cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Profile of secukinumab in the treatment of psoriasis: current perspectives

Secukinumab (Cosentyx™) is a human monoclonal IgG1k antibody that has been developed to target and block the actions of IL-17A. It is known that this cytokine is elevated in lesions of psoriasis. Interleukins in the Th17 pathway play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and have thus become targets for recent biologic drug development. As a monoclonal antibody immune modulator, secukinumab exhibits the expected pharmacokinetic properties of slow subcutaneous absorption, low clearance, and long half-life, although formal studies examining the impact of impaired hepatic or renal function on the overall pharmacokinetic profile have not been conducted. Both Phase II and III clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of secukinumab in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and noninfectious uveitis. In June 2015, secukinumab was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, with a wealth of clinical trials showcasing its efficacy in improving psoriasis area and severity index scores, and it is superior to other comparable biologics on the market, including the TNF inhibitor etanercept. As such, this review focuses on the marquee clinical trials involving secukinumab treatment of plaque psoriasis, while also exploring this drug's efficacy in treating patients with psoriatic arthritis, a disease that has a well-documented comorbidity in patients diagnosed with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Finally, the safety and tolerability of this drug in a variety of clinical trials to date have also been reviewed, and will undoubtedly have a large impact on this drug's postmarketing surveillance and future studies regarding its long-term safety.
Radiation sensitization of Bacillus megaterium spores by trans-dichlorodiammineplatinum (II)

SummaryThe radiation sensitivity of spores of Bacillus megaterium is markedly increased by transplatin in both N2 and O2, and in a manner suggesting the involvement of hydroxyl radicals in both instances, thus differing mechanistically from its isomer cisplatin.
Reaction pathways of furfural, furfuryl alcohol and 2-methylfuran on Cu(111) and NiCu bimetallic surfaces

Abstract Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is an important reaction for converting biomass-derived furfural to value-added 2-methylfuran, which is a promising fuel additive. In this work, the HDO of furfural to produce 2-methylfuran occurred on the NiCu bimetallic surfaces prepared on either Ni(111) or Cu(111). The reaction pathways of furfural were investigated on Cu(111) and Ni/Cu(111) surfaces using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) experiments. These studies provided mechanistic insights into the effects of bimetallic formation on enhancing the HDO activity. Specifically, furfural weakly adsorbed on Cu(111), while it strongly adsorbed on Ni/Cu(111) through an η2(C,O) configuration, which led to the HDO of furfural on Ni/Cu(111). The ability to dissociate H2 on Ni/Cu(111) is also an important factor for enhancing the HDO activity over Cu(111).
Liver nucleoproteins in vitamin B12 deficiency.

SummaryCytochemical studies on liver tissue from rats fed vit. B12-dencient or supplemented diets for 6 weeks have indicated the following: (1) Total protein showed no change in concentration, but a marked increase in amount per cell, correlated with significant increases in mean cytoplasmic volume for livers of deficient animals. (2) RNA, determined with Azure B binding at pH 4.0, showed a decrease in concentration, but an increase in amount per cell. (3) DNA, determined photometrically on Feulgen-stained nuclei was unchanged in amounts per single tetraploid nucleus when compared with B12-supplemented controls. (4) The average amount of DNA per nucleus, when calculated from data on polyploid class frequencies, averaged 6% less than controls, associated with a higher frequency of diploid nuclei.
The Lack of Song in Love's Labor's Lost

an object; Shakespeare says, "Consum'd with that which." In addition, the signification of the impresa corresponds to the innuendoes of the third quatrain of Sonnet 73. To the reader of Shakespeare's day who was acquainted with the store of iconological literature which both revealed and concealed, the "aged" or ruined condition of the lover is metaphoric and symbolic. Only in the third quatrain and couplet does the causal relationship between the lady and the lover's condition become apparent. The couplet, "This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong / To love that well which thou must leave ere long," reminds the reader that the sonnet is essentially a begging missive; it also suggests a kind of hysteron proteron in which the effects (the lover's ruin) are described in the quatrains and the cause (the lady) is cited in the couplet. In the critical third quatrain Shakespeare juxtaposes youth and age, "the glowing of such fire / That on the ashes of his youth doth lie." Following the sonnet tradition, he symbolizes love and passion through an image of fire; however, the paradoxical predicament of the lover in the third quatrain is best explained by Daniel's commentary on the impresa of the down-turned torch. Shakespeare is not simply talking about age but also "Alluding to a Lady, whose beautie did foster his [her faithful lover's] loue, and whose disdayne did endamage his life." The hortatory nature of the couplet, pleading for a change in the cause (the lady) and thereby a change in the effects (the lover's condition), supports this symbolic interpretation. The sonnet, therefore, is symbol as well as metaphor, and Daniel's commentary on the torch which nourishes and consumes is a probable source for the critical third quatrain and informs the structure and meaning of Sonnet 73. In this sonnet, as in Act I, scene ii of Pericles, Shakespeare owes a debt to his contemporary, Samuel Daniel.
Biofidelic white matter heterogeneity decreases computational model predictions of white matter strains during rapid head rotations

