cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of chronic lead exposure on [3H]MK-801 binding in the brain of rat

Abstract We have used quantitative autoradiographic methods to determine the effects of chronic lead exposure on N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain of female rat. Rats were exposed pre- and post-natally from day 4±1 post conception with 1000 ppm lead in their drinking water. This treatment continued after weaning. No effects of lead on [3H]MK-801 binding were found at PN 28. However, lead caused a significant increase in [3H]MK-801 binding in the hippocampus including CA1 and CA2, and in the occipital and temporal cortical areas at PN 56 and at PN 112. An increase in binding was also found in the entorhinal cortex and the dentate gyrus at PN 112. Because the NMDA receptor is involved in learning and memory, the lead-induced disruption of NMDA receptors in the hippocampus and cortex may be associated with the cation-induced cognition deficits.
Investigation on mitigating neutron streaming effect for the water-loop facility used in the MIT reactor

Abstract The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reactor (MITR) is a 6 MW tank-type reactor with a compact core design. It is moderated and cooled by light-water and has a heavy-water reflector. The MITR is a unique test bed for a wide range of nuclear material and fuel research. In one of the recent fuel cycles, detectors found elevated neutron levels on the reactor top lid during the operation with the Water-loop facility installed. A preliminary investigation theorized that the neutrons were streaming out via a thin CO2 gas gap, which is used as a thermal isolation space for the in-core experiment. The current study employs neutron transport simulations to investigate the physical interpretation of the observed phenomenon. The state-of-the-art general purpose Monte Carlo code MCNP5 is adopted as the computational tool. The calculation results identify the typical characteristics of the streaming effect by quantifying the fraction of upward-streaming neutrons. Efforts have also been made to explore feasible engineering options for mitigating this neutron streaming from the Water-loop facility. It is concluded that a borated guide tube is not sufficient to reduce the neutron level on the reactor top lid; however, a stepped thimble design is effective in reducing the neutron source contribution.
The Persistence of Shocks to Profitability

In this study, we use data for 1981 through 1994 on a large sample of U.S. companies to examine the persistence of incremental industry, corporate-parent, and business-specific effects on profitability. Our results indicate that the incremental effects of industry on profitability persist longer than the incremental effects of the corporate parent and of the specific business. Changes in industry structure have a more persistent impact on profitability than do changes in firm structure.
Creativity and inductive reasoning: The relationship between divergent thinking and performance on Wason's 2-4-6 task

This study was an investigation of the relationship between potential creativityas measured by fluency scores on the Alternate Uses Testand performance on Wasons 246 task. As hypothesized, participants who were successful in discovering the rule had significantly higher fluency scores. Successful participants also generated higher frequencies of confirmatory and disconfirmatory hypotheses, but a multiple regression analysis using the stepwise method revealed that the frequency of generating disconfirmatory hypotheses and fluency scores were the only two significant factors in task outcome. The results also supported earlier studies where disconfirmation was shown to play a more important role in the later stages of hypothesis testing. This was especially true of successful participants, who employed a higher frequency of disconfirmatory hypotheses after receiving feedback on the first announcement. These results imply that successful participants benefited from the provision of feedback on the first ...
Model Order Reduction of 1D Diffusion Systems Via Residue Grouping

A model order reduction method is developed and applied to 1D diffusion systems with negative real eigenvalues. Spatially distributed residues are found either analytically (from a transcendental transfer function) or numerically (from a finite element or finite difference state space model), and residues with similar eigenvalues are grouped together to reduce the model order. Two examples are presented from a model of a lithium ion electrochemical cell. Reduced order grouped models are compared to full order models and models of the same order in which optimal eigenvalues and residues are found numerically. The grouped models give near-optimal performance with roughly 1/20 the computation time of the full order models and require 1000―5000 times less CPU time for numerical identification compared to the optimization procedure.
Issues in Ocean Resource Management

Ocean environmental relations between the industrial North and the developing South are considered. The first issue is whether multiple environmental standards for ocean pollution abatement, less stringent for poor countries, are economically rational. Multiple standards are generally more efficient, but it does not follow that developing countries should always choose lower standards than wealthier countries. Transfrontier pollution is then defined, and two causes of globally inefficient resource allocation are analyzed: uncorrected international environmental externalities, and the failure of international negotiations to secure optimal ocean pollution abatement levels without a functioning international "market" for environmental rights. Finally, the concept of environmental exploitation of the poor countries by the rich countries is examined. Estimates for marine oil pollution suggest that industrial countries do indeed make disproportionate use of the oceans for waste disposal.
Age, growth rate and feeding habits of the oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau (Linnaeus) in South Carolina

Age, gonad state, gut content, and length-weight relationships were analyzed for oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau (Linnaeus), caught in 1978–1980 at Hilton Head, South Carolina, Toadfish Tournaments. Examination of the otoliths revealed ages that ranged from < 1 to 8 yr, with a median age of 3 yr. Fish were sexually mature between years 2 to 7. Combined length-weight data provided a linear regression line value of WL = 4.9e0.017L; the age-weight relationship was Wt = 26.5e0.52t. An unexploited fishery is suggested by the data.
SY01-1GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE AND DIVERSION, STRATEGIES TO CURB THE ABUSE

