cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interdomain Cytoplasmic Interactions Govern the Intracellular Trafficking, Gating, and Modulation of the Kv2.1 Channel

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels comprise four transmembrane α subunits, often associated with cytoplasmic β subunits that impact channel expression and function. Here, we show that cell surface expression, voltage-dependent activation gating, and phosphorylation-dependent modulation of Kv2.1 are regulated by cytoplasmic N/C interaction within the α subunit. Kv2.1 surface expression is greatly reduced by C-terminal truncation. Tailless Kv2.1 channels exhibit altered voltage-dependent gating properties and lack the bulk of the phosphorylation-dependent modulation of channel gating. Remarkably, the soluble C terminus of Kv2.1 associates with tailless channels and rescues their expression, function, and phosphorylation-dependent modulation. Soluble N and C termini of Kv2.1 can also interact directly. We also show that the N/C-terminal interaction in Kv2.1 is governed by a 34 aa motif in the juxtamembrane cytoplasmic C terminus, and a 17 aa motif located in the N terminus at a position equivalent to the β subunit binding site in other Kv channels. Deletion of either motif disrupts N/C-terminal interaction and surface expression, function, and phosphorylation-dependent modulation of Kv2.1 channels. These findings provide novel insights into intrinsic mechanisms for the regulation of Kv2.1 trafficking, gating, and phosphorylation-dependent modulation through cytoplasmic N/C-terminal interaction, which resembles α/β subunit interaction in other Kv channels.
Treatment of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease with radiofrequency energy (Stretta) in patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Morbid obesity is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which, in most cases, completely resolves after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Patients with persistent or recurrent symptoms have limited surgical options. This study sought to evaluate the application of the Stretta procedure for patients with refractory GERD. The medical records of all patients who underwent Stretta for refractory GERD after RYGB were reviewed. Demographic, preoperative, and postoperative reflux data were collected. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean. The t-test was used for comparison purposes. Of 369 patients, 7 received Stretta 27 ± 6 months after RYGB. All were women with a mean age of 49 ± 2 years. All the patients had experienced prebypass GERD symptoms for a duration of 45 ± 8 months. The mean prebypass body mass index was 45 ± 2 kg/m2, and this was reduced to 29 ± 2 kg/m2 after laparoscopic RYGB (p < 0.001). Before Stretta, all patients underwent a 48-h Bravo pH study, which demonstrated reflux with a mean fraction time of 7% ± 2% for pH lower than 4. After Stretta, five patients had complete resolution of their symptoms, with normalization of pH studies (mean fraction time of 3% ± 0% for pH < 4). The follow-up period after Stretta was 20 ± 2 months. One patient did not have adequate relief of symptoms after Stretta, and one patient was lost to follow-up evaluation. Stretta is a valid option in the treatment of persistent GERD for patients who have undergone gastric bypass. Further study is required to evaluate the long-term efficacy of this procedure.
Effect of Primary Goal on Secondary Goal Importance and Message Plan Acceptability

Prior to speaking, a person may anticipate outcomes of a message. Such outcomes often pertain to the relevance of the message to secondary goals such as impression management or relationship maintenance. Based on expected outcomes, a decision is made to say, to edit, or to withhold a message. This study asks whether anticipating that a message would conflict with a secondary goal affects perceived message acceptability differently when different primary goals are pursued (e.g., comforting, providing feedback). Eight primary goals and four secondary goals were investigated. Findings show that secondary goal importance and the extent to which expected conflict with a secondary goal reduces message acceptability varies across primary goals.
Effect of Weight Loss on Muscle Lipid Content in Morbidly Obese Subjects

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that weight loss results in a reduction in intramuscular lipid (IMCL) content that is concomitant with enhanced insulin action. Muscle biopsies ...
An Experimental Evaluation of the BLM Model of the Scalar Field in Turbulent Premixed Flames

An experimental evaluation of the BLM model of the scalar field in premixed turbulent flames is presented. Experimental measurements of probability density functions (pdfs) of the flame passage times, autocorrelations and spectra were made in open V-shaped and stagnation point flames by monitoring the Mie scattering of the laser beam by a dense oil aerosol which evaporates on passage through a flame front. These results are compared with predictions derived from the model using two a priori pdfs: the exponential and gamma two distributions. The product pdfs are self-similar and well described by the gamma two distribution. The reactant pdfs are also self-similar but are better represented by the exponential distribution except at small passage times. Comparisons between experimental and theoretical autocorrelations show the gamma two predictions to be more successful. The modeling of the low fequency region of the scalar spectra is also improved. Calculations of the integral time scale based on measured c...
Ontogenetic changes in the numbers of short- vs. long-shoots account for decreasing specific leaf area in Acer rubrum (Aceraceae) as trees increase in size.

