cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Eukaryotic Initiation Factor (eIF) 4F Binding to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) 3′-Untranslated Region Correlates with Translation Efficiency

Eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4F binding to mRNA is the first committed step in cap-dependent protein synthesis. Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) employs a cap-independent mechanism of translation initiation that is mediated by a structural BYDV translation element (BTE) located in the 3′-UTR of its mRNA. eIF4F bound the BTE and a translationally inactive mutant with high affinity, thus questioning the role of eIF4F in translation of BYDV. To examine the effects of eIF4F in BYDV translation initiation, BTE mutants with widely different in vitro translation efficiencies ranging from 5 to 164% compared with WT were studied. Using fluorescence anisotropy to obtain quantitative data, we show 1) the equilibrium binding affinity (complex stability) correlated well with translation efficiency, whereas the “on” rate of binding did not; 2) other unidentified proteins or small molecules in wheat germ extract prevented eIF4F binding to mutant BTE but not WT BTE; 3) BTE mutant-eIF4F interactions were found to be both enthalpically and entropically favorable with an enthalpic contribution of 52–90% to ΔG° at 25 °C, suggesting that hydrogen bonding contributes to stability; and 4) in contrast to cap-dependent and tobacco etch virus internal ribosome entry site interaction with eIF4F, poly(A)-binding protein did not increase eIF4F binding. Further, the eIF4F bound to the 3′ BTE with higher affinity than for either m7G cap or tobacco etch virus internal ribosome entry site, suggesting that the 3′ BTE may play a role in sequestering host cell initiation factors and possibly regulating the switch from replication to translation.
Effect of vanadium on elevated temperature phase relations in titanium aluminides containing 44 at.% Al

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry, complemented by in situ high temperature X-ray diffraction, has been utilized to examine phase stability in vanadium-containing TiAl(L1 0 ) alloys over the temperature range 298–1773 K. Observations from alloys containing 4, 7 and 15at.%V-44at.%Al-bal. Ti have shown that increasing vanadium content results in the stabilization of the b.c.c., β, phase throughout the investigated temperature range. These additions of vanadium do not, however, influence either the α → α 2 + γ eutectoid temperature or the stability of α 2 within the α + α 2 + β phase region.
Monte Carlo capabilities of the SCALE code system

Abstract SCALE is a widely used suite of tools for nuclear systems modeling and simulation that provides comprehensive, verified and validated, user-friendly capabilities for criticality safety, reactor physics, radiation shielding, and sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. For more than 30 years, regulators, licensees, and research institutions around the world have used SCALE for nuclear safety analysis and design. SCALE provides a “plug-and-play” framework that includes three deterministic and three Monte Carlo radiation transport solvers that can be selected based on the desired solution, including hybrid deterministic/Monte Carlo simulations. SCALE includes the latest nuclear data libraries for continuous-energy and multigroup radiation transport as well as activation, depletion, and decay calculations. SCALE’s graphical user interfaces assist with accurate system modeling, visualization, and convenient access to desired results. SCALE 6.2 will provide several new capabilities and significant improvements in many existing features, especially with expanded continuous-energy Monte Carlo capabilities for criticality safety, shielding, depletion, and sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. An overview of the Monte Carlo capabilities of SCALE is provided here, with emphasis on new features for SCALE 6.2.
Study of Crack Extension Effects on a Weld-Induced Residual Stress Field

For many applications, welding is the best manufacturing process for joining two separate components. However, the welding process with its highly localized heating and cooling results in the residual stresses both along the surface and through the thickness of the joint. These residual stresses will affect the rate of growth of a fatigue crack as it propagates through the joint and therefore will affect the service life. Therefore, service life predictions must consider the residual stresses as well as their redistribution that occurs as the crack grows.Analytical approaches to assess fitness-for-service such as API 579 are available to evaluate the effect of weld-induced residual stresses. However, current industry practices calculate stress intensity factors (SIFs) for fracture and fatigue crack growth life estimates without considering the redistribution of the residual stresses as the crack propagates, and thus tend to be very conservative.In this paper, Battelle’s weld residual stress modeling methods are combined with a procedure for calculating the SIF using local crack tip displacements that accounts for the redistribution of the residual stresses due to crack extension. In addition, the finite element model used to determine the weld residual stresses is also used to determine the SIF. Therefore, the complete mechanical response to the welding, including residual stress, deformed geometry, elastic and plastic strains, etc. are available for the crack growth analysis. This new unified procedure is demonstrated for simple joints and is compared to a “simplified” crack growth analysis that uses stress mapping. The unified procedure clearly characterizes mixed mode crack behavior at the crack tip. In this paper the procedure is presented in terms of how the crack affects the weld-induced residual stress field; it is equally well suited for practical design use to assess structural integrity in the presence of a weld-induced residual stress field with or without external service loading.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Rate Constants for CH3 + O2 → CH3O + O at High Temperature and Evidence for H2CO + O2 → HCO + HO2

