cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, properties, and structure of 1,3-dimethyl- 2(3H)-imidazolethione hydrogen bromide

The compound dmit·HBr (dmit=1,3-dimethyl-2(3H)-imidazolethione) has been synthesized and characterized. The crystal and molecular structure of dmit·HBr has also been determined. The compound, C5H9BrN2S, crystallizes in space groupP21/c with four formula units in a cell of dimensionsa= 7.331(1),b=7.744(2),c=14.626(4) A, andβ=99.56(2)°. The calculated and observed densities are 1.678 and 1.68(2) g cm−3, respectively. X-ray results along with physical characterization show this compound to be a molecular adduct of dmit and hydrogen bromide which is sensitive to air, light, and moisture. Specific conductivity (10−3 M in PhNO2), infrared, and1H-NMR data have also been obtained. X-ray results reveal intermolecular contracts between S and Br to be primarily van der Waals in nature. Molecular units are linked through long zigzag Br-S-Br-S chains.
Coverage Effects on the Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Vinyl Acetate: Comparison between Theory and Experiment

The high adsorbate coverages that form on the surfaces of many heterogeneous catalysts under steady-state conditions can significantly lower the activation energies for reactions that involve the coupling of two adsorbed intermediates while increasing those which result in adsorbate bond-breaking reactions. The influence of the surface coverage on the kinetics of metal-catalyzed reactions is often ignored in theoretical and even in some ultrahigh vacuum experimental studies. Herein, first principle density functional theoretical calculations are combined with experimental surface titration studies carried out over well-defined Pd(111) surfaces to explicitly examine the influence of coverage on the acetoxylation of ethylene to form vinyl acetate over Pd. The activation energies calculated for elementary steps in the Samanos and Moiseev pathways for vinyl acetate synthesis carried out on acetate-saturated palladium surfaces reveal that the reaction proceeds via the Samanos mechanism which is consistent with experimental results carried out on acetate-saturated Pd(111) surfaces. The rate-limiting step involves a β-hydride elimination from the adsorbed acetoxyethyl intermediate, which proceeds with an apparent calculated activation barrier of 53 kJ/mol which is in very good agreement with the experimental barrier of 55 ± 4 kJ/mol determined from kinetic measurements.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF QUENCH DATA TO STEADY-STATE POOL BOILING DATA

Abstract Experiments are described which establish that under certain conditions there are large differences between the boiling characteristics of quenched specimens and boiling data obtained from conventional steady-state experiments. The distorted boiling curves obtained when quenching can be attributed to elevation of the q ″ min condition in the case of Freon-113 and water, and lowering of the q ″ min condition in the case of nitrogen. The results have practical implications for metallurgical quenching processes and for heat-transfer studies which use the transient calorimeter approach.
The application of freezedry methods to plant material.

The freeze-dry method of preparing tissue for histological observation has been applied to a large variety of plant material with good results. This method involves freezing the tissue rapidly and dehydrating at a temperature below −30°C. under vacuum with a desiccant. The tissue, when dry, is infiltrated with paraffin under vacuum. The apparatus uses a liquid nitrogen-cooled condenser as the desiccant and the tissue is infiltrated with paraffin while in the original vacuum. Using root, stem, leaf, and reproductive tissue of common experimental species such as Vicia faba, Zea mays, Allium cepa, Lillium longiflorium, Pisum sativum and Phaseolus vulgaris, the effect of thickness on drying time was studied. It was found that there was greater difference between types of tissue than between species so that regardless of species, leaf tissue was easiest and root tips the most difficult to freeze and dry. Leaf segments required 1–2 days to dry while root material required 6 days or more. In all tissue except le...
Minimizing Caribbean Tsunami Risk

In the past 500 years, more than 75 tsunamis have been documented in the Caribbean and adjacent regions. Since 1842, 3446 people are reported to have perished to these killer waves. The tsunami generated by the 2010 Haiti earthquake claimed several lives, but the most recent devastating events were the 1946 tsunamis of the Dominican Republic, with at least 1800 victims (1). Since then, there has been an explosive increase in residents, visitors, infrastructure, and economic activity along Caribbean coastlines, increasing the potential for human and economic loss. On any day, more than 500,000 people could be in harm's way along the beaches (2), with hundreds of thousands more working and living in the tsunami hazard zones.... Language: en
Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins for Acute Coronary Syndromes

OBJECTIVETo review published literature regarding the use of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) for the acute coronary syndromes of unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction (MI).METHODS:A MEDLINE search (January 1986–August 1997) was performed to identify all pertinent articles. Selected references from these articles and abstracts of recent clinical trials were also included.DISCUSSION:LMWHs have several distinct advantages over standard unfractionated heparin (UFH). These advantages include convenient once- or twice-daily standardized administration without the need for activated partial thromboplastin time monitoring. While the use of LMWHs as prophylaxis and treatment of venous thromboembolism is fairly well-established, the use of LMWHs for treating acute myocardial ischemia is evolving. Published studies and abstracts have shown LMWHs to be as effective as or more effective than UFH in preventing death, myocardial infarction, and recurrent ischemia in patients with unstable angina or acute...
BOXes: efficient maintenance of order-based labeling for dynamic XML data

