cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differences in the epigenetic regulation of MT-3 gene expression between parental and Cd+2 or As+3 transformed human urothelial cells

Studies have shown that metallothionein 3 (MT-3) is not expressed in normal urothelium or in the UROtsa cell line, but is expressed in urothelial cancer and in tumors generated from the UROtsa cells that have been transformed by cadmium (Cd+2) or arsenite (As+3).The present study had two major goals. One, to determine if epigenetic modifications control urothelial MT-3 gene expression and if regulation is altered by malignant transformation by Cd+2 or As+3. Two, to determine if MT-3 expression might translate clinically as a biomarker for malignant urothelial cells released into the urine. The histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 induced MT-3 mRNA expression in both parental UROtsa cells and their transformed counterparts. The demethylating agent, 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AZC) had no effect on MT-3 mRNA expression. ChIP analysis showed that metal-responsive transformation factor-1 (MTF-1) binding to metal response elements (MRE) elements of the MT-3 promoter was restricted in parental UROtsa cells, but MTF-1 binding to the MREs was unrestricted in the transformed cell lines. Histone modifications at acetyl H4, trimethyl H3K4, trimethyl H3K27, and trimethyl H3K9 were compared between the parental and transformed cell lines in the presence and absence of MS-275. The pattern of histone modifications suggested that the MT-3 promoter in the Cd+2 and As+3 transformed cells has gained bivalent chromatin structure, having elements of being "transcriptionally repressed" and "transcription ready", when compared to parental cells. An analysis of MT-3 staining in urinary cytologies showed that a subset of both active and non-active patients with urothelial cancer shed positive cells in their urine, but that control patients only rarely shed MT-3 positive cells. The MT-3 gene is silenced in non-transformed urothelial cells by a mechanism involving histone modification of the MT-3 promoter. In contrast, transformation of the urothelial cells with either Cd+2 or As+3 modified the chromatin of the MT-3 promoter to a bivalent state of promoter readiness. Urinary cytology for MT-3 positive cells would not improve the diagnosis of urothelial cancer, but might have potential as a biomarker for tumor progression.
Wireless slips and falls prediction system

Accidental slips and falls due to decreased strength and stability are a concern for the elderly. A method to detect and ideally predict these falls can reduce their occurrence and allow these individuals to regain a degree of independence. This paper presents the design and assessment of a wireless, wearable device that continuously samples accelerometer and gyroscope data with a goal to detect and predict falls. Lyapunov-based analyses of these time series data indicate that wearer instability can be detected and predicted in real time, implying the ability to predict impending incidents.
Long-Term Performance Of Foreign Food And Beverage Equities Traded On The New York Stock Exchange: A Look At Investment Opportunities

Because of the growth of international trade and the increase in sales and profits in the food and beverage industry in recent years investors may believe there is a great opportunity to reap high returns from foreign equities. Cumulative excess returns from all newly issued foreign food and beverage equities over a 36-month period following the date listed on the New York Stock Exchange are tested for significant differences in performance to determine whether they outperform the S & P 500 returns. Although the 36-month cumulative excess returns are not significant, findings indicate that the food and beverage ADRs performed 13.55 percent lower than the S & P 500 Index which serves as a proxy for the market in general. Food and beverage seasoned equity offerings outperformed initial public offerings.
How 'Stealth' Tax Surcharge in AMT Disrupts Marginal Tax Rate Planning Through Transaction Timing

A basic income tax planning technique is to defer income and to accelerate deductions. However, when an individual is in AMT for a given year, many argue that this planning technique is reversed (i.e., taxpayers in AMT in year 1 and not expecting to be in AMT in year 2 should accelerate taxable income into year 1). However, this article demonstrates that this advice may backfire for many taxpayers in AMT because of the “stealth tax” effect of the AMT exemption phase-out. The bands of income that are subject to AMT stealth tax marginal tax rate (MTR) distortion are as much as nearly $300,000, by far the largest of the dozens of stealth tax candidates in the tax law. For many AMT taxpayers, it is possible that accelerating income from year 2 to year 1 will subject it to stealth tax-affected rate of 32.5% or 35%, not 26% or 28%, while their regular MTR in year 2 may have been less than 32.5%.
Brief paper: Decentralized stabilization via game theoretic methods

Game theoretic ideas are employed in establishing the tradeoffs between control effort and 'degree' of stabilization for a class of feedback controls. These control laws are particularly suited for decentralized stabilization of interconnected systems.
Combination of modified mixing technique and low frequency ultrasound to control the elution profile of vancomycin-loaded acrylic bone cement