The reaction of CH3 with O2 has been studied in a reflected shock tube apparatus between 1600 and 2100 K. CH3 was prepared from the fast thermal decomposition of CH3I, and O atom atomic resonance a...
Simultaneous visualization of the binding of nerve growth factor and epidermal growth factor to single rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells through indirect immunohistofluorescence

Summary The rat pheochromocytoma cell line, PC12, which has receptors for both nerve growth factor (NGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), was used to develop a technique for the simultaneous visualization of separate growth factor receptors by indirect immunohistofluorescence. The cells were incubated with saturating concentrations of nerve growth factor and epidermal growth factor. After fixation, the cells were treated with anti-NGF sheep antiserum and then with anti-sheep rabbit IgG conjugated with fluorescein; they also were treated with anti-EGF rabbit antiserum and then with anti-rabbit sheep IgG conjugated with rhodamine. Fluorescence microscopy showed that a single PC12 cell bound both NGF and EGF. The fluorescence due to EGF binding was reduced when the cells were grown in the presence of NGF. A similar reduction of fluorescence was observed after addition of the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Both manipulations are known to reduce the specific binding of 125 I-EGF to these cells. Subclones of PC12 cells, NR11 and NR20, reported not to have NGF receptors, did not demonstrate NGF binding when tested with this indirect immunohistofluorescence method. Thus, the binding of growth factors which is demonstrable by indirect immunohistofluorescence method seems to reflect the presence of the specific cell surface receptors for both peptides on individual PC12 cells.
Hyoid muscle dystonia: A distinct focal dystonia syndrome.

Abstract Introduction Adult-onset dystonias are often segmental in distribution and preferentially affect the craniocervical muscles. Here we describe an overlooked muscle group involved in craniocervical dystonia - the hyoid muscles. Dystonia of these muscles results in anterior neck tightness, speech changes, and dysphagia. Methods For this retrospective study we obtained a list of 55 patients who had received botulinum toxin injections into hyoid muscles between 1998 and 2013. Fifteen patients were identified to have an unusual dystonia affecting the hyoid muscles. Results Patients presented with a triad of speech resonance changes (100%), anterior neck tightness (86.6%), and dysphagia (73.3%). Ten (66.7%) patients presented with all three symptoms, while fourteen (93.3%) had at least two. Fourteen patients (93.3%) had a concomitant dystonia affecting the face or neck and eleven (73.3%) had a sensory trick. Exam universally showed contracted hyoid muscles. Some patients had professions or hobbies requiring prolonged use of vocal muscles such as teachers, singers, and musicians. Patients were often misdiagnosed and received unnecessary treatments. Patients underwent botulinum toxin injections into various hyoid muscles with benefit in 71% of patients but adverse effects in the same proportion. Conclusions Hyoid muscle dystonia is a previously poorly characterized focal dystonia causing the triad of speech changes, anterior neck tightness, and dysphagia. Concomitant dystonia, sensory tricks, and visualization of contracted hyoid muscles were often present. Recognition of this disease may reduce unnecessary testing and treatments, and patients may benefit from botulinum toxin injections.
Manipulation of soluble and rumen-undegradable protein in diets fed to postpubertal dairy heifers.

Abstract Eight postpubertal Holstein heifers (455±4.0), fit with rumen cannulas, were used in 2 experiments to investigate the effects of altering dietary protein type on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and nitrogen utilization. Heifers were fed diets containing low or high levels of soluble (SP) and low or high levels of rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) in a 4×4 Latin square design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The treatment rations in experiment 1 were formulated with corn silage composing the majority of the forage fraction, whereas in experiment 2, grass hay composed the highest proportion of ration DM. Blood and rumen samples were collected over 2 d and total fecal and urine collections were conducted for 4 d. Dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber digestibility were not different in either experiment 1 or 2. Increasing the proportion of dietary crude protein that was SP increased mean daily rumen ammonia concentrations in each experiment, although no other rumen parameter differed. Excretion of urinary nitrogen in experiment 1 was highest for diets with low SP and low RUP and with high SP and high RUP, which resulted in these rations being the least efficient in retention of apparently digested nitrogen. The proportion of consumed or absorbed nitrogen retained in experiment 2 was not significantly different between treatments. Responses to alterations in crude protein degradability are observable in postpubertal heifers; however, the level of response may depend on the diet in which protein degradability is altered.
Fault frequency and strain

Faults are among the most numerous deformation features on Earth and are common on other planetary bodies in the solar system. Small faults, in terms of either displacement or trace length, outnumber large faults, and the distribution is well-described by some form of power-law relationship. However, this observation may be of limited practical use for inferring fault populations in inaccessible locations. Toward developing a practical approach to fault prediction, we measured the spacing, orientations, slip directions, and slip magnitudes (our measure of fault size) of exposed normal faults in outcrops of Cretaceous carbonate rocks in Texas. Using data from these observed faults, we calculated extensional strain for each study locality, and we demonstrate that fault frequency correlates with extensional strain. This approach provides a tool for estimating fault frequency in areas where strain can be inferred or determined and for extrapolating fault frequency from data sets with limited resolution.
High-perfermance and low-cost ion sensitive sensor array based on self-assembled graphene

