humanitarian reasons. These remote sensing systems hold tremendous value, if thoughtfully designed for other applications which include environmental monitoring in ambient environments.
Generation of periodic and chaotic bursting in an excitable cell model.

There are interesting oscillatory phenomena associated with excitable cells that require theoretical insight. Some of these phenomena are: the threshold low amplitude oscillations before bursting in neuronal cells, the damped burst observed in muscle cells, the period-adding bifurcations without chaos in pancreatic β-cells, chaotic bursting and beating in neurons, and inverse period-doubling bifurcation in heart cells. The three variable model formulated by Chay provides a mathematical description of how excitable cells generate bursting action potentials. This model contains a slow dynamic variable which forms a basis for the underlying wave, a fast dynamic variable which causes spiking, and the membrane potential which is a dependent variable. In this paper, we use the Chay model to explain these oscillatory phenomena. The Poincare return map approach is used to construct bifurcation diagrams with the ‘slow’ conductance (i.e., g K,C) as the bifurcation parameter. These diagrams show that the system makes a transition from repetitive spiking to chaotic bursting as parameter g K,C is varied. Depending on the time kinetic constant of the fast variable (λ n), however, the transition between burstings via period-adding bifurcation can occur even without chaos. Damped bursting is present in the Chay model over a certain range of g K,C and λ n. In addition, a threshold sinusoidal oscillation was observed at certain values of g K,C before triggering action potentials. Probably this explains why the neuronal cells exhibit low-amplitude oscillations before bursting.
Targeting macrophages with baculovirus-produced lysosomal enzymes: implications for enzyme replacement therapy of the glycoprotein storage disorder galactosialidosis

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are monogenic disorders of metabolism caused by deficiency of hydrolytic enzymes. In several LSDs, cells of the reticuloendothelial (RE) system are the primary targets of the disease. Exogenous administration of recombinant enzymes overproduced in mammalian cells has proved effective for treating the systemic phenotype in nonneuropathic patients with LSDs. However, for the treatment of diseases with primary involvement of the RE system, the production of the therapeutic enzyme in insect cells could be an alternative and advantageous method because glycoproteins expressed in insect cells carry carbohydrates of the pauci-mannose or core-type. These recombinant enzymes are in principle already poised to be internalized by cells that express mannose receptors, including macrophages. Here, we demonstrate that three baculovirus-expressed enzymes, protective protein/cathepsin A (PPCA), neuraminidase (Neu1), and beta-glucosidase, were readily taken up and restored lysosomal function in enzyme-deficient mouse macrophages. The capacity of recombinant PPCA and Neu1 to clear the lysosomal storage in target cells was assessed in PPCA-/- mice, a model of galactosialidosis. Intravenously injected PPCA-/- mice efficiently internalized the corrective enzymes in resident macrophages of many organs. In addition, treated mice showed overall clearance of lysosomal storage in the most affected systemic organs, kidney, liver, and spleen. Our results suggest that ERT with baculovirus-expressed enzymes might be an effective treatment for nonneuropathic patients with galactosialidosis and possibly for others with LSDs that primarily involve the RE system.
Regulatory factors shaping environmental performance at publicly-owned treatment plants

Abstract This paper analyzes the regulatory factors that shape the level of environmental performance at individual polluting facilities. In particular, it examines deterrence generated by actual government interventions, namely inspections and enforcement actions, performed at particular facilities. This paper also examines the deterrence generated by the threat of receiving an intervention. As important, it controls for differences in the issuance of pollution control permits that impose effluent limits on individual facilities. For this empirical analysis, it examines wastewater discharges by municipal wastewater treatment plants in the state of Kansas for the years 1990–1998.
Dirichlet and other non-periodic boundary conditions in conflict with renormalization

Abstract Periodic boundary conditions are generally compatible with renormalization. However, when the boundary conditions are Dirichlet or Neumann, a conflict with renormalization may arise because infinite counterterms become (at least in some cases) dependent on the global spacetime geometry. This is demonstrated by calculation of the divergences in simple Feynman diagrams.
Fragrance material review on benzyl isobutyrate.

