cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of three nonlinear controllers for boost converters and switching design

This paper regards the boost converter as a variable-structure nonlinear system from an automatic control viewpoint. Three main nonlinear controllers contain feedback linearizing controller, passivity-based controller and sliding mode controller based on well-known average PWM model are introduced and their designs and performances are compared. The comparative analysis shows that although all these ones could stabilize the system they have distinct features. Sliding mode controller provides the best robustness. Feedback linearizing controller has quicker response than the other two. The design of passivity-based controller is quiet complex but it has better ability against disturbance than that of feedback linearizing controller. On the basis of analysis and comparison and the superiority of dwell time, a mixed switching law is designed to achieve rapid response while maintaining a certain anti-perturbance ability and robustness. The choice of design parameters proves to be crucial to ensure robustness with respect to load resistance variations.
Impact of weight loss on Health-Related Quality of Life

To examine the effect of treatment-induced weight loss on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL), 38 mildly-to-moderately overweight persons recruited to participate in a study to examine the efficacy of a lifestyle modification treatment program completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36, as an assessment of HRQL), and underwent a series of clinical evaluations prior to treatment. After baseline evaluations, participants were randomly assigned to either a program of lifestyle physical activity or a program of traditional aerobic activity. Participants again completed the SF-36 and BDI after the 13-week treatment program had ended. Weight loss averaged 8.6 +/- 2.8 kg over the 13-week study. We found that weight loss was associated with significantly higher scores (enhanced HRQL), relative to baseline, on the physical functioning, role-physical, general health, vitality and mental health domains of the SF-36. The largest improvements were with respect to the vitality, general health perception and role-physical domains. There were no significant differences between the lifestyle and aerobic activity groups on any of the study measures. These data indicate that, at least in the short-term, weight loss appears to profoundly enhance HRQL.
THE KINETICS OF THE HYDROLYSIS OF UREA AND OF ARGININE

Fawsitt (1) and Werner (2) have studied the hydrolysis of urea by acids and by alkalies. They agreed in assuming that cyanate was an intermediate in the hydrolysis, but differed widely as to the details of the mechanism and as to experimental values for the velocity constants of the reactions involved.1 The reverse reaction, the synthesis of urea from ammonia and cyanate, has been investigated in some detail by Walker and his coworkers (3) and more recently by Warner and Stitt (4) and by Svirbely and Warner (5). The latter workers have concluded, on the basis of the effect of ionic strength on the velocity, that the reaction is one between ammonium and cyanate ions. Because of the unsatisfactory nature of the data on the kinetics of the hydrolysis of urea, we have reinvestigated the rates and mechanism of the reactions involved. We were chiefly interested in the hydrolysis by alkali, but the work was extended to include neutral and acid pH ranges.
Hotel Tax Collections and a Local Mega-Event

Cities compete for the opportunity to host events that draw large crowds of visitors. The argument is that these visitors bring with them lots of spending in hotels and restaurants, providing jobs for workers in the service industry, and generating sales tax revenues for the city. In many places, there is also a separate tax on hotel and motel accommodations. Indeed, taxes on accommodations are one example of jurisdictions exporting their tax burdens, as people who pay the accommodations taxes are visitors. This paper looks for the beneficial impact of a megaevent by focusing on the accommodations tax collections in and around the jurisdiction that hosts the event.
Rapporteur’s summary

I will speak from an engineering point of view, and I shall try to address my remarks to the users to some extent rather than to the people who are handling the problems on a day-to-day basis.
French Interventionism in the Age of R2P: A Critical Examination of the Case of Mali

Responsibility to Protect has become one of the major avenues for justifying humanitarian interventions under international law when there is an imminent threat to human rights. The use of R2P for the purpose of humanitarian intervention requires satisfaction of a number of conditions, such as a just threshold, right intent and proportionality of the use of force. Since its inception, one of the main concerns regarding this doctrine was the fear that this doctrine can be used as charter for any intervention in the name of humanitarian purpose. One of the recent applications of R2P was French military intervention in northern Mali in January 2013 during operation Serval. The purpose of this military intervention was to fight against the rebel groups and establish peace and security in central African region. The French government sought to justify this intervention based on conformity with UN Council resolutions, consent and collective self-defense. Ultimately, France argued that the intervention was based pursuant to the norm of R2P. Prior academic writing about this intervention focused on the justifications advanced by France under the principles of international law. However, this paper will demonstrate that there is no valid basis under international law for the French intervention in Mali. Furthermore, this paper shows that the argument in favor of R2P is unsatisfactory since it does not satisfy the requirements of R2P. This paper will analyze first the arguments advanced by the French government for the intervention in Mali based on Security Council resolutions, consent and collective self-defense. Secondly, there will be a survey of literature regarding the doctrine R2P. Thirdly, this paper will explore of the use R2P in the Malian case. Lastly, I will address the implication of the use R2P in Malian case.
File and memory security analysis for grid systems

The grid security architecture today does not prevent certain unauthorized access to the files associated with a job executing on a remote machine. Programs and data are transferred to a remote machine for completing staging jobs. Footprints may remain on the machine after the programs and data are deleted from the remote machine. Anyone with super user privileges can access these footprints. In this paper, we explore the problem of unauthorized access to programs and data, supporting it with experiments carried out using the Globus toolkit. After showing that programs and data are at risk, we also discuss ways for secure deletion of data and programs on the remote machine.
Electronic properties of oxygen vacancies in La2CuO4-y.

