cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spinal cord dysmyelination caused by an antiproteolipid protein IgM antibody: Implications for the mechanism of central nervous system myelin formation

Antiglycolipid IgM antibodies are known to induce formation of "wide spaced" or "expanded" myelin, a distinctive form of dysmyelination characterized by a repeat period approximately two or three times normal, which is seen also in diseases, including multiple sclerosis. To determine whether an antibody directed against a myelin protein would cause equivalent pathology, we implanted O10 hybridoma cells into the spinal cord of adult or juvenile rats. O10 produces an IgM directed against PLP, the major protein of CNS myelin. Subsequent examination of the cords showed focal demyelination and remyelination. In addition, however, some juvenile cords, but none of the adult cords, displayed wide-spaced myelin with lamellae separated by an extracellular material comprising elements consistent with IgM molecules in appearance. Wide spacing tended to involve the outer layers of the sheath and in some cases alternated with normally spaced lamellae. A feature not seen previously consists of multiple expanded myelin lamellae in one sector of a sheath continuous with normally spaced lamellae in another, resulting in variation in sheath thickness around the axonal circumference. This uneven distribution of wide-spaced lamellae is most simply explained based on incorporation of IgM molecules into immature sheaths during myelin formation and implies a model of CNS myelinogenesis more complex than simple spiraling. The periaxonal space never displays widening of this kind, but the interface with adjacent myelin sheaths or oligodendrocytes may. Thus, wide spacing appears to require that IgM molecules bridge between two PLP-containing membranes and does not reflect the mere presence of immunoglobulin within the extracellular space.
GABAergic neurons of the laterodorsal and pedunculopontine tegmental nuclei of the cat express c-fos during carbachol-induced active sleep

The laterodorsal and pedunculopontine tegmental nuclei (LDT-PPT) are involved in the generation of active sleep (AS; also called REM or rapid eye movement sleep). Although the LDT-PPT are composed principally of cholinergic neurons that participate in the control of sleep and waking states, the function of the large number of GABAergic neurons that are also located in the LDT-PPT is unknown. Consequently, we sought to determine if these neurons are activated (as indicated by their c-fos expression) during active sleep induced by the microinjection of carbachol into the rostro-dorsal pons (AS-carbachol). Accordingly, immunocytochemical double-labeling techniques were used to identify GABA and Fos protein, as well as choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), in histological sections of the LDT-PPT. Compared to control awake cats, there was a larger number of GABAergic neurons that expressed c-fos during AS-carbachol (31.5+/-6.1 vs. 112+/-15.2, P<0.005). This increase in the number of GABA+Fos+ neurons occurred on the ipsilateral side relative to the injection site; there was a small decrease in GABA+Fos+ cells in the contralateral LDT-PPT. However, the LDT-PPT neurons that exhibited the largest increase in c-fos expression during AS-carbachol were neither GABA+ nor ChAT+ (47+/-22.5 vs. 228.7+/-14.0, P<0.0005). The number of cholinergic neurons that expressed c-fos during AS-carbachol was not significantly different compared to wakefulness. These data demonstrate that, during AS-carbachol, GABAergic as well as an unidentified population of neurons are activated in the LDT-PPT. We propose that these non-cholinergic LDT-PPT neurons may participate in the regulation of active sleep.
PLEXACT: an architecture & design of a knowledge-based system for information systems development

This paper discusses the architecture and design of an expert system PLEXACT, (PLEXsys in ACTion), which can be used to assist users in defining their information requirements and to analyze the consistency and integrity of the requirements. PLEXACT is different from other system analysis languages and tools because of its active participation in the requirements elicitation process and its dynamic system architecture which is adaptable to different system development settings.Current system analysis methodologies are first reviewed and evaluated. An intelligent system development tool that can remedy the disadvantages of the current approaches is described. The knowledge needed for information systems development is identified and representations of this knowledge are discussed. An object-oriented and communication-based architecture, called PLEXACT, is proposed. PLEXACT is a configurable system architecture which can support expert system building for information system development. The kernel of PLEXACT includes: (1) Development Coordinator: coordinates different expert system models to solve the system problems and guide the development process. Development Coordinator consists of four components: User Modeler, Project Controller, Problem Analyzer, and Development Knowledge Base and Data Base; (2) Information Systems Modeler: builds information system development theories, methods, and tools into expert system models to capture multiple perspectives of a system at different level of abstraction. Models can work together by specifying their coupling information to Model Creator. Information Systems Modeler consists of Model Creator, Model Instantiator, System Analyst and Designer, Model-based Learner, and Modeling Knowledge Base and Data Base. Current research in knowledge-based system development tools and some implementation issues of PLEXACT are also discussed.
The Influence of Solar Forcing on Tropical Circulation

