cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dominant-plus-Rayleigh Models for RCS: Swerling III/IV versus Rician

A Swerling III/IV target is generally thought of as the sum of a dominant nonfluctuating reflector plus many smaller scatterers, and the many smaller scatterers are often thought of as having a combined voltage amplitude that is Rayleigh distributed (i.e., Swerling I/II). On the other hand, a Rician target is the result of a complex sum at baseband of a nonfluctuating object and a Rayleigh object. The Rician model is not easily reconciled with the standard four degree of freedom χ2 distribution for the (power) amplitude of a Swerling III/IV target, and, indeed, we show here that no Swerling III/IV target is Rician. However, when the nonfluctuating or “dominant” part of the Rician target is approximately 75% of the total reflection, their dissimilarity is minimized (and is small). This phenomenon holds true when Gaussian receiver noise is involved.
Estimating effective elasticity tensors from Christoffel equations

We consider the problem of obtaining the orientation and elasticity parameters of an effective tensor of particular symmetry that corresponds to measurable traveltime and polarization quantities. These quantities — the wavefront-slowness and polarization vectors — are used in the Christoffel equation, a characteristic equation of the elastodynamic equation that brings seismic concepts to our formulation and relates experimental data to the elasticity tensor. To obtain an effective tensor of particular symmetry, we do not assume its orientation; thus, the regression using the residuals of the Christoffel equation results in a nonlinear optimization problem. We find the absolute extremum and, to avoid numerical instability of a global search, obtain an accurate initial guess using the tensor of given symmetry closest to the generally anisotropic tensor obtained from data by linear regression. The issue is twofold. First, finding the closest tensor of particular symmetry without assuming its orientation is challenging. Second, the closest tensor is not the effective tensor in the sense of regression because the process of finding it carries neither seismic concepts nor statistical information; rather, it relies on an abstract norm in the space of elasticity tensors. To include seismic concepts and statistical information, we distinguish between the closest tensor of particular symmetry and the effective one; the former is the initial guess to search for the latter.
Unsupervised medical image analysis by multiscale FNM modeling and MRF relaxation labeling

We derive two types of block-wise FNM model for pixel images by incorporating local context. The self-learning is then formulated as an information match problem and solved by first estimating model parameters to initialize ML solution and then conducting finer segmentation through MRF relaxation.
Combined Bleaching, Shrinkage Prevention, and Biopolishing of Wool Fabrics

In earlier work, we established that alkaline hydrogen peroxide systems that include dicyandiamide, gluconic acid, and Triton X surfactant, used alone or followed by enzyme treatments, control shrinkage in wool fabrics to3.0% and 1.2%, respectively. We have perfected this system for complete shrinkage control with no loss in mechanical properties by using the same pretreatment and enzyme applied from a buffered triethanolamine solution that incorporates sodium sulfite. Fabrics treated by this method are bright white and exhibit a soft handle with a smoothed surface. Digital image analysis is used to quantify fiber projections above the fabric surface for a measurement of smoothness. A statistical analysis with a central composite design reveals the optimum concentrations of enzyme, sodium sulfite, and exposure time that maximize shrinkage control while maintaining adequate levels of tensile strength and weight loss.
Optical isolator /polarizer based on a rectangular waveguide with helical grooves

Rectangular waveguide with slanted grooves in its sidewalls can be used as an optical isolator/polarizer due to the chirality effect. Even the crudest implementations of chirality are shown to exhibit high circular dichroism.
Minimization of the Ginzburg-Landau energy functional by a Sobolev gradient trust-region method

We describe a generalized Levenberg-Marquardt method for computing critical points of the Ginzburg-Landau energy functional which models superconductivity. The algorithm is a blend of a Newton iteration with a Sobolev gradient descent method, and is equivalent to a trust-region method in which the trust-region radius is defined by a Sobolev metric. Numerical test results demonstrate the method to be remarkably effective.
A Critique of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and its Operationalization of Carl Jung's Psychological Types:

Personality, as represented by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and its interpretative literature as a means of understanding behavior, is critically analyzed. Specifically, the dichotomous nature o...
Clinical Profile of Pharyngeal Malignancy in a Tertiary Care Centre, State of Uttarakhand

Pharynx is a common site of malignancy in the head and neck region. This study presents a series of 94 cases of pharyngeal malignancy conducted at Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun, Uttarakhand in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology for a period of one year (2009–2010). Mean age at presentation was 56.8 years (age range 18–100 years). Male:Female ratio was 8.4:1.0. Maximum patients belonged to lower socio-economic status as per Kuppuswamy’s classification (2003). Majority of them were farmer (38.2%) by occupation and belonged to rural areas. 90.4% patients had history of tobacco smoking. Dysphagia was the commonest chief complaint. The most common subsite was oropharynx (51.0%) followed by hypopharynx (45.7%). Ulceroproliferative growth was the most common clinical finding. Histopathologically, squamous cell carcinoma (94.6%) was the commonest. CECT was the commonest and most useful radiological investigation done to see the extent of the disease.
Information technology investments and firm value

