cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Enterococcus raffinosus with Enterococcus avium on the basis of penicillin susceptibility, penicillin-binding protein analysis, and high-level aminoglycoside resistance.

We reidentified our laboratories' collections of 57 enterococcal isolates previously classified as Enterococcus avium by the API Rapid Strep identification system (Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.) with the identification criteria recommended by Facklam and Collins (R. R. Facklam and M. D. Collins, J. Clin. Microbiol. 27: 731-734, 1989). Thirty isolates were identified as true E. avium, 25 isolates were identified as E. raffinosus, and 2 isolates were identified as E. pseudoavium. E. raffinosus could be differentiated from E. avium on the basis of penicillin susceptibility, as follows: MIC for 50% of E. raffinosus isolates tested (MIC50), 32 micrograms/ml; MIC90, 64 micrograms/ml (range, 4 to 64 micrograms/ml); E. avium MIC50, 1 microgram/ml; MIC90, 2 micrograms/ml (range, 0.5 to 2 micrograms/ml). No strains produced detectable beta-lactamase. Penicillin-binding protein (PBP) analysis of all E. raffinosus isolates demonstrated the unique pattern reported previously (M. D. Collins, R. R. Facklam, J. A. E. Farrow, and R. Williamson, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 57:283-288, 1989); however, a number of newly identified PBPs were noted. Of 25 isolates, 13 had an additional PBP of 77 kDa (designated PBP 6*), while all isolates possessed a 52-kDa PBP (PBP 7) and a 46-kDa PBP (PBP 8). The presence or absence of PBP 6* did not correlate with penicillin susceptibility; however, PBP 7 demonstrated many features suggestive of low penicillin-binding affinity and may represent a possible mechanism for the relative resistance of this species to penicillin, although this hypothesis remains speculative since attempts to develop a penicillin-hypersusceptible E. raffinosus mutant were unsuccessful. E. raffinosus isolates were significantly more likely to exhibit high-level resistance to kanamycin than E. avium strains were (P < 0.001; chi-square); however, no strains demonstrated high-level resistance to gentamicin. No trend toward increasing penicillin resistance was noted among this collection of E. avium and E. raffinosus isolates collected over the past 35 and 14 years, respectively. Relative resistance to penicillin may be a helpful differentiating feature between E. avium and E. raffinosus when assessment of raffinose metabolism is not possible or is indeterminant.
Only a portion of the small seatbelt loop in human choriogonadotropin appears capable of contacting the lutropin receptor.

Abstract Twenty residues of the human choriogonadotropin (hCG) β-subunit that are wrapped around α-subunit loop 2 like a “seatbelt” stabilize the heterodimer and enable the hormone to distinguish lutropin (LHR), follitropin, and thyrotropin receptors. The N-terminal portion of the seatbelt contains a small disulfide-stabilized loop needed for heterodimer assembly and is thought to mediate hCG-LHR interactions. To test the latter notion, we compared the LHR binding and signal transduction activities of hCG analogs in which the α-subunit C terminus (αCT) was cross-linked to residues in the small seatbelt loop. Analogs having an intersubunit disulfide between a cysteine in place of αCT residue αSer-92 and cysteines substituted for loop residues βArg-94, βArg-95, or βSer-96 had high activities in LHR binding and signaling assays despite the fact that both portions of the hormone are thought to be essential for hCG activity. Use of a larger probe blocked hormone activity when the αCT was cross-linked to cysteines in place of residues βArg-95 and βAsp-99, but not to cysteines in place of residues βArg-94, βSer-96, or βThr-97. This suggested that the side chains of residues βArg-95 and βAsp-99, which face in the same outward direction from the heterodimer, are nearer than the others to the LHR interface. The finding that residue 95 can be cross-linked to small αCT probes without eliminating hormone activity indicates its side chain does not participate in essential LHR contacts. We suggest that contacts between the small seatbelt loop and the LHR, if any, involve its backbone atoms and possibly the side chain of residue βAsp-99.
NMR images of solids

Abstract A way of obtaining two-dimensional NMR images of solids using multiple-pulse line narrowing is demonstrated. The method is adaptable to any fast recovery solid-state spectrometer having 2D FT NMR software and provisions for applying magnetic gradients. The use of molecular mobility as an NMR image contrast mechanism is demonstrated.
SPC10-4: EM Algorithm for Multiple Wideband Source Localization

A computationally efficient algorithm for multiple source localization, using the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm, for the wideband sources in the near field of a sensor array/area, is presented. The basic idea is to decompose the observed sensor data, which is a superimposition of multiple sources, into individual components in the frequency domain and then estimate the corresponding location parameters associated with each component separately. Instead of the conventional alternating projection method, we propose to adopt the EM algorithm in this paper; our method involves two steps, namely Expectation (E-step) and Maximization (M-step). In the E-step, the individual incident source waveforms are estimated. Then, in the M-step, the maximum likelihood estimates of the source location parameters are obtained. These two steps are executed iteratively and alternatively until the pre-defined convergence is reached. The computational complexity comparison between our proposed EM algorithm and the existing alternating projection scheme is investigated. It is shown through Monte Carlo simulations that the computational complexity of the proposed EM algorithm is significantly lower than that of the conventional alternating projection algorithm.
Magmatic evolution of impact-induced Martian mantle plumes and the origin of Tharsis