The electronic properties of oxygen vacancies in chemically pure ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$Cu${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ have been investigated by the ab initio pseudofunction method using a supercell geometry. Oxygen vacancies alter the electronic structure significantly, breaking up the 2-eV-wide partially filled conduction band into narrower bands, which are only about 0.1 eV wide in ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$Cu${\mathrm{O}}_{3.75}$. Our results suggest that vacancy-induced narrow bands near the Fermi level could lead to the antiferromagnetic state observed in some nonstoichiometric ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$Cu${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ samples.
Novel transformer-flux-balancing control of dual-active-bridge bidirectional converters

In this paper, a novel flux-balancing method for the isolated dual-active-bridge (DAB) bidirectional converter based on direct control of the magnetizing current is proposed. In the proposed method, the dc component of the primary and secondary current is controlled by providing two control loops; one to keep the average magnetizing current approximately zero and the other to keep the average primary and secondary current approximately zero. The performance of the proposed flux-balancing control is experimentally evaluated on a 3.3-kW DAB prototype designed for automotive applications.
Performance tuning Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Goddard longwave radiative transfer scheme on Intel Xeon Phi

Next-generation mesoscale numerical weather prediction system, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, is a designed for dual use for forecasting and research. WRF offers multiple physics options that can be combined in any way. One of the physics options is radiance computation. The major source for energy for the earth's climate is solar radiation. Thus, it is imperative to accurately model horizontal and vertical distribution of the heating. Goddard solar radiative transfer model includes the absorption duo to water vapor,ozone, ozygen, carbon dioxide, clouds and aerosols. The model computes the interactions among the absorption and scattering by clouds, aerosols, molecules and surface. Finally, fluxes are integrated over the entire longwave spectrum.In this paper, we present our results of optimizing the Goddard longwave radiative transfer scheme on Intel Many Integrated Core Architecture (MIC) hardware. The Intel Xeon Phi coprocessor is the first product based on Intel MIC architecture, and it consists of up to 61 cores connected by a high performance on-die bidirectional interconnect. The coprocessor supports all important Intel development tools. Thus, the development environment is familiar one to a vast number of CPU developers. Although, getting a maximum performance out of MICs will require using some novel optimization techniques. Those optimization techniques are discusses in this paper. The optimizations improved the performance of the original Goddard longwave radiative transfer scheme on Xeon Phi 7120P by a factor of 2.2x. Furthermore, the same optimizations improved the performance of the Goddard longwave radiative transfer scheme on a dual socket configuration of eight core Intel Xeon E5-2670 CPUs by a factor of 2.1x compared to the original Goddard longwave radiative transfer scheme code.
Effects of Multiple Putative Anticarcinogens on the Carcinogenicity of trans-5-Amino-3-[2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)vinyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole

In an attempt to dissociate the chemotherapeutic from the carcinogenic properties of the antischistosomal and antitrypanosomal nitrovinylfuran trans-5-amino-3-[2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)vinyl]1,2,4-oxadiazole [(SQ18506) CAS: 28754-68-9; (E)-5-amino-3-(2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)vinyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole], potential inhibitors of carcinogenesis were administered to female outbred CD-1 mice before and during exposure to SQ18506. The compounds tested were ascorbic acid, etretinate, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), cysteamine hydrochloride, cysteine hydrochloride, dimercaprol, disulfiram, 1,4-dithiothreitol, reduced glutathione, and spermidine phosphate. The primary types of tumors observed were squamous cell carcinomas of the stomach and thymic and nonthymic lymphomas. BHA reduced the incidence of malignant tumors to control levels, whereas cysteine hydrochloride, spermidine phosphate, and disulfiram reduced the incidence of chemically induced tumors by 42, 34, and 32%, respectively. Although cysteamine hydrochloride and disulfiram had no or only a modest effect on the overall incidence of tumors, the data suggested possible tissue-specific anticarcinogenic properties for these agents. Of the 8 antioxidants tested, only 1 had marked anticarcinogenic properties against SQ18506. These data indicate that antioxidant properties alone cannot account for the anticarcinogenic activity of the compounds tested. Coadministration of the anticarcinogen BHA with SQ18506 also blocked the chemotherapeutic effects of this agent on female CD-1 mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni.
1,3,4‐Thiadiazolinethiones

Yields of 1,3,4-thiadiazolinethiones are trebled by recrystallizing the crude products from solvent containing mercaptoethanol.
The Implementation of Batia Strauss's Method of Active Listening to Music with Didactic and Therapeutic Aims during Music Classes in Polish Public Schools