Our objective in this paper is to develop a firm value model to assist IT managers and researchers in understanding the multiple effects that IT investments have on firm value. This firm value approach adds to the process-oriented approach through simultaneous evaluation of all of the factors that affect firm value. It is crucial for IT professionals to recognize the complex and diverse implications of IT investments on firm value. The implications of the firm value approach include forcing IT managers to think in terms of both industry and company-specific effects of IT investments, to consider both the magnitude and duration of competitive advantage due to IT investments, and the implications of the effect that IT investments have on risk and its relation to firm value. We demonstrate an application of the firm value framework by evaluating a major stream of research in MIS--event studies of IT investment announcements. Appendices to this paper can be found at http://www.itandfirmvalue.com.
Struggle for a Continent: The Wars of Early America

Foreword v Acknowledgments ix Chronology of Events xi Introduction 1 Chapter One. The European Invasion of America 9 The Opening Clashes 9 Struggle on the Chesapeake 17 Conflict in New England 27 Conflict in the Middle Colonies 39 The Final Round 43 Chapter Two. The European Struggle for America: Round One 61 The Origins of International Conflict 61 An Indecisive War 67 Queen Anne s War: Phase One, 1701-1708 79 One Success, One Failure: The End of Queen Anne s War 89 Chapter Three. The Struggle for America Resumes 101 Bloody Frontiers: New England 101 Bloody Frontiers: The South 103 The War of Jenkins Ear 111 Chapter Four. War in Eighteenth-Century America 118 Changing Views of War 118 The Technology of War 120 American Soldiers and Armies 123 King George s War 131 Chapter Five. The Anglo-American Triumph 143 Origins of the French and Indian War 143 An Undeclared War 146 War Is Declared 159 New Leadership, Mixed Results 170 Anglo-American Victory 187 Conclusion: Significance of America s Early Wars 202 Bibliographical Essay 210 Index 233 Maps xvi, 8, 138, 190
Le microbiote dans les diarrhées infectieuses

Resume La comprehension de l’importance du microbiote fecal a ete un element cle pour comprendre la physiopathologie de certaines diarrhees infectieuses. Outre le role protecteur normal de la bile, de l’acidite gastrique et de la reponse immunitaire, entre autres, nous savons maintenant que la flore intestinale normale nous protege de certaines formes de diarrhees infectieuses. La diarrhee associee aux antibiotiques (DAA) en est un excellent exemple, car les antibiotiques perturbent la flore normale. La diarrhee qui en resulte pourrait etre due a des modifications du metabolisme des acides gras a chaine courte. La diarrhee liee a Clostridium difficile, agent pathogene qui peut induire une diarrhee grave, une colite et meme le deces, est une forme particulierement severe de DAA. La diarrhee recidivante a Clostridium difficile est un probleme clinique difficile a traiter efficacement, car chaque recidive augmente la probabilite d’un nouvel episode, probablement du fait que la prescription d’antibiotiques reste necessaire pour la traiter et que la flore intestinale reste de ce fait perturbee. Il n’y a pas d’attitude therapeutique efficace unique. Les possibilites therapeutiques incluent l’utilisation d’antibiotiques selon des schemas intermittents ou a doses decroissantes, le probiotique Saccharomyces boulardii comme appoint de l’antibiotherapie, voire la reconstitution de la flore fecale. Il faut s’attendre a voir nos connaissances s’enrichir encore dans l’avenir sur les effets benefiques du microbiote.
Introduction: the evolution of morphology, performance, and fitness.

The concept of performance is fundamental to organismal and integrative biology. An organism must perform key tasks or functions—regulate water, ions and temperature; photosynthesize, feed, digest, move, and grow—that are crucial for its survival and reproduction. Understanding how lower-level physiological, morphological, and behavioral traits determine the performance of organisms in various environmental conditions is a central aim of the fields of physiology, functional morphology, and biomechanics (Bartholomew, 1958; Levins, 1968; Bock, 1977, 1980; Huey and Stevenson, 1979). Similarly, the concept of natural selection is fundamental to evolutionary biology. Selection—the relationship between variation in phenotypic traits and variation in fitness among individuals in a population—is the key driving force of adaptive evolution. Understanding the patterns and intensities of selection on phenotypic traits, and how such selection causes adaptive evolution, are central aims of the fields of evolution and ecology (Endler, 1986; Kingsolver et al., 2001). In an ASZ symposium 21 years ago, Steve Arnold outlined a novel framework (‘‘morphology, performance, and fitness’’) that addressed linkages connecting lower-level phenotypic traits, organismal performance, and fitness. Arnold proposed combining laboratory measurements of individual variation in morphology (or physiology) and in performance with field studies of selection and evolution (Arnold, 1983). He also proposed a specific statistical model for quantifying the magnitude of connections among phenotype, performance, and fitness. Arnold illustrated these connections with a simple path diagram (Fig. 1) showing how different morphological traits influenced (directly
Seeing the other side: Perspective taking and the moderation of extremity