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine if combining variations in mixing technique of antibiotic-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement with low frequency ultrasound (LFUS) improves antibiotic elution during the initial high phase (Phase I) and subsequent low phase (Phase II) while not diminishing mechanical strength. Methods Three batches of vancomycin-loaded PMMA were prepared with different mixing techniques: a standard technique; a delayed technique; and a control without antibiotic. Daily elution samples were analysed using flow injection analysis (FIA). Beginning in Phase II, samples from each mix group were selected randomly to undergo either five, 15, 45, or 0 minutes of LFUS treatment. Elution amounts between LFUS treatments were analysed. Following Phase II, compression testing was done to quantify strength. A-priori t -tests and univariate ANOVAs were used to compare elution and mechanical test results between the two mix groups and the control group. Results The delayed technique showed a significant increase in elution on day one compared with the standard mix technique (p Conclusion The combination of a delayed mix technique with LFUS treatments provides a reasonable means for increasing both short- and long-term antibiotic elution without affecting mechanical strength. Cite this article: Dr. T. McIff. Combination of modified mixing technique and low frequency ultrasound to control the elution profile of vancomycin-loaded acrylic bone cement. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:26–32. doi: 10.1302/2046-3758.52.2000412
Nematode Sodium Calcium Exchangers: A Surprising Lack of Transport.

Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchangers are low-affinity, high-capacity transporters that rapidly transport calcium against a gradient of Na⁺ ions. Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchangers are divided into three groups based upon substrate specificity: Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchangers (NCX), Na⁺/Ca²⁺/K⁺ exchangers (NCKX), and Ca²⁺/cation exchangers (NCLX). In mammals, there are three NCX genes, five NCKX genes, and a single NCLX gene. The genome of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains 10 Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger genes: three NCX, five NCLX, and two NCKX genes. In a previous study, we characterized the structural and taxonomic specializations within the family of Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchangers across the phylum Nematoda and observed a complex picture of Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger evolution across diverse nematode species. We noted multiple cases of putative gene gain and loss and, most surprisingly, did not detect members of the NCLX type of exchangers within subsets of nematode species. In this commentary, we discuss these findings and speculate on the functional outcomes and physiology of these observations. Our data highlight the importance of studying diverse systems in order to get a deeper understanding of the evolution and regulation of Ca²⁺ signaling critical for animal function.
Chongqing Hechuan Qu TB infection investigation and analysis in primary and secondary schools

Objective purpose Investigation of chongqing Hechuan Qu TB infection situation in primary and secondary schools. Methods Using random 8 995 students in primary and secondary schools the tuberculin test(PPD), and the infection characteristics were analyzed. Results The results of Test negative rate is high, the early, pupils end(5mm) were 79.70%, 79.60% and 80.48% respectively. End test positive rate(≥5mm) or higher 11.78%, 12.83% and 9.59%, respectively, and testing of strong positive rate(≥20mm or higher) were 1.75%, 1.32% and 1.03% respectively. Strong positive rate and positive rate have no significant difference(P0.05). Strong positive end test students for further routine inspection found one case of active tuberculosis, found at a rate of 7.14%. Conclusions Understand the infection status of primary and middle school students is to strengthen prevention and control of TB control and pop has far-reaching significance.
Comparative analysis of measles epidemic of local and floating populations in Yixing from 2004 to 2010

Objective The present study was conducted to find out the epidemiological characteristics of measles between local and floating populations,and provide the measures for its control in Yixing from 2004 to 2010.Method Descriptive epidemiology analysis of measles cases in Yixing from 2004 to 2010 were performed.Results The result showed that 330 measles cases were reported in Yixing from 2004 to 2010.The measles annual average incidence of local populations was 2.31/100 000,and it was characterized by the infection in the local populations was mainly over the age of 15,developed symptoms in 2-5 months,and mainly farmers and scattered children.The measles annual average incidence of the floating population was 17.10/100 000,and it was characterized by the infection in the floating populations was mainly under the age of 7,developed symptoms in 3～6 months,and mainly migrant student and scattered children.Most of the measles cases were the floating population.Conclusion Measles vaccination should be strengthened among the local and floating populations,and older people to control the disease.
Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is a progressive muscle-wasting disorder defined by early contractures of the Achilles tendon, spine, and elbows. EDMD is also distinctive for its association with defects of the cardiac conduction system that can result in sudden death. It can be inherited in an X-linked, autosomal dominant, or autosomal recessive fashion and is caused by mutations in proteins of the nuclear membrane. Mutations in the EMD gene, which encodes emerin, a transmembrane protein found at the inner nuclear membrane, are responsible for X-linked EDMD. The most common etiology of autosomal dominant EDMD is an LMNA gene mutation; LMNA encodes the intermediate filament protein lamins A and C, which constitute the major scaffolding protein of the inner nuclear membrane. Murine models of LMNA gene mutations have helped to identify different mechanisms of disease. Loss of LMNA function leads to nuclear fragility as well as other defects, such as abnormal nuclear function. Additional genes encoding nuclear membrane proteins such as SYNE1 and SYNE2 have also been implicated in EDMD, and in some cases their importance for cardiac and muscle function has been supported by animal modeling.
Icing Test Techniques of EHV and UHV Transmission and Transformation Equipment