Specific leaf area (SLA) is reported to decrease with increasing plant size among dicot tree species despite a strong positive correlation between SLA and relative growth rate. This diminishing returns in SLA may result from changes in the relative numbers of different shoot types bearing leaves with different SLAs as trees increase in overall size. This ontogenetic shift hypothesis was examined for 15 Acer rubrum trees differing in basal stem diameter (0.01 m [less-than or equal to] D [less-than or equal to] 0.62 m). Detailed analyses of the largest tree showed that short-shoots produced leaves with significantly smaller SLA than the leaves produced by long-shoots regardless of the location of shoots within the canopy. A combination of random effect and split-plot (main-effect) ANOVA models showed that >94% of the variance observed for SLA was attributable to shoot type rather than to the location of leaves in the canopy. Further, with increasing trunk diameter, the number of short-shoots increased rapidly relative to the number of long-shoots. Although the leaves of short-shoots gain disproportionately more surface area per unit mass investment compared to the leaves produced by long-shoots, our data show that ontogenetic shifts occurring at the shoot and whole plant level account for size-dependent decreases in total canopy SLA.
Changes in N-acylethanolamine Pathway Related Metabolites in a Rat Model of Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion.

In mammals, the endocannabinoid signaling pathway provides protective cellular responses to ischemia. Previous work demonstrated increases in long-chain N-acylethanolamines (NAE) in ischemia and suggested a protective role for NAE. Here, a targeted lipidomics approach was used to study comprehensive changes in the molecular composition and quantity of NAE metabolites in a rat model of controlled brain ischemia. Changes of NAE, its precursors, N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines (NAPE), major and minor phospholipids and free fatty acids (FFA) were quantified in response to ischemia. The effect of intraperitoneal injection of N-palmitoylethanolamine (NAE 16:0) prior to ischemia on NAE metabolite and phospholipid profiles was measured. While ischemia, in general, resulted in elevated levels of N-acyl 16:0 and18:0 NAE, NAPE and FFA species, pretreatment with NAE 16:0 reduced infarct volume, neurological behavioral deficits in rats and FFA content in ischemic tissues. Pretreatment with NAE 16:0 did not affect the profiles of other NAE metabolites. These studies demonstrate the utility of a targeted lipidomics approach to measure complex and concomitant metabolic changes in response to ischemia. They suggest that the neuroprotective effects of exogenous NAE 16:0 and the reduction in inflammatory damage may be mediated by factors other than gross changes in brain NAE levels, such as modulation of transcriptional responses.
Does High Short Interest Lead Underperformance

A popular opinion among investors is that a heavily shorted stock is a prime candidate for an upward move since short-sellers will ultimately unwind their positions and purchase the stock. The authors find the reverse; high short interest on the Nasdaq leads underperformance. They believe investors are not fully using published short sales data in their investment choices and that confusion exists over the use of the data. They suggest that investors who intentionally ignore short-selling data may do so at some peril.
Why Proteins Crystallize (or not): The Role of Non Specific Protein Interactions

X-ray crystallography remains the gold standard for determining protein structures. Yet obtaining high-quality protein crystals often relies on experimental trial and error. Understanding the physical principles underlying protein crystallization would thus help inform the experimental approach to the problem.Here, we use a soft matter methodology to study the crystallization mechanism of a model family of proteins. We perform atomistic simulations to characterize the surface contribution to protein pair interactions. The results indicate that the interaction varies significantly from one crystal contact to the other both in degree of attraction and in angular width of the interaction. Comparison with homologous and mutant versions of the model protein also identifies a key force in crystal contact formation: the presence of high-entropy residues significantly destabilizes the crystal interface.In order to further study the crystallization dynamics, we represent proteins with a Kern-Frenkel patchy particle model with an additional torsion potential: the patch geometry, the range of interaction and the width of the patches are determined using the data from the molecular dynamics simulations. Using Monte Carlo techniques, we trace the phase diagram and crystallization pathway of the different proteins under study. The results suggest new strategies for protein crystallization.
Improved survival in a multidisciplinary short bowel syndrome program

Purpose Pediatric short bowel syndrome (SBS) remains a management challenge with significant mortality. In 1999, we initiated a multidisciplinary pediatric intestinal rehabilitation program. The purpose of this study was to determine if the multidisciplinary approach was associated with improved survival in this patient population.
Patient Reported Quality of Life Measures in Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy: Correlation with Clinical Outcomes (P4.118)