Abstract Recognizing the reasonableness of others' positions is important for conflict reduction, but is notoriously hard. We tested a perspective-taking approach to decreasing attitude entrenchment. Participants were held accountable in a task in which they wrote about a controversial issue from the perspective of a partner with an opposing viewpoint. This approach was effective at changing views on controversial issues—in Study 1 on weight discrimination, an issue participants were unlikely to have thought much about, and in Study 2 on abortion, where beliefs tend to be more deeply held. Studies 3 and 4 showed this change only took place under conditions where participants met the individual with an opposing view in person, and where that individual would see the perspective-taking effort. These results suggest that it is possible to reduce attitude entrenchment by encouraging people to think about the opposing perspective of another, as long as there is real contact and accountability.
Ionic and electronic transport properties in dense plasmas by orbital-free density functional theory

We validate the application of our recent orbital-free density functional theory (DFT) approach [Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 155006 (2014);] for the calculation of ionic and electronic transport properties of dense plasmas. To this end, we calculate the self-diffusion coefficient, the viscosity coefficient, the electrical and thermal conductivities, and the reflectivity coefficient of hydrogen and aluminum plasmas. Very good agreement is found with orbital-based Kohn-Sham DFT calculations at lower temperatures. Because the computational costs of the method do not increase with temperature, we can produce results at much higher temperatures than is accessible by the Kohn-Sham method. Our results for warm dense aluminum at solid density are inconsistent with the recent experimental results reported by Sperling et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 115001 (2015)].
DMBA treatment of heterozygous MMTV-Neu and MMTV-Neu/P53 knockout mice: histopathologic characterization, array analysis, and chemopreventive efficacy of rexinoids.

1662 The MMTV-Neu transgenic model of mammary cancer was developed almost 15 years ago by Muller and colleagues. Although the Neu gene is not mutated, most mammary tumors that develop have mutations in the transmembrane domain of Neu; unlike human tumors overexpressing Neu. In contrast, mice which are heterozygous for MMTV-Neu and have an altered P53 tumor suppressor gene apparently generate tumors without mutations in Neu. We initially modified the breeding process by generating mice that were homozygous for MMTV-Neu or P53 knockout on an FVB background. This allowed us to generate heterozygous mice for the various phenotypes without genotyping. When using virgin animals both of these models have mammary tumors with long latency periods (MMTV-Neu, ≈ 280 days; MMTV-Neu/P53 knockout, ≈ 350 days). To overcome this limitation, heterozygous mice were treated with DMBA for a period of 8 weeks. This treatment significantly decreased the tumor latency (MMTV-Neu, ≈ 180 days; MMTV-Neu/P53 knockout, ≈ 185 days). In the MMTV-Neu/P53 knockout mice, a high percentage of mice with squamous cancers of the skin was observed. The skin tumors tended to highly express P53 and both skin and mammary tumors expressed the transcription factor KLF4. Array data on tumors from the various genotypes with or without DMBA and their relationship to human breast cancer will be presented. Finally, the effects of Targretin, an RXR agonist, in MMTV-Neu/P53 knockout mice was determined. Targretin either administered early (2 months of age) or late (5 months of age) inhibited mammary tumor formation, but had limited effects on skin tumors or lymphomas.
Climbing with adhesion: from bioinspiration to biounderstanding

Bioinspiration is an increasingly popular design paradigm, especially as robots venture out of the laboratory and into the world. Animals are adept at coping with the variability that the world imposes. With advances in scientific tools for understanding biological structures in detail, we are increasingly able to identify design features that account for animals' robust performance. In parallel, advances in fabrication methods and materials are allowing us to engineer artificial structures with similar properties. The resulting robots become useful platforms for testing hypotheses about which principles are most important. Taking gecko-inspired climbing as an example, we show that the process of extracting principles from animals and adapting them to robots provides insights for both robotics and biology.
Real-Time Detection of Bacterial Spores

We demonstrate a real-time method with high sensitivity and high selectivity for detection of Anthrax-surrogate spores using Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering. We reliably detect spores in less than 50 ms based on their vibrational spectra.
Glossary of Higher Education Corruption

Higher education corruption is an emerging sub-field of research that has yet to develop its terminological apparatus and own specific research methodologies. The interdisciplinary nature of this sub-field predetermines its dependency on other well-established fields, such as microeconomics, organizational theory, political economy, education policy, and sociology. Accordingly, most of the terminology of higher education corruption is not unique fundamentally but derived from terminologies of social sciences. A specific professional language is required to communicate major issues in the field of study that may be formulated as higher education corruption. This Glossary presents terminology used in research and discussion of higher education corruption. It contains 155 terms and offers brief definitions and explanations of the terms. Most of the terms presented in this Glossary are not operational, i.e. they are often not very formal but useful in describing the phenomenon of corruption. They carry an explanatory function rather than function of operationalization. Operationalization is the process of strictly defining variables into measurable factors. Operationalization of higher education corruption anticipates development of a set of special terms that not only describe but put them into clearly defined measurable variables ready for quantitative analysis. This terminology does not rely on any particular conceptual approach to higher education corruption. Nor does it refer to any particular country or national educational system. Different terms apply better to different national educational systems, since the systems differ significantly and so do forms of corruption that may be found in these systems. All of the terms, presented in this Glossary, refer to corruption higher education even if not mentioned so specifically. This Glossary does not offer any references, nor does it offer further readings on the topic of corruption. Finally, this Glossary may be updated periodically, new terms may be added and descriptions of terms extended.
Abstract TP49: Association Between Low CBV and ICH in Acute Stroke Patients Undergoing Intra-Arterial Therapy