The article chronicles the implementation of Active Listening to Music, a pedagogical method developed by Batia Strauss that has become extremely popular in Poland in recent years. Strauss, working at Levinsky College for Teachers in Tel Aviv and managing the Branch of Music Teaching at the Jerusalem Music Academy, led workshops for a wide circle of participants worldwide. This article includes aims and forms of music therapy as used in Polish schools, a description of the method of Batia Strauss, particularly its therapeutic features, and means of implementation of elements of Strauss’s method through a variety of music therapy techniques as adapted in Poland.
Unemployment in multiple sclerosis: the contribution of personality and disease

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the leading cause of neurological disability among young and middle-aged adults. One of the most devastating consequences of MS in this relatively young population group is unemployment. Although certain demographic and disease factors have been associated with employment, few studies have examined the contribution of person-specific factors, such as personality.Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the extent to which personality, demographics, and clinical measures contribute to unemployment in MS.Method: A total of 101 individuals with MS who were enrolled in a clinical trial on cognition underwent a brief neuropsychological battery and completed questionnaires related to vocation, mood, fatigue, and personality. Neurological impairment was measured with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).Results: Employment status was related with disease duration, MS subtype, level of neurological impairment, fatigue, performance on measures assessing infor...
Global identification of transcriptional regulators of pluripotency and differentiation in embryonic stem cells

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great promise for regenerative medicine because they can undergo unlimited self-renewal and retain the capability to differentiate into all cell types in the body. Although numerous genes/proteins such as Oct4 and Gata6 have been identified to play critical regulatory roles in self-renewal and differentiation of hESC, the majority of the regulators in these cellular processes and more importantly how these regulators co-operate with each other and/or with epigenetic modifications are still largely unknown. We propose here a systematic approach to integrate genomic and epigenomic data for identification of direct regulatory interactions. This approach allows reconstruction of cell-type-specific transcription networks in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and fibroblasts at an unprecedented scale. Many links in the reconstructed networks coincide with known regulatory interactions or literature evidence. Systems-level analyses of these networks not only uncover novel regulators for pluripotency and differentiation, but also reveal extensive interplays between transcription factor binding and epigenetic modifications. Especially, we observed poised enhancers characterized by both active (H3K4me1) and repressive (H3K27me3) histone marks that contain enriched Oct4- and Suz12-binding sites. The success of such a systems biology approach is further supported by experimental validation of the predicted interactions.
The effect of temporal single alternation on learned increases in hippocampal unit activity in classical conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane response

Rabbits were trained with a temporal single-alternation schedule in which reinforced (CS-US) trials were regularly alternated with nonreinforced (CS-alone) trials. Thus, CS-US trials were invariably preceded by CS-alone trials and CS-alone trials were invariably preceded by CS-US trials. In agreement with previous research, there was no evidence of behavioral discrimination; that is, conditioned nictitating membrane responses were no larger on CS-US trials than on CS-alone trials. In contrast, hippocampal multiple unit activity showed (1) greater conditioned increases on CS-US trials and (2) lowered pre-CS levels prior to CS-US trials. In a second experiment, CS-alone trials were replaced by “dummy” trials on which no stimuli were presented. There was no difference in pre-“CS” activity between CS-US and “dummy” trials, indicating that the effect shown in the first experiment was not produced by unlearned effects of US presentation. These results support the notion of an important role for the hippocampus in “working” memory.
Immuno-SEM characterization of developing bovine cartilage

Collagen is a vital material in the tissues of living organisms. Found almost everywhere in the human body, collagen is important in connective tissues, bone growth, and cartilage. Collagen XI makes up a very small portion of the cartilaginous tissue; however, it plays a key role in cartilaginous tissue. Collagen XI and two collagen XI isoforms, V1b and V2, are critical in the ossification process. The location of collagen XI, V1b, V2, and their specific functions in the ossification process within developing bovine cartilage are not well characterized. In this work, the location of collagens I, II, XI and two collagen XI isoforms, V1b and V2, present in developing bovine cartilage are investigated using the immuno-SEM technique. The results for the locations of collagen I and II indicate a high level of consistency with previous work, thus showing that the technique of immuno-SEM can be used with confidence to determine the location of various collagen types within cartilaginous and mineralized tissue. This work has shown that collagen XI is present in the lower hypertrophic region and also in a pericellular arrangement, within about two microns of cell walls, throughout the cartilaginous tissue. V1b is expressed in the articular surface, mineralized region, resting zone, and the distal edge of the diaphysis. The V2 isoform is most strongly expressed in areas of newly forming cartilage, and disappears with chondrocyte maturation. V2 is present in the distal edge of the epiphysis, as well as in mineralized tissue. Collagen XI and two of its isoforms, V1b and V2, are thought to play a critical role in the ossification process. However, this role is not well understood, and is still being characterized. The detection of collagen XI and two of its isoforms in the osteo-chondral junction as well as at a joint surface further point to collagen XI, V1b, and V2 playing a vital role in the ossification process, and warrants further research as to their specific function within the ossification process.
Expression of the bifunctional suicide gene CDUPRT increases radiosensitization and bystander effect of 5-FC in prostate cancer cells.