Order-based element labeling for tree-structured XML data is an important technique in XML processing. It lies at the core of many fundamental XML operations such as containment join and twig matching. While labeling for static XML documents is well understood, less is known about how to maintain accurate labeling for dynamic XML documents, when elements and subtrees are inserted and deleted. Most existing approaches do not work well for arbitrary update patterns; they either produce unacceptably long labels or incur enormous relabeling costs. We present two novel I/O-efficient data structures, W-BOX and B-BOX that efficiently maintain labeling for large, dynamic XML documents. We show analytically and experimentally that both, despite consuming minimal amounts of storage, gracefully handle arbitrary update patterns without sacrificing lookup efficiency. The two structures together provide a nice tradeoff between update and lookup costs: W-BOX has logarithmic amortized update cost and constant worst-case lookup cost, while B-BOX has constant amortized update cost and logarithmic worst-case lookup cost. We further propose techniques to eliminate the lookup cost for read-heavy workloads.
Prediction of 1-octanol-water and air-water partition coefficients for nitro-aromatic compounds from molecular dynamics simulations.

United-atom force fields, based on the Transferable Potentials for Phase Equilibria (TraPPE), are developed for twelve nitro-aromatic compounds, which include 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT), 3-nitrotoluene (3-NT), 4-nitrotoluene (4-NT), 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB), 1,4-dinitrobenzene (1,4-DNB), 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2-nitroanisole (2-NAN), 4-nitroanisole (4-NAN) and n-methyl-p-nitroaniline (MNA). 1-Octanol–water and air–water partition coefficients are predicted for the optimized TraPPE-UA force field with adaptive biasing force molecular dynamics simulations, and compared to available experimental data. Log Kow values are predicted with an average absolute deviation of 0.2 log units, while Henry's law constants are predicted to with an average absolute deviation of 0.5 log units. Two additional models are presented for energetic materials with five membered rings for which no experimental data are available in the open literature: 3,5-dinitropyrazole (DNP) and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-one (NTO). Investigation of the local microstructure around each solute reveals that 1-octanol is able to form hydrogen bonded chains around the solute, while little organized microstructure was observed around the solutes in water.
Ex vivo fludarabine exposure inhibits graft-versus-host activity of allogeneic T cells while preserving graft-versus-leukemia effects.

Abstract Allogeneic donor T cells in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) can contribute to beneficial graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects but can also cause detrimental graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). A successful method for the ex vivo treatment of donor T cells to limit their GVHD potential while retaining GVL activity would have broad clinical applications for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for malignant diseases. We hypothesized that donor lymphocyte infusions treated with fludarabine, an immunosuppressive nucleoside analog, would have reduced GVHD potential in a fully major histocompatibility complex-mismatched C57BL/6 → B10.BR mouse BMT model. Recipients of fludarabine-treated donor lymphocyte infusions (F-DLI) had significantly reduced GVHD mortality, reduced histopathologic evidence of GVHD, and lower inflammatory serum cytokine levels than recipients of untreated DLI. Combined comparisons of GVHD incidence and donor-derived hematopoietic chimerism indicated that F-DLI had a therapeutic index superior to that of untreated DLI. Furthermore, adoptive immunotherapy of lymphoblastic lymphoma using F-DLI in the C57BL/6 → B10.BR model demonstrated a broad therapeutic index with markedly reduced GVHD activity and preservation of GVL activity compared with untreated allogeneic T cells. Fludarabine exposure markedly reduced the CD4+CD44low-naive donor T-cell population within 48 hours of transplantation and altered the relative representation of cytokine-producing CD4+ T cells, consistent with T-helper type 2 polarization. However, proliferation of fludarabine-treated T cells in allogeneic recipient spleens was equivalent to that of untreated T cells. The results suggest that fludarabine reduces the GVHD potential of donor lymphocytes through effects on a CD4+CD44low T-cell population, with less effect on alloreactive T cells and CD4+CD44high memory T cells that are able to mediate GVL effects. Thus, F-DLI represents a novel method of immune modulation that may be useful to enhance immune reconstitution among allograft recipients with reduced risk of GVHD while retaining beneficial GVL effects.
DETERMINING NUTRIENT EXPORT COEFFICIENTS AND SOURCE LOADING UNCERTAINTY USING IN‐STREAM MONITORING DATA