With the development of power grid, the icing problems of EHV and UHV transmission line become more prominent. For the research of icing mechanism, icing characteristics of external insulation and the new de-icing techniques, it is necessary to built the effective icing test techniques and tools. Firstly, the icing lab and test techniques at home and abroad was introduced. The UHV icing test issues are solved including energized icing, high-altitude low-pressure environment, large-capacity power supply and the climate laboratory in UHV AC test base is built. The test reveals that the climate laboratory of UHV AC test base has the ability of EHV/UHV icing test and provides a good test platform for the research of icing characteristics of external insulation, on-line monitoring and warning technology, ice-melting, de-icing technology and anti-freeze anti-icing materials applications.
Small-UAS navigation using 3D imager and infrared camera in structured environments

This paper discusses a positioning and navigation algorithm to support autonomous flight of a small-size unmanned aircraft system in a structured GNSS-denied environment during a maintenance mission. The proposed method is based on the integration of depth imagery and outputs from an inertial measurement unit (IMU). In addition, 2D images of a low resolution long-wave IR (LWIR) sensor are used to aid the navigation process and support the maintenance mission by creating a thermal map of the indoor environment. A platform has been built with the appropriate sensors and data has been collected. The paper describes the methodology, the test platform and some preliminary results from mostly the preprocessing steps.
Assessing Brexit's Potential Impact on Procurement

Britain’s vote on June 23, 2016, to leave the European Union could have a profound impact on public procurement law, both in Europe and internationally. Brexit’s impact may not be catastrophic; for example, the United Kingdom may choose to remain in the European Economic Area, which would keep the UK in the single market and bind it to existing European procurement directives. But Brexit’s indirect impact, in a diminished role for the British in European procurement policy, could prove quite serious.
On Simple Models of Associative Memory: Network Density Is Not Required for Provably Complex Behavior

It has been argued that complex behavior in many biological systems, including but not limited to human and animal brains, is to a great extent a consequence of high interconnectedness among the individual elements, such as neurons in brains. As a very crude approximation, brain can be viewed as an associative memory that is implemented as a large network of heavily interconnected neurons. Hopfield Networks are a popular model of associative memory. From a dynamical systems perspective, it has been posited that the complexity of possible behaviors of a Hopfield network is largely due to the aforementioned high level of interconnectedness. We show, however, that many aspects of provably complex – and, in particular, unpredictable within realistic computational resources – behavior can also be obtained in very sparsely connected Hopfield networks and related classes of Boolean Network Automata. In fact, it turns out that the most fundamental problems about the memory capacity of a Hopfield network are computationally intractable, even for restricted types of networks that are uniformly sparse, with only a handful neighbors per node. One implication of our results is that some of the most fundamental aspects of biological (and other) networks’ dynamics do not require high density, in order to exhibit provably complex, computationally intractable behavior.
ZSCAN5B and primate-specific paralogs bind RNA polymerase III genes and extra-TFIIIC (ETC) sites to modulate mitotic progression

// Younguk Sun 1,2 , Huimin Zhang 1,2 , Majid Kazemian 1,4 , Joseph M. Troy 1,3 , Christopher Seward 1,2 , Xiaochen Lu 1,2 and Lisa Stubbs 1,2 1 Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA 2 Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA 3 Illinois Informatics Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA 4 Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Correspondence to: Lisa Stubbs, email: // Keywords : zinc finger transcription factor, primate-specific duplication, RNA Polymerase III transcription, chromatin architecture, cell cycle, Chromosome Section Received : August 13, 2016 Accepted : September 20, 2016 Published : October 06, 2016 Abstract Mammalian genomes contain hundreds of genes transcribed by RNA Polymerase III (Pol III), encoding noncoding RNAs and especially the tRNAs specialized to carry specific amino acids to the ribosome for protein synthesis. In addition to this well-known function, tRNAs and their genes (tDNAs) serve a variety of other critical cellular functions. For example, tRNAs and other Pol III transcripts can be cleaved to yield small RNAs with potent regulatory activities. Furthermore, from yeast to mammals, active tDNAs and related “extra-TFIIIC” (ETC) loci provide the DNA scaffolds for the most ancient known mechanism of three-dimensional chromatin architecture. Here we identify the ZSCAN5 TF family - including mammalian ZSCAN5B and its primate-specific paralogs - as proteins that occupy mammalian Pol III promoters and ETC sites. We show that ZSCAN5B binds with high specificity to a conserved subset of Pol III genes in human and mouse. Furthermore, primate-specific ZSCAN5A and ZSCAN5D also bind Pol III genes, although ZSCAN5D preferentially localizes to MIR SINE- and LINE2-associated ETC sites. ZSCAN5 genes are expressed in proliferating cell populations and are cell-cycle regulated, and siRNA knockdown experiments suggested a cooperative role in regulation of mitotic progression. Consistent with this prediction, ZSCAN5A knockdown led to increasing numbers of cells in mitosis and the appearance of cells. Together, these data implicate the role of ZSCAN5 genes in regulation of Pol III genes and nearby Pol II loci, ultimately influencing cell cycle progression and differentiation in a variety of tissues.
BFT-WS: A Byzantine Fault Tolerance Framework for Web Services