The finite element (FE) brain model is used increasingly as a design tool for developing technology to mitigate traumatic brain injury. We developed an ultra high-definition FE brain model (>4 million elements) from CT and MRI scans of a 2-month-old pre-adolescent piglet brain, and simulated rapid head rotations. Strain distributions in the thalamus, coronal radiata, corpus callosum, cerebral cortex gray matter, brainstem and cerebellum were evaluated to determine the influence of employing homogeneous brain moduli, or distinct experimentally derived gray and white matter property representations, where some white matter regions are stiffer and others less stiff than gray matter. We find that constitutive heterogeneity significantly lowers white matter deformations in all regions compared with homogeneous properties, and should be incorporated in FE model injury prediction.
Characteristics of the 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and pulse pressure in the elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension

Objective To investigate the ch a racteristics of the 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and pulse pressure in the eld erly patients with isolated systolic hypertension. Methods A tota l of 121 patients (53 males and 68 females) with isolated systolic hypertension at age≥60 were recruited from outpatients and patients hospitalized in Fu Wai h ospital. The 24 h non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure and blood pressure at clinic were obtained on the same day for each patients. Results T he clinic, the 24 h and ambulatory systolic pressures both in daytime and ni ghttime increased with age while the diastolic pressures did not so. Pulse press ures of all patients were increased (65 mmHg), and the 24 h, daytime and nighttime pulse pressures were all significantly elevated with age (P0.05). The 24 h and daytime diastolic pressures in patients at age 70 were lower than those in patients at age ≤70 (P0.05). The 24 h systolic pressure, nighttime sys tolic and diastolic pressures in patients with body mass index ≥25 were signifi cantly higher than those in patients with body mass index 25(P0.05). In t he elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension, the decline rates of th e ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the night-time were 4. 6% and 7.0% respectively, while the daytime and nighttime systolic pressure lo ads were remarkably increased. Conclusion With the increase of age, blood pressure profile for isolated systolic hypertensive cases is characterized by t hat the clinic, the 24 h, both the daytime and the nighttime ambulatory systolic pressures, and the systolic pressure loads were significantly increased while t he diurnal rhythm was decreased.
Ten to fifteen year reassessment of the performance characteristics of the Starr-Edwards Model 6120 mitral valve prosthesis

The Starr-Edwards (S-E) non-cloth-covered, silicone ball prosthesis (Model 6120) has been widely used for mitral valve replacement for over 16 years. It remains a standard against which newer valves are compared, but its performance characteristics in the 10 to 15 year range have not been comprehensively documented. This investigation included 509 patients who had this prosthesis implanted; a cumulative total of 3,170 patient-years of follow-up was analyzed with specific reference to all valve-related morbidity and mortality using stringent, conservative, and comprehensive definitions. Expressed in both linearized (λ) and actuarial terms, valve-related complications occurred at the following rates: Twenty-two percent of hospital deaths and 27% of late deaths were valve-related. Overall, 46% ± 2% of patients had had a valve-related complication by 5 years, 62% ± 3% by 10 years, and fully 75% ± 4% by 14 years; however, this prosthesis was structurally sound and no cases of mechanical failure were identified. Thus, although the Starr-Edwards Model 6120 mitral prosthesis is indestructible from purely a mechanical design standpoint, this comprehensive analysis of its performance characteristics reveals markedly suboptimal overall long-term results. The valve-related complications defined and reported herein should be used for analytical comparison when follow-up of patients with newer mechanical prostheses and tissue bioprostheses reaches 10 years and beyond. In this way, investigators and clinicians alike can discern whether or not a “newer” valve substitute is really an “improved” valve and which type of valve substitute proffers the most possible net benefit to the patient in terms of overall valve-related morbidity and mortality.
Intracemetery biological variation at the fort ancient sunwatch village.

Objectives We investigate intracemetery biological variation at the Fort Ancient SunWatch village (800–500 BP.) to test the hypothesis that the SunWatch population consisted of spatially structured biologically differentiated kin groups consisting of distinct local Late Woodland and non-local Mississippian biological populations. Material and Methods The SunWatch sample contains 166 individuals: 63 adults and 103 subadults. We analyze intracemetery biological variation using two feature sets: the buccolingual diameters of the polar teeth in the permanent (n = 37) and deciduous (n = 26) dentitions. We apply matrix correlation models to biodistance and grave distance matrices in both data sets, evaluate burial outliers and individuals exhibiting a rare dental feature with interindividual biological distances, and evaluate potential cultural subgroups with Mahalanobis' distance. Results Matrix correlation analyses for both feature sets as well as interindividual and subgroup distances indicate the SunWatch village cemetery was kin structured, contained a single primary biological population, and also contained a small number of non-local individuals most of whom were from closely related populations. We thus reject the hypothesis that the SunWatch population consisted of biologically distinct Late Woodland and Mississippian biological populations. Discussion Although SunWatch village exhibited cultural attributes characteristic of both local Late Woodland and non-local Mississippian groups, biologically the village was composed of one primary population. The lack of evidence for marked biological differentiation in the SunWatch village area at about 800–500 BP. suggests diffusion and acculturation may account for Mississippian cultural characteristics in southwestern Ohio Fort Ancient villages. If gene flow or migrations from biologically distinct Mississippian populations into southwestern Ohio occurred, either or both likely occurred well before 800 BP. This would have allowed the process of admixture time to produce a relatively homogeneous, nondifferentiated population. The latter alternative is consistent with the appearance in southwestern Ohio of non-local individuals at one site linked to surrounding Mississippian regions at about 950 BP. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nano transformations: a future of our making