Abstract Purpose To test the hypothesis that, with 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) treatment, the co-expression of cytosine deaminase (CD) and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT) can lead to greater radiosensitization and bystander effect than CD-expression alone. Methods and materials R3327-AT cell lines stably expressing CD or CDUPRT were generated. The 5-FC and 5-FU cytotoxicity, and the radiosensitivity with/without 5-FC treatment, of these cells were evaluated under both aerobic and hypoxic conditions. The bystander effect was assessed by apoptosis staining and clonogenic survival. The pharmacokinetics of 5-FU and 5-FC metabolism was monitored in mice bearing CD- or CDUPRT-expressing tumors using 19 F MR spectroscopy (MRS). Results CDUPRT-expressing cells were more sensitive to 5-FC and 5-FU than CD-expressing cells. CDUPRT-expression further enhanced the radiosensitizing effect of 5-FC, relative to that achieved by CD-expression alone. A 25-fold lower dose of 5-FC resulted in the same magnitude of radiosensitization in CDUPRT-expressing cells, relative to that in CD-expressing cells. The 5-FC cytotoxicity in co-cultures of parental cells mixed with 10–20% CDUPRT cells was similar to that in 100% CDUPRT cells. 19 F MRS measurements showed that expression of CDUPRT leads to enhanced accumulation of fluorine nucleotide (FNuc), relative to that associated with CD-expression alone. Conclusion Our study suggests that CDUPRT/5-FC strategy may be more effective than CD/5-FC, especially when used in combination with radiation.
ANTIGENIC AND PHENOTYPIC VARIANTS OF A VIRULENT AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS SELECTED DURING REPLICATION IN DUCKS

To evaluate the replication of a highly virulent avian influenza A virus in a potential reservoir host, mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) were inoculated with the virulent strain A/Ty/Ont/7732/66 (H5N9). Viruses recovered from the ducks were analyzed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and found to possess antigenically altered viral hemagglutinins. Plaque formation on the Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cell line and on primary chicken embryo cells was investigated, and isolates recovered from the ducks differed from the wild type by being unable to form plaques on MDCK cells without trypsin. This phenotype did not appear to be due to inefficient cleavage of the hemagglutinin by host cell proteases since hemagglutinin immunoprecipitated from cell lysates was cleaved. Although the plaquing phenotype suggested attenuation of the isolates from the ducks, they were not significantly altered in their virulence for chickens shown by infectivity studies in vivo. T...
Non-Invasive Embolus Trap Using Histotripsy—An Acoustic Parameter Study

Free-flowing particles in a blood vessel were observed to be attracted, trapped and eroded by a histotripsy bubble cloud. This phenomenon may be used to develop a non-invasive embolus trap (NET) to prevent embolization. This study investigates the effect of acoustic parameters on the trapping ability of the NET generated by a focused 1.063 MHz transducer. The maximum trapping velocity, defined by the maximum mean fluid velocity at which a 3-4 mm particle trapped in a 6 mm diameter vessel phantom, increased linearly with peak negative pressure (P-) and increased as the square root of pulse length and pulse repetition frequency (PRF). At 19.9 MPa P-, 1000 Hz PRF and 10 cycle pulse length, a 3 mm clot-mimicking particle could remain trapped under a background velocity of 9.7 cm/s. Clot fragments treated by NET resulted in debris particles <75 μm. These results will guide the appropriate selection of NET parameters.
A simple gating technique for high-average-current photo-injectors

This paper describes a simple method that substantially improves the production of gated electron bunch trains by totally suppressing undesired background photoemission between the trains. A device has been designed and tested with a drive laser for proof-of-principle demonstration. The predicted functionality and performance are verified on an Energy-Recovery-Linac (ERL) electron accelerator. The method can find applications whenever the laser pulse repetition rate and length need to be tailored.
Electronic structure of the Mn-cofactor of modified bacterial reaction centers measured by electron paramagnetic resonance and electron spin echo envelope modulation spectroscopies

The electronic structure of a Mn(II) ion bound to highly oxidizing reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides was studied in a mutant modified to possess a metal binding site at a location comparable to the Mn4Ca cluster of photosystem II. The Mn-binding site of the previously described mutant, M2, contains three carboxylates and one His at the binding site (Thielges et al., Biochemistry 44:389-7394, 2005). The redox-active Mn-cofactor was characterized using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopies. In the light without bound metal, the Mn-binding mutants showed an EPR spectrum characteristic of the oxidized bacteriochlorophyll dimer and reduced quinone whose intensity was significantly reduced due to the diminished quantum yield of charge separation in the mutant compared to wild type. In the presence of the metal and in the dark, the EPR spectrum measured at the X-band frequency of 9.4 GHz showed a distinctive spin 5/2 Mn(II) signal consisting of 16 lines associated with both allowed and forbidden transitions. Upon illumination, the amplitude of the spectrum is decreased by over 80 % due to oxidation of the metal upon electron transfer to the oxidized bacteriochlorophyll dimer. The EPR spectrum of the Mn-cofactor was also measured at the Q-band frequency of 34 GHz and was better resolved as the signal was composed of the six allowed electronic transitions with only minor contributions from other transitions. A fit of the Q-band EPR spectrum shows that the Mn-cofactor is a high spin Mn(II) species (S = 5/2) that is six-coordinated with an isotropic g-value of 2.0006, a weak zero-field splitting and E/D ratio of approximately 1/3. The ESEEM experiments showed the presence of one (14)N coordinating the Mn-cofactor. The nitrogen atom is assigned to a His by comparing our ESEEM results to those previously reported for Mn(II) ions bound to other proteins and on the basis of the X-ray structure of the M2 mutant that shows the presence of only one His, residue M193, that can coordinate the Mn-cofactor. Together, the data allow the electronic structure and coordination environment of the designed Mn-cofactor in the modified reaction centers to be characterized in detail and compared to those observed in other proteins with Mn-cofactors.
Philip Saffman and viscous flow theory

