cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of racial misclassification on estimates of end-stage renal disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the Pacific Northwest, 1988 through 1990.

Although several recent studies have documented a high incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among American Indians (AI) and Alaska Natives (AN), racial misclassification of AI/AN as members of other races on disease registries has not been accounted for. We conducted a study to link the Northwest Renal Network (NRN) ESRD database, which includes persons known to have begun dialysis in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and the Indian Health Service (IHS) patient registration file, which includes AI/AN enrolled for health care provided or paid for by IHS in the same states, for the period January 1, 1988 to December 31, 1990. Among the 3,356 persons included on the NRN ESRD database, 68 (2.0%) were coded as AI/AN. Of the 68 listed as AI/AN, 54 (79.4%) were identified on the IHS patient registration file. In addition to the 68 cases coded on the NRN as AI/AN, we identified 12 cases that were definitively matched to the IHS patient registration file but not coded AI/AN on the NRN. The age-adjusted annual incidence of ESRD treatment initiation among AI JAN in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington was 267.5 per million according to original racial coding on the NRN, but it increased to 311.6 per million after correction for racial misclassification. Among IHSregistered AI/AN, the annual incidence increased from 394.1 per million to 474.3 per million. Racial misclassification of AI/AN in ESRD registries may result in underestimates of AI/AN ESRD incidence for the United States.
Connected matchings in chordal bipartite graphs

A connected matching in a graph is a collection of edges that are pairwise disjoint but joined by another edge of the graph. Motivated by applications to Hadwiger's conjecture, Plummer, Stiebitz, and Toft (2003) introduced connected matchings and proved that, given a positive integer k , determining whether a graph has a connected matching of size at least k is NP-complete. Cameron (2003) proved that this problem remains NP-complete on bipartite graphs, but can be solved in polynomial-time on chordal graphs. We present a polynomial-time algorithm that finds a maximum connected matching in a chordal bipartite graph. This includes a novel edge-without-vertex-elimination ordering of independent interest. We give several applications of the algorithm, including computing the Hadwiger number of a chordal bipartite graph, solving the unit-time bipartite margin-shop scheduling problem in the case in which the bipartite complement of the precedence graph is chordal bipartite, and determining-in a totally balanced binary matrix-the largest size of a square sub-matrix that is permutation equivalent to a matrix with all zero entries above the main diagonal.
Three Medieval Chroniclers: Monastic Historiography and Biblical Eschatology in Hugh of St. Victor, Otto of Freising, and Ordericus Vitalis

The middle of the twelfth century marked an upsurge in historical awareness and a revitalization of the practice of historiography.1 Exemplifying this trend were three men who flourished and died within twenty years of each other. Hugh of St. Victor projected a manysided view of history. Otto of Freising and Ordericus Vitalis were universalizing historians.2 None was an academic professional after the fashion of our modern guild. Each followed a monastic vocation. All protested any evisceration of time and history, every attempt to evacuate humanity therefrom. They extended the Augustinian emphasis on the key role of the Divine in the Hebrew-Christian tradition.
Depression, anxiety, and associated health status in low-income Chinese patients.

Abstract Background Little is known about the prevalence of mental disorders and the associated impact on health status in low-income immigrant Chinese Americans. Methods This cross-sectional study surveyed low-income Chinese patients attending a community health center in Chinatown (New York City) from July through November 2001 to determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders. Selected modules translated into Chinese from the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), a self-administered measure designed to diagnose mental health disorders in primary care, were used. To assess the relationship between mental disorders and health status and to examine convergent validity, mean scores on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were examined according to PHQ diagnoses and calculated severity of depression. Results A total of 856 patients were approached and data were obtained from 523 (61%) eligible participants. Thirty-two (6.1%) patients met the established criteria for major depressive disorder; 26 (5.0%) patients met the criteria for other depressive disorder; and 24 (4.6%) patients met the criteria for other anxiety disorder. Compared to patients without depression or anxiety, patients with major depressive and other anxiety disorder had significantly lower mean scores on all eight SF-36 subscales, while patients with other depressive disorder had lower mean scores on all subscales except for physical functioning. SF-36 subscale scores tended to decrease with increasing depression severity. Conclusions Depression and anxiety were prevalent and demonstrated an adverse impact on health status, as measured by the SF-36. Strategies for screening for mental disorders may vary depending on the needs of the primary care setting and may be accomplished using a general health status measure or a disease-specific approach.
The Mechanism of Sound Field Effects on Heat Transfer

When a strong sound field is impressed on the free convection boundary- layer flow about a horizontal heated cylinder, the heat transfer rates may be increased by as much as 300%. This effect is explained in terms of the interaction of acoustical streaming with the boundarylayer flow. It was found that when the amplitude of oscillation of the sound field was raised above a certain critical value the streaming patterns became intensified and deviated from theory. Several reasons are given for the increase in heat transfer above this critical value. (M.C.G.)
Pancreatic islets contain the M2 isoenzyme of pyruvate kinase. Its phosphorylation has no effect on enzyme activity.