ABSTRACT: Over a three-year period, flow and nutrients were monitored at 13 sites in the upper North Bosque River watershed in Texas. Drainage areas above sampling sites differed in percent of dairy waste application fields, forage fields, wood/range, and urban land area. A multiple regression approach was used to develop total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) export coefficients for the major land uses in these heterogeneous drainage areas. The largest export coefficients were associated with dairy waste application fields followed by urban, forage fields, and wood/range. An empirical model was then established to assess nutrient contribution by major sources using developed export coefficients and point source loadings from municipal wastewater treatment. This model was verified by comparison of estimated loadings to measured in-stream data. Monte Carlo simulation techniques were applied to provide an uncertainty analysis for nutrient loads by source, based on the variance associated with each export coefficient. The largest sources of nutrients contributing to the upper North Bosque River were associated with dairy waste application fields and forage fields, while the greatest relative uncertainty in source contribution was associated with loadings from urban and wood/range land uses.
Optimization algorithms for identification and genotyping of copy number polymorphisms in human populations

Recent studies show that copy number polymorphisms (CNPs), defined as genome segments that are polymorphic with regard to genomic copy number and segregate at greater than 1% frequency in the populations, are associated with various diseases. Since rare copy number variations (CNVs) and CNPs bear different characteristics, the problem of discovering CNPs presents opportunities beyond what is available to algorithms that are designed to identify rare CNVs. We present a method for identifying and genotyping common CNPs. The proposed method, POLYGON, produces copy number genotypes of the samples at each CNP and fine-tunes its boundaries by framing CNP identification and genotyping as an optimization problem with an explicitly formulated objective function. We apply POLYGON to data from hundreds of samples and demonstrate that it significantly improves the performance of existing single-sample CNV identification methods. We also demonstrate its superior performance as compared to two other CNP identification/genotyping methods.
The Communications Revolution and Health Inequalities in the 21st Century: Implications for Cancer Control

The radical and transformative developments in information and communication technologies (ICT) offer unprecedented opportunities to promote cancer control and enhance population and individual health. However, the current context in which these technologies are being deployed—where cancer incidence and mortality and communication are characterized by inequalities among different racial/ethnic and socioeconomic status groups—raises important questions for cancer communication research, policy, and practice. Drawing on illustrative data, this essay characterizes the communications revolution and elucidates its implications for cancer control, with a particular focus on communication inequalities and cancer disparities. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(10); 1701–8. ©2012 AACR .
Full 2-Port Calibrated S-Parameter Measurements up to 30 W of High-Temperature Superconducting Filters

We have configured, tested and qualified a high-power network analyzer that can deliver between 100 pW and 30 W to a DUT. This system can be readily switched between low-power and high-power levels, output power leveled and fully calibrated over its full power range. This calibrated instrument was used to measure the performance of high-power high-temperature superconducting (HTS) filters. The performance of these prototype filters measured at an operating power of 8 W was: 17 dB in-band return loss and >50 dB off-band rejection.
Biotech Eucalyptus can sustainably address society's need for wood: the example of freeze tolerant Eucalyptus in the southeastern U.S

Background Eucalyptus species are among the fastest growing woody plants in the world and represent about 8% of all planted forests (~18 million hectares) grown in 90 countries [1]. Only a limited number of species are grown commercially, and these have been the focus of extensive breeding to improve desirable wood properties such as basic density, cellulose content, fiber length and improved growth. Improved Eucalyptus varieties grown in managed plantations as a source of timber and pulpwood have provided socio-economic benefits for both small and large land owners. Eucalyptus also provides a cost-effective source of lignocelluloses for the production of energy and advanced biofuels. However, the large scale plantings of the most productive Eucalyptus species in the Southeast U.S. are currently limited to regions of central and southern Florida where no hard freezes occur in winter. Plantings of hardwood species to support the traditional forest industry in the Southeastern U.S. are infrequent due to slow growth rates and high plantation establishment and management costs. The biotech Freeze Tolerant Eucalyptus would provide an economically viable plantation hardwood for the Southeastern U.S.
Managing communication networks by monitoring databases

The problem of managing large communication networks using statistical tests, alerts, and correlation among alerts is considered. The authors propose a model of these network management functions as data-manipulation operations. They argue that this approach can improve the flexibility of network management systems by providing a language that is declarative and set-oriented. These are properties of existing data-manipulation languages and it is shown that any data-manipulation language, augmented with several new capabilities, can serve as a language for specifying the aforementioned network management functions. The new capabilities required are specification of events, correlation among events, and change-tracking. >
A Preliminary Study of Respiratory Variations in the Photoplethysmogram during Lower Body Negative Pressure

Previous studies have shown that the photoplethysmogram (PPG) may be a useful tool for the noninvasive detection of hypovolemia. The focus has been on determining if frequency analysis of the respiratory induced variations of the PPG can be used as an indicator of blood volume. In this preliminary study, we evaluate these frequency analysis techniques for two subjects undergoing lower body negative pressure (LBNP) induced hypovolemia. Using Matlabreg-based software the power of the respiratory component and heart rate component were calculated using the periodogram method for spectral estimation. Consistent with other studies our algorithms were able to automatically detect changes in the respiratory variations. We found a significant increase in the respiratory variations in the PPG during simulated hypovolemia. By taking the ratio of the respiratory power to the heart rate power we consistently detected hypovolemia in subjects corresponding to sequestration of approximately 2 liters of blood (LBNP >70 mm Hg). The increase in this ratio occurred before significant change in blood pressure or tachycardia were observed
Ectopic catalase expression in mitochondria by adeno-associated virus enhances exercise performance in mice.