The most commonly abused prescription medicines are opioids and benzodiazepines, of which drug induced deaths and direct and indirect health care costs are more related to opioids. Both chronic pain and prescription opioid abuse are prevalent globally and rapidly growing problem. The presentation will review the prevalence, costs, mortality and comorbidity of prescription drug abuse and diversion in different countries, and review the screening tools, monitoring and strategies to curb the abuse and diversion.
Consistency in Self-Reports of Drug Use Frequency by High-Risk Offenders Over a 5-Year Interval

Self-reports of drug use by high-risk offenders interviewed on two occasions were compared to determine the extent to which the reports were consistent at the two interview points. Self-reports of frequency of drug use over the same 12-month period were compared among parolees (N = 380) who had participated in prison drug treatment and who were interviewed at 1 and 5 years following prison release. The kappa coefficient was .31 (p < .001), generally considered a fair level of agreement. Total concordance in retrospective recall of primary drug use frequency was 54.5%.
Tenderness and Maturity in Relation to Certain Muscle Components of White Leghorn Fowl

SUMMARY Tenderness of roasted and stewed pectoralis major and biceps femoris muscles (estimated by shear values) from White Leghorn female birds was studied in relation to maturity and composition at 4, 8, 12 and 18 months of age. Shear values of pectoralis major muscles did not change significantly with age or differ significantly between cooking methods. Shear values of biceps femoris muscles increased significantly with age of roasted specimens. No similar significant change occurred in stewed specimens. Roasted biceps femoris had significantly higher (P < 0.01) shear values than stewed samples at 12 months and more markedly at 18 months of age. No association was noticed between either intramuscular fat or moisture content and shear value trends. Hydroxyproline content (HOP) was determined in biceps femoris samples only. Total HOP content was significantly higher in more mature samples with a significant difference only at 12 months of age between cooking methods. Residual HOP content as a measure of collagen not converted to gelatin during cooking, showed a tendency to increase with age and differed significantly between cooking method only at 18 months of age. Total and residual HOP content of roasted biceps femoris were significantly correlated with shear values (r = 0.64 and 0.79, P < 0.01). The marked increase in residual HOP content at 18 months seemed to explain more satisfactorily the divergence in shear values.
Evaluating drug delivery of solid dose tablets by isothermal mechanical analysis

The current United States Pharmacopeia (USP) test for the disintegration of drug tablets does not measure initial disintegration times and does not adequately describe tablet disintegration mechanisms. An Isothermal Mechanical Analysis (IsoTMA) method meeting USP specifications has been developed to measure the initial time and rate of drug disintegration. TMA monitors the physical dimension of the formulated drug tablet as a function of time, temperature, applied stress, and pH. TMA can be used to measure the swelling, shrinkage, or disintegration of a formulated tablet in a specified fluid. The focus of this study is to validate an efficient and precise IsoTMA method to measure dimensional stability of solid dose tablets. The precision of the method along with the effect of pH (1–10) and temperature (25–37 °C) on the rate of delivery was determined for nine drugs. Graphical representations of dimensional changes over time were created and compared. Drug delivery in a specific liquid medium was measured by UV analysis for the active pharmaceutical ingredient. An increase in temperature decreased the disintegration time and increased the disintegration rate (mm/min). For the drugs that are studied in this article, pH did not have an appreciable effect on the rate of disintegration.
Recessed gate junction field effect transistors

A recessed gate structure is described for vertical channel junction gate field effect transistors. This structure can be fabricated using a self-aligned source-gate process with the use of only two masking steps for the fabrication of the device active region. Devices fabricated with this structure exhibit blocking voltages of upto 400 volts with blocking gains ranging from 3 to 12 depending upon the groove depth. These devices have a unity power gain cut-off frequency above 500 MHz.
Expanding the Enzyme Universe: Accessing Non‐Natural Reactions by Mechanism‐Guided Directed Evolution

High selectivity and exquisite control over the outcome of reactions entice chemists to use biocatalysts in organic synthesis. However, many useful reactions are not accessible because they are not in nature’s known repertoire. In this Review, we outline an evolutionary approach to engineering enzymes to catalyze reactions not found in nature. We begin with examples of how nature has discovered new catalytic functions and how such evolutionary progression has been recapitulated in the laboratory starting from extant enzymes. We then examine non-native enzyme activities that have been exploited for chemical synthesis, with an emphasis on reactions that do not have natural counterparts. Non-natural activities can be improved by directed evolution, thus mimicking the process used by nature to create new catalysts. Finally, we describe the discovery of non-native catalytic functions that may provide future opportunities for the expansion of the enzyme universe.
Algebraic Multigrid Preconditioner for Homogeneous Scatterers in Electromagnetics