Abstract The response of the seasonal tropical circulation to an 11-yr solar cycle forcing is studied with the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) ModelE, which includes fully interactive atmospheric chemistry. To identify characteristic solar signals in the tropical circulation, the model experiments are carried out with certain imposed conditions: a doubly amplified solar forcing and the present-day and preindustrial greenhouse gases and aerosol conditions, with the mixed layer or fully coupled dynamic ocean model. In both the model and the NCEP reanalysis, tropical humidity increases in response to enhanced solar irradiance are found to be statistically significant in both solstice seasons. Changes are also found in the vertical velocities for both the Hadley and Walker circulations in some areas of the Pacific region. With present-day greenhouse gas and aerosol conditions, the ascending branch of the Hadley cell is enhanced near the equator, and the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is shif...
HIV-1 DNA integration: Mechanism of viral DNA cleavage and DNA strand transfer

Retroviral DNA integration involves a coordinated set of DNA cutting and joining reactions. Linear viral DNA is cleaved at each 3' end to generate the precursor ends for integration. The resulting recessed 3' ends are inserted into target DNA by a subsequent DNA strand transfer reaction. Purified HIV-1 integration protein carries out both of these steps in vitro. Two novel forms of the dinucleotide cleaved from HIV-1 DNA were identified and one, a cyclic dinucleotide, was used to analyze the stereochemical course of viral DNA cleavage. Both viral DNA cleavage and DNA strand transfer display inversion at chiral phosphorothioates during the course of the reaction. These results suggest that both reactions occur by a one-step mechanism without involvement of a covalent protein-DNA intermediate.
Photofootprint of nucleosome core DNA in intact chromatin having different structural states

Recently, we reported that the distribution of ultraviolet light (u.v.) induced pyrimidine dimers in nucleosome core DNA has a striking 10.3(+/- 0.1) base periodicity and the regions of enhanced quantum yield map to positions where DNA strands are farthest from the core histone surface. Improvement of the mapping procedure has allowed us to analyze this distribution in more detail, and compare the distribution pattern for nucleosome cores from intact chromatin having different higher-order structures (from the 10 nm filament to the 30 nm fiber). At all levels of chromatin compaction, we observed the following. (1) The average periodicity in pyrimidine dimer yield is 10.3 bases. (2) The peak-to-peak spacing in this distribution is significantly different from 10.3 bases in the region covering three helix turns immediately 5' of the dyad axis. (3) There is a suppression of photoproduct formation in the region of the dyad axis, especially at position 84 from the 5' end. (4) The approximately 10 base ensembles have alternating peak intensities throughout core DNA. Furthermore, peak deconvolution analysis of the pyrimidine dimer pattern yielded a striking similarity in photoproduct yield for the different levels of chromatin compaction. Irradiation of isolated core DNA yields a much more random distribution of photoproducts, although a weak modulation pattern is observed (indicating that there is a non-random alignment of adjacent pyrimidines in our core DNA preparations). This pattern includes a depression in photoproduct yield near position 95, suggesting that the sequence in this region plays a role in nucleosome positioning. These results show that the u.v. photofootprint is a sensitive, diagnostic probe of core histone-DNA interactions in intact chromatin, and these interactions are not significantly altered by changes in the structural state of the chromatin fiber.
An X-linked Recessive ‘Malignant’ Reticuloendothelosis

In the last 2 generations of a Latin American family 17 males have died prior to 6 years of age. All were related in the family through their mothers. clinical information on 16 of the boys indicated that the illness was characterized by fever, pallor, jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy with the median age of onset of illness being 14 months (4–62 months) and the median duration of illness being 22 days (1–50 days). Histologic studies on 12 of the children revealed bone marrow plasmacytosis and a mononuclear cell infiltrate of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, and less frequently of the brain, kidney, heart, and lungs, consistent with a malignant reticuloendotheliosis.
A geostatistical approach to downscaling climate forecasts

Though global general circulation models are the tool of choice for forecasting the effects of climate change, their spatial resolutions are too broad for the needs of regional planners. To provide locally relevant information, modelers typically employ one of two techniques: producing a new forecast using a regional dynamic model or statistically downscaling the projections of the larger model. As a subset of the statistical approach, Jha et al. propose a geostatistical technique to translate climate-modeling results to a smaller spatial scale.
Feasibility and Benefits of Passive RFID Wake-Up Radios for Wireless Sensor Networks

Energy efficiency is one of the crucial design criteria for wireless sensor networks. Idle listening constitutes a major part of energy waste, and thus solutions such as duty cycling and the use of wake-up radios have been proposed to reduce idle listening and save energy. Compared to duty cycling, wake-up radios save more energy by reducing unnecessary wake-ups and collisions. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility and potential benefits of using passive RFID as a wake-up radio. We first introduce a physical implementation of sensor nodes with passive RFID wake-up radios and measure their energy cost and wake-up probability. Then, we compare the performance of our RFID wake-up sensor nodes with duty cycling in a Data MULE scenario through simulations with realistic application parameters. The results show that using a passive RFID wake-up radio offers significant energy efficiency benefits at the expense of delay and the additional low-cost RFID hardware, making RFID wake-up radios beneficial for many delay-tolerant sensor network applications.
Experimental and Economic Assessment of Two Surfactant Formulations for Source Zone Remediation at a Former Dry Cleaning Facility