Abstract The ion sensitive sensor array (ISSA) based on layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembled graphene presented in this paper is capable of detecting different ions selectively with advantages of high sensing performance and low cost due to graphene inherent properties and self-assembly technique. According to the conductance change of graphene, the detection limit of ISSA is down to 1 μM, much better than one dimensional carbon nanotube (CNT) sensors. The response time of ISSA is 15 s. The human sweat in vitro testing also confirms the high performance of ISSA.
Distributed grid‐type architectures

Research advances in the distributed computing have led to grid computing, which unlike many other areas of distributed computing focuses on large-scale resource sharing and discovery for better performance. Traditionally, grid computing has been performed in a client/server format. However, recent advances in the area of peer-to-peer computing have brought a paradigm shift in the field of distributed systems and have forced researchers in the area of grid computing to discuss peer-to-peer grids. In this article, we will review the work done in the area of grid computing and discuss peer-to-peer grids with a focus on a framework that provides incentive to the participating resources in a peer-to-peer grid environment. The framework provides the basis for defining a utility function that is used by participating nodes to efficiently allocate the resources that are available in a system. We finish by mentioning the evolving area of cloud computing. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Mm-wave rectangular slot loop antenna array for broad spatial coverage

The multi-Gigahertz worldwide unlicensed band at 60GHz offers many opportunities for developing multi-Gb/s high speed wireless communication. 60GHz technology can enable multiple applications such as extremely fast large file wireless downloading, wireless docking interface for computer, wireless high-definition video streaming, and multi-Gb/s WLAN [1–2]. At 60GHz, phased-array antenna can be compact and provides high directional gain to overcome high propagation loss at 60GHz. In this paper, a planar rectangular slot loop antenna is proposed that provides unique radiation pattern with broad beam pattern tilting toward the side. Other than typical broadside or endfire antenna array, the beam tilted rectangular slot loop antenna array brings flexibility for platform placement while providing broad spatial coverage.
Iterative Synthesis of Threshold Functions

Iterative procedure for determining linear separability of Boolean function and threshold functions for logical switching circuit design
Tracheal gas insufflation is a useful adjunct in permissive hypercapnic management of acute respiratory distress syndrome1

BACKGROUND : Despite numerous advances in critical care, the mortality of postinjury acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains high. Recently, permissive hypercapnia (PHC) has been shown to be a viable alternative to traditional ventilator management in patients with ARDS. However, lowering tidal volume, as employed in PHC, below 5 cc/kg impinges upon anatomic dead space and precipitates a significant rise in PaCO 2 The purpose of this study was to determine if continuous tracheal gas insufflation (cTGI) is a useful adjunct to PHC by lowering PaCO 2 , thus allowing adequate reduction in minute ventilation to achieve alveolar protection. METHODS : Over a 5-year period, 68 trauma patients with ARDS were placed on permissive hypercapnia. Nine of these patients additionally received cTGI at 7 L/min. Arterial blood gas determinations and ventilatory parameters were examined immediately prior to the implementation of cTGI and after 6h. RESULTS : The cTGI produced significant improvement in pH (7.25 ± 0.03 to 7.33 ± 0.03), PaCO 2 (72 ± 5 to 59 ± 5 torr), tidal volume (7.9 ± 0.6 to 7.2 ± 0.6 cc/kg), and minute ventilation (13 ± 1 to 11 ± 1 L/min ; P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS : Continuous TGI is a useful adjunct to permissive hypercapnia, allowing maintenance of an acceptable pH and PaCO 2 while allowing further reduction in tidal volume and minute ventilation.
Acanthosis Nigricans as a Clinical Marker to Detect Insulin Resistance in Caucasian Children From West Virginia

The accuracy of acanthosis nigrcans (AN) as a dermatological clinical marker to predict insulin resistance (IR) has not been well established in children. A cohort of obese Caucasian children was prospectively recruited. Demographic data, body mass index values, and laboratory data were compared for the presence or absence of AN. A total of 76 children participated. In all, 46 (60.5%) children had AN, and 34 (44.7%) children were positive for IR (>3.16); 25 (32.9%) children were positive for both AN and IR. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy level for AN to detect IR in the obese children who participated in this study were 73.5%, 50%, 54.3%, 70%, and 49%, respectively. The correlation between insulin and fasting glucose levels in AN-negative or AN-positive patients was low (R2 = 13% to 17%). Acanthosis nigricans was only a surrogate marker for IR. It is concluded that IR should be examined in every obese West Virginian child irrespective of his or her AN status.
Can Ethnographic Research Go beyond the Status Quo

This article is a slightly revised version of the Past President's Address delivered at the annual business meeting of the Council on Anthropology and Education, Washington, DC, 6 December 1982. ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH; PROGRAM DESIGN; SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT.
System Factory: integrating tools for system integration