Background: Acute stroke patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) or intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion who have decreased cerebral blood volume (CBV) in the basal ganglia (BG) on CT perfusion (CTP) imaging are thought to be at high risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) following recanalization with intra-arterial therapy (IAT). We sought to determine if low BG CBV in patients with MCA or ICA occlusion is associated with post-IAT ICH. Methods: This is a single-center retrospective chart review of consecutive stroke patients seen in the emergency room from 6/07 - 12/10. All acute stroke patients with an MCA (M1) or intracranial ICA occlusion on CT angiogram, who underwent CTP imaging and were treated with IAT (IA tpa and/or thrombectomy) were included. The primary outcome was the presence of ICH on CT 24 hours post-IAT. Good clinical outcome was defined as a modified Rankin score ≤ 3 at discharge. Clinical variables, CBV, and ICH were each assessed by investigators who were blinded to the other abstracted data. CBV and ICH were agreed upon by at least 2 readers. Univariate analyses were performed using chi-square tests. Multivariate analyses of other potential predictors of ICH were done using logistic regression. Results: Sixty-two patients were included in these analyses. The mean age was 65.8 years, 44% were male, and 34% were non-white. The mean time to artery recanalization was 717 minutes. In univariate analysis, there was a trend toward higher rates of post-IAT ICH in patients with low BG CBV compared to those with preserved CBV (64.3% vs. 47.1%, p=0.175). Patients with post-IAT ICH had higher rates of a poor outcome than those without ICH (94.1% vs 64.3%, p=0.0031). Multivariate analyses did not demonstrate any independent predictors of ICH. Conclusion: Acute stroke patients with proximal MCA or ICA occlusion and low BG CBV on CTP imaging had a trend toward a higher risk of post-IAT ICH, but this association was not statistically significant, possibly due to the small sample size. Given that ICH is associated with poor outcome, future studies are needed to determine if patients with low BG CBV should be excluded from IAT due to increased risk of ICH. .
Estimation of physiological sub-millimeter displacement with CW Doppler radar

Doppler radar physiological sensing has been studied for non-contact detection of vital signs including respiratory and heartbeat rates. This paper presents the first micrometer resolution Wi-Fi band Doppler radar for sub-millimeter physiological displacement measurement. A continuous-wave Doppler radar working at 2.4GHz is used for the measurement. It is intended for estimating small displacements on the body surface resulting from physiological activity. A mechanical mover was used as target, and programmed to conduct sinusoidal motions to simulate pulse motions. Measured displacements were compared with a reference system, which indicates a superior performance in accuracy for having absolute errors less than 10µm, and relative errors below 4%. It indicates the feasibility of highly accurate non-contact monitoring of physiological movements using Doppler radar.
Determinants of Membrane Activity from Mutational Analysis of the HIV Fusion Peptide

We have synthesized a small library of 38 variants of the 23-residue fusion peptide domain found at the N-terminus of gp41 glycoprotein of HIV. This hydrophobic, glycine-rich sequence is critical for viral infectivity and is thought to be central in the membrane fusion of viral envelope with the host membrane. There has been extensive discussion regarding the origin of fusogenicity in this viral fusion sequence. Our library of fusion peptide variants was designed to address the biophysical importance of secondary structure, peptide flexibility, glycine content, and placement. We assayed each peptide for its ability to induce lipid mixing and membrane permeablization in synthetic vesicles. We find that the viral fusion peptide may be greatly simplified while retaining fusogenic function and minimizing membrane-permeablizing function; to the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to optimize fusogenic function of the HIV fusion peptide through sequence variation. Our data show that many flexible, ...
Conference Reports: NORTH AMERICAN INTEGRATED SERVICES DIGITAL NETWORK (ISDN) USERS' FORUM (NIU-FORUM) Gaithersburg, MD August 6-9, 1990.

For More Information For more information about the NIU-Forum or to obtain conference proceedings, contact Dawn Hoffman, National Computer Systems Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building 223, Room B364, Gaithersburg, MD 20899; (301) 975-2937 or FTS 879-2937.
Role of the Preimplantation Embryo in the Timing of LH-Dependent Progesterone Secretion from the Rat Corpus Luteum:

AbstractThe effect of the progestational uterus and preimplantation embryo on the time of appearance of LH-dependent progesterone secretion from pregnant and pseudopregnant (PSP) rat corpora lutea (CL) was studied. Two groups of experiments were performed: (1) pregnant and PSP rats were hysterectomized between Days 3 and 5 (Day 1 = vaginal estrus) and subsequently monitored for changes in serum progesterone levels following an injection of LH antiserum (LHAS) or normal horse serum (NHS) vehicle on Day 9 and, (2) Day 4 embryos were transferred to Day 3 PSP uteri; each rat was subsequently hysterectomized on Day 4 of PSP and treated with LHAS or NHS on Day 9. Progesterone levels were monitored as an index of luteal vitality. Progesterone secretion was not altered by NHS treatment in any group. LHAS treatment did not induce luteolysis in Day 3 pregnant rats or in PSP rats hysterectomized on Days 3 or 4. However, in rats hysterectomized on Day 4 or 5 of pregnancy, or hysterectomized on Day 5 of PSP, luteolysi...
Control Valve Trajectories for SOFC Hybrid System Startup