To determine which of the major isoenzymes of pyruvate kinase pancreatic islet pyruvate kinase most resembled, it was compared to pyruvate kinase from other tissues in kinetic and immunologic studies. The pattern of activation by fructose bisphosphate and the patterns of inhibition by alanine and phenylalanine were most similar to those of the M2 isoenzyme from kidney and were dissimilar to those of the isoenzymes from skeletal muscle (type M1) and liver (type L). The islet pyruvate kinase was inhibited by anti-M1 pyruvate kinase serum (which crossreacts with the M2 isoenzyme), but not by anti-L pyruvate kinase. These results are most consistent with islets possessing predominantly, if not exclusively, the M2 isoenzyme of pyruvate kinase. We previously showed that rat pancreatic islet cytosol contains protein kinases that can catalyze a calcium-activated phosphorylation of an endogenous peptide that has properties, such as subunit molecular weight and isoelectric pH, that are identical to those of the M2 and M, isoenzymes of pyruvate kinase, and that islet cytosol can catalyze phosphorylation of muscle pyruvate kinase. In the present study it was shown that incubating islet cytosol with ATP under conditions known to permit phosphorylation and inhibition of liver pyruvate kinase did not affect the islet pyruvate kinase activity. It is concluded that phosphorylation of the islet pyruvate kinase has no immediate effect on enzyme activity.
Aminoisoquinolines as colorimetric Hg2+ sensors: the importance of molecular structure and sacrificial base

Here it is shown that 3-phenyl-2-amino isoquinoline acts as a simple mercury sensor. It is simple to synthesize. The molecule requires base/buffer to bind in a 1:1 stoichiometry with mercury ion, however. Otherwise, it acts as a sacrificial base, presumably to pick up a proton liberated during binding. This binding is characterized quantitatively.
A review of propeller discrete frequency noise prediction technology with emphasis on two current methods for time domain calculations

A review of propeller noise prediction technology is presented which highlights the developments in the field from the successful attempt of Gutin to the current sophisticated techniques. Two methods for the predictions of the discrete frequency noise from conventional and advanced propellers in forward flight are described. These methods developed at MIT and NASA Langley Research Center are based on different time domain formulations. Brief description of the computer algorithms based on these formulations are given. The output of these two programs, which is the acoustic pressure signature, is Fourier analyzed to get the acoustic pressure spectrum. The main difference between the programs as they are coded now is that the Langley program can handle propellers with supersonic tip speed while the MIT program is for subsonic tip speed propellers. Comparisons of the calculated and measured acoustic data for a conventional and an advanced propeller show good agreement in general.
The Paramyxovirus Simian Virus 5 V Protein Slows Progression of the Cell Cycle

Infection of cells by many viruses affects the cell division cycle of the host cell to favor viral replication. We examined the ability of the paramyxovirus simian parainfluenza virus 5 (SV5) to affect cell cycle progression, and we found that SV5 slows the rate of proliferation of HeLa T4 cells. The SV5-infected cells had a delayed transition from G 1 to S phase and prolonged progression through S phase, and some of the infected cells were arrested in G 2 or M phase. The levels of p53 and p21 CIP1 were not increased in SV5-infected cells compared to mock-infected cells, suggesting that the changes in the cell cycle occur through a p53-independent mechanism. However, the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) was delayed and prolonged in SV5-infected cells. The changes in the cell cycle were also observed in cells expressing the SV5 V protein but not in the cells expressing the SV5 P protein or the V protein lacking its unique C terminus (VΔC). The unique C terminus of the V protein of SV5 was shown previously to interact with DDB1, which is the 127-kDa subunit of the multifunctional damage-specific DNA-binding protein (DDB) heterodimer. The coexpression of DDB1 with V can partially restore the changes in the cell cycle caused by expression of the V protein.
A NOVEL GAMMAHERPESVIRUS IN NORTHERN FUR SEALS (CALLORHINUS URSINUS) IS CLOSELY RELATED TO THE CALIFORNIA SEA LION (ZALOPHUS CALIFORNIANUS) CARCINOMA-ASSOCIATED OTARINE HERPESVIRUS-1

Otarine herpesvirus 1 (OtHV1) is strongly associated with California sea lion (CSL, Zalophus californianus) urogenital carcinoma, the most common cancer documented in marine mammals. In addition to CSL, OtHV1 has also been found in association with carcinoma in South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis), demonstrating it can infect related species. Northern fur seals (NFS, Callorhinus ursinus) are sympatric with CSL, and copulation between these species has been observed; yet, there are no reports of urogenital carcinoma in NFS. We describe a new Otarine herpesvirus found in vaginal swabs from NFS, herein called OtHV4. Partial sequencing of the polymerase gene and the glycoprotein B gene revealed OtHV4 is closely related to OtHV1, with 95% homology in the region of polymerase sequenced, and phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that they are sister taxa. An OtHV4-specific hydrolysis probe quantitative PCR was developed and validated, and its use on vaginal swabs revealed 16 of 50 (32%) wild adult female NFS were positive for OtHV4. The identification of a virus highly similar to the carcinoma-associated OtHV1 in a sympatric species without carcinoma suggests that comparative genomics of OtHV1 and OtHV4 may identify candidate viral oncogenes.
The biological basis for understanding and predicting dietary‐induced variation in nitrogen and sulphur isotope ratio discrimination