"Nano" denotes the very small in scale, but there is nothing diminutive about the expectations generated by nanotech-the application of fundamental research at the nanoscale.
Toward a Global BRAIN Initiative

Neuroscience is entering a collaborative era in which powerful new technologies, generated by large scientific projects in many countries, will have a dramatic impact on science, medicine, and society. Coordinating these international initiatives and ensuring broad distribution of novel technologies and open accessibility of the generated data will multiply their value, while tapping creativity and expertise from every source.
A Rapid Review of Some Elements of Continuum Mechanics

In this supplemental chapter, we review several elements of continuum mechanics. The main topics we cover are curvilinear coordinates, stress tensors, balance laws, constitutive equations, and kinematical constraints. The material covered is background needed for the development of rod and string theories from three-dimensional considerations that are presented throughout the text.
Tributyltin exposure alters post-embryonic growth and intestinal microbiota assembly in zebrafish

Obesity is a ubiquitous public health problem that warrants the study of environmental factors that, by regulating energy balance, promote the storage of excess energy in adipose tissue. Two import...
Plural Nouns or Words Ending in S: Identification of the Response Class in Verbal Conditioning Experiments

The existence of correlated response classes in verbal conditioning experiments means that the response class actually being conditioned cannot, in general, be uniquely determined. Methods of analyzing the data from such experiments in order to reduce the indeterminacy are proposed.
The mathematics of matter

I have no hesitation in saying that, from a philosophical point of view, I do not believe in the actual existence of atoms, taking the word in its literal signification of indivisible particles of matter—I rather expect that we shall some day find for what we now call atoms a mathematicomechanical explanation, which will render an account of atomic weight, of atomicity, and of numerous other properties of the so-called atoms.
Culturing the Uncultured: Risk versus Reward

ABSTRACT Isolation of new microorganisms is challenging, but cultures are invaluable resources for experimental validation of phenotype, ecology, and evolutionary processes. Although the number of new isolates continues to grow, the majority of cultivars still come from a limited number of phylogenetic groups and environments, necessitating investment in new cultivation efforts. While most microbiologists probably agree that axenic cultures have great value, we need to collectively put our money where our mouth is. I propose that we examine cultivation from the perspective of expected value to rationally incorporate risks and rewards of isolating new microbes. If we can even broadly constrain the cultivation probability and relative values of isolates, we can use this information to evaluate and improve experimental design. There are numerous scenarios for which isolation projects have positive expectations and therefore represent a sound investment.
New Divide-and-Conquer Techniques for Large-Scale Phylogenetic Estimation

Over the last years, the availability of genomic sequence data from thousands of different species has led to hopes that a phylogenetic tree of all life might be achievable. Yet, the most accurate methods for estimating phylogenies are heuristics for NP-hard optimization problems, many of which are too computationally intensive to use on large datasets. Divide-and-conquer approaches have been proposed to address scalability to large datasets that divide the species into subsets, construct trees on subsets, and then merge the trees together. Prior approaches have divided species sets into overlapping subsets and used supertree methods to merge the subset trees, but limitations in supertree methods suggest this kind of divide-and-conquer approach is unlikely to provide scalability to ultra-large datasets. Recently, a new approach has been developed that divides the species dataset into disjoint subsets, computes trees on subsets, and then combines the subset trees using auxiliary information (e.g., a distance matrix). Here, we describe these strategies and their theoretical properties, present open problems, and discuss opportunities for impact in large-scale phylogenetic estimation using these and similar approaches.
Enabling Situational Awareness via Augmented Reality of Autonomous Robot-Based Environmental Change Detection

Accurately detecting changes in one’s environment is an important ability for many application domains, but can be challenging for humans. Autonomous robots can easily be made to autonomously detect metric changes in the environment, but unlike humans, understanding context can be challenging for robots. We present a novel system that uses an autonomous robot performing point cloud-based change detection to facilitate information-gathering tasks and provides enhanced situational awareness. The robotic system communicates detected changes via augmented reality to a human teammate for evaluation. We present results from a fielded system using two differently-equipped robots to examine implementation questions of point cloud density and its effect on visualization of changes. Our results show that there are trade-offs between implementations that we believe will be constructive towards similar systems in the future.
Advanced properties of gluten-free cookies, cakes, and crackers: A review