Many Web services are expected to run with high degree of security and dependability. To achieve this goal, it is essential to use a Web-services compatible framework that tolerates not only crash faults, but Byzantine faults as well, due to the untrusted communication environment in which the Web services operate. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of such a framework, called BFT-WS. BFT-WS is designed to operate on top of the standard SOAP messaging framework for maximum interoperability. It is implemented as a pluggable module within the Axis2 architecture, as such, it requires minimum changes to the Web applications. The core fault tolerance mechanisms used in BFT-WS are based on the well-known Castro and Liskov's BFT algorithm for optimal efficiency. Our performance measurements confirm that BFT-WS incurs only moderate runtime overhead considering the complexity of the mechanisms.
0.6–2.0 V, All-CMOS temperature sensor front-end using bulk-driven technology

An All-CMOS temperature sensor front-end is designed to work with a supply voltage range of 0.6 to 2.0 volts, and temperature range from 0 to 120°C. The flexibility of 0.6 to 2.0 volt operation was made possible by the use of a bulk-driven op amp. Using all CMOS allows for low voltage and smaller chip area. UMC 0.13μm technology was used for this design. This sensor produces three outputs, two voltages proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT), and one voltage independent of absolute temperature (IOAT). The temperature sensor front-end produces an approximate average reference voltage of 249mV with variation of ±0.7mV, a temperature coefficient of 18.2ppm/°C at VDD = 0.6V to 19.2ppm/°C at VDD = 2.0V, and a voltage coefficient of 290ppm/V at 0°C to 657ppm/V at 120°C. The design produces two linear PTAT voltages with approximate temperature sensitivity of 0.28mV/°C and 0.84mV/°C (V temp0 and V temp1 respectively) and voltage coefficients of 113.6ppm/V at 0°C, 450ppm/V at 120°C for V temp0 and 501.4ppm/V at 0°C, 1904ppm/V at 120°C for V temp1 . The design has a simulated PSRR of −54dB at 100Hz and 0°C with a supply voltage of 0.6V.
Trial Vocal Fold Injection Predicts Thyroplasty Outcomes in Nonparalytic Glottic Incompetence

Objectives:Trial vocal fold injection (TVFI) may be used prior to permanent medialization when voice outcome is uncertain. We aimed to determine whether voice outcomes of TVFI are predictive of, or...
Shifts in sexual desire: bans on dancing boys (köçeks) throughout Ottoman modernity (1800s–1920s)

ABSTRACTThe main objective of this article is to understand the ways in which the kocek (dancing boys) performance became a source of shame and how the practice was subjected to a number of bans in Ottoman Istanbul. In the literature on the kocek, there is a general trend that argues that the practice was banned because of the fights, quarrels and other disputes related to the koceks and that the practice disappeared altogether no later than 1856. This is what I call the ‘social disorders argument’ and while I acknowledge that history and examine some evidence of social disorders associated with the dancing boys, I also re-analyse the disorders arising from a powerful homoerotic desire that was so common as to even be normative in certain circles in the Ottoman era. In this article, through historical evidence, I show that there are a number of proscriptions against the koceks. Through a brief history of the bans from the sixteenth century onwards, I show the ways in which the mentality of the bans change...
Influence of Protein Intake, Race, and Age on Responses to a Weight-Reduction Intervention in Obese Women.

Background Women have higher rates of obesity than men and develop more pronounced functional deficits as a result. Yet, little is known about how obesity reduction affects their functional status, including whether their responses differ when protein intake is enhanced. Objective The aim of this study was to confirm the feasibility of delivery of a higher-protein (balanced at each meal) calorie-restricted diet in obese women and determine its efficacy for influencing function and retention of lean mass. Method Obese community-dwelling women [n = 80; body mass index (in kg/m2), in means ± SDs: 37.8 ± 5.9; aged 45-78 y; 58.8% white] were enrolled in a weight-loss (-500 kcal/d) study and randomly assigned to either a Control-Weight-Loss (C-WL; 0.8 g protein/kg body weight) group or a High-Protein-Weight-Loss (HP-WL; 1.2 g protein/kg body weight; 30 g protein 3 times/d) group in a 1:2 allocation. Primary outcomes were function by 6-min walk test (6MWT) and lean mass by using the BodPod (Life Measurement, Inc.) at 0, 4, and 6 mo. Results Both groups reduced calorie intakes and body weights (P < 0.001), and the feasibility of the HP-WL intervention was confirmed. The 6MWT results improved (P < 0.01) at 4 mo in the HP-WL group and at 6 mo in both groups (P < 0.001). Both groups improved function by several other measures while slightly decreasing (P < 0.01) lean mass (-1.0 kg, C-WL; -0.6 kg, HP-WL). Weight loss was greater in white than in black women at both 4 mo (6.0 ± 3.6 compared with 3.7 ± 3.4 kg; P < 0.02) and 6 mo (7.2 ± 4.8 compared with 4.0 ± 4.7 kg; P < 0.04) and tended to be positively related to age (P < 0.06). Conclusions A clinically important functional benefit of obesity reduction was confirmed in both study groups, with no significant group effect. Our findings of racial differences in response to the intervention and a potential influence of participant age lend support for further studies sufficiently powered to explore the interaction of race and age with functional responses to obesity reduction in women. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02033655.
A Model for Fatigue Crack Closure in Ductile Materials

