cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relaxed Repression of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Genomes in Murine Trigeminal Neurons

The expression of herpes simplex virus (HSV) genomes in the absence of viral regulatory proteins in sensory neurons is poorly understood. Previously, our group reported an HSV immediate early (IE) mutant (d109) unable to express any of the five IE genes and encoding a model human cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter-green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene. In cultured cells, GFP expressed from this mutant was observed in only a subset of infected cells. The subset exhibited cell type dependence, as the fractions of GFP-expressing cells varied widely among the cell types examined. Herein, we characterize this mutant in murine embryonic trigeminal ganglion (TG) cultures. We found that d109 was nontoxic to neural cultures and persisted in the cultures throughout their life spans. Unlike with some of the cultured cell lines and strains, expression of the GFP transgene was observed in a surprisingly large subset of neurons. However, very few nonneuronal cells expressed GFP. The abilities of ICP0 and an inhibitor of histone deacetylase, trichostatin A (TSA), to activate GFP expression from nonexpressing cells were also compared. The provision of ICP0 by infection with d105 reactivated quiescent genomes in nearly every cell, whereas reactivation by TSA was much more limited and restricted to the previously nonexpressing neurons. Moreover, we found that d109, which does not express ICP0, consistently reactivated HSV type 1 (KOS) in latently infected adult TG cultures. These results suggest that the state of persisting HSV genomes in some TG neurons may be more dynamic and more easily activated than has been observed with nonneuronal cells.
Effects of satellite image spatial aggregation and resolution on estimates of forest land area

Satellite imagery is being used increasingly in association with national forest inventories (NFIs) to produce maps and enhance estimates of forest attributes. We simulated several image spatial resolutions within sparsely and heavily forested study areas to assess resolution effects on estimates of forest land area, independent of other sensor characteristics. We spatially aggregated 30 m datasets to coarser spatial resolutions (90, 150, 210, 270, 510 and 990 m) and produced estimates of forest proportion for each spatial resolution using both model-and design-based approaches. Average-based aggregation had no effect on per-image estimates of forest proportion; image variability decreased with increasing spatial resolution and local variability peaked between 210 and 270 m. Majority-based aggregation resulted in overestimation of forest land in a heavily forested landscape and underestimation of forest land in a sparsely forested landscape, with both trends following a natural log distribution. Of the spatial resolutions tested, 30 m was superior for obtaining estimates using model-based approaches. However, standard errors of design-based inventory estimates of forest proportion were smallest when accompanying stratification maps which were aggregated to between 90 and 150 m spatial resolutions and strata thresholds were optimized by study area. These results suggest that spatially aggregating existing 30 m land cover datasets can provide NFIs with gains in precision of their estimates of forest land area, while reducing image storage size and processing times; land cover datasets derived from coarser spatial resolution sensors may provide similar benefits.
Evolution of Service Quality and Some Implications on Computer Science Research

Service quality discussions in literature can be traced back to mid-20th century and have evolved from being service specific quality discussions to generic models of service quality to more advanced mathematical and statistical models. A bulk of this evolution has happened in the traditional business marketing world. With emergence of IT services, there is an increased interest to investigate the science behind these concepts. The paper is aimed to compress the evolution of these concepts into one article as a starting point for researchers from different domains to get a wider perspective on the area. In particular the review tries to highlight the challenges and problems in the existing approaches which can be potentially solved by advances in computer science. The connections have not been highlighted in the past since most known literature in service quality continues to point back to the traditional marketing world, giving primarily a marketing view. The intention is to facilitate engineers and computer science professionals to appreciate the marketing aspects of service quality, with an additional context from the IT domain, so as to fuel the research towards solving the problems in this area at the intersection of marketing, economics and science.
Troxacitabine-based therapy of refractory leukemia

Unique among currently approved or in-development nucleoside analogs, troxacitabine (Troxatyl) is an L-nucleoside with significant cytotoxic activity. Its stereochemistry and cellular transport characteristics render it insensitive to some tumor cell mechanisms of resistance to D-nucleosides, such as cytarabine and fludarabine. Troxacitabine's dose-limiting toxicities were mucositis and hand-foot syndrome in patients with refractory leukemia. Three complete and one partial remissions were observed in 30 patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia on a Phase I study. Significant activity in blastic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia was seen on a Phase II study. Combinations of troxacitabine with ara-C, topotecan and idarubicin are active in patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Phase II studies in patients with refractory lymphoproliferative diseases are ongoing. Troxacitabine merits further study in patients with hematological malignancies.
Safety in the animal house

