cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Submerged cultivation of medicinal mushrooms: bioprocesses and products (review)

Medicinal mushrooms belonging to higher Basidiomycetes are an immensely rich yet largely untapped resource of useful, easily accessible, natural compounds with various biological activities that may promote human well-being. The medicinal properties are found in various cellular components and secondary metabolites (polysaccharides, proteins and their complexes, phenolic compounds, polyketides, triterpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, nucleotides, etc.), which have been isolated and identified from the fruiting bodies, culture mycelium, and culture broth of mushrooms. Some of these compounds have cholesterol-lowering, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, antitumor, immunomodulating, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities ready for industrial trials and further commercialization, while others are in various stages of development. Recently, the submerged cultivation of medicinal mushrooms has received a great deal of attention as a promising and reproducible alternative for the efficient production of mushroom mycelium and metabolites. Submerged cultivation of mushrooms has significant industrial potential, but its success on a commercial scale depends on increasing product yields and development of novel production systems that address the problems associated with this technique of mushroom cultivation. In spite of many researchers' efforts for the production of bioactive metabolites by mushrooms, the physiological and engineering aspects of submerged cultures are still far from being thoroughly studied. The vast majority of studies have focused on polysaccharide and ganoderic acid production in submerged cultivation of medicinal mushrooms, and very little has been written so far on the antioxidant and hemagglutinating activity of submerged mushroom cultures. The purpose of this review is to provide an update of the present state of the art and future prospects of submerged cultivation of medicinal mushrooms to produce mycelium and bioactive metabolites, and to make a contribution for the research and development of new pharmaceutical products from mushrooms. A brief overview of the metabolic diversity and bioactive compounds of mushrooms produced by submerged cultures is also given.
Components of change in the residential concentration of the elderly population: 1950-1975.

Changes in the absolute and relative size of the elderly population within metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas are decomposed into the underlying demographic components for three time periods: 1950 to 1960, 1960 to 1970, 1970 to 1975. Specifically, we examine the components of net migration and natural increase of those aged 0 to 64 and those 64 or older. Using published migration estimates for the U.S., this study demonstrates that elderly migration has represented an increasingly important component of the absolute growth of the elderly population within nonmetropolitan areas and a corresponding decline in large SMSAs. Although "aging-in-place" was a dominant component of change in he elderly percentage irrespective of residence, we show that the demographic components of the young also exercise an important and often overlooked effect on the aging process. Most prominent was the slowing of relative aging in remote nonmetropolitan areas, due largely to the post-1970 changeover from net outmigration to net inmigration of those less than 65 years of age.
Correlations of surface measurements with the chromatographic performance of chemically modified glass capillary columns

Abstract Wetting phenomena for different liquids were studied on various surfaces “tailored” by the permanent bonding of selective monolayers of silanes to the inner wall of glass capillaries. Surfaces were characterized by graphic the cosine of advancing contact angle on differently modified glass against liquid surface tension. The thinknesses of coated films of stationary phases, measured chromatographically, were found to be in good agreement with those calculated from the Fairbrother—Stubbsequation. However, the presence of the monolayers significantly alters the surface characteristics of the glass, and the chromatographic performance of capillary columns the reflects the film homogeneity, which was found to be a sensitive function of the chemical similarities between the surface structure and the phase. The mechanism of compatibility proposed earlier for the wettability of glass capillary walls is discussed in terms of both the surface phenomena described and a molecular model of the modified surface.
Remote regulation of glucose homeostasis in mice using genetically encoded nanoparticles

Means for temporally regulating gene expression and cellular activity are invaluable for elucidating underlying physiological processes and would have therapeutic implications. Here we report the development of a genetically encoded system for remote regulation of gene expression by low-frequency radio waves (RFs) or a magnetic field. Iron oxide nanoparticles are synthesized intracellularly as a GFP-tagged ferritin heavy and light chain fusion. The ferritin nanoparticles associate with a camelid anti-GFP-transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 fusion protein, αGFP-TRPV1, and can transduce noninvasive RF or magnetic fields into channel activation, also showing that TRPV1 can transduce a mechanical stimulus. This, in turn, initiates calcium-dependent transgene expression. In mice with stem cell or viral expression of these genetically encoded components, remote stimulation of insulin transgene expression with RF or a magnet lowers blood glucose. This robust, repeatable method for remote regulation in vivo may ultimately have applications in basic science, technology and therapeutics.
A method of measuring gold nanoparticle concentrations by X-ray fluorescence for biomedical applications.