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess differences among Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD) subtypes and determine differences and associations in quality of life (QOL) measures and clinical endpoints. Assessments included muscle strength, motor function, cardiac and respiratory assessments as well as QOL questionnaires which included the Individualized Neuromuscular Quality of Life Questionnaire (INQoL) and ACTIVLIM. Background: LGMD describes a heterogeneous group of muscle disorders characterized by proximal distribution of limb-girdle weakness. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted by the Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group (CINRG) to evaluate patients with LGMD2I, 2A, 2B, Becker Muscular Dystrophy and unaffected age matched controls. A total of 52 patients with a mean age of 37.5 +12.8 including 29 males and 23 females. LGMD/BMD subgroups totaled 41 patients with 11 controls. Of those with LGMD/BMD, 25 were ambulatory and 16 were non-ambulatory. Results: In LGMD cases, a significant correlation was observed between the INQoL subcategory of ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) and the 6 minute walk test (6MWT) distance (r=-0.68; p=0.001). INQoL total scores also showed significant correlations with ankle dorsiflexors (r=-0.55; p=0.002) and total manual muscle testing (MMT) scores (r=-0.50; p=0.005). The ACTIVLIM showed a significant association between the 6MWT and the ability to walk outdoors (p<0.001) as well as the ability to get out of a car (p=0.03). ACTIVLIM questions of washing (p=0.03) and wiping (p=0.003) oneself showed a significant association with the Brooke scale. Other analyses of cardiac and respiratory function and the ability to perform ADLs did not show significant relationships. Conclusion: To date, there has not been confirmation of clinical endpoints that correlate to patient reported outcomes in LGMD. This study shows initial evidence that the INQoL and ACTIVLIM may be useful measures for future clinical trials. Disclosure: Dr. Duong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tesi Rocha has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gordish-Dressman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Morgenroth has nothing to disclose. Dr. Leshner has received personal compensation for activities with Genzyme as a speaker and/or consultant. Dr. Sparks has nothing to disclose.
Thermodynamics and dynamics of the two-scale spherically symmetric Jagla ramp model of anomalous liquids.

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we study the Jagla model of a liquid which consists of particles interacting via a spherically symmetric two-scale potential with both repulsive and attractive ramps. This potential displays anomalies similar to those found in liquid water, namely expansion upon cooling and an increase of diffusivity upon compression, as well as a liquid-liquid LL phase transition in the region of the phase diagram accessible to simulations. The LL coexistence line, unlike in tetrahedrally coordinated liquids, has a positive slope, because of the Clapeyron relation, corresponding to the fact that the high density phase HDL is more ordered than low density phase LDL. When we cool the system at constant pressure above the critical pressure, the thermodynamic properties rapidly change from those of LDL-like to those of HDL-like upon crossing the Widom line. The temperature dependence of the diffusivity also changes rapidly in the vicinity of the Widom line, namely the slope of the Arrhenius plot sharply increases upon entering the HDL domain. The properties of the glass transition are different in the two phases, suggesting that the less ordered phase is fragile, while the more ordered phase is strong, which is consistent with the behavior of tetrahedrally coordinated liquids such as water silica, silicon, and BeF2.
Metamaterials‐inspired miniaturization of UHF patch antennas with circular polarization

The area of a ultra high frequency (UHF) patch antenna was reduced 80% by embedding high permittivity plugs in the antenna substrate. It is shown that a nonuniform distribution of plugs provides solutions for such problems of the miniaturized antennas as impedance matching and achieving circular polarization of the signal. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26123
A Comparison of Fast Search Methods for Real-Time Situated Agents

Real-time situated agents, including characters in real-time computer games, often do not know the terrain in advance but automatically observe it within a certain range around them. They have to interleave planning with movement to make planning tractable when moving autonomously to user-specified coordinates. Planning faces real-time requirements since it is important that the agents be responsive to the commands of the users and move smoothly. In this paper, we compare two fast search methods for this task that speed up planning in different ways, namely real-time heuristic search (LRTA*) and incremental heuristic search (D* Lite), resulting in the first comparison of real-time and incremental heuristic search in the literature. We characterize when to choose which search method, depending on the kind of terrain and the planning objective.
CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING ROK SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

In this paper we discuss spent fuel management options in the Republic of Korea (ROK) from two interrelated perspectives: Centralized dry cask storage and spent fuel pyroprocessing and burning in sodium fast reactors (SFRs). We argue that the ROK will run out of space for at-reactors spent fuel storage by about the year 2030 and will thus need to transition centralized dry cask storage. Pyroprocessing plant capacity, even if approved and successfully licensed and constructed by that time, will not suffice to handle all the spent fuel discharged annually. Hence centralized dry cask storage will be required even if the pyroprocessing option is successfully developed by 2030. Pyroprocessing is but an enabling technology on the path leading to fissile material recycling and burning in future SFRs. In this regard we discuss two SFR options under development in the U.S.: the Super Prism and the Travelling Wave Reactor (TWR). We note that the U.S. is further along in reactor development than the ROK. The ROK though has acquired more experience, recently in investigating fuel recycling options for SFRs. We thus call for two complementary joint R&D project to be conducted by U.S. and ROK scientists. One leading to the development of a demonstration centralized away-fromreactors spent fuel storage facility. The other involve further R&D on a combined SFR-fuel cycle complex based on the reactor and fuel cycle options discussed in the paper.
CT-measured macropores as affected by agroforestry and grass buffers for grazed pasture systems