Oxidative stress is thought to compromise muscle contractility. However, administration of generic antioxidants has failed to convincingly improve performance during exhaustive exercise. One possible explanation may relate to the inability of the supplemented antioxidants to effectively eliminate excessive free radicals at the site of generation. Here, we tested whether delivering catalase to the mitochondria, a site of free radical production in contracting muscle, could improve treadmill performance in C57Bl/6 mice. Recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype-9 (AV.RSV.MCAT) was generated to express a mitochondria-targeted catalase gene. AV.RSV.MCAT was delivered to newborn C57Bl/6 mouse circulation at the dose of 10 12 vector genome particles per mouse. Three months later, we observed a ,2 to 10-fold increase of catalase protein and activity in skeletal muscle and the heart. Subcellular fractionation western blot and double immunofluorescence staining confirmed ectopic catalase expression in the mitochondria. Compared with untreated control mice, absolute running distance and body weight normalized running distance were significantly improved in AV.RSV.MCAT infected mice during exhaustive treadmill running. Interestingly, ex vivo contractility of the extensor digitorum longus muscle was not altered. Taken together, we have demonstrated that forced catalase expression in the mitochondria enhances exercise performance. Our result provides a framework for further elucidating the underlying mechanism. It also raises the hope of applying similar strategies to remove excessive, pathogenic free radicals in certain muscle diseases (such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy) and ameliorate muscle disease.
Reduction in specimen labeling errors after implementation of a positive patient identification system in phlebotomy.

Ensuring accurate patient identification is central to preventing medical errors, but it can be challenging. We implemented a bar code–based positive patient identification system for use in inpatient phlebotomy. A before-after design was used to evaluate the impact of the identification system on the frequency of mislabeled and unlabeled samples reported in our laboratory. Labeling errors fell from 5.45 in 10,000 before implementation to 3.2 in 10,000 afterward ( P = .0013). An estimated 108 mislabeling events were prevented by the identification system in 1 year. Furthermore, a workflow step requiring manual preprinting of labels, which was accompanied by potential labeling errors in about one quarter of blood “draws,” was removed as a result of the new system. After implementation, a higher percentage of patients reported having their wristband checked before phlebotomy. Bar code technology significantly reduced the rate of specimen identification errors.
Leaching Tc-99 from SRP glass in simulated tuff and salt groundwaters

Results of leach tests with Tc-99 doped SRP borosilicate waste glass are presented. The glass was prepared by melting a mixture of SRP 165 powdered frit doped with a carrier free solution of Tc-99 at 1150{sup 0}C. Dissolution of portions of the resulting glass indicated that the Tc-99 was distributed homogeneously throughout the glass. Static leach tests up to 90 days were performed at 90{sup 0}C in J-13 tuff groundwater or WIPP brine A at a SA/V of 100m{sup -1}. Normalized mass losses were calculated for Tc-99 as well as all the major elements in the glass. Results indicated that under ambient oxidizing conditions Tc-99 leached no faster than the glass-forming elements of the glass. In J-13 water, Tc-99 leached congruently with B. In WIPP brine A, it leached congruently with Si. Leach rates for Li were higher in both groundwaters, probably due to a contribution from an ion exchange mechanism. Leach tests were performed under reducing conditions in J-13 water by adding Zn/Hg amalgam to the leachate. In these tests the pH increased significantly, probably because of the reaction of the amalgam with the water. In a 21-day test, the pH increased to 13 and leach rates for the glass were very high. Even though there was signifcant dissolution of the glass, the normalized mass loss based on Tc-99 was only 0.02g/m{sup 2}. This result and the fact that reducing conditions at normal pH values do not significantly affect the dissolution of the glass, indicate that the low concentrations for Tc-99 obtained under reducing conditions are due to is solubility and not due to an increased durability of the glass. 14 refs., 2 figs., 5 tabs.
Mexican American Health Issues for the 21st Century

This paper addresses some of the more important health issues affecting the Mexican American community in the 21st century. These health issues are the lack of access to affordable health care and health insurance, and the lack of health research on the Mexican American community.
A Suprasystem of Probability Distributions