Purpose: This paper reports a technique that enables the quantitative determination of the concentration of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) through the accurate detection of their fluorescence radiation in the diagnostic x-ray spectrum. Methods: Experimentally, x-ray fluorescence spectra of 1.9 and 15 nm GNP solutions are measured using an x-ray spectrometer, individually and within chicken breast tissue samples. An optimal combination of excitation and emission filters is determined to segregate the fluorescence spectra at 66.99 and 68.80 keV from the background scattering. A roadmap method is developed that subtracts the scattered radiation (acquired before the insertion of GNP solutions) from the signal radiation acquired after the GNP solutions are inserted. Results: The methods effectively minimize the background scattering in the spectrum measurements, showing linear relationships between GNP solutions from 0.1% to 10% weight concentration and from 0.1% to 1.0% weight concentration inside a chicken breast tissue sample. Conclusions: The investigation demonstrated the potential of imaging gold nanoparticles quantitatively in vivo for in-tissue studies, but future studies will be needed to investigate the ability to apply this method to clinical applications.
A fuzzy visual language compiler

An efficient parser for analyzing visual sentences that is based on the theory of fuzzy sets is described. The fuzzy parser selects the most reasonable parse tree for a visual sentence. The parser has been incorporated into the SIL visual language compiler. Experimental results are reported. A model which uses fuzzy theory to represent and analyze the reasonableness of derivation trees is given. >
Effects of annealing on the microwave properties of spin-spray Ni-Zn ferrites

We have studied the properties of a series of spinel ferrite thin films prepared from aqueous solutions at temperatures slightly below 100/spl deg/C, for a range of compositions from pure Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ to about Ni/sub 0.34/Zn/sub 0.18/Fe/sub 2.48/O/sub 4/. As made, the films are semiconducting and have high dielectric losses, but have narrow ferromagnetic resonance linewidths and often display standing spinwave spectra. As a result of annealing in air at temperatures above 300/spl deg/C, these ferrites undergo a transformation to a state having much higher resistivity and a reduced magnetic moment compared to as-grown films. This annealing decreases the microwave dielectric losses, but increases the ferromagnetic resonance linewidth. The changes in these properties with annealing are consistent with a partial transformation from spinel to maghemite, /spl gamma/-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/. >
Pure‐Phase Transport and Dissolution of TCE in Sedimentary Rock Saprolite

The objective of this study was to experimentally determine the influence of pore structure on the transport and dissolution of trichloroethylene (TCE) in clay-rich saprolite. In order to simulate a ‘‘spill,’’ pure-phase TCE containing a water-insoluble fluorescent dye was injected into two heterogeneous 24-cm-diameter by 37-cm-long undisturbed columns of water-saturated saprolite. TCE entry occurred at capillary pressures of 2.7 and 4.0 kPa. Ten or 28 d after injection, the column was sliced horizontally into three sections and visually examined. The distribution of fluorescent dye indicated that pure-phase TCE migrated mainly through fractures in the shale saprolite and through fine root holes or other macropores in the limestone saprolite residuum. Analysis of saprolite subsamples indicated that TCE was present throughout much of the saprolite column but usually at concentrations less than the solubility of TCE. This spreading was caused by diffusion, which also contributed to the rapid dissolution of TCE in the fractures and macropores. Modeling was carried out using previously published dissolution and diffusion equations. The calculations confirm that rapid disappearance of immiscible TCE can occur in this type of material because of the small size of fracture or macropore openings and the high porosity of the fine-grained material. This study indicates that industrial solvents can readily enter fractures and macropores in otherwise very fine-grained subsoils and then rapidly dissolve and diffuse into the fine-pore structure, fromc which they may be very difficult to remove.
How Often to Sample a Continuous-Time Process in the Presence of Market Microstructure Noise

In theory, the sum of squares of log returns sampled at high frequency estimates their variance. When market microstructure noise is present but unaccounted for, however, we show that the optimal sampling frequency is finite and derive its closed-form expression. But even with optimal sampling, using say five minute returns when transactions are recorded every second, a vast amount of data is discarded, in contradiction to basic statistical principles. We demonstrate that modelling the noise and using all the data is a better solution, even if one misspecifies the noise distribution. So the answer is: sample as often as possible.
Catching the phylogenic history through the ontogenic hourglass: a phylogenomic analysis of Drosophila body segmentation genes

The phylogenetic information content of different developmental stages is a long-standing issue in the study of development and evolution. We performed phylogenetic analyses of 51 body segmentation genes in 12 species of Drosophila in order to investigate the impact of the mode of evolution of development on phylogeny inference. Previous studies of these genes in Drosophila using pairwise phenetic comparisons at the species group level revealed the presence of an "hourglass model" (HG), wherein mid-embryonic stages are the most evolutionarily constrained. We utilized two character-based approaches: taxonomic congruence using the relative consensus fork index (RCFI), in which phylogenies are inferred from each gene separately and compared with a total evidence tree (TET), and partitioned simultaneous analysis using several indices such as branch support (BS) and localized incongruence length difference (LILD) test. We also proposed a new index, the recapitulatory index (R), which divides the number of synapomorphies on the total number of informative characters in a data set. Polynomial adjustment of both BS and R indices showed strong support for the hourglass model regardless of the taxonomic level (species subgroup vs. subgenera), showing less phylogenetic information content for mid-developmental stages (mainly the zygotic segment polarity stage). Significant LILD scores were randomly distributed among developmental stages revealing the absence of differential selective constraints, but were significantly related to chromosomal location showing physical (linkage) impact on phylogenetic incongruence. RCFI was the most sensitive measure to taxonomic level, having a convex parabola at the species subgroup level in support of the hourglass model and a concave parabola at the subgeneric level in support of the adaptive penetrance model. This time-dependent discrepancy of best fit developmental model parallels previous conflicting results from the vertebrates. Because of the quasi-phenetic nature of this index, we argue that the discrepancy is due to the evolutionary rate heterogeneity of developmental genes rather than to fundamental differences among organisms. We suggest that simultaneous character-based analyses give better macroevolutionary support to the hourglass model of the developmental constraints on genome evolution than pairwise phenetic comparisons.
BoCaTFBS: a boosted cascade learner to refine the binding sites suggested by ChIP-chip experiments