Work in the animal house is no less hazardous than in the laboratory, and, indeed, presents a number of additional safety problems concerned with the accidental transmission of experimental infections to humans. It is primarily to these that this paper is devoted. In the laboratory the principal hazards arise from human error in handling infective material, and hence safety measures are normally directed towards limiting the dissemination of the agent by the use of careful technique, glov:: boxes and other appliances; success depends upon skill and attention to detail. In the animal house, on the other hand, a third party is introduced in the form of the animal, with which there is of necessity more intimate contact. Except in special instances it is generally impracticable to handle animals in isolators, and in any case manipulation is manual and not by remote control. Animals can bite, scratch, and shed organisms into the environment from body openings and hair, and by disturbing droppings and contaminated bedding; they can carry infected ectoparasites, and can themselves escape. It must also be remembered that they may harbour natural infections communicable to man in addition to experimentally induced disease. This risk can be reduced by adequate quarantine in the case of imported animals and by using animals from minimal-disease colonies whenever possible. In the animal house, therefore, effort must be directed more towards environmental hygiene and the protection of the individual worker, than to agent control.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibition As a Mechanism for the Therapeutic Effect of Statins (3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitors) in Follicular Lymphoma

TO THE EDITOR: We read with great interest the study by Nowakowski et al 1 that described the effect of statins (3-hydroxy-3methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) on the outcome of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The authors conducted a detailed analysis of 288 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and 293 patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) as a result of preclinical data suggesting a reduction in the therapeutic efficacy of rituximab in patients being treated concurrently with a statin. Interestingly, the authors found that use of a statin was associated with superior event-free survival in patients with FL but not DLBCL. Although the authors mention several reasons why patients with FL taking a statin might have demonstrated superior event-free survival, we wish to suggest another possibility. Statins have recently been described to inhibit enzymatic activity of the histone deacetylases (HDACs). 2 As recently reviewed inJournal of Clinical Oncology, HDAC inhibitors have demonstrated promise as a new class of antineoplastic agents. 3 For example, the HDAC inhibitors vorinostat and romidepsin have been approved for use in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma by the US Food and Drug Administration. HDAC inhibitors have been studied in other forms of NHL in earlyphase clinical studies. In a phase II study of patients with relapsed NHL, eight (40%) of 20 patients with FL demonstrated response to vorinostat, a nonspecific HDAC inhibitor. 4 In a phase I study of patients with relapsed or refractory NHLs, three (75%) of four patients with FL responded to vorinostat; the patient with FL who did not respond demonstrated stable disease. 5 However, phase II studies of vorinostat in patients with DLBCL have not demonstrated significant response rates; for example, one study found that one (6%) of 18 patients responded. 6 Interestingly, preliminary results of a phase II trial of patients with relapsed or refractory NHL demonstrated a 23.5% response rate in patients with DLBCL and a 10% response rate in patients with FL using mocetinostat, a specific inhibitor of the class
Impact of seasonal flux on 25-hydroxyvitamin D and bone turnover in pre- and early pubertal youth.

Background Seasonal fluxes in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in children can affect bone turnover, and in turn potentially affect bone accrual and peak bone mass. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of seasonal flux on the association among 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and markers of bone turnover in pre- and early pubertal black children and white children. Methods Data were collected during summer (June–September) and winter (December–March) in 6–12-year-old children. Measurements included serum 25(OH)D, PTH, osteocalcin (OC), collagen type 1 cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTx), dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium, skin color, sunlight exposure, and body mass index (BMI). Results A total of 138 children (mean age, 9.1 ± 1.7 years; black, n = 94; male, n = 81) were studied. 25(OH)D was higher (41.2 ± 13 vs 34.5 ± 11.1 ng/mL; P < 0.001) and CTx was lower (0.8 ± 0.3 vs 0.9 ± 0.5 ng/mL; P < 0.001) in all participants during summer when compared to winter. Furthermore, seasonal differences in CTx were more pronounced in black children (summer, 0.7 ± 0.3 vs winter, 1.0 ± 0.5 ng/mL; P < 0.001). PTH was a significant predictor of serum CTx and OC after adjusting for race, season, Tanner stage, dietary calcium, skin color and BMI. Conclusion 25(OH)D declined significantly in both black children and white children during winter. CTx significantly increased during winter in black children compared to white children, suggesting increased rates of resorption in black children during winter. Benefits of enhancement of wintertime vitamin D status on bone health need further exploration.
Measuring search-engine quality and query difficulty: ranking with Target and Freestyle

Instead of using traditional performance measures such as precision and recall, information retrieval performance may be measured by considering the probability that the search engine is optimal and the difficulty associated with retrieving documents with a given query or on a given topic. These measures of desirable characteristics are more easily and more directly interpretable than are traditional measures. The performance of the Target and Freestyle search engines is examined, and is very good. Each query in the CF database is assigned a difficulty number, and these numbers are found to strongly correlate with other measures of retrieval performance such as an E or F value. The query difficulty correlates weakly with query length.
Impact of treadmill locomotor training on skeletal muscle IGF1 and myogenic regulatory factors in spinal cord injured rats.

