cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of Sample6 DETECT™ HT/L Kit for the Detection of Listeria in Mixed Leafy Greens.

BACKGROUND Early and accurate detection of Listeria in foods is vital. Current methods require 24 h enrichment for detection. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to demonstrate enhanced early detection of Listeria in mixed leafy greens using Sample6 DETECT™ HT/L, a phage-based detection system. METHODS A method comparison between the reference method (U.S. Food and Drug Administration Bacteriological Analytical Manual Chapter 10) for the detection of Listeria spp. and the Sample6 DETECT HT/L using a new proprietary R2 Medium was performed in mixed leafy greens. RESULTS Using the R2 Medium enrichment with Sample6 DETECT HT/L, detection of L. innocua was possible at 12 h (with a centrifugation step), and L. monocytogenes was detected by 18 h, with equivalent performance as the 24 h enrichments using the reference method detection. The Sample6 DETECT HT/L gave an equivalent performance for L. innocua at 15 h as the reference method at 24 h. Detection was accomplished by the addition of reagents in the kit, following the package insert, and reading results in a detection chamber using a 96-well plate reader that detects a fluorescent signal. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate the new R2 Medium and Sample6 DETECT HT/L allowed for earlier detection of Listeria spp. in mixed leafy greens. HIGHLIGHTS Sample6 DETECT HT/L with the new R2 Medium allowed the early detection of Listeria spp. and may be applied in other food matrices and environmental samples.
Academic Research Collaboration

Collaboration is a twenty-first-century trend in academia, especially as research questions are larger and more intricate, requiring the efforts of more people. Yet at the same time, it seems ever more specialized knowledge and expertise is needed, requiring the efforts of the most appropriate people. Similarly, in the clinical setting, multi- and inter-disciplinary clinics and provider teams to manage patients with complex diseases and syndromes are observed. The need to think and work together on complex scientific and biomedical issues thus has increased, shifting the emphasis from individual efforts to collaborative work, from independence to interdependence. Collaborative science, popularly called “team science,” is a new moniker. Federal funding agencies are offering more program and collaborative projects than ever. But at the heart of all collaborations, no matter how large or small, are the dynamics and interplay between individuals. In this chapter, the rationale for collaborations in scientific research is reviewed, and features of successful collaborations discussed. Lessons from my own collaborative efforts are also shared.
Genital vitiligo in children: Factors associated with generalized, non‐segmental vitiligo

Background/objectives It remains uncertain as to whether genital vitiligo of childhood is segmental or a forme fruste of non-segmental disease. This type of vitiligo is sometimes termed figure-of-eight disease due to female predominance and perineal and perianal hypopigmentation or depigmentation around two orifices, the anal and vaginal introitus. The objective of this series was to categorize the features of genital-limited vitiligo of childhood including comorbidities, family history, and long-term course. Methods IRB-approved retrospective chart review of vitiligo cases. Results Eight cases of vitiligo that began in childhood in the genital area were identified, including clinical course and comorbidities. Involvement of the contiguous skin, including inner thighs, buttocks, and scrotum, was noted in all males. In females, only 1 patient had other sites of vitiligo, which was a solitary lesion on the chest. Therapeutic response to topical corticosteroids for perianal skin was seen in five of six children and topical calcineurin inhibitors with or without calcipotriene in four out of four patients. Conclusions Segmental disease limited to the genitalia was more common in females than males, suggesting that perhaps intervention and work-up for comorbid autoimmune diseases may be required for males with genital-limited vitiligo at onset, but may be deferred in females and added if observation of spread is noted. Differentiation from lichen sclerosus et atrophicus may require biopsy.
Nervous system control of intestinal host defense in C. elegans

Interplay between the nervous and immune systems is critical for homeostasis, and its dysfunction underlies pathologies such as multiple sclerosis, autism, leukemia, and inflammation. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans provides an opportunity to define evolutionarily conserved mechanisms of regulation of host innate immunity and inflammation in a genetically tractable whole-animal system. In the past few years, the C. elegans nervous system has emerged as an integral part of host defense against pathogens, acting through diverse mechanisms to repress or induce protective transcriptional responses to infection in distal tissues. In this review, we discuss current knowledge of the mechanisms through which the C. elegans nervous system controls the expression of host defense genes in the intestinal epithelium. Although still incomplete, the insights derived from such work have broad implications for neural regulation of epithelial function at mucosal barriers in higher organisms in health and disease.
Open-Shell Effects on Optoelectronic Properties: Antiambipolar Charge Transport and Anti-Kasha Doublet Emission from a N-Substituted Bisphenalenyl

By stabilizing unpaired spin in the ground state, open-shell π-conjugated molecules can achieve optoelectronic properties that are inaccessible to closed-shell compounds. Here, we report the synthe...
The Role of Basement Membranes in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.