[1] Tharsis province is a major center of Martian volcanic activity characterized by large gravity and topography anomalies. The origin of Tharsis is debated. One hypothesis is that the province was produced by melting associated with a mantle plume from the coremantle boundary. An alternative hypothesis is that Tharsis formed by a plume associated with an impact. Recent studies have shown that this hypothesis is plausible from a geodynamical point of view and that long-lived impact plumes might play a role in areoid evolution. In this study, the magmatic evolution of impact-induced thermochemical mantle plumes is investigated with fully three-dimensional spherical shell simulations of mantle convection. Melt volumes and emplacement rates predicted by the model can satisfy observational constraints on Tharsis development. INDEX TERMS: 6225 Planetology: Solar System Objects: Mars; 5430 Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Interiors (8147); 5455 Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Origin and evolution; 8121 Tectonophysics: Dynamics, convection currents and mantle plumes; KEYWORDS: impact plumes, mantle dynamics, Mars
On the structure of a Taylor column driven by a buoyant parcel in an unbounded rotating fluid

The velocity and pressure fields produced in a homogeneous rapidly rotating fluid driven by an isolated buoyant parcel are investigated. Gravity and rotation are allowed to have arbitrary orientations and the parcel shape is assumed Gaussian. Inertial forces and time-dependent effects are ignored. The linear problem is easily solved by three-dimensional Fourier transform, and the inversion is facilitated by assuming the Ekman number, E, to be very small. In this limit the fields form a Taylor column extended in the direction of the rotation axis. In the absence of rigid boundaries no boundary layers occur. The velocity and pressure in the vicinity of the parcel are found in closed form while elsewhere (within the Taylor column) they are expressed in terms of relatively simple scalar integrals which are easily evaluated. Within the buoyant parcel, the momentum balance is baroclinic, involving Coriolis, pressure and buoyancy forces. Outside the parcel, the balance is geostrophic at unit order. The viscous force is important at order E and determines the axial structure of the Taylor column. In contrast to the case of flow driven by a rigid body, no Taylor slug' of recirculating flow occurs. The velocity and pressure decay algebraically with distance from the parcel, with the scale of variation being a/E in the axial direction and a in the radial direction, where a is the parcel radius. In the vicinity of the parcel, the return flow occurs in a broad region surrounding the parcel. The structure of flow in the vicinity of the parcel is independent of the Ekman number. This return flow sweeps the fringes of the parcel backward, making the net rise speed significantly slower than that of a rigid sphere of identical buoyancy. The return flow also acts to deform the parcel; this deformation is quantified.
Census-based socioeconomic indicators for monitoring injury causes in the USA: a review

Background Unlike the UK or New Zealand, there is no standard set of census variables in the USA for characterising socioeconomic (SES, socioeconomic status) inequalities in health outcomes, including injury. We systematically reviewed existing US studies to identify conceptual and methodological strengths and limitations of current approaches to determine those most suitable for research and surveillance. Methods We searched seven electronic databases to identify census variables proposed in the peer-reviewed literature to monitor injury risk. Inclusion criteria were that numerator data were derived from hospital, trauma or vital statistics registries and that exposure variables included census SES constructs. Results From 33 eligible studies, we identified 70 different census constructs for monitoring injury risk. Of these, fewer than half were replicated by other studies or against other causes, making the majority of studies non-comparable. When evaluated for a statistically significant relationship with a cause of injury, 74% of all constructs were predictive of injury risk when assessed in pairwise comparisons, whereas 98% of all constructs were significant when aggregated into composite indices. Fewer than 30% of studies selected SES constructs based on known associations with injury risk. Conclusions There is heterogeneity in the conceptual and methodological approaches for using census data for monitoring injury risk as well as in the recommendations as to how these constructs can be used for injury prevention. We recommend four priority areas for research to facilitate a more unified approach towards use of the census for monitoring socioeconomic inequalities in injury risk.
Abstract 454: An XX Sex Chromosome Complement, in the Presence of Testosterone, Markedly Promotes Angiotensin II-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Hypercholesterolemic Male Mice

