cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
1H, 15N and 13C resonance assignments and secondary structure of group II phospholipase A2 from Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus: Presence of an amino-terminal helix in solution

1H, 15N and 13C resonance assignments are presented for the group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus. The secondary structure of the enzyme has been inferred from an analysis of coupling constants, interproton distances, chemical shifts, and kinetics of amide exchange. Overall, the secondary structure of this PLA2 is similar to the crystal structure of the homologous group II human nonpancreatic secretory phospholipase [Scott, D.L., White, S.P., Browning, J.L., Rosa, J.J., Gelb, M.H. and Sigler, P.B. (1991) Science, 254, 1007–1010]. In the group I enzyme from porcine pancreas, the amino-terminal helix becomes fully ordered in the ternary complex of enzyme, lipid micelles and inhibitor. The formation of this helix is thought to be important for the increase in activity of phospholipases on aggregated substrates [Van den Berg, B., Tessari, M., Boelens, R., Dijkman, R., De Haas, G.H., Kaptein, R. and Verheij, H.M. (1995) Nature Struct. Biol., 2, 402–406]. However, the group II enzyme from Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus possesses a defined and well-positioned aminoterminal helix in the absence of substrate. Therefore, there is a clear difference between the conformations of group I and group II enzymes in solution. These conformational differences suggest that formation of the amino-terminal helix is a necessary, but not sufficient, step in interfacial activation of phospholipases.
Does the Electromagnetic Current Have a Unitary Singlet Component

A possibility that the electromagnetic current may have a unitary singlet component has been investigated in connection with ${V}_{9}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}l\overline{l}$ decays. The Maki-Hara model of elementary particles seems to be experimentally ruled out. As for the three-triplet model, it has been pointed out that we must have additional ${1}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ vector mesons ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$, ${\ensuremath{\omega}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$, and ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ with nonzero charm quantum numbers in order to saturate a new sum rule.
RNA-seq analysis of broiler liver transcriptome reveals novel responses to high ambient temperature.

Background: In broilers, high ambient temperature can result in reduced feed consumption, digestive inefficiency, impaired metabolism, and even death. The broiler sector of the U.S. poultry industry incurs approximately $52 million in heat-related losses annually. The objective of this study is to characterize the effects of cyclic high ambient temperature on the transcriptome of a metabolically active organ, the liver. This study provides novel insight into the effects of high ambient temperature on metabolism in broilers, because it is the first reported RNA-seq study to characterize the effect of heat on the transcriptome of a metabolic-related tissue. This information provides a platform for future investigations to further elucidate physiologic responses to high ambient temperature and seek methods to ameliorate the negative impacts of heat. Results: Transcriptome sequencing of the livers of 8 broiler males using Illumina HiSeq 2000 technology resulted in 138 million, 100-base pair single end reads, yielding a total of 13.8 gigabases of sequence. Forty genes were differentially expressed at a significance level of P-value < 0.05 and a fold-change ≥ 2i n response to aw eek of cyclic high ambient temperature with 27 down-regulated and 13 up-regulated genes. Two gene networks were created from the function-based Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) of the differentially expressed genes: “Cell Signaling” and “Endocrine System Development and Function”. The gene expression differences in the liver transcriptome of the heat-exposed broilers reflected physiological responses to decrease internal temperature, reduce hyperthermia-induced apoptosis, and promote tissue repair. Additionally, the differential gene expression revealed a physiological response to regulate the perturbed cellular calcium levels that can result from high ambient temperature exposure. Conclusions: Exposure to cyclic high ambient temperature results in changes at the metabolic, physiologic, and cellular level that can be characterized through RNA-seq analysis of the liver transcriptome of broilers. The findings highlight specific physiologic mechanisms by which broilers reduce the effects of exposure to high ambient temperature. This information provides a foundation for future investigations into the gene networks involved in the broiler stress response and for development of strategies to ameliorate the negative impacts of heat on animal production and welfare.
Primary Prevention of School-Based Violence: A Developmental Risk and Resilience Model for School Psychologists

A paramount goal for educators of today’s youth is to provide a safe learning environment to foster positive academic and educational outcomes. Psychologists and educators call for adopting a prevention model for reducing the incidence and prevalence of school violence in current research efforts. This literature review serves to unify current understandings by adopting a risk and resiliency model of analysis. The goals of this article are to: (a) examine conceptualizations of school violence and theoretical frameworks invoked in current prevention programs, and (b) extract key findings from these programs and make recommendations for school psychologists. The argument will be made that most programs in the domain of school violence prevention overlook key principles of developmental psychology and ecological systems theory. School psychologists are in a unique position to apply current empirical understandings to existing violence-prevention programs through consultation models of service-delivery.
Prevention and Intensification of Melt-Water Explosive Interactions