Summary 1. Accurately predicting isotope ratio discrimination is central to using mixing models to estimate assimilated diets of wild animals. This process is complicated when omnivores consume mixed diets because their discrimination is unlikely to be the weighted average of the various dietary constituents as occurs in current models. 2. We sought a basic understanding of how protein quality and quantity determine Δ15N and Δ34S in mammals and birds. Dietary protein is the primary source of both elements in many plants and animals. Low protein quality and high protein content have the potential to increase Δ15N by increasing protein turnover. 3. Protein quality, defined as the relative amount of the most limiting amino acid, accounted for 87–90% of the variation in Δ15N when mammals and birds consumed plant matter and mixed diets of plants and animals with protein of intermediate quality and quantity. However, foods containing relatively large amounts of high quality protein (i.e. vertebrate flesh) and foods with exceptionally low quality protein (e.g. lentils, Lens culinaris) had disparate nitrogen discriminations relative to what would be predicted from protein quality alone. 4. Supplementation of plant and animal diets with nitrogen-free carbohydrates and fats to reduce protein quantity did not reduce Δ15N in three plant-based diets fed to laboratory rats, but reduced Δ15N in two of three meat diets with >50% protein. 5. Δ34S was weakly correlated with Δ15N (R2 = 0·48) but was highly correlated with dietary δ34S (R2 = 0·89). Because methionine, a sulphur amino acid, was the most limiting amino acid in all diets, sulphur should be highly conserved as indicated by the lack of any change in Δ34S when diets were supplemented with carbohydrates and fat to both provide additional energy and reduce protein content. 6. Predictive equations incorporating both protein quality and quantity accounted for 81% of the variation in Δ15N and offer the opportunity to create more realistic mixing models to accurately estimate assimilated diets for omnivores.
Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole for Treatment of Severe Staphylococcus aureus Infections

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) as an alternative to vancomycin for the treatment of severe Staphylococcus aureus infections.DATA SOURCESClinical literature was accessed through MEDLINE (1966–February 2003) and EMBASE (1980–February 2003). Key search terms included trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole combination and Staphylococcus aureus.DATA SYNTHESISAn evaluation of case reports, case series, and clinical studies focusing on the use of TMP/SMX for treatment of severe S. aureus infections was conducted. The majority of the reports indicate that TMP/SMX may be effective for the treatment of infections due to low bacterial burdens of susceptible strains of S. aureus.CONCLUSIONSIn select infections, TMP/SMX may be a useful alternative to vancomycin for treatment of severe S. aureus infections. Additional randomized studies should be conducted comparing this agent with vancomycin and linezolid.
Theory of control of the dynamics of the interface between stationary and flying qubits

We present a scheme of control for the arbitrary interplay between a stationary qubit and a flying qubit (carried by a single-photon wavepacket) at a quantum interface composed of a three-level system coupled to a continuum through a cavity. It can be used for generation or reception of an arbitrarily shaped single-photon wavepacket. The generation process can also be controlled to create entanglement between the stationary qubit and flying qubit. The generation and reception operation can be combined to perform quantum network operations such as transfer, swap and entanglement creation for qubits at distant nodes.
Dioxetane decomposition revisited: A semi‐empirical study of the potential energy surface

The potential energy surface describing the unimolecular thermolysis of 1,2-dioxetane into two formaldehydes is explored via semi-empirical calculations using the PM3 Hamiltonian with multi-electron configuration interaction. An active space of the four highest occupied orbitals and the two lowest virtual orbitals is used. Several reaction coordinates were examined, and the in-plane OO distance was used most extensively. The results indicate that the activation barrier to fission is on the ground state surface and is about 18 kcal mol−1, in good agreement with experimental results. Furthermore, calculations of the vertical triplet-state energies show that the ground and triplet states are nearly degenerate for OO distances beyond that corresponding to the 18 kcal mol−1 barrier, until the molecule abruptly dissociates into two formaldehydes (at ca 2·55 A). This picture is indicative of a diradical pathway, where the activation energy is associated with motion of the system on the ground-state surface, not the triplet surface, but where generation of a triplet product can be expected. Similar results were obtained for dimethyl- and tetramethyldioxetanes, which require higher Ea for dissociation, and for dimethyldioxetanone. Thermochemical calculations pertaining to these reactions and to the formation of triplet products are also presented.
Failure Prediction in Computational Grids