Agroforestry and grass buffers have been proposed for improving water quality in watersheds. Soil porosity can be significantly influenced by buffer vegetation which affects water transport and water quality. The objective of the study was to compare differences in computed tomography (CT)-measured macroporosity (>1,000-μm diam.) and coarse mesoporosity (200- to 1,000-μm diam.) parameters for agroforestry and grass buffer systems associated with rotationally grazed and continuously grazed pasture systems. Soils at the site were Menfro silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludalf). Six replicate intact soil cores, 76.2 mm diam. by 76.2 mm long, were collected using a core sampler from the four treatments at five soil depths (0–50 cm at 10-cm intervals). Images were acquired using a hospital CT scanner and subsequently soil bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) were measured after scanning the cores. Image-J software was used to analyze five equally spaced images from each core. Bulk density was 5.9% higher and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) values were five times lower for pasture treatments relative to buffer treatments. For the 0–10 cm soil depth, CT-measured soil macroporosity (>1,000 μm diam.) was 13 times higher for the buffer treatments compared to the pasture treatments. Buffer treatments had greater macroporosity (0.020 m3 m−3) compared to pasture (0.0045 m3 m−3) treatments. CT-measured pore parameters were positively correlated with Ksat. The project illustrates benefits of agroforestry and grass buffers for maintaining soil porosity critical for soil water and nutrient transport.
An immunodominant class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte determinant of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 induces CD4 class II-restricted help for itself.

We have observed that a peptide corresponding to an immunodominant epitope of the HIV-1 envelope protein recognized by class I MHC- restricted CD8+ CTL can also induce T cell help for itself. The help is necessary for restimulation of CTL precursors in vitro with peptide alone in the absence of exogenous lymphokines, can be removed by depletion of CD4+ T cells, and can be replaced by exogenous IL-2. Whereas the CTL in BALB/c or B10. D2 mice are restricted by the class I molecule Dd, the Th cells are restricted by the class II molecule Ad, and the help can be blocked by anti-Ad mAb. To examine the genetic regulation of the induction of help, we studied B10.A mice that share the class I Dd molecule, but have different class II molecules, Ak and Ek. Spleen cells of immune B10.A mice behave like CD4-depleted BALB/c spleen cells in that they cannot be restimulated in vitro by the peptide alone, but can with peptide plus IL-2. Therefore, in the absence of exogenous lymphokines, peptide-specific help is necessary for restimulation with this immunodominant CTL epitope peptide, and in H-2d mice, this peptide stimulates help for itself as well as CTL. We speculate on the implications of these findings for the immunodominance of this peptide in H-2d mice, and for the selective advantage of pairing certain class I and class II molecules in an MHC haplotype.
Trigeminal Neuralgia: Viewpoint—Medical Management

Trigeminal neuralgia is a well-recognized neuropathic pain syndrome characterized by brief paroxysms of facial pain in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. The syndrome can occur as a result of a number of medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, basilar artery aneurysm, and brain tumor, but oftentimes is idiopathic. Treatment options include a number of neuropathic pain medications as well as neurosurgical and radiosurgical interventions. Medication remains the first-line therapy for almost all individuals, and the mainstay of treatment for most patients. Traditionally, Carbamazepine has maintained its role as the most effective first-line agent. While Baclofen has generally been considered the predominant second agent, its effectiveness is much less well established. Numerous additional agents are commonly in use for trigeminal neuralgia including a number of antiepileptic drugs, antidepressants, GABA-mimetic agents, local anesthetics, and narcotics. Use of these agents must be tailored to the personal needs and characteristics of the patients suffering with trigeminal neuralgia.
A protocol for the isolation and cultivation of brown bear (Ursus arctos) adipocytes

Brown bears (Ursus arctos) exhibit hyperphagia each fall and can become obese in preparation for hibernation. They do this without displaying the physiological problems typically seen in obese humans, such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The study of brown bear hibernation biology could therefore aid in the development of novel methods for combating metabolic diseases. To this end, we isolated mesenchymal stem cells from subcutaneous fat biopsies, and culture methods were developed to differentiate these into the adipogenic lineage. Biopsies were taken from 8 captive male (N = 6) and female (N = 2) brown bears, ages 2-12 years. Plastic adherent, fibroblast-like cells were proliferated and subsequently cryopreserved or differentiated. Differentiation conditions were optimized with respect to fetal bovine serum content and time spent in differentiation medium. Cultures were characterized through immunostaining, RT-qPCR, and Oil red O staining to quantify lipid accumulation. Adiponectin, leptin, and glycerol medium concentrations were also determined over the course of differentiation. The culturing protocol succeeded in generating hormone-sensitive lipase-expressing, lipid-producing white-type adipocytes (UCP1 negative). Serum concentration and time of exposure to differentiation medium were both positively related to lipid production. Cells cultured to low passage numbers retained similar lipid production and expression of lipid markers PLIN2 and FABP4. Ultimately, the protocols described here may be useful to biologists in the field investigating the health of wild bear populations and could potentially increase our understanding of metabolic disorders in humans.
Renal transplant pathology: review and update