The combination of a hot fluid (e.g., molten metals) and a cold vaporizing fluid (e.g., water) can undergo spontaneous or externally assisted explosive interactions. Such explosions are a well-established contributor to the risk for nuclear reactors exemplified by the infamous Chernobyl accident. Once fundamentals are understood, it may be possible to not only prevent but also, more importantly, control the intensity for useful applications in the areas covering variable thrust propulsion with tailored pressure profiles, for enhancing rapid heat transfer, and also for powder metallurgy (i.e., supercooled powder production, wherein materials turn superplastic with enhanced ductility). This paper discusses results of experiments conducted with various molten metals, specifically, tin, gallium, galinstan, and aluminum interacting with water (with and without salt), and with and without noncondensable gases such as hydrogen or air. It is found that under the appropriate conditions, spontaneous and energetic phase changes can be initiated within milliseconds if the hot metal is tin or galinstan, including the timed feedback of shocks leading to chain-type reactions. Using 3–10 g of tin or galinstan, shock pressures up to 25 bars (350 psig) and mechanical power over ∼2-4 kW were monitored about 4 cm from the explosion zone. The interaction could be intensified more than ten folds by dropping the melt through an argon atmosphere. A slow metal quenching interaction occurring over tens of seconds could be turned explosive to transpire within milliseconds if the thermal states are within the so-called thermal interaction zone. Such explosive interactions did not transpire with gallium or aluminum due to tough oxide coatings. However, by adding ∼10 w/o of salt in water, molten Gallium readily exploded. It was also conclusively revealed that, for an otherwise spontaneously explosive interaction of tin-water or galinstan-water, the inclusion of trace (0.3 w/o) quantities of aluminum has a radical influence on stabilizing the system and ensuring conclusive prevention of explosion triggering. This paper compares and presents the results obtained in this study and draws analogies with industrial scale aluminum casthouse safety involving thousands of kilograms of melt. Insights are provided for enabling physics-based prevention, or, alternately, the intentional initiation of explosions.
Portable Knowledge-Based Diagnostic And Maintenance Systems

It is difficult to diagnose faults and maintain weapon systems because (1) they are highly complex pieces of equipment composed of multiple mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic assemblies, and (2) talented maintenance personnel are continuously being lost through the attrition process. To solve this problem, we developed a portable diagnostic and maintenance aid that uses a knowledge-based expert system. This aid incorporates diagnostics, operational procedures, repair and replacement procedures, and regularly scheduled maintenance into one compact, 18-pound graphics workstation. Drawings and schematics can be pulled up from the CD-ROM to assist the operator in answering the expert system's questions. Work for this aid began with the development of the initial knowledge-based expert system in a fast prototyping environment using a LISP machine. The second phase saw the development of a personal computer-based system that used videodisc technology to pictorially assist the operator. The current version of the aid eliminates the high expenses associated with videodisc preparation by scanning in the art work already in the manuals. A number of generic software tools have been developed that streamlined the construction of each iteration of the aid; these tools will be applied to the development of future systems.
Josephson device with well-defined and low critical points

Two different basic types of switching behavior of Josephson interferometers are possible: a vortex-to-vortex and a vortex-to-voltage transition. Both transition types are separated by the so-called critical points on the threshold curve of the device. For critical points, in general, no analytic expression is available. Therefore, the position of the critical points can only be determined by numerical solutions. In the designs known, the critical points are very sensitlve with respect to parameter variations, which makes LSI design very difficult. In this paper, the design and the experimental results of an asymmetric Josephson interferometer with one well-defined and low critical point are described. This well-defined critical point corresponds to the tip point of the threshold characteristic, which is defined by an analytical expression. The practical consequence for the design of Josephson circuits will be indicated. The dynamic switching behavior of the asymmetric interferometer with respect to the critical points will be discussed extensively in the phase plane, together with the potential energy.
Differences in the Biophysical Properties of the Benzodiazepine/γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Chloride Channel Complex in the Long‐Sleep and Short‐Sleep Mouse Lines

Significant differences in the thermal stability of benzodiazepine receptors were found in cerebral cortical membranes prepared from the long-sleep (LS) and short-sleep (SS) selected mouse lines. Thus, benzodiazepine receptors from LS mice were heat inactivated (55 degrees C) at a significantly faster rate than those from SS mice. Although gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) reduced the rate of heat inactivation in both lines, the more rapid rate of inactivation in the LS line was maintained. Furthermore, the potency of GABA to enhance [3H]flunitrazepam binding decreased threefold in membranes from LS mice as the incubation temperature was increased from 0 degrees to 37 degrees C, but was unaltered in membranes from SS mice. These differences in the biophysical properties of the benzodiazepine/GABA receptor chloride channel complex ("supramolecular complex"), together with a higher KD for t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate in membranes from LS compared to SS mice, suggest that the supramolecular complex may modulate the differential sensitivity to some depressants and convulsants in these lines.
Estimating regional forest productivity and water yield using an ecosystem model linked to a GIS