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of treadmill locomotor training on the expression of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF1) and changes in myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) in rat soleus muscle following spinal cord injury (SCI). Moderate, midthoracic (T8) contusion SCIs were produced using a NYU (New York University) impactor. Animals were randomly assigned to treadmill training or untrained groups. Rats in the training group were trained starting at 1 week after SCI, for either 3 bouts of 20 min over 1.5 days or 10 bouts over 5 days. Five days of treadmill training completely prevented the decrease in soleus fiber size resulting from SCI. In addition, treadmill training triggered increases in IGF1, MGF and IGFBP4 mRNA expression, and a concurrent reduction of IGFBP5 mRNA in skeletal muscle. Locomotor training also caused an increase in markers of muscle regeneration, including small muscle fibers expressing embryonic myosin and Pax7 positive nuclei and increased expression of the MRFs, myogenin and MyoD. We concluded that treadmill locomotor training ameliorated muscle atrophy in moderate contusion SCI rats. Training-induced muscle regeneration and fiber hypertrophy following SCI was associated with an increase in IGF1, an increase in Pax7 positive nuclei, and upregulation of MRFs.
Endorser Weight and Perceptions of Brand Attitude and Intent to Purchase

From the perspectives of meaning transfer theory and the match-up hypothesis, this study examined the role of endorser weight in perceptions of credibility and purchase intent of a food product. Full-color magazine ads were created for a soft drink. The endorser's weight (heavier/thinner) and the drink (diet/non-diet) were manipulated in a 2 × 2 experimental design. Thinner models were associated with greater purchase intent and more positive brand belief for the diet drink. Heavier models were associated with more negative brand belief and weaker purchase intent for the diet drink. However, no relationship was found between model size and purchase intent or brand belief for the non-diet drink.
A Genetic Approach to Cancer Epigenetics

In over 20 years since the discovery of altered methylation in cancer, many epigenetic alterations have been found in human cancer, including global and specific gene hypomethylation, hypermethylation, altered chromatin marks, and loss of genomic imprinting. Cancer epigenetics has been limited by questions of cause and effect, since epigenetic changes can arise secondary to the cancer process and its associated widespread changes in gene expression. Furthermore, mutations in the DNA methylation machinery have not been observed in tumors, whereas they have been for chromatin modification. To address the issue of human cancer etiology, we have taken a genetic approach to cancer epigenetics. One line of investigation has been on the disorder Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS). We have found that loss of imprinting (LOI) of the autocrine growth factor gene IGF2 and of the untranslated antisense RNA LIT1, within the K(V)LQT1 gene, account for most cases of BWS, and that cancer risk is specifically associated with LOI of IGF2. Wilms' tumors, both in BWS and in the general population, involve LOI leading to an expansion of nephrogenic precursor cells. We have also developed an animal model for the role of LOI of IGF2 in cancer, showing that it cooperates with Apc mutations to increase cancer frequency, consistent with human data suggesting a severalfold increased cancer risk for this common epigenetic variant in the adult population. These data suggest that a major component of cancer risk involves epigenetic changes in normal cells that increase the probability of cancer after genetic mutation. They suggest a model of cancer prevention that involves the epigenetic analysis of normal cells for risk stratification and cancer prevention strategies.
Scene of the crime: Where is GnRH released, and what might this tell us?

For much of the four-decade history of the study of GnRH neurons, investigators have seemingly heeded Gaudior’s advice, and the study of when has mattered more than that of where. This predominance has stemmed from elegant demonstrations of the critical nature of the pattern of GnRH release for normal fertility (1). An intriguing new study in this issue of Endocrinology by Fuenzalida et al. (2) suggests attention should also be focused on the question of where GnRH
Prospective Evaluation of Two Dosing Equations for Theophylline in Premature Infants

Study Objectives. To evaluate prospectively the ability of two equations that we previously derived to predict maintenance theophylline dosages that provide a serum theophylline concentration (STC) of 8 μg/ml, the midtherapeutic range for treating apnea of prematurity; and to determine the number of further dosage adjustments and STC determinations required to achieve the target concentration in infants in whom it was not achieved initially. Design. Prospective study. Setting. A 37-bed neonatal intensive care unit. Patients. Fifty-four infants 27–34 weeks' gestational age requiring intravenous hydrous aminophylline. Interventions. Patients received a loading dose of 6 mg/kg intravenous aminophylline, followed by a maintenance dosage calculated using one of the two derived equations. The basis for equation selection was the gestational age of the patient. Measurements and Main Results. Patients were stratified into two age groups: 27–30 weeks' gestational age (34 infants) and 31–34 weeks' gestational age (20 infants). The overall success rate for both equations in achieving the target concentration was 74%. When infants were stratified by gestational age, those dosed by Equation 1 had a 76% success rate and those dosed by Equation 2 had a 65% success rate. Overall, 14 of 54 infants received an average of 1.2 dosage adjustments. This represents more than a 50% reduction in the number of adjustments made before introduction of these equations. Conclusions. The ability of our previously derived equations to produce an STC within the midtherapeutic range for treating apnea of prematurity was demonstrated in the majority of patients studied (74%). Further, the number of subsequent dosage adjustments required to attain the target STC in infants who had failed to achieve this STC initially was significantly less than using older, more traditional regimens.
An encryption scheme for limited k-time access to digital media