Renal transplant pathology forms an integral part of medical kidney diseases requiring a biopsy for diagnosis, prognosis and/or appropriate therapy. Often, multiple transplant biopsies are performed to monitor a disease process or efficacy of therapy. This short course will review and update all aspects of renal transplant pathology. Renal transplant biopsies of major diagnoses will be presented and used as a spring board for discussion of the subject area. Emphasis will be placed on new knowledge of disease classification, practical diagnostic approach, and novel pathogenetic mechanisms. Scanned light microscopic slides, immunofluorescent images, electron microscopic images and clinical summaries will be available on line for pre-meeting review. The covered topics include updated Banff Classification, acute T cell-mediated rejection, acute antibody-mediated rejection, chronic antibody-mediated rejection, transplant glomerulopathy, recurrent diseases, de novo diseases, BK virus nephropathy and other infections.
Cancer prevention by synthetic food dyes

3814 Synthetic food dyes are present at high levels in many foods. The average American consumes over 10 grams of these food additives each day. There is considerable public interest in potential adverse health effects of synthetic food dyes. Extensive research has been conducted to ensure that the currently approved food dyes do not cause cancer. However, the possibility that these agents might inhibit cancer has not yet been addressed. Based on their chemical structures, we hypothesized that certain synthetic food dyes may form complexes with planar chemical carcinogens and inhibit carcinogen uptake in a manner similar to that of the successful cancer chemopreventive agent chlorophyllin (CHL). Five food dyes were compared in vitro for their ability to modulate dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBP) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced mutagenicity. FDA approved (FD&C) Blue No. 2 (Blue 2) and Red No. 40 (Red 40) each inhibited mutagenicity of DBP and AFB1 in bacterial reverse mutation assays. The concentration of Blue 2 producing 50% inhibition of mutagenicity (IC50) towards DBP was 12 nmol/plate. The IC50s for AFB1-induced mutagenicity were 49 and 58 nmol/plate for Red 40 and Blue 2, respectively. Blue 2 and Red 40 were then tested towards AFB1-induced carcinogenicity. Rainbow trout fry were fed diets containing 40 ppb AFB1 alone or in combination with one of the food dyes (at 2000 or 4000 ppm) for one month. Nine months later trout were sampled and livers examined for the presence of tumors. AFB1-induced tumor incidence was significantly inhibited by co-treatment with either Red 40 (2000 ppm) or Blue 2 (2000 or 4000 ppm). Protection provided by the food dyes was comparable to that provided by 2000 ppm CHL. These results suggest that the synthetic food dyes Blue 2 and Red 40 may be effective cancer preventive agents.
Alkaline Electrolyte and Fe Impurity Effects on the Performance and Active-Phase Structure of NiOOH Thin Films for OER Catalysis Applications

The effects of varying alkaline electrolyte and electrolyte Fe levels on the performance and active-phase structure of NiOOH thin films for catalysis of the oxygen evolution reaction were studied. An electrolyte effect on catalytic performance was observed. Under purified conditions, current densities followed the trend Cs+ > K+ ≈ Na+ ≈ Li+ at current densities > 1 mA/cm2. Under Fe-saturated conditions, current densities followed the trend K+ ≈ Na+ > Cs+ > Li+ at all current densities. Voltammetry was coupled with Raman spectroscopy for studies in LiOH and CsOH. Raman spectra were fit to Gaussian functions and analyzed quantitatively based on mean peak positions. Both purified and Fe-saturated CsOH promoted slightly lower peak positions than purified and Fe-saturated LiOH, indicating that CsOH promoted a NiOOH active-phase structure with longer Ni–O bonds. Both Fe-saturated CsOH and LiOH promoted slightly lower Raman peak positions than purified CsOH and LiOH, but only for one of the two Raman peaks. Thes...
Quantitative and Functional Antibody Responses to the 13-Valent Conjugate and/or 23-Valent Purified Polysaccharide Vaccine in Aging HIV-Infected Adults.

