cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Archaeosome-Adjuvanted Vaccine and Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Combination Significantly Enhances Protection from Murine Melanoma.

Archaeosomes constitute archaeal lipid vesicle vaccine adjuvants that evoke a strong CD8+ T cell response to antigenic cargo. Therapeutic treatment of murine B16-ovalbumin (B16-OVA) melanoma with archaeosome-OVA eliminates small subcutaneous solid tumors; however, they eventually resurge despite an increased frequency of circulating and tumor infiltrating OVA-CD8+ T cells. Herein, a number of different approaches were evaluated to improve responses, including dose number, interval, and the combination of vaccine with checkpoint inhibitors. Firstly, we found that tumor protection could not be enhanced by repetitive and/or delayed boosting to maximize the CD8+ T cell number and/or phenotype. The in vivo cytotoxicity of vaccine-induced OVA-CD8+ T cells was impaired in tumor-bearing mice. Additionally, tumor-infiltrating OVA-CD8+ T cells had an increased expression of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) compared to other organ compartments, suggesting impaired function. Combination therapy of tumor-bearing mice with the vaccine archaeosome-OVA, and α-CTLA-4 administered concurrently as well as α-PD-1 and an α-PD-L1 antibody administered starting 9 days after tumor challenge given on a Q3Dx4 schedule (days 9, 12, 15 and 18), significantly enhanced survival. Following multi-combination therapy ~70% of mice had rapid tumor recession, with no detectable tumor mass after >80 days in comparison to a median survival of 17–22 days for untreated or experimental groups receiving single therapies. Overall, archaeosomes offer a powerful platform for delivering cancer antigens when used in combination with checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies.
Transfection of Primary Mammary Epithelial Cells by Viral and Nonviral Methods

Primary mammary epithelial cells have been used widely to study basic biology in mammary gland development and breast oncogenesis. A variety of technologies have been developed to deliver genes into these cells in order to increase their utility for the study of gene expression and function. Both viral and nonviral methods are available. This chapter presents a protocol for preparation of normal mouse primary mammary epithelial cells and three techniques that can be used to introduce exogenous genes into them. Procedures for the application of calcium phosphate precipitation, jet injection, and adenoviral vectors for gene transfer into primary mammary epithelial cells in vitro are described.
Determination of a novel antiarrhythmic agent ACC-9358 in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A liquid chromatographic method for the determination of ACC-9358, an antiarrhythmic agent, in human plasma is described. ACC-9358 was extracted from plasma into chloroform and back extracted into 0.01 N hydrochloric acid. ACC-9358 in the acidic extract was eluted from a Novapak C18 column using a 87:13:0.1 (by volume) mixture of phosphate buffer (pH 3.0), acetonitrile, and triethylamine as the mobile phase and measured at 280 nm. The average extraction recoveries were 78.4 and 85.4% at the 0.5- and 5-µg/ml level, respectively. Standard curves were linear and reproducible over the concentration range of 0.01–10 µg/ml, with coefficients of determination better than 0.999. Coefficients of variation for both within-day and day-to-day analysis were less than 11%. The assay method is sensitive, reproducible, and suitable for disposition studies of ACC-9358 in humans.
Autoimmune Diseases: Genetics, Mechanisms, and Diagnostic Approaches

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of the workshop focusing on genetics, mechanisms, and diagnostic approaches toward autoimmune diseases. Discussions centered about the genetics and pathogenetic mechanisms of autoimmune diseases in animal models and in man. Crosses and backcrosses between NZB and NZC mice demonstrated that development of reactivity in the direct Coomb's test is probably controlled by two genes, one dominant in the NZB strain and one recessive in the NZC strain. The data suggested that the red cell autoantigen is common to all mouse strains and that other proportion of the immunizing red cell act as a carrier in the genetically unsusceptible animal. Autoimmune phenomena may be related to immune responsiveness; this in turn, is known to be controlled genetically by a variety of Ir genes. It was highlighted that autosensitive cytoxic lymphocytes were found in allophenic mice. Autologous serum had a protective effect. However, it was also reported that rat lymphocytes which were toxic for syngeneic but not allogeneic fibroblasts were not protected by autologous serum.
The Constitutional Text Matters: Reflections on Recent School Finance Cases

Although education is not a fundamental right under the United States Constitution, every State Constitution has a provision mandating, at a minimum, that the State provide a system of free public schools. Despite free public education for all being a state constitutional value, America’s public schools remain ravaged by “savage inequalities” which lead to failure of the public schools. Given the obvious conflict between the constitutional value of free public education for all and the funding disparities that exist in certain States, it is not surprising that litigants ask courts to intervene and vindicate the constitutional value of free public education for all by declaring that the current system of financing the schools is unconstitutional. Indeed, over the last four decades, the high court of virtually every State has wrestled with the question of whether the State’s school financing system is constitutional. The purpose of this study is to examine and reflect on some of the most recent school finance decisions - those from Florida, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. Part I provides a brief overview of all six decisions. Part II argues that the cases are united by a common theme - an emphasis on the constitutional text as a means of avoiding the ultimate issues.
Globalization and the Business of Educational Reform