Large-scale distributed systems such as global enterprise systems, e-commerce and e-service systems are critical for businesses and complex to build and run. Their design requires an advanced technology of system integration that guarantees satisfaction of various customer requirements. This paper advocates a holistic approach to system integration that supports an end-to-end systematic design: Business Process/spl rarr/Workload Pattern/spl rarr/Virtual System/spl rarr/Configuration/spl rarr/Data and Application Deployment. This approach is implemented as a System Factory, an integrated environment that incorporates and consolidates matching system analysis techniques. The functionality and structure of a System Factory prototype that is under development at HP Laboratories is described in the paper. The center of the factory is a repository that accumulates system solutions, patterns, and templates for specific business segments. Specialized shops with a common modeling and analysis base provide convenient means to find customized solutions.
Charge-domain signal processing of direct RF sampling mixer with discrete-time filters in Bluetooth and GSM receivers

RF circuits for multi-GHz frequencies have recently migrated to low-cost digital deep-submicron CMOS processes. Unfortunately, this process environment, which is optimized only for digital logic and SRAM memory, is extremely unfriendly for conventional analog and RF designs. We present fundamental techniques recently developed that transform the RF and analog circuit design complexity to digitally intensive domain for a wireless RF transceiver, so that it enjoys benefits of digital and switched-capacitor approaches. Direct RF sampling techniques allow great flexibility in reconfigurable radio design. Digital signal processing concepts are used to help relieve analog design complexity, allowing one to reduce cost and power consumption in a reconfigurable design environment. The ideas presented have been used in Texas Instruments to develop two generations of commercial digital RF processors: a single-chip Bluetooth radio and a single-chip GSM radio. We further present details of the RF receiver front end for a GSM radio realized in a 90-nm digital CMOS technology. The circuit consisting of low-noise amplifier, transconductance amplifier, and switching mixer offers 32.5 dB dynamic range with digitally configurable voltage gain of 40 dB down to 7.5dB. A series of decimation and discrete-time filtering follows the mixer and performs a highly linear second-order lowpass filtering to reject close-in interferers. The front-end gains can be configured with an automatic gain control to select an optimal setting to form a trade-off between noise figure and linearity and to compensate the process and temperature variations. Even under the digital switching activity, noise figure at the 40 dB maximum gain is 1.8 dB and +50 dBm IIP2 at the 34 dB gain. The variation of the input matching versus multiple gains is less than 1 dB. The circuit in total occupies 3.1 mm2 . The LNA, TA, and mixer consume less than 15.3 mA at a supply voltage of 1.4 V.
Is Bullying a Junior Hate Crime? Implications for Interventions

Hate crimes and bullying behaviors among children have similarities. Both often focus on “different” individuals as preferred targets, such as those from controversial groups (e.g., homosexuals). T...
Carbonate deposition, Pyramid Lake subbasin, Nevada: 3. The use of 87Sr values in carbonate deposits (tufas) to determine the hydrologic state of paleolake systems

Abstract Sierran rivers that discharge to the Lahontan basin have much lower (∼4.5‰) δ87Sr values than the Humboldt River which drains northeastern Nevada. The δ87Sr values of tufas deposited during the last lake cycle were used to determine when Humboldt derived Sr entered the Pyramid Lake subbasin. Prior to ∼15,000 yr B.P., the Humboldt River flowed to the Smoke Creek-Black Rock Desert subbasin. During the recession of Lake Lahontan, the Humboldt River diverted to the Carson Desert subbasin. This study has demonstrated that 87Sr can be used to determine drainage histories of multi-basin lake systems if the δ87Sr values of rivers that discharge to the basins are sufficiently different.
Predicting overfishing and extinction threats in multispecies fisheries

Threats to species from commercial fishing are rarely identified until species have suffered large population declines, by which time remedial actions can have severe economic consequences, such as closure of fisheries. Many of the species most threatened by fishing are caught in multispecies fisheries, which can remain profitable even as populations of some species collapse. Here we show for multispecies fisheries that the biological and socioeconomic conditions that would eventually cause species to be severely depleted or even driven extinct can be identified decades before those species experience high harvest rates or marked population declines. Because fishing effort imposes a common source of mortality on all species in a fishery, the long-term impact of a fishery on a species is predicted by measuring its loss rate relative to that of species that influence the fishery’s maximal effort. We tested our approach on eight Pacific tuna and billfish populations, four of which have been identified recently as in decline and threatened with overfishing. The severe depletion of all four populations could have been predicted in the 1950s, using our approach. Our results demonstrate that species threatened by human harvesting can be identified much earlier, providing time for adjustments in harvesting practices before consequences become severe and fishery closures or other socioeconomically disruptive interventions are required to protect species.
Tangible bits: towards seamless interfaces between people, bits and atoms