We used the PnET-II model of forest carbon and water balances to estimate regional forest productivity and runoff for the northeastern United States. The model was run at 30 arc sec resolution (approximately 1 km) in conjunction with a Geographic Information System that contained monthly climate data and a satellite-derived land cover map. Predicted net primary production (NPP) ranged from 700 to 1450 g m2 yr1 with a regional mean of 1084 g m2 yr1. Validation at a number of locations within the region showed close agreement between predicted and observed values. Disagreement at two sites was proportional to differences between measured foliar N concentrations and values used in the model. Predicted runoff ranged from 24 to 150 cm yr1with a regional mean of 63 cm yr1. Predictions agreed well with observed values from U.S. Geologic Survey watersheds across the region although there was a slight bias towards overprediction at high elevations and underprediction at lower elevations. Spatial patterns in NPP followed patterns of precipitation and growing degree days, depending on the degree of predicted water versus energy limitation within each forest type. Randomized sensitivity analyses indicated that NPP within hardwood and pine forests was limited by variables controlling water availability (precipitation and soil water holding capacity) to a greater extent than foliar nitrogen, suggesting greater limitations by water than nitrogen for these forest types. In contrast, spruce-fir NPP was not sensitive to water availability and was highly sensitivity to foliar N, indicating greater limitation by available nitrogen. Although more work is needed to fully understand the relative importance of water versus nitrogen limitation in northeastern forests, these results suggests that spatial patterns of NPP for hardwoods and pines can be largely captured using currently available data sets, while substantial uncertainties exist for spruce-fir.
Foreign Investment by Multinationals from Emerging Countries: The Case of China

China has become a leading foreign investor among all emerging countries, however, the existing literature seldom deals with this important topic. Based upon both macro and micro data, this paper attempts to fill this gap. In particular, the paper focuses on such critical issues on the topic: What are the motivations for Chinese multinationals to invest abroad? While investing abroad, how do they differ from others? And how do FDI theories explain the investment activities? The results of this study shed some light on the question of foreign investment by Chinese companies, thereby contributing to the existing literature on multinationals from emerging countries.
On the Independence of Tests of Randomness and Other Hypotheses

A common problem in statistical inference is "Do the observations xi, xn come from a population with a prescribed mean value?" When the observations are normally distributed, a solution to this problem is to use the "t" test. Notice that it is not assumed that the observations represent independently and identically distributed random variables. In this paper it will be pointed out that for random samples, i.e., independently and identically distributed random variables, many of the non-parametric tests of randomness are independent of "symmetric" tests of hypotheses. This result can be used to test both the "random" and "parametric" parts of a hypothesis with procedures having known significant levels. As an application one might wish to test the hypothesis that x(t) is an observation on a Wiener Process [1]. If the null hypothesis is true, then the quantities x(ia) -x((i-1)5) (i-1, * * , N) form a random sample from a normal distribution with mean zero and variance proportional to S. To test this hypothesis one must test for both randomness and normality. The test for randomness would depend on the alternatives of interest; perhaps rank correlation [2] would be found suitable. The test of normality could be performed using the classical chi-square goodness-of-fit test with one parameter estimated. If this were the test program, the rank correlation test and the chi-square test would be independent under the null hypothesis.
In-situ prediction of reactive ion etch endpoint using neural networks

Reactive ion etching (RIE) in radio frequency glow discharges is perhaps the most popular means of achieving the level of detail necessary to pattern small geometry features in electronics manufacturing. However, the complexity of the RIE process has prompted the use of empirical models utilizing neural networks, which offer advantages in both accuracy and robustness over statistical methods. In this paper, a neural network trained to model the correlation between DC bias and etch rate was used to predict the time required to remove a specified thickness of silicon dioxide (SiO/sub 2/) in a CHF/sub 3//O/sub 2/ plasma. A real-time data acquisition system that transmits process conditions from a Plasma Therm 700 series RIE system was used to monitor DC bias during etching. A back-propagation neural network was trained to predict the amount of time required to etch the remaining amount of film while in the midst of etching. Inputs to the network included elapsed time during the etch run, the desired etch depth, gas flow rates, chamber pressure, and RF power. This network exhibited a 26 s RMS error on training data, and predicted the process endpoint on a set of test etch recipes with an average error of less than two minutes for a process time of about 25 min. >
Effects of doxylamine and acetaminophen on postoperative sleep