Dementia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by cognitive decline in multiple domains, often leading to functional impairment in activities of daily living, disability, and death. The most common causes of age-related progressive dementia include Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), however, mixed disease pathologies commonly occur, as epitomized by a type of small vessel pathology called cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). In CAA patients, the small vessels of the brain become hardened and vulnerable to rupture, leading to impaired neurovascular coupling, multiple microhemorrhage, microinfarction, neurological emergencies, and cognitive decline across multiple functional domains. While the pathogenesis of CAA is not well understood, it has long been thought to be initiated in thickened basement membrane (BM) segments, which contain abnormal protein deposits and amyloid-β (Aβ). Recent advances in our understanding of CAA pathogenesis link BM remodeling to functional impairment of perivascular transport pathways that are key to removing Aβ from the brain. Dysregulation of this process may drive CAA pathogenesis and provides an important link between vascular risk factors and disease phenotype. The present review summarizes how the structure and composition of the BM allows for perivascular transport pathways to operate in the healthy brain, and then outlines multiple mechanisms by which specific dementia risk factors may promote dysfunction of perivascular transport pathways and increase Aβ deposition during CAA pathogenesis. A better understanding of how BM remodeling alters perivascular transport could lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for CAA patients.
Interaction Between Public Authorities and Stakeholders in Social Media (Comparative Analysis of the Regional Practician)

The wide functionality of social media allows the authorities of the territorial subject to choose a variety of models for using this information resource for organizing interaction in the space of public communications. The purpose of the present research is to explore the practice of public authorities organizing interaction with stakeholders in social media. The study took into consideration official accounts of regional state and municipal structures, as well as regional accounts of federal executive authorities in social networks ”Vkontakte”, ”Odnoklassniki”, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The analysis has shown that in the median region, the number of government accounts is almost twice as high as the social network “Vkontakte”, while the structure of official accounts of Moscow authorities is more differentiated by social networks. Despite a 10-fold increase in the number of Muscovites over residents of the Kursk region, the share of subscribers to official government accounts in them among the General population is comparable. The intensity of the use of feedback forms for official accounts of the authorities of the Kursk region exceeds similar indicators of Moscow city. But at the same time, the publication activity of official accounts the Kursk region authorities is lower than in Moscow. Keywords: public administration, regional governance, public communications, social media, stakeholders
Assessing Brain Capillaries in Coronavirus Disease 2019.

This case series analyzes brains from autopsies of patients who died of coronavirus disease 2019 as confirmed by nucleic acid test and with severe pulmonary pathology.
Effects of supplements differing in fatty acid profile to late gestational beef cows on cow performance, calf growth performance, and mRNA expression of genes associated with myogenesis and adipogenesis.

BACKGROUND Maternal nutrition during gestation affects fetal development, which has long-term programming effects on offspring postnatal growth performance. With a critical role in protein and lipid metabolism, essential fatty acids can influence the development of muscle and adipose tissue. The experiment investigated the effects of late gestation supplements (77 d prepartum), either rich in saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (CON; 155 g/cow/d EnerGII) or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; 80 g/cow/d Strata and 80 g/cow/d Prequel), on cow performance and subsequent calf growth performance as well as mRNA expression in longissimus muscle (LM) and subcutaneous adipose tissue at birth and weaning. RESULTS There was no difference (P ≥ 0.34) in cow body weight (BW) or body condition score from pre-supplementation through weaning. Relative concentrations of C18:3n-3 and C20:4n-6 decreased (P ≤ 0.05) to a greater extent from mid-supplementation to calving for PUFA compared with CON cows. Cow plasma C20:0, C20:5n-3, and C22:6n-3 were increased (P ≤ 0.01) in PUFA during supplementation period. At birth, PUFA steers had greater (P = 0.01) plasma C20:5n-3. No differences (P ≥ 0.33) were detected in steer birth BW or dam milk production, however, CON steers tended (P = 0.06) to have greater pre-weaning average daily gain and had greater (P = 0.05) weaning BW compared with PUFA. For mRNA expression in steers: MYH7 and C/EBPβ in LM increased (P ≤ 0.04) to a greater extent from birth to weaning for PUFA compared with CON; MYF5 in LM and C/EBPβ in adipose tissue tended (P ≤ 0.08) to decrease more from birth to weaning for CON compared with PUFA; SCD in PUFA adipose tissue tended (P = 0.08) to decrease to a greater extent from birth to weaning than CON. In addition, maternal PUFA supplementation tended (P = 0.08) to decrease MYOG mRNA expression in LM and decreased (P = 0.02) ZFP423 in adipose tissue during the pre-weaning stage. CONCLUSIONS Late gestation PUFA supplementation decreased pre-weaning growth performance of the subsequent steer progeny compared with CON supplementation, which could have been a result of downregulated mRNA expression of myogenic genes during pre-weaning period.
Expanding Inclusivity with Learner-Generated Study Aids in Three Different Science Courses