ABSTRACT Possible contributions to fatigue crack closure from fracture surface undulations and protrusions in ductile materials are evaluated through a simple model. The model is based on the premise that the fatigue crack is open to the full extent of its length and singularity when the crack opening displacement exceeds the height of these protrusions. Our model predicts that crack closure effects will be more pronounced under plane stress as compared to plane strain loading; under spike overloading versus constant amplitude loading; in inert environments as against mildly embrittling environments; and will be generally more pronounced at decreasing values of cyclic and maximum stress intensity levels and stress ratio levels. It is predicted that the extent of crack closure will be dependent on cyclic yield strength and work hardening exponent of the material and in a stronger fashion on the true fracture ductility of the material. These predictions are compared and found to be in good functional and qualitative agreement with currently available data on fatigue crack closure behavior of ductile alloys.
Birth Outcomes in Relation to Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract Objectives Intimate partner violence (IPV)during pregnancy is a significant public health problem. Approximately 324,000 IPV victimizations occur during pregnancy each year. However, research on the impact of IPV on birth outcomes yields conflicting findings. This study examines the association of IPV with birth outcomes among pregnant women. Study design We used a retrospective cohort study design to analyze data from chart reviews of a random sample of 1542 pregnant women. These women were seen between 2003 and 2009 at an urban university affiliated prenatal clinic and gave birth at the on-site hospital. Victims of IPV were defined as those who scored equal to or higher than 10 on an IPV screening tool: HITS (Hit, Insult, Threaten, and Scream). Three measures were included in birth outcomes. Preterm delivery was defined as gestational age less than 37 weeks. Low birth weight was defined as infants born weighing Results The prevalence of IPV was 7.5%. Compared to non-abused women, abused women were more likely to have preterm deliveries (18.3% vs. 10.3%; p = .016). Compared to infants of non-victims, infants of victims were more likely to have low birth weight (21.5% vs. 11.0%; p = .003) and to receive neonatal intensive care (23.4% vs. 7.8%; p = .000). Results from multivariate analyses indicated that victims were more likely to have preterm deliveries than non-victims (OR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.22-2.95). More infants of victims had low birth weight (OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.22-3.39) and received neonatal intensive care than those of non-victims (OR = 4.04; 95% CI: 2.46-6.61). Conclusions Abused pregnant women had poorer birth outcomes compared to non-abused pregnant women. Healthcare providers should be trained to screen and identify women for IPV, and interventions should be designed to reduce and prevent IPV and thereby improve health outcomes for victims and their children.
The problem of mechanization: Craft, machines, and ‘centering’ in a Japanese Mingei pottery village:

This article provides a conceptual basis for ‘centering’ the relationship between artisanship and mechanization as one would in pottery making. Critical theory dichotomizes handwork from machine-wo...
Official stories: politics and national narratives in Egypt and Algeria

Nations tell stories about themselves that explain what it means to be part of a group and why that is worth something, pointing to inherent features of the group, what it has accomplished in the p...
Perfumer, chemist, machine: gas chromatography and the industrial search to “improve” flavor

Drawing from published accounts of the use of gas chromatography (GC) in the food industry, found in industry-specific journals, this article examines the role of GC in changing how perfumers and f...
Visualization of Mycobacterial Biomarkers and Tuberculosis Drugs in Infected Tissue by MALDI-MS Imaging

MALDI mass-spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) is a technique capable of the label-free identification and visualization of analytes in tissue sections. We have previously applied MALDI-MSI to the study of the spatial distribution of tuberculosis (TB) drugs in necrotic lung granulomas characteristic of pulmonary TB disease, revealing heterogeneous and often suboptimal drug distributions. To investigate the impact of differential drug distributions at sites of infection, we sought to image mycobacterial biomarkers to coregister drugs and bacteria in lesion sections. The traditional method of visualizing Mycobacterium tuberculosis inside lesions is acid-fast staining and microscopy. Directly analyzing and visualizing mycobacteria-specific lipid markers by MALDI-MSI provides detailed molecular information on bacterial distributions within granulomas, complementary to high-spatial-resolution staining and microscopy approaches. Moreover, spatial monitoring of molecular changes occurring in bacteria during granulo...
Why do we subsidize donations to the opera

ABSTRACTIn many countries – the US, Canada and the UK, for example – donors to charities receive the identical subsidy through the tax system whether their donation is to a homeless shelter, or to the opera. The way in which charitable giving is subsidized differs across systems, but the equal treatment of very different charities is common to them. Given the different circumstances of the beneficiaries of these various of charities, how can the identical tax subsidy for donations be justified? One approach is to consider the charitable subsidy in light of egalitarian theories of justice and to ask whether a subsidy to charitable gifts to arts institutions that primary benefit the well-off could be justified within the theory. An alternative approach avoids the overarching theory of just distribution and focuses instead on the essentially political and practical aspects of the income tax. This essay considers both approaches, concluding that the latter is more appropriate to the question of the charitable...
Analysis Methods for Shotgun Metagenomics