The separate and combined effects of doxylamine succinate (25 mg) and acetaminophen (1 gm) on sleep were studied by interview procedures and information from medical records of 2,931 postoperative patients. The sample contained 1,617 patients with mild or moderate pain and 1,314 who were free of pain. Each received either doxylamine alone (S), acetaminophen alone (A), a combination of both drugs (C), or placebo (P). Drug treatment was double blind and randomized separately for the pain and pain-free subsamples. Twelve measures of sleep were determined. C was more beneficial than S or A, and S and A were each superior to P. For all 12 sleep measures, the effect of the combination (C - P) approximated or exceeded the sum of the two separate effects (S - P) + (A - P). The presence of either drug tended to enhance the sleep benefit of the other. The sedative and analgesic benefits to sleep were at least additive, and some outcome measures suggested synergism. In the total sample, the contributions of sedative and analgesic similar. Among patients with pain, contributions of the analgesic surpassed those of the sedative. For patients free of pain, the sedative was better, but even pain-free patients had enhanced sleep after the analgesic. The analgesic, but not the sedative, reduced pain; the analgesic induced the feeling of being well rested and not tired; the sedative induced a feeling of being drugged. Nondrug variables (e.g., pain, sex, age, and sleep expectations) influenced sleep outcome at least as much as drugs, but randomization and the large sample prevented those extraneous variables from biasing drug comparisons.
Cooling mechanisms in 3D ICs: Thermo-mechanical perspective

Three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (IC) impose several challenges in thermal management. Stacking vertical layers significantly increases the heat dissipation per unit volume and the thermal footprint per unit area. The internal layers in the stacks are susceptible to high thermal gradients due to the low thermal conductivity interfaces and the distance from the heat sink. Several factors affect the thermal behavior of the 3D IC, including the through silicon vias, bonding, and cooling mechanisms. In this paper, we provide a detailed review of existing cooling mechanisms and their applicability to 3D ICs. We also propose two parameters to account for the thermal interactions among the devices and stack layers for incorporation in the 3D IC cooling system design: Thermal Intensification Factor (TIF) accounts for the increased heat flux due to multiple ICs along the heat transfer path, and Thermal Derating Factor (TDF) accounts for the increased thermal resistance introduced by the multiple layers. Also, a new flow passage design with variable fin density is presented to reduce the surface temperature non-uniformity along the coolant flow length.
Physiological classification of anovulatory conditions in cattle

Evaluation of follicular growth patterns by ultrasound combined with measurement of circulating reproductive hormones has allowed designation of three functionally critical follicular sizes during the final stages of follicular growth: emergence (-4 mm), deviation (-9 mm), and ovulation (variable from 10 to 20 mm). Classification of anovulatory conditions on the basis of these three critical points is logical and provides for rational diagnosis and treatment of the underlying physiological condition. In extreme undernutrition, there is growth of follicles to emergence but not to deviation; however, the underlying pathophysiology is not defined because of relatively few scientific investigations of this condition. Anovulatory conditions with growth of follicles to deviation but not to ovulatory size have been extensively studied. Undernutrition and/or suckling can cause this anovulatory condition. It is characterized by a greater negative feedback effect of estradiol on GnRH/LH pulses than found in normally cycling cows. Another anovulatory condition that is common in high producing lactaing dairy cows is characterized by growth of follicles to larger than ovulatory size, such as is observed in cows with follicular cysts. This condition is characterized by an insensitivity of the hypothalamus to the positive feedback effects of estradiol. Thus, these last two common anovulatory conditions appear to be primarily due to changes in the responsiveness of the hypothalamus to estradiol. Treatments that increase circulating progesterone concentrations can help in the treatment of these two conditions by potentially altering GnRH/LH pulses and allowing the final stages of follicular growth or resetting the hypothalamic responsiveness to the positive feedback effects of estradiol.
DC-Voltage-induced thermal shift of bias point in LiNbO/sub 3/ optical Modulators

Increasing thermal shift of a bias point is observed when dc voltage is applied to z-cut LiNbO/sub 3/ (LN) modulators having asymmetric design; whereas, stable thermal shift is observed in symmetric x-cut LN modulators. A growth of the thermal shift depends upon the amplitude, polarity, and duration of the applied voltage and constitutes a new criterion to reliability modeling of LN modulators.
Discovery agent deployment in diverse SAN environments