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of benzyl isobutyrate when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. Benzyl isobutyrate is a member of the fragrance structural group Aryl Alkyl Alcohol Simple Acid Esters (AAASAE). The AAASAE fragrance ingredients are prepared by reacting an aryl alkyl alcohol with a simple carboxylic acid (a chain of 1–4 carbons) to generate formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate and carbonate esters. This review contains a detailed summary of all available toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. Available data for benzyl isobutyrate were evaluated, then summarized, and includes: physical properties, acute toxicity, skin irritation, or skin sensitization data. A safety assessment of the entire AAASAE will be published simultaneously with this document. Please refer to Belsito et al. (2012) for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all AAASAE in fragrances. Belsito, D., Bickers, D., Bruze, M., Calow, P., Dagli, M., Fryer, A.D., Greim, H., Hanifin, J.H., Miyachi, Y., Saurat, J.H., Sipes, I.G., 2012. A toxicologic and dermatologic assessment of aryl alkyl alcohol simple acid esters when used as fragrance ingredients.
Studies on the Renal Excretion of Water and Electrolytes in Cases of Addison's Disease

IN 1938 Cutler, Power and Wilder (1), while working on a quantitative diagnostic procedure for adrenal cortical insufficiency noticed that patients who had Addison's disease voided only small amounts of urine after drinking a large volume of water. These patients were studied under unusual circumstances (1, 2). Their intake of sodium salts previously had been restricted and the dietary content of potassium had been increased to a high level by the administration of potassium citrate. Subsequently it became apparent that the small urinary volumes were not the result of the regimen which the patients were undergoing but that, even under more normal conditions, water did not act as a diuretic agent. This phenomenon was explored further by Robinson, Power and Kepler (3) and eventually became the basis of another diagnostic procedure for Addison's disease which became known as the water test. Because of its simplicity the practicality of the water test soon became evident and, as our experience with it increas...
Urine flow and catecholamine excretion in man

Summary Measurement of urinary catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and total metanephrines and VMA) was correlated with the rate of urine flow in thirty-two four-hour samples of urine obtained from eight normal subjects, half under conditions favoring a “normal” rate of urine flow and half under conditions favoring a slightly high rate of flow. Excretion of epinephrine correlated significantly with rate of urine flow. On the contrary, norepinephrine was negatively correlated with urine flow, especially at normal rates of flow. Experiments using these measurements should be designed to assure as much control of urine flow as possible, or to take account of any differences in the interpretation of data dealing with the excretion of catecholamines.
Dispersal of Salmonella from a polluted stream to neighboring terrestrial habltats

Abstract The polluted Fox River in suburban Kane County, Illinois, was investigated as a source for Salmonella dispersal to near shore habitats. A Salmonella isolation protocol, which included pre‐enrichment of environmental samples in buffered peptone water, vas more effective than direct enrichment in tetrathionate. Some animals associated with the river were found to be Infected with Salmonella. and the river's immediate edge was often contaminated; however, our results suggest that the river is not an intensive Salmonella threat to humans, except perhaps for those who directly contact the water.
Azithromycin in non-cystic-fibrosis bronchiectasis.

www.thelancet.com Vol 381 January 5, 2013 27 2 Mosley H, Chen LC. Analytical framework for the study of child survival in developing countries. Popul Dev Rev 1984; 10 (suppl): 25–45. 3 Sanda S. Niger’s success in child survival. Lancet 2012; 380: 1127–28. 4 Mayo-Wilson E, Imdad A, Herzer K, Yakoob MY, Bhutta ZA. Vitamin A supplements for preventing mortality, illness, and blindness in children aged under 5: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2011; 343: d5094. 5 Imdad A, Yakoob MY, Sudfeld C, Haider BA, Black RE, Bhutta ZA. Impact of vitamin A supplementation on infant and childhood mortality. BMC Public Health 2011; 11 (suppl 3): S20. infection with macrolide-resistant Mycobacterium avium complex. We wholeheartedly agree with the suggestion to screen candidates for NTM before starting azithromycin monotherapy, but we also recommend that physicians be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms and signs of NTM lung disease and for having a low threshold for repeating sputum microbiology tests for acid-fast bacilli. The risk of inducing macrolide resistance might vary geographically; research is needed to address this concern.
Modulation of replicative senescence of diploid human cells by nuclear ERK signaling

