cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of taurine and hypotaurine on in vitro fertilization in the golden hamster

Taurine and hypotaurine were examined for their efficacy in replacing sperm motility factor (SMF), prepared from bovine adrenal cortex, for in vitro fertilization in the golden hamster. Combinations of these amino acids at concentrations of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mM together with 16 μM isoproterenol (a catecholamine β-agonist) were added to the sperm incubations. After three hours of sperm preincubation, oviductal eggs were added to the sperm suspensions and examined for penetration and stage of fertilization after three or five hours of culture. At 0.001 mM, neither taurine or hypotaurine was capable of maintaining motility of hamster sperm for four to 4½ hours or of inducing fertilization. With all other concentrations, both amino acids were found to maintain motility of sperm as well as SMF. Hypotaurine stimulated motility to a greater extent than taurine and both required isoproterenol for the greatest motility. A low proportion of cumulus-free ova were fertilized when sperm were preincubated with either amino acid alone over the range of 0.01 to 1 mM; however, over 80% fertilization was consistently obtained when isoproterenol was also present during sperm incubation. Proportions of ova fertilized with taurine or hypotaurine present during sperm preincubation were comparable to those achieved with SMF. The possibility that taurine or hypotaurine is the sperm motility factor is discussed. After three hours of sperm/egg incubation, a lag in the early events of fertilization was observed in experimental groups treated with one of the amino acids (0.01 mM) alone compared with groups treated with isoproterenol present. However, if sperm/egg incubation was extended from three to five hours, no increase in number of eggs penetrated was found. Therefore, the delay observed at three hours was considered a function of fewer numbers of capacitated sperm present in the absence of isoproterenol rather than of the need for an extended capacitation time.
Global stability of TCP/RED with many-flows: a numerical approach

We study the global stability of TCP/RED under the many flows regime. The traditional approach based on Lyapunov functions is not suitable for a system with many flows due to its complexity. In this paper, we present a normalized model to capture the essential system dynamics. Based on this normalized model, we find its equilibrium point and local stability criterion, which closely match the existing results. This, in turn, reinforce the correctness of our normalized model. We then proceed with a numerical analysis to obtain the global stability. Our results show that by properly choosing RED parameters, we can always make the TCP/RED system globally stable. In addition, our numerical results also show that any locally stable TCP/RED system is mostly globally stable as long as the number of flows is large.
APPROXIMATION BY DISCRETE SINGULAR OPERATORS

George A. AnastassiouUniversityofMemphisDepartmentofMathematicalSciencesMemphis,TN38152,U.S.A.ganastss@memphis.eduABSTRACTHere we study basic approximation properties with rates of our discrete versions ofPicard, Gauss-Weierstrass, Poisson-Cauchy singular operators and of two other discreteoperators. We prove uniform convergence of these operators to the unit operator. Alsoall these operators fulﬁll the global smoothness preservation property. The discussedoperators act on the space of uniformly continuous functions over the real line.RESUMENAqu´i estudiamos las propiedades de aproximaci´on b´asica con cocientes de nuestrasversiones discretas de operadores singulares de Picard, Gauss-Weierstrass, Poisson-Cauchy y de otros dos operadores discretos. Probamos la convergencia uniforme deestos operadores al operador unitario. Adema´s, todos estos operadores satisfacen lapropiedad de preservacio´n de suavidad global. Los operadores discutidos actu´an sobreel espacio de funciones uniformemente continua sobre la recta real.Keywords and Phrases: Discrete singular operator, modulus of continuity, uniform convergence,global smoothness.2010 AMS Mathematics Subject Classiﬁcation: 26A15, 26D15, 41A17, 41A25, 41A44.
Work-group design and autonomy : A field study of the interaction between task interdependence and group autonomy

Survey results of employees and managers from 25 work groups in a large technology firm demonstrate the moderating effect of within-group task interdependence on the relationship between group autonomy and effectiveness. As hypothesized, autonomy has a positive influence on work group effectiveness when task interdependence is high and a negative effect when task interdependence is low.
Flexible cue use in food-caching birds

An animal’s memory may be limited in capacity, which may result in competition among available memory cues. If such competition exists, natural selection may favor prioritization of different memory cues based on cue reliability and on associated differences in the environment and life history. Food-caching birds store numerous food items and appear to rely on memory to retrieve caches. Previous studies suggested that caching species should always prioritize spatial cues over non-spatial cues when both are available, because non-spatial cues may be unreliable in a changing environment; however, it remains unclear whether non-spatial cues should always be ignored when spatial cues are available. We tested whether mountain chickadees (Poecile gambeli), a food-caching species, prioritize memory for spatial cues over color cues when relocating previously found food in an associative learning task. In training trials, birds were exposed to food in a feeder where both spatial location and color were associated. During subsequent unrewarded test trials, color was dissociated from spatial location. Chickadees showed a significant pattern of inspecting feeders associated with correct color first, prior to visiting correct spatial locations. Our findings argue against the hypothesis that the memory of spatial cues should always take priority over any non-spatial cues, including color cues, in food-caching species, because in our experiment mountain chickadees chose color over spatial cues. Our results thus suggest that caching species may be more flexible in cue use than previously thought, possibly dependent upon the environment and complexity of available cues.
The Impact of Work Load on Service Time and Patient Safety: An Econometric Analysis of Hospital Operations