Note taking is a seemingly simple study strategy, yet as a source of learner-generated content its perceived effectiveness varies across subjects and from student to student, as not all students are able to create high-quality notes without guidance. While often advocated by the instructors, the use of notes as exam aids (whether used in open-books exams or not) is a pedagogical practice that has invited some controversy, but there are studies that justify the use of student-created reminder sheets by acknowledging that students must review the material in order to organize and create their study aids. Preparing for exams by actively developing formula sheets or other study aids assists students in studying, even if they are not consciously aware they are studying. We would like to suggest that modeling the process of creating successful study aids from class notes is an inclusive practice that leads to improved outcomes in low-performing students and increases their agency. Creating scaffolds for note taking, whether through sharing examples or prompting synthesis of information, allows for higher-quality note taking across all learners. We provide examples from three separate courses in which the instructors took this approach in widely different ways, and we offer a set of best practices for other instructors interested in using these resources in their own courses.
Paenibacillus wound infection in a pediatric trauma patient

Abstract We report a case of Paenibacillus wound infection in an immunocompetent and otherwise healthy nine-year-old boy who sustained a laceration following an all-terrain vehicle crash. During his course, he failed non-operative management and required multiple wound washouts and a thirty-six-day course of antibiotics. While this pathogen is most known for causing honeybee disease known as American Foulbrood (AFB), Paenibacillus has been implicated in a handful of human wound complications in the post-traumatic setting. This is a rare, opportunistic bacteria that is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics. Less than twenty cases of human Paenibacillus wound infections have been reported in the literature and when they do occur, they often affect immunocompromised patients or those with chronic medical co-morbidities. In the last ten years, there have been four case reports of neonatal sepsis caused by this pathogen. This appears to be the first pediatric Paenibacillus wound infection reported.
A Comfort for the Bad Cop—A Challenge for the Good Forensic Scientist

On 28 Nov. 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that failure by the police to preserve physical evidence that could prove a defendant's innocence does not violate the constitutional right to due process of law unless it can be proved that the police acted in “bad faith.” In the case of Arizona v. Youngblood, the state's Court of Appeals had overturned Larry Youngblood's conviction for the kidnapping and sodomy of a ten-year-old boy on the ground that the police neglected to test semen stains on the victim's clothing, or to preserve that evidence by storing it in their freezer, thereby precluding the opportunity to compare the assailant's blood type with the defendant's when he was arrested a few weeks later. The State of Arizona appealed that ruling, and the Supreme Court, by a 6 to 3 vote, in an opinion written by a former Arizonian, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, reinstated Mr. Youngblood's conviction.
Cyclic Nucleotide Metabolism and Physiology of the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster

Publisher Summary The ease of genetic manipulation of Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster) makes it the organism of choice for studying the basic physiological mechanisms that pertain to all higher organisms. This chapter presents a review of current state of knowledge of the cyclic nucleotide system in D. melanogaster and explains the way the genetic approach has begun to elucidate the physiological roles of this system in the intact organism. In these studies, the biochemical and genetic progress has been made hand-in-hand. The chapter points out the unique contributions that a combined biochemical and genetic analysis can make to an understanding of the physiological roles of cyclic nucleotides in higher organisms and to describe the results of such an analysis in Drosophila. A complementary approach to determine the physiological significance of any biochemical system is to alter the system genetically and to observe in the intact organism the consequences of that alteration.
Support for Implementation of Evolutionary Concurrent Systems in Concurrent Programming Languages

In many concurrent programming languages, concurrent programs are difficult to extend and modify: small changes in a concurrent program may require re-implementations of a large number of its components. In this paper a novel concurrent program composition mechanism is presented in which implementations of computations and synchronizations are completely separated. Separation of implementations facilitates extensions and modifications of programs by allowing one to change implementations of both computations and synchronizations. The paper also describes a concurrent programming model and a programming language that support the proposed approach.
Public Library Clients Prefer Formal Classes for Initial Training on Library’s Online Resources and Informal, On-Demand Assistance for Further Training