This paper presents our vision of Human Computer Interaction (HCI): "Tangible Bits." Tangible Bits allows users to "grasp & manipulate" bits in the center of users’ attention by coupling the bits with everyday physical objects and architectural surfaces. Tangible Bits also enables users to be aware of background bits at the periphery of human perception using ambient display media such as light, sound, airflow, and water movement in an augmented space. The goal of Tangible Bits is to bridge the gaps between both cyberspace and the physical environment, as well as the foreground and background of human activities. This paper describes three key concepts of Tangible Bits: interactive surfaces; the coupling of bits with graspable physical objects; and ambient media for background awareness. We illustrate these concepts with three prototype systems ‐ the metaDESK, transBOARD and ambientROOM ‐ to identify underlying research issues.
Cavernous hemangioma of the anus

Vascular tumors of the large bowel can be divided into malignant and benign lesions. The benign lesions can be divided into capillary and cavernous hemangiomas. Large-bowel hemangiomas are rare lesions, with the majority of cases reported in the rectum and rectosigmoid regions. Few cases of isolated anal hemangiomas are found in the literature. A case of an asymptomatic anal cavernous hemangioma, palpable on routine rectal examination and subsequently removed at proctosigmoidoscopy, is described.
Green fluorescent protein as a probe of rotational mobility within bacteriophage T4.

Abstract Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was targeted into bacteriophage T4 heads and proheads as a probe of the internal environment. Targeting was accomplished with internal protein III (IPIII) fusion proteins or capsid targeting sequence (CTS)-tagged proteins, where CTS is the 10-amino acid residue CTS of IPIII. Recombinant phage T4[CTS▾IPIII▾GFP], T4[CTS▾IPIIITGFP], and T4[CTS▾GFP] packaged GFP fusion proteins and processed them at cleavage sites designated ▾. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements suggest that packaged GFP is concentrated to a high density, that fusion protein IPIIITGFP occurs in a tightly clustered arrangement, and that the internal milieu of the phage head reduces rotational mobility of GFP. Phage, but not proheads, packaged with fusion protein IPIIITGFP gave an unexpectedly lower anisotropy than phage and proheads packaged with GFP, which suggests IPIIITGFP is bound to DNA in a manner that causes close associations between GFP molecules resulting in homotransfer between fluorophores within packaged phage. Targeting of reporter proteins into active virions is a promising approach for determining the structure of the condensed DNA, and properties of encapsidated viral enzymes.
A Tropical Belle Époque: Elite Culture and Society in Turn-of-the-century Rio de Janeiro

. Tropical Belle Epoque: Elite Culture and Society in Turn-of-the-century Rio de Janeiro. Jeffrey Needell Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987. 300 pp., maps, figures, photographs, appendix, notes,bibliography, index. $42.50(cloth). ISBN 0-521-33374-1.
Emerging Subspecialties in Neurology: Autonomic disorders

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction as a cause of disease is an increasingly recognized health problem, not only in the field of neurology, but also in cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, urology, psychiatry, and primary care medicine. Patients may present with a myriad of symptoms including orthostatic intolerance, recurrent syncope, labile blood pressure, disorders of sweating and thermoregulation, neurogenic bladder, sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal dysmotility, pupil abnormalities, and sleep disorders. These symptoms may, in turn, be a consequence of genetic (e.g., hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies, transthyretin amyloidosis), neurodegenerative (e.g., Parkinson disease [PD], multiple system atrophy [MSA]), autoimmune (e.g., autoimmune ganglionopathies), or acquired disorders (e.g., spinal cord lesions, type 2 diabetes). Although autonomic symptoms may be among the most debilitating features of these progressive conditions, they are often treatable. Autonomic disorders specialists require a comprehensive knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology of the ANS, understanding of the pathophysiology and management of acute and chronic autonomic conditions, and expertise in the performance and interpretation of clinical and laboratory evaluation of the ANS. The authors thank Dr. Horacio Kaufmann for reviewing an earlier version of this manuscript.
Evaluation of an upper hive entrance for control of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in colonies of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

This investigation was conducted to test whether an upper hive entrance may result in reduced Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) population buildup in newly established honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies over an 8-mo period. The upper hive entrance consisted of a 3.5-cm-i.d. polyvinyl chloride pipe positioned 20 cm above the hive bottom. Sixteen bee colonies were established using five-frame nucleus hives with a 0.9-kg (2–1b) package of bees with queen. Eight colonies were placed in each apiary, and each colony received one of two treatments: 1) conventional hive lower entrance and 2) modified upper hive entrance. This investigation was conducted in two distant apiaries where A. tumida had been a major problem to local beekeepers for a minimum of 2 yr. Results showed no overall differences between treatment effects on A. tumida counts over the test period, but there was a reduction in bee brood measured in colonies having an upper hive entrance. We conclude that the upper pipe entrance is not recommended in areas where A. tumida are well established and have become problematic. The expected reduction of brood in colonies as a result of using an upper hive entrance will lead to less productive units for honey production and pollination activities. Other control measures will be necessary to maintain tolerable levels of A. tumida in honey bee colonies at high pest densities.
Abstract 111: High Activity Gating of Caveolae-Targeted L-Type Ca2+ Channels Can Initiate Pathological Hypertrophy