Digital content needs to be protected against piracy yet readily accessible to the user. Furthermore, the digital content may come with a proper use license which concerns how the content may be used by the purchaser/user. In this paper we describe a method fir protecting digital content from piracy where the "proper use license" is a k-time license. This license says that the digital content may be used/accessed at most k times. To protect the digital content from piracy or misuse we provide an application that will decrypt and re-encrypt the content according to our k-time encryption scheme. Since secret keys must reside on the user's system, we heighten the level of security by hiding secret keys in the heuristic solutions of NP-hard problems and by extending the security with some other well known methods.
Circuit-level dictionaries of CMOS bridging faults

The contribution of this paper on the diagnosis (fault location) of CMOS bridging faults is threefold: First, the traditional fault dictionary (referred to as the full dictionary) is evaluated at the circuit level using a mixed-mode fault simulator. The fault set consists of randomly-generated gate input/output bridging faults. By using detection methods good diagnostic capability is achieved using only gate-level generated test sets. Second, the authors evaluate two reduced fault dictionaries, the pass/fail dictionary and the count dictionary. The results show the performance of the much smaller pass/fail dictionary is nearly equal to the full dictionary. Third, the effectiveness of I/sub DDQ/ for diagnosis is examined. The results show that I/sub DDQ/ combined with the proposed voltage detection methods achieves the highest diagnostic performance, with near complete diagnosis. >
Analysis of decision making at a multidisciplinary head and neck tumor board incorporating evidence-based National Cancer Comprehensive Network (NCCN) guidelines.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate incorporation of National Cancer Comprehensive Network (NCCN) guidelines in decision making at a head and neck cancer (HNC) multidisciplinary tumor board (MDT) at an urban academic medical center. Methods and materials A retrospective study of 176 HNC patients was performed. The extent to which MDT decisions and subsequent patient care incorporate NCCN guidelines was evaluated. Results A total of 173 (98.3%) HNC patients received MDT recommendations according to NCCN guidelines. Of the 159 patients treated, 153 (96.2%) received treatment according to NCCN guidelines. The MDT recommended the highest available evidence-based NCCN category guideline in 78.0%. Subsequent treatment using the same or higher category MDT recommendation occurred in 87.0% of patients. Conclusions Evaluation of patients at an MDT using NCCN guidelines incorporates the highest level of evidence in approximately 80% of patients and translates well into subsequent care. Incorporation of the highest available NCCN guideline may be improved, although management should be individualized.
Russian Compliance with Articles Five & Six of the European Convention of Human Rights as a Barometer of Legal Reform & Human Rights in Russia

This Note examines two of Russia's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR): the Article 5 right to liberty and security, and the Article 6 right to a fair trial to gauge Russian compliance with European human rights norms. These articles lie at the heart of systematic legal reform in the Russian Federation. This Note defends the thesis that the agonizingly slow progress of judicial reform and the advancement of human rights in Russia is a function of the inevitable lag of conceptual norms behind institutional reform. Part I explores the weak place of the rule of law as an institutional force in Soviet and post-Soviet Russian history and emphasizes the power of conceptual legacies as well as the path dependency of prior institutional choices. Part II presents the current legal architecture of the Russian Federation as it relates to the ECHR, discussing first the position of international treaties in Russia's hierarchy of laws and, second, domestic Russian criminal law and criminal procedural law. Part III focuses on the conceptual and legal distance that separates Russian domestic law from the human rights obligations that Russia has undertaken in international treaties with the Council of Europe. Part IV analyzes the steadily growing docket of complaints lodged against Russia for alleged violations of the ECHR. Finally, Part V advocates a variety of educational reforms at every level of Russian society by both foreign and domestic actors. The Note concludes on a note of alarm, predicting the weakening of institutional legal structures absent conceptual and attitudinal changes.
Saving wild ungulate diversity through enhanced management and sperm cryopreservation