Abstract Objective – To discover public library clients’ needs and preferences for modes of training on the use of the Internet and the libraries’ online resources and to apply these findings to improve training offered by public library staff. Design – Multiple exploratory case study. Setting – Two public libraries in New South Wales, Australia: a regional library (Mudgee Branch of the Mid-Western Regional Council Library Service) and a metropolitan library (Marrickville Central Library). Subjects – A total of 24 public library clients. The participants were split evenly between the two libraries, with 12 from the Mudgee Branch and 12 from the Marrickville Central. The respondents were further subdivided into two groups based on age (35 to 44 years old and 65 or older) and evenly distributed by sex within the groups. Methods – This study used naturalistic inquiry to frame the multiple exploratory case study of two public libraries. Ruthven used maximum variation sampling to guide the selection of participants. Library staff helped the researcher to identify possible participants at Marrickville, while the researcher advertised for participants at Mudgee Library and at an Internet/database course taught at the Mudgee Business Enterprise Centre. She used snowball sampling to find additional participants at both sites. Ruthven conducted semi-structured interviews with the participants, with questions covering their preferences, recommendations, and needs for online resource training. The data from the interviews and search logs were analyzed using inductive data analysis. Main Results – Participants preferred small group, face-to-face, formalized instruction for initial training on online resources. For further training, participants preferred individualized assistance and immediate support instead of formal classes. They noted a lack of training opportunities and a lack of help from library staff as sources of frustration when trying to learn to use online resources at the public libraries. Conclusion – Public library staff should offer formalized classes for those beginning to learn about using online resources, and focus on ad hoc, individualized assistance for more advanced learners. Since offering this type of instructional program is dependent on staff knowledge and staff availability, library staff members need to be trained in the use of online resources and classroom presentation skills.
Motion and attention in a kinetic videoconferencing proxy

Compared to collocated interaction, videoconferencing disrupts the ability to use gaze and gestures to mediate interaction, direct reactions to specific people, and provide a sense of presence for the satellite (i.e., remote) participant. We developed a kinetic videoconferencing proxy with a swiveling display screen to indicate which direction that the satellite participant was looking. Our goal was to compare two alternative motion control conditions, in which the satellite participant directed the display screen's motion either explicitly (aiming the direction of the display with a mouse) or implicitly (with the screen following the satellite participant's head turns). We then explored the effectiveness of this prototype compared to a typical stationary video display in a lab study. We found that both motion conditions resulted in communication patterns that indicate higher engagement in conversation, more accurate responses to the satellite participant's deictic questions (i.e., "What do you think?"), and higher user rankings. We also discovered tradeoffs in attention and clarity between explicit versus implicit control, a tension in how motion toward one person can exclude other people, and ways that swiveling motion provides attention awareness, even without direct eye contact.
DSP based implementation of a PWM AC/DC/AC converter using space vector modulation with primary emphasis on the analysis of the practical problems involved

The paper describes the complete digital implementation of a TMS320C50 and Xilinx XC7372 (EPLD) based PWM AC/DC/AC converter to meet the stringent IEC specifications. The primary emphasis of the paper is on the practical problems related to the implementation and their solutions. The space vector modulation based system, having the capability to change the PWM frequency scheme dynamically and adaptively control the phase, was tested with a motor drive (instead of passive loads only) and the results demonstrated that the system meets the specifications of less than 5% THD on line current, near unity power factor, and less than 5% variation on bus voltage satisfactorily.
Scholarship in Victorian Women and Medicine: an Overview

Since the mid-1980s, scholars in the history of medicine, social history, women's studies, rhetoric, and literary/cultural studies have all recognized that women and medicine came together in particularly interesting ways in the nineteenth century. Between 1985 and 1990, feminists from across the disciplines drew upon a disparate array of more traditional scholarship to produce books that laid the groundwork for studies on Victorian women and medicine, books whose claims are still being tested and spun out in new scholarship. But although scholars in these various fields have borrowed liberally from one another's work, their critical assumptions and methodologies are often quite different. This essay provides an overview of the scholarship in Victorian women and medicine over the past several decades and suggests how the best recent work in the field attempts to achieve true interdisciplinarity.
Genetic evidence for a protein kinase A/cubitus interruptus complex that facilitates processing of cubitus interruptus in Drosophila

Hedgehog (Hh) activates a signal transduction pathway regulating Cubitus interruptus (Ci). In the absence of Hh, full-length Ci (Ci-155) is bound in a complex that includes Costal2 (Cos2) and Fused (Fu). Ci-155 is phosphorylated by protein kinase A (PKA), inducing proteolysis to Ci-75, a transcriptional repressor. Hh signaling blocks proteolysis and produces an activated Ci-155 transcriptional activator. The relationship between PKA and the Ci/Cos2/Fu complex is unclear. Here we examine Hh target gene expression caused by mutant forms of PKA regulatory (PKAr) and catalytic (PKAc) subunits and by the PKAc inhibitor PKI(1-31). The mutant PKAr*, defective in binding cAMP, is shown to activate Hh target genes solely through its ability to bind and inhibit endogenous PKAc. Surprisingly, PKAcA75, a catalytically impaired mutant, also activates Hh target genes. To account for this observation, we propose that PKAc phosphorylation targeting Ci-155 for proteolysis is regulated within a complex that includes PKAc and Ci-155 and excludes PKI(1-31). This complex may permit processive phosphorylation of Ci-155 molecules, facilitating their processing to Ci-75.
Abortive infection with phage T2 at low temperatures.