Normal somatic cells have a limited replicative lifespan, and serial subcultivation ultimately results in senescence. Senescent cells are irreversibly growth-arrested and show impaired responses to mitogens. Activation of the ERK signaling pathway, an absolute requirement for cell proliferation, results in nuclear relocalization of active ERKs, an event impaired in senescent fibroblasts. This impairment coincides with increased activity of the nuclear ERK phosphatase MKP2. Here we show that replicative lifespan can be altered by changes in nuclear ERK activity. Ectopic expression of MKP2 results in premature senescence. In contrast, knock-down of MKP2 expression, through transduction of MKP2 sequence-specific short hairpin RNA, or expression of the phosphatase resistant ERK2(D319N) mutant, abrogates the effects of increased endogenous MKP2 levels and senescence is postponed. Nuclear targeting of ERK2(D319N) significantly augments its effects and the transduced cultures show higher than 60% increase in replicative lifespan compared with cultures transduced with wt ERK2. Long-lived cultures senesce with altered molecular characteristics and retain the ability to express c-fos, and Rb is maintained in its inactive form. Our results support that MKP2-mediated inactivation of nuclear ERK2 represents a key event in the establishment of replicative senescence. Although it is evident that senescence can be imposed through multiple mechanisms, restoration of nuclear ERK activity can bypass a critical senescence checkpoint and, thus, extend replicative lifespan.
Creativity in Developmentally Disabled Adolescents

Creative behavior of 20 normal, 20 educable, and 20 trainable mentally retarded adolescents of similar chronological ages was examined using a modified version of the Torrance Test of Creative Thin...
Spontaneous and potassium-induced release of acetylcholine from mouse forebrain minces.

Abstract Minces of mouse forebrain were pretreated to achieve a high specific radioactivity of acetylcholine in the vesicle-bound fraction and a low specific activity in the cytoplasm. The extra amount of [ 14 C]acetylcholine relative to total acetylcholine released into the incubation medium by stimulation with high K + from pretreated minces had a specific activity which clearly exceeded the specific activity of acetylcholine released spontaneously. Elevated Mg 2+ reduced the specific activity of acetylcholine released in response to high K + stimulation whereas it did not alter the specific activity of acetylcholine released spontaneously. When minces were pretreated to achieve similar specific activities of acetylcholine in the cytoplasmic and vesicle-bound fractions, the specific activity of the acetylcholine released spontaneously was then similar to that obtained for the K + -induced release of cholinergic transmitter. These results indicate that the spontaneous release of acetylcholine occurs from a different subcellular fraction of mouse forebrain than does the K + induced release of acetylcholine.
Susceptibility of Legionella pneumophila to eight antimicrobial agents including four macrolides under different assay conditions

A comparison of agar dilution and microdilution susceptibility testing for eight antimicrobial agents, including roxithromycin, was performed against 48 isolates of Legionella pneumophila. For agar dilution tests, charcoal free agar (BSYE) and charcoal supplemented agar (BCYE) were used. In general, BSYE agar produced lower MICs than BCYE agar, except for imipenem. Microdilution testing data fell between the data obtained for the two agar media. The MBCs were two to sixteen fold higher than the MICs. Prolongation of the incubation time from 48 h to 72 h or growth in 5% CO2 did not influence the results. As tested by the microdilution method, an increase in the inoculum from 10(5) to 10(7) was associated with a two-fold increase in the MIC. Roxithromycin and two other investigational macrolides (A-56268 and rosaramicin) demonstrated better in-vitro activity than erythromycin.
Amelogenin–chitosan matrix for human enamel regrowth: effects of viscosity and supersaturation degree

AbstractWe recently reported an amelogenin-chitosan (CS-AMEL) hydrogel as a promising biomimetic material for future in situ human enamel regrowth. To further optimize the necessary conditions for clinical applicability of CS-AMEL hydrogel, herein we studied the effects of viscosity and supersaturation degree on the size and orientation of synthetic crystals by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Raising the hydrogel viscosity by increasing chitosan concentration from 1% to 2% (w/v) improved the orientation of the crystals, while a higher supersaturation (σ(HAp) >10.06, [Ca2+] >5 mM) resulted in the formation of random crystals with larger sizes and irregular structures. We conclude that optimal conditions to produce organized enamel-like crystals in a CS-AMEL hydrogel are: 2% (w/v) chitosan, 2.5 mM calcium, and 1.5 mM phosphate (degree of supersaturation = 8.23) and 200 µg/ml of amelogenin.
Reinventing Learning: A Design-Research Odyssey.