Electromagnetic wave scattering from large and complex bodies is currently the most challenging problem in computational electromagnetics. There is an increasing need for more efficient algorithms with reduced computational complexity and memory requirements. In this work we solve the problem of electromagnetic wave scattering involving three-dimensional, homogeneous, arbitrarily shaped dielectric objects. The fast multipole method (FMM) is used along with the algebraic multigrid (AMG) method, that is employed as a preconditioner, in order to accelerate the convergence rate of the Krylov iterations. Our experimental results suggest much faster convergence compared to the non preconditioned FMM, and hence significant reduction to the overall computation time.
Active Spatiotemporal Control of Arg-Gly-Asp-Containing Tetradecapeptide Organomercaptans on Gold with In−Plane Electrochemical Potential Gradients

Surface immobilized peptides and proteins containing the tripeptide sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) are of interest because of their ability to bind to members of the integrin superfamily of cell-surface receptors and thereby direct cellular haptotaxis. Two-component counterpropagating gradients of organothiols terminated with an RGD-containing tetradecapeptide and the cell-adhesion-resistant thiol, mercaptoundecanol (MUD), were electrochemically generated by coupling in-plane electrochemical potential gradients with the electrosorption reactions of organothiols to vary the composition laterally. One- and two-component gradients formed from model alkanethiols and peptide-terminated thiols as a function of local composition were probed by spatially resolved electrochemical stripping analysis and Fourier transform infrared external reflection spectroscopy (FTIR-ERS), using the IR spectra to map the local composition and the shift in desorption peak potential, E0des, to assess the degree of surface heterogeneity....
Price Variability and Savings

We analyze how commodity price variability affects saving behavior in a dynamic model with multiple commodities, portfolio hedging, and a preference structure that disentangles attitudes towards risk and attitudes towards intertemporal substitution. We show that the effect of price variability on savings boils down to knowing 1) the consumer’s degree of aversion to intertemporal fluctuations (i.e. the size of the elasticity of intertemporal substitution) and 2) the effect that price variability has on the certainty-equivalent real interest rate. Price variability is more likely to decrease the certainty-equivalent rate if consumers are highly risk averse, if there is limited intra-temporal substitution among the goods, and if asset returns are a poor hedge against inflation. We also show that if price variability decreases the certainty-equivalent rate, consumer’s welfare also decreases.
The Something We Can Do

I had no plans to be a public scholar. I became one, nonetheless, in September 2002. That month my promotion to Associate Professor with tenure at the University of Washington became official. The same month the UW’s alumni magazine published a story about my research on US news coverage that followed the September 11 terrorist attacks of one year earlier. A couple of graduate students and I had found that the American press uncritically waved the flag and supported the federal government’s military response, beginning in Afghanistan. In our research, we offered modest critiques of what we called an overly deferential, “patriotic press”. This analysis was propelled by a belief that undergirds my interest in political communication—that independent journalism is crucial for democracy. For some alumni, however, this work smacked of anti-Americanism. Several fired off angry emails expressing a wish that the university sever its ties with me. I was taken aback, and I considered it ironic because two of my co-authors were active-duty officers in the US military attending graduate school on scholarships. Soon criticisms of my work made their way into the stonethrowing world of talk radio and Internet blogs, and I was pulled into the public arena whether I wanted to be or not. It was a shock—and a jolt of energy. Years earlier I had been a journalist, feeding off the adrenaline of news reporting. This feeling returned with the dustup over my research. I was back in the public conversation, writing, talking, defending ideas . . . engaging. It felt good. Even better, it felt right. What commenced was a transformation of my mindset. I now regularly write op-ed essays for newspapers as well as for internet forums, and receive plenty of emails when I do (the public, whether angry or delighted, always writes!). I deliver talks and engage in conversations in settings that range from lecture halls to union halls, from household living rooms to outdoor fairs and festivals to religious sanctuaries. I lead day-long public workshops on political communication with grassroots activists, curious citizens, and political leaders. And I have worked for
Shape memory metals

A look at the principles of shape memory metals, in particular the alloy, nitinol. Many practical applications of nitinol are covered. >
Childhood adversities, interpersonal difficulties, and risk for suicide attempts during late adolescence and early adulthood.

Background Data from a community-based longitudinal study were used to investigate the association between childhood adversities, interpersonal difficulties during adolescence, and suicide attempts during late adolescence or early adulthood. Methods A community sample of 659 families from Upstate New York was interviewed in 1975, 1983, 1985 to 1986, and 1991 to 1993. During the 1991-1993 interview, the mean age of the offspring was 22 years. Results Maladaptive parenting and childhood maltreatment were associated with an elevated risk for interpersonal difficulties during middle adolescence and for suicide attempts during late adolescence or early adulthood after age, sex, psychiatric symptoms during childhood and early adolescence, and parental psychiatric symptoms were controlled statistically. A wide range of interpersonal difficulties during middle adolescence were associated with risk for suicidal behavior after the covariates were controlled. Profound interpersonal difficulties during middle adolescence mediated the association between maladaptive parenting or childhood maltreatment and suicide attempts during late adolescence or early adulthood. Conclusions Maladaptive parenting and childhood maltreatment may be associated with a risk for severe interpersonal difficulties during adolescence. These interpersonal difficulties may play a pivotal role in the development of suicidal behavior. Youths who are at an elevated risk for suicide may tend to be in need of mental health services that can help them to cope with an extensive history of profound interpersonal difficulties, beginning in childhood and continuing through adolescence.
Galactic Propagation of Cosmic Rays