Comprehensive mapping of transcription factor binding sites is essential in postgenomic biology. For this, we propose a mining approach combining noisy data from ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation)-chip experiments with known binding site patterns. Our method (BoCaTFBS) uses boosted cascades of classifiers for optimum efficiency, in which components are alternating decision trees; it exploits interpositional correlations; and it explicitly integrates massive negative information from ChIP-chip experiments. We applied BoCaTFBS within the ENCODE project and showed that it outperforms many traditional binding site identification methods (for instance, profiles).
O-linked protein glycosylation in Mycoplasma.

Summary Although mycoplasmas have a paucity of glycosyltransferases and nucleotidyltransferases recognizable by bioinformatics, these bacteria are known to produce polysaccharides and glycolipids. We show here that mycoplasmas also produce glycoproteins and hence have glycomes more complex than previously realized. Proteins from several species of Mycoplasma reacted with a glycoprotein stain, and the murine pathogen Mycoplasma arthritidis was chosen for further study. The presence of M. arthritidis glycoproteins was confirmed by high-resolution mass spectrometry. O-linked glycosylation was clearly identified at both serine and threonine residues. No consensus amino acid sequence was evident for the glycosylation sites of the glycoproteins. A single hexose was identified as the O-linked modification, and glucose was inferred by 13C-labelling to be the hexose at several of the glycosylation sites. This is the first study to conclusively identify sites of protein glycosylation in any of the mollicutes.
Colonization, globalization and the plight of "weak" languages

L'A. examine l'article de D. Nettle et S. Romaine Vanishing voices: the extinction of the world languages (2000), traitant de la problematique des langues en menacees d'extinction et de la situation critique de certaines langues dites 'faibles'. Les deux principaux arguments explicatifs presentes par Nettle et Romaine se centralisent sur les phenomenes de la mondialisation et de la colonisation. Bien que l'A. reconnaisse l'important apport d'informations de ces travaux, il exprime son desaccord quant aux conclusions: le principal reproche se cristallise autour de l'interpretation du changement de langue, qui n'est en aucun cas pour l'A. un facteur de l'extinction d'une langue.
Individual-Contextual Relationships and Mathematics Performance Comparing American and Serbian Young Adolescents

This study examined whether the system of relationships between individual-psychological characteristics (i.e., spatial ability, scholastic ability perception, mathematics stereotype), social contextual levels of family and culture, and mathematics performance differs for young adolescent girls and boys. Subjects included 160 American (i.e., from the United States) sixth graders and 242 Serbian fifth and sixth graders. Findings indicated that in both cultures scholastic ability perception was associated with the mathematics performance of boys and girls. In addition, both among American and Serbian boys and among Serbian girls, spatial ability was linked to their mathematics performance. Interestingly, among American girls but not among Serbian girls, holding a less traditional mathematics stereotype related negatively to mathematics performance. Finally, the family appeared to be a particularly salient context for Serbian young adolescents, especially for girls. These findings underscore the notion that ...
Accuracy of post-bomb 137Cs and 14C in dating fluvial deposits

Abstract The accuracy and precision of 137Cs and 14C for dating post-1950 alluvial deposits were evaluated for deposits from known floods on two rivers in Arizona. The presence of 137Cs reliably indicates that deposition occurred after intensive above-ground nuclear testing was initiated around 1950. There was a positive correlation between the measured level of 137Cs activity and the clay content of the sediments, although 137Cs was detected even in sandy flood sediments with low clay content. 137Cs is a valuable dating tool in arid environments where organic materials for 14C or tree-ring dating are scarce and observational records are limited. The 14C activity measured in different types of fine organic detritus yielded dates within 1 to 8 yr of a 1980 flood deposit, and the accuracy was species-dependent. However, undifferentiated mixtures of fine organic materials from several post-bomb deposits of various ages repeatedly yielded dates between 1958 and 1962, and detrital charcoal yielded a date range of 1676–1939. In semiarid environments, the residence time of most types of organic debris precludes accurate annual resolution of post-bomb 14C dates.
SURGERY OR ASSISTED REPRODUCTION? A DECISION ANALYSIS OF TREATMENT COSTS IN MALE INFERTILITY