Philip Saffman made valuable theoretical contributions to different areas of low-Reynolds-number hydrodynamics. Three themes are selected for discussion here: (i) the lift force on a sphere in a shear flow at small, but finite Reynolds number, (ii) Brownian motion in thin liquid films, and (iii) particle motion in rapidly rotating flows. In addition, brief descriptions are given of some of Saffman's other contributions including dispersion in porous media, the average velocity of sedimenting suspensions, and compressible low-Reynolds-number flows.
SED1 function during mammalian sperm-egg adhesion.

A prerequisite for successful fertilization is the species-specific binding of sperm to the extracellular coat of the egg. Gamete binding triggers the release of sperm hydrolytic enzymes that digest a path through the egg coat, thus bringing sperm into proximity with the egg plasma membrane where gamete fusion occurs. Although some components of the sperm membrane and the egg coat that participate in sperm–egg interactions have been identified, results from targeted deletions and gene substitutions indicate that other, as yet unidentified, gamete receptors must contribute to sperm–egg binding. Recent studies implicate the bi-motif protein, SED1, as being required for successful sperm–egg adhesion in mouse. SED1 contains Notch-like EGF repeats as well as discoidin/F5/8 complement domains — motifs that mediate a variety of cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions. SED1’s ability to promote gamete adhesion resides within its two discoidin/F5/8 C domains, which are able to dock to substrates as diverse as phospholipid membranes and extracellular matrices. SED1 is also expressed in a wide range of tissues and epithelia, where it may function similarly as an adhesive protein facilitating cell–cell and/or cell–matrix interactions.
Films of non‐Newtonian fluids adhering to flat plates

This paper presents a study of flux, film thickness, and velocity profiles in the drainage and withdrawal processes of non-Newtonian fluids on flat plates. The flow equations for the drainage from a vertical plate are solved for a three-constant or Ellis model fluid. The solution is compared with that of the Newtonian fluid. The withdrawal case is solved for the power law fluid. The solution consists of matching of the equation of capillary statics in the liquid bath to the flow equation in the entrained film. Experimental data of coating of an endless belt with a film of a non-Newtonian fluid are presented and discussed in view of the theory developed.
Polysaccharide structures from powder diffraction data: molecular models of arabinan.

Abstract X-ray intensity data from a polycrystalline sample of debranched arabinan, [→5)-α- L -Araf-(1→]n, have been obtained using a powder diffractometer in order to determine its three-dimensional structure. The observed peaks index on a monoclinic cell with a = 5.444(7), b = 6.395(10), c = 8.680(5) A, and γ = 99.6(3)°, V = 298 A3. One 2-fold helix along the c-axis can be accommodated in the unit cell. Molecular and packing models have been analyzed using the seven C-2′-endo/C-3′-endo allomorphs originally proposed by Radha and Chandrasekaran [Carbohydr. Res. 1997, 298, 105]. The generated powder pattern matches closely with the observed diffraction only for one C-2′-endo model. In this structure, the three main chain conformation angles are in the trans domains, there are no intra-chain hydrogen bonds, and the packing arrangement is stabilized by inter-chain O-3–H⋯O-2 bonds.
Amniotic fluid levels of interleukin-18 and thrombomodulin in intraamniotic infection