Storage area networks (SANs) are networks that provide storage and related services to servers. SAN's often serve very diverse environments with respect to the operating systems of the attached servers. This diversity increases the complexity of SAN management, and often mandates that specialized software tools be used to ensure optimal SAN performance. All SAN management solutions currently on the market require some type of agent software running on the servers attached to the SAN to discover various types of information. Thus the deployment of the discovery agent is a critical part of the success of any SAN management software solution. This paper describes a software tool that we developed for remote deployment of SAN discovery agents in multiple operating system environments. The tool supports selective and parallel agent deployment, update, and removal of the agent. The performance of the tool is evaluated in the hp OpenView storage area manager 3.1 SAN management software. The results indicate that the tool allows for better flexibility through a finer granularity of control during the agent deployment process and provides a substantial performance improvement.
Evolutionary co-operative design between human and computer: implementation of “the genetic sculpture park”

The Genetic Sculpture Park seeks to blur the distinction between artist and observer and to empower the novice in the creation of complex computer graphic models. Each visitor to the park experiences a unique set of forms and engages in a co-operative dialogue with the computer to produce more aesthetically pleasing designs. Inspired by Darwin's Theory of Evolution, Genetic Algorithms are used to allow visitors to 'breed' forms tailored to his or her own individual sense of aesthetics. This paper recounts investigations into evolutionary design methodologies (“3D Head Models”) and describes their implementation in an interactive Java/VRML world.
Overexpression of the gastrin-releasing peptide in cutaneous nerve fibers and its receptor in the spinal cord in primates with chronic itch.

Leigh A. Nattkemper1,2, Zhong-Qiu Zhao5, Anna J. Nichols6, Alexandru D.P. Papoiu1, Carol A. Shively4, Zhou-Feng Chen5, and Gil Yosipovitch1,2,3,* 1Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA 2Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy, University Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA 3Department of Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA 4Department of Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA 5Center for the Study of Itch, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA 6Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
Renal dialysis as a risk factor for appropriate therapies and mortality in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator recipients.

Background Patients with end-stage renal disease are at increased risk for sudden cardiac death, although the utility of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in these patients is unknown. Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether end-stage renal disease is an independent risk factor for appropriate ICD therapy for ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) and to compare the long-term survival of ICD recipients with and without end-stage renal disease. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed on ICD recipients at a single center. The primary endpoint was first appropriate ICD therapy for VT/VF. The secondary endpoint was survival. Results The study included 585 patients, 19 (3.2%) of whom had end-stage renal disease prior to device implantation. Average follow-up time was 2.2 ± 2.4 years, during which time 156 patients (26.7%) received appropriate ICD therapy. End-stage renal disease was strongly associated with appropriate ICD therapy (hazard ratio 2.30, 95% confidence interval 1.17–4.54) and remained a significant predictor following adjustment for implant indication, ejection fraction, diabetes, hypertension, and beta-blocker use. Survival was significantly shorter in the end-stage renal disease patients, with a median survival time of 3.2 ± 0.6 (SEM) years in the dialysis cohort and 7.4 ± 0.5 (SEM) years in those without end-stage renal disease (log rank P = .009). The majority of deaths in the end-stage renal disease cohort were due to non–device-related infection. Conclusion In this cohort, end-stage renal disease was the single greatest predictor of ICD therapies for VT/VF. The survival rate was significantly shorter than that of ICD recipients without end-stage renal disease, suggesting that comorbidities in end-stage renal disease patients meeting current implant indications may reduce the survival benefit of ICD placement in this population.
Telomerase interference in combination with docetaxel therapy for maximal prostate cancer inhibition: In vitro data for a novel therapeutic approach

e14596 Background: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) carries a median survival of 18 months with standard docetaxel based therapies. Telomerase interference (TI) is a promisin...
Benign Lymphocytic Angiitis and Granulomatosis: A Case Report with Evidence of an Autoimmune Etiology

Benign lymphocytic angiitis and granulomatosis (BLAG) is characterized by dense benign-appearing infiltrates of mature lymphocytes, plasma cells, and histiocytes within the pulmonary parenchyma and vasculature. The disorder typically is restricted to the lungs and has a good prognosis. The authors report a patient with BLAG and involvement of lung, kidney, and prostate. This is the first report of prominent systemic distribution in this disease. Another unique feature of this case was the presence of serum antinuclear antibodies and evidence of immune complex deposition in both lung and kidney, suggesting an underlying autoimmune disorder. An association of this entity with lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LG) has been suggested, and the prominent genitourinary disease in this patient may be indicative of a transitional stage leading to LG. An autoimmune state may be the underlying stimulus for the development of BLAG and LG.
The Moral Geographies of Children, Young People and Food: Beyond Jamie’s School Dinners

Jamie Oliver is a polarizing figure. To some, the food-celebrity-turned-school-food-campaigner is a relatable home cook who should be commended for his efforts to get healthy food into schools. To ...
Investigating the Effects of Particulate Matter on House Dust Mite and Ovalbumin Allergic Airway Inflammation in Mice.