Purpose: Assisted reproductive technology (ART), including in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, is routinely used to treat male factor infertility. Because of the success of ART, the optimal method to achieve pregnancy with male infertility is controversial. Two examples in which ART competes with traditional male infertility treatments are varicocelectomy and vasectomy reversal. We used formal decision analysis to estimate and compare the cost-effectiveness of surgical therapy and ART for varicocele and vasectomy reversal. Materials and Methods: Decision analysis models were created for infertile men seeking paternity with varicocele and with post-vasectomy obstruction. Outcome probabilities applied to the model were derived from institutional and published sources. Costs of interventions were calculated from institutional data. Sensitivity analyses determined which elements were most important and, thus, were used to calculate threshold values. Results: Vasectomy reversal is as cost-effective as ART if bilateral vasovasostomy can be performed. However, if unilateral or bilateral vasoepididymostomy is required, sperm retrieval/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection may be more cost-effective due to lower patency rates. Vasectomy reversal is more cost-effective across all pregnancy rates provided that patency rates are greater than 79%. Surgical repair of varicocele is more cost-effective when the postoperative pregnancy rate is greater than 14% in men with a preoperative total motile sperm count of less than 10 million sperm and greater than 45% in men with greater than 10 million total motile sperm. Conclusions: A decision analysis based comparison of ART and classic surgical therapy suggests that varicocelectomy and vasectomy reversal are the most economical treatments in many cases of infertility due to these lesions. Tailoring the decision models to individual centers permits more accurate comparisons using specific costs as well as the surgical outcomes and results of ART.
Phase Transformations in Cast Superaustenitic Stainless Steels

The goal of this investigation was to study phase transformations in cast superaustenitic stainless steels. Experiments were performed to determine the phase transformation behavior for alloys CN3MN and CK3MCuN. Samples were taken from keel bars that were heat treated between 1160 and 1230 °C and then isothermally held for times ranging from 1 min to 2040 h at temperatures in the range of 700-900 °C. The resulting microstructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy. The microstructures, composed primarily of sigma- and Laves-phases within a purely austenitic matrix, showed relatively slow transformation kinetics, with transformation not completed even after the longest anneals. SEM and TEM analysis of superaustenitic samples reveal that precipitation takes place initially on grain boundaries and proceeds intragranularly. The results of these SEM and TEM investigations, along with volume fractions and number densities as a function of time and temperature, will be presented and discussed.
Differential Effects of Taxation in Cournot and Bertrand Models of Duopoly: an Example

The effects of equal revenue excise taxes in Bertrand and Cournot duopolies with product differentiation are compared. If firms have linear demand and cost functions and own price effects dominate cross price effects, then the fraction of any tax shifted to consumers is not smaller with Bertrand behavior; for taxes raising equal revenue, output effects and excess burden are not smaller if firms follow a Cournot quantity strategy. Incidence, output effects, and excess burden are equal only if goods are independent. For any given excise tax, firms' profits are greater with Cournot competition if goods are complements and greater with Bertrand competition if goods are complements. Thus, if firms choose the form of strategic interaction that maximizes equilibrium profits, taxation of complements is more efficient than taxation of substitutes.
A Nurse Learns Firsthand That You May Fend For Yourself After A Hospital Stay

Following her husband’s stroke, it falls to a registered nurse and nursing school dean to coordinate care and manage her recovering spouse’s transitions among several hospitals and home.
Estrogen Metabolomics: A Physiologist’s Perspective

No doubt about it, metabolism (both synthesis and degradation) of 17β-estradiol is complicated! For nonbiochemists, just thinking about oxidation, hydroxylation (>30 identified products), glucuronidation, sulfonation, and O -methylation1 is enough to make our heads spin. Yet, it is just this complex series of regulatory pathways that enables the endogenous hormone to regulate physiological changes of pregnancy, regulate skeletal development, modulate neurotransmission, promote some types of cancer, and affect development of cardiovascular disease. It is important, therefore, to better understand the biochemical and physiological effects of the various products of 17β-estradiol metabolism. Genomic, biochemical, and physiological effects of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME), a methylation product of catechol estrogens by catechol- O -methyltransferase (COMT), are highlighted in this volume (Figure).2 This thorough study by Barchiesi et al2 extends our knowledge of mechanistic effects of 2-ME by defining gene expression in response to 2-ME in cultured human (female) vascular smooth muscle cells. Functional outcomes of gene expression are confirmed by validating changes in protein expression, enzyme activity, and functional assays of cell proliferation, viability, and apoptosis. Similar to mechanistic pathways identified in some cancer cell lines, 2-ME reduces smooth muscle cell proliferation through inhibition of genes involved in cell division, including cyclin D1, cyclin B1, cdk6, cdk4, and tubulin polymerization.3 Thus, it appears that cellular pathways activated by 2-ME are common to several cell types, including some cancers, and that these genomic effects are independent of the sex of the cells (ie, of male or female origin). Indeed, 2-ME was tested as a chemo-intervention to treat hormone-resistant prostate cancer in men.4 In experimental animals, administration of 2-ME reduced atherosclerotic lesion formation in female apolipoprotein E–deficient mice and …
Why spatial databases need fuzziness

Geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial databases are inherently suited for fuzziness. Because the only accurate storage and representation of a spatial object can be on a one-to-one scale, there must be a level of uncertainty and/or fuzziness introduced into the model. Also, the result of a query must eventually be represented to the user. This may be done in the form of textual retrieval, chart, or graph, but the usual way is by presentation of a map. When the map is presented to the user, additional uncertainty may be introduced as well. Because of the uncertainty inherent in the assimilation, storage, and representation of spatial data, spatial databases need some mechanism to support uncertainty, and the obvious choice is fuzziness.
Osmotic stress and the yeast cytoskeleton: phenotype-specific suppression of an actin mutation.

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, actin filaments function to direct cell growth to the emerging bud. Yeast has a single essential actin gene, ACT1. Diploid cells containing a single copy of ACT1 are osmosensitive (Osms), i.e., they fail to grow in high osmolarity media (D. Shortle, unpublished observations cited by Novick, P., and D. Botstein. 1985. Cell. 40:415-426). This phenotype suggests that an underlying physiological process involving actin is osmosensitive. Here, we demonstrate that this physiological process is a rapid and reversible change in actin filament organization in cells exposed to osmotic stress. Filamentous actin was stained using rhodamine phalloidin. Increasing external osmolarity caused a rapid loss of actin filament cables, followed by a slower redistribution of cortical actin filament patches. In the recovery phase, cables and patches were restored to their original levels and locations. Strains containing an act1-1 mutation are both Osms and temperature-sensitive (Ts) (Novick and Botstein, 1985). To identify genes whose products functionally interact with actin in cellular responses to osmotic stress, we have isolated extragenic suppressors which revert only the Osms but not the Ts phenotype of an act1-1 mutant. These suppressors identify three genes, RAH1-RAH3. Morphological and genetic properties of a dominant suppressor mutation suggest that the product of the wild-type allele, RAH3+, is an actin-binding protein that interacts with actin to allow reassembly of the cytoskeleton following osmotic stress.
Assessing Iron Status: Beyond Serum Ferritin and Transferrin Saturation

The increasing prevalence of multiple comorbidities among anemic patients with chronic kidney disease has made the use of serum ferritin and transferrin saturation more challenging in diagnosing iron deficiency. Because serum ferritin is an acute-phase reactant and because the inflammatory state may inhibit the mobilization of iron from reticuloendothelial stores, the scenario of patients with serum ferritin >800 ng/ml, suggesting iron overload, and transferrin saturation <20%, suggesting iron deficiency, has become more common. This article revisits the basis for the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative recommendations regarding the use of serum ferritin and transferrin saturation in guiding iron therapy, then explores some of the newer alternative markers for iron status that may be useful when serum ferritin and transferrin saturation are insufficient. These newer tests include reticulocyte hemoglobin content, percentage of hypochromic red cells, and soluble transferrin receptor, all of which have shown some promise in limited studies. Finally, the role of hepcidin, a hepatic polypeptide, in the pathophysiology of iron mobilization is reviewed briefly.
Downtown Metropolitan Churches: Ecological Situation and Response

Based on three principles from theories of human ecology, this study examines the response of downtown churches in metropolitan Columbus, Ohio to a changing environment. Over 150 years, churches grew in number, stabilized, contracted sharply, and restabilized, changing increasingly from neighborhood to niche churches. Better-funded larger and older churches survived by developing heterogeneous religious and other ties with diverse weekday populations of downtown residents, employees, shoppers, and transients. Churches closer to the city center had more opportunities to develop these relationships. Sociological factors such as theology, leadership, and external resources from the metropolis, state, and nation also played a role. The interaction of sociological and ecological frameworks on both macro and micro levels explains the response of religious organizations to specific urban environments.
Ethnic Differences in Parenting Children in Fearful Situations

Administered Zabin and Melamed's (1980) Child Development Questionnaire in their native languages to 20 Haitian, 20 Hispanic, 20 black American, and 20 white American mothers in a public hospital setting to inquire how they dealt with their children in various fearful situations. The white Americans were significantly more likely than black Americans or Haitians to report use of modeling and reassurance, whereas Haitians were less likely than the other groups to report use of these methods. Conversely, the Haitians were more likely than some of the other groups to report use of force in these situations. There were no significant differences in the groups' reported use of positive reinforcement or in reinforcement of dependency once two culturally inappropriate items were removed. The reported differences, especially those involving Haitians, were interpreted as reflecting historical and cultural trends. Language: en
Accumulation of β-amyloid precursor protein in axons correlates with CNS expression of SIV gp41