Design research is a broad, practice-based approach to investigating problems of education. This approach can catalyze the development of learning theory by fostering opportunities for transformational change in scholars’ interpretation of instructional interactions. Surveying a succession of design-research projects, I explain how challenges in understanding students’ behaviors promoted my own recapitulation of a historical evolution in educators’ conceptualizations of learning—Romantic, Progressivist, and Synthetic (Schon, Intuitive thinking? A metaphor underlying some ideas of educational reform (working paper 8). Division for Study and Research in Education, MIT, Cambridge, 1981)—and beyond to a proposed Systemic view. In reflection, I consider methodological adaptations to design-research practice that may enhance its contributions in accord with its objectives.
Debunking Sarah Palin: Mainstream news coverage of 'death panels'

On 7 August 2009, Sarah Palin posted two words to her Facebook page that would come to define a summer of discord around health care reform. This study examines how traditional media reported on th...
Animal picornaviruses with a single major species of capsid protein.

Summary The caliciviruses—San Miguel sea lion virus (SMSV), vesicular exanthema of swine virus (VESV) and feline picornavirus (FPV)—were found by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to possess a single major species of capsid protein with a molecular weight of approximately 61,000 daltons. This differs from all other animal picornaviruses (cardio, entero and rhino), which have four types of proteins. The caliciviruses were also found to co-sediment as a single peak in sucrose-density gradients, and at a rate considerably faster than foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), which is generally classified as a rhinovirus. Infectious ribonucleic acid could also be prepared from each of the caliciviruses, but in lower yield than from FMDV. These results lend support to the theory that VESV originated from SMSV.
An 81-year-old patient with distant metastasis of invasive lobular carcinoma occurring 41 years after mastectomy.

Introduction An 81-year-old woman presented with fatigue, nausea, vomiting, 9.1 kg (20 lb) weight loss, and a right lower quadrant abdominal mass. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis revealed extensive lytic bony lesions, a left periaortic soft tissue mass, a right intra-abdominal soft tissue mass, a peritoneal mass in the falciform ligament, and bilateral perinephric fat metastasis (Figure 1A, B). Bone scanning revealed diffuse osseous metastasis (Figure 2). The patient underwent a CT-guided biopsy of the periaortic mass. On histologic examination, the tumor was composed of sheets of monomorphic neoplastic cells. The cells were discohesive, with eccentric nuclei and apocrine-like cytoplasm. Immunohistochemistry was performed. The tumor was diffusely positive for cytokeratin (AE 1/3), cytokeratin 7, growth cystic disease fluid protein-15, and estrogen receptor; variably positive for progesterone receptor; and negative for cytokeratin 20 and mammaglobin (Figure 3A, B). This profile is compatible with metastatic lobular
Advances in fuzzy adaptive control

Abstract Fuzzy control has proven effective for complex, nonlinear, imprecisely-defined processes for which standard models and controls are impractical or cannot be derived. Deriving fuzzy control is, however, often difficult and time-consuming. Furthermore, severe problems of high-dimensionality are usually encountered in the implementation of control for systems with multiple inputs and outputs. More efficient and systematic methods for knowledge acquisition and fuzzy controller synthesis are needed. Effective, intelligent automated systems, such as adaptive fuzzy controllers, capable of learning from process data as well as incorporating linguistic data, possess significant advantages that make them attractive candidates for the much needed technology. An adaptive fuzzy controller could automatically generate a set of fuzzy control rules and improve on them as the control process evolves. In this paper, we survey major results on the development of intelligent, adaptive fuzzy control. Particular focus is given to methods which combine the learning capabilities of neural networks with fuzzy logic control, as these appear to be most promising.
The kinetics of rectal absorption. I. Preliminary investigations into the absorption rate process.

The details of a radiological procedure are presented by which it is possible to conduct continuous external detection of the rate of rectal absorption of radio-tagged compounds specially designed suppository vehicles inserted in the rectal passage of a female rat. An analysis of the rate data is presented and a mathematical expression is derived which corrects the activity detected by the counter for the effect of the diffusion of the drug within the vehicle and for the accumulation of the absorbed drug in the scanned volume segment of the animal. Experimental results on three radio iodide-131 tagged compounds are presented and appear to confirm the resulting pseudo-first order rate equation.
Doublet structure of nonspecular x-ray scattering from multilayers.