Particulate matter (PM), a component of air pollution, has been shown to enhance allergen-mediated airway hypersensitivity and inflammation. Surprisingly, exposure to PM during the sensitization to allergen is sufficient to produce immunological changes that result in heightened inflammatory effects upon future allergen exposures (challenge) in the absence of PM. This suggests that PM has the ability to modulate the allergic immune response, thereby acting as an adjuvant by enhancing the immunological memory formed during the adaptive immune response; however, the mechanisms through which this occurs remain elusive. Establishing a reproducible animal model to study the PM-mediated immunotoxicological effects that enhance allergy, may provide insights to understand how air pollution activates the immune system and thereby modulates the pathophysiology of asthma. The basic protocol can be used to study various characteristics of air pollution, such as PM size, source, or chemical composition, to help elucidate how such features may affect the allergic response in a mouse model of asthma. Using a BALB/c model of acute exposure (14 days), mice are first sensitized with allergen and PM, and then subsequently challenged with allergen only. The endpoints of this basic protocol include the assessment of inflammation via cells recovered from broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL), histopathological analysis, gene expression profiles, and protein quantification of inflammatory markers. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Success following vaginal creation for Müllerian agenesis.

Eighty-eight women with Mullerian agenesis underwent vaginal dilatation (n = 21) and/or vaginal creation using a modified McIndoe technique (n = 79). Patient and family counseling was considered an essential component of the therapy regimen. An initial trial of vaginal dilatation was successful in 9 of 21 patients (43%). Failure was associated with a prior vaginal exploration in eight women. All of the 79 women experienced satisfactory sexual activity and were satisfied with vaginal depth following vaginal creation using a split thickness graft technique. However, anatomic success, as judged by the surgeon, was noted in 72 patients (91%). Our experience suggests an initial trial of vaginal dilatation coupled with careful instruction and family counseling is appropriate in the motivated patient. However, vaginoplasty using a split thickness graft technique is highly successful and should be offered to those patients unwilling or unable to obtain an adequate neovagina with dilatation.
The End of Everything

We humans are concerned about the beginning of everything and are equally curious about the end. It’s purely logical to think of the end of the universe, since we have already talked about the beginning. The knowledge of the end often makes humans appreciate and enjoy the lively present. Familiar objects, life, planets and stars will all fade in the great cosmic circus that has been unfolding for billions of years. The departing galaxies, matter, and the universe itself will follow the same path. For us, this might paint a gloomy picture of the future and the danger of emptiness, but for the grand cosmos there are no such distinctions. For the universe, emptiness does not necessarily mean non-existent or non-reality but is another form of expression.
Cultural Change in the Imperial Russian Army, 1689–1914

The Imperial period of Russian history, from the accession of Peter the Great to the abdication of Nicholas II, was a time of enormous transformation, including in the sphere of civil–military relations. Peter the Great himself rose to power with the help of military officers, and for a century after his death the involvement of the army in sovereign power issues was a normal occurrence. Only in the nineteenth century did this pattern of behavior reverse itself, and to such an extent that by the end of the Romanov dynasty military intervention was practically unthinkable. This chapter tells the story of this shift from a praetorian to an apolitical officer corps. Two major issues dominate the discussion. The first issue is the development of the Russian state. The second major focus of this chapter is the question of military involvement in sovereign power issues. Four cases are discussed: the palace coups of the eighteenth century, the Decembrist uprising of 1825, the uneventful (and thus highly significant) successions of the second half of the nineteenth century, and the Revolution of 1905–1906. PETER THE GREAT AND THE BUILDING OF THE RUSSIAN STATE Peter the Great transformed Russia from Muscovy, a medieval and “eastern” polity, into the modern and European state of Imperial Russia. The creation of many highly important political and social institutions, including a standing army and navy, usually is traced to Peter. Indeed, the very notion of the “state” as something separate from and even higher than the sovereign can be traced to Peter's reign.
The Illusion of Remembered Places