Axonal damage represented by accumulation of [beta]-amyloid precursor protein ([beta]-APP) develops in numerous central nervous system (CNS) diseases including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. To study the underlying mechanisms of axonal damage associated with HIV CNS infection, the amount of axonal [beta]-APP immunostaining in the corpus callosum of 24 simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected macaques and 3 control macaques was measured by computerized image analysis. The amounts of [beta]-APP accumulation were then compared with time post-inoculation, extent and character of CNS inflammation, and viral load in the CNS measured by the amount of immunohistochemical staining for the viral transmembrane protein gp41. Significant increases over control values were present in 10 of 24 SIV-infected animals. SIV encephalitis was present in 9 of the 10 animals with elevated [beta]-APP. Increases in [beta]-APP correlated most strongly with levels of SIV gp41 in the brain (p = 0.005), but significant associations with macrophage infiltration and microglial activation (p = 0.04) and infiltration by cytotoxic lymphocytes (p = 0.05) also were identified. These data demonstrate that [beta]-APP accumulation in the white matter of SIV-infected macaques develops during SIV infection in close correlation with levels of viral replication and may serve as a sensitive marker of neuronal/axonal damage mediated by viral proteins.
Travel distances by Wisconsin Medicaid enrollees who visit emergency departments for dental care.

Objectives Prior studies document increased numbers of nontraumatic dental condition (NTDC) visits to U.S. emergency departments (EDs). However, the influence of travel distance on ED use for NTDCs, particularly for Medicaid enrollees has hitherto received little attention. The authors examined the effect of travel distance on Wisconsin Medicaid enrollees’ NTDC visits to EDs after adjustment for covariates. Methods NTDC-related visits claims data for Wisconsin Medicaid (2001-2009) was analyzed. For each enrollee, travel distance to the nearest of 130 EDs in Wisconsin was determined. The number of NTDC visits per person-year was aggregated by ZIP+4 of residence. Negative binomial regression adjusting for the expected number of visits based on race, sex, age of the residents and calendar year was used to evaluate the effect of travel distance, urbanicity, and dentist-population ratio on rate of visits. Results Enrollees residing in rural counties, entire dental health professional shortage areas, areas with dentist population ratios >20,000: 1 and non-Hispanic Whites travelled the furthest, compared to nearest mean ED distance of 2.9 miles. Enrollees residing 3 miles away or further had significantly lower rates of NTDC visits to EDs. Conclusions This study demonstrates that distance is a barrier to making NTDC-related visits to EDs. Rates of NTDC visits decreased as travel distance to the nearest ED increased for Medicaid enrollees.
Temperature-Dependent Adsorption of Argon on Gold: A Molecular Dynamics Study

When a gas and solid surface are brought into contact, some gas atoms may adsorb onto the surface, forming one or more denser layers. Adsorption has direct uses in many technologies, for instance filtration and pharmacology, and the prevalence of gas-solid interfaces means that it impacts many other technologies. However much is still unknown concerning the microscopic dynamics of adsorption. To investigate the effect of temperature on adsorption, molecular dynamics simulations were performed on an interface between solid gold and gaseous argon. The gas was placed in contact with the solid, allowing adsorption of gas atoms under a constant system temperature. The results of the simulations were analyzed to study the effect of temperature on the density of the adsorbed layer and its rate of formation. When brought into contact, the gas adsorbed to form one or more layers, the density of which was found to be strongly temperature-dependent. A monolayer was observed for temperatures above 150 K while below that value a secondary layer formed. Simulations above 450 K showed an exponential relationship between mean steady-state density and temperature of the form Deq = αeβT.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Impact risk assessment and planetary defense mission planning for asteroid 2015 PDC

Abstract In this paper, an integrated utilization of analytic keyhole theory, B-plane mapping, and planetary encounter geometry, augmented by direct numerical simulation, is shown to be useful in determining the impact risk of an asteroid with the Earth on a given encounter, as well on potential future encounters via keyhole passages. The accurate estimation of the impact probability of hazardous asteroids is extremely important for planetary defense mission planning. Asteroids in Earth resonant orbits are particularly troublesome because of the continuous threat they pose in the future. Based on the trajectories of the asteroid and the Earth, feasible mission trajectories can be found to mitigate the impact threat of hazardous asteroids. In order to try to ensure mission success, trajectories are judged based on initial and final mission design parameters that would make the mission easier to complete. Given the potential of a short-warning time scenario, a disruption mission considered in this paper occurs approximately one year prior to the anticipated impact date. Expanding upon the established theory, a computational method is developed to estimate the impact probability of the hazardous asteroid, in order to assess the likelihood of an event, and then investigate the fragmentation of the asteroid due to a disruption mission and analyze its effects on the current and future encounters of the fragments with Earth. A fictional asteroid, designated as 2015 PDC – created as an example asteroid risk exercise for the 2015 Planetary Defence Conference, is used as a reference target asteroid to demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of computational tools being developed for impact risk assessment and planetary defense mission planning for a hazardous asteroid or comet.
Enabling Narrative Pedagogy: Listening in Nursing Education