Abstract Background There is a growing demand for gluten-free bakery products from groups with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and/or health consciousness. Besides bread products, chemically leavened gluten-free products such as cookies, biscuits, cakes, muffins, and crackers are receiving increasing interests due to their convenience and unique taste and texture. Many research papers have been published in recent years; however, no comprehensive review has yet been available in this area. Scope and approach This review examines various gluten-free non-bread bakery goods with respect to formulation, preparation, and properties of dough and batter and the resultant products. Other functional ingredients such as proteins, fibers, hydrocolloids, and emulsifiers used to improve product properties are discussed. Challenges of developing the gluten-free bakery products, such as technological limitation, nutritional quality, and sensory properties are addressed. Knowledge and information gaps in this research area are identified, and future research needs are recommended. Key findings and conclusions Rice flour is the mostly used gluten-free flour for these purposes, and it is often formulated with flours, starches, and proteins from cereals, pulses, pseudocereals, and other plant materials to achieve optimal batter or dough properties and bakery product quality. Although the composition of gluten-free composite flours and formulation dominate product texture and sensory traits, other factors such as grain milling methods, flour particle size, and flour treatment could also have some impact. The current gluten-free cookies, biscuits, cakes, muffins, and crackers are still less desirable than wheat-based products. Further research is warranted in developing and evaluating more palatable and nutritious gluten-free products.
Biomaterials-Driven Sterile Inflammation

Performance of the biomaterials used for regenerative medicine largely depends on biocompatibility; however, the biological mechanisms underlying biocompatibility of a biomaterial within the host system is poorly understood. In addition to the classical immune response against non-self-entities, the sterile inflammatory response could limit the compatibility of biological scaffolds. Whereas the immediate to short-term host response to a biomaterial implant have been characterized, the long-term progression of host-biomaterial relationship has not been described. This article explores the novel concept of biomaterials-driven sterile inflammation (BSI) in long-term biodegradable implants and throws light for possible explanation for the onset of BSI and the associated damage-associated molecular patterns. The understanding of BSI would advance the current strategies to improve biomaterial-host tissue integration and open novel translational avenues in biomaterials-based tissue regeneration.
mRNA Vaccines against Flaviviruses

Numerous vaccines have now been developed using the mRNA platform. In this approach, mRNA coding for a viral antigen is in vitro synthesized and injected into the host leading to exogenous protein expression and robust immune responses. Vaccines can be rapidly developed utilizing the mRNA platform in the face of emerging pandemics. Additionally, the mRNA coding region can be easily manipulated to test novel hypotheses in order to combat viral infections which have remained refractory to traditional vaccine approaches. Flaviviruses are a diverse family of viruses that cause widespread disease and have pandemic potential. In this review, we discuss the mRNA vaccines which have been developed against diverse flaviviruses.
Amino acid interactions that facilitate enzyme catalysis.

Interactions in enzymes between catalytic and neighboring amino acids and how these interactions facilitate catalysis are examined. In examples from both natural and designed enzymes, it is shown that increases in catalytic rates may be achieved through elongation of the buffer range of the catalytic residues; such perturbations in the protonation equilibria are, in turn, achieved through enhanced coupling of the protonation equilibria of the active ionizable residues with those of other ionizable residues. The strongest coupling between protonation states for a pair of residues that deprotonate to form an anion (or a pair that accept a proton to form a cation) is achieved when the difference in the intrinsic pKas of the two residues is approximately within 1 pH unit. Thus, catalytic aspartates and glutamates are often coupled to nearby acidic residues. For an anion-forming residue coupled to a cation-forming residue, the elongated buffer range is achieved when the intrinsic pKa of the anion-forming residue is higher than the intrinsic pKa of the (conjugate acid of the) cation-forming residue. Therefore, the high pKa, anion-forming residues tyrosine and cysteine make good coupling partners for catalytic lysine residues. For the anion–cation pairs, the optimum difference in intrinsic pKas is a function of the energy of interaction between the residues. For the energy of interaction e expressed in units of (ln 10)RT, the optimum difference in intrinsic pKas is within ∼1 pH unit of e.
Redundancy in the Science Implementation of NASA's Lucy Mission to the Trojan Asteroids

Lucy is NASA's 13th Discovery-class mission and it will be the first mission to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Over the course of 12 years, the mission will encounter 7 Trojan asteroids in a series of 5 flybys. The time critical nature of the asteroid flybys coupled with the long-duration mission drive design considerations for redundancy in the implementation of the mission. This paper focusses on the redundancy in the science planning and instrument designs. A risk-based assesment informed decisions about instrument selection, instrument design, and science timeline considerations. The mission carries three scientific instruments, a high resolution panchromatic imager, a combination panchromatic/color visible imager and near-infrared spectral imager, and a thermal infrared spectrometer. Additionally, a component of the guidance and control subsystem, the terminal tracking cameras, will contribute to the scientific data collected on the mission. Redundancy in the science instruments includes redundant electronics and data storage separate from the data storage on the spacecraft. The science observation sequence also has redundancy built into it. An example of this is backup observations to provide more than one opportunity to accomplish critical science objectives. These design considerations are achievable in a Discovery-class mission and reduce risk during Lucy's 12-year operations phase to achieve the mission's science objectives.
The 3 T’s (Titan, Trailblazer, and Trustworthy) of Ed Latessa