After introducing various phenomenological models of cosmic ray propagation in the galaxy, we examine how some of thera fare when compared to the data. We show that a model based on resonant diffusion of cosmic rays off an interstellar spectrum of hydromagnetic waves can account for the presently available evidence on cosmic rays and the interstellar medium.
Chemical Signatures of Middens at a Late Classic Maya Residential Complex, Guatemala

Phosphorus (P) and other chemical elements have been used to identify residential middens at archaeological sites. This study discusses the relationship of soil chemical elements and middens at Group Chispa, a Late Classic residential complex at a commoner village in the Maya lowlands. The complex was extensively excavated and soil sampled. Ceramic sherd densities, which serve as a proxy for artifact densities, correlate only partially with phosphorus and other chemical elements. One of the three middens in Group Chispa coincides with the highest concentration of P while the two others—including the most extensive one—have medium to low P levels. A spectrum of human activities that include the preparation of pigments explains the nontraditional distribution of chemical elements. High P levels remain useful to detect middens but they provide an incomplete picture and need to be contextualized by comprehensive archaeological data.
Role of symbiotic and non-symbiotic bacteria in carbon dioxide production from hosts infected with Steinernema riobrave.

Abstract Entomopathogenic nematodes of the family Steinernematidae and their mutualistic bacteria (Xenorhabdus spp.) are lethal endoparasites of insects. We hypothesized that growth of the nematode’s mutualistic bacteria in the insect host may contribute to the production of cues used by the infective juveniles (IJs) in responding to potential hosts for infection. Specifically, we tested if patterns of bacterial growth could explain differences in CO2 production over the course of host infection. Growth of Xenorhabdus cabanillasii isolated from Steinernema riobrave exhibited the characteristic exponential and stationary growth phases. Other non-nematode symbiotic bacteria were also found in infected hosts and exhibited similar growth patterns to X. cabanillasii. Galleria mellonella larvae infected with S. riobrave produced two distinct peaks of CO2 occurring at 25.6–36 h and 105–161 h post-infection, whereas larvae injected with X. cabanillasii alone showed only one peak of CO2, occurring at 22.8–36.2 h post-injection. Tenebrio molitor larvae infected with S. riobrave or injected with bacteria alone exhibited only one peak of CO2 production, which occurred later during S. riobrave infection (41.4–64.4 h post-infection compared to 20.4–35.9 h post-injection). These results indicate a relationship between bacterial growth and the first peak of CO2 in both host species, but not for the second peak exhibited in G. mellonella.
Skin and soft tissue infections in injection drug users

Skin and soft tissue infections are the most common cause for hospital admission of injection drug users. Cutaneous and subcutaneous abscesses are the most frequent type of SSTI and occur most commonly when drug users are no longer able to inject intravenously and resort to injection directly into skin or muscle. Abscesses may be difficult to differentiate from uncomplicated cellulitis or may be confused with pseudoaneurysms, hematoma, phlegmon, or thrombosed vein. Special studies, including ultrasonography; CT scans, and MR imaging; or careful incision and inspection may be necessary to clarify the extent of infection and the presence of abscess. These procedures may also help differentiate a subcutaneous abscess from a vascular structure. Uncomplicated cellulitis most commonly responds to antibiotic therapy directed toward Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus spp. In several recent studies, cutaneous and subcutaneous abscesses have been found to be caused by polymicrobial infections and to include anaerobic organisms as well as aerobic gram-positive cocci in a little more than 50% of cases. Complete, often repeated, incision and drainage is a prerequisite for successful outcome in these cases. Complications of SSTI are many and are potentially life threatening. They include direct extension of subcutaneous abscess into vital areas or structures, necrotizing fasciitis and myositis, bacteremia, and sepsis. An outbreak of a highly lethal SSTI that recently occurred in Scotland, Ireland, and England seems to have resulted from infection with Clostridia spp, including C. novyi and C. perfringens. A rare but well-documented SSTI in injection drug users is pyomyositis, an abscess-forming infection of skeletal muscle. More than 20 cases have been reported in temperate climates to date. Although not life-threatening, chronic cutaneous venous ulcers of the lower extremities are common and debilitating, requiring long-term multidisciplinary care for successful healing.
Design and Optimization of Anti-amyloid Domain Antibodies Specific for β-Amyloid and Islet Amyloid Polypeptide