Introduction: The source of Ca 2+ that activates pathological cardiac hypertrophy is not clearly defined. We hypothesize that high activity gating of L-type Ca 2+ channels (LTCCs) localized in caveolae signaling microdomains stabilized by caveolin-3 (Cav-3) provides the Ca 2+ influx that locally activates calcineurin (Cn)-mediated nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) to induce hypertrophic gene expression. We generated novel reagents that specifically activate or inhibit the gating of LTCCs in caveolae for analysis of the hypertrophic program, as well as any potential effect on ICa and contraction. Methods and Results: We targeted the known LTCC inhibitory protein Rem or an LTCC subunit (β2a) that promotes high activity gating specifically to caveolae by fusing them to a caveolin-binding domain peptide (termed Cav-Rem and Cav-β2a). We infected adult feline left ventricular myocytes (AFLVMs) with adenoviruses containing Cav-Rem or Cav-β2a for membrane localization and functional studies. NFAT nuclear translocation was determined by co-infecting AFLVMs with ad-NFAT-GFP and either ad-Cav-Rem or ad-Cav-β2a and pacing cells to induce Ca2+ influx mediated nuclear NFAT-GFP translocation. Membrane fractionation experiments showed that Cav-3 membrane domains contain 26.2 +/- 12.7% of membrane targeted LTCCs and blocking these with Cav-Rem eliminated a small fraction of the LTCC current ( 90%), but did not reduce myocyte contractility. Conversely, selective enhancement of LTCC activity within caveolae with Cav-β2a caused a significant increase in NFAT nuclear translocation (>70%) but had no significant effect on contractility. Conclusions: We provide proof of concept that specific Cav-targeted reagents can be used to enhance or inhibit LTCC activity within caveolae microdomains to amplify or block the hypertrophic response. Our results suggest that high activity gating of LTCCs, which is known to be present in the hypertrophied failing human heart, can activate signaling pathways linked to cardiac hypertrophy. Selectively inhibiting these caveolae localized LTCCs could be a novel mechanism to block pathological hypertrophy without reducing cardiac contractility.
Nitric oxide modulates sympathoexcitatory cardiac-cardiovascular reflexes elicited by bradykinin

A number of studies have demonstrated an important role for nitric oxide (NO) in central and peripheral neural modulation of sympathetic activity. To assess the interaction and integrative effects ...
Competition Between Trichogramma pretiosum and Orius insidiosus for Caged Tobacco Budworms on Cotton Treated with Chlordimeform Sprays

The hemipteran predator, Orius insidiosus (Say) plus sprays of chlordimeform [ N ′-(4- chloro- o -tolyl)- N , N -dimethylformamidine] reduced the effect of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley on a caged population of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.). The predator consumed both parasitized and unparasitized tobacco budworm eggs and fed readily on young larvae. The sprays decreased the viability of tobacco budworm eggs, influenced the fecundity of the adult budworms, and reduced emergence of adult T. pretiosum from parasitized eggs, but they did not directly affect O. insidiosus . The combination of spray, parasites, and predators prevented populations of tobacco budworm larvae from exceeding 2400/acre for ca. 2 months. Although T. pretiosum parasitized relatively large numbers of tobacco budworm eggs when the density of O. insidiosus was low and chlordimeform sprays were not bemg applied, the predator had more effects on the tobacco budworm than the parasite through most of the test period. However, when the population of the cotton leafperforator, Bacculatrix thurberiella Busck, was reduced with chlordimeform, the population of O. insidiosus declined steadily despite a relatively high density of tobacco budworms. The population of cotton leafperforators, therefore, appeared to have great mfluence on the population of O. insidiosus .
VIRUSES IN CELL CULTURES OF KIDNEYS OF CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL HEART MALFORMATIONS AND OTHER DISEASES.

SummaryA systematic search for occult cytopathic agents in cultures from kidneys and occasionally other organs obtained at autopsy from children several days to 15 years of age, was conducted over a 2-year period. Of the 158 kidneys processed, 84 were successfully propagated in culture. Primary, secondary, and occasionally tertiary cultures were maintained and observed for over 2 months. The percentage of kidneys propagated decreased with increasing age of the patient. Nine of the 66 children less than one year of age yielded spontaneous cytopathic agents in the cell cultures derived from their kidneys and/or other organs. None of the cultures from the 18 older children were positive. Three of the 9 agents were identified as cytomegalovirus, 3 were adenovirus (types 1, 2 and 7) and one each as measles, varicella and coxsackie virus type Bl. Only 2 of the 9 isolates (adenovirus type 7 and coxsackie virus type Bl) were isolated also from 20% organ suspensions. In 5 of the cases presented, there was a defini...
Likely Benefits from HIFO Accounting