Control and management of cathode airflow in a solid oxide fuel cell gas turbine hybrid power system was analyzed using the Hybrid Performance (HyPer) hardware simulation at the National Energy Technology (NETL), U.S. Department of Energy. This work delves into previously unexplored operating practices for HyPer, via simultaneous manipulation of bypass valves and the electric load on the generator. The work is preparatory to the development of a Multi-Input, Multi-Output (MIMO) controller for HyPer. A factorial design of experiments was conducted to acquire data for 81 different combinations of the manipulated variables, which consisted of three air flow control valves and the electric load on the turbine generator. From this data the response surface for the cathode airflow with respect to bypass valve positions was analyzed. Of particular interest is the control of airflow through the cathode during system startup and during large load swings. This paper presents an algorithm for controlling air mass flow through the cathode based on a modification of the steepest ascent method.© 2011 ASME
Time-Dependent Mechanics of Elastin Network

The viscoelastic properties of elastin are closely related to its microstructures and the external mechanical and chemical environments. The elastin network in the medial layer of arteries consists of hydrated microfibrils that are approximately 3μm in diameter, which are assembled into the lamellar structures at the microscopic level. In previous work, molecular probe techniques have been used to characterize the organization of purified elastin [1]. The microfibrils were found to contain a network of water-filled pores accessible to solutes with molecular weights below 1000 daltons. The water spaces between and around fibrils were accessible to much larger solutes. The intra- and extrafibrillar compartments can be modified by mechanical stresses, chemical environment, osmotic pressure, and temperature.© 2009 ASME
OLFACTORY DYSFUNCTION IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES

Interest in olfactory dysfunction has increased tremendously in the past decade, in part due to observations that chemosensory impairment is an early symptom of many neurodegenerative diseases. Several features of the olfactory system make it particularly relevant to understanding neurodegeneration/regeneration. First, while being vulnerable to environmental and infectious exposure, the olfactory system has the unique property of ongoing replacement of the olfactory sensory neurons under physiological conditions and following injury. Second, the receptor neurons residing in the periphery are developmentally related to the central nervous system, yet are accessible relatively noninvasively via biopsy from living subjects. Third, olfactory performance can easily be tested in a variety of ways that provide insight into the function of brain areas involved in detection, identification and memory. In addition to providing insights into the etiology or diagnosis of disease, a better understanding of olfactory neurobiology is needed to develop ways to treat olfactory dysfunction, which affects both quality of life and personal safety. At least 3,000,000 Americans suffer from chemosensory disorders and that is likely to grow as the aging segment of the population increases. Olfactory impairment represents a danger to the individuals resulting from inability to detect hazards as natural gas and spoiled food and threatens quality of life through the loss of enjoyment of foods and fragrances. The neurological systems responsible for olfactory function represent perhaps the most diverse, complex and adaptable components of the nervous system. Losses in olfaction result from changes at both the anatomical and molecular level. This loss can result from aging, toxins, infectious agents, environmental factors and a variety of diseases. Understanding the neurobiology of this sensory system may help us to develop new diagnostic measures and treatments for neurodegenerative disease as well as improving the quality of life for millions of people who are handicapped by the inability to detect the flavors and fragrances around them.
The Characteristic Analysis of Whole S and Complete M Segment Nucleotide Acid Sequence of Hatanvirus Carried by Cricetidae Triton

Objective To set out the sequence of the nucleotide of the Hantavirus isolated from the lungs of cricetidae triton,and to categorize its genotype.Methods Firstly the positive lungs was screened, then culturing virus with VERO cells,cloning and sequencing of the gene was carried out,finally its genotype categorized.Results It was found that the length of the complete nucleotide sequence of the S segment of YU62 strains is 1701nt.It contained one complete ORF encoding N protein,which starts at the 37th nt and ends at 1326th nt,and 429 encoding amino acids of N protein.The homology of nucleotide with HTN-A16 was 99.1%.M segment obtained 1272bp,homology with HTN-SN7.S was 85.6% segment Homological analysis shows that YU62 belongs to H4 subtype of HTN genotype,M segment phylogenetic analysis suggested that YU62 was a new subtype of HTN.Conclusion S and M segment of YU62 evolves imparellelly,YU62 may be a new subtype which is recombines in cricetidae triton.
Human erythrocytes bearing electroinserted CD4 neutralize infection in vitro by primary isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Human erythrocytes bearing electroinserted full-length CD4 (RBC-CD4) can bind and fuse with a laboratory strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) or with T cells infected by HIV-1. Here we show that RBC-CD4 neutralize primary HIV-1 strains in an assay of cocultivation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HIV-1-infected persons with uninfected PBMC. RBC-CD4 inhibited viral p24 core antigen accumulation in these cocultures up to 10,000-fold compared with RBC alone. Viral p24 accumulation was inhibited equally well when measured in culture supernatants or in call extracts. The inhibition was dose-dependent and long-lived. Two types of recombinant CD4 tested in parallel were largely ineffective. The neutralization of primary HIV-1 by RBC-CD4 in vitro was demonstrated in PBMC cultures from 21 of a total of 23 patients tested at two independent sites. RBC-CD4 may offer a route to blocking HIV-1 infection in vivo.
Ischemic Necrosis: A Hypothesis to Explain the Pathogenesis of Spontaneously Ruptured Enterocystoplasty