Current policy environments worldwide are heavily influenced by corporatism, neoliberalism, and their companion, New Public Management. These are discussed here. This chapter also wrestles with such concepts as individualism and collectivism, nationalism, and competition and collaboration, among others, as foundational concerns. This chapter presents a discussion of current educational reform initiatives and the lessons learned from them through their analysis. Charter schools and, to a lesser extent, the linking of teacher and school assessment, along with the assessment of teacher education programs, to student achievement test results are used as illustrative examples.
How does intergovernmental fiscal environment affect general fund balances of major American cities

ABSTRACTThis study explores the extent to which intergovernmental fiscal factors affect fiscal reserves in municipal general funds. Statistical results from panel data of 87 major cities in the US for the period from 1995 to 2010 show that cities facing more restrictive limitations on local property taxation tend to maintain higher levels of unreserved general fund balances. Additional analyses also show that fiscally constrained cities accumulate surpluses in their general funds. This is consistent with the proactive approach in which municipal governments make fiscal decisions with the awareness of expected state constraints on their revenue-raising capacity. We call for consideration of relevant intergovernmental constraints in the determination of appropriate level of fund balances for municipal governments.
Jpss Direct Readout - Easy Access to Real-Time Data

With the launch of NOAA first JPSS Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite (now NOAA 20) on December 2017 into the afternoon orbit to join the existing NOAA/NASA Suomi-NPP satellite each carries five advanced instruments - (1) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), (2) Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), (3) Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), (4) OMPS, and (5) CERES. To facilitate easy access to real-time S-NPP and NOAA-20 CrIS/ATMS/VIIRS data, NOAA JPSS program office has established direct broadcast (DB) partners with antenna network (DBNet) located in Alaska, California, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Maryland, Puerto Rico, and Wisconsin (fig 1).
The role of clusters on heat transfer in sedimenting gas-solid flows

Abstract In this study, Eulerian-Lagrangian simulations of unbounded sedimenting gas-solid flows are conducted to quantify the effect of two-phase flow interactions on thermal transport. Cold particles are initially randomly distributed in a hot gas and settle under gravity for a wide range of volume fractions and Prandtl numbers. Two-way coupling spontaneously generates clusters of particles with a characteristic length scale much larger than the particle diameter, where fluctuations in particle concentration generate and sustain the carrier-phase turbulence. Simulations reveal that the gas phase is cooled relatively fast in the vicinity of clusters while hot spots persist in regions void of particles. This non-homogeneity was found to delay the overall heat transfer by as much as a factor of four compared to systems with a homogeneous particle distribution. To identify the mechanisms responsible for these variations, the spatially-averaged temperature equation is derived for statistically homogeneous (zero-dimensional) time-dependent particle-laden flows. It is found that the local fluid volume fraction-temperature covariance, referred to here as the fluid temperature seen by the particles, is the key term that accounts for the effect of clusters on heat transfer. Next, a framework for studying thermally fully-developed flows is presented, and statistics at steady state are reported. Consistent with previous work, local variations in the interphase heat transfer coefficient are found to vary by several orders of magnitude. Finally, a statistical modeling approach based on the concept of presumed-shape probability distribution functions is proposed.
Alcohol-free EUS-guided chemoablation of multiple pancreatic insulinomas.

Background and study aims Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided chemoablation with ethanol lavage, followed by infusion with paclitaxel, has been found to be effective for treatment of mucinous pancreatic cysts. However, there are notable adverse events (AEs) associated with ethanol and its undesirable inflammatory effects on local tissue and vessels. The recent ChARM trial demonstrated that removing ethanol from the cyst ablation process resulted in equivalent efficacy while significantly reducing associated AEs. Encouraged by these results, we speculated that alcohol-free chemoablation can be applied to treatment of solid tumors, as described in our case with a patient with severe and symptomatic recurrent hypoglycemia in the setting of multifocal insulinomas. As a result, the patient saw a significant reduction in symptoms. EUS-guided alcohol-free chemoablation may represent a new alternative to previously established therapies that will ultimately reduce risk of AEs.
Survival and Passage of Juvenile Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Passing through Bonneville Dam, 2011