The development of whole metagenome shotgun sequencing (WGS) has enabled the precise characterization of taxonomic diversity and functional capabilities of microbial communities in situ while obviating organism isolation and cultivation procedures. WGS created with second- and third-generation sequencing technologies will generate millions of reads and tens (or hundreds) of gigabytes of information about the organisms under investigation. Despite containing an immense amount of information, the reads are unorganized and unlabeled, leading to a significant challenge in discerning from which genome a read originated. Thus, analysis of WGS data necessitates first determining community structure and function from the raw reads before the focus can shift to making multi-sample comparisons. A typical WGS workflow consists of read assignment (taxonomic binning and classification), preprocessing techniques (normalization, dimensionality reduction), exploratory approaches (feature selection and extraction, ordination), statistical inference (regression, constrained ordination, differential abundance analysis), and machine learning. The following chapter provides an overview of these analytical approaches (including challenges and possible pitfalls that may be encountered by researchers) as well as steps toward their solutions. Relevant software packages and resources are also discussed.
Nitration and iodination of human carbonic anhydrases. Effects on enzyme activity and on optical properties.

The chemical modification of the tyrosyl residues in human carbonic anhydrases B and C (EC 4.2.1.1) has been studied in relation to its effects on enzymatic activity, optical rotatory dispersion, and circular dichroism. These studies involved nitration of tyrosyl residues in both enzymes with tetranitromethane and iodination of carbonic anhydrase B. New data on the circular dichroism of the native human carbonic anhydrases, obtained on a JASCO instrument, are reported, and are compared with earlier data of Beychok et al., obtained on a Jouan dichrograph. In general, the data on the two instruments are in close agreement, but some differences are noted, and the new data extend to shorter wave lengths than before. The number of available tyrosyl residues for nitration in carbonic anhydrase B is nearly identical with the number of freely titratable tyrosyls previously estimated by the spectrophotometric titrations of Riddiford. The data reported here show that three tyrosyl groups in carbonic anhydrase B can be nitrated at pH 7 to 8.5; one of these reacts more slowly than the others. Carbonic anhydrase C contains only two tyrosyl groups that can be nitrated under the same conditions. More such groups become available when the reaction occurs at higher pH values, above pH 9 for enzyme C or pH 10 for enzyme B. Nitration of the carbonic anhydrases, at pH 8.5 or below, does not change their enzymatic activities. The optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism spectra of the nitrated proteins are indistinguishable from those of the native enzymes, although a new absorption band, at 422 mµ in enzyme B and 428 mµ in enzyme C, is introduced by the formation of 3-nitrotyrosyl residues. Iodination of carbonic anhydrase B caused a decrease in the esterase activity of the enzyme when 2 tyrosyl residues or more were converted to diiodotyrosyl residues. There were accompanying changes in rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism spectra that indicated some loss of the native structure. Urea treatment of the nitrated proteins results in blue shifts of the aromatic absorption bands, similar to the shifts observed for the native enzymes. Although the shapes of the urea difference spectra are very similar for the nitrated and for the native enzymes, slight differences are observed, especially for enzyme B. The urea difference spectra for the nitrated proteins also depend on the urea concentration; the dependence is very similar to that observed for the native enzymes. Urea treatment also exposes the buried tyrosyl groups which become available for nitration. All of the tyrosyls become available for nitration even at urea concentrations at which unfolding of the proteins is not complete as estimated from the difference spectra. Unfolding of the enzymes at high urea concentration is only partially reversible, and refolding depends on the duration of urea treatment. However, Cotton effects in the 250 to 300 mµ region are irreversibly lost in 8 m urea, even in cases in which partial refolding can be shown by difference spectra.
Financial Crises and the Evolution of Capitalism: The Crash of '87: What Does It Mean?

The world-wide crash of financial markets on 19 and 20 October 1987 furnishes prima facie evidence that modern capitalist economies, which are characterised by complex, sophisticated and ever evolving financial structures, are by their very nature endogenously unstable. The crash and its aftermath also show that the structures of intervention and control that emerged over the decades since the Great Depression of the 1930s are able to contain the endogenous processes that in earlier times brought on great and serious depressions. As a result of the successful containment of instability, the evolution of capitalism in the main capitalist economies has been dominated by the result of government and market adjustments to isolated or contained crises, that take place within an on the whole adequately performing system, rather than by market participants and government reactions to overriding crises and failed performance. One need but note that Thatcherism survived a full term of deindustrialisation and unconscionable unemployment, mainly because welfare state transfers sustained the Andy Capp’s of Britain at a tolerable standard, to recognise that the evolutionary dynamics of capitalism has changed.
Adaptive Control via Non-Convex Optimization