Wild ungulates throughout the world face the impending risk of extinction. Small founding population size, lack of interest in exhibiting wild ungulates and declining space in zoos are not sustaining ex situ populations. Animals managed in ex situ collections continue to experience >20% neonate loss globally. To ensure population sustainability there is a critical need to: (1) manage ungulates in large herds, increasing mate choice and reproductive efficiency; (2) improve husbandry and genetic management; and (3) develop consistent assisted reproductive technologies, including sperm cryopreservation and AI. Recently, new models in the management of ungulates have begun to emerge. Animal managers and researchers are also beginning to exploit advances in genomics to improve genetic management of their collections. Furthermore, the past decade has witnessed significant advances particularly in semen collection and cryopreservation in numerous species. Advances in gonadal tissue cryopreservation now offer additional opportunities to preserve male genomes. The new knowledge generated is enabling the creation of genetic (sperm) banks to rescue and enhance reproductive management of wild ungulates. The present paper reviews the threats to ungulate populations, the status and relevance of animal management and biomaterial banking efforts to ensure long-term survival of these charismatic species.
Developing Culturally Sensitive Materials for AIDS Education Specifically Targeted to Migrant Farmworkers

Abstract Migrant farmworkers are an isolated and hard to reach population who are at considerable risk for contracting AIDS. Latins comprise the largest segment of the migrant farmworker population and account for eight percent of the total population in the United States. While Hispanics comprise a relatively small percentage of the total population, they account for 15 percent of the male cases of AIDS and 20 percent of the female cases of AIDS in this country. These people are sequestered from mainstream America by distance, economic status, language, and cultural factors. AIDS education efforts targeted to migrant workers and their families must pay special attention to cultural and special idiosyncrasies of Hispanic farmworkers because they are socially and culturally different from Hispanic people in urban areas of the United States. These programs also must take into account the fact that migrant farm work dictates an itinerate lifestyle for the workers and their families. Educational programs in s...
Submission and Resistance to the Self as Soldier: Tim O'Brien's Vietnam War Memoir

(2002). Submission and Resistance to the Self as Soldier: Tim O'Brien's Vietnam War Memoir. a/b: Auto/Biography Studies: Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 161-179.
Variability and Changes in the Susceptibility of Field Populations of Citrus Red Mites and European Red Mites to Dicofol

Field populations of citrus red mites, Panonychus citri (McGregor) and European red mites, P. ulmi (Koch), not effectively controlled by commercial applications o dicofol, were treated with tetradifon, ethion, dinocap, or DN-III (dicyclohexylamine salt of 2-cyclohexyl-4,6-dinitrophenol) to ascertain whether applications of any of these acaricides altered the tolerance of the mite populations to dicofol. The influence of treatments was negligible in comparison to the amount of within and between sample variation. The within-sample range in tolerance of field mites to dicofol varied during the year and among the 3 years becoming least during the 3rd year of the study. The concentration required to obtain 50% mortality also varied during each of the 3 years: lowest concentrations were required during the 3rd year. As there was a minimum of within- and between-sample variation in the laboratory strain, the authors conclude that the failure of commercial applications to control these mite populations was due to the occurrence of vigor tolerance resulting from changes in the weather either directly on the mites or by altering the host plant physiology, rather than to the development of true genetic resistance to dicofol.
Abstract 5: Trends in Hospitalization Rates and Mortality for Acute Myocardial Infarction by Community Income Level: 1999-2013

Background: Over the last decade, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) incidence and mortality have decreased substantially. Yet it is unknown whether these improvements were consistent across communities of different economic status and geographic regions, for which efforts to improve cardiovascular disease prevention and management may have had variable impact. Objective: To compare trends in risk-standardized AMI hospitalization and 1-year mortality rates from 1999 to 2013 between counties of low, average, and high median income, and to test the effects of income over time and across the 4 U.S. geographic regions. Methods: We performed an observational analysis comparing trends in county-level risk-standardized (age, sex, race) AMI hospitalization and 1-year mortality rates from 1999 to 2013 among Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years, testing for effects of county-income. Counties were stratified by median income percentile using 1999 U.S. Census Bureau data, adjusted for inflation, as: low ( 75th) income groups. Using a mixed effects model, we compared trends in AMI hospitalization and mortality rates, stratified by county income. We tested for a lagged effect among low-income counties and compared trends between the 4 U.S. regions. Results: Income was significantly associated with AMI hospitalization, but not 1-year mortality rates. In the 15-year period, AMI risk-standardized hospitalization and mortality rates declined across all three county income groups, though absolute hospitalization rates differed significantly by county income groups (Figure). Low-income county hospitalization rates consistently lagged behind high-income county rates by 4.3 (95%CI: 3.1-5.9) years. There was no difference in rate of decline by geographic region. Conclusion: In this national study of AMI trends from 1999 to 2013, Medicare beneficiaries residing in counties of all income levels achieved substantial declines in AMI hospitalization and mortality. These broad-scale declines may reflect the success of focused AMI prevention efforts or other more secular trends. Nonetheless, disparities persist with low-income counties lagging behind high-income counties - a focus for future national efforts. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Pharmacological assessment of adrenergic receptors in human varicose veins.