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and subcontractors conducted an acoustic-telemetry study of juvenile salmonid fish passage and survival at Bonneville Dam in 2011. The study was conducted to assess the readiness of the monitoring system for official compliance studies under the 2008 Biological Opinion and Fish Accords and to assess performance measures including route-specific fish passage proportions, travel times, and survival based upon a virtual/paired-release model. The study relied on releases of live Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System tagged smolts in the Columbia River and used acoustic telemetry to evaluate the approach, passage, and survival of passing juvenile salmon using a virtual release, paired reference release survival model. This study supports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ continual effort to improve conditions for juvenile anadromous fish passing through Columbia River dams.
Bifurcations and Chaotic Motions in Resonantly Excited Structures

The focus of this chapter is a discussion of the behavior of multi-degree-of-freedom models of structures with nonlinearities. While an overview of the research conducted in this area is given, the latter part of the chapter is devoted to a study of the response of weakly nonlinear multi-degree-of-freedom models under harmonic excitation. These models were derived from the von Karman equations that describe the behavior of a thin rectangular plate under initial tension. The types of behavior that result from internal resonances are of particular interest, whereby one mode is driven directly but other modes are excited by the nonlinear coupling between the modes. Energy sharing between the directly driven mode and the other modes leads to an amplitude-modulated coupled-mode response that can become chaotic. The approach is to develop models of the slowly varying amplitude and phase of the nonlinear response of the interacting modes through averaging. These equations are studied using the local bifurcation theory for their steady-state solutions. Various bifurcation points are identified in order to understand which types of solutions are possible for a given set of excitation conditions and model parameter values. It is shown that the response of the plate is qualitatively distinct and depends on the mode which is directly excited by the external loading.
A prospective study to assess the association of body mass index and contamination of urinalysis samples.

Abstract Background There is a commonly held belief that overweight women are more likely to offer contaminated urine samples (UAs) in the emergency department (ED) than women with normal body mass index (BMI). However, there is a paucity of research evaluating this potential concern. Objective We hypothesized that patients with higher BMI would be more likely to provide contaminated urine samples than women with low BMI. Methods This was a prospective, observational, cohort study evaluating consenting, adult, women that provided a clean catch, mid-stream sample at an inner-city ED. UAs were ordered at the discretion of the caring physician, cultures based on standardized parameters. The primary outcome parameter was the presence of UA contamination as defined by our microbiology lab. Demographic/historical data and BMI were recorded on a structured data sheet. Categorical data were analyzed by chi-square; continuous data by t-tests. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to control for confounding. Results There were 350 patients in the study group; 22% overweight, 35% obese, 17% morbidly obese, mean BMI 31. 5, and 60% provided contaminated specimens. The mean BMIs of the subjects with contaminated vs. uncontaminated UAs were significantly different (32.7 ± 10.2 vs 29.7 ± 8.8, p Conclusion Obesity was significantly associated with contamination of clean catch mid-stream samples in our population.
Slow pH Changes in Blood Plasma Following C02 Exchange

About 50 years ago Henriques1 calculated the rate of dehydration of bicarbonate to CO2 in the lung capillaries. He showed that the uncatalyzed reaction is too slow to allow sufficient transfer of CO2 during the short time the blood spends in the capillaries. This stimulated the search for an enzyme which catalyzes the reaction, and in 1933 Meldrum and Roughton2 and Stadie and O’Brien3 reported the presence of such an enzyme, carbonic anhydrase, in red cells. In 1935 Roughton4 suggested that because carbonic anhydrase is absent in plasma, the rate of pH changes in plasma must be slow, and that pH changes in circulating blood would be less than the difference observed between arterial and venous blood samples. Surprisingly, however, actual measurements of the rate of pH changes in blood were not made until recently5, 6, 7.
Density of Macrophages Immunostained With Anti-iba1 Antibody in the Vestibular Endorgans After Cochlear Implantation in the Human

Hypothesis Cochlear implantation may result in an increase in the density of macrophages in vestibular endorgans in the human. Background Vestibular symptoms are a common complication of cochlear implantation. In a previous study, we demonstrated histological evidence of a foreign-body response caused by silicon and platinum in the human cochlea following cochlear implantation. The objective of the current study was to seek evidence of a possible immune response in vestibular endorgans after cochlear implantation. Methods The density of macrophages immunostained with anti-Iba1 antibody in the vestibular endorgans (lateral and posterior semicircular canals, utricle and saccule) in 10 human subjects who had undergone unilateral cochlear implantation was studied by light microscopy. The densities of macrophages in the neuroepithelium, subepithelial stroma, and among dendritic processes in the mid-stromal zone in four vestibular endorgans in the implanted and the opposite unimplanted ears were compared. The distributions of macrophage morphology (amoeboid, transitional and ramified) were also compared. Results The densities of macrophages in implanted ears in four vestibular endorgans were significantly greater than that in opposite unimplanted ears except in the subepithelial zone of the utricle and posterior semicircular canal. In contrast to the neuroepithelium, the subepithelial distribution of amoeboid macrophages in implanted ears was significantly less than in unimplanted ears. Conclusion An increase in the density of macrophages in four vestibular endorgans after implantation was demonstrated. The transition among phenotype of macrophages suggested possible migration of amoeboid macrophages from the subepithelial stroma into the neuroepithelium.
Molecular beam epitaxial growth and structural properties of hetero-crystalline and heterovalent PbTe/CdTe/InSb structures