Objective: Male sex is a strong risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Similarly, angiotensin II (AngII)-induced AAAs exhibit a 4-fold higher prevalence in male compared to female hypercholesterolemic mice, which is abolished by removal of testosterone. We recently demonstrated that acute administration of testosterone to neonatal female mice markedly promoted their adult susceptibility to AngII-induced AAAs in the absence of a requirement for adult testosterone. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that testosterone acts through the sex chromosome complement (SCC) to promote AngII-induced AAAs. Methods and Results: Male transgenic mice with deletion of Sry from the Y-chromosome expressing Sry on autosomes (8-12 weeks of age) were bred to female Ldlr-/- mice to generate male mice with an XY or an XX SCC. Mice were fed a western diet and segregated into sham and orchiectomized (ORC) groups. Two weeks later, mice were implanted with osmotic micropumps to infuse AngII (1,000 ng/kg/min) for 28 days. Internal abdominal aortic lumen diameters were significantly larger in sham XX versus XY male mice at day 27 (XX, 1.77 ± 0.08; XY, 1.59 ± 0.05, p= 0.019). Castration decreased internal aortic lumen diameters in both genotypes, eliminating group differences (p=0.389). AAA external diameters were significantly increased in sham XX versus XY males (XX, 2.12 ± 0.17; XY, 1.55 ± 0.12, p=0.004), and this effect was abolished by castration. The presence of an additional X chromosome increased AAA incidence from 75% to 95% (p=0.136) and rupture rate from 11% to 30% (p=0.238). In contrast, an XY SCC promoted AngII-induced atherosclerosis (ORC: XY, 32.1 ± 6.5%; XX, 14.9 ± 1.6%, p=0.02), and this effect was reversed by castration (sham, XY: 19.4 ± 4.2, p=0.036). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that testosterone acts at an XX SCC to markedly promote the severity of AngII-induced AAAs in male mice. In contrast, testosterone acts at an XY SCC to protect against AngII-induced atherosclerosis in male mice. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that complex interactions between sex hormones and sex chromosomes diversely influence vascular diseases promoted by AngII.
The Effects of Tempol on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Micturition Reflexes

We hypothesized that cyclophosphamide- (CYP-) induced cystitis results in oxidative stress and contributes to urinary bladder dysfunction. We determined (1) the expression of oxidative stress markers 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS), inflammatory modulators, neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (Sub P), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that contribute to the inflammatory process in the urinary tract and (2) the functional role of oxidative stress in urinary bladder dysfunction with an antioxidant, Tempol, (1 mM in drinking water) combined with conscious cystometry. In CYP-treated (4 hr or 48 hr; 150 mg/kg, i.p.) rats, ROS/RNS and 3-NT significantly (P ≤ 0.01) increased in urinary bladder. CYP treatment increased ATP, Sub P, and CGRP expression in the urinary bladder and cystometric fluid. In CYP-treated rats, Tempol significantly (P ≤ 0.01) increased bladder capacity and reduced voiding frequency compared to CYP-treated rats without Tempol. Tempol significantly (P ≤ 0.01) reduced ATP expression, 3-NT, and ROS/RNS expression in the urinary tract of CYP-treated rats. These studies demonstrate that reducing oxidative stress in CYP-induced cystitis improves urinary bladder function and reduces markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.
A strain-variable bacteriocin in Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus with repeated Cys-Xaa-Xaa motifs

Bacteriocins are peptide antibiotics from ribosomally translated precursors, produced by bacteria often through extensive post-translational modification. Minimal sequence conservation, short gene lengths, and low complexity sequence can hinder bacteriocin identification, even during gene calling, so they are often discovered by proximity to accessory genes encoding maturation, immunity, and export functions. This work reports a new subfamily of putative thiazole-containing heterocyclic bacteriocins. It appears universal in all strains of Bacillus anthracis and B. cereus, but has gone unrecognized because it is always encoded far from its maturation protein operon. Patterns of insertions and deletions among twenty-four variants suggest a repeating functional unit of Cys-Xaa-Xaa.
Coronary artery stenting for acute closure complicating primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

We report a case of progressive right coronary artery dissection complicating direct angioplasty for an acute inferior myocardial infarct, with successful bail-out stenting of the affected vessel.
A model liquid crystalline system based on rodlike viruses with variable chirality and persistence length

We compare the phase behavior of a mutant filamentous virus, fd Y21M, to that of a conventional fd wild-type (wt). We find significantly different macroscopic phase behavior despite the only microscopic difference between the two viruses being in a single amino acid of the major coat protein pVIII. Compared to fd wt, the location of the isotropic–cholesteric phase transition for fd Y21M shifts to lower densities. This is attributable to a significant difference in the flexibility of the two viruses. The persistence length of fd wt is 2.8 ± 0.7 µm, whereas the persistence length of fd Y21M is 9.9 ± 1.6 µm. The large persistence length of fd Y21M makes it an essentially rigid rod, thus allowing for the first time a quantitative test of the Onsager theory for the isotropic–nematic phase transition. Even more striking, is the difference in the chiral phase behavior of the two viruses. Both viruses form cholesteric phases, with the fd wt forming a left-handed cholesteric helix, and the fd Y21M forming a right-handed one. At a given density, the magnitude of the cholesteric pitch between the two systems is different by fivefold. Using mixtures of the two viruses, we create a liquid crystalline system with a tunable control over its macroscopic chirality.
Validation of the reflux symptom questionnaire