Treatability tests and cost analyses were conducted to provide objective criteria for selection of a surfactant formulation to be used for surfactant enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR) of a tetrachloroethene (PCE)-contaminated site in Oscoda, Michigan. Two surfactant formulations, 4% Tween 80 + 500 mg/L CaCl2 and 8% Aerosol MA/IPA +15,000 mg/L NaCl + 1000 mg/L CaCl2, were considered based on their capacity to solubilize PCE and prior use in SEAR applications. Results of a two-dimensional aquifer cell experiment indicated that 53% of the released PCE was recovered after flushing with approximately 8 pore volumes of 4% Tween 80. In contrast, only 3 pore volumes of 8% Aerosol MA/IPA solution were required to recover 78% of the PCE from the two-dimensional aquifer cell, although the greater recovery of PCE was attributed, in large part, to the higher concentration of Aerosol MA. However, mobilization of PCE as free product was observed during the 8% Aerosol MA/IPA flood, which was consistent with total trapping number (NT) calculations. At the pilot-scale, SEAR treatment costs were estimated to be $222,000 and $244,000 for 4% Tween 80 and 8% Aerosol MA/IPA, respectively, which compared favorably to the estimated pump-and-treat cost of $316,000. Projected full-scale costs, based on a line-drive flushing system, were $382,000 for 4% Tween 80 and $443,000 for 8% Aerosol MA/IPA. In contrast, full-scale pump-and-treat costs were estimated to be $1,167,000. Surfactant recycling was shown to be logistically and economically infeasible at the pilot scale, and provided only a minimal cost benefit for 4% Tween 80 at the full scale. Based on the similarities in solubilization capacity and treatment cost, but substantially lower risk of PCE displacement, Tween 80 was recommended over Aerosol MA/IPA for pilot-scale testing of SEAR.
A systematics for Zweig rule breaking

Abstract In the framework of a simple model, rough magnitudes of all Zweig suppressed decays are described in terms of a few mixing angles θ N ψ ∼ 1 2000 , θ c ω,φ,η ∼ 1 50 , θ Λ( N ) ω(φ) ∼ 1 5 . The hierarchy of these mixing angles are seen to agree with the systematics, suggested by the dynamical mechanisms.
Impact of multidisciplinary simulation-based training on patient safety in a paediatric emergency department

Background Cincinnati Children's Hospital is one of the busiest paediatric emergency departments (ED) in the USA; high volume, high acuity and frequent interruptions contribute to an increased risk for error. Objective To improve patient safety in a paediatric ED by implementing a multidisciplinary, simulation-based curriculum emphasising teamwork and communication. Methods Subjects included all healthcare providers in the ED. Multidisciplinary teams participated in simulation-based training focused on teamwork and communication behaviours in critical clinical scenarios. The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire, tests of knowledge and evaluations of critical simulations and actual performance in the ED resuscitation bay were assessed. Methods to sustain improvements included mandatory participation of all new staff in simulation-based training and the introduction of routine in situ simulations. Results 289 participants attended the initial training. 151 participants attended the re-evaluation at a mean of 10.2 months later. Sustained improvements in knowledge and attitudes were demonstrated. Knowledge tests at baseline, postintervention and re-evaluation had scores of 86%, 96% and 93%, respectively. Friedman's test analysis of SAQ scores at baseline, postintervention and re-evaluation indicated significant attitude changes. The ED with a preintervention baseline of 2–3 patient safety events per year has now sustained more than 1000 days without a patient safety event. This improvement occurred even though the time required in initial simulation training has been condensed from 12 to 4 h. Conclusions Simulation training is an effective tool to modify safety attitudes and teamwork behaviours in an ED. Sustaining cultural and behavioural changes requires repeated practice opportunities.
Overview: New Directions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Therapy

SummaryAlthough the etiology of IBD is unclear, progress has been made in identifying the cells and the mediators that cause inflammatory response. The inflammatory cells and the biochemical mediators that are evidenced in excess, the enzymes that are activated and the receptors that bind these mediators during ‘acute’ exacerbation of IBD appear to be pathologically similar to inflammation observed in various other organ systems. Progress has been made in modifying the empirical therapy with 5-ASA and its congeners suitable for topical therapy as enemas. Oral therapy with 5-ASA has also met with changes by complexing it with less toxic pharmaceutical adjuvants for delivery to target areas. Progress in steroid therapy has focused on not only increasing the glucocorticoid activity, but also chemically modifying corticosteroids such that they are absorbed less readily and rapidly metabolised to reduce their adverse side-effects. The use of cyclosporin and azathioprine has met with some success. However, rece...
Numerical simulation of trajectory prescribed path control problems by the backward differentiation formulas