The words that typify Ed Latessa are titan, trailblazer, and trustworthy. His career has been driven by a desire to change American corrections to intertwine research into routine practices. Ed’s w...
Queer and Trans Migrations: Dynamics of Illegalization, Detention, and Deportation: edited by Eithne Luibhéid and Karma R. Chávez, Urbana, IL, University of Illinois Press, 2020, 271 pages, $24.95 (softcover), $125 (hardcover).

The complexity of race matters, critical race and queer theories, border studies, and immigration policies and practices are more than ever at the forefront of contemporary political imaginaries. R...
Effect of Robotic Exoskeleton Motion Constraints on Upper Limb Muscle Synergies: A Case Study

Evidence exists that changes in composition, timing, and number of muscle synergies can be correlated to functional changes resulting from neurological injury. These changes can also serve as an indicator of level of motor impairment. As such, synergy analysis can be used as an assessment tool for robotic rehabilitation. However, it is unclear whether using a rehabilitation robot to isolate limb movements during training affects the subject’s muscle synergies, which would affect synergy-based assessments. In this case study, electromyographic (EMG) data were collected to analyze muscle synergies generated during single degree-of-freedom (DoF) elbow and wrist movements performed by a single healthy subject in a four DoF robotic exoskeleton. For each trial, the subject was instructed to move a single DoF from a neutral position out to a target and back while the remaining DoFs were held in a neutral position by either the robot (constrained) or the subject (unconstrained). Four factorization methods were used to calculate muscle synergies for both types of trials: concatenation, averaging, single trials, and bootstrapping. The number of synergies was chosen to achieve 90% global variability accounted for. Our preliminary results indicate that muscle synergy composition and timing were highly similar for constrained and unconstrained trials, though some differences between the four factorization methods existed. These differences could be explained by higher trial-to-trial EMG variability for the unconstrained trials. These results suggest that using a robotic exoskeleton to constrain limb movements during robotic training may not alter a subject’s muscle synergies, at least for healthy subjects.
Hyperparathyroidism first suspected through a giant-cell epulis. Report of a case.

Abstract 1. 1. We have reported a case of primary hyperparathyroidism in which the first clinical suspicion was aroused by the finding of a giant-cell lesion in the oral cavity. 2. 2. Giant-cell lesions of the oral cavity are reviewed and differentiated. 3. 3. The clinical picture, laboratory findings, pathogenesis, and treatment of hyperparathyroidism are briefly discussed.
Back to the Future? The Potential Revival of Territoriality

Until 1993, the United States led the rest of the developed world in strengthening residence-based world-wide corporate and individual income taxation. However, since 1994 this trend seems to have been reversed, at least in part, and similar developments are taking place overseas (e.g., in France and the UK). Thus, there seems to be a trend to reduce the scope of residence jurisdiction, while increasing the emphasis on source jurisdiction. If this trend continues, it seems likely that both traditional territorial countries like France and traditional world-wide countries like to UK and the US would move toward territoriality and decrease emphasis on their CFC rules. In the author's opinion, the reason for the trend to restrict CFC rules is political and economic, not legal: It is part of tax competition, specifically the competition to be the headquarters jurisdiction for MNEs. However, the author also believes that the US and other jurisdictions do not need to go down this road, because the solution to the competitiveness issue is collaboration, not more competition.
Timing system for neutral beam injection on the DIII-D tokamak

The author describes recent modifications to the DIII-D central timing system hardware and software to allow more flexible and complex timing waveforms than previously available to control NB (neutral beam) injection. In the past, for each plasma discharge, the start time and the pulse duration for each NB source could be set. The new NB timing system allows the experimental session leader to specify more than one pulse for each NB source to make efficient use of multiple physics experiments in a single discharge. Also, pulse trains with programmable duty cycles can be independently specified for each NB source to make NB injection a more useful diagnostic tool. Experimental results using features of the new NB timing system are presented. >
Identification of textual contexts

Contextual information plays a key role in the automatic interpretation of text. This paper is concerned with the identification of textual contexts. A context taxonomy is introduced first, followed by an algorithm for detecting context boundaries. Experiments on the detection of subjective contexts using a machine learning model were performed using a set of syntactic features.
Measurements in the flow around a marine propeller at the stern of an axisymmetric body