The role of the nurse has become considerably more demanding in the past twenty years through increased complexity of patient care within a rapidly changing health care environment. Research is needed to expand the pedagogical literacy of nurse educators and address the needs of students entering a complex health care system. Narrative Pedagogy was identified as a research-based nursing pedagogy and has been enabled in nursing education for over a decade. The Concernful Practices emerged from Narrative Pedagogy research, which helped identify what teachers, students, and clinicians considered meaningful in teaching. Listening was one of the Concernful Practices and became the focus of this study. This hermeneutic phenomenological study provided new understandings of the experience of listening in nursing education. The research question addressed “How do nurse educators who enable Narrative Pedagogy experience Listening: knowing and connecting?” One of the themes, Listening as Dialogue, emerged from the study and included ways nurse educators can open and interpret a dialogue, shift the way they think about teaching, and make connections with students.
FDA Approval Summary: Nivolumab for the Treatment of Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Progression On or After Platinum-Based Chemotherapy

On October 9, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the nivolumab metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) indication to include patients with nonsquamous NSCLC after a 3.25-month review timeline. Approval was based on demonstration of an improvement in overall survival (OS) in an international, multicenter, open-label, randomized trial comparing nivolumab to docetaxel in patients with metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. The CheckMate 057 trial enrolled 582 patients who were randomized (1:1) to receive nivolumab or docetaxel. Nivolumab demonstrated improved OS compared with docetaxel at the prespecified interim analysis with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.73 (p = .0015), and a median OS of 12.2 months (95% CI: 9.7–15.0 months) in patients treated with nivolumab compared with 9.4 months (95% CI: 8.0–10.7 months) in patients treated with docetaxel. A statistically significant improvement in objective response rate (ORR) was also observed, with an ORR of 19% (95% CI: 15%–24%) in the nivolumab arm and 12% (95% CI: 9%–17%) in the docetaxel arm. The median duration of response was 17 months in the nivolumab arm and 6 months in the docetaxel arm. Progression-free survival was not statistically different between arms. A prespecified retrospective subgroup analysis suggested that patients with programmed cell death ligand 1-negative tumors treated with nivolumab had similar OS to those treated with docetaxel. The toxicity profile of nivolumab was consistent with the known immune-mediated adverse event profile except for 1 case of grade 5 limbic encephalitis, which led to a postmarketing requirement study to better characterize immune-mediated encephalitis.
ANALYSIS OF THE TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATORY SEQUENCES IN THE HAMSTER APRT GENE: 153

The 5' region of the hamster aprt gene has been sequenced and the transcriptional initiation site determined by S1 nuclease mapping. No cannonical TATAA sequence is found upstream of the hamster aprt gene. A series of deletion mutants have been constructed and their expression in CHO or mouse aprt- cells have been analyzed by S1 mapping and enzymatic activity. We have also found that the hamster aprt gene is resistant to increased expression due to an adjacent retroviral enhancer. We are currently trying to dissect out the signals responsible for such enhancer resistance.
Alaska Tribes’ Melting Subsistence Rights

Climate change affects wildlife-dependent tribes more than it does the larger American society.Alaska tribes are particularly impacted by climate change because of their location in a biozone that is extremely sensitive to warming and because the current legal system deprives them of direct control over their land and natural resources. While Alaska tribes have benefited from the assistance of government entities, environmental groups, and Native Corporations, none of these completely shares the tribes’ interest in ubsistence protection or faces the same kind of threat to its well-being from climate change.
Role of endotoxin in glycerol-induced renal failure in the rat.

1. A relationship between bacterial endotoxin absorbed from the gut and acute renal failure has been postulated. Experiments employing either the endotoxin-tolerant state or the enhancement of endotoxin injury were undertaken to test this relationship in rats. 2. Endotoxin tolerance was induced by the administration of increasing doses of Escherichia coli 026 lipopolysaccharide. The severity of renal injury was assessed at various times after glycerol administration in endotoxin-tolerant and control animals. At 48 h, endotoxin-tolerant rats had higher urine volume and creatinine clearance than the non-tolerant control animals. In rats studied 72 h after glycerol, functional and anatomical assessment showed the endotoxin-tolerant rats to have lower serum urea concentrations and also less renal histological injury than the non-tolerant, control animals. 3. Lead acetate, which potentiates endotoxin injury, or diluent alone was administered to rats after glycerol. At 2, 3 and 10 days later there was a twofold increase in mortality in the lead acetate-treated animals. 4. A small dose of endotoxin (0·1 mg) was shown to be innocuous in control rats. Also, all rats given glycerol alone were alive 24 h later. In contrast, administration of the same dose of endotoxin simultaneously with glycerol resulted in an 80% mortality at 24 h. 5. These studies demonstrate enhancement of glycerol-induced renal injury by endotoxin and support a possible role for endotoxin in this model of acute renal failure.
Serial echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac graft rejection after infant heart transplantation