The coupling of process estimation and controller design has proved to be a natural way to proceed with the control of engineering systems. In adaptive control, well-known and efficient algorithms have been developed for linear systems. However, it has been observed that when the estimation problem is poorly conditioned, the process becomes unstable, at least locally. In control experiments, this is manifested as a “bursting” phenomenon where both the inputs and outputs have huge oscillations. Several authors have suggested coupling the estimation and controller design problem and solving it as a single nonlinear program. This problem is nonconvex and typically consists of a convex objective with bilinear equations. In this paper, we develop a global branch and bound optimization algorithm that follows the prototype of Horst [6] and exploits the NLP structure to address the stability problem. In addition to an exposition of the algorithm as well as development of stability and convergence results, the approach is applied to a small example in order to demonstrate how bursting has been eliminated.
The Gastrointestinal System

During prolonged exercise, the loss of fluid and electrolytes in sweat, together with the depletion of energy stores in the liver and working skeletal muscles, can produce dehydration, hyperthermia, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, and glycogen depletion. Any one of these factors could contribute to fatigue and limit physical performance. These effects are exacerbated when exercise is performed in the heat. The magnitude of the alterations can be substantial but they are highly variable among individuals. Sweat losses can range from 1 to 4 1•h−1 and sodium losses from 10 to 120 mEq • 1−1 of sweat. Exogenous carbohydrate utilization can exceed 1 g • min−1.
cGMP Production of MSCs

Over the past decade, mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have evolved into an important cell therapy demonstrating potential utility in a range of clinical applications, including bone and cartilage repair, cardiac repair, and immune disorders. MSCs can be isolated from a variety of tissue sources, including bone marrow, adipose tissue, dental pulp, and placenta. Groups have developed different manufacturing processes with a goal of improving the quality of clinical-grade cells and the overall efficiency of the manufacturing process. Variations in cell source and manufacturing process may have a significant impact on the efficacy of the final MSC product. Moreover, this variability in cell source and manufacturing processes has made it challenging to compare the resulting MSC products and associated results from clinical trials that have been conducted to date. The development of consistent, well-controlled manufacturing processes along with the implementation of thorough quality control testing, including rigorous potency assays, will insure high quality and may help to clarify the impact of cell source and manufacturing process on the resulting MSC product. In addition to providing an overview of the current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) methods for MSC production, this chapter summarizes key FDA regulatory requirements, including those related to cell source, raw materials, and quality control testing.
Extra-thoracic Extrinsic Compression: An Unusual Cause of Dysphagia

Background Dysphagia affects one in twenty-five adults yearly in the United States. Objective While dysphagia may be common, the prevalence of dysphagia may be underestimated primarily due to under-reporting. Dysphagia may be caused by intraluminal, intrinsic, extrinsic, or motility disorders. Method/results We present a case of dysphagia caused by extra-thoracic extrinsic compression due to bra use. Conclusion Despite many published reports on dysphagia caused by other diagnoses, we occasionally overlook extrinsic abdominal compression as the cause for dysphagia.
Using Small Unmanned Aerial Systems and Helium Aerostats for Far-Field Radiation Pattern Measurements of High-Frequency Antennas

A new methodology is described for performing near-free space far-field radiation pattern measurements of high frequency and very-high frequency antennas to be employed as part of the radar science instrument system onboard NASA’s planned Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa. Adapted from land-based measurements, this test methodology involves hoisting the antenna under test using a helium-filled aerostat above the earth to minimize ground interactions while flying a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) with onboard RF measurement equipment package to map the far field radiation pattern. Prior to testing the technique using both airborne platforms – the aerostat and the sUAS - measurements are performed on the ground using the sUAS and a fixed VHF dipole over a ground plane to verify the methodology prior to incorporating the flying aerostat for airborne measurements of the HF dipole. These initial measurements have produced promising far-field pattern results with work remaining to fully adapt the fixed VHF antenna measurements to the dynamic HF antenna test setup that uses two airborne platforms (sUAS and aerostat) for measurements.
Communicative signaling of occupational fitness: How innovative ability is expressed and assessed

ABSTRACTThis study investigates how individuals working in the innovation field communicatively define the nature of their work and make assessments of others’ innovative ability. Drawing on signal...
Effects of trifluoromethyl substituents on interfacial and bulk polarization of polystyrene gate dielectrics