A set of differential equations is described whose solutions represent a general system of probability distribution functions. Previously reported systems of such distribution functions are special cases of this general system. The differential equations can be used to represent distribution functions and generate their related statistics in cases for which no simple formula for the distribution is known. The generality of this suprasystem of distribution functions and its potential utility are discussed.
A Method for Accurate Design of a Broad-Band Multibranch Waveguide Coupler

A new approach is made to the problem of tapering the branch impedances for broad-band performance. A taper is proposed, which, for a 3-db branch coupler, is shown to give much better results in theory and practice than the currently used binomial taper. Also, simple expressions are developed which enable the effects of waveguide junction discontinuities to be adequately corrected, thus allowing a greater accuracy in design to be achieved than was hitherto possible.
Sequence of toxic events in arsine-induced hemolysis in vitro : Implications for the mechanism of toxicity in human erythrocytes

Arsine, the hydride of arsenic (AsH3), is the most acutely toxic form of arsenic, causing rapid and severe hemolysis upon exposure. The mechanism of action is not known, and there are few detailed investigations of the toxicity in a controlled system. To examine arsine hemolysis and understand the importance of various toxic responses, human erythrocytes were incubated with arsine in vitro, and markers of toxicity were determined as a function of time. The earliest indicators of damage were changes in sodium and potassium levels. Within 5 min incubation with 1 mm arsine, the cells lost volume control, manifested by leakage of potassium, influx of sodium, and increases in hematocrit. Arsine did not, however, significantly alter ATP levels nor inhibit ATPases. These changes were followed by profound disturbances in membrane ultrastructure (examined by light and electron microscopy). By 10 min, significant numbers of damaged cells formed, and their numbers increased over time. These events preceded hemolysis, which was not significant until 30 min. It has been proposed that arsine interacts with hemoglobin to form toxic hemoglobin oxidation products, and this was also investigated as a potential cause of hemolysis. Essentially on contact with arsine, methemoglobin was formed but only reached 2-3% of the total cellular hemoglobin and remained unchanged for up to 90 min. There was no evidence that further oxidation products (hemin and Heinz bodies) were formed in this system. Based on these observations, hemolysis appears to be dependent on membrane disruption by a mechanism other than hemoglobin oxidation.
Exploring the Role of Memory for Self-Selected Ad Experiences: Are Some Advertising Media Better Liked Than Others?

Advertising media are associated with different degrees of selfselected versus intrusive ad experiences. The role of such media differences in attitudes toward advertising was explored in a nationwide survey. The survey provides a national picture of attitudes toward specific ad media ranging from advertising media that deliver highly self-selected ad experiences (catalogs and business classifieds) to highly intrusive ones (TV). A total of 2,514 adults were surveyed regarding their opinions about ads in (1) TV, (2) radio, (3) catalogs, (4) business classifieds, (5) out-of-home, or (6) advertising in general. Media that allow for self-selected experiences, where perceived interest in an ad is the basis for attention to it, were evaluated much more favorably than more intrusive advertising media. Catalogs and business classifieds elicited the most favorable opinions; TV advertising elicited the least, and these media differences generally cut across demographic lines. Also, although more educated and affluent consumers generally held less favorable views of advertising, preliminary results suggested that this did not hold true for media that allow for self-selected processing. An additional study suggested that memory for advertisements plays a significant role in the evaluation of a self-selected ad medium (catalogs). That is, consumers’ strongest
Objective job conditions, social support and perceived stress among blue collar workers†

The hypothesis that perceived supportive relations mediate the association between extra-individual (objective) job conditions and perceptions of occupational stress is tested in a population of blue collar workers. Responses to a mailed questionnaire (N = 1830) include measures of social support from four sources (supervisor, coworkers, spouse, friends/relatives) and measures of perceived stress (five job pressures and four need deprivations). In addition, company records and expert ratings by company, union and study personnel provide measures of objective job conditions which are commensurate with the subjective reports. Associations between objective job conditions and perceived stress are significant but modest in size. Controls for age, education, exposure to noxious agents and physical effort on the job do not alter associations between objective conditions and perceived stress. For five of the nine indicators of perceived stress, social support and objective conditions interact in determining perceptions. This is interpreted as a buffering effect in which social support provides a context that significantly alters perceptions of job conditions. The effect of supervisor support is especially important in regard to buffering. It is suggested that research on the quality of work should be especially aware of the conditional nature of the relationship between objective job conditions and perceptions.
Poppaea Sabina, Jewish Sympathies, and the Fire of Rome

The first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, mentioned Nero’s wife, Poppaea Sabina, in two stories in which she supported the integrity and sacredness of the Jewish Temple, and was also involved with the release of imprisoned Jewish priests. She is described as “ theosebes ” (“a worshipper of God”). Josephus’ use of theosebes has sparked debate over the last few centuries and has led to a variety of interpretations about Poppaea’s connection to Judaism. This paper argues that by examining the actions of Poppaea through the lens of “eclectic religiosity,” much can be learned about her motivations in helping the Jewish people, as well as her possible involvement in protecting the Jewish population in Rome from persecution following the Great Fire of 64 CE.
Activation of RNase L by murine coronavirus in myeloid cells is dependent on basal Oas gene expression and independent of virus-induced interferon