The nonspecular scattering of x rays from a multilayer structure deposited on Pt film was studied experimentally. The study resolved the long-standing problem of the origin of the doublet structure first observed about three decades ago. A model based on coherent interfering fields, with the traveling component of the interference field propagating parallel to the interface, is proposed to explain the effect. The implication of the existence of the doublet structure for both specular and nonspecular x-ray-interference measurements is discussed.
Design and performance comparisons among inverter switching devices

User oriented factors concentrating on power semiconductor cost effectiveness will be discussed. A few of the economic factors involved in the choice of power semiconductors that will be discussed are: current to pellet size ratios, power dissipation, base or gate drive, and reliability. Data on transistors and Darlingtons, SCR's, and GTO devices in the 10 to 35 amp range and in T03, T048 and T0220 packages will be presented. The measurements referred to in this report were made on pellets with areas of about .04 in2 to .06 in2.
Machine Perception for Industrial Applications

Computers are becoming an integral part of the industrial environment. Programmable automation allows a flexibility in manufacturing undreamed of only a few years ago. Conventional control and monitoring functions can be done with greater precision and reliability and at less cost than by traditional means. Recently, the usefulness of computers in manufacturing has been further extended by the development of automated perceptual techniques.
Human microRNAs are processed from capped, polyadenylated transcripts that can also function as mRNAs

The factors regulating the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), a ubiquitous family of approximately 22-nt noncoding regulatory RNAs, remain undefined. However, it is known that miRNAs are first transcribed as a largely unstructured precursor, termed a primary miRNA (pri-miRNA), which is sequentially processed in the nucleus, to give the approximately 65-nt pre-miRNA hairpin intermediate, and then in the cytoplasm, to give the mature miRNA. Here we have sought to identify the RNA polymerase responsible for miRNA transcription and to define the structure of a full-length human miRNA. We show that the pri-miRNA precursors for nine human miRNAs are both capped and polyadenylated and report the sequence of the full-length, approximately 3433-nt pri-miR-21 RNA. This pri-miR-21 gene sequence is flanked 5' by a promoter element able to transcribe heterologous mRNAs and 3' by a consensus polyadenylation sequence. Nuclear processing of pri-miRNAs was found to be efficient, thus largely preventing the nuclear export of full-length pri-miRNAs. Nevertheless, an intact miRNA stem-loop precursor located in the 3' UTR of a protein coding gene only moderately inhibited expression of the linked open reading frame, probably because the 3' truncated mRNA could still be exported and expressed. Together, these data show that human pri-miRNAs are not only structurally similar to mRNAs but can, in fact, function both as pri-miRNAs and mRNAs.
A surrogate-based metaheuristic global search method for beam angle selection in radiation treatment planning.

An important element of radiation treatment planning for cancer therapy is the selection of beam angles (out of all possible coplanar and non-coplanar angles in relation to the patient) in order to maximize the delivery of radiation to the tumor site and minimize radiation damage to nearby organs-at-risk. This category of combinatorial optimization problem is particularly difficult because direct evaluation of the quality of treatment corresponding to any proposed selection of beams requires the solution of a large-scale dose optimization problem involving many thousands of variables that represent doses delivered to volume elements (voxels) in the patient. However, if the quality of angle sets can be accurately estimated without expensive computation, a large number of angle sets can be considered, increasing the likelihood of identifying a very high quality set. Using a computationally efficient surrogate beam set evaluation procedure based on single-beam data extracted from plans employing equally-spaced beams (eplans), we have developed a global search metaheuristic process based on the nested partitions framework for this combinatorial optimization problem. The surrogate scoring mechanism allows us to assess thousands of beam set samples within a clinically acceptable time frame. Tests on difficult clinical cases demonstrate that the beam sets obtained via our method are of superior quality.
An analytical model for the cross-track correlation length including inter-granular interactions

An analytical model is developed for calculating the cross-track correlation length in a perpendicular recording system, including both the medium inter-granular exchange and the magnetostatic interactions. For a typical range of parameters in current perpendicular recording systems, the cross-track correlation length varies from about 0.7-0.9 of the average grain diameter: at zero exchange, to about 2-3 at a strong exchange field of 0.1H/sub K/. The relation with jitter noise is also investigated.