Background: The number of aging human immunodeficiency virus-infected (HIV+) individuals living in the United States has substantially grown over the past two decades. Advanced age and HIV infection both increase susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection due to B cell dysfunction. The combined impact of these factors on pneumococcal vaccine responses remains unknown. Methods: We assessed serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM levels and opsonophagocytic killing assay (OPA) titers to pneumococcal serotypes 14 and 23F in HIV+ subjects and HIV-uninfected (HIV–) controls 50-65 years old. HIV+ individuals with CD4+ T cells/μl (CD4) >200 and ≥1 year of antiretroviral therapy (ART) received either a dose of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine followed by the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 8 weeks later (PCV/PPV) as currently recommended (n=15) or a single dose of PPV only (n=22). HIV– controls received PCV/PPV (n=14). Results: HIV+ PCV/PPV and PPV groups exhibited similar increases in IgG levels and OPA titers for both serotypes after immunization. Postvaccination IgM levels for serotype 23F, but not 14, were significantly higher in HIV+ PCV/PPV compared to PPV groups. IgG and IgM levels for serotype 14 and OPA titers to serotype 23F were significantly reduced in HIV+ compared to HIV- PCV/PPV groups. Serotype-specific IgG levels correlated with OPA titers for all groups. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the recommended PCV/PPV regimen may not significantly improve quantitative or functional antibody responses compared to PPV only in aging HIV+ subjects. Continued efforts aimed at improving vaccine responses in this high risk population are warranted.
Lesions of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Eliminate the Daily Rhythm of Hypocretin-1 Release

Study objectives Hypocretins (orexins) are involved in the sleep disorder narcolepsy. While hypocretin-1 has a daily oscillation, little is known regarding the relative contribution of circadian and homeostatic components on hypocretin release. The effect of lesions of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) on hypocretin-1 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was examined. Design SCN-ablated (SCNx) and sham-operated control rats were implanted with activity-temperature transmitters. Animals were housed individually under 1 of 3 lighting conditions: 12-hour:12-hour light:dark cycle (LD), constant light (LL), and constant darkness (DD). Lesions were verified histologically and shown not to affect hypocretin-containing cells. Hypocretin-1 concentrations in the CSF were determined every 4 hours using radioimmunoassays. Measurements and results Control animals displayed robust circadian (LL, DD) and diurnal (LD) fluctuations in CSF hypocretin-1, locomotor activity, and temperature. Peak CSF hypocretin-1 was at the end of the active period. Activity, temperature, and CSF hypocretin-1 were arrhythmic in SCNx animals in LL and DD. In LD, a weak but significant fluctuation in activity and temperature but not CSF hypocretin-1 was observed in SCNx animals. We also explored correlations between CSF hypocretin-1, CSF corticosterone, and locomotor activity occurring prior to CSF sampling in arrhythmic SCNx rats under constant conditions. Significant correlations between hypocretin-1 and activity were observed both across and within animals, suggesting that interindividual and time-of-the-day differences in activity have significant effects on hypocretin release in arrhythmic animals. No correlation was found between CSF hypocretin-1 and corticosterone. Conclusions Hypocretin-1 release is under SCN control. Locomotor activity influences the activity of the hypocretin neurons.
Robust Signal Restoration in Chemical Reaction Networks

Molecular computing systems that are contained in well-mixed volumes are often modeled using chemical reaction networks. In these systems, concentrations of molecules are treated as signals and used for both communication and memory storage. A common design challenge for such a system is to avoid memory corruption caused by noise in the input signals. In this paper, we analyze two signal restoration algorithms for molecular systems modeled with chemical reaction networks. These algorithms are designed to prevent a memory signal from degrading over time, and we show that under modest conditions these algorithms will maintain the memory indefinitely. We also present an exact solution of the running time of the first algorithm which demonstrates that it converges in logarithmic time.
Lymphotoxin in physiology of lymphoid tissues – Implication for antiviral defense

Lymphotoxin (LT) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily of cytokines which serves multiple functions, including the control of lymphoid organ development and maintenance, as well as regulation of inflammation and autoimmunity. Although the role of LT in organogenesis and maintenance of lymphoid organs is well established, the contribution of LT pathway to homeostasis of lymphoid organs during the immune response to pathogens is less understood. In this review, we highlight recent advances on the role of LT pathway in antiviral immune responses. We discuss the role of LT signaling in lymphoid organ integrity, type I IFN production and regulation of protection and immunopathology during viral infections. We further discuss the potential of therapeutic targeting LT pathway for controlling immunopathology and antiviral protection.
Effects of combined applications of ammonium thiosulphate and fungicides on fruit load and blossom blight and their phytotoxicity to peach trees

SummaryTiming of bloom sprays of ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) for foliar fertilization and fruit thinning, and of fungicides for disease control, is critical in peach production. Initial observations in commercial orchards indicated that ATS and fungicides, when applied as tank mixes, could cause burn of blossoms and shoots, but not when applied separately. Nine fungicides, alone and in combination with ATS, were evaluated on single tree plots in 1993 and five representative treatments were repeated in 1994 under commercial orchard conditions. Treatments were applied by hand-gun from a 100 litre sprayer in 1993 and by air-blast sprayer in 1994. In 1993, fruit number per tree was affected only by ATS and the numbers of blossom blight cankers per tree only by fungicide, with no interaction between ATS and fungicides. There were however some ATS × fungicide interaction regarding phytotoxicity to blossom and one-year old shoots, but the damage to the latter was slight. In 1994 blossom blight did not occur and ...
Wives and widows in medieval Flanders