AbstractSpontaneous enterocystoplasty rupture represents a devastating and potentially fatal late complication. Previously proposed mechanisms of rupture include catheter trauma, chronic infection, avulsion of adhesions between the bowel patch and peritoneum, and chronic overdistension with elevated intravesical pressures. We have witnessed this complication 4 times in 3 patients 5 weeks to 46 months postoperatively. Tissue specimens from 3 episodes in 2 patients with detubularized sigmoid enterocystoplasties were available for histological examination. All patients had a neurogenic bladder from myelomeningocele, all had an AMS800 artificial urinary sphincter and all had a documented history of chronic distension from inadequate emptying of the augmented bladder.At exploration, all of the ruptures were found within the bowel segment near the bladder apex in an area remote from the anastomotic line. In each case tissue specimens from the rupture site showed marked vascular congestion, intramural hemorrhage...
Establishment and application of median serum markers for second trimester screening in Qingdao region

Objective To establish the median of serum markers for second trimester screening in Qingdao region and to assess the influence of median correction on the performance of screening.Methods Maternal serum alpha-fetoproteins (AFP),human chorionic gonadotrophin,free beta subunit (β-HCG) and unconjugated oestriol (uE3) were assayed for prenatal screening of 18 188 singleton pregnancies at 15-20+6 weeks gestation from January 2009 to July 2010.The median of serum markers was calculated based on above results and applied for risk estimation in screening for fetal aneuploidy from August 2010 to March 2011.The screening performance,specified in terms of detection rates (DRs),false positive rates (FPRs) and odds of being affected given a positive result (OAPR) were compared between the two groups.The risks of 45 affected pregnancies detected during the study were estimated with both Caucasian and corrected medians.Results The average level of AFP in local pregnancies was similar to that of the Caucasian population,whilst β-HCG and uE3 were respectively 11％ and 33％ higher than those of Caucasians.The multiple of median (MoM) value was between 0.94 and 1.02 for the dataset based on the corrected median.At a cut-off of 1 in 270,FPR has decreased from 5.2％ to 4.9％,and DR of Down syndrome has increased from 60％ to 69.2％,and OAPR has increased from 1:79 to 1:59 when evaluating risk based on the corrected median.For the 45 affected pregnancies,three Down syndrome pregnancies could be missed because their risk estimates were lower than the cut-off level based on Caucasian median.Conclusion It is useful to establish and apply population and laboratory-specific medians in order to improve the performance of prenatal screening and diagnosis. Key words: Down's syndrome; Second pregnancy trimester; Alpha-fetoproteins; β-human chorionic gonadotrophin; Unconjugated oestriol; Prenatal screening
Factors Affecting the Oxygen Isotopic Composition of the Black Sea

The oxygen (18O/16O) and hydrogen (D/H) isotopic ratios measured in waters collected from eight stations in the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara during cruise IV of the RV Knorr, indicate that the Black Sea is isotopically homogeneous below 200 meters. (δ 18O = −1.65°/oo (σ= 0.27), δD = −14.29°/oo (σ=2.05). The upper oxic layer however exhibited a high degree of variability related to high rates of evaporation during the summer and probable mixing during the winter. The oxygen isotopic data allows constraints to be placed on the amount of input of Mediterranean water through the Bosporus and the isotopic composition of the riverine input. Based on this model it is estimated that the present day O and H isotopic composition of the upper oxic layer could have reached close to the present day isotopic composition approximately 10 years after the initiation of Mediterranean flow through the Bosporus. However, the oxygen isotopic composition of the upper layer continues to change slowly over a period of 1000 years, the time needed for the lower portion of the Black Sea to approach a steady state isotopic composition. The model further predicts that the oxygen isotopic composition is relatively insensitive to large changes in either the flux or the isotopic composition of inputs into the Black Sea, the steady state composition being ultimately controlled by exchange with the atmosphere and therefore influenced by the relative humidity and the isotopic composition of the atmospheric water vapor.
SnapShot: Biomolecular NMR

The essential principles of nuclear magnetic resonance for the analysis of biomolecules are conveyed in this SnapShot.
Frequency domain method for computing missing input data for a cylindrical PET camera

Input projection data sets at nonzero tilt angles to the transverse planes may miss seeing activity at the ends of the cylindrical volume of a cylindrical positron emission tomographic (PET) camera. To use the data at these tile angles, it is necessary to compute and fill in with estimates of the missing parts these data. In principle, one could make an initial reconstruction using zero-tilt-angle data, and then compute the missing data by reprojecting the initial reconstruction along the desired rays. Computer simulation results are presented of a method that computes the missing data in the frequency domain and thereby eliminates the computationally long process of forward projection. In these initial computer simulation tests the method for computing missing data worked well, producing in the reconstructed image principally a magnification of error that would have existed with no missing data. >
CAPSULATION OF PROPIONIBACTERIUM1