ABSTRACT The oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS)-RNase L pathway is a potent interferon (IFN)-induced antiviral activity. Upon sensing double-stranded RNA, OAS produces 2′,5′-oligoadenylates (2-5A), which activate RNase L. Murine coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus [MHV]) nonstructural protein 2 (ns2) is a 2′,5′-phosphodiesterase (PDE) that cleaves 2-5A, thereby antagonizing RNase L activation. PDE activity is required for robust replication in myeloid cells, as a mutant of MHV (ns2 H126R ) encoding an inactive PDE fails to antagonize RNase L activation and replicates poorly in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM), while ns2 H126R replicates to high titer in several types of nonmyeloid cells, as well as in IFN receptor-deficient ( Ifnar1 −/− ) BMM. We reported previously that myeloid cells express significantly higher basal levels of OAS transcripts than nonmyeloid cells. Here, we investigated the contributions of Oas gene expression, basal IFN signaling, and virus-induced IFN to RNase L activation. Infection with ns2 H126R activated RNase L in Ifih1 −/− BMM to a similar extent as in wild-type (WT) BMM, despite the lack of IFN induction in the absence of MDA5 expression. However, ns2 H126R failed to induce RNase L activation in BMM treated with IFNAR1-blocking antibody, as well as in Ifnar1 −/− BMM, both expressing low basal levels of Oas genes. Thus, activation of RNase L does not require virus-induced IFN but rather correlates with adequate levels of basal Oas gene expression, maintained by basal IFN signaling. Finally, overexpression of RNase L is not sufficient to compensate for inadequate basal OAS levels. IMPORTANCE The oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS)-RNase L pathway is a potent antiviral activity. Activation of RNase L during murine coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus [MHV]) infection of myeloid cells correlates with high basal Oas gene expression and is independent of virus-induced interferon secretion. Thus, our data suggest that cells with high basal Oas gene expression levels can activate RNase L and thereby inhibit virus replication early in infection upon exposure to viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) before the induction of interferon and prior to transcription of interferon-stimulated antiviral genes. These findings challenge the notion that activation of the OAS-RNase L pathway requires virus to induce type I IFN, which in turn upregulates OAS gene expression, as well as to provide dsRNA to activate OAS. Our data further suggest that myeloid cells may serve as sentinels to restrict viral replication, thus protecting other cell types from infection.
Gene Targeting and Homologous Recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast cells are particularly efficient at homologous recombination and therefore many initial successes with gene targeting occurred early on in this model system. Here we describe some of the history leading up to those developments along with several recent advances in gene replacement and targeting technology. In the last half of this chapter, we describe many of the steps that occur during homologous recombination in mitotic yeast cells. It is noteworthy that yeast still serves as an excellent system to test integration of exogenous DNA molecules.
Degree of starchy endosperm separation from bran as a milling quality trait of wheat grain

Abstract Easy and clean separation of starchy endosperm from bran during milling could have a significant contribution to the increased flour yield. Starch content and DMSO extractable content of bran were determined as the estimates for remnant endosperm content of bran for 61 and 100 soft red winter (SRW) wheat genotypes grown in 2013 and 2014, respectively. DMSO extractable content was found to be more reliable in the estimation of remnant endosperm content of bran than was starch content with better reproducibility. Flour yields of the 2013 and 2014 SRW wheat varieties tested ranged from 65.1 to 72.4% (w/w), and 63.6–73.9% (w/w), respectively. The remnant endosperm content of bran estimated using the DMSO extractable content ranged from 33.9 to 43.6% (w/w) and 35.4–47.4% (w/w) for the 2013 and 2014 crops, respectively. The remnant endosperm content was significantly related to flour yield with a correlation coefficient of r = −0.54 (P
The risks of exercise: a public health view of injuries and hazards

Relatively little is known about the incidence of the risks facing those who exercise regularly. Clinical reports suggest a variety of musculoskeletal ailments, and several pathophysiologic conditions may result from the various aerobic activities most likely to be pursued by large parts of the U.S. population. But adequate epidemiologic data are scarce. Careful epidemiologic studies are needed to develop incidence information. Language: en
The effect of physical embodiment of an animal robot on affective prosody recognition