The equations which describe trajectory, prescribed path control problems naturally form nonlinear semiexplicit, differential-algebraic systems with index greater than one. It is known that not all fully implicit systems may be solved stably by the k-step backward differentiation formulas, yet these methods do produce convergent numerical solutions to some semiexplicit systems. In this note numerical results are presented for the simplest backward differentiation formula when applied to an index three, semiexplicit system concerning the reentry of the space shuttle. The application of this numerical method to a realistic problem illustrates some unresolved implementation difficulties.
A 12-bit 20-MS/s pipelined ADC with nested digital background calibration

A 12-b 20-MS/s pipelined ADC is calibrated using an algorithmic ADC, which is itself calibrated. With background calibration, the peak SNDR and SFDR of the pipeline are 70.8 dB and 93.3 dB, respectively. The total power dissipation is 254 mW from 3.3 V. The active area is 7.5 mm/sup 2/ in 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS.
The Band Offsets of Isomeric Boron Carbide Overlayers

Semiconducting boron carbide overlayers, formed from the decomposition of orthocarborane and metacarborane have been studied by angle resolved photoemission. The incurrence of surface photovoltage and the photovoltaic process, from the photoemission experiment, reveal band offsets in the orthocarborane multilayer configurations that are invereted relative to single layer configurations. Defect induced gap states which trap charge at the heterostructure interface is used as one explanation of these results. The role of defects is also used to help illuminate why opposite semiconducting type materials are formed from the decomposition of isomer carborane molecules.
High-definition optical coherence tomography findings in acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement (AIBSE) syndrome.

Acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement (AIBSE) syndrome is characterized by an enlarged blind spot that can occur either as an isolated finding or as a part of several other chorioretinopathies, such as acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR), acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN), multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS), and multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis (MCP). Current belief is that these entities are a spectrum of outer retinal inflammatory disorders that regardless of etiology may result in overlapping clinical features. 1–3
Phototrophic Fe(II) Oxidation Promotes Organic Carbon Acquisition by Rhodobacter capsulatus SB1003

Anoxygenic phototrophic Fe(II) oxidation is usually considered to be a lithoautotrophic metabolism that contributes to primary production in Fe-based ecosystems. In this study, we employed Rhodobacter capsulatus SB1003 as a model organism to test the hypothesis that phototrophic Fe(II) oxidation can be coupled to organic carbon acquisition. R. capsulatus SB1003 oxidized Fe(II) under anoxic conditions in a light-dependent manner, but it failed to grow lithoautotrophically on soluble Fe(II). When the strain was provided with Fe(II)-citrate, however, growth was observed that was dependent upon microbially catalyzed Fe(II) oxidation, resulting in the formation of Fe(III)-citrate. Subsequent photochemical breakdown of Fe(III)-citrate yielded acetoacetic acid that supported growth in the light but not the dark. The deletion of genes (RRC00247 and RRC00248) that encode homologs of atoA and atoD, required for acetoacetic acid utilization, severely impaired the ability of R. capsulatus SB1003 to grow on Fe(II)-citrate. The growth yield achieved by R. capsulatus SB1003 in the presence of citrate cannot be explained by lithoautotrophic growth on Fe(II) enabled by indirect effects of the ligand [such as altering the thermodynamics of Fe(II) oxidation or preventing cell encrustation]. Together, these results demonstrate that R. capsulatus SB1003 grows photoheterotrophically on Fe(II)-citrate. Nitrilotriacetic acid also supported light-dependent growth on Fe(II), suggesting that Fe(II) oxidation may be a general mechanism whereby some Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria mine otherwise inaccessible organic carbon sources.
The Policy Consequences of Political Corruption : Evidence from State Environmental Programs

Objective. This study assesses the effect of political corruption on state environmental policy. Method. OLS regression analyses are used to determine if political corruption affects the strength of state environmental programs. Results. The results suggest that political corruption serves to systematically weaken state environmental programs. The effect of corruption is similar in magnitude to conventional explanations of environmental program strength, such as public environmentalism and state wealth. Its impact is particularly pronounced in states with strong organized manufacturing interests. Conclusion. Political corruption may systematically bias the substance of public policy.
Primate hearing from a mammalian perspective.