Abstract Irreversible adsorption of phage T2 to its host cell at 0° has a probability of about 0.8 of resulting in loss of phage infectivity without death of the host cell. Loss of infectivity occurs within 2 minutes of attachment. At 10° the probability of phage destruction is decreased to 0.2. This large temperature effect and other evidence suggest that an enzyme-catalyzed reaction is involved in initiation of successful phage infection. Abortive infection may result from interference with this reaction.
High precision machine based on a differential mechanism

Micromachining processes deal with the production of parts characterized by features in the micro range (i.e., with dimension lower than 1 mm). Several works are present in literature analyzing the tool behaviors, the material influence on the process, and the machine design. In fact, the downsize of the process up to the microscale needs a full review of all the knowledge coming from the meso and macro scale. As a consequence, machines suitable for micromachining processes were recently introduced in the market.Usually, these machines are classified by the classical gantry layout structure supported by a granite frame and, in order to guarantee the needed requirements of precision and accuracy in the micro scale, they are based on fluid-supported axes and active and/or passive vibration control systems.This paper proposes a new concept design: a high precision machine (HPM) based on an innovative layout exploiting a differential mechanism with three motors for two degrees of freedom using pulleys and metal belts. This new layout exhibits relevant advantages. The most significant is that all the worktable servo drives, that moves along x and y axes, are ground-fixed. This allows to isolate the working area of the machine from the servo drives. The system of pulleys and belts holding the working table slides on air bearings in order to minimize the micro vibrations induced by all the drives. A further peculiarity of the machine consists of the double z-axis each of them is motorized by a micrometer slide with linear absolute encoder. The first z-axis is equipped with a spindle for performing micro machining processes (drilling and milling). The second z-axis is equipped with a laser head for micro ablation. The servo drives of the two z-axes are controlled by the same control system of the worktable. Another important feature of the proposed layout is that the differential configuration of the xy mechanism admits the use of a constant speed signal to each control reference with no output displacements. This allows to guarantee non-inversion of motion of the servo-drives and so the avoidance of problems due to backlash and/or static friction. Drives are controlled by position and speed control loops with PID architecture, anti-windup and feed forward strategies. Controllers have been tuned by the use of a genetic algorithm applied to a dynamic model of the system.As a general consideration, the quality of the investigated micro machining processes can be improved with the designed machine structure.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Rabbitpox virus. Anomalous plaque production

Abstract Observation with the electron microscope of the degree and kind of aggregation among the particles of rabbitpox virus has shown that the plaque titer of fresh preparations is a reversible function of the number of aggregates present. Apparently plaques are initiated only by multiply infected cells in the L-cell monolayers. This could arise from incompleteness or deficiencies among the individual particles. The superiority of groups over single particles in plaque formation is so marked that single particles appear to be supplying different attributes rather than augmenting each other in providing sufficient of a single attribute necessary for plaque initiation.
Active Planning, Sensing, and Recognition Using a Resource-Constrained Discriminant POMDP

In this paper, we address the problem of object class recognition via observations from actively selected views/modalities/features under limited resource budgets. A Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) is employed to find optimal sensing and recognition actions with the goal of long-term classification accuracy. Heterogeneous resource constraints--such as motion, number of measurements and bandwidth--are explicitly modeled in the state variable, and a prohibitively high penalty is used to prevent the violation of any resource constraint. To improve recognition performance, we further incorporate discriminative classification models with POMDP, and customize the reward function and observation model correspondingly. The proposed model is validated on several data sets for multi-view, multi-modal vehicle classification and multi-view face recognition, and demonstrates improvement in both recognition and resource management over greedy methods and previous POMDP formulations.
The messenger-directed synthesis of the α-fragment of the enzyme β-galactosidase

Abstract A system has been developed which translates lac messenger RNA (mRNA) from Escherichia coli in vitro . This system synthesizes the N-terminal portion of the β-galactosidase molecule (the α-region). The use of a complementation system allows enzymatic assay of this de novo synthesized material. Synthesis of this fragment is blocked by translational but not transcriptional inhibitors, as expected for an mRNA-directed system. The lac mRNA which can direct α-fragment synthesis has a heterogeneous size distribution over the approximate range 0.4–1.8 × 10 6 daltons. The system is not affected by adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) nor isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (1PTG), but is inhibited by the guanine nucleotides ppGpp and pppGpp.
Response of nanocrystalline 3C silicon carbide to heavy-ion irradiation

Nanostructured materials are generally believed to be more radiation resistant. This study reports on Au-ion-induced amorphization in nanocrystalline $3C\text{-SiC}$, characterized using x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Full amorphization at room temperature occurs at a comparable dose to that for bulk SiC single crystals. The behavior is primarily attributed to a high ion flux and sluggish migration of point defects produced during irradiation. The results may have a significant implication of using nanophased SiC in extremely high radiation environments.
Hybrid segmentation framework for 3D medical image analysis