Difficulty understanding or expressing affective prosody is a critical issue for people with autism. This study was initiated with a question, how to improve emotional communications of children with autism with technological aids. Researchers have encouraged the use of robots as new intervention tools for children with autism, but there was no study to empirically evaluate a robot compared to a traditional computer in the interventions. From these backgrounds, this study investigated the potentials of an animal robot for affective prosody recognition compared to a traditional PC simulator. For this pilot study, however, only neurotypical students participated. Participants recognized Ekman's basic emotions from both a dinosaur Robot, "Pleo" and a virtual simulator of the Pleo. The physical Pleo showed more promising recognition tendencies and was clearly favored over the virtual one. With this promising result, we may be able to leverage the other advantages of the robot in interventions for children with autism.
Optimization of Technology Development Portfolios

Technology development involves research and development activities aimed to design, test and improve a technology and/or the process of building the technology. Technology development is often an essential part of the operational strategy, during which deployment or implementation decisions are made. In most cases, companies or agencies have several candidate technologies that they can decide to invest and develop. Each of these technologies requires an uncertain amount of investment, and also has probabilistic returns. Given these uncertainties and resource limitations, the objective of the technology portfolio optimization problem is to determine an investment schedule for a fixed planning period such that the expected total return of the invested technologies over an infinite time horizon is maximized. Depending on the application, the set of candidate technologies may also have additional attributes. The technology portfolio management problem is a large scale stochastic optimization model, which is not amenable to any specific method. In this study, we develop a multistage stochastic programming model, which differs from classical stochastic programming models since the times of realizations in the scenario tree are dependent on the decisions made. An efficient solution procedure is developed and presented along with computational results.
Gender and Non-Western “Global” IR: Where Are the Women in Chinese International Relations Theory?

Recent interest in Global international relations (IR) theory has prompted efforts to give voice to non-Western approaches to international politics, accentuating how cultures and their specific local problems contribute to distinct scholarly practices, and how this in turn challenges the hegemony of taken-for-granted, “universalized” Anglo-American IR theory. Encouraged by the overtures of Western academics, Chinese scholars have begun to articulate the role of “traditional” mindsets in Chinese thinking about world politics, proposing avenues toward the development of an IR theory “with Chinese characteristics.” Although these efforts are a laudable attempt to break through ethnocentrism, broaden the relevance of IR theory, and legitimate non-Western knowledge, we argue that the fact that gender seems to be entirely absent from the China-centered portion of this collaborative “West/non-West” project results in a partial and problematic approach: It fails to engage Chinese feminist theorizing by relying upon unexamined gendered concepts. This article uses the results of a series of interviews with mainland scholars to spotlight the challenges faced by existing Chinese IR feminists whose work is overlooked in mainstream Chinese IR’s holistic, Confucian approach to international society. We suggest ways gender sensitivity might inform debates about “Chinese IR” and how to improve Western efforts to engage non-Western IR more broadly.
Finding Eigenvalues for Matrices Acting on Subspaces

Consider the eigenvalue problem QAQ~x = λ~x, where A is an n×n matrix and Q is projection matrix onto a subspace S⊥ of dimension n−k. In this paper we construct a meromorphic function whose zeros correspond to the (generically) n−k nonzero eigenvalues of QAQ. The construction of this function requires only that we know A and a basis for S, the orthogonal complement of S⊥. The formulation of the function is assisted through the use of the Frobenius inner product; furthermore, this inner product allows us to directly compute the eigenvalue when k = 1 and n = 2. When n = 3 and k = 1 we carefully study four canonical cases, as well as one more general case.
Study on Unified Time-space Method of Calculating Stratum Deformation with Changing Tunnel Excavation Parameters

At present the time effect is not considered in calculation of stratum deformation caused by tunnel excavation and changing of tunnel excavation parameters is even more difficult to be considered in such calculation.In this paper,on the basis of the stochastic medium theory and in view of stratum settlement caused by element excavation and time-space development of upper stratum deformation,the unified stratum deformation calculating equation is deduced,which takes into account changing of construction parameters such as the tunnel excavation speeds,geological conditions and stratum losses.A numerical example shows that the deduced calculating method is of good reliability.The time-space rules of stratum deformation are discussed.When the construction parameters and geological conditions are changed,there will occur permanent longitudinal deformation at stratum interfaces.
Heme regulation of cytochrome oxidase synthesis in fetal rat liver.

The role of heme in regulation of the synthesis of cytochrome oxidase, a mitochondrial hemoprotein, was studied in fetal rat liver. A functional association between heme levels and the synthesis of cytochrome oxidase in vivo is suggested by the rapid decline in the rate of incorporation of [3H]δ-aminolevulinic acid and, subsequently, [14C]leucine into cytochrome oxidase following selective inhibition of heme biosynthesis with CoCl2. Both the functional activity and the rate of [14C]leucine incorporation into fetal cytochrome oxidase are stimulated when heme is administered 30 min after CoCl2 is given. In contrast, heme does not stimulate [14C]leucine incorporation or enhance the functional activity of cytochrome oxidase following selective inhibition of cytoribosomal protein synthesis with cycloheximide. Thus it is suggested that heme stimulates the synthesis of apocytochrome oxidase de novo and mediates the formation of the functional cytochrome in fetal rat liver.
Composition of the human placenta: II. Lipid content