This review discusses hearing performance in primates and selective pressures that may influence it. The hearing sensitivity and sound-localization abilities of primates, as indicated by behavioral tests, are reviewed and compared to hearing and sound localization among mammals in general. Primates fit the mammalian pattern with small species hearing higher frequencies than larger species in order to use spectral/intensity cues for sound localization. In this broader comparative context, the restricted highfrequency hearing of humans is not unusual. All of the primates tested so far are able to hear frequencies below 125 Hz, placing them among the majority of mammals. Sound-localization acuity has been determined for only three primates, and here also they have relatively good localization acuity (with a minimum audible angle roughly similar to other mammals such as cats, pigs, and opossums). This is in keeping with the pattern among mammals in general, in which species with narrow fields of best vision, such as a fovea, are better localizers than those with broad fields of best vision. Multiple lines of evidence support the view that sound localization is the selective pressure on smaller primates and on other mammals with short interaural distances for hearing high frequencies. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The PEP-II high power beam dumping system

The beam abort system utilizes a single turn beam extraction into a beam dump placed outside the rings vacuum chambers. During extraction the beam is deflected by a pulsed dipole magnet and is scanned across an exit window and the dump face to avoid overheating the materials. The system is designed for 3 A circulating beam current which corresponds to 200 kJ of stored beam energy in the High Energy Ring at 9 GeV.
Drill holes for coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction increase coracoid fracture risk

BackgroundSeveral recent techniques for acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction use coracoid drill holes that may increase coracoid fracture risk. We investigated how the siz...
Factors Related to Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Preschool Children

This study examined correlates of objectively measured physical activity (PA) in a diverse sample of preschool children (age 3–5 years; n = 331). Accelerometer min·hr−1 of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and nonsedentary activity (NSA) were the outcome measures. Correlations among potential correlates and PA ranged from r = −0.12−0.26. Correlates in the final MVPA model were age, race, sex, BMI Z score, and parent perception of athletic competence, explaining 37% of the variance. The NSA model included the latter two variables, explaining 35% of the variance. Demographic factors were correlates of PA; parent perceptions of children’s competence may be important regarding preschoolers’ PA.
Function of the Hemolymph Nuptial Gift in the Ground Cricket, Allonemobius socius

Nuptial feeding, although common in the insect world, varies greatly in its form and function. Here, we test the function of the hemolymph nuptial gift in the southern ground cricket, Allonemobius socius, and attempt to determine if it functions as parental investment or mating effort. We manipulated the number of gifts a female received during courtship (one vs. none). We also recorded other aspect of courtship, such as feeding duration and spermatophore attachment duration. Female fecundity was measured for 7 d post-mating. Our results indicate that female egg laying is significantly higher when a gift is provided, but the increase in egg laying is not related to gift size. In addition, the lack of a gift does not affect the male's ability to transfer a spermatophore. Together, these data suggest that the nuptial gift acts as parental investment and not as mating effort.
Improving the study of error monitoring with consideration of behavioral performance measures

The field of error monitoring is one of the richest and fastest growing research areas within human neuroscience. In particular, applied researchers in clinical psychology and psychiatry are excited about the potential for this research to inform models and treatments of psychopathology. Neuroimaging techniques including event-related brain potential (ERP) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have highlighted the fascinating ways in which the brain detects and responds to errors and how these processes go awry in clinical populations. However, an increased focus on the brain activity itself has resulted in a neglect of behavioral performance, including the important adjustments that follow mistakes. Here, we suggest that the consideration of task performance and, in particular, post-error behavioral adjustments (PEBAs), substantially improves our understanding of the function of error-related brain activity. Critically, this entails controlling for behavioral differences and reporting multiple PEBAs, especially post-error accuracy. We urge researchers to consider the full range of behavior in order to foster a richer understanding of how individuals detect and bounce back from their mistakes.
Potential for using Smartphone Accelerometers in Non- laboratory Environments

In recent years, there has been rising interest in using accelerometers as an alternative instrument to measure the center of pressure. Accelerometers are inexpensive, small, sensitive, and can be ...
A machine learning approach to intelligent adaptive control

An attempt to define intelligent adaptive control is presented. It is noted that it might denote a more flexible redesign capability of the control system. For example, suppose the control engineer himself remains in the 'outer' loop. After observing deficiencies in his first attempt at a control system, he might design a replacement that better reflects the eccentricities of the underlying process to be controlled. This research is a first step at automating such a controller. The system itself conjectures a refined system identification and develops a new control algorithm when the previous control system performs poorly. It is pointed out that the research, while promising, is very ambitious and far from complete. It is offered here as a new direction rather than as a mature method for control system design. Planning to achieve different speeds in a simplified single-gear manual transmission automobile is considered by way of illustration of the proposed approach. >
Electricity and Telecom Regulation: China in Context

This study analyzes China’s telecommunications and electricity sector from three perspectives – market reforms, regulatory reforms, and their intersection with major challenges – and places each in a global context. Market reforms include changes in market structure, both globally and in China. Regulatory reforms include changes in governance structure, both globally and in China, along with price reform. For telecom, the intersection is with Internet and media; for electricity, with the environment. China has implemented reforms in both sectors with significant success in terms of massive investment and increased subscribership. However, in both sectors there are longstanding problems that if unresolved will have significant opportunity costs in terms of growth and innovation.
Extraction of Clinical Phenotypic Information from Online Heterogeneous Healthcare Networks