INTRAAMNIOTIC INFECTION CHAUR-DONG HSU, STEPHANIE HONG, New York Medical College, Ob/Gyn, Hawthorne, New York OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine and Thrombomodulin (TM) is a maker for epithelial cell damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the amniotic fluid (AF) levels of IL-18, soluble TM (sTM), and leukocytes as well as their correlations in intraamniotic infection (IAI). STUDY DESIGN: Amniocentesis was performed on 81 singleton pregnant women with preterm contractions, labor, or rupture of membranes. Twentyfive patients had IAI, and 56 did not. IAI was defined as the presence of a positive AF culture. AF neutrophil counts were determined. AF levels of IL-18 and sTM were measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Student t test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for statistical analyses. Data were expressed as mean G SEM. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in maternal age, gestational age, race or parity between two groups. AF mean levels of IL-18, sTM, and leukocytes were significantly higher in patients with IAI than in those without IAI (IL-18: 1114.4 G 65.5 pg/mL vs. 832.4 G 30.9 ng/mL, p ! 0.0001; sTM: 61.2 G 6.0 U/ml vs. 31.6 G 4.6 U/ml, P=0.0004; leukocytes: 1706.9 G 311.1 vs. 15.1 G 5.5 cells/mm). AF IL-18, sTM, and leukocytes were positively correlated (IL-18/sTM: r=0.39, p=0.0003; IL-18/leukocytes: r=0.30, p=0.008; sTM/Leukocytes: r=0.30, P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Our data revealed AF IL-18, sTM, and leukocytes were significantly elevated in IAI. Elevated and correlated AF IL-18, sTM, and leukocytes suggest proinflammatory cytokine, IL-18, may activate leukocyteinduced amniotic membrane damage and transmigration into amniotic cavity.
Performance and stability of Amberlite™ IRA-67 ion exchange resin for product extraction and pH control during homolactic fermentation of corn stover sugars

Abstract A thermotolerant, mixed culture with Bacillus coagulans as a dominating bacterium was grown for production of lactic acid. Acid extraction using Amberlite™ IRA-67 weak base resin in a recirculation loop with a fermentation vessel was implemented to maximize culture productivity by maintaining a concentration of lactic acid below 20 g/L. Productivity of this fermentation was found to be 1.3-fold higher than a control fed-batch process. Characterization of the resin through isotherm analysis produced data that fit well (R2 > 0.99) to both Langmuir and Redlich–Petersen models with a Langmuir monolayer loading of 203.8 mg acid/g resin. Resin stability was tested over 108 days of fermentation on corn stover hydrolysate. During this fermentation, resin capacities for lactic and acetic acid were on average 112.2 mg/g and 19.6 mg/g, respectively, with no statistical evidence for change lactic acid capacity after reuse. However, acetic acid capacity on average dropped 4.9% per reuse.
Intrinsic functional brain mapping in reconstructed 4D magnetic susceptibility (χ) data space.

Abstract Background By solving an inverse problem of T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for a dynamic fMRI study, we reconstruct a 4D magnetic susceptibility source ( χ ) data space for intrinsic functional mapping. New methods A 4D phase dataset is calculated from a 4D complex fMRI dataset. The background field and phase wrapping effect are removed by a Laplacian technique. A 3D χ source map is reconstructed from a 3D phase image by a computed inverse MRI (CIMRI) scheme. A 4D χ data space is reconstructed by repeating the 3D χ source reconstruction for each time point. A functional map is calculated by a temporal correlation between voxel signals in the 4D χ space and the timecourse of the task paradigm. Results With a finger-tapping experiment, we obtain two 3D functional mappings in the 4D magnitude data space and in the reconstructed 4D χ data space. We find that the χ -based functional mapping reveals co-occurrence of bidirectional responses in a 3D activation map that is different from the conventional magnitude-based mapping. Comparison with existing methods The χ -based functional mapping can also be achieved by a 3D deconvolution of a phase activation map. Based on a subject experimental comparison, we show that the 4D χ tomography method could produce a similar χ activation map as obtained by the 3D deconvolution method. Conclusion By removing the dipole effect and other fMRI technological contaminations, 4D χ tomography provides a 4D χ data space that allows a more direct and truthful functional mapping of a brain activity.
Effects of Ethanol on DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis in Rat Astrocyte Cultures

Brain growth retardation is a major feature of the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) exert significant growth-promoting effects on the central nervous system (CNS). The present study examined the effects of ethanol and its interactions with growth factors on the incorporation of labeled precursors into DNA, RNA, and protein in primary astrocyte cultures prepared from term fetal rats. Cultures were exposed to ethanol for 18hr in serum-free medium before measuring nucleoside or amino acid incorporation into acid-precipitable cell constituents. Under basal conditions, ethanol induced dose-dependent changes in the rates of incorporation of tritiated thymidine, uridine, and valine. The fraction of the total thymidine uptake that was incorporated into DNA was reduced in the presence of 100 and 200 mM ethanol. Effects on uridine and valine incorporation paralleled cell uptake. Insulin (10(-6) M) and IGF-I (10(-9) M) increased (p less than 0.01) incorporation of radiolabeled thymidine, uridine, and valine. Analysis of variance indicated highly significant interactions between ethanol and the effects of growth factors on incorporation of both nucleosides and valine. Interference with the action of neurotrophic factors may be a significant factor in fetal brain growth retardation associated with maternal ethanol ingestion.
Feasibility of intraoperative coronary angiography during hypothermie cardioplegic arrest