Abstract The total lipid (phospholipid [cephalin, lecithin and sphingomyelin] free and combined cholesterol, cerebrosides and neutral fat) distribution in nine human placentas is reported. No great individual variations in the lipid pattern were noted. Of the total lipid, one-fourth was neutral fat. Phospholipid comprised three-quarters of the essential lipid (total lipid minus neutral fat); and of the phospholipid content, one-half was lecithin, one-third was cephalin, and 14 per cent was sphingomyelin. The total lipid averaged 12.36 per cent of the dry weight, of which 3.51 per cent was neutral fat and 8.85 per cent was essential lipid. Of the dry weight, 0.53 per cent was cerebrosides, 0.99 per cent was free cholesterol, 0.54 per cent was cholesterol esters, and 6.79 per cent was phospholipid. Cephalin averaged 2.26 per cent of the dry weight of the placentas, lecithin was 3.55 per cent, and sphingomyelin was 0.98 per cent.
Thoracotomy through the triangle of auscultation

聴診三角アプローチによる開胸法では胸壁筋肉を切離せず骨性胸郭に達し, 筋肉組織を切離しない開胸手術が可能である.1987年8月～1990年8月の間に自然気胸27例, 巨大ブラ7例, 肺癌3例, 肺癌疑い2例, 開胸肺生検4例の43例 (年齢15～77歳, 平均41.1歳) に対して本法による開胸手術を施行し, その成績を検討した.胸膜癒着を自然気胸の11例, 巨大ブラの3例, 開胸肺生検の2例に認めたが, 1例を除き全例所期の目的が達成できた.また, 腋窩開胸法との開胸法別成績比較を若年者自然気胸手術例で行った.本法例 (n=15) は術直後から術側上肢の挙上が可能であり, 腋窩法例 (n=22) は挙上困難を示した.術後1ヵ月後の% FVCは腋窩法例で73.5±8.1%に対し本法例のそれは85.2±12.8%で手術侵襲による呼吸障害度はより少なかった.自然気胸, 巨大ブラ, 開胸肺生検や肺癌疑いの診断確定目的, 部切が適応となる末梢小型肺癌例では本法は侵襲の少ない開胸法として評価できると考えられた.
KLF4 Regulates Self-Renewal of Leukemic Stem Cells in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia By Repressing Gbl Expression and Altering mTORC2 Activity

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the standard treatment for eradicating BCR-ABL-positive progenitor cells in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); however, disease often relapses upon drug discontinuation because TKIs do not effectively eliminate leukemic stem cells (LSC). The development of novel strategies aimed at eradicating LSC without harming normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) is essential for the cure of CML patients. The generation of LSC-directed therapy relies on the identification of novel molecular pathways that selectively regulate LSC function independent of BCR-ABL. The Kruppel-like factor 4(KLF4) is a transcription factor that can either activate or repress gene transcription acting as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor depending on the cellular context. Analysis of a published dataset from chronic phase CML patients revealed elevated levels of KLF4 in LSC compared to progenitor cells indicating that KLF4 is likely implicated in LSC regulation. To study the role of KLF4 in LSC function, we used a CML mouse model combining somatic deletion of the Klf4 gene and retroviral transduction and transplantation of HSC. In contrast to mice receiving BCR-ABL-transduced Klf4 fl/fl HSC that developed and succumbed to CML, mice transplanted with BCR-ABL-transduced Klf4 Δ/Δ ( Klf4 fl/fl Vav-iCre + ) HSC showed a progressive loss of leukemia despite an initial expansion of myeloid leukemic cells, which led to increased overall survival. This inability to sustain CML in the absence of KLF4 was caused by attrition of LSC in bone marrow and the spleen. Furthermore, deletion of KLF4 impaired the ability of LSC to recapitulate leukemia in secondary recipients suggesting a loss of self-renewal capacity. In contrast to LSC, KLF4 deletion led to increased self-renewal of normal HSC assessed by serial competitive transplantation. To identify KLF4 target genes involved in LSC self-renewal, we performed a global gene expression analysis using Klf4 Δ/ Δ LSC purified by cell sorting from leukemic mice. Analysis of gene expression in Klf4 Δ/Δ LSC revealed significant upregulation of GβL, a component of mTOR complexes. Finally, we identified that KLF4 binds to GβL promoter by Chip-Seq analysis and that silencing resulted in inhibition of mTORC2 but not mTORC1 activity in 32D-BCR-ABL-positive CML cells. Our findings suggest that KLF4 transcriptionally represses GβL expression in LSC and that mTORC2 inhibition has the potential to completely eradicate LSC and induce treatment-free remission. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.