New IRS rules on accounting for cost basis often impose on investors a decision regarding cost basis when selling shares. We investigate in a very practical way the likely benefits from choosing the highest-in, first-out (HIFO) method for tracking shares. Our results show that for realistic scenarios where investors plan for retirement, HIFO accounting can add about 2% to the investor’s total wealth at the retirement date. Above average tax rates and greater volatility increase the value of using HIFO accounting.
PWE-422 The impact of an alcohol awareness day in a large district general hospital

Introduction The Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) is held an alcohol awareness day in January to encourage local people to reflect upon their drinking habits and make positive lifestyle changes. The awareness day came in response to the number of patients requiring the hospital’s services due to the effects of excessive alcohol consumption. In November and December 2014, the number of people who attended the PRUH–s Emergency Department (ED) due to excessive alcohol consumption totalled 92, and of that number 36 patients had to be admitted for further treatment. Ninety-one per cent of those who attended the ED due to alcohol-related problems were of working age. An audit of 100 inpatients found that 16 were drinking at potentially hazardous levels. Method Information was made available on the recommended weekly maximum levels of alcohol consumption and sources of help. A stand was erected at the hospital front entrance and literature disseminated to staff and patients given plus a direct opportunity to ask questions. Reflection of weekly alcohol consumption was aided by the use of diary cards. Results Over the course of the day, 145 people visited the stand and our team disseminated information on recommended weekly alcohol limits. Staff were particularly interested in understanding the units they were consuming and patients were surprised to learn that they should have three alcohol-free days per week. Visitors to the stand were encouraged to keep a diary of their drinking habits and take part in our competitions to create non-alcoholic recipes for smoothies and mocktails. A few quotes from staff included “it is a real eye opener to keep a diary card”, “alcohol histories are often take too long to pin down an answer”. Patients semed particularly keen to ask about binge drinking and many were unaware about the need for alcohol free days. Conclusion The number of people we are seeing across our services as a result of alcohol misuse – from the Emergency department to outpatients and endoscopy illustrates the damaging effect it can have. Lack of awareness of the maximum weekly consumption plays a big part. The New Year is an ideal time for people to reflect on their health and consider making lifestyle changes. It is up to individuals to recognise the problem and want to make a positive change in their lives. The alcohol awareness day was local success and both patients and staff gained insight into the impact of alcohol on our current NHS resources. Disclosure of interest None Declared.
Investigational antiarrhythmic drugs for the treatment of ventricular rhythm disturbances

Currently available antiarrhythmic drugs possess very poor therapeutic-to-toxic ratios, and therefore, there is a great deal of interest in the development of new investigational agents to suppress ventricular rhythm disturbances. This article includes most of the investigational ventricular antiarrhythmic drugs in which there has been a great deal of recent active investigation and interest. It stresses the different patient populations that have been tested with each of these antiarrhythmic drugs, pointing out those drugs that have been documented to be effective in nonsustained ventricular tachycardia or sustained ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death.
Why Regional Parties?: Clientelism, Elites, and the Indian Party System

Today, regional parties in India win nearly as many votes as national parties. In Why Regional Parties?, Professor Adam Ziegfeld questions the conventional wisdom that regional parties in India are electorally successful because they harness popular grievances and benefit from strong regional identities. He draws on a wide range of quantitative and qualitative evidence from over eighteen months of field research to demonstrate that regional parties are, in actuality, successful because they represent expedient options for office-seeking politicians. By focusing on clientelism, coalition government, and state-level factional alignments, Ziegfeld explains why politicians in India find membership in a regional party appealing. He therefore accounts for the remarkable success of India's regional parties and, in doing so, outlines how party systems take root and evolve in democracies where patronage, vote buying, and machine politics are common.
Simulation tools for analyzer-based x-ray phase contrast imaging system with a conventional x-ray source

Analyzer-based X-ray phase contrast imaging (ABI) belongs to a broader family of phase-contrast (PC) X-ray imaging modalities. Unlike the conventional X-ray radiography, which measures only X-ray absorption, in PC imaging one can also measures the X-rays deflection induced by the object refractive properties. It has been shown that refraction imaging provides better contrast when imaging the soft tissue, which is of great interest in medical imaging applications. In this paper, we introduce a simulation tool specifically designed to simulate the analyzer-based X-ray phase contrast imaging system with a conventional polychromatic X-ray source. By utilizing ray tracing and basic physical principles of diffraction theory our simulation tool can predicting the X-ray beam profile shape, the energy content, the total throughput (photon count) at the detector. In addition we can evaluate imaging system point-spread function for various system configurations.
Neuro-Ophthalmology in Emergency Medicine

Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the eye, the orbit, and the central connections is key to understanding neuro-ophthalmologic emergencies. Anisocoria is an important sign that requires a systematic approach to avoid misdiagnosis of serious conditions, including carotid dissection (miosis) and aneurysmal third nerve palsy (mydriasis). Ptosis may be a sign of either Horner syndrome or third nerve palsy. An explanation should be pursued for diplopia since the differential diagnosis ranges from the trivial to life-threatening causes.
Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm: A Single-Center Experience Documenting Frequent CNS Involvement

Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare myeloid malignancy that often manifests with skin, lymph node, and bone marrow involvement. Patients diagnosed with BPDCN have a poor prognosis, with a median overall survival ranging from 12-14 months (Julia et al., 2014). Aoki et. al (2015) published a retrospective review reporting overall survival at 4 years for patients who underwent autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) as 82% and 53%, respectively. Progressive disease, including central nervous system (CNS) involvement, excludes patients from receiving HSCT. Published case reports suggest that CNS presentation at diagnosis is rare, with estimates of only 10% of patients with CNS involvement at diagnosis (Feng et al., 2014; Starck et al., 2014). A retrospective case series of all patients treated for BPDCN at The Ohio State University from 1990 to present (n=11) was performed. Demographic data is summarized in table 1. Four of five patients undergoing CNS evaluation at diagnosis were found to have CNS involvement. All eleven patients underwent chemotherapy with the majority receiving induction chemotherapy (table 1). Three of the four patients with known CNS involvement at diagnosis expired within three months. The fourth patient survived with significant neurological complications secondary to intrathecal chemotherapy and was not a HSCT candidate. Two of eleven patients underwent HSCT. One died from relapsed disease in bone marrow, and one achieved long-term progression free survival. Two patients were lost to follow up, and were 7 and 16 months past diagnosis at last contact. CNS involvement with BPDCM at diagnosis may be more common than the literature suggests and should be investigated at diagnosis to allow these patients the best chance of long-term survival. Disclosures Porcu:Cell Medica: Research Funding; Infinity: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Shape: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding.
Correlates of Bacterial Vaginosis Over Long-Term Follow-Up: Impact of HIV Infection

Abstract Correlates of bacterial vaginosis (BV) are poorly understood, especially in HIV infection. In a cohort study, HIV-seropositive and comparison seronegative women were assessed every 6 months during 1994–2015. BV was considered present when three of four Amsel criteria were met. Behavioral characteristics were assessed using structured interviews. Multivariable logistic regression used generalized estimating equation models to determine factors associated with BV. Cumulative incidence of BV over time was assessed using the log-rank test. Among 3,730 women (964 HIV seronegative and 2,766 HIV seropositive) contributing 70,970 visits, BV was diagnosed at 2,586 (14.0%) visits by HIV-seronegative women and 6,224 (11.9%) visits by HIV-seropositive women (p < .0001). The cumulative incidence of BV was 530/964 (55.0%) in HIV-seronegative women and 1,287/2,766 (46.5%) in seropositive women (p < .0001). In adjusted analyses, factors associated with BV were younger age, ethnicity, lower income, less education...
The Application of Modeling and Prediction to the Formation and Stability of Amorphous Solid Dispersions

Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) formulation development is frequently difficult owing to the inherent physical instability of the amorphous form, and limited understanding of the physical and chemical interactions that translate to initial dispersion formation and long-term physical stability. Formulation development for ASDs has been historically accomplished through trial and error or experience with extant systems; however, rational selection of appropriate excipients is preferred to reduce time to market and decrease costs associated with development. Current efforts to develop thermodynamic and computational models attempt to rationally direct formulation and show promise. This review compiles and evaluates important methods used to predict ASD formation and physical stability. Recent literature in which these methods are applied is also reviewed, and limitations of each method are discussed.
What predicts adult readers’ understanding of STEM texts?

The current study examined the relations among key variables that underlie reading comprehension of expository science texts in a diverse population of adult native English readers. Using Mechanical Turk to sample a range of adult readers, the study also examined the effect of text presentation on readers’ comprehension and knowledge structure established after reading. In Study 1, ratings of situational interest, select reading background variables, and select measures of readers’ knowledge structure accounted for significant variance in comprehension. In Study 2, the knowledge structure metrics of primacy, recency, and node degree as well as several text ratings were found to be comparable across text presentation formats. Participants who read the text sentence-by-sentence obtained higher scores on measures of comprehension and provided higher ratings of situational interest than those who received the whole paragraph text at once. Knowledge structure measures for the sentence-by-sentence and paragraph formats were similar (68% overlap). We discuss implications for future research examining factors that underlie the successful comprehension of science texts.
Measurement of load-pull performance in the power smith tube using a tunable varactor matching network

Future radar transmitters will require a fast reconfiguration of their radio-frequency circuitry in order to adapt to changes in operating frequency and spectral output while maintaining high power-added efficiency. In this paper, transistor load-pull measurement results are displayed in the Power Smith Tube using measurements from a tunable-varactor matching network. Measuring load-pull characteristics and plotting them in the Power Smith Tube is a preliminary step toward the implementation of the Power Smith Tube in real-time optimization using the tunable-varactor network. Visualization of the tunable-matching network load-pull results can be used as an aid in designing for optimum power-added efficiency while meeting adjacent-channel power ratio requirements.