Rock-salt lead chalcogenides such as PbTe are of much current interest for the physics study of quantum materials as a topological insulator and practical applications for infrared photodetectors. Heterocrystalline (rock-salt on zincblende) and heterovalent PbTe/CdTe/InSb heterostructures are grown on (001) InSb substrates using a single-chamber molecular beam epitaxy system. Elemental Pb and Te sources are used to independently vary the flux conditions at the heterocrystalline interface in nearly lattice-matched PbTe/InSb and PbTe/CdTe heterostructures. A streaky (1 × 1) surface reconstruction is observed during the growth of thicker PbTe layers on both InSb and CdTe, signifying smooth layer-by-layer growth. The thickness required for smooth PbTe growth on nearly lattice-matched zincblende materials can be minimized with the proper choice of growth conditions, particularly at the heterocrystalline interface. Characterization with x-ray diffraction indicates good crystalline quality, and observations by transmission electron microscopy reveal sharp interfaces between the PbTe and CdTe films.
Restoration of defaced serial numbers using lock-in infrared thermography (Part II)

Author Summary: This paper details continuing work on the development of a substantive non-destructive method to recover defaced serial numbers stamped or laser engraved into metallic objects based on lock-in infrared thermography. This method relies on the existence of a local zone of plastic strain created from stamping pressures in mechanically stamped pieces and a heat-affected zone in laser engraved samples, both extending to depths below the visible characters. The grain structure within these zones is dislocated due to the external forces applied. These deformed areas are exposed to the surface when the serial numbers are defaced. Infrared thermography utilises the change in thermal conductivity, based on local variation in the thermal gradient from thermal energy applied at the surface. Observation of the thermal gradient at the surface as it propagates through the object allows for identification of these deformed regions and subsequent recovery of the serial number. Principal component analysis is used to enhance the thermographic images. Pseudo Zernike moments and subsequently multiple similarity measures are utilised to identify the numbers based on a reference library of numbers. Several fusion rules are used to obtain a consensus across the similarity measures. This process is tested on several datasets including stamped numbers on a gun barrel, laser engraved numbers on a needle holder and the defaced vehicle identification number of a stolen motorcycle.
Know whether and -ever free relative clauses

Know whether sentences and -ever free relative clauses have not been studied together, but they have similar contextual constraints. This work offers an explanation of their similarities based on well-established pragmatic principles. These constructions are proposed to evoke equally informative alternatives with stronger presuppositions, and as a consequence of Heim’s (1991) pragmatic principle of Maximize Presupposition, the use of a know whether sentence or a sentence containing an -ever free relative clause requires the presuppositions of all of its alternatives not to be satisfied. This gives rise to a variety of requirements, depending on what grammatical environment either construction appears in and how its presuppositions project. Although the modal implications of -ever free relative clauses are typically analyzed as a semantically-encoded component of their meaning, this work argues that a pragmatic explanation provides better coverage of a broad range of empirical observations. EARLY ACCESS
Mitochondrial DNA, oxidants, and innate immunity

Mitochondrial oxidant damage, including damage to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a feature of both severe microbial infections and inflammation arising from sterile (non-infectious) sources such as tissue trauma. Damaged mitochondria release intact or oxidized fragments of mtDNA into the cytoplasm, which represent oxidant injury, and the fragments promote a spontaneous innate immune response, exemplifying a modern frontier of immunological research. MtDNA and mitochondrial-derived oxidants are central factors in activating at least three innate immune pathways involving the TLR9 (Toll-like receptor 9), the NLRP3 (NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein-3) inflammasome, and the cGAS (cyclic AMP-GMP synthase) pathway. The events that allow mtDNA to escape from damaged mitochondria and from damaged cells are incompletely known, but the presence of cytoplasmic mtDNA and cell-free mtDNA as immune regulators are important for understanding the cell's capacity for protecting mitochondrial quality control (MQC) and cell viability during inflammatory states.
Examining the Mediating Influence of Interlocking Board Networks on Grant Making in Public Foundations

Do interlocking boards provide advantage in the grants marketplace? Drawing upon board data from nine public grant-making organizations in two metropolitan areas and their grant recipients, we test...
A Dynamic Model for Concentric Tube Robots