The ability to control the bulk and interfacial polarization of dielectric polymers is important to their application in organic electronics. We examine the effect of the trifluoromethyl substituent on poly(3-trifluoromethylstyrene) (P3TFMS) as compared to unsubstituted polystyrene (PS) on the I-V relationships of pentacene-based organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Single- and double-layered films of these polymers were used, with lower layers crosslinked through vinylbenzocyclobutene comonomers before deposition of upper layers. Control experiments verified that the electronic effect of the crosslinking was negligible. We found that the TFM substituent markedly and independently affected both the initial threshold voltage Vth and the nonvolatile, shifted Vth observed after the application of static gate voltage, depending on its position adjacent or apart from the pentacene. The trifluoromethyl-bearing polymers exhibited significantly lower magnitude initial threshold voltages ( Vth,i of ca. −17 V for P3TFMS compared to −35 V for PS), large threshold voltage shifts after charging by the application of static electric fields ( ΔVth of ca. 32 V for P3TFMS and 17 V for PS), and greater stability of the ΔVth under repeated charge/discharge cycles. These results are consistent with P3TFMS having fewer interfacial trap states but more stable bulk trap states. The results are applicable to organo-electronic systems such as piezoelectrics for energy harvesting and nonvolatile OFETs such as memory, sensing, and logic elements.
Selective delipidation of Mycobacterium bovis BCG enables direct pulmonary vaccination and enhances protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is the leading killer due to an infectious organism. Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the only vaccine approved against TB, however, its efficacy against pulmonary TB is poor. While BCG is currently inoculated intradermally, the natural route of M.tb infection is through the lung. Excessive lung pathology caused by pulmonary inoculation of BCG has prevented the use of this immunization route. Here, we show that selective chemical treatment of BCG with petroleum ether removes inflammatory lipids from the bacterial surface while keeping BCG viable. Pulmonary vaccination using this modified BCG attenuated inflammatory responses, prevented immunopathology of the lung, and significantly increased protection against M.tb infection in mice. We further directly linked IL-17A as the responsible contributor of improved immunity against M.tb infection. These results provide evidence that selective removal of cytotoxic lipids from the BCG surface attenuates inflammation and offers a safer and superior vaccine against TB causing less damage post-infectious challenge with M.tb.
Targeting IEP Social Goals for Children with Autism in an Inclusive Summer Camp

Children with autism spectrum disorder demonstrate challenges in socialization that can interfere with their participation in common childhood activities and can persist or worsen if not addressed. The purpose of this study was to assess whether individualized education program (IEP) social goals could be targeted by a supervised paraprofessional during a short-term inclusive summer camp program. Data were collected using a concurrent multiple baseline design across four children. Results showed that following a 2-week summer camp program all participants made social improvements, reaching their year-long IEP goals, that maintained at follow-up in natural environments. Further, the paraprofessionals reached fidelity of implementation. Findings are discussed in terms of the value and feasibility of providing social interventions in inclusive summer camps.
Beinverlängerung und Deformitätenkorrektur mit dem Femur-Albizzia Nagel

The albizzia femoral nail allows for lengthenings up to 10 cm. It can be used in achondroplastic patients. Multiplane corrections can be addressed with a special nail (3D-Albizzia) if multiple osteotomies are performed (e.g. for proximal and distal femoral varus). A derotation and a flexion/extension osteotomy can also be associated. IM nailing is suitable for patient with previous external fixators. Surgical planning should be careful. The operation is currently performed percutaneously, with a 1 to 2 cm skin incision for nail insertion, and a 6 mm incision for distal femoral dome osteotomies. CPM machine is applied in recovery room and rehabilitation resumes on day 1, allowing more than 120 degrees of knee flexion by day 1. Ratcheting for gradual lengthening is begun on day 5 at a rate of 1 mm/day. Muscle stretching and strengthening are maintained for one year. In bilateral cases, a preoperative strengthening program is set. A 120 degrees knee range of motion can be maintained all during lengthening. Intramedullary lengthening allows for maintaining muscle and soft tissue suppleness which protects from hyperpressure over joints and from long-term muscle waisting. The Albizzia is currently a good tool once the surgeon get used to its physiotherapy aspect. Previously reported general anaeshtesia for getting the ratcheting is barely needed, when the technique has been done percutaneously and when the full range of knee motion is recovered on day 1 and maintained thereafter.
Effect of genotype, explant, subculture interval and environmental conditions on regeneration of shoots from in vitro monoploids of a diploid potato species, Solanum phureja Juz. & Buk.

In vitro anther-derived monoploids (2n=x=12) of Solanum phureja were compared for shoot regeneration from leaf and stem explants under various environmental conditions. Monoploids from the same or different diploid clones varied for frequency and earliness of shoot regeneration and number of shoots formed per explant. Leaf explants regenerated at higher frequencies than stem explants. Explants from stock plantlets subcultured at a 2- or 4-week interval regenerated earlier and at a higher frequency than those from plantlets subcultured at longer intervals. Regeneration frequency and number of shoots per explant were greater when explants were incubated at 20°C compared to 25°C. Explants from stock plantlets maintained under a 16 h as opposed to an 11 h photoperiod exhibited increased shoot regeneration; however, neither photoperiod nor the maintenance temperature of the stock plantlets influenced regeneration frequency. Genotypic differences were observed for the frequency of chromosome doubling among regenerated shoots whereas temperature treatments had no influence on chromosome doubling.
Hazing: Destroying Young Lives

Allegations of hazing on college campuses strike fear and tribulation in the hearts of college administrators. While hazing in college is not a new topic for college administrators, it unfortunatel...