The effects of cardiac graft rejection on infant myocardial function as assessed by echocardiography are largely unknown. To quantitate the myocardial response to rejection, serial echocardiographic studies were prospectively performed on 20 infants (less than 1 year of age at transplantation). Two-dimensional guided-M-mode tracings were digitized and quantified with a computer-assisted format. Rejection was diagnosed by clinical criteria, and 85% were graded as mild, that is without cardiac signs or symptoms. Echocardiographic analysis was blinded to rejection status, with studies available 4.2 +/- 2.9 days before rejection, on the day of rejection diagnosis, and 2.9 +/- 1.5 days after rejection treatment. Left ventricular mass increased acutely from 109% of predicted normal to 129% with rejection and decreased to 110% with therapy (p < 0.01). Left ventricular volume also tended to fall with rejection and increase with therapy. The left ventricular volume/mass ratio fell from 0.29 +/- 0.10 to 0.25 +/- 0.13 and increased to 0.37 +/- 0.15 (p < 0.05) with treatment. Systolic function was depressed by rejection as reflected in the posterior wall thickening fraction and velocity of wall thickening. Diastolic dysfunction was reflected in a decreased velocity of posterior wall thinning (-9.7 +/- 3.9 to -7.7 +/- 2.7 and recovery to -10.8 +/- 3.8 (1/second, p < 0.05) and depressed average velocity of cavity enlargement (41.2 +/- 9.6 to 36.4 +/- 8.9 and recovery to 40.7 +/- 8.6 mm/sec, p < 0.05). The utility of these echocardiographic measurements to predict rejection has not been prospectively compared with the endomyocardial biopsy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Eddy-Currents and Force Analysis for the Thermal Shields of the Warm Iron Superconducting Quadrupoles for the FRIB Fragment Separator

The fragment separator of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams uses six warm iron large acceptance high field superconducting quadrupole magnets (see Fig. 1). These magnets are located underground in the target facility hot cell. This location does not allow liquid nitrogen to be used for the cooling of the thermal shield so 35-K helium gas is used instead. In the event of a quench, the decaying field in the magnet induces eddy currents that give rise to a large force on the thermal shields. Because of the multifaceted geometry of the shield, understanding this force is an important aspect of the design. Detailed eddy current simulations were performed and the forces on the different parts of the shield were studied by finite-element analysis. This paper presents the results obtained for the stress distribution, the deformation in the thermal shield, and also mechanical design details.
On the nucleation and growth of voids at high strain-rates

The nucleation and growth of voids at high strain-rate is studied in copper as a model face centered cubic (fcc) material using large scale molecular dynamics (MD) methods. After a brief introduction to dynamic fracture, results are presented for the homogeneous nucleation of voids in single crystal copper and the heterogeneous nucleation in nanoscale polycrystalline copper. The simulations suggest void growth occurs through anisotropic dislocation nucleation and emission in agreement with experiment and the observed anisotropy of the tensile flow stress in fcc crystals. A phenomenological model for the transition from intergranular to transgranular fracture at high strain-rate is presented.
Geological causes of dam incidents

This General Report presents synoptic case histories of several dam failures or accidents where the mechanism for the incident was related to the geology. The failures of Teton Dam, Baldwin Hills Reservoir, and Malpasset Dam are attributed, respectively, to pervious rock, subsidence or pressurization of a fault, and reservoir induced pressure of abutment rock. The near catastrophe of San Fernando project was brought about by a seismic event. Vaiont Dam did not fail, but the structure lost the function of its reservoir when an enormous rock mass slid into the reservoir. Soluble rock in the foundation was the mechanism which caused a seepage problem at Wolf Creek Dam. The failures and incidents described in this paper are only some of the recent, well-known occurrences. A poor understanding of the geology has been and is a major cause of accidents to dams. Thus, the profession is challenged to make continued and increasing efforts in geotechnology as related to design of dams.
N-PERT solar cell using oxidation etch-back selective-BSF process

Abstract N-type passivated emitter, rear totally diffused (N-PERT) solar cells are receiving substantial scholarly attention as next-generation solar cells. The demand for high-efficiency solar cells that can reduce photovoltaic installation costs is increasing. This investigation demonstrates the feasibility of an N-PERT solar cell with a selective back-surface field (BSF) structure. For the BSF formation, first, the backside surface was heavily doped as n-type through POCl3 diffusion; subsequently, the back surface was etched back by a thermal oxidation process, with a mask covering the finger and busbar area. The sheet resistance of the lightly doped region was set to approximately 90 Ω/square and that of the heavily doped region was set to 30 Ω/square. This oxidation etch-back process improved the quality and uniformity of the BSF and improved the performance of the solar cell. The photovoltaic performance was improved mainly in terms of short-circuit current. The absolute efficiency was increased up to approximately 0.3% with a 125 mm × 125 mm cell. An analysis of quantum efficiency revealed an increase in the response in the long-wavelength region.