Existing static and kinematic models of concentric tube robots are based on the ordinary differential equations of a static Cosserat rod. In this article, we provide the first dynamic model for concentric tube continuum robots by adapting the partial differential equations of a dynamic Cosserat rod to describe the coupled inertial dynamics of precurved concentric tubes. This generates an initial-boundary-value problem that can capture robot vibrations over time. We solve this model numerically at high time resolutions using implicit finite differences in time and arc length. This approach is capable of resolving the high-frequency torsional dynamics that occur during unstable “snapping” motions and provides a simulation tool that can track the true robot configuration through such transitions. Furthermore, it can track slower oscillations associated with bending and torsion as a robot interacts with tissue at real-time speeds. Experimental verification of the model shows that this wide range of effects is captured efficiently and accurately.
Abstract C119: Cancer screening disparities among rural sexual minority individuals: Implication for prevention and policy

Introduction: Although a few studies have examined screening uptake among sexual minority, almost none have examined it in the specific context of rural populations. Therefore, the objective was to assess how cancer screening utilization might vary by residence (rural versus urban) and sexual orientation. Methods: Publicly available population-level data from the 2014 and 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were utilized. Study outcomes included recommended recent breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening receipt. Independent variables of interest were residence (rural/urban) and sexual orientation (heterosexual/gay/bisexual). Weighted proportions and multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess the association between the independent variables and the outcomes. Analyses were conducted in 2018. Results: Rates for all three screenings were lowest in rural areas and among sexual minority populations (cervical cancer among lesbians, rural at 64.8%; breast cancer among lesbians, rural at 66.8%; and CRC among bisexual, rural men at 52.4%). For CRC screening, both rural gay and heterosexual rural males were less likely to receive screening (aOR=0.45; 95%=0.24-0.73 and aOR=0.79; 95%=0.72-0.87, respectively) while only rural heterosexual females were less likely (aOR=0.87; 95%=0.80-0.94). For cervical cancer screening, heterosexuals were less likely to be screened (aOR=0.83; 95%=0.72-0.94), and there were no differences for breast cancer. Conclusions: We found that rural sexual minorities may experience disparities in cancer screening utilization associated with the compounding barriers of rural residence and sexual orientation. Further work is needed to identify factors influencing these disparities and how they might be addressed. Citation Format: Min Jee Lee, Wiley Jenkins, Eric Adjei Boakye. Cancer screening disparities among rural sexual minority individuals: Implication for prevention and policy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr C119.
Pricing and inventory planning for non-instantaneous deteriorating products with greening investment: A case study in beef industry

Abstract This paper studies the problem of pricing and inventory planning for a vendor of non-instantaneous deteriorating items under partially backlogged shortages with greening investment. The demand of customers and inventory control variables are affected by greening programs. The primary objective of this paper is to determine the optimal sales price, replenishment schedule, and order quantity per inventory cycle under different greenness levels, which will help maximize the vendor’s total profit. The problem is formulated as a non-linear optimization model in which an analytical approach is applied in order to find the optimal solution. Using several mathematical theorems, it has been proven that the optimal solution not only exists but also is unique. In order to show the efficacy of the proposed model, a real case study in the round beef industry is analyzed. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to help find managerial insights. The results indicate the range of greening cost that positively influences the demand and total profit for the vendor. Additionally, the vendor’s inventory planning is designed and differentiated according to the demand function and greenness level.
Recent advances in ink-based additive manufacturing for porous structures

Abstract The use of porous structures is an ancient wisdom, people found its importance ever since we began to understand nature. The evolution of porous structure gives rise to multi-scale (combined nano-, micro-, and macro-) porous networks. Traditional manufacturing technologies have challenges in creating shape-complex and conformable porous structures for real-world applications. Additive manufacturing (AM) with the capability of assembling various materials with complex and customized architectures is rapidly developing. With the advancement of material development, the integration of AM and porous structure offers unparalleled and emerging opportunities for concept-to-design-to-fabrication of multi-scale porous networks, enabling the multi-functionalities of the 3D printed specimen and broadening its applications. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art ink-based AM techniques for 3D printing porous structures. The ink design principle, ink composition, and printability are thoroughly discussed. The methodologies of various AM technologies for porous structures are analyzed. Readers can find a clear experimental guidance toward 3D printing multi-scale porous structures. The synergistic and collective merits of additive manufacturing and porous structure are highlighted and systematically discussed in this review. The challenges and promises of this field for future research are also outlined.
Experimental West Nile Virus Infection in Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus)