ABSTRACTWidowhood has long been regarded as the most emancipated condition that women might enjoy, affording them a freedom, agency and access to the public sphere denied their single or married counterparts. A corollary of this assumption is that most women documented as active participants in public life should be identified as widows. Based on a large corpus of references to female activity in bailiffs’ accounts and in town records and ordinances, however, this article argues that in pre-Burgundian Flanders widowhood in no way constituted a privileged status, either morally, socially, legally or economically. Flemish women were educated in order that they might achieve gainful employment; they married late and maintained control of property in marriage. Married women functioned as legal persons; they participated publicly, independently and routinely in Flemish urban life to such a degree that their subsequent activities as widows can only be understood as being in fundamental continuity with their pri...
Many-objective stochastic path finding using reinforcement learning

A novel many-objective reinforcement learning algorithm is proposed.A benchmark many-objective pathfinding problem is introduced.We evaluated the algorithm on path finding problems with five and six objectives.Total reward obtained, solution set quality, and episode duration were measured.The proposed method outperforms the state of the art on all problems. In this paper, we investigate solutions to path finding problems with many conflicting objectives, and introduce a new model-free many objective reinforcement learning algorithm, called Voting Q-learning, that is capable of finding a set of optimal policies in an initially unknown, stochastic environment with several conflicting objectives. Current methods for solving this type of problem rely on Pareto dominance to determine which actions are optimal, which decreases in effectiveness as the number of objectives increases, ultimately selecting actions at random in environments where all potential actions are Pareto optimal. Alternative methods for addressing this problem require interaction with a decision maker or a priori knowledge of the problem structure for guidance towards optimal solutions, making them insufficient for fully autonomous use or problems where preferred solutions are initially unknown. As an alternative, we propose the use of voting methods from social choice theory to determine a set of Pareto optimal policies by aggregating preferences determined by the evaluation of environment conditions for each objective. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this method with multiple deterministic and stochastic many-objective path finding problems that are solved optimally without any advance knowledge of the problem or interaction with a decision maker, showing that our approach is the first to provide optimal performance for an autonomous, intelligent system operating in a many objective environment.
Equipping the Baxter robot with human-inspired hand-clapping skills

Human friends and teammates commonly connect through handshakes, high fives, fist bumps, and other forms of hand-to-hand contact. As robots enter everyday human spaces, they will have the opportunity to join in such physical interactions, but few current robots are intended to touch humans. To begin investigating this topic, we sought to discover precisely how robots should move and react in hand-clapping games, which we define as interactions involving repeated hand-to-hand contacts between two agents. We conducted an experiment to observe seven pairs of people performing a variety of hand-clapping activities. Their recorded hand movements were accurately described by sinusoids that have a constant participant-specific maximum velocity across clapping tempos. Behaviorally, people struggled most with hand clapping at fast tempos, but they also smiled and laughed most often during fast trials. We used the human-human experiment findings to select, modify, and program a Rethink Robotics Baxter Research Robot to clap hands with a human partner. Preliminary tests have demonstrated that this robot can move like our participants and reliably detect human hand impacts through its wrist-mounted accelerometers, thereby exhibiting promise as a safe and engaging interaction partner.
Configurations in Inter-Organizational Cooperation: From Dyads to Organizational Fields

How organizations relate to one another is of key interest to various perspectives within the organization studies tradition. From network theory’s emphasis on the dyad to institutional theory’s emphasis on the field of actors, the discipline is principally concerned with understanding the consequences of such connections on organizational development. The goal of this chapter is to introduce the concept of organizational fields to political scientists. To introduce organizational fields requires giving attention to this concept’s intellectual pre-cursors—organization- and action-sets. From here, the chapter focuses explicitly on the empirical and theoretical insights gained from conceiving of organizations as members of a field and concludes with a reflection on the promise this way of thinking offers political scientists.
Teachers’ and students’ needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness as predictors of students’ achievement

Self-determination theory and research suggest that students are more motivated and have higher achievement when teachers support their psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. However, teachers might have difficulty supporting their students’ psychological needs if their own psychological needs are not met, which might affect students’ need satisfaction and ultimately their achievement. We explored this possibility by testing hierarchical models of the relationships of teachers’ and students’ psychological need satisfaction, and students’ reading achievement in third and fifth grades using multilevel analysis for complex survey data. Participants consisted of 10,395 third-grade students and their teachers, in the Educational Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten (ECLS-K) database. Results showed that teachers who report having low autonomy at work (i.e., those who report that they lack the autonomy to influence school policy and/or to choose how and what they teach, and/or those who perceive that administrative duties and paperwork interfere with their teaching) are less likely to support their students’ need for autonomy compared to teachers who report having higher autonomy at work. Also teachers’ support of their students’ autonomy and their students’ perceptions of academic competence were positively related to students’ reading achievement in both 3rd and 5th grades. In contrast, students’ relatedness to peers was negatively related to their reading achievement in both 3rd and 5th grades. This study provides evidence indicating the potential importance of supporting teachers’ autonomy to enable them to enhance the autonomy of their students and ultimately their students’ reading achievement.
Patch-based optimization for image-based texture mapping