Purpose: To prospectively validate the Reflux Symptom Questionnaire (RSQ) developed by Locke, et al. (Mayo Clin Proc 1994; 69: 539|[ndash]|547).
Optimizing protocol interaction using response surface methodology

Abstract-Response surface methodology (RSM) is a collection of statistical design and numerical optimization techniques traditionally used to optimize industrial processes. In this paper, we demonstrate that the methodology can be successfully applied to the domain of networking. Specifically, we obtain increased throughput with a significant decrease in delay in a ns-2 simulation model of a mobile ad hoc network (MANET) by using RSM to optimize protocol interaction found by factor screening. Whether the experimentation is with a stochastic simulation model or a physical system, such as a MANET or a wireless sensor network test-bed, RSM provides a general and practical methodology to screen factors and robustly and jointly optimize responses.
Single feature polymorphism detection using recombinant inbred line microarray expression data

Motivation: The Affymetrix GeneChip® microarray is currently providing a high-density and economical platform for discovery of genetic polymorphisms. Microarray data for single feature polymorphism (SFP) detection in recombinant inbred lines (RILs) can capitalize on the high level of replication available for each locus in the RIL population. It was suggested that the binding affinities from all of the RILs would form a multimodal distribution for a SFP. This motivated us to estimate the binding affinities from the robust multi-array analysis (RMA) method and formulate the SFP detection problem as a hypothesis testing problem, i.e. testing whether the underlying distribution of the estimated binding affinity (EBA) values of a probe is unimodal or multimodal. Results: We developed a bootstrap-based hypothesis testing procedure using the ‘dip’ statistic. Our simulation studies show that the proposed procedure can reach satisfactory detection power with false discovery rate controlled at a desired level and is robust to the unimodal distribution assumption, which facilitates wide application of the proposed procedure. Our analysis of the real data identified more than four times the SFPs compared to the previous studies, covering 96% of their findings. The constructed genetic map using the SFP markers predicted from our procedure shows over 99% concordance of the genetic orders of these markers with their known physical locations on the genome sequence. Availability: The R package ‘dipSFP’ can be downloaded from http://sites.google.com/a/bioinformatics.ucr.edu/xinping-cui/home/software Contact: xinping.cui@ucr.edu Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The biobehavioral Women’s Health CoOp in Pretoria, South Africa: study protocol for a cluster-randomized design

South Africa has 6.4 million adults over the age of 15 living with HIV. Gender inequality issues continue to drive the HIV epidemic in South Africa, where Black African women bear the greatest HIV burden. Limited access to services; little capacity to negotiate sex and condom use; and other legal, social, and economic inequities make women highly vulnerable to HIV infection. Behavioral interventions have been shown to decrease risk behaviors, but they have been less successful in reducing HIV incidence. Conversely, biomedical prevention strategies have proven to be successful in reducing HIV incidence, but require behavioral interventions to increase uptake and adherence. Consequently, there is a need for integrated approaches that combine biomedical and behavioral interventions. Effective combination prevention efforts should comprise biomedical, behavioral, and structural programming proven in randomized trials that focuses on the driving forces and key populations at higher risk of HIV infection and transmission. This prospective, geographically clustered randomized field experiment is enrolling participants into two arms: a control arm that receives standard HIV testing and referral for treatment; and an intervention arm that receives an evidence-based, woman-focused behavioral intervention that emphasizes risk reduction and retention, the Women’s Health CoOp. We divided the city of Pretoria into 14 mutually exclusive geographic zones and randomized these zones into either the control arm or the intervention arm. Outreach workers are recruiting drug-using women from each zone. At baseline, eligible participants complete a questionnaire and biological testing for HIV, recent drug use, and pregnancy. Follow-up interviews are completed at 6 and 12 months. The biobehavioral intervention in this study merges an efficacious behavioral HIV prevention intervention for women with biomedical prevention through HIV treatment as prevention using a Seek, Test, Treat and Retain strategy. This combination biobehavioral intervention is designed to (1) improve the quality of life and reduce HIV infectiousness among women who are HIV positive, and (2) reduce HIV risk behaviors among women regardless of their HIV status. If efficacious, this intervention could help control the HIV epidemic in South Africa. Trial registration no: NCT01497405 .
Age-related differences in body segmental movement during perturbed stance in humans