Abstract Although intraoperative coronary angioplasty has the potential to enhance revascularization in selected patients undergoing coronary bypass, this technique is only rarely performed, due in part to the lack of angiographic monitoring. Accordingly, to develop angiographic techniques potentially applicable to intraoperative angtoplasty, 6 conditioned dogs were placed on full catdiopulmonary bypass, the aorta was cross-clamped, and the heart arrested with cold catdioplegia solution. After 45 minutes of arrest, selective coronary angiography was performed employing catheters introduced through a proximal aortotomy. Small-volume contrast injections resulted in excellent opacificarion; however, the contrast agent stagnated within the coronary tree. Fortunately, intracoronary flush injection of the saline-cardioplegia solution resulted in immediate and complete contrast washout. After discontinuation of bypass, echocardiography revealed normal left and right ventricular function. Histopathologic analysis of tissue specimens from animals in which contrast was flushed documented the presence of normal coronary arteries and myocardium. These findings demonstrate methods by which intraoperative coronary angiography can be performed in the arrested heart without having adverse effects on either the cardiac function or histologic appearance. These techniques may have application for the performance of intraoperative angioplasty.
Mechanisms Underlying the Rapid Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ-Mediated Amyloid Clearance and Reversal of Cognitive Deficits in a Murine Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is associated with a disruption of amyloid β (Aβ) homeostasis, resulting in the accumulation and subsequent deposition of Aβ peptides within the brain. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated nuclear receptor that acts in a coupled metabolic cycle with Liver X Receptors (LXRs) to increase brain apolipoprotein E (apoE) levels. apoE functions to promote the proteolytic clearance of soluble forms of Aβ, and we found that the synthetic PPARγ agonist, pioglitazone, stimulated Aβ degradation by both microglia and astrocytes in an LXR and apoE-dependent manner. Remarkably, a brief 9 d oral treatment of APPswe/PS1Δe9 mice with pioglitazone resulted in dramatic reductions in brain levels of soluble and insoluble Aβ levels which correlated with the loss of both diffuse and dense-core plaques within the cortex. The removal of preexisting amyloid deposits was associated with the appearance of abundant Aβ-laden microglia and astrocytes. Pioglitazone treatment resulted in the phenotypic polarization of microglial cells from a proinflammatory M1 state, into an anti-inflammatory M2 state that was associated with enhanced phagocytosis of deposited forms of amyloid. The reduction in amyloid levels was associated with a reversal of contextual memory deficits in the drug-treated mice. These data provide a mechanistic explanation for how PPARγ activation facilitates amyloid clearance and supports the therapeutic utility of PPARγ agonists for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Warring against Terror The War Scroll and the Mobilization of Emotion

While noticing that the tactics and weapons prescribed in the War Scroll resemble those used by Greek and Roman armies, previous scholarship has been dubious of the idea that the scroll actually guided real-life military practice because its battle-plan seems so impractical, assuming a conflict that unfolds in a highly scripted way and relying on ritual and supernatural assistance. This essay aims to rethink the role that the War Scroll played in early Jewish military practice by reading it in light of Greco-Roman theories of how to deploy emotion in battle. Military thinkers like Xenophon and Julius Caesar recognized troop psychology as an important tactical variable that could be manipulated through ritual and supernatural portents. The War Scroll mirrors these practices in a way that supports reading it as a similar effort to manipulate troop psychology arising under the influence of—and perhaps in reaction against—Greco-Roman military practice.
Crystalline xenon: Lattice parameters, thermal expansion, thermal vacancies, and equation of state

Lattice parameters of solid xenon have been measured at sublimation in the temperature range 78.2-160.7 K and at melting in the range 161.7-216.0 K. From these precise data, information about (1) thermal expansion and thermal vacancies and (2) thermodynamic and equation-of-state properties can be obtained. Analysis of the sublimation data yields the first determination of the x-ray coefficient of thermal expansion ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{x}$ in the regime where thermal vacancies are numerous. Comparison of ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{x}$ with the coefficient of bulk thermal expansion allows the first experimental determination of the vacancy formation parameters in solid xenon. As is the case for krypton, a significant discrepancy is found between the experimental vacancy formation enthalpy and published theoretical estimates. To obtain thermodynamic and equation-of-state information, the present sublimation and melting lattice parameters are used in conjunction with previously determined sublimation and melting pressures. These data are analyzed to calculate the parameters ${(\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}P}{\ensuremath{\partial}T})}_{V}$, ${(\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}{B}_{T}}{\ensuremath{\partial}T})}_{V}$, and ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{T,x}$, the x-ray isothermal compressibility, with a substantial improvement in accuracy over those obtained by purely macroscopic means.
Transthoracic left ventricular puncture for the assessment of patients with aortic and mitral valve prostheses: the Massachusetts General Hospital experience, 1989-2000.