Accurate failure prediction in grids is critical for reasoning about QoS guarantees such as job completion time and availability. Statistical methods can be used but they suffer from the fact that they are based on assumptions, such as time-homogeneity, that are often not true. In particular, periodic failures are not modeled well by statistical methods. In this paper, we present an alternative mechanism for failure prediction in which periodic failures are first determined and then filtered from the failure list. The remaining failures are then used in a traditional statistical method. We show that the use of pre-filtering leads to an order of magnitude better predictions
A coherence-based algorithm for noise reduction in dual-microphone applications

In this paper, we present a novel coherence-based dual-microphone noise reduction approach and show how the proposed technique can capitalize on the small microphone spacing in order to suppress coherent noise present inside a realistic reverberant environment. Listening tests with normal-hearing subjects conducted in a two-microphone array configuration, reveal that the proposed method outperforms the generalized sidelobe canceller (GSC), which is commonly used in suppressing coherent noise.
Retrieving Storm Electric Fields from Aircraft Field Mill Data. Part I: Theory

It is shown that the problem of retrieving storm electric fields from an aircraft instrumented with several electric field mill sensors can be expressed in terms of a standard Lagrange multiplier optimization problem. The method naturally removes aircraft charge from the retrieval process without having to use a high voltage stinger and linearly combined mill data values. It also allows a variety of user-supplied physical constraints (the so-called side constraints in the theory of Lagrange multipliers). Additionally, this paper introduces a novel way of performing the absolute calibration of an aircraft that has several benefits over conventional analyses. In the new approach, absolute calibration is completed by inspecting the time derivatives of mill and pitch data for a pitch down maneuver performed at high (greater than 1 km) altitude. In Part II of this study, the above methods are tested and then applied to complete a full calibration of a Citation aircraft.
ECG synthesis based on morphing

This work presents a technique for synthesizing realistic electrocardiogram (ECG) signals by morphing two different real ECG signals. The two parent signals are interpolated using spline approximation and then over-sampled. The characteristic feature points are extracted manually from the signals and they are partitioned into component curves between the feature points. The component curves are sampled to obtain the same number of data points for each curve and the feature points are matched. One-dimensional morphing is performed to generate intermediate signals. The intermediate signals are constrained within the physiological bounds of the two real ECG signals. The realistic ECG synthesized could find application for testing an ECG-based biometric identification system and for evaluating ECG signal processing algorithms.
iAuth: HTTP Authentication Framework Integrated into HTML Forms

Current Web authentication methods have well-known weaknesses. Forms and cookies, which are most commonly used, have the long-standing privacy issue raised by tracking. URI sessions, which are used in some mobile services like i-mode 1.0, cause session adoption vulnerability. HTTP provides an access authentication framework, but it is rarely used because it lacks presentational control. This paper proposes iAuth, which brings presentational control to the HTTP access authentication framework. iAuth enables servers to provide log-in forms. iAuth does not have its own authentication mechanism and can support any mechanism including Basic and Digest authentications. Since iAuth has backward compatibility with legacy systems, developers can freely introduce iAuth into their Web sites or browsers as needed. Experiments confirm its correct operation; an iAuth server is shown to support not only an iAuth client but major legacy browsers. We believe that iAuth will resolve the long-standing issues in Web authentication.
Phorbol esters stimulate muscle glucose transport by a mechanism distinct from the insulin and hypoxia pathways

Glucose transport in skeletal muscle can be stimulated by insulin and also by contractions and hypoxia. Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) stimulates glucose transport in muscle and other insulin-responsive cells. This study was performed to determine if the diacylglycerol (DAG)/phorbol ester-sensitive PKC isoforms participate in insulin and/or hypoxia-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle. The phorbol ester 12-deoxyphorbol 13-phenylacetate 20-acetate (dPPA) induced a three- to fourfold increase in glucose transport in rat epitrochlearis muscle. The effects of dPPA on glucose transport and on cell surface GLUT-4 were completely additive to the maximal effects of insulin or hypoxia. Phorbol ester treatment induced 5- to 10-fold increases in phosphorylation of the myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate protein in muscle, whereas insulin and hypoxia had negligible effects. Calphostin C, an inhibitor of DAG-sensitive PKC isoforms, decreased glucose transport stimulation by dPPA but not by insulin or hypoxia. These results provide evidence that activation of DAG/phorbol ester-sensitive PKCs is not involved in the pathways by which either insulin or hypoxia stimulates muscle glucose transport. They also show that activation of this group of PKCs increases glucose transport by a mechanism that is independent of and additive to the effects of insulin or hypoxia.
Effects of Grain Growth on the Distribution of Nb in BaTiO3 Ceramics