An experimental study of the flow around and behind an axisymmetric body driven by a marine propeller is reported. Experiments were performed in a wind tunnel to document this complex, unsteady, three-dimensional, turbulent shear flow. Measurements were made in the boundary layer and wake of the bare body with a fixed dummy hub for the propeller, with the dummy hub rotating, and finally, with the propeller in operation. A five-hole yaw probe was employed for the mean-flow measurements, and two- and threesensor hotwires were used to obtained the mean and turbulent velocity fields. Part 1 of this two-part paper describes the experimental arrangement and circumferentially-averaged results which clarify certain overall aspects of the flow when it is viewed as a rotationally-symmetric flow. These are of special interest in marine hydrodynamics. In Part 2, the triple-sensor hotwire data are analyzed using phase-averaging techniques to reconstruct the instantaneous velocity and Reynolds-stress fields downstream of the propeller to show the evolution of the wakes of individual blades, blade-tip vortices, and the complex flow associated with vortices generated at hub-blade junctions.
Two-Dimensional Signal and Image Processing

New to P-H Signal Processing Series (Alan Oppenheim, Series Ed) this text covers the principles and applications of "multidimensional" and "image" digital signal processing. For Sr/grad level courses in image processing in EE departments.
Effect of steroid therapy on the clinical and laboratory features of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Summary Clinical and laboratory observations are reported in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis during periods of adrenocortical hormone-induced remissions and hormone-withdrawal exacerbations. Corticotherapy resulted in striking reduction of alkaline phosphatase and of serum lipids (as determined by biochemical and physical methods). The basic disease process was not reversed in spite of impressive clinical and laboratory improvement as shown by prompt hormone-withdrawal exacerbations.
Comments on "A critical appraisal of Markov state models" by M. Sarich and C. Schütte

The article by Sarich and Schutte takes a broad view of the use of Markov state models, with biomolecules as the intended application, and proposes novel approaches based on mathematical insights.
High performance mapping for massively parallel hierarchical structures

Techniques for mapping image processing and computer vision algorithms onto a class of hierarchically structured systems are presented. In order to produce mappings of maximum efficiency, objective functions that measure the quality of given mappings with respect to particular optimization goals are proposed. The effectiveness and the computation complexity of mapping algorithms that yield very high performance by minimizing the objective functions are discussed. Performance results are also presented. >
Characterization of spray deposition and drift from a low drift nozzle for aerial application at different application altitudes

A complex interaction of controllable and uncontrollable factors is involved in aerial application of crop production and protection materials. ?Although it is difficult to completely characterize spray deposition and drift, these important factors can be estimated with appropriate sampling protocol and analysis. ?Application height is an important variable influencing off-target spray drift, but this variable has not been easily measured or logged. A custom-configured aircraft-mounted laser with logging capabilities makes this possible. ?This study was designed to investigate droplet size and deposition characteristics of a low drift CP flat-fan nozzle at application altitudes 3.7 m, 4.9 m, and 6.1 m. In the study, CP flat-fan nozzles were set to a downward angle of 30 degrees applying a mixture of water, Syl-Tac ? adjuvant, and Rubidium Chloride (RbCl) tracer at a ?28.5 L/ha application rate.? Spray droplets were collected using water sensitive paper (WSP) cards placed in the spray swath. Mylar sheets were also placed in the swath and downwind for drift sampling. Statistical analysis indicated that median droplet diameter as determined by WSP in the spray swath was not significantly influenced by spray application height. ?Similarly, statistical analysis also indicated that concentration of RbCl tracer from Mylar samplers in the spray swath was not significantly influenced by application height. ?Application height had a significant effect on spray deposition from drift samplers, along with wind direction and relative humidity. ?Final results for drift samplers may have been influenced by shifts in wind direction that altered the relationship between orientation of samplers and wind. Keywords: deposition, spray nozzle, aerial application, droplet spectra, spray drift DOI: 10.3965/j.issn.1934-6344.2011.04.028-033 ? Citation: Huang Y, Thomson S J. ?Characterization of spray deposition and drift from a low drift nozzle for aerial application at different application altitudes. ?Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2011; 4(4): 28
The alpha 2 beta 1 integrin regulates collagen-mediated MDCK epithelial membrane remodeling and tubule formation

Previous studies have demonstrated that incubation of MDCK cell epithelial cysts in collagen gel induced a reversal in cell surface polarity that was regulated by beta 1 integrins. Further experiments were done to identify the specific collagen binding integrin involved by applying collagen gel overlays to the apical membrane of subconfluent MDCK monolayers. Cell surface levels of the apical membrane glycoprotein gp135 were monitored by ELISA to quantitate the extent of collagen-mediated membrane remodeling. After an 8 hour incubation with collagen, there was a 35% reduction in gp135 while the cell surface levels of the alpha 2, alpha 3 and beta 1 integrin subunits were not affected. Immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed the loss of gp135 from selected regions of the apical cell surface while the alpha 2 and beta 1 integrin subunits were distributed in small clusters over the entire apical membrane in both control and collagen-treated monolayers. Collagen-mediated loss of gp135 was inhibited by monoclonal antibodies which recognize either the alpha 2 or beta 1 integrin subunits but not by a monoclonal antibody against the alpha 6 beta 1 integrin. These results demonstrated that remodeling of the apical membrane had occurred, allowing the selective retention of beta 1 integrins but not gp135. They were supported by the observation that collagen-mediated loss of apical membrane microvilli was inhibited by the monoclonal antibody against the alpha 2 integrin subunit. Incubation of confluent monolayers with collagen gel induced the formation of polarized epithelial tubules within 16 hours. Epithelial tubule biogenesis was completely inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against either the alpha 2 or beta 1 integrin subunits, providing strong evidence that the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin is essential for collagen-mediated epithelial membrane remodeling and tubule formation.
Knowledge and the ordered protection motivation model: Tools for preventing AIDS