Antibodies with conformational specificity are important for detecting and interfering with polypeptide aggregation linked to several human disorders. We are developing a motif-grafting approach for designing lead antibody candidates specific for amyloid-forming polypeptides such as the Alzheimer peptide (Aβ). This approach involves grafting amyloidogenic peptide segments into the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of single-domain (VH) antibodies. Here we have investigated the impact of polar mutations inserted at the edges of a large hydrophobic Aβ42 peptide segment (Aβ residues 17–42) in CDR3 on the solubility and conformational specificity of the corresponding VH domains. We find that VH expression and solubility are strongly enhanced by introducing multiple negatively charged or asparagine residues at the edges of CDR3, whereas other polar mutations are less effective (glutamine and serine) or ineffective (threonine, lysine, and arginine). Moreover, Aβ VH domains with negatively charged CDR3 mutations show significant preference for recognizing Aβ fibrils relative to Aβ monomers, whereas the same VH domains with other polar CDR3 mutations recognize both Aβ conformers. We observe similar behavior for a VH domain grafted with a large hydrophobic peptide from islet amyloid polypeptide (residues 8–37) that contains negatively charged mutations at the edges of CDR3. These findings highlight the sensitivity of antibody binding and solubility to residues at the edges of CDRs, and provide guidelines for designing other grafted antibody fragments with hydrophobic binding loops.
Discrimination of depth in premotor infants

An operant analysis of depth discrimination in premotor (70–85 day old) infants indicates that such infants, having had no opportunity to act in space, nonetheless can discriminate depth on the basis of cues other than the projected size of objects displaced in depth.
Utilization of FibroScan Testing in Hepatitis C Virus Management

Dr Harrison serves on the advisory boards of Nimbus Discovery, NGM Biopharmaceuticals, FibroGen, and the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation. Disclaimer: The opinions in this manuscript do not constitute endorsement by San Antonio Military Medical Center, the US Army Medical Department, the US Army Office of the Surgeon General, the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the US Government of the information contained therein.
Clinical experiences of laparoscopic-assisted Soave surgery in children with colon splenic flexure syndrome

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic-assisted Soave surgery in the treatment of pediatric splenic flexure syndrome.Methods: The clinical data of 52 children with splenic flexure syndrome who underwent laparoscopic-assisted Soave surgery from 2005 to 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.Repeated constipation was the main clinical manifestation in children.Barium enema examination showed the splenic flexure elevated 1.5 to 2.0 vertebras compared to the hepatic flexure,and the angle of colon splenic flexure was less than 45 degrees,while the transverse colon dilated with extended descending colon.Results: All the 52 operations were successfully done.The operation time was 80-95 min,the mean was(88 ± 5.32) min;the blood loss was 2-5 ml,the average was(3 ± 0.78) ml;the length of resected bowel was 22-42 cm,the average was(36 ± 2.26) cm.The restoration of bowel sounds,anus flatus or defecation occurred within 24 h,while the food intake started from 1-2 d after surgery.Postoperative body temperature was ≤37.5℃ in all cases.Grade A incision healing rate was 100%.Mild postoperative perianal fecal pollution occurred in 2 cases without incision infection,colon retraction,mezzanine infection,incisional hernia or other complications.Patients were followed up for 8 to 85 months,the average was(62 ± 5.42) months,and the results were satisfactory.As the growth of children,the stool frequency gradually reduced to 2-4 times / d.Conclusions: Laparoscopic Soave surgery is the preferred surgical technique for the treatment of pediatric splenic flexure syndrome with simpler operation,less trauma and bleeding,fewer complications,more safety and aesthetic advantages.
A Fusion-type Search Engine for Multilevel Scheduling Management

Data has become the fundamental resource along with the emergence of new services such as cloud computing, internet of things and social network.The information retrieval is becoming more and more important with the rapid data growth.By referring to the typical search demand of scheduling management business,the technical characteristics of the information service mode are applied to the scheduling management and a design method for a uniform fusion-type search engine oriented to the integration of large power grid multilevel scheduling management is proposed.Through the retrieval of both unstructured and structural data,the integration of the heterogeneity data resources is achieved in the distributed environment. By experimental simulation and prototype system verification,the feasibility is evaluated and application projected.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Inhibitor of cGAS (KicGAS), Encoded by ORF52, Is an Abundant Tegument Protein and Is Required for Production of Infectious Progeny Viruses.