West Nile virus (WNV) has been implicated in regional declines of numerous North American bird species, although its potential impact upon many species, including some game birds, remains unknown. Specifically, information about susceptibility to infection and infection outcome are crucial to assessing health risks. Northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) are a popular and common game bird across much of the United States, as well as in captive breeding programs and as backyard birds. Two age groups of bobwhites were subcutaneously inoculated with WNV and euthanatized on 15 days postinoculation (DPI). Three of 10 inoculated 5-wk-old and 4/10 inoculated 15-wk-old birds developed detectable viremia titers during 1–5 DPI, with low peak titers (101.7–103.0 plaque-forming units [PFU]/ml). Three of 10 inoculated 5-wk-old and 1/10 inoculated 15-wk-old birds shed low viral titers (peak 100.7–101.8 PFU/swab) either orally or cloacally or both for limited periods from 2 to 6 DPI. All inoculated birds (n = 20) remained apparently healthy and seroconverted by 15 DPI. No infectious virus was detected in select tissues: heart, kidney, brain, skeletal muscle, spleen (15-wk-old group only), and feathers from any of the bobwhites. No sham-inoculated, contact control birds (n = 8) became viremic or had virus isolated from tissues or swabs. The most consistent microscopic lesion was minimal to mild, lymphoplasmacytic myocarditis (6/10 in 5-wk-olds; 5/10 in 15-wk-olds). Immunohistochemical labeling was most often in macrophages in spleen and bone marrow, likely reflective of clearance of infection. There were no statistically significant differences in the peak viremia and shedding titers between age groups and no differences in the development of WNV-associated lesions between the two age groups. These results suggest that WNV is unlikely to pose a health risk to bobwhites and that bobwhites likely are an incompetent reservoir host species in WNV transmission.
B cells influence sex specificity of arthritis via myeloid suppressors and chemokines in humanized mice.

Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs two times more often in women than men. B cell depletion has been shown to be efficacious in treating RA. Our previous studies suggested that antigen presentation via B cells results in a sex-specific immune response in DR4 and DR4/DQ8 mice. Here we evaluated the mechanism of efficacy of the B cell depletion in treating arthritis-susceptible DQ8 mice. The data show that arthritic DQ8 mice treated with anti-CD20 antibody in therapeutic protocols show milder disease severity in females as compared to males, which is associated with decreased antibodies to citrullinated proteins and reduced levels of IL-23 and CCL5. Treatment led to significantly increased numbers of T regulatory and monocyte-derived suppressor F4/80 + Gr1 hi cells in females as compared to male DQ8 mice. Our observations suggest that therapeutic strategies that target B cells may benefit females while functions of DCs might be relatively more important for men than women.
International Competition, Productivity and Regional Spillovers

This thesis addresses empirically the interplay among international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic market conditions, and its impact on competition, growth, exports and technology diffusion. Chapter two considers the potential relation between regional integration and productivity growth for the case of the European Union (EU). It is found that imports from other members is positively associated with productivity growth, while no impact from non-member imports is encountered, even if only developed non-members are considered. Chapter three concerns the impact of import competition on productivity growth, with special attention to the role of technology dispersion among firms. Using Swedish firm and industry level data, it is found that import competition triggers productivity growth in general, and that there is an additional impact in domestic industries with high technology dispersion among firms. Chapter four investigates whether the Single Market Program within the EU has had an impact on price-cost margins in Swedish industries previously protected by non-tariff barriers, so called sensitive industries. We find that average price-cost margins declined significantly after the implementation of the SMP in sensitive industries. A clear exception to this pattern is the food and beverage sector, a sector in which both sensitive and non-sensitive industries experienced a general increase in average price-cost margins over the time period. Chapter five discusses the idea that foreign-owned, export-oriented firms could have a positive impact on the export performance of local firms in the host country. A serious obstacle for potential exporters in developing countries is the lack of “export-know-how,” and foreign firms could stimulate local firms to begin exporting by showing them how to produce, market, sell and distribute manufactured goods on the world market. Since a major objective with EPZs is to attract export-oriented affiliates of foreign multinational enterprises, it is argued that host countries of EPZs can benefit from spillovers of know-how, i.e. a catalyst effect. Chapter six investigates empirically the quantitative impact of EPZs on developing countries’ export to the European Union. The study uses of the gravity model and addresses two questions: (i) whether EPZs have a positive impact on total host country exports, and (ii) if a significant catalyst effect is present. EPZs are found to have a positive impact on exports in several countries, but the effect varies across countries. For the case of Malaysia, a significant catalyst effect that is more or less constant over time is found.
Multivariate Caputo Fractional Landau Inequalities

Here we give multivariate left Caputo fractional L p -Landau-type inequalities, p \( \in (1,\infty ] \) with applications on ℝ N , N ≥ 1. This Chapter is based on [5].
Hypoalbuminemia Independently Predicts Surgical Site Infection, Pneumonia, Length of Stay, and Readmission After Total Joint Arthroplasty