Objective. The temporal and spatial features of body segmental movements of the head, trunk, thigh, shank and foot in response to a fast speed postural disturbance were compared among four age groups. It was hypothesized that the upper body movement was minimized in the healthy young adults, but was augmented in the older adults. Design. Repeated measures design with 12 experimental conditions. Background. It is not well understood yet why the elderly fall more than the young. In studies of locomotion and active balance tasks, the head position has been suggested as a reference frame for controlling dynamic equilibrium. This study was aimed at examining: (1) whether or not this reference frame would exist during involuntary balance tasks, which are most likely related to accidental falls in the elderly; and (2) how would the stability of this reference frame change with age. Methods. Thirty-six healthy subjects of four age groups (20-70+ yr of age) participated in this study. Postural perturbation was introduced by a moving platform. The sagittal plane kinematics of five body segments was directly measured using Integrated Kinematic Sensors. Results. Compared to the lower limb movement, the upper body movement, especially the head, was minimal (less than 7”) in the young adults (age group l), and was largest (about 14”) in the older subjects (age groups 2, 3 and 4). Moreover, the maximum range of motion of the older adults was found to be positively correlated not only to the height of the segment, but also to the timings of the movements, while the young adults showed no correlation between range of motion and the timings of the movement. Conclusions. The findings suggested that the young adults indeed stabilized their upper body as a reference frame for maintaining postural balance. In contrast, this reference frame was not stabilized well in the older adults. In compensation, the older adults adopted a more rigid movement strategy, compared to a more flexible movement strategy in the young. All these changes would lead the older subjects to be less tolerable to postural disturbances and more susceptible to falls than the young subjects. Relevance Current studies of human postural stability have been mainly focused on either whole body dynamics or selected motor behavior. In contrast, this study examines the body movement at the level of each individual body segments. The examination of temporal and spatial features of these movements across a wide range of ages would help to identify the changes in movement strategy associated with aging. This approach might ultimately be used as a basis for understanding and diagnosing postural instabilities in the elderly population. 0 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Ectopic expression of Cux1 is associated with reduced p27 expression and increased apoptosis during late stage cyst progression upon inactivation of Pkd1 in collecting ducts.

Polycystic kidney diseases (PKD) are inherited disorders characterized by fluid-filled cysts primarily in the kidneys. We previously reported differences between the expression of Cux1, p21, and p27 in the cpk and Pkd1 null mouse models of PKD. Embryonic lethality of Pkd1 null mice limits its study to early stages of kidney development. Therefore, we examined mice with a collecting duct specific deletion in the Pkd1 gene. Cux1 was ectopically expressed in the cyst lining epithelial cells of newborn, P7 and P15 Pkd1CD mice. Cux1 expression correlated with cell proliferation in early stages of cystogenesis, however, as the disease progressed, fewer cyst lining cells showed increased cell proliferation. Rather, Cux1 expression in late stage cystogenesis was associated with increased apoptosis. Taken together, our results suggest that increased Cux1 expression associated with apoptosis is a common feature of late stage cyst progression in both the cpk and Pkd1CD mouse models of PKD. Developmental Dynamics 240:1493–1501, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Huntingtin and HAP1 Regulate Microtubule Motors during Autophagosome Transport

Autophagy is a critical homeostatic process whereby autophagosomes engulf and degrade cellular cargo. Live cell imaging assays in neurons recently demonstrated autophagosome formation is restricted to the axon tip, followed by robust retrograde transport of the autophagosome towards the cell body. While >75% of autophagosome motility is directed towards microtubule minus ends, both the minus end-directed motor dynein and the plus end-directed motor kinesin colocalize to autophagosomes in neurons and copurify with isolated autophagosomes. Thus, it still remains unclear what mechanisms promote autophagosome transport, activating the retrograde motor dynein while inactivating the anterograde motor kinesin. One key candidate for regulating autophagosome transport is huntingtin (htt), which directly binds to dynein and binds to kinesin and dynactin through the adaptor HAP1 (huntingtin associated protein 1). Using live cell imaging in primary neurons, we found that depleting endogenous htt disrupted the retrograde motility of autophagosomes resulting in shorter run lengths and slower velocities. While these defects could be rescued by expression of full-length htt, deletion constructs of htt that could not bind either dynein or HAP1 were unable to rescue the defects in autophagosome motility upon depletion of endogenous htt. To further test HAP1's role in regulating autophagosome transport, we depleted endogenous HAp1 and observed a similar disruption in the retrograde motility of autophagosomes. Finally, we found that autophagosome transport is disrupted in a neuronal model of Huntington's disease, a genetic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by polyglutamine expansions in htt. Our results suggest a model where htt regulates autophagosome transport by binding to dynein and enhancing motor processivity, as well as to HAP1 whose interactions with kinesin and dynactin may further promote retrograde autophagosome transport. Further, out data suggest that misregulation of this transport may contribute to the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease.
Calciphylaxis in a patient with Crohn's disease in the absence of end-stage renal disease

Calciphylaxis is a rare and life-threatening condition of progressive cutaneous necrosis secondary to small and medium-sized vessel calcification previously described in patients with end-stage renal disease and hyperparathyroidism. Early diagnosis may be important in improving the poor outcome in these patients since early intervention may forestall the development of life-threatening complications. We describe a patient with Crohn's disease complicated by short-bowel syndrome and modest renal insufficiency (not requiring renal replacement therapy) who developed calciphylaxis. It appears that longstanding Crohn's disease and the short-bowel syndrome accelerated the development of calciphylaxis as the chronic renal disease was not end stage. Considering the possibility of calciphylaxis in this setting may avoid delaying the diagnosis and its consequences.
Coefficients for estimating SAR from soil pH and EC data and calculating pH from SAR and EC values in salinity models