Millions of patients are affected by adverse drug reactions (ADRs) every year. It represents a substantial burden on healthcare resources. Pharmacovigilance using text and data analytics has drawn substantial attention in the recent years. These techniques are mainly extracting the associations between drugs and ADRs using data sources such as spontaneous reporting systems, electronic health records, medical literature, and pharmacological databases. In this work, we are not only interested in extracting the associations between drugs and ADRs but also the associations between diseases and ADRs. There is an association between a disease and an ADR when the drugs treating the disease are associated with the same ADR, which means there might be an underlying mechanism-of-action (MOA) between the disease and the ADR [1]. The ADR can be considered as a clinical phenotypic biomarker for the disease. In addition, we are adopting the social media data as the data source in analytics. The social media provides timely and large volume of health consumer contributed information that overcomes the limitations the traditional data sources. We propose to construct a heterogeneous healthcare network from social media data and develop three path-mining techniques to the clinical phenotypic information. The experiments results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective in detecting significant and novel ADR-disease associations. Case study shows that many of the association can be supported by existing academic literatures.
Local Visual Feature Detection and Description for Non-Rigid 3D Objects

Feature extraction is an essential step in various image processing and computer vision tasks, such as object recognition, image retrieval, 3D construction, virtual reality, and so on. Design of feature extraction method is probably the single most important factor in achieving high performance of various tasks. Different applications create different challenges and requirements for the design of visual features. In this paper, we explored and investigated the effectiveness of different combinations of promising local feature detectors and descriptors for non-rigid 3D objects. Different configurations of visual feature detectors and descriptors have been enumerated, and each configuration has been evaluated by image matching accuracy. The results indicated that the scale-invariant feature transform feature detector and descriptor achieved the best overall performance in describing local features of non-rigid 3D object.
Automated ribotyping of Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus in food poisoning of Guangdong province

Objective To understand the genetic polymorphism of Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus in Guangdong province, as well as to explore methods for identifying and tracing the source of these two foodbome pathogens. Methods Using the automated ribotyping system, two foodbome pathogens were tested with either EcoR Ⅰ or Pvu Ⅱ restriction enzymes. BioNumerics software was then applied for image analysis, database establishment and other corresponding analysis. Results Digestion of 32 Salmonella isolates with Pvu Ⅱ yielded 19 different ribotypes,and digestion of 14 Salmonella isolates with EcoR Ⅰ yielded 2 different ribotypes. Staphyloccus aureus isolates showed greater genetic diversity, whereas EcoR Ⅰ digestion of 49 different isolates yielded 31 different ribotypes. Conclusion Unique Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus isolates could be identified through ribotyping. Although Salmonella serotyping and ribotyping were not strongly correlated, the combination of both restriction enzymes could be used to more effectively identify the genetic relationship among different strains as well as the source of food poisoning. Thus, not only could the genetic relationships amongst the different strains be inferred through ribotyping skills, the source of food poisoning and mode of transmission could also be determined under the use of this method. Key words: Salmonella; Staphylococcus aureus; Ribotyping
Yersiniosis Associated with Tofu Consumption: Serological, Biochemical and Pathogenicity Studies of Yersinia enterocolitica Isolates.

From December 1981 to February 1982, 87 individuals (ages two months to 74 years) in the Seattle, WA, area developed the clinical symptoms of yersiniosis. Illness was related to consumption of commercial tofu (soybean curd) contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica . The six Y. enterocolitica strains recovered from the hospitalized patients indicated that two antigenically distinct strains, 0:8 and 0:Tacoma, were involved. At the manufacturing site of the incriminated tofu, 112 Y. enterocolitica strains were recovered, of which two were serotype 0:8. The reactions of these strains were similar to those of clinical 0:8 strains in biochemical tests and in eight virulence factor tests. The LD50 for suckling mice was identical for all strains which killed mice. Although the causative organism(s) was not recovered from other samples of packaged tofu, our findings incriminated water used in the processing of tofu as the source of infection. The source of the second Y. enterocolitica strain (0:Tacoma) in this outbreak was not identified.
A pulse-pattern-based phase-locking method for multi-cavity coherent pulse stacking

A novel phase-locking method, which locks cavity phase based on the pulse patterns detected from each cavity, has stabilized the output pulse intensity in a four-cavity Coherent Pulse Stacking experiment.
Unrecognized States and National Identity

What is the effect of being an unrecognized state on the national identity of its population? And how does it compare to the identity effect of having been accorded state recognition? This contribution argues that contrary to socio-psychological theories that make identity dependent on outside recognition, refusals of state recognition have, in general, a far stronger affirmative impact on national identity than extensions of it. Recognition may be the central external goal of claimants of statehood, but non-recognition fosters national identity to a much greater degree than recognition. While foreign recognition of statehood may fulfil a deep psychological need, it is its denial that makes a people’s collective sense of who they are more robust. Obtaining recognition as a state may, in fact, reveal the fragility of national identity within that state.
Mobile Technologies for Every Library