Abstract Two types of knowledge were incorporated into the ordered protection motivation (OPM) model of threat and coping appraisal. Experiential AIDS prevention knowledge was observed to directly increase maladaptive or unsafe sex behaviors. General AIDS problem knowledge was observed to indirectly increase adaptive safe sex behaviors via certain OPM model mediators. Certain OPM mediators such as self-efficacy and vulnerability were observed to directly increase adaptive safe sex behaviors. Vulnerability was shown to directly increase maladaptive sex-related behaviors.
Mechanism of Cu+-transporting ATPases: Soluble Cu+ chaperones directly transfer Cu+ to transmembrane transport sites

As in other P-type ATPases, metal binding to transmembrane metal-binding sites (TM-MBS) in Cu+-ATPases is required for enzyme phosphorylation and subsequent transport. However, Cu+ does not access Cu+-ATPases in a free (hydrated) form but is bound to a chaperone protein. Cu+ transfer from Cu+ chaperones to regulatory cytoplasmic metal-binding domains (MBDs) present in these ATPases has been described, but there is no evidence of a proposed subsequent Cu+ movement from the MBDs to the TM-MBS. Alternatively, we postulate the parsimonious Cu+ transfer by the chaperone directly to TM-MBS. Testing both models, the delivery of Cu+ by Archaeoglobus fulgidus Cu+ chaperone CopZ to the corresponding Cu+-ATPase, CopA, was studied. As expected, CopZ interacted with and delivered the metal to CopA MBDs. Cu+-loaded MBDs, acting as metal donors, were unable to activate CopA or a truncated CopA lacking MBDs. Conversely, Cu+-loaded CopZ activated the CopA ATPase and CopA constructs in which MBDs were rendered unable to bind Cu+. Furthermore, under nonturnover conditions, CopZ transferred Cu+ to the TM-MBS of a CopA lacking MBDs. These data are consistent with a model where MBDs serve a regulatory function without participating in metal transport and the chaperone delivers Cu+ directly to transmembrane transport sites of Cu+-ATPases.
Spectral Resolution Amelioration by Deconvolution (SPREAD) in MR Spectroscopic Imaging

Purpose—To develop, implement, and evaluate a novel post-processing method for enhancing the spectral resolution of in vivo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) data. Materials and Methods—Magnetic field inhomogeneity across the imaging volume was determined by acquiring MRI datasets with two differing echo times. The lineshapes of the MRSI spectra were derived from these field maps by simulating an MRSI scan of a virtual sample whose resonance frequencies varied according to the observed variations in the magnetic field. By deconvolving the lineshapes from the measured MRSI spectra, the linebroadening effects of the field inhomogeneities were reduced significantly. Results—Both phantom and in vivo proton MRSI spectra exhibited significantly enhanced spectral resolutions and improved spectral lineshapes following application of our method. Quantitative studies on a phantom show that, on average, the full width at half maximum of water peaks was reduced 42%, the full width at tenth maximum was reduced 38%, and the asymmetries of the peaks were reduced 86%.
Natural experiments in prevention research

Abstract Natural experiments are discussed within the conceptual framework of Cook and Campbell (1979) that was developed for understanding the types of research designs. Within that framework, natural experiments can be seen as a subset of the set of all quasi-experiments. Some of the threats to validity that affect quasi-experiments in general are of particular importance for natural experiments. A discussion of these threats and potentially mitigating strategies leads to some suggestions for future research.
The Subtropical Jet Stream of Winter.