ABSTRACT Although Kaposi9s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) ORF52 (also known as KSHV inhibitor of cGAS [KicGAS]) has been detected in purified virions, the roles of this protein during KSHV replication have not been characterized. Using specific monoclonal antibodies, we revealed that ORF52 displays true late gene expression kinetics and confirmed its cytoplasmic localization in both transfected and KSHV-infected cells. We demonstrated that ORF52 comigrates with other known virion proteins following sucrose gradient centrifugation. We also determined that ORF52 resides inside the viral envelope and remains partially associated with capsid when extracellular virions are treated with various detergents and/or salts. There results indicate that ORF52 is a tegument protein abundantly present in extracellular virions. To characterize the roles of ORF52 in the KSHV life cycle, we engineered a recombinant KSHV ORF52-null mutant virus and found that loss of ORF52 results in reduced virion production and a further defect in infectivity. Upon analysis of the virion composition of ORF52-null viral particles, we observed a decrease in the incorporation of ORF45, as well as other tegument proteins, suggesting that ORF52 is important for the packaging of other virion proteins. In summary, our results indicate that, in addition to its immune evasion function, KSHV ORF52 is required for the optimal production of infectious virions, likely due to its roles in virion assembly as a tegument protein. IMPORTANCE The tegument proteins of herpesviruses, including Kaposi9s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), play key roles in the viral life cycle. Each of the three subfamilies of herpesviruses (alpha, beta, and gamma) encode unique tegument proteins with specialized functions. We recently found that one such gammaherpesvirus-specific protein, ORF52, has an important role in immune evasion during KSHV primary infection, through inhibition of the host cytosolic DNA sensing pathway. In this report, we further characterize ORF52 as a tegument protein with vital roles during KSHV lytic replication. We found that ORF52 is important for the production of infectious viral particles, likely through its role in virus assembly, a critical process for KSHV replication and pathogenesis. More comprehensive investigation of the functions of tegument proteins and their roles in viral replication may reveal novel targets for therapeutic interventions against KSHV-associated diseases.
Papillary Adenocarcinoma Arising in a Urethral Diverticulum Accompanied by Adenocarcinoma of the Bladder: Case Report and Review of the Literature

AbstractA patient with carcinoma arising in a urethral diverticulum and adenocarcinoma of the bladder is described. This rare presentation of carcinoma of the urethra is discussed and the literature is reviewed. Aggressive management, consisting of anterior exenteration and urinary diversion, is recommended for all advanced lesions of the urethra.
Introduction: Revolutionary Technologies

For many of the world’s needed innovations we must thank inventors who are motivated only by the joy of working with advanced technology. They are aided by venture capitalists who see the opportunity for an extraordinary return on investment. Not to mention sales executives who wish to ride growing markets, especially when there’s an equity kicker. Still other entrepreneurs enjoy having a vision, seeing it actualized, and making a lot of money. But socially desirable benefits emerge from technological innovation and its successful diffusion, regardless of the motives of the actors. The benefits are improved productivity, increased exports, reduced waste and pollution, and the creation of jobs.
The NPT, the Treaty of Tlatelolco, and the Future of Nonproliferation

After more than two decades of concern about the nuclear programs and policies in Argentina and Brazil, there is room for optimism about Latin America. Its incorporation into the international nuclear nonproliferation regime is well advanced. The 1967 Treaty of Tlatelolco, which established a regional nuclear-weapon-free zone (NWFZ), is nearing completion. A signal event occurred January 18, 1994, when Argentina and Chile deposited instruments of ratification to the treaty. Brazil completed ratification on May 30, 1994, leaving Cuba the only major country in Latin America that is not yet a contracting party. Cuba, which held aloof from the Tlatelolco process for three decades, has stated its willingness to join the zone in the future.
Multidisciplinary Systems Engineering Roles

Multidisciplinary System Engineer’s play many roles within the scope of the entire System of Systems lifecycle. In some cases these roles run throughout the program. In some cases Multidisciplinary Systems Engineers take on multiple roles at different stages in the System of Systems development. Here we describe the basic roles of System Engineering within a program and how they are involved in every aspect of the overall system lifecycle.
Towards a Comprehensive Simulator for Public Speaking Anxiety Treatment

Public speaking anxiety (PSA) is often cited as the most common social phobia. Virtual reality enables us to overcome PSA with life-like scenarios. This paper first reviews the state-of-the-art in virtual environments as an emerging treatment for public speaking anxiety and presents a comprehensive Virtual Environment (VE). In most of the studies there is a lack in the inclusion of physical and vocal cues. Physical and vocal cues generated by the audience are crucial contributors to PSA. We design a virtual auditorium with an audience exhibiting these physical and vocal cues; a comprehensive VE, helping overcome PSA. Additionally, participants are subjected to the three phases of speech: Anticipation, Performance and Recovery [Cornwell et al. in Biol Psychiatry 59(7):664–666, 2006 1]. The resulting simulator can then be used for training and eventual treatment of PSA in addition to being used as a tool for identifying cues to which speakers are more sensitive to.
DNA-Reactive Agents