This book’s shortcomings are in its timeliness and lack of insight into emerging technologies.
A decomposition approach to the static traffic assignment problem

This paper describes a spatial parallelization scheme for the static traffic assignment problem. In this scheme, which we term a decomposition approach to the static traffic assignment problem (DSTAP), the network is divided into smaller networks, and the algorithm alternates between equilibrating these networks as subproblems, and master iterations using a simplified version of the full network. The simplified network used for the master iterations is based on linearizations to the equilibrium solution for each subnetwork obtained using sensitivity analysis techniques. We prove that the DSTAP method converges to the equilibrium solution on the full network, and demonstrate computational savings of 35–70% on the Austin network. Natural applications of this method are statewide or national assignment problems, or cities with rivers or other geographic features where subnetworks can be easily defined.
The safety of treatments used in pyoderma gangrenosum

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a severe ulcerating orphan dermatosis characterized by painful and rapidly progressive skin ulcers often associated with underlying inflammatory disease.Areas covered: In this article, we review and analyze the literature regarding treatment options for patients with PG, with particular attention to the efficacy and safety of therapies. Despite the significance of this problem, there are few studies devoted to the efficacy or safety of therapeutics in PG. We aim to present and evaluate existing studies and reports, and to make treatment recommendations based on the efficacy and safety data reviewed.Expert opinion: All patients with PG should be counseled on avoiding trauma, optimizing glycemic control, and smoking cessation. Proper local wound care and surveillance of superimposed infection is essential to healing. Control of underlying inflammatory conditions should be co-managed with appropriate specialists. Patients with limited disease should consider...
The Oratory of Newt Gingrich

This chapter argues that Newt Gingrich has been a transformative figure in American politics. From 1979 to 1995, Gingrich’s rise to Speaker of the House brought a new rhetorical style to American politics. He helped define a new form of Republican rhetoric to emphasise the ideological distinctions between his own party and the Democrats. To do this, Gingrich encouraged his fellow Republicans to highlight policy differences between the parties and to characterise Congressional Democrats as fundamentally corrupt after decades in the majority power. Such was his ambition that he sought to portray the Republicans as the sole arbiters of honest politics in the United States.
Abstract P217: Dietary Habits Associated With 6- and 24-month Weight Loss Maintenance in Primary Care Patients

Introduction: Though weight loss can improve health, weight regain is common. Primary care physicians are uniquely positioned to provide counseling for weight loss maintenance given their longitudi...
Programs to Improve Physical Health

Various data summarized by the Children’s Defense Fund (1995) present a dramatic snapshot of the health of America’s children and suggest what improvements can be made. For example, the infant mortality rate in the United States lags behind 21 other industrialized countries. The incidence of low birth weight, which places infants at heightened risk for death and long-term disability, was actually higher in 1992 (7.1% of all births) than it was in 1980 (6.8%). Nearly one out of every four pregnant mothers does not obtain early prenatal care, thus exposing themselves and their infants to increased risk of death and disease. Only two thirds of America’s young children are fully immunized against preventable childhood diseases, meaning that there are millions of youngsters unnecessarily exposed to such diseases as measles, tetanus, polio, and hepatitis B. Approximately 22% of all children live in substandard housing that may not provide suitable sleeping facilities, adequate warmth, or physical safety. In addition, there are an estimated 1 million homeless and runaway children whose basic needs for physical safety, food, and shelter are inconsistently met.
Single-phase dual-mode four-switch Buck-Boost Transformerless PV inverter with inherent leakage current elimination

This paper proposes a single-phase dual-mode four-switch Buck-Boost transformerless PV inverter with inherent ground leakage current elimination. Via directly connecting the grid neutral point to the PV positive terminal, the common mode (CM) voltage is clamped to be constant by the DC link capacitor. Thus, the CM leakage currents are eliminated completely. Moreover, the DC link voltage for the proposed inverter is required to be only higher than the amplitude of the grid voltage, instead of higher than twice of the amplitude of the grid voltage for the half-bridge-based inverter. There are two operation modes for the proposed inverter: Buck mode for the negative half line cycle and Buck-Boost mode for the positive half line cycle. Single stage energy process is achieved in both two operation modes for achieving high efficiency. The smooth mode transition is realized by the proposed dual-mode dual-carrier unipolar sinusoidal pulse-width-modulation (SPWM). Besides, since this PV inverter only uses four switches and one main inductor, low cost is achieved by this inverter. In summary, the proposed PV inverter achieves low leakage current, high efficiency, high density, low cost, and non-unity power factor capability. Finally, the simulation results verify the concepts and demonstrate the performance of the topology, the modulation and the control strategy.
Personalized Learning through 1:1 Technology Initiatives: Implications for Teachers and Teaching in Neoliberal Times.