Abstract Data from highly weathered, low pH, sodic Australian soils have been used to develop a method for estimating soil exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) or soil extract sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) from soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) data. The method can also be used to calculate soil pH in soil salinity models using SAR and EC values. The pH was calculated as pH = A + (B × SAR1/2)/(1 + C × EC). Rewriting the equations in terms of SAR (or ESP), gives SAR (or ESP)= [(pH ‐ A)(1 + C × EC)/B]2. This study was conducted to determine whether these same methods could be used to predict the pH and SAR values for arid climate soils that are only slightly weathered and are often sodic under natural conditions. Existing pH, EC, and SAR data from Declo loam (coarse‐loamy, mixed, mesic, Xerollic Calciorthids), Freedom silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed, mesic, Xerollic Calciorthids), and Mazuma sandy loam (coarse‐loamy, mixed (calcareous), mesic Typic Torriorthents) were used to calculate the A, B, and C c...
An NF-κB-Based High-Throughput Screen Identifies Piericidins as Inhibitors of the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Type III Secretion System

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a bacterial appendage used by dozens of Gram-negative pathogens to subvert host defenses and cause disease, making it an ideal target for pathogen-specific antimicrobials. Here, we report the discovery and initial characterization of two related natural products with T3SS-inhibitory activity that were derived from a marine actinobacterium. Bacterial extracts containing piericidin A1 and the piericidin derivative Mer-A 2026B inhibited Yersinia pseudotuberculosis from triggering T3SS-dependent activation of the host transcription factor NF-κB in HEK293T cells but were not toxic to mammalian cells. As the Yersinia T3SS must be functional in order to trigger NF-κB activation, these data indicate that piericidin A1 and Mer-A 2026B block T3SS function. Consistent with this, purified piericidin A1 and Mer-A 2026B dose-dependently inhibited translocation of the Y. pseudotuberculosis T3SS effector protein YopM inside CHO cells. In contrast, neither compound perturbed bacterial growth in vitro, indicating that piericidin A1 and Mer-A 2026B do not function as general antibiotics in Yersinia. In addition, when Yersinia was incubated under T3SS-inducing culture conditions in the absence of host cells, Mer-A 2026B and piericidin A1 inhibited secretion of T3SS cargo as effectively as or better than several previously described T3SS inhibitors, such as MBX-1641 and aurodox. This suggests that Mer-A 2026B and piericidin A1 do not block type III secretion by blocking the bacterium-host cell interaction, but rather inhibit an earlier stage, such as T3SS needle assembly. In summary, the marine-derived natural products Mer-A 2026B and piericidin A1 possess previously uncharacterized activity against the bacterial T3SS.
Modeling and Analytical Study of Link Properties in Multihop Wireless Networks

The radio link between a pair of wireless nodes is determined by radio channels, transmission range, node mobility and node-pair distance, which form a set of random factors in multihop wireless networks. The properties of such radio links can be characterized by link lifetime, residual link lifetime and link change rate, which, in fact, have been widely used for network design and performance evaluation. In this paper, we take a new modeling approach that captures the dynamics of radio channels and node movements in small-scale. More specifically, distance transition probability matrix is designed in order to describe the joint effects of dynamic transmission range due to radio channel fading and relative distance of a node-pair resulting from random movements. We find that the PDF of link lifetime can be approximated by an exponential distribution with parameter characterized by the ratio of average node speed \bar{V} to effective transmission range R_e. To further understand the implication of link properties, analytical results are used to investigate the upper bound of network connectivity and the associated network performance is evaluated by extensive simulations.
Modes of Retinal Cell Death in Diabetic Retinopathy.

Cell death seems to be a prominent feature in the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Several retinal cell types have been identified to undergo cell death in a diabetic environment. Most emphasis has been directed towards identifying apoptosis in the diabetic retina. However, new research has established that there are multiple forms of cell death. This review discusses the different modes of cell death and attempts to classify cell death of retinal cells known to die in diabetic retinopathy. Special emphasis is given to apoptosis, necrosis, autophagic cell death, and pyroptosis. It seems that different retinal cell types are dying by diverse types of cell death. Whereas endothelial cells predominantly undergo apoptosis, pericytes might die by apoptosis as well as necrosis. On the other hand, Muller cells are suggested to die by a pyroptotic mechanism. Diabetes leads to significant Muller cell loss at 7 months duration of diabetes in retinas of diabetic mice compared to non-diabetic, which is prevented by the inhibition of the caspase-1/IL-1β (interleukin-1beta) pathway using the IL-1 receptor knockout mouse. Since pyroptosis is characterized by the activation of the caspase-1/IL-1β pathway subsequently leading to cell death, Muller cells seem to be a prime candidate for this form of inflammation-driven cell death. Considering that diabetic retinopathy is now discussed to potentially be a chronic inflammatory disease, pyroptotic cell death might play an important role in disease progression. Understanding mechanisms of cell death will lead to a more targeted approach in the development of new therapies to treat diabetic retinopathy.
Three-dimensional head model Simulation of transcranial magnetic stimulation