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (2005a) uses an analytical framework for conducting a quantitative cancer risk assessment that is based on mode of action (MoA)/key events and human relevance. The approach stresses the enhanced value of utilizing mechanistic data to inform the risk assessment process, in particular for dose–response assessment and risk characterization. A key component of this approach is to distinguish chemicals on the basis of a broad MoA classification, namely DNA reactivity versus the corollary non-DNA reactivity. This DNA reactivity is a consequence of the parent chemical or a reactive metabolite binding covalently to DNA to produce a DNA adduct or some other structural modification of the DNA. The metabolism and DNA adduct (or modification) profiles are presented for the major DNA-reactive chemical or activity classes – polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, arylamines and nitro-aryl hydrocarbons, aflatoxins, small alkylators, halogenated hydrocarbons, endogenous lipid peroxidation, DNA–DNA and DNA–protein crosslinkers, strand breakage, and DNA intercalators. The conversion of DNA adducts or other structural modifications into gene and chromosomal mutations by errors of DNA replication on the damaged template (or occasionally by errors of DNA repair) can lead to cells being initiated along the key events pathway to the development of neoplasms. For the conduct of a quantitative cancer risk assessment, it is necessary to have an understanding of and data on both the chemistry and the biological effects of DNA-reactive chemicals. This chapter provides the links between those two needs.
Left Ventricular Systolic Function

The estimation of left ventricular systolic function, both qualitative and quantitative, remains essential to the perioperative management of the cardiovascular status of the surgical patient. As a result of its portability and versatility, echocardiography is now widely used for this purpose (Lang et al. in European Journal of Echocardiography 7(2):79–108, 2006 [1]). The spectrum of techniques for assessment of left ventricular systolic function is wide. This chapter provides an overview of some of the techniques that are essential for the basic echocardiographer and delineates the advantages, disadvantages, and pitfalls of each.
Book Review: Nation JL. 2016. Insect Physiology and Biochemistry. Third Edition.

The third edition of Nation’s “Insect Physiology and Biochemistry” has been thoroughly updated from the second edition, which was published in 2008. I also reviewed the second edition (Jurenka 2008; Florida Entomologist 91: 715). As occurred with previous updates, each chapter has received some updating, with many references added and, where needed, additional narrative in the text. It was nice to see that a thorough update of the recently confirmed juvenile hormone receptor was added to this edition. Like the previous edition, each chapter has a preview, which puts the contents of the chapter in perspective, followed by an introduction and then the contents of the chapter. An updated reference list follows each chapter, and the list appears to be comprehensive, with this edition now containing about 2,600 references. Professor Nation has added a number of review and self-study questions to the end of each chapter before the references. This is new to the third edition and should be a welcomed addition to students taking an Insect Physiology course. Furthermore, new colored pictures and figures were added to the center of the textbook, adding to the overall appeal of the book. View this article in BioOne
Aquatic Bird Bornavirus-Associated Disease in Free-Living Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) in the Northeastern USA

Abstract During the winter of 2013–14, 22 Canada geese (Branta canadensis) were admitted to the Wildlife Clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University with nonspecific neurologic abnormalities and emaciation. Five of these geese, along with three geese that were submitted dead, were evaluated via histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) for bornaviruses. Histopathologically, six of the eight birds had lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis. One bird, which also had encephalitis, had a dilated esophagus. Lead poisoning, West Nile virus, avian influenza, and avian paramyxovirus infection were excluded from the diagnosis. Brain tissue from all eight geese was positive for bornaviral N-antigen on immunohistochemistry. Frozen brain tissue from five birds was available for bornavirus RT-PCR. Three of the five birds were positive for the bornavirus M gene. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain tissue was evaluated on the remaining three geese via RT-PCR, wi...
Industrial hygiene sampling and applications to ambient silica monitoring.

Interest in ambient exposures to silica has prompted an evaluation of the applicability of the industrial hygiene sampling and analysis experience. Exposure to excessive levels of silica in the workplace has long been recognized as a risk factor for the development of a variety of disabling and sometimes fatal lung diseases. Initial efforts to control occupational exposure to dust were based on reducing exposures as measured by particle-counting techniques. Because silicosis, the disease resulting from exposure to silica, occurs in the lower airways, which can be reached only by small "respirable dust" particles, size selective sampling procedures were introduced for dust monitoring. The analysis of silica in collected dust samples also has undergone development. Initial methods used involved acid digestion of soluble silicates, with subsequent chemical analysis of the insoluble "free silica" fraction. Current methodology relies on the use of X-ray diffraction and infrared technologies to quantify these materials. However, these methods are sensitive to the particle size distribution of the samples. Standard reference materials (SRMs) have been developed for use with respirable size dust samples. Ambient particulate matter is now measured using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sampling methods for particulate matter < or = 10 microns, which approximate the collection efficiency for thoracic fraction samplers. Because the existing calibration SRMs were produced for the measurement of occupational crystalline silica, the need to develop appropriate standards and methods for ambient silica measurements should be evaluated.
Descriptive study of the frequency of medical adhesive–related skin injuries in a vascular clinic