Measurements of Nb diffusion into large- and small-grained BaTiO3 disks show a high ratio of grain boundary to bulk diffusivity. Well defined X-ray diffraction lines are found in Nb-doped BaTiO3 only when significant grain growth occurs during sintering. When grain growth of a 0.65 μm grain size powder is limited at ∼1 μm, excess line broadening results. This is attributed to the simultaneous presence of Nb-free and Nb-rich regions. Because of its low bulk diffusivity little Nb penetrates into the original BaTiO3 grain cores, and a solid solution forms only in the regions of recrystallization. When grain growth is limited, the “sintering reaction” results in a non-homogeneous system; when appreciable grain growth occurs, most of the original grain cores are eliminated and an essentially uniform system is obtained.
Estimating the quadratic mean diameters of fine woody debris in forests of the United States

Most fine woody debris (FWD) line-intersect sampling protocols and associated estimators require an approximation of the quadratic mean diameter (QMD) of each individual FWD size class. There is a lack of empirically derived QMDs by FWD size class and species/forest type across the U.S. The objective of this study is to evaluate a technique known as the graphical estimation (GE) method for estimating FWD QMDs across forests of the U.S. Results indicate tremendous inter- and intra-specific variation in small FWD diameters. In addition, GE model fitting results demonstrated a lack of substantial difference in FWD QMDs between common forest types. It is postulated that the mixing, fracturing, and decay of both tree and shrub downed woody debris in diverse forest types across the U.S. can homogenate FWD QMDs at state/national levels. In the absence of site-specific empirical measurement of FWD QMDs, it is suggested that a general national set of FWD QMDs derived from the GE method be adopted for large-scale FWD monitoring efforts.
Hypoxemia with Normal Chest Roentgenogram due to Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia: Diagnostic Errors Due to Low Suspicion of AIDS

Three patients encountered in a single month had insidious development of atypical respiratory or systemic symptoms and were found to be hypoxemic. All had normal chest roentgenograms and were perplexing problems in diagnosis. On initial presentation, none had evidence of pulmonary infection or recognized clinical or social features that suggested acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). All received corticosteroids for respiratory distress before the correct diagnosis was made, and all died rapidly of Pneumocystis pneumonia secondary to AIDS.
SPECIES‐SPECIFIC DAPHNIA PHENOTYPES: A HISTORY OF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AND PELAGIC ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE

Phenotypic differences among species, even closely related species, may translate into distinct effects on ecosystem dynamics. In lakes, the generalist grazer genus Daphnia often has marked effects on the abundance of primary producers, the rate of primary production, and rates of nutrient cycling. The effects are particularly distinct during the clear-water phase (CWP) when algal biomass is driven to extremely low values as Daphnia densities undergo an annual population increase. Here we show that the timing of the CWP in Onondaga Lake, New York, USA, has depended upon which Daphnia species were present in the water column. An analysis of the ephippia and diapausing eggs from the sediments reveals that long-term changes in the zooplankton species assemblage tracks a history of chemical (especially salt waste) pollution. Prior to 1930 the assemblage was dominated by native D. pulicaria and D. ambigua. From 1930 to 1980, these species were replaced by D. exilis and D. curvirostris, two salinity-tolerant ex...
A CMOS phase detector for mixed signal ASIC application

The author presents a phase detector that is constructed using a type of current mode logic. The resulting design can be fabricated on a conventional CMOS process but exhibits performance that is approximately two times faster than a similar design based upon conventional CMOS logic circuits. At the same time the low voltage swings of the current mode logic produce low parasitic coupling energy, allowing for good compatability with analog cells. The new design is intended for phase locked loop applications n the 25-50 MHz range but may be useful as a standard ASIC building block in other mixed signal applications. >
The politics and geopolitics of the status of Kosovo: the circle is never round

Settling the status of Kosovo contained the implicit hope that the unfinished stories of both the Kosovo conflict and the dissolution of former‐Yugoslavia would be completed. The 17 February 2008 declaration of independence by Kosovo, while arguably a step forward from the previous stalemate, has neither fully resolved the conflict between Kosovars and Serbs, nor has it definitively settled the future of Kosovo and the region. The circle is never round. The real option is always between a new vicious circle or a virtuous one: between renewed stagnation and instability for Kosovo, Serbia, and the region, or moving forward to the European Union with eventual membership as the catalyst. The European logic of widening the perspective when addressing such zero‐sum disputes remains the best available choice for a definitive settlement.
Quiescent Innate Response to Infective Filariae by Human Langerhans Cells Suggests a Strategy of Immune Evasion