Medical image segmentation is the process that defines the region of interest in the image volume. Classical segmentation methods such as region-based methods and boundary-based methods cannot make full use of the information provided by the image. In this paper we proposed a general hybrid framework for 3D medical image segmentation purposes. In our approach we combine the Gibbs Prior model, and the deformable model. First, Gibbs Prior models are applied onto each slice in a 3D medical image volume and the segmentation results are combined to a 3D binary masks of the object. Then we create a deformable mesh based on this 3D binary mask. The deformable model will be lead to the edge features in the volume with the help of image derived external forces. The deformable model segmentation result can be used to update the parameters for Gibbs Prior models. These methods will then work recursively to reach a global segmentation solution. The hybrid segmentation framework has been applied to images with the objective of lung, heart, colon, jaw, tumor, and brain. The experimental data includes MRI (T1, T2, PD), CT, X-ray, Ultra-Sound images. High quality results are achieved with relatively efficient time cost. We also did validation work using expert manual segmentation as the ground truth. The result shows that the hybrid segmentation may have further clinical use.
Failure to Recognize Novelty after Extended Methamphetamine Self-Administration Results from Loss of Long-Term Depression in the Perirhinal Cortex

Exposure to methamphetamine (meth) can produce lasting memory impairments in humans and rodents. We recently demonstrated that extended access meth self-administration results in novel object recognition (NOR) memory deficits in rats. Recognition of novelty depends upon intact perirhinal (pRh) cortex function, which is compromised by meth-induced downregulation of GluN2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. NMDA receptors containing this subunit have a critical role in pRh long-term depression (LTD), one of the primary physiological processes thought to underlie object recognition memory. We hypothesized that meth-induced downregulation of GluN2B receptors would compromise pRh LTD, leading to loss of NOR memory. We found that meth self-administration resulted in an inability to induce pRh LTD following 1 Hz stimulation, an effect that was reversed with bath application of the NMDA receptor partial agonist D-cycloserine (DCS). In addition, pRh microinfusion of DCS restored meth-induced memory deficits. Furthermore, blockade of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors with Ro 25-6981 prevented DCS restoration of pRh LTD in meth subjects. Thus, targeting pRh LTD may be a promising strategy to treat meth-induced cognitive impairment.
Identification and cloning of the Mycobacterium avium folA gene, required for dihydrofolate reductase activity

Dihydrofolate reductase is an essential bacterial enzyme necessary for the maintenance of intracellular folate pools in a biochemically active reduced state. In this report, the Mycobacterium avium folA gene was identified by functional genetic complementation, sequenced, and expressed for the first time. It has an open reading frame of 543 bp with a G+C content of 73%. The translated polypeptide sequence shows 58% identity to the consensus sequence of the conserved regions from eight other bacterial dihydrofolate reductases. Recombinant M. avium dihydrofolate reductase was expressed actively in Escherichia coli, and SDS-PAGE analysis revealed a 20 kDa species, agreeable with that predicted from the polypeptide sequence.
Student Response Systems and Facilitating the Large Lecture Basic Communication Course: Assessing Engagement and Learning

Instructors of large lecture classes face a variety of challenges, including student engagement and participation. With budget cuts and increasing class sizes, more schools may turn to large lecture/lab formats for the basic communication course (Stanley & Porter, 2002); instructors must understand how these classes engage students. One viable technique is the use of student response systems (e.g., clickers). However, the relationship between these systems, learning, and the factors that impact participation in basic communication courses is unclear. This study will explore the effectiveness of incorporating student response systems into large lectures.
COMPARATIVE OSMOTIC HEMOLYSIS OF SOME REPRESENTATIVE VERTEBRATES.

Abstract Data are presented which suggest that red blood cell size, rather than shape, may be an important determiner of resistance to osmotic stress.
Shear wave anisotropy in the Mariana Subduction Zone

To determine the location, strength, and orientation of seismic anisotropy in the Mariana subduction zone beneath Guam, we evaluated shear wave splitting in local S, regional S and ScS, and teleseismic core phases such as SKS recorded at station GUMO. Fast directions from the local S phases have an average azimuth of −45°, and splitting times range from 0.1 s to 0.4 s. For local S phases from events within the southeastern half of the subducting slab, splitting parameters manifest minimal frequency dependence in both fast direction and splitting time. However, for the remaining local S phases in the data set, fast directions vary with frequency content. No well-constrained splitting parameters were obtained for the regional and teleseismic phases, but the particle motions of these unsplit phases are consistent with an average anisotropic fast direction of ∼−45°. Anisotropy due solely to olivine oriented by slab-entrained flow in the mantle wedge would produce local S fast directions at ∼−66°, and anisotropy due solely to fossil seafloor spreading in the subducting slab would yield fast directions at −20° to −30°. Neither of these predictions is consistent with the observed fast directions. However, the observed splitting, including the frequency-dependent fast directions, can be explained by models containing anisotropy in both the slab and wedge, and possibly (although not necessarily) anisotropy due to recent extension in the overriding Philippine sea plate.
Skyfiles: Efficient and secure cloud-assisted file management for mobile devices