Background. Experiments were to characterize pharmacologically adrenergic receptors in human varicose veins to the natural transmitter norepinephrine and to an extract of Ruscus. Methods. Greater saphenous veins and varicose tributaries from patients undergoing elective surgery for primary varicose disease and portions of greater saphenous veins from patients undergoing peripheral arterial reconstruction (control) were suspended for the measurement of isometric force in organ chambers. Concentration response curves were obtained to norepinephrine or the extract of Ruscus aculeatus in the absence and presence of selective antagonists of alpha, and alpha 2 adrenergic receptors. Results. Norepinephrine and Ruscus extract caused concentration-dependent contractions in all veins. Contractions to norepinephrine were greater in control veins than in varicose tributaries. Contractions to the extract were greater in varicose tributaries than in greater saphenous veins from varicose patients. Contractions to norepinephrine were reduced similarly by alpha 1 and alpha 2 -adrenergic agonists in control and varicose veins but to a greater extent by alpha 2 -blockade in greater saphenous veins from varicose patients. Contractions to Ruscus extract were not reduced by alpha-adrenergic blockade in control veins but were reduced by alpha 2 -adrenergic blockade in varicose veins. Conclusions. These results suggest a differential distribution of alpha adrenergic receptors on greater saphenous veins from non-varicose patients compared to those with primary varicose disease. Venotropic agents from plant extract probably exert effects by way of multiple receptor and non-receptor mediated events.
Learning policies for first person shooter games using inverse reinforcement learning

The creation of effective autonomous agents (bots) for combat scenarios has long been a goal of the gaming industry. However, a secondary consideration is whether the autonomous bots behave like human players; this is especially important for simulation/training applications which aim to instruct participants in real-world tasks. Bots often compensate for a lack of combat acumen with advantages such as accurate targeting, predefined navigational networks, and perfect world knowledge, which makes them challenging but often predictable opponents. In this paper, we examine the problem of teaching a bot to play like a human in first-person shooter game combat scenarios. Our bot learns attack, exploration and targeting policies from data collected from expert human player demonstrations in Unreal Tournament. We hypothesize that one key difference between human players and autonomous bots lies in the relative valuation of game states. To capture the internal model used by expert human players to evaluate the benefits of different actions, we use inverse reinforcement learning to learn rewards for different game states. We report the results of a human subjects' study evaluating the performance of bot policies learned from human demonstration against a set of standard bot policies. Our study reveals that human players found our bots to be significantly more human-like than the standard bots during play. Our technique represents a promising stepping-stone toward addressing challenges such as the Bot Turing Test (the CIG Bot 2K Competition).
Effects of two-phase inlet quality, mass velocity, flow orientation, and heating perimeter on flow boiling in a rectangular channel: Part 1 – Two-phase flow and heat transfer results

Lack of understanding of flow boiling behavior in reduced gravity poses a major challenge to the development of future space vehicles utilizing two-phase thermal control systems (TCSs). A cost effective method to investigating the influence of reduced gravity on flow boiling is to perform ground experiments at different orientations relative to Earth gravity. This paper is the first part of a two-part study aimed at exploring flow boiling mechanisms of FC-72 in a rectangular channel heated along one wall or two opposite walls. Experiments are performed in vertical upflow, vertical downflow and horizontal flow, subject to large variations in mass velocity, inlet quality and wall heat flux. Detailed measurements are used to investigate the influences of orientation, and therefore gravity, on boiling curve, local and average heat transfer coefficients, and pressure drop, and their relationship with interfacial behavior is captured with high-speed video. For horizontal flow, the effects of gravity are reflected in appreciable stratification across the channel at low mass velocities, with gravity aiding vapor removal from, and liquid return to the bottom heated wall, while accumulating vapor along the top heated wall. For vertical upflow and vertical downflow, with both single-sided and double-sided heating, there is far better symmetry in vapor formation along the channel. The heat transfer coefficient shows significant variations among the different orientations and heating configurations at low mass velocities, but becomes insensitive to orientation above 800 kg/m2 s, proving inertia around this mass velocity is effective at negating any gravity effects. For low mass velocities, pressure drops are fairly equal for vertical upflow and vertical downflow, but greater than for horizontal flows. However, fairly equal pressure drops are achieved at high mass velocities for all orientations. Overall, this study proves that gravity effects on two-phase pressure drop and two-phase heat transfer are dictated mostly by mass velocity and, to a lesser extent, by inlet quality.
Genome Sequence of Fusarium Isolate MYA-4552 from the Midgut of Anoplophora glabripennis, an Invasive, Wood-Boring Beetle.