This study investigates the association between preoperative hypoalbuminemia, a marker for malnutrition, and complications during the 30 days after total joint arthroplasty. Patients who underwent elective primary total hip and knee arthroplasty as part of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program were identified. Outcomes were compared between patients with and without hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin concentration <3.5 g/dL) with adjustment for patient and procedural factors. A total of 49603 patients were included. In comparison to patients with normal albumin concentration, patients with hypoalbuminemia had a higher risk for surgical site infection, pneumonia, extended length of stay, and readmission. Future efforts should investigate methods of correcting nutritional deficiencies prior to total joint arthroplasty. If successful, such efforts could lead to improvements in short-term outcomes for patients.
NMR Studies of Ion-Transporting Biological Channels

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the biological membranes that have complex effects on passive transport by diffusion because they are structured as a mosaic of the regions with distinct hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. The ability of membrane proteins, specifically to admit some polar molecules and exclude others dramatically, affects the responses of biological membranes to the concentration gradients. The chapter examines that nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has proven to be a very powerful technique for the study of the transport process and the molecular systems responsible for the transport. NMR techniques can be used to determine the three-dimensional structure of the channel, to determine the thermodynamic parameters for the incorporation of the transport system into the membrane environment, to obtain the thermodynamic parameters for the binding of the cations to the channel, to determine the kinetic activation enthalpy for the transport process, and to study the internal motion of the peptide or protein that forms the channel.
Recent developments in high temperature polyimide systems

Vespel, a novel, supertough polyimide molding resin that can be fabricated into small, complex structures on the basis of P/M techniques, has been recently developed, together with two polyimide matrix resins for use in high performance composite fabrication. These two resins, designated AVIMID N and AVIMID KIII, cover a range of processing features and service temperature performance characteristics. Extensive molecular characterizations of these polymers are presented, along with test data for the effect of temperature on tensile strength and elongation, notched impact strength, hydrolytic stability, comparative wear, effects of graphite concentration, relationship of flexural modulus to temperature, and thermomechanical analyses. 7 references.
The role of combustion products in building-associated illness.

The role of combustion products in building-associated illness is addressed. The authors emphasize carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, wood smoke, and vehicle exhaust. The limited literature available suggests that combustion products, other than tobacco smoke, may be a relatively uncommon cause of building-related problems.54 references.
Pharmacotherapy of Epilepsy: Focus on Levetiracetam

Levetiracetam is a second-generation antiepileptic drug which first came to the United States market in 1999. It has a mechanism of action that is not well elucidated. However, it is a very favorable antiepileptic drug due to its reliable pharmacokinetics, minimal drug interactions, seizure efficacy and good tolerability. It is an agent that has established efficacy as an adjunct therapy agent for partial and refractory seizures. As a monotherapy agent, levetiracetam also appears to be an attractive agent with observed efficacy and tolerability. Since levetiracetam has recently become available intravenously, it is also being reviewed as an agent for acute status epilepticus. In pediatrics, levetiracetam is widely used with efficacy seen in small clinical trials for a variety of seizure types. Levetiracetam is well tolerated: the most common adverse effect being somnolence and behavioral effects. Overall, levetiracetam is a notable antiepileptic drug that has added significantly to the current antiepileptic armamentarium.
Convexity issues in multivariate multiple testing of treatments vs. control

The problem of multiple testing of each of several treatment mean vectors versus a control mean vector is considered. Both one-sided and two-sided alternatives are treated. It is shown that typical choices for marginal test procedures will lead to step-down procedures that do not have convex acceptance regions. This lack of convexity has both intuitive and theoretical disadvantages. The only exception being linear tests in the one-sided problem. Although such a procedure is atypical, it not only has convex acceptance regions but is such that critical values are obtainable so that the overall procedure can control FDR or FWER.For both one-sided and two-sided alternatives, two other stepwise multiple testing methods are presented that do have convex acceptance regions.
Extended-range two-coil adaptively reconfigurable wireless power transfer system

This paper presents a two-coil reconfigurable wireless power transfer (WPT) system topology in order to optimize transmission efficiency under different transmission distance (DIS) and lateral misalignment (MIS) conditions. The reconfigurable WPT system includes one transmitter (Tx) side and one receiver (Rx) side but it could switch between different circuit configurations (which are made up of different values of series and shunt capacitors) at Tx side and/or Rx side. Design guidelines of the two-coil reconfigurable WPT system are devised based on an equivalent circuit model. A proof of concept prototype with three different adaptive configurations at Tx side and one configuration at Rx side is built and experimentally compared with conventional two-coil WPT system. Results show that when the system is perfectly aligned, the reconfigurable system improves the transmission efficiency by up to 20%. When system is laterally misaligned, the transmission efficiency is improved by up to 19%.
New Phases of Qcd; the Tricritical Point; and Rhic as a “Nutcracker”