This paper targets the application of cloud storage management for mobile devices. Because of the limit of bandwidth and other resources, most existing cloud storage apps for smartphones do not keep local copies of files. This efficient design, however, limits the application capacities. In this paper, our goal is to extend the available file operations for cloud storage service to better serve smartphone users. We develop Skyfiles, an efficient and secure file management system that supports more advance file operations. Our basic idea is to utilize cloud instances to assist file operations. Particularly, Skyfiles supports download, compress, encrypt, convert operations, and file transfer between two smartphone users' cloud storage spaces. In addition, we design protocol for users to share their idle instances.
Relationship between protein nitration and oxidation and development of hyperoxic seizures

Abstract Recent studies have implicated nitric oxide (NO ) as a mediator of CNS hyperbaric O2 (HBO2) toxicity. One mechanism by which NO may contribute to HBO2-induced brain toxicity involves a neurotoxic, pro-oxidative action of NO via the formation of the potent oxidant peroxynitrite (ONOO−). The present study compares: (a) the formation of protein nitrotyrosine as a marker of ONOO− accumulation and (b) protein oxidation as an indicator of reactive oxygen species production during HBO2 exposure. Rats were exposed to 5 atm 100% O2 to pre-convulsive exposure or until the occurrence of electroencephalographic (EEG) seizures. After exposures, brains were analyzed for protein nitrotyrosine (NT) and protein carbonyl measurement by Western blot and for superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by NBT assay. The results show a significant increase in protein NT, exceeding control level by several fold. There was only a slow and non-significant increase in the quantity of oxidized proteins during the pre-convulsive phase of HBO2 exposure. Levels of both protein NT and protein carbonyls were significantly (p
Metal-ion binding to high-energy N12C4.

Carbon−nitrogen compounds are of interest for their potential as high-energy materials. One major issue in determining the structures of high-energy materials is molecular stability; a more stable energetic compound is more likely to be useful in a wider variety of applications. In this study, binding energies are calculated for a high-energy N12C4 structure with a series of metal ions to determine preferred binding sites. A metal ion bound to the molecule at a preferred site may stabilize the molecule and render it more potentially useful. The results are calculated on using the PBE1PBE density functional method with the cc-pVDZ basis set of Dunning. Trends in binding energies are calculated and discussed with respect to both the identity of the ion and the various binding sites on the N12C4 molecule.
Protamine pretreatment attenuation of hemodynamic and hematologic effects of heparin-protamine interaction. A prospective randomized study in human beings undergoing aortic reconstructive surgery.

Abstract Hemodynamic and hematologic responses to protamine sulfate reversal of heparin's anticoagulant effects were studied in 15 consecutive randomized patients undergoing aortic reconstructive surgery. In a double-blinded manner, patients were pretreated with either normal saline solution (n = 8) or protamine (0.75 mg/kg/3 min, n=7) 5 minutes before heparinization (150 IU/kg). After aortic grafts were placed, protamine (1.5 mg/kg/3 min) was administered intravenously to reverse the heparin. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, pulmonary artery and capillary wedge pressure, central venous pressure, and cardiac output were monitored, as were platelet count, white blood cell count, activated clotting time, total hemolytic complement levels, and C3a levels. Calculated parameters included systemic vascular resistance and pulmonary vascular resistance. Pretreatment with protamine compared with saline solution prevented the hypotension (+6 vs. −16 mm Hg, p
Constitutive modeling of geomaterials from non-uniform material tests

Abstract As the name implies, a non-uniform material test has a non uniform distribution of stresses and strains within the specimen. An example is a triaxial test with end friction. Unlike the conventional material tests, points in the specimen in a non-uniform material test are subjected to widely varying stress paths. In this paper a method to extract the material constitutive behavior from a non-uniform material test is presented. This method employs the use of a neural network material model in a finite element analysis. The measured boundary forces and displacements are applied in the finite element analysis to generate the input and output vectors for training the neural network material model. This method has been applied to a series of triaxial compression tests with end friction on sand.
Effect of apomorphine on growth hormone release in humans.