ABSTRACT The Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) is a clade of environmentally ubiquitous fungi that includes plant, animal, and insect associates. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the undescribed species FSSC 6 (isolate MYA-4552), housed in the gut of the wood-boring cerambycid beetle Anoplophora glabripennis.
Emotion Regulation Across the Life Span: An Integrative Perspective Emphasizing Self-Regulation, Positive Affect, and Dyadic Processes

In this commentary, we build upon the papers featured in this 2-part special issue to advance an integrative perspective on emotion regulation that emphasizes the developmentally specific goal-contexts of emotional phenomena. We highlight the importance of (1) multilevel longitudinal investigations of interactions among biological, affective, cognitive, and behavioral processes with respect to emotion regulation; (2) the integration of emotion-regulation processes with self-regulatory processes across the life course; (3) the dynamic relationship between positive and negative affect and their respective influence on regulatory processes; and (4) greater consideration of the dyadic context of emotion-regulation processes. From this perspective, the optimal developmental outcome with respect to emotion regulation is not affective homeostasis, but rather a dynamic flexibility in emotional experience, the ability to pursue and prioritize different goals, and the capacity to selectively and proactively mobilize emotions and cognitions in the service of context-specific and developmentally specific goals.
Does Query Blocking Improve DNS Privacy

DNS leakage happens when queries for names within a private namespace spread out to the public DNS infrastructure (Internet), which has various privacy implications. An example of this leakage includes the documented [1] leakage of .onion names associated with Tor hidden services to the public DNS infrastructure. To mitigate this leakage, and improve Tor’s privacy, Appelbaum and Muffet [2] proposed the special use .onion domain name, and various best practice recommendations of blocking of .onion strings (hidden service addresses) at the stub (browser), recursive, and authoritative resolvers. Without any form of analysis of those recommendations in practice, it is very difficult to tell how much of privacy is provided by following them in various deployment settings. In this paper, we initiate for the study of those recommendations by analyzing them under various settings and conclude that while the unlikely universal deployment will naturally improve privacy by preventing leakage, partial deployment, which is the case for early adoption, will degrade the privacy of individuals not adopting those recommendations.
Correlation of Wall Microstructure and Heterogeneous Distributions of Strain in Evolving Murine Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

A primary deficiency in predicting the progression and rupture-risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is an inability to assign patient-specific, heterogeneous biomechanical properties to the remodelling aortic wall. Toward this end, we investigated possible correlations between three quantities having the potential for non-invasive measurement (diameter, wall thickness, and strain) and local wall microstructure within evolving experimental AAAs. AAAs were initiated in male C57BL/6J mice via in situ adventitial application of elastase and allowed to progress for 1–4 weeks. Regional in vitro Green strain was assessed using custom panoramic digital image correlation and compared to local geometry and histology. Diameter correlated mildly with elastin grade and collagen, when considering all circumferential locations and remodeling times. Normalized wall thickness correlated strongly with normalized collagen area fraction, though with outliers in highly cellular regions. Circumferential Green strain correlated strongly with elastin grade when measured over the range of 20–140 mmHg, though the correlation weakened across a physiologic range of 80–120 mmHg. Axial strain correlated strongly between in vitro and physiologic ranges of pressures. Circumferential heterogeneities render diameter a poor predictor of underlying regional microstructure. Thickness may indicate collagen content, though corrections are needed in regions of increased cellularity. In vitro circumferential strain predicts local functional elastin over large ranges of pressure, but there is a need to extend this correlation to clinically relevant pressures. Axial strain in the aneurysmal shoulder region may reflect the elastic integrity within the apical region of the lesion and should be explored as an indicator of disease severity.
Quantification of the voltage losses in the minimal architecture zinc-bromine battery using GITT and EIS

The sources of voltage loss in the minimal architecture zinc bromine battery are characterized using the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) on a cell with a three electrode setup. Monitoring of the electrode voltages during charge/discharge indicate the full cell capacity is limited by the Zn/Zn2+ negative electrode. From GITT, the losses in voltage due to mass transport are shown to be relatively small in comparison to the IR resistance in the cell. In addition, it is shown that decreases in the open circuit voltage with respect to theory are likely caused by the complexation of Br2 into BrX−. Using EIS, the charge transfer resistances at each electrode and ohmic resistances of each component are determined. Overall, the main factors restricting the voltage of the cell are the ohmic resistances in the carbon cloth current collectors and in the electrolyte. Additionally, significant charge transfer resistances are observed at the negative electrode near the start of charge and end of discharge, when the amount of zinc plated on the carbon cloth electrode is minimal.
PeGaSus: Data-Adaptive Differentially Private Stream Processing