Strains of nine species of Propionibacterium were examined for slime and/or capsule formation. Direct evidence of capsules was demonstrated by negative staining with India ink. Changes in viscosity of growth media, estimated using an Ostwald viscosimeter, were related to capsule or slime production. Mucoid colony production provided further evidence of slime formation. Under the criteria and experimental conditions adopted, at least one strain of each species and 34 of 82 strains formed slime. Incubation temperatures of 15 and 21 C which are less than optimal for growth, adjustment of media pH above neutrality, addition of sodium chloride, and as many as 11 different carbohydrates were conducive to slime formation. Paper and thin-layer chromatographic analyses of acid-hydrolyzed capsular material indicated that it contained mannose and lesser amounts of glucose and galactose.
Plant-based vaccines for oral delivery of type 1 diabetes-related autoantigens: Evaluating oral tolerance mechanisms and disease prevention in NOD mice

Autoantigen-specific immunological tolerance represents a central objective for prevention of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Previous studies demonstrated mucosal antigen administration results in expansion of Foxp3+ and LAP+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), suggesting oral delivery of self-antigens might represent an effective means for modulating autoimmune disease. Early preclinical experiments using the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model reported mucosal administration of T1D-related autoantigens [proinsulin or glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD)] delayed T1D onset, but published data are conflicting regarding dose, treatment duration, requirement for combinatorial agents, and extent of efficacy. Recently, dogma was challenged in a report demonstrating oral insulin does not prevent T1D in NOD mice, possibly due to antigen digestion prior to mucosal immune exposure. We used transplastomic plants expressing proinsulin and GAD to protect the autoantigens from degradation in an oral vaccine and tested the optimal combination, dose, and treatment duration for the prevention of T1D in NOD mice. Our data suggest oral autoantigen therapy alone does not effectively influence disease incidence or result in antigen-specific tolerance assessed by IL-10 measurement and Treg frequency. A more aggressive approach involving tolerogenic cytokine administration and/or lymphocyte depletion prior to oral antigen-specific immunotherapy will likely be required to impart durable therapeutic efficacy.
Creating an Environment for Millennials

Millennials, individuals born between the years 1978 and 2000, are advancing from colleges and universities to the workplace. The traits and characteristics of this generation are widely studied and categorized. Previous work demonstrates that Millennials have difficulty pursuing objectives that require critical thinking skills. We designed and deployed a one week program to aid Millennials in developing critical and free thinking skills. Our program scaffolds learning using a resource rich laboratory environment. We allowed them free reign over any and all available resources to work or build with as they pleased. Throughout the process, we followed progress, offered advice, and noted instances when group actions paralleled documented Millennial behaviors. Participants documented their learning process in a comic book style poster to further our ability to understand their progression.
CNS distribution of WP744; A novel anthracyclines with activity against glioblastoma multiforme

5406 WP744 differs from clinically available anthracyclines in than it is able to circumvent P-gp and MRP1-mediated cellular efflux while possessing enhanced activity in cells overexpressing Bcl-2 and its homolog Bcl-X L . This compound demonstrates substantial activity against GBM cell lines in vitro and in vivo. To complement preclinical dose-finding, PK and toxicology trials we investigated the CNS distribution of WP744 following single IV and oral (PO) doses in both orthotopic tumor bearing (TB) and non-tumor bearing (NTB) mice. NTB CD 1 or TB NuNu nude-U87MG bearing mice (M ≈ 38 gm) were administered WP744 at 20 mg/kg as an IV bolus via the tail vein (0.2 ml; vehicle, DMSO:D5W, 5:95, v/v) or by oral gavage (0.5 ml; vehicle, DMSO:D5W, 5:95, v/v). In the NTB CD-1 mice blood samples (collected in heparin containing tubes) and brain tissue from groups of animals (8 per timepoint) prior to and at selected timepoints between 1 and 24 hr following IV bolus drug administration. In the TB mice blood, tumor, and contralateral brain samples were harvested at 0.5, 1, and 3 hrs post dose. WP744 was extracted from plasma using a solid phase extraction method and in tissues using a liquid-liquid extraction method. Standard curves were generated for each tissue type. All samples were analyzed using LC/MS/MS with ES ionization operating in positive ion mode. This method has an LLQ of 0.25 ng/ml and was linear throughout a dynamic range of 0.25 ng/ml to 1.0 μg/ml in blood and tissues. Comparison of AUC data from both IV and PO dosing in the NTB mice yielded an estimated fraction absorbed of 0.04; therefore no further tissue distribution studies following PO dosing were performed. In the groups receiving IV drug the peak plasma WP744 concentration was > 1 μg/ml declining to 360 ng/ml in one hour. The mean measured brain tissue concentration at one hour was 65% of the simultaneously measured plasma concentration. Mean WP744 concentrations declined linearly over time in both the plasma and CNS, however CNS tissue concentrations of WP744 were >25 ng/gm tissue at 24 hours and up to 2-fold > that measured simultaneously in plasma. Preliminary studies in the TB model demonstrate similar findings. In these studies brain and tumor concentrations were up to 52 % of the simultaneously measured plasma concentration (≈500 ng/ml) 30 minutes after injection, and at one hour tumor concentrations were > those measured in the surrounding CNS tissue. These data, coupled with the initial efficacy and toxicology data suggest that WP744 may be an excellent new agent for the treatment of brain tumors.
Acute Facet Pain