Godfrey outlines the way that complex narrative focalizations create for readers illusory memories of place. Hemingway’s narratives in many instances are arranged so that particular geographies are simultaneously being seen and being remembered; the narrative voice makes us think that we are seeing these places again, as if after long absence. Some of the earliest examples of this technique occur within the Michigan-set stories “Summer People” (never published in Hemingway’s lifetime) and “The Three-Day Blow,” and they surface once again in his late-career “The Last Good Country,” a posthumously published story he began to write in 1952. Writing many of the early Nick Adams stories while living abroad, with a “detailed, blue-tinted map of the northern Michigan peninsula” that was “pinned to the wall in front of his writing table” (Reynolds Paris Years 202), Hemingway himself was in fact remembering this Michigan geography, steeped in nostalgia while composing. As readers of these stories, Godfrey argues that we share the extraordinary and intimate relationship to place that is the cornerstone of Hemingway’s earliest—and his last—Nick Adams fiction.
Red blood cell exchange: 2015 American Society for Apheresis consensus conference on the management of patients with sickle cell disease

The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) conducted a one-day consensus conference on red blood cell exchange (RBCx) in sickle cell disease (SCD) during its annual meeting in San Antonio, TX, on May 5, 2015. The authors of this article, a subcommittee of ASFA's Clinical Applications Committee, developed several questions with regard to pathophysiology of SCD and use of RBCx in the management of various complications. These questions were provided to the seven invited speakers who are the experts in the field of SCD. Two experts in the field moderated the proceedings of the conference, which was attended by more than 150 participants. After each presentation, there was a summary of the main points by the moderators and an open discussion with questions from the audience. A video recording of the proceedings, as well as each presentation, was made available to the authors. Each author's summary was reviewed and approved by the respective speaker before submission of this manuscript. The subcommittee also developed several key questions to generate a consensus amongst the speakers on key issues for using RBCx for patients with SCD.
Clinical heterogeneity of diffuse large B cell lymphoma following failure of front-line immunochemotherapy.

Summary This study aimed to describe the patterns of care and outcomes of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after failure of front line anthracycline-based immunochemotherapy (IC). Patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma were prospectively enrolled in Molecular Epidemiology Resource (MER) of the University of Iowa/Mayo Clinic Lymphoma Specialized Program of Research Excellzence. All DLBCL and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) patients treated with front-line anthracycline-based IC were followed for relapse. Patients with relapse on follow-up and subsequently retreated were included in this analysis. 1039 patients received anthracycline-based IC between 2002 and 2012, of which 244 relapsed and were subsequently retreated. Across all therapies, overall survival at 4 years (OS4) from relapse was 28% and 103 patients ultimately underwent autologous haematopoietic cell transplant (autoHCT) with OS4 from autoHCT of 51%. Patients relapsing after 12 months from initial diagnosis had OS4 of 47% but those with a transient or no response to initial therapy had OS4 of only 13%. Outcomes of relapsed or refractory DLBCL differ substantially when categorized by response to initial therapy, timing of relapse and opportunity to undergo autoHCT. The design and interpretation of uncontrolled trials should account for this heterogeneity in patients with relapsed DLBCL.
The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor in the ventromedial hypothalamus reduces short-term food intake in male mice by regulating nutrient sensor activity.

Pharmacological activation of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) reduces food intake. Here, we assessed whether suppression of food intake by GLP-1...
Cyprian's Early Career in the Church of Carthage

Cyprian's baptism is usually placed in 245–6, two to four years before he became bishop. The early treatise Ad Donatum is thus taken as a witness to the neophyte's spiritual ‘transition’. This article challenges this common biographical narrative. A date just before Cyprian's ordination in 248/9 fits the evidence better than 246. As comparison with Ad Quirinum suggests, the winsome portrait of Cyprian the true convert that Ad Donatum paints might have done more than exhort neophytes to zealous spirituality: it may also have been meant to silence the presbyters whom Pontius’ Vita and Cyprian himself portray as critics of his ordination.
Clonal evolution of Philadelphia chromosome in acute myeloid leukemia after azacitidine treatment.

Despite advances in the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment armamentarium over the last 4 years, patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) AML have dismal outcomes [1]. Clonal evolution drives rel...
The S-Curve Discontinuity Theory Applied to Medicine to Explain Healthcare's Past and Predict Its Future.

Abstract Developed in 1845 by Verhulst, the logistic growth curve is an “S” shaped sigmoid curve referring to the self-limiting population growth in ecology. The initial growth stage is exponential, followed by slowing of growth as saturation begins, and ending of growth at maturity. In geology, an uncertain period exists at the upper horizontal arm of the S-curve when a species utilizes its available resources, and either extinction or evolution by natural selection results. The S-curve has been used in biology, physics, mathematics, chemistry, economics, sociology, oncology, and statistics. The S-curve theory has been applied to medicine to describe the advancements in the 20 th century based on the diagnosis and treatment of disease (the “illness” model) and envision the future focused on disease prevention (the “wellness” model). We expand upon previous S-curve applications in medicine and discuss the obstacles facing the present-day healthcare industry and the numerous advancements that are imminent.
Informing TiRe-LII assumptions for soot nanostructure and optical properties for estimation of soot primary particle diameter