A medical adhesive can be defined as a product used to secure a device (ie, tape, dressing, catheter, electrode, and ostomy pouch) to the skin. Skin injury related to medical adhesive usage occurs across all care settings with medical adhesive–related skin injuries (MARSIs) playing a significant role with patient safety. The purpose of this descriptive prospective study was to assess all adult patients with wounds seen in the vascular clinic for MARSI by the CWOCN NP over a 3-month time period. One hundred twenty patients comprising a total of 207 visits were seen by the CWOCN NP over the 3-month time frame. Seven patients presented to the clinic from home with MARSI for a frequency of 5.8%. There were four males and three females with ages ranging from 52 to 83 years with a mean age of 67.7 years. All patients had a diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease with MARSI present on the lower extremities. Six of the seven MARSI cases were related to having paper tape removed from the periwound skin at home resulting in epidermal stripping either by the home health care professional (N = 4) or by the patient themselves (N = 2). The other MARSI was related to tension blister from steri-strips applied with benzoin by health care professional on a lower leg incision. Patients were unclear as far as when these injuries had occurred and often remarked that they thought that tape injuries were unpreventable. There is a need for additional research studies examining MARSI frequency across care settings such as the vascular population to identify those at risk and then implement measures to prevent it.
Two-way Interaction Effects of Perioperative Complications on 30-Day Mortality in General Surgery.

Multiple perioperative complications increase mortality risk, and certain complications synergistically increase this risk to a greater degree than might be expected if the complications were independent, but these effects are not well established. This is a retrospective cohort study of 422,827 intraabdominal general surgery patients (American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2005–2011). Eight complications were evaluated: acute respiratory failure (ARF), acute kidney injury (AKI), sepsis/septic shock, stroke, cardiac arrest (CA), myocardial infarction (MI), deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolus, and transfusion. Each combination of two complications (28 total) was modeled using a Cox model for 30-day mortality, with adjustment for preoperative comorbidities and risk factors. Additive interaction was determined with the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). A positive RERI indicates that the mortality risk with both complications is greater than the sum of the individual mortality risks. Bonferroni correction was applied (α = 0.05/28 = 0.0018). Seven combinations demonstrated positive interaction: sepsis-CA (RERI 88.1; p < 0.0001), ARF–AKI (RERI 50.5; p < 0.0001), AKI–sepsis (RERI 33.9; p < 0.0001), sepsis–stroke (RERI 33.9; p < 0.0001), ARF–stroke (RERI 32.3; p < 0.0001), AKI–MI (RERI 24.5; p = 0.0013), and ARF–sepsis (RERI 19.2; p < 0.0001). Two combinations demonstrated negative interaction: ARF–CA (RERI −65.1; p = 0.0017) and CA-transfusion (RERI −52.0, p < 0.0001). Interaction effects exist between certain complications to increase the risk of short-term mortality. ARF, AKI, sepsis, and stroke were most likely to be involved in positive interactions. Further research into the mechanisms for these effects will be necessary to develop strategies to minimize the compounding effects of multiple complications in the perioperative period.
The activin receptor is stimulated in the skeleton, vasculature, heart, and kidney during chronic kidney disease

We examined activin receptor type IIA (ActRIIA) activation in chronic kidney disease (CKD) by signal analysis and inhibition in mice with Alport syndrome using the ActRIIA ligand trap RAP-011 initiated in 75-day-old Alport mice. At 200 days of age, there was severe CKD and associated Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD), consisting of osteodystrophy, vascular calcification, cardiac hypertrophy, hyperphosphatemia, hyperparathyroidism, elevated FGF23, and reduced klotho. The CKD-induced bone resorption and osteoblast dysfunction was reversed, and bone formation was increased by RAP-011. ActRIIA inhibition prevented the formation of calcium apatite deposits in the aortic adventitia and tunica media and significantly decreased the mean aortic calcium concentration from 0.59 in untreated to 0.36 mg/g in treated Alport mice. Aortic ActRIIA stimulation in untreated mice increased p-Smad2 levels and the transcription of sm22α and αSMA. ActRIIA inhibition reversed aortic expression of the osteoblast transition markers Runx2 and osterix. Heart weight was significantly increased by 26% in untreated mice but remained normal during RAP-011 treatment. In 150-day-old mice, GFR was significantly reduced by 55%, but only by 30% in the RAP-011–treated group. In 200-day-old mice, the mean BUN was 100 mg/dl in untreated mice compared to 60 mg/dl in the treated group. In the kidneys of 200-day-old mice, ActRIIA and p-Smad2 were induced and MCP-1, fibronectin, and interstitial fibrosis were stimulated; all were attenuated by RAP-011 treatment. Hence, the activation of ActRIIA signaling during early CKD contributes to the CKD-MBD components of osteodystrophy and cardiovascular disease and to renal fibrosis. Thus, the inhibition of ActRIIA signaling is efficacious in improving and delaying CKD-MBD in this model of Alport syndrome.
The Contexts of Maoism

In 1971 a new book for the reading of Elementary Chinese was issued in Peking. A post-Cultural Revolutionary work, it contained almost no references to socialism that might embarrass western bourgeois readers: the reader was led into the Chinese language through a traditional world of teachers, pens and pencils, chairs and tables. But on the middle of page 156, in the section on numbers and dates, the compilers made an important statement of ideology in a neat, short-hand way; three examples were given for the student who was seeking to master a year, month and day sequence: March 18, 1871 November 7, 1917 October 1, 1949.