Accurate assessment of suspected prosthetic valve dysfunction is critically important as reoperation carries high risk. Noninvasive methods of hemodynamic assessment of patients with both aortic and mitral mechanical valves continue to be frustrated by the interference created by prosthetic material and direct left ventricular puncture may be required for definitive hemodynamic assessment. We report the hemodynamic and angiographic results and outcomes of 38 consecutive patients with double valve replacement who underwent left ventricular puncture as part of evaluation of possible prosthetic dysfunction. These results were compared with those obtained by noninvasive testing. We found noninvasive assessment alone to be unsatisfactory as measurements of regurgitation and stenosis correlated poorly with those obtained by direct left ventricular puncture. Important information that altered patient management was obtained from invasive assessment in 68% of cases with an acceptable rate of complications. Therefore, hemodynamic and angiographic assessment using transthoracic left ventricular puncture should be entertained in patients with mitral and aortic valve replacement presenting with congestive heart failure and suspected prosthesis dysfunction.
The reactive sites in faceted anatase nanoparticles

Considering both (001) and (101) surfaces, we construct two models of anatase nanoparticles with size ranging between 182 and 774 atoms. We choose nanoparticles where the majority surface (101) decreases in surface percentage as the size of the nanoparticle increases; the minority surface (001) decreases correspondingly. Upon optimization, significant structural changes occur in the edged Ti atoms which are junctures between the (001) and (101) facets; original four-coordinated Ti atoms become three coordinated upon optimization. Analyzing the electronic properties, we observe frontier orbitals occurring as small peaks in the band gap region approximately 1 eV lower than the conduction band. We find that these mid-gap peak states are highly localized at the edged Ti atoms. Therefore, we propose that these edged Ti atoms are a key to understanding the reactivity properties exhibited in anatase nanoparticles.
When children shoot children. 88 unintended deaths in California

Between 1977 and 1983, eighty-eight California children 0 to 14 years of age were unintentionally shot and killed either by other children or by themselves. The majority of cases occurred while children were playing with guns they had found. Easy accessibility to guns, the resemblance of guns to toys, and gun malfunctions were all contributing factors. Handguns, particularly those of .22 caliber, were frequently involved.
Analogies between Group 13 metal clusters in organometallic and intermetallic structures

Abstract Analogous metal cluster units are found in organometallic and intermetallic structures containing the Group 13 metals (icosogens) Al, Ga, In, and Tl. The organometallic structures typically contain very sterically hindered alkyl or aryl ligands, whereas the intermetallic structures contain the Group 13 metal and a much more electropositive metal such as an alkali or alkaline earth metal. The Group 13 metal cluster units found in these structures are of the following types: (1) multiply bonded metal dimers such as the organometallics [RGaGaR]2− (R=bulky aryl group) and the anion Ga25− in the intermetallic Ca5Ga3; (2) metal triangles such as the organometallics R3Ga32− and the anion In35− found in the intermetallic Ca5In9Sn6, both of which are isoelectronic with the cyclopropenium ions R3C3+ and thus may be regarded as metalloaromatic species; (3) metal tetrahedra found in the organometallics R4M4 (M=Al, Ga, In, Tl; R=bulky alkyl group), which can be considered to have MMM two-electron three-center bonds in each of the four faces of the tetrahedron and which dissociate readily in the solution and gas phases to the monomeric one-coordinate alkyls RM; (4) a metal trigonal bipyramid in [Li(thf)4]+[{(Me3Si)3Si}3(Me3Si)2Ga4Si]− with relatively weak Gaeq⋯Gaeq interactions; (5) larger metal deltahedra of which the only structurally characterized organometallic examples are the icosahedral [Al12i-Bu12]2− obtained as its potassium salt and the pentagonal bipyramidal [{(Me3Si)3Si}4{(μ2-Me3Si)3SiGa}2Ga7]− obtained as its solvated lithium salt. The deltahedra in some of the intermetallic structures exhibit an unusual type of flattening at some of the degree 4 vertices to give polyhedra not yet found in organometallic species.
Characterization of nucleoside phosphotransferase and thymidine kinase activities of chick embryo cells and of chick-mouse somatic cell hybrids.

Abstract Experiments were carried out to characterize the thymidine (dT) phosphorylating activities of chick embryo, chick erythrocytes, and of chick mouse somatic cell hybrids derived from fused chick erythrocytes and dT kinase-deficient LM(TK) mouse cells. Disc PAGE, isoelectric focusing, and glycerol gradient centrifugation analyses revealed that chick embryo cells contained four distinctive dT phosphorylating activities, two dT kinases and two nucleoside phosphotransferases. Thymidine kinase F. found principally in the cytosol, was also detected in mitochondrial and nuclear extracts, but was very low or absent from chick erythrocytes. Thymidine kinase A corresponds to the mitochondrial-specific isozyme found in bromodeoxyuridine-resistant mammalian cells. Nucleoside phosphotransferase activities were very active in chick embryo cytosol and were detected in embryo mitochondria! and nuclear extracts and cytosol and nuclear extracts of chick erythrocytes. Most of the chick embryo nucleoside phosphotransferase activity could be removed by purification of cytosol dT kinase F. Chick-mouse somatic cell hybrids exhibited chick dT kinase F, but neither chick dT kinase A. chick nucleoside phosphotransferase, nor mouse cytosol dT kinase activities. The results indicate (1) the genetic determinant for chick cytosol dT kinase F is on a different chromosome from the determinants for the chick nucleoside phosphotransferases and mitochondrial dT kinase A, and/or (2) only the chick cytosol dT kinase F, but neither the chick nucleoside phosphotransferases nor dT kinase A, was reactivated in the hybrids.