Time-resolved laser-induced incandescence for primary particle size determination is tested using three model carbon blacks. Optical properties change as does the nanostructure upon laser annealing, whereas aggregate morphology and primary particle size remain equivalent to the original material, as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Primary particle diameters found from fitting experimentally measured time-resolved laser-induced incandescence (LII) signals with existing models do not match the particle diameters as directly visualized by TEM. The accommodation coefficient is shown to be a crucial parameter which can result in substantial variations in simulated conductive cooling profiles for particle sizing. Aggregate structure in the form of intra-aggregate connectivity and shielding is an additional underlying cause for erroneous particle sizing, not presently captured by LII models.
Fit for a King? William Beattie, Circa 1810 and 1835–1836

William Beattie prepared both of the manuscripts that are analyzed in this chapter. The first has 466 pages and is concerned mainly with mensuration. Many of the notes and examples in that manuscript are from a 1748 London edition of William Hawney’s classic text, The Compleat Measurer. The second manuscript has 309 pages and concerns navigation. It is based almost entirely on a 1796 edition of John Hamilton Moore’s The New Practical Navigator. It is conjectured that although the title page of the measurement manuscript is dated 1835, in fact the manuscript was prepared by Beattie around 1810, when he was a student at Clarencefield Academy in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Beattie became a medical doctor, and served as personal physician and then private secretary to the man who would become King William IV—and would be remembered as the “Sailor King.” It is conjectured that the navigation cyphering book, dated 1836 on its title page, was specially prepared by Beattie for his ailing King (who died in 1837). Although the penmanship and calligraphy in both manuscripts are of a high standard, Beattie seemed to value the mensuration manuscript more highly than the navigation manuscript.
Glass Derivatives, A New Direction for Research

Historians post the road of civilization with those great milestones, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, as if material progress somehow stopped and started at the stroking of a savant’s beard. By contrast, primitive development in science is attributed to the Stone Age, and we often conclude that such primitive materials little deserve our attention. But outside of the fine arts of pottery and architecture, as we survey the technological progress in electronics, mechanics, and structures, we see that mineral products, that class of materials formed in the crucible of the earth have become ever more complex, and contribute in an essential way to making useful devices possible.
Investigation of a Multiple-Timescale Turbulence-Transport Coupling Method in the Presence of Random Fluctuations

One route to improved predictive modeling of magnetically confined fusion reactors is to couple transport solvers with direct numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulence, rather than with surrogate models. An additional challenge presented by coupling directly with DNS is the inherent fluctuations in the turbulence, which limit the convergence achievable in the transport solver. In this article, we investigate the performance of one numerical coupling method in the presence of turbulent fluctuations. To test a particular numerical coupling method for the transport solver, we use an autoregressive-moving-average model to generate stochastic fluctuations efficiently with statistical properties resembling those of a gyrokinetic simulation. These fluctuations are then added to a simple, solvable problem, and we examine the behavior of the coupling method. We find that monitoring the residual as a proxy for the error can be misleading. From a pragmatic point of view, this study aids us in the full problem of transport coupled to DNS by predicting the amount of averaging required to reduce the fluctuation error and obtain a specific level of accuracy.
Safety of consumer handling of fresh produce from the time of purchase to the plate: a comprehensive consumer survey

A national mail survey focusing on consumer handling of fresh fruits and vegetables was conducted among 2,000 randomly selected households in the United States. The objective was to quantify consumer practices relating to the purchase, transport, storage, and preparation of fresh produce, with emphasis on practices that affect safety. Following an additional mailing procedure, a response rate of 33% was obtained. Six percent of the consumers responded that they seldom or never wash fresh produce, and more than 35% indicated that they do not wash their melons before preparation. Twenty-three percent of the respondents indicated placing their meat, poultry, and fish on a refrigerator shelf above other foods, and 9% do not place their produce at any specific location in the refrigerator. Almost half of the respondents indicated not always washing their hands before handling fresh produce. Ninety-seven percent of respondents reported that they always wash their food preparation surfaces after contact with meat products, yet 5% and 24% dry wipe or wash with water only, respectively. The results from this study suggest that women, lower-income households, people 65 years and older, and non-college graduates practice safer food handling methods than men, higher-income households, people younger than 65 years, and college or postcollege graduates. The survey findings suggest that consumer education materials should emphasize safe handling practices from purchase through consumption. Educational outreach should target specific subpopulations, men, college graduates, higher-income households, and people younger than 65 years because of their higher frequency of unsafe handling and washing practices.