This paper presents a finite element method used to evaluate the induced current density in a realistic model of the human head exposed to a time varying magnetic field. The tissue electric properties were varied to ascertain their influence on the induced currents. Current density magnitude and vector plots were generated throughout the tissue layers to determine the effects of tissue boundaries on the field. The current density magnitude correlated to the conductivity of the tissue in all the cases tested except where the tissue permittivity was raised to a level to allow for displacement currents. In this case, the permittivity of the tissue was the dominant factor. Current density components normal to the tissue interface were shown to exist in all solutions within the cortex contrary to the predictions of present models that rely on symmetrical geometries. Additionally, modifications in the cortical geometry were shown to perturb the field so that the site of activation could be altered in diseased patient populations. Finally, by varying the tissue permittivity values and the source frequency, we tested the effects of alpha dispersion theories on transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Commentary on: Superficial Enhanced Fluid Fat Injection (SEFFI) to Correct Volume Defects and Skin Aging of the Face and Periocular Region

I find the authors' historical view of clinical fat grafting mistaken, including their use of “micro” as definitive nomenclature, as well as their claim that the harvesting of fat with small side-hole cannulas (without further processing) is somehow novel. Coleman, as they indicate, indeed popularized modern fat grafting, by codifying a reproducible clinical technique that placed fat in a structural way—from deep to superficial—throughout the face with blunt needles, stressing the distribution of small fat parcels widely within a nutritive substrate. Equally important, he assured the survival of what many saw as another fad movement within plastic surgery through the presentation of impressive, long-term clinical results. He also developed and made available an instrument to support the new clinical activity. Early on, I, along with others1 (Dr F Benslimane, personal communication, 2001), had trouble with the large Coleman injection needles within the delicate suborbital zone. I responded by substituting a cumbersome but effective deep dermal–fat graft for a time, but eventually discovered an existing ophthalmologic McIntyre blunt, inner cannula: designed to irrigate the canaliculus, its delicate shaft fits easily within the Coleman injection needles and it has a blunt end and minute side hole, as I reported in 2001.2 Since its first use in 1999, I have had no visible irregularities within this challenging region. Soon after, I was introduced to a micro-infusion cannula with multiple small side-holes (also pre-existing and entirely similar to the authors' much later harvesters) by one of the manufacturers, which facilitated the harvest of smaller fat parcels for what I now called “micro” fat grafting to contrast with “macro” grafting by the original Coleman needles, which I continued to use only in the vein-rich environment of the dorsum of the hand. Virtually all manufacturers of fat-grafting equipment have long since added similar micro …
Putnam’s Paradox: Diversity, Destruction of Community, and Anti-Oedipal Psychology

The distinguished political scientist Robert Putnam found that increased diversity was associated, except in the case of political activity, with the decline of social capital. I propose that it was not diversity, as such, that led to this decline, but the identity politics associated with it. This politics is discussed in terms of the anti-Oedipal dynamics of political correctness and the normalization of the pristine self. The development of social capital depends on common understandings and mutual assumptions, which are felt as antagonistic to the pristine self. This idea is elaborated through an analysis of the concept of microaggression.
Anti-Theism and the Problem of Divine Hiddenness

While most discussions in natural theology focus on the existence and nature of God, recently the axiological implications of theism have been taken up by such authors as Kahane (Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 82: 674–696, 2011), Kraay and Dragos (Canadian Journal of Philosophy 43: 157–178, 2013), Davis (Faith & Philosophy 31: 143–159, 2014), McLean (Sophia 54: 13–24, 2015), Penner and Lougheed (Faith and Philosophy, 2015), and Penner (Faith and Philosophy 32: 325–337, 2015). Rather than asking whether God exists, they ask whether God’s existence would be a good thing or a bad thing. That general question breaks down into more precise sub-questions, with a wide variety of possible positions resulting. Here, I argue that one of these positions (theistic narrow personal anti-theism) is possibly true, and that this possibility provides for a new defence against one of the most prominent arguments for atheism in the current literature: the problem of divine hiddenness.
Involving Staff and Students in the Implementation of School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports in a Lunchroom Setting

Urban schools regularly address the issue of decreasing unwanted and inappropriate behavior in various environments. This study used a multiple baseline design to analyze the effects of a building level positive behavior support (PBS) intervention, designed in part by students, to decrease school-identified problem behaviors in a lunchroom setting. Both school personnel and students participated in the identification of problems and solutions targeted to problem behavior in three lunch periods. Results indicated that student involvement could be combined with PBS principles to decrease school-identified problem behaviors. After the intervention, the three school lunch periods reflected a significant decrease in problem behaviors from the baseline phase to the post intervention phase.
Management of Meat Inventories