Filarial infection is initiated by mosquito-derived third-stage larvae (L3) deposited on the skin that transit through the epidermis, which contains Langerhans cells (LC) and keratinocytes (KC), among other cells. This earliest interaction between L3 and the LC likely conditions the priming of the immune system to the parasite. To determine the nature of this interaction, human LC (langerin(+) E-cadherin(+) CD1a(+)) were generated in vitro and exposed to live L3. LC exposed to live L3 for 48 h showed no alterations in the cell surface markers CD14, CD86, CD83, CD207, E-cadherin, CD80, CD40, and HLA-DR or in mRNA expression of inflammation-associated genes, such as those for interleukin 18 (IL-18), IL-18BP, and caspase 1. In contrast to L3, live tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasite, induced production of CXCL9, IP-10, and IL-6 in LC. Furthermore, preexposure of LC to L3 did not alter Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)- or TLR4-mediated expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, gamma interferon (IFN-γ), IL-6, or IL-10. Interestingly, cocultures of KC and LC produced significantly more IL-18, IL-1α, and IL-8 than did cultures of LC alone, although exposure of the cocultures to live L3 did not result in altered cytokine production. Microarray examination of ex vivo LC from skin blisters that were exposed to live L3 also showed few significant changes in gene expression compared with unexposed blisters, further underscoring the relatively muted response of LC to L3. Our data suggest that failure by LC to initiate an inflammatory response to the invasive stage of filarial parasites may be a strategy for immune evasion by the filarial parasite.
The EutQ and EutP proteins are novel acetate kinases involved in ethanolamine catabolism: physiological implications for the function of the ethanolamine metabolosome in Salmonella enterica

Salmonella enterica catabolizes ethanolamine inside a compartment known as the metabolosome. The ethanolamine utilization (eut) operon of this bacterium encodes all functions needed for the assembly and function of this structure. To date, the roles of EutQ and EutP were not known. Herein we show that both proteins have acetate kinase activity and that EutQ is required during anoxic growth of S. enterica on ethanolamine and tetrathionate. EutP and EutQ-dependent ATP synthesis occurred when enzymes were incubated with ADP, Mg(II) ions and acetyl-phosphate. EutQ and EutP also synthesized acetyl-phosphate from ATP and acetate. Although EutP had acetate kinase activity, ΔeutP strains lacked discernible phenotypes under the conditions where ΔeutQ strains displayed clear phenotypes. The kinetic parameters indicate that EutP is a faster enzyme than EutQ. Our evidence supports the conclusion that EutQ and EutP represent novel classes of acetate kinases. We propose that EutQ is necessary to drive flux through the pathway under physiological conditions, preventing a buildup of acetaldehyde. We also suggest that ATP generated by these enzymes may be used as a substrate for EutT, the ATP-dependent corrinoid adenosyltransferase and for the EutA ethanolamine ammonia-lyase reactivase.
Associations of Alcohol Consumption and Chronic Diseases With Sleep Apnea Among US Adults.

were associated with SA (P < 0.05). In multivariable analyses, participants who were current and past alcohol consumers had significantly higher odds of having SA (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.03-2.23; OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.09-2.49, respectively) than non-alcohol drinker. Furthermore, asthma (OR = 2.77, 95% CI = 2.04-3.75), diabetes (OR = 2.89, 95% CI = 2.19-3.83), and hypertension (OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.91-3.07) were significantly associated with SA. Conclusions: Age, alcohol consumption, asthma, diabetes, and hypertension, were positively associated with SA. More efforts should be directed to promoting screening for SA and finding possible treatments for SA among these vulnerable groups.
The expansion of the Fante and the emergence of Asante in the eighteenth century

This article attempts to assess the importance of Asante influence in the consolidation of the Fante in the eighteenth century. It shows at the outset that mis-translation of Willem Bosman's early eighteenth-century work has led to an erroneous conception of the Fante polities as being incapable of acting on common interests. Between 1700 and 1724 the Fante conquered surrounding states such as Asebu, Fetu, Cabesterra, Acron (Gomoa), and pockets of Etsi, and established a system of domination over trade on the coast thereafter. It is suggested that this development was not the result of Asante activities on the coast, but rather was linked with the presence of the English, who supplied firearms to the Fante. The Fante were constrained to maintain good relations with Asante because they were determined to be the exclusive middlemen for the slaves which came down from Asante and beyond. At the same time, however, the Fante, like other coastal states (e.g. Aowin, Wasa, Denkyera and Akyem), at times feared invasion by Asante and therefore protected themselves through a system of local political alliances.
The Evolution Of The Radiation-Beam System In Long Undulators

The process by which the radiation intensity grows and correlation in the electron distribution develops, as the beam passes through a long undulator, is described.
High-Energy π − − p , K − − p , and p ¯ − p Elastic Scattering

Differential cross sections for elastic scattering of 6-GeV/c ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, and $\overline{p}$ from protons have been measured in the angular range 25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}-105\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} (c.m. system) and for 8-GeV/c ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ in the angular range 75\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}-115\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} (c.m. system). Structure in the angular distributions has been observed.
Tool Design and Student Testing Behavior in an Introductory Java Course

This paper examines the effects of tool design on student testing behavior in an introductory course. Two tools are considered: BlueJ and WebCAT. A small modification was made to the BlueJ test recording interface to encourage students to engage more deeply in the testing process. A larger percentage of tests submitted by students using the modified BlueJ interface were correct. Further, the solutions they submitted contained fewer lines of code while being similarly complete and correct. Evidence is given that students using both BlueJ versions often rely on Web-CAT to validate their solution methods before testing the methods themselves. In response a new Web-CAT grading plug-in is proposed that we believe will better promote an incremental code-a-little test-a-little development style.
Physiological and Molecular Response of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) to Nanoparticle Cerium and Indium Oxide Exposure