Vertebrae are connected through a synovial joint made up of the inferior and superior articulating facets, also referred to as the zygapophyseal joint, and assist in motion of the spine unique to their location within the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Two medial branches of the dorsal primary rami innervate each specific zygapophyseal joint. Patients with acute facet arthropathy may complain of pain provocation with extension, rotation, and/or axial loading. Typical referral patterns for pain emanating from specific facet joints have been identified and mapped for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar zygapophyseal joints (Dwyer et al. Spine. 1990; 15(6):453–457; Kellegren. Clin Sci 1939;4:35–46). Treatment may include conservative measures, for example, medications, physical therapy, spinal manipulation, and injections. Standard treatment for acute facet arthropathy-related pain typically includes physical therapy and intra-articular corticosteroid injections and/or radiofrequency ablation of the medial branches that innervate the zygapophyseal joint.
Climatic factors affecting quantity and quality grade of in vivo derived embryos of cattle

Abstract The present study investigated the effects of climatic variables on the quality grade and quantity of in vivo derived cattle embryos in the Midwestern United States. Climatic information included greatest and least daily temperature, average daily wind speed and average temperature-humidity index for each of the 765 records. The response variables included the number of ovarian structures, viable embryos, quality grade 1 embryos, quality grade 2 embryos, quality grade 3 embryos, freezable embryos (sum of quality grade 1 and quality grade 2 embryos), transferable embryos (sum of quality grade 1–3 embryos), degenerate embryos and unfertilized ova. Measures for variables among the breeds of donors and sires grouped by geographical origin were compared. A negative effect of greater temperatures during the early embryonic development stage tended (P
Framing Teacher Education: An Analysis of the Comprehensive Educator Equity Plans of 16 State Education Agencies

This article explores the nature of a federal intervention into teacher education through state policy making and problem framing. The authors examined the 16 comprehensive educator equity plans th...
Publisher Correction: Cultural evolution of normative motivations for sustainable behaviour

Owing to a technical error, this Perspective was originally published without its received and accepted dates; the dates ‘Received: 29 November 2017; Accepted: 9 April 2018’ have now been included in all versions.
Family Matters: Claiming Rights across the US-Mexico Migratory System.

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (INA) created an immigration system favoring the immigration of spouses, children, and parents of US citizens, thereby establishing family unity as the c...
Comparison of dual β-lactam therapy to penicillin-aminoglycoside combination in treatment of Enterococcus faecalis infective endocarditis.

Summary Background Dual β-lactam therapy and a penicillin-aminoglycoside combination are first line regimens in the treatment of penicillin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis infective endocarditis (EFIE). Our aim was to compare ampicillin plus ceftriaxone (A+C) to ampicillin plus gentamicin (A+G) in the treatment of EFIE. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of adults (≥18 years) patients diagnosed with EFIE at Mayo Clinic campuses in Rochester, Minnesota, and Phoenix, Arizona and treated with either A+C or A+G. Main outcome measurements were 1 year mortality, nephrotoxicity, and EFIE relapse rates. Results Eighty-five cases of EFIE were included in this investigation. The majority ( n =67, 79%) of patients received A+G while 18 (21%) patients received A+C as initial treatment. On admission, patients who received A+C had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (median [IQR], 4 [3, 4 vs. 2 [1, 4]; P =.008) and a higher baseline serum creatinine (median [IQR], 1.2 [0.9, 1.6] vs. 0.9 [0.8, 1.2] mg/dL, P=.020 ). The 1 year mortality rates were similar for both treatment groups, 17% vs. 17%, P =.982. Each group had 1 case of relapsing EFIE. Patients who received A+G had worse kidney function outcome demonstrated by a greater increase in serum creatinine at end of therapy (median [IQR] difference, +0.4 [0.2, 0.8] vs. -0.2 [−0.3, 0.1] mg/dL, P ≤.001). Conclusion A+C appears to be a safe and efficacious regimen in the treatment of EFIE. Patients treated with A+C had lower rates of nephrotoxicity and no differences in relapse rate and 1-year mortality as compared to that of the A+G group.
Dynamic Patterns im Excitable Media

For normal individuals, the heartbeat is a time periodic pattern of electrical excitation which spreads in rapid wavelike fashion across the surface of the heart. In contrast, fibrillation, which occurs at death in many heart patients, corresponds to a much different pattern of excitation which is not capable of sustaining life. In this paper we will show one way in which the transition from a normal heartbeat to fibrillation may occur.
Obesity and Diabetes, Regulation of Food Intake

The incidence of obesity and associated type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing alarmingly in most countries, including the United States. Although the reasons are complex, an obvious culprit is the availability of plentiful, calorically dense foods that are palatable to the taste. This article summarizes what is known about the biological controls over food intake and how these are related to obesity and diabetes.