Data on cold storage holdings as presented in Table 1 indicate the importance of different forms in which meat is held and permit a distinction as to whether holdings are pipeline or seasonal.l Pork accounts for by far the largest amount of inventories, both pipeline and seasonal. The crucial inventory seasonally is frozen pork. Although there is considerable variation in the relative importance of the different kinds of meat, the seasonal movements are similar in many respects. The minimum inventory of pork items occurs about the first of November, while the minimum for beef items is typically somewhat earlier. On the other hand, beef inventories reach their maximum more rapidly than pork inventories. Lamb, mutton and veal have seasonal patterns similar to beef. Seasonal accumulation of inventories provides a substantial, but far from complete, cushion to variations in meat production. Figure 1 illustrates this point. It shows meat production from slaughter under federal inspection by months and, subtracting change in inventories, the implied consumption.2 The average monthly deviation for total meat is 152.1 in the production series and 67.0 in the consumption series. According to this measure,
Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Series of Amphiphilic Mercapto-1,2,4-Triazole Schiff Base Ligands: Investigation of their Behavior in Hydro-Organic Solutions

A novel series of four Schiff base amphiphiles derived from 3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole and different alkyl chains were successfully prepared by a new synthetic three-step method. The chemical structures of the different ligands were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra. The effect of the chain length on the solution behavior of the amphiphilic ligands were studied, in both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, using pH-metric and spectrophotometric methods. Based on the electronic spectroscopy data, some parameters governing their surfactant properties, such as the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the micellization free energy (ΔG mic) and the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) were evaluated in chloroform and discussed. The behavior of the four Schiff bases in the heterogeneous chloroform-water mixture was then explored through the establishment of their acidity (pKA) and distribution (Log K d) constants in 1 M chloride medium and the acidity constants in aqueous medium (pKa) were deduced. Results showed that an increase of the alkyl chain decreases the distribution of the ligands and increases their acidity. The extractive performance of the Schiff base amphiphiles were investigated towards Ni(II) from a chloride medium at 30 °C. The analysis of extraction data revealed that the synthesized Schiff bases exhibit a better and faster extractability than many ligands reported in the literature.
Using the Section 645 Election in Postmortem Fiduciary Income Tax Planning

Section 645 of the Internal Revenue Code allows the executor of a decedent's probate estate (Estate) and the trustee of a decedent's qualified revocable trust (QRT) to make a joint election (645 Election) to combine the annual income, deductions and credits of the two entities on one Form 1041, Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts. This combined Form 1041 is prepared in accordance with the income tax rules applicable to estates. In general, QRTs are trusts that could have been revoked by the decedent immediately prior to the decedent's death. The two entities are only allowed to file combined income tax returns for a limited period of time known as the Election Period, which generally ends two years after the death of decedent. This article explains the advantages and disadvantages of the election, the procedures that must be followed to make the election, the timing of the termination of the election period and the tax treatment of the two entities at the time of termination.
Effects of Vitrification and Program Freezing on the Follicular Viability of Human Ovarian Tissues

Objective:To compare the effect of vitrification and program freezing on the follicular viability of human ovarian tissues.Methods:Ovarian tissues from15 patients were transported to the laboratory within 20 min after excision.Pieces of ovarian tissues(1 mm×5 mm×5 mm)were randomly divided into fresh group,vitrification group and program freezing group.Optimal experimental method was used in vitrification group and program freezing group.The fresh and resuscitated tissues were cultivated in vitro,and the follicular morphology was analyzed by using light and electron microscope.The viability of ovarian tissues resuscitated from freezing was detected by hormones releasing assay and allograft assay,and then compared with that of fresh group.Results:Morphologically normal and abnormal primordial and primary follicles could be seen in resuscitated freezing group and fresh group.The rate of morphologically normal follicles in fresh group was significantly higher than those in vitrification group and program freezing group(P0.05).The rate of morphologically normal follicles was slightly higher in program freezing group than that in vitrification group(P0.05).Primordial and primary follicles with normal and abnormal ultrastructure could be seen in all the three groups.Ovarian cortical pieces secreted estradiol and progesterone continuously after in vitro culture.Hormone levels in fresh group were higher than those in vitrification group and program freezing group(P0.05).Allograft assay showed that there were more graft recovery number and higher follicular density in program freezing group than those in vitrification group.Conclusions:Follicle has higher potentiality of development in program freezing human ovarian tissues,so program freezing is more promising than vitrification in application.
The University — and Particularly the Technological University: Pragmatism and Beyond

The university is an institution that has survived by avoiding too sharp a definition of what it is and what it does. This has led to considerable diversity among universities, and at the same time to a common inability, intrinsic in the design of the university, to respond effectively to major social problems. One special kind of university, far more focused and capable of responding, is the technological university. A case in point is how Polytechnic University is developing a close interaction with industry and a major urban university-industry park in New York City focused on the service industry.