Individuals are continually observed by an ever-increasing number of sensors that make up the Internet of Things. The resulting streams of data, which are analyzed in real time, can reveal sensitive personal information about individuals. Hence, there is an urgent need for stream processing solutions that can analyze these data in real time with provable guarantees of privacy and low error. We present PeGaSus, a new algorithm for differentially private stream processing. Unlike prior work that has focused on answering individual queries over streams, our algorithm is the first that can simultaneously support a variety of stream processing tasks -- counts, sliding windows, event monitoring -- over multiple resolutions of the stream. PeGaSus uses a Perturber to release noisy counts, a data-adaptive Perturber to identify stable uniform regions in the stream, and a query specific Smoother, which combines the outputs of the Perturber and Grouper to answer queries with low error. In a comprehensive study using a WiFi access point dataset, we empirically show that PeGaSus can answer continuous queries with lower error than the previous state-of-the-art algorithms, even those specialized to particular query types.
Antitrust and Democracy

This article analyzes two critical and related questions regarding the eternal quest for better understanding the purposes and tools of competition law and policy. It first looks at the role of democracy as a policy goal of competition policy. It also looks at the role of democracy in the enforcement of competition law, regardless of the normative goals of any given competition law system. Part I examines the promotion of democracy as one of the historical and contemporary values for competition law. Part II explores how to promote democracy in the enforcement of competition law, regardless of the values adopted in the formulation of that system’s competition law. Part II also examines in detail the meaning of democracy in legislative action, agency enforcement, executive branch conduct, judicial review, private rights of actions (including collective actions), and in civil society. Part III provides a taxonomy and hypothetical example for democracy in antitrust, outlining how the roles of the different actors combine to form a virtuous feedback loop. In this feedback loop, explicit values are debated and enacted by the democratic branches of government and society. These democratically formulated values are then implemented by the more technocratic branches of government. All the while, each of the parts of the system provide feedback to the democratic branches to allow continued debate and revisions over time. Part IV concludes.
Binding, folding and insertion of a β-hairpin peptide at a lipid bilayer surface: Influence of electrostatics and lipid tail packing

Abstract Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) act as host defenses against microbial pathogens. Here we investigate the interactions of SVS-1 (KVKVKVKV d P l PTKVKVKVK), an engineered AMP and anti-cancer β-hairpin peptide, with lipid bilayers using spectroscopic studies and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. In agreement with literature reports, simulation and experiment show preferential binding of SVS-1 peptides to anionic over neutral bilayers. Fluorescence and circular dichroism studies of a Trp-substituted SVS-1 analogue indicate, however, that it will bind to a zwitterionic DPPC bilayer under high-curvature conditions and folds into a hairpin. In bilayers formed from a 1:1 mixture of DPPC and anionic DPPG lipids, curvature and lipid fluidity are also observed to promote deeper insertion of the fluorescent peptide. Simulations using the CHARMM C36m force field offer complementary insight into timescales and mechanisms of folding and insertion. SVS-1 simulated at an anionic mixed POPC/POPG bilayer folded into a hairpin over a microsecond, the final stage in folding coinciding with the establishment of contact between the peptide's valine sidechains and the lipid tails through a “flip and dip” mechanism. Partial, transient folding and superficial bilayer contact are seen in simulation of the peptide at a zwitterionic POPC bilayer. Only when external surface tension is applied does the peptide establish lasting contact with the POPC bilayer. Our findings reveal the influence of disruption to lipid headgroup packing (via curvature or surface tension) on the pathway of binding and insertion, highlighting the collaborative effort of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions on interaction of SVS-1 with lipid bilayers.
Pracademics: Making Negotiation Theory Implemented, Interdisciplinary, and International

Negotiation can be thought of as the tool that facilitates conflict engagement and resolution. As part of, and yet different from, conflict theory, negotiation theory has had a separate parallel development in the last 30 years. The challenges for negotiation theory in the future are similar to those found in the broader conflict theory – ensuring that negotiation theory can be implemented by practitioners; making sure that negotiation theory draws upon a multitude of disciplines; and includes theories, experiences and culture from around the world. The development of negotiation theories in law schools – where communication to resolve disputes is part of the job description – highlights the importance of pracademics and demonstrates how we need effective theories to engage in conflict.
INHIBITION OF ANTIGEN-INDUCED HUMAN LYMPHOCYTE PROLIFERATION BY DAUDI CELL LINE SUPERNATANT

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the inhibition of antigen-induced human lymphocyte proliferation by Daudi cell line supernatant. The Daudi cell line has been found to be a B cell with surface Ig. In a study described in the chapter, the human lymphoid cell lines were grown in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and antibiotics. The human mixed lymphocyte cultures, tuberculin PPD-stimulated lymphocyte culture, and PHA–P-stimulated lymphocyte cultures were performed. Results from the experiments designed to test the capacity of supernatants from lymphoid cell lines to inhibit the proliferative response of human PBL in a MLR indicated that the Daudi cell line supernatant inhibited the proliferative response in a MLR.
Deliberating Death in the Summer of 1968.

Deliberating Death in the Summer of 1968 In 1968, an ad hoc Harvard committee defined what we now accept as brain death. Unlike groups convened elsewhere the same year to discuss the same question,...