Situated within the broader context of neoliberalism, this article explores how personalized learning, as tied to 1:1 technology initiatives, prompts changes in teachers’ classrooms and practices. ...
Role for Cystathionine γ Lyase (CSE) in an Ethanol (E)-Induced Lesion in Fetal Brain GSH Homeostasis

Earlier, we reported that gestational ethanol (E) can dysregulate neuron glutathione (GSH) homeostasis partially via impairing the EAAC1-mediated inward transport of Cysteine (Cys) and this can affect fetal brain development. In this study, we investigated if there is a role for the transulfuration pathway (TSP), a critical bio-synthetic point to supply Cys in E-induced dysregulation of GSH homeostasis. These studies utilized an in utero E binge model where the pregnant Sprague–Dawley (SD) rat dams received five doses of E at 3.5 g/kg by gastric intubation beginning embryonic day (ED) 17 until ED19 separated by 12 h. The postnatal day 7 (PN7) alcohol model employed an oral dosing of 4 g/kg body weight split into 2 feedings at 2 h interval and an iso-caloric and iso-volumic equivalent maltose-dextrin milk solution served as controls. The in vitro model consisted of cerebral cortical neuron cultures from embryonic day (ED) 16–17 fetus from SD rats and differentiated neurons from ED18 rat cerebral cortical neuroblasts. E concentrations were 4 mg/mL. E induced an accumulation of cystathionine in primary cortical neurons (PCNs), 2nd trimester equivalent in utero binge, and 3rd trimester equivalent PN7 model suggesting that breakdown of cystathionine, a required process for Cys supply is impaired. This was associated with a significant reduction in cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) protein expression in PCN (p < 0.05) and in fetal cerebral cortex in utero (53%, p < 0.05) without a change in the expression of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS). Concomitantly, E decreased Cse mRNA expression in PCNs (by 32% within 6 h of exposure, p < 0.05) and in fetal brain (33%, p < 0.05). In parallel, knock down of CSE in differentiated rat cortical neuroblasts exaggerated the E-induced ROS, GSH loss with a pronounced caspase-3 activation and cell death. These studies illustrate the importance of TSP in CSE-related maintenance of GSH and the downstream events via Cys synthesis in neurons and fetal brain.
Closed-loop recycling of polyamide12 powder from selective laser sintering into sustainable composites

Abstract A considerable amount of powder residue is generated during the selective laser sintering (SLS) process. Processing the powder residue into filaments for extrusion-based additive manufacturing (EAM) provides an opportunity to recycle SLS residue without significantly reducing its value. In this study, the feasibility of using a milled carbon fiber (mCF)/recycled polyamide12 (rPA12) composite filament for EAM was demonstrated. A microscopic study on the morphology of mCF showed that mCF is a short and smooth fiber. The mCF did not significantly change the melting temperature, crystallization temperature or crystallinity of rPA12 as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A morphological study on the fracture-surface of the composites revealed that there was moderate interfacial interaction between the mCF and PA12. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact strength of rPA12 were improved by 35%, 163%, 61%, 138% and 23%, respectively with the addition of 30 wt.% mCF.
An Integrative Methodology for Organizational Oppositions: Aligning Grounded Theory and Discourse Analysis:

The study of organizational tensions, contradictions, dialectics, and paradoxes is on the rise in the organizational sciences. This article sets forth an integrative methodology for studying these ...
Role of Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis and Protein Kinase C Activation in 5HT 2 Receptor Function in Smooth Muscle

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5HT) has long been known to play a major role in smooth muscle functioning. In general, 5HT induces contraction of several smooth muscle groups including vascular smooth muscle (both arteries and veins), iris smooth muscle, gastrointestinal smooth muscle and perhaps other smooth muscle types. Because of its pronounced activity, 5HT has been thought to play a role in the etiology of diseases which result from a dysregulation of smooth muscle activity including coronary artery disease, vascular headaches, various motility disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and retroperitoneal fibrosis. Insight into the mechanisms of 5HT action in smooth muscle could elucidate novel pharmacologic approaches to treat these diseases. Smooth muscle has also provided a convenient model system to study mechanisms of 5HT action; in fact, early studies involving the isolation of 5HT and the classification of 5HT receptor subtypes mainly employed smooth muscle preparations (Gaddum and Picarelli, 1957). It is possible, therefore, that knowledge gained about 5HT’s actions in smooth muscle could prove to be of general importance for understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in 5HT activity.
Postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema

Postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema has become a worldwide problem. Study of data available from some of these patients implicates excessive perioperative volumes of intravenous fluid. A study done on dogs supports the clinical conclusion. The risk factors for this complication are right pneumonectomy, large perioperative fluid load, and high intraoperative and postoperative urine outputs. Patients undergoing pneumonectomy are at greater risk from intravenous fluid therapy than other types of patients.