Image-based texture mapping is a common way of producing texture maps for geometric models of real-world objects. Although a high-quality texture map can be easily computed for accurate geometry and calibrated cameras, the quality of texture map degrades significantly in the presence of inaccuracies. In this paper, we address this problem by proposing a novel global patch-based optimization system to synthesize the aligned images. Specifically, we use patch-based synthesis to reconstruct a set of photometrically-consistent aligned images by drawing information from the source images. Our optimization system is simple, flexible, and more suitable for correcting large misalignments than other techniques such as local warping. To solve the optimization, we propose a two-step approach which involves patch search and vote, and reconstruction. Experimental results show that our approach can produce high-quality texture maps better than existing techniques for objects scanned by consumer depth cameras such as Intel RealSense. Moreover, we demonstrate that our system can be used for texture editing tasks such as hole-filling and reshuffling as well as multiview camouflage.
Forced urbanisation: A cross-national assessment of the effects of intranational political violence on a nation’s largest cities:

This article offers a ‘first step’ toward understanding the consequences of intranational political violence on the growth of a nation’s largest cities. Theory and research from studies on forced m...
Positive stabilization of singular systems by proportional derivative state feedback

This paper considers the problem of positive stabilization of linear continuous-time singular systems by both proportional and proportional derivative state feedback. First, we provide conditions for a singular system to be admissible (stable, regular, and impulse-free). Then, with the aid of these conditions, we show that the well-known positive stabilization technique based on LMI for conventional linear systems can be applied to singular systems represented by its standard decomposition form. Two design strategies are given for positive stabilization by proportional derivative state feedback with the aid of normalization of singular systems. Numerical examples are provided to support the theoretical results.
Deletion of the zinc-binding motif of CD13/aminopeptidase N molecules results in loss of epitopes that mediate binding of inhibitory antibodies.

The myeloid cell-surface glycoprotein CD13/aminopeptidase N (APN; EC 3.4.11.2) contains a pentapeptide (HExxH) in its extracellular domain that is characteristic of many zinc-dependent metalloproteinases. This region contains residues important for zinc binding and constitutes part of the catalytic domain of several metalloproteases. We deleted an internal fragment of 117 base pairs (bp) from the human CD13/APN cDNA, resulting in an in-frame deletion that included the sequences coding for this pentapeptide motif. The mutant cDNA was subcloned into a retroviral expression vector, and polypeptides encoded by the altered cDNA were expressed in transfected murine NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. The mutant CD13/APN molecules lacked enzymatic activity, and their intracellular processing to the cell surface was retarded by comparison with normal CD13/APN polypeptides. The mutant molecules also lacked epitopes required for binding of four of 19 CD13-specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) tested in flow cytometric assays. Each of the four MoAbs also inhibited the enzymatic activity of wild-type APN molecules, suggesting that these antibodies may inhibit aminopeptidase activity by interfering with the enzyme9s zinc-coordinating properties. Cells engineered to express mutant CD13/APN polypeptides at the cell surface provide a tool for defining the physiologic role of this enzyme on normal and malignant myeloid cells and marrow stromal cells.
Designing an E-Learning Health Promotion Course: Meeting the National Benchmarks:

The purpose of this coaching article is to assist health education academicians and specialist practitioners to understand the design of a fully distance learning health program and planning course applying the Quality Matters and Blackboard Exemplary Course rubric frameworks. Quality Matters is a nationally recognized, faculty-centered, peer-review process designed to certify the quality of online and blended courses and online components. The Blackboard Exemplary course framework uses best practices in designing engaging online courses with detailed feedback and course improvement. This article is a peer to peer teaching effort of step by step application of various rubric features, used nationally, providing examples of its applications toward a distance learning course. Additionally, the course designer discusses literature related to the evidence base of Quality Matters and some of the limitations of using course design tools.
Blood Transfusion Therapy

Transfusion therapy is an essential component of supportive treatment for patients with cancer, hema-tologic disorders and those requiring hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Children with malignancy or who are undergoing immunosuppressive treatment often experience myelosuppression that requires the necessary, and sometimes emergent, transfusion of blood and blood products. The United States' blood supply is safer now than ever, but transfusions still carry potential risks to the receipient. These risks include ABO incompatibility due to human error, infectious complications (hepatitis B and C, syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus) and transfusion reactions (febrile and hemolytic). Blood and blood components should be administered judiciously due to cost and supply chain issues. The decision to order blood products must be based on careful assessment of clinical and laboratory indications that a transfusion is necessary. As well, the patient and family need to be well educated about the risks and benefits of transfusions.