Because too many interesting things are going on now, I have tried to squeeze three different subjects into one talk. The first is a brief summary of the color super-conductivity. During the last year we learned that instanton-induced forces can not only break chiral symmetry in the QCD vacuum, but also create correlated scalar diquarks and form new phases, some similar to the Higgs phase of the Standard model. The second issue I discuss is the remnant of the so called tricritical point, which in QCD with physical masses is the endpoint of the first order transition. I will argue that exchange of sigmas (which are massless at this point even with quark masses included) create interesting event-by-event fluctuations, which can be used to locate it Finally I describe first results in flow calculations for non-central collisions at RHIC. It was found that it is extremely sensitive to Equation of State (EOS). Furthermore, the unusual “nutcracker” picture emerges for lattice-motivated EOS, which is formation of two shells which are physically separated be f ore the freeze-out.
Transverse Solitary Waves in a Dispersive Ring Bistable Cavity Containing a Saturable Nonlinearity

Stationary and nonstationary transverse solitary waves can gradually evolve when the incident Gaussian beam amplitude exceeds threshold for switching to the high transmission branch of a bistable ring cavity. The number of transverse solitary waves scales as the square root of the effective Fresnel number and as the incident laser amplitude. Predictions from an independent theory give quantitative agreement with the numerical computations.
Benchmarking Transcriptome Quantification Methods for Duplicated Genes in Xenopus laevis

Xenopus is an important model organism for the study of genome duplication in vertebrates. With the full genome sequence of diploid Xenopus tropicalis available, and that of allotetraploid X. laevis close to being finished, we will be able to expand our understanding of how duplicated genes have evolved. One of the key features in the study of the functional consequence of gene duplication is how their expression patterns vary across different conditions, and RNA-seq seems to have enough resolution to discriminate the expression of highly similar duplicated genes. However, most of the current RNA-seq analysis methods were not designed to study samples with duplicate genes such as in X. laevis. Here, various computational methods to quantify gene expression in RNA-seq data were evaluated, using 2 independent X. laevis egg RNA-seq datasets and 2 reference databases for duplicated genes. The fact that RNA-seq can measure expression levels of similar duplicated genes was confirmed, but long paired-end reads are more informative than short single-end reads to discriminate duplicated genes. Also, it was found that bowtie, one of the most popular mappers in RNA-seq analysis, reports significantly smaller numbers of unique hits according to a mapping quality score compared to other mappers tested (BWA, GSNAP, STAR). Calculated from unique hits based on a mapping quality score, both expression levels and the expression ratio of duplicated genes can be estimated consistently among biological replicates, demonstrating that this method can successfully discriminate the expression of each copy of a duplicated gene pair. This comprehensive evaluation will be a useful guideline for studying gene expression of organisms with genome duplication using RNA-seq in the future.
Neurocognitive Alterations in Hypertensive Children and Adolescents

Hypertensive adults demonstrate performance deficits on neuropsychological testing compared with scores of normotensive controls. This article reviews emerging, preliminary evidence that children with hypertension also manifest neurocognitive differences when compared to normotensive controls. Database and single-center studies suggest that children with hypertension manifest deficits on measures of neurocognition, have an increased prevalence of learning difficulties, and that children with hypertension associated with obesity may be at increased risk for depression and anxiety. Studies suggesting blunted cerebrovascular reactivity in children with hypertension are also reviewed.
Rates of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Loss in Contralateral Eyes of Glaucoma Patients with Unilateral Progression by Conventional Methods

Purpose To determine whether progressive retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) loss occurs in the contralateral eye of patients with glaucoma showing unilateral progression according to conventional diagnostic methods. Design Prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study. Participants Three hundred forty-six eyes of 173 patients (118 eyes with glaucoma and 228 eyes with suspect glaucoma at baseline) followed up for an average of 3.5±0.7 years. Methods All subjects underwent standard automated perimetry (SAP; Humphrey Field Analyzer; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) and spectral-domain (SD) optical coherence tomography (OCT; Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering, Inc., Carlsbad, CA) in both eyes at 6-month intervals. Eyes were determined as progressing by conventional methods if there was progression on masked grading of optic disc stereophotographs or SAP Guided Progression Analysis (GPA; Carl Zeiss Meditec; "likely progression"). Rates of change in SD OCT average RNFL thickness were obtained using a linear mixed effects model. Rate of global loss was calculated using a random coefficient model and compared for nonprogressing patients, progressing eyes, and fellow eyes of unilateral progressing patients. Main Outcomes Measures Rate of change in global RNFL thickness. Results Thirty-nine subjects showed evidence of unilateral progression by GPA, disc photographs, or both during follow-up. Mean ± standard error rate of RNFL loss in eyes progressing by conventional methods was −0.89±0.22 μm/year ( P P P P Conclusions Loss of RNFL thickness was seen in a substantial number of contralateral eyes of glaucoma patients showing unilateral progression by conventional methods. These findings indicate that assessment of RNFL thickness by SD OCT may show progressive glaucomatous damage that is not detected by visual fields or optic disc stereophotography.