The effects of cerium oxide (CeO2) and indium oxide (In2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) exposure on Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. were investigated. After inoculation in half strength MS medium amended with 0–2000 ppm CeO2 and In2O3 NPs for 25 days, both physiological and molecular responses were evaluated. Exposure at 250 ppm CeO2 NPs significantly increased plant biomass, but at 500–2000 ppm, plant growth was decreased by up to 85% in a dose-dependent fashion. At 1000 and 2000 ppm CeO2 NPs, chlorophyll production was reduced by nearly 60% and 85%, respectively, and anthocyanin production was increased 3–5-fold. Malondialdehyde (MDA) production, a measure of lipid peroxidation, was unaffected by exposure to 250–500 ppm CeO2 NPs, but at 1000 ppm, MDA formation was increased by 2.5-fold. Exposure to 25–2000 ppm In2O3 NPs had no effect on A. thaliana biomass and only minor effects (15%) on root elongation. Total chlorophyll and MDA production were unaffected by In2O3 NPs exposure. Molecular response to NP exposu...
The Socialist Press in Turn-of-the-Century Argentina

Socialism, as expressed by political parties professing that ideology, has had only minimal impact on Argentina's twentieth-century political history. On the other hand socialist ideas, broadly defined, have had considerable influence, although often in an indirect manner. In the political realm, for example, popular presidents Hipolito Yrigoyen (1916-1922; 1928-1930) and Juan Peron (1946-1955; 1973-1974) sought to pre-empt and co-opt socialism's appeal to the working class by proposing and implementing socialist-inspired reforms wrapped in nationalist rhetoric. Conversely, after the fall of Peron in 1955 various military governments have based their intervention into national politics largely on the need to stem the flow of Marxist ideas, to prevent the growth of socialist organizations—especially those which would repeat the Cuban revolutionary experience on Argentine soil—and to protect the principles of free enterprise capitalism.
Contribution to the Knowledge of the Interrelations of the Bumblebees of Illinois with Their Animate Environment.

Tho bumblebees are well endowed by nature with the means of a certain type of defense, this does not make them invulnerable to the attacks of parasites nor secure to their sedentary nests an immunity from inquilines, scavengers, and the like. Even adult bumblebees occasionally fall victims to predaceous insects and other animals, in spite of the fact that they possess a formidable sting and know how to use it to very good advantage.
Technological innovation and polyester film in new electronics applications

This paper surveys recent innovations which led to technological advances in electronics applications using polyester film for insulation. Innovation occurred in materials, manufacturing processes and product designs. The applications involved are membrane touch switches, flexible circuits and miniature capacitors. These applications place a premium on miniaturization, high reliability, design flexibility, lightweight and low cost.
Findings from U.S. Navy Hydrophone Ranges

The U.S. Navy maintains several instrumented ranges equipped with large arrays of bottom-mounted hydrophones that are typically used to track undersea vehicles. The major ranges include the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) located in the Bahamas, the Southern California Offshore Range (SCORE) located off San Clemente Island, and the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) located off the western side of Kauai, HI. Each of these ranges provides tracking arrays covering an area in excess of 1200 km2. These hydrophone arrays are being used to develop marine mammal passive acoustic detection, classification, localization, and density estimation methods. Hardware systems installed at all three facilities allow real-time monitoring of vocalizing marine mammals. Using these systems, Blainville’s beaked whales have been detected at AUTEC and PMRF. Cuvier’s beaked whales have been detected at SCORE and to a lesser extent at AUTEC. These “sonar sensitive” species are present despite the repeated use of sonar. Based on passive acoustics, the movement of these species in response to sonar has been documented. By combining passive acoustic beaked whale and sonar data with AUTEC ship track data, a risk function for Blainville’s beaked whales was developed. In addition, by combining hydrophone with recording tag data, the beam pattern and source level of Blainville’s beaked whale were measured along with the system’s detection function. This enabled the development of passive acoustic density estimation algorithms. These algorithms are being applied to the long-term, in situ monitoring of beaked whale population at all three facilities.
Catalyst Site Selection via Control over Noncovalent Interactions in Self-Assembled Monolayers

One strategy for controlling selectivity in surface-catalyzed reactions is to precisely control the types of surface sites available for reaction. Here, we show that such control can be achieved on Pd/Al2O3 catalysts modified by alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) by changing the length of the modifier’s alkyl tail. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that thiolates with short alkyl chains preferentially bind to undercoordinated Pd step sites but that adsorption on (111) terrace sites is more favorable at higher chain lengths due to greater stabilization by van der Waals interactions. Linear alkanethiol SAMs with chain lengths ranging from six to 18 carbon atoms were deposited on Pd/Al2O3 catalysts to probe this predicted effect experimentally. Infrared spectroscopy measurements conducted after CO adsorption confirmed that increases in alkyl chain length resulted in increasing specificity in poisoning of terrace sites. The catalysts were also evaluated for furfuryl alcohol hydrogena...
Facilitating collaborative interdisciplinary research: exploring process and implications for leisure scholars