Abstract Apomorphine induced marked GH elevation in all 8 healthy subjects studied but in only 1 out of four Parkinsonians.
The composition of expressed lumbang oil

Lumbang oil expressed from kernels of Philippine nuts in 1936 and 1921 was found to contain 8.4 and 8.3 per cent respectively of saturated acids, whereas only about one-fourth of this quantity has been reported by previous investigators.
Ground Surveillance With An Active LLLTV

Passive low-light level television has been used extensively for years in both mili-tary and civilian surveillance applications. The widespread usage of LLLTV comes from its capability of allowing the monitoring of areas which are necessarily dark by direct visual observation. Thus, the television surveillance system extends the observer's keenest decision-making sense -- sight. However, just as the human eye becomes limited at night, the passive LLLTV becomes limited on moonless, overcast nights and in poor visibility weather. To overcome this limitation and to increase the average usable range, an artificial covert illuminator is added to the television system. The illuminator not only alleviates the dependency of performance on naturally occurring nocturnal sources, but increases the system's capability to perform under poor visibility conditions.
Binding of protein synthesis initiation factor IF1 to 30 S ribosomal subunits: Effects of other initiation factors and identification of proteins near the binding site

Abstract The effects of other components of the initiation complex on Escherichia coli initiation factor IFI binding to 30 S ribosomal subunits were studied. Binding of [14C]IF1 in the absence of other initiation complex components was slight. Addition of either IF2 or IF3 stimulated binding to a variable extent. Maximum binding was observed when both IF2 and IF3 were present. Addition of GTP, fMet-tRNA, and phage R17 RNA caused little or no further stimulation of [14C]IF1 binding. A maximum of 0.5 molecule of [14C]IF1 bound per 30 S subunit in the presence of an excess of each of the three factors over 30 S subunits. Complexes of 30 S subunits, [14C]IF1, IF2, and IF3 were treated with the bifunctional protein cross-linking reagent dimethyl suberimidate in order to identify the ribosomal proteins near the binding site for IF1. Non-cross-linked [14C]IF1 was removed from the complexes by sedimentation through buffer containing a high salt concentration, and total protein was extracted from the pelleted particles. Approximately 12% of the [14C]IF1 was recovered in the pellet fraction. The mixture of cross-linked products was analyzed by polyacrylamide/sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Autoradiography of the gel showed radioactive bands with molecular weights of 21,000, 25,000, and many greater than 120,000. The results indicate that [14C]IF1 was cross-linked directly to at least two ribosomal proteins. Analysis of the cross-linked mixture by radioimmunodiffusion with specific antisera prepared against each of the 30 S ribosomal proteins showed radioactivity in the precipitin bands formed with antisera against S12 and S19, and in lower yield with those against S1 and S13. Antiserum against IF2 also showed [14C]IF1 in the precipitin band. The results show that [14C]IF1 was present in covalently cross-linked complexes containing 30 S ribosomal proteins S1, S12, S13 and S19, and initiation factor IF2. The same ribosomal proteins have been implicated in the binding sites for IF2 and IF3. The results suggest that the three initiation factors bind to the 30 S subunit at the same or overlapping sites.
75 Years of Progress: A History of the ASME Heat Transfer Division

This paper presents a history of the ASME Heat Transfer Division (HTD) over the past 75 years. The foundations, birth, growth, and maturation of the division are addressed. An overview of honors and awards is presented and selected developments and trends are discussed. Noteworthy events and workshops, including the 50th anniversary celebration, are considered in some detail. The growing trend toward internationalization is addressed through several conferences and initiatives. Publications, with a focus on the Journal of Heat Transfer, are addressed. The Heat Transfer Division story is told through the contributions and dedicated service of the men and women of the division. The paper concludes with some thoughts about the future.
Phase diagrams and water activities of aqueous ammonium salts of malonic acid.

Malonic acid has been observed in the free troposphere and as a component of tropospheric aerosol, among other dicarboxylic acids. These aerosols can uptake ammonia, which partially or completely neutralizes the acids. Therefore, the impact of ammoniated dicarboxylic acids on the phases that can exist in aerosols at atmospheric temperatures needs investigation. To that end, the low temperature, solid/liquid phase diagrams of ammonium hydrogen malonate/water, ammonium malonate/water, and triammonium hydrogen malonate/water have been investigated with differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy of thin films. Results show that the order of increasing solubility is triammonium hydrogen malonate, ammonium hydrogen malonate, malonic acid, and ammonium malonate. We have also determined a hydrate may form in the ammonium malonate system and decompose below 240 K. We report water activities at the ice melting points for each system up to the respective eutectic concentrations, and find for a given...
An inexpensive, programmable, electromechanical commutator.

Abstract The construction of an electromechanical commutator is described. The apparatus can be constructed in most laboratories for approximately $25 and is suitable for intracranial electrical stimulation of or EEG recording from small unrestrained laboratory animals. The unit described is a combination of a programmable switch controlling which electrode pair will be used and an electrical conductor swivel that rotates with exceptional freedom preventing damage to the electrode assembly, disconnection from the animal, or entanglement of the leads. The apparatus described is functionally reliable, structurally durable, and has been proven to be highly satisfactory.