Abstract Daily upper-wind analysis at 200 mb was carried out between the equator and 45N, around the globe, for December 1955 to February 1956 to map the subtropical jet stream. It turned out that this current formed a pattern of three standing long waves which maintained nearly a steady state. This made possible an analysis of the meteorological variables in a coordinate system fixed with respect to the jet stream axis at 200 mb. Monthly mean maps and vertical cross sections of wind, temperature, moisture and mass distribution were computed in this coordinate system. The jet-stream core is situated close to the 200-mb surface and has a maximum speed close to 70 m per sec in the mean integrated around the world; this is mainly due to very high speeds over Africa and Asia. Mean velocities close to or above 160 kn are found in the ridges of the meandering jet axis, and lower speeds are observed in the troughs. Computations of mass circulation across the jet-stream axis revealed (for all three months of wint...
Ventilatory efficiency and resting hemodynamics in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Purpose: In patients with systolic heart failure, the ability of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) variables to reflect pathophysiology is well established. The relationship between CPX and pathophysiology has, however, not been thoroughly investigated in patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (NHCM). The objective of this study was to assess the ability of CPX variables to reflect resting hemodynamics in patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy NHCM. Methods: We performed CPX and right heart catheterization on 83 subjects with NHCM (51 male/32 female, mean age = 38 +/- 10 yr, NYHA I-III mean = 1.7). Peak oxygen consumption (V[spacing dot above]O2) and minute ventilation/carbon dioxide ratio (V[spacing dot above]E/V[spacing dot above]CO2) at peak exercise were compared to resting hemodynamics including pulmonary artery systolic, diastolic and mean pressures (PASP, PADP and MPAP), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). Results: Elevations in PCWP (>= 15 mm Hg), PASP (>=30 and >= 40 mm Hg), PADP (> 15 mm Hg) and MPAP (>= 20 mm Hg) were detected in 22, 33, 10, and 23% of subjects, respectively. Peak V[spacing dot above]E/V[spacing dot above]CO2 (positive correlation) and peak V[spacing dot above]O2 (negative correlation) correlated modestly with all pressure measurements (r = 0.33-0.51, P 35.5 exhibited the best diagnostic accuracy with a curve areas of 0.81 for PAP >= 30 mm Hg (sensitivity/specificity = 86%/67%), 0.87 for PAP >= 40 mm Hg (77%/100%), 0.86 for MPAP > 20 mm Hg (83%/79%), and 0.84 for PCWP >= 15 mm Hg (80%/76%). Conclusions: CPX can accurately identify abnormal resting hemodynamics in patients with NHCM. Further testing of this modality in other forms of diastolic dysfunction may be warranted.
Electrolytic lesions of the medial septum enhance latent inhibition in a conditioned taste aversion paradigm

The effects of medial septal lesions on latent inhibition (LI) were assessed in a conditioned taste aversion paradigm. Animals were tested in a LI paradigm 2 weeks after receiving medial septal or sham lesions. The LI paradigm involved a pre-exposure phase in which water-deprived rats were allowed access to either water (non-pre-exposed; NPE) or 5% sucrose (pre-exposed; PE), followed by a conditioning phase in which animals were allowed access to sucrose and subsequently injected with lithium chloride, and a test phase in which animals were allowed access to both sucrose and water. LI was assessed by comparing the %-sucrose consumed in PE and NPE groups on the test day. There was a significantly greater LI effect in the lesion group than in the sham group, suggesting that electrolytic lesions to the medial septum can enhance LI in a CTA paradigm.
Developmental changes in the diurnal water budget of the grape berry exposed to water deficits

The diurnal water budget of developing grape (Vitis vinifera L.) berries was evaluated before and after the onset of fruit ripening (veraison). The diameter of individual berries of potted ‘Zinfandel’ and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ grapevines was measured continuously with electronic displacement transducers over 24 h periods under controlled environmental conditions, and leaf water status was determined by the pressure chamber technique. For well-watered vines, daytime contraction was much less during ripening (after veraison) than before ripening. Daytime contraction was reduced by restricting berry or shoot transpiration, with the larger effect being shoot transpiration pre-veraison and berry transpiration post-veraison. The contributions of the pedicel xylem and phloem as well as berry transpiration to the net diurnal water budget of the fruit were estimated by eliminating phloem or phloem and xylem pathways. Berry transpiration was significant and comprised the bulk of water outflow for the berry both before and after veraison. A nearly exclusive role for the xylem in water transport into the berry was evident during pre-veraison development, but the phloem was clearly dominant in the post-veraison water budget. Daytime contraction was very sensitive to plant water status before veraison but was remarkably insensitive to changes in plant water status after veraison. This transition is attributed to an increased phloem inflow and a partial discontinuity in berry xylem during ripening.
Strength Prediction of Random Fiber Composite Beams using a Phenomenological-Mechanistic Model:

A phenomenological-mechanistic model, referred to as a lamini model and reported in a previous paper [8] for homogeneous stress states, is used to predict random fiber composite beam strength in this paper. This model divides a random fiber composite panel into a stack of thin transversely isotropic layers (laminas) with each lamina constructed from a series of unidirectional layers (laminis). As the number of laminis and laminas approach infinity, the convergence of the extensional stiffness matrix [A] and the bending stiffness matrix [D] is proved. These two stiffness matrices also satisfy the relationship established for isotropic materials, thus ensuring the transverse isotropy typical of random fiber composite plates (and beams). Due to the difficulty in determining lamini post-peak stress-strain behavior, in this paper only bounds on the damage growth and ultimate strength of a random fiber composite beam have been determined. The lower bound is obtained by assuming the stress falls to zero immediat...