ABSTRACTMany institutions encourage interdisciplinary research (IDR) to maximize organizational resources and to develop more practical approaches to address transdisciplinary ‘real world’ issues such as obesity. Leisure researchers have joined fields such as public health and kinesiology to address increased rates of obesity and physical inactivity with the perspective that these issues require integrated cross-disciplinary knowledge. This case study examined the collaborative process throughout an IDR project involving leisure, health education, physical education and STEM education faculty (five members). The major research questions addressed are as follows: (1) What are the synergies, opportunities and/or obstacles identified by faculty throughout the development, implementation and evaluation of the IDR program? (2) What are the implications of these findings for leisure researchers working in IDR? Faculty responded to email questions and surveys and were interviewed individually before and during t...
The Social Networks of Officers

Parnell describes the relationships that Byzantine army officers had with one another. Officers built up social networks during their careers and used these networks to advance their own interests. This chapter explores examples in Italy, North Africa, and on the eastern frontier in which generals such as Belisarius, Narses, Peter, Sergius, and John sought to marshal support among their fellow officers. These networks benefitted top generals by helping them to amass support for their opinions in war councils and benefitted junior officers by giving them a patron who might help to advance their career. Parnell argues that networks were required for generalship because the emperors often did not clarify the military hierarchy. The networks were however personal and social, not purely the result of career ambitions.
Laboratory Evaluation of Geogrid-Reinforced Flexible Pavements

Abstract This study assessed the effectiveness of flexible pavements reinforced with two types of punched and drawn geogrids to reduce roadway base course thickness. Six laboratory tests were conducted using a steel cylindrical mold. Instrumentation included pressure cells placed at various locations of the test sections and a linear variable differential transformer which was placed on top of the loading system. A hydraulic actuator provided 40 kN (9 kips) cyclic load through a 305 mm (12 in) circular steel plate at a frequency of 0.77 Hz. Test results revealed that inclusion of both geogrid types in flexible pavement showed reductions in surface rutting and vertical stresses at the subgrade-base interface. Using the results for rutting depth, the use of geogrids increased the number of load applications by a factor of 1.5 to 7.5, depending on the test section properties and geogrid type, as well as the rutting depth experienced at various loading applications. Using the base course reduction values based on vertical stress results, the inclusion of geogrid in strong soil resulted in the reduction of base course thickness by nearly 7 percent.
Comparative Effectiveness of Long-Acting Beta2-Agonist Combined with a Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist or Inhaled Corticosteroid in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Introduction Several dual bronchodilator fixed-dose inhaler medications were recently approved for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These products combine a long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) and long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA). In clinical trials, the separate mechanisms of the bronchodilators resulted in improved lung function. COPD treatment guidelines currently recommend combination LABA/LAMA as alternative therapy to combination LABA/inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). Evidence is limited on the comparative effectiveness of LABA/LAMA and LABA/ICS in COPD. The objective of this study was to compare real-world COPD exacerbation rates among patients treated with LABA/LAMA with those treated with LABA/ICS. Methods This was a retrospective observational study of COPD patients in the United States treated with LABA/LAMA or LABA/ICS combination. Insurance claims from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2014, were used as the data source. Patients were required to have greater than one prescription filled for the combination medications, and they were followed from 30 days after drug initiation. Individuals were censored if they discontinued a study medication, initiated medication from the opposite cohort (LAMA or ICS), lost enrollment eligibility, or at the study period end. Exacerbation rates were compared using Poisson regression. Results There were 5384 patients in the LABA/LAMA cohort and 473,388 patients in the LABA/ICS cohort. The LABA/LAMA cohort was older, had more comorbidities, and more severe COPD. Unadjusted annual exacerbation rates were 2.87 events per person-year (standard deviation [SD] 5.14) in the LABA/LAMA cohort and 1.68 (SD 9.82) in the LABA/ICS cohort. The adjusted incidence rate ratio was 0.98 (95% confidence interval 0.95–1.01) for LABA/LAMA compared with LABA/ICS. Conclusions The LABA/LAMA combination had similar effectiveness to LABA/ICS as measured by exacerbation rates in COPD patients. As a result, characteristics other than effectiveness, such as symptom control, cost, patient preferences, and adverse events, may be important in selecting between the two regimens.
On a Learning System

In this paper a computer model is proposed, a learning system is described which acquires information from its environment by a learning process and organizes it into a hierarchical structure. The paper describes the organization of the knowledge structures involved and gives the algorithms which perform the learning and organizational tasks.