Much of prior work in the area of service operations management has assumed service rates to be exogenous to the level of load on the system. Using operational data from patient transport services and cardiothoracic surgery – two vastly different healthcare delivery services – we show that the processing speed of service workers is influenced by the system load. We find that workers accelerate the service rate as load increases. In particular, a 10% increase in load reduces length of stay by 2 days for cardiothoracic surgery patients, while a 20% increase in the load for patient transporters reduces the transport time by half a minute. Moreover, we show that such acceleration may not be sustainable. Long periods of increased load (overwork) have the effect of decreasing the service rate. In cardiothoracic surgery, an increase in overwork by 1% increases length of stay by 6 hours. Consistent with prior studies in the medical literature, we also find that overwork is associated with a reduction in quality of care in cardiothoracic surgery – an increase in overwork by 10% is associated with an increase in likelihood of mortality by 2%. We also find that load is associated with an early discharge of patients, which is in turn correlated with a small increase in mortality rate.
UNDERWATER INSPECTION AND REPAIR OF OFFSHORE STRUCTURES

A continual program of platform inspection in the Gulf of Mexico has shown that even relatively new structures are being subjected severe damage due to unsuspected corrosion as well as other causes. A comprehensive inspection program can discover this damage in the early stages and provide a basis for preventive maintenance. Underwater repair techniques have been developed for correction of both minor and major structural damage.
An Automated Recording System for Evaporation Pans

: ABSTRACT: An automated recording system for evaporation pans was developed to allow continuous analog type recording of pan evaporation. The system incorporates a water reservoir to supply water to the pan and can be left unattended for long periods of time. The system performed well, with very little maintenance, in a field test in northern Utah.
Pseudo-lignin and pretreatment chemistry

The formation of pseudo-lignin by the combination of carbohydrate and lignin degradation products has been proposed to be responsible for the increased Klason lignin content in biomass pretreated under acidic conditions. Direct evidence for the presence of pseudo-lignin has never been presented. The formation of additional lignin-like material may be detrimental to enzymatic hydrolysis due to the non-productive binding of enzymes with lignin. To investigate the chemistry of pseudo-lignin formation, dilute acid pretreatments were performed on delignified hybrid poplar biomass under conditions of varying severity. The results show a progressive increase in the Klason lignin content of the acid pretreated material with increasing pretreatment severity. NMR and FT-IR spectroscopic characterization shows the development of aliphatic, unsaturated and carbonyl carbon functionalities in the samples pretreated at higher severities. Given the very low Klason lignin content of the starting material, acid catalyzed dehydration of carbohydrates is responsible for the formation of pseudo-lignin.
Increasing Mammography Screening: An Application of General Principles of CME Methodology

The purpose of the study was to test whether a systematic approach to continuing medical education (CME) design and evaluation is practical in the ambulatory care setting. A systematic approach to practice-based CME was derived after a review of the evaluation literature. The approach comprises 3 types of principles that are frequently violated in practice: research design that either is based on the use of control groups and the collection of follow-up data or is based on a time-series analysis; educational processes that include needs assessment, clear goals, audience participation, and evaluation of behavioral change; and program evaluation that uses objective measures of change. A CME session was offered to the staff of a family medicine residency program to bring them up to date on current information about breast cancer detection. Data on referral rates for mammography were collected for 8 months before and 6 months after the CME. Referral rates were significantly higher for the CME group than for a...
A Multi-Level Conceptualization of Empathy to Explain How Diversity Increases Group Performance

This paper focuses on affective empathy and the role it plays in explaining how diversity may increase groupperformance in organizations. It suggests that both individual-level empathy and group-level empathy are keymechanisms that explain how people in diverse groups may work harmoniously together and increase theoverall group performance. Finally, the paper addresses the theoretical and practical implications of amulti-level conceptualization of empathy and it provides recommendations for future research.
Calibration research: where do we go from here?

Research on calibration remains a popular line of inquiry. Calibration is the degree of fit between a person’s judgment of performance and his or her actual performance. Given the continued interest in this topic, the questions posed in this article are fruitful directions to pursue to help address gaps in calibration research. In this article, we have identified six research directions that if productively pursued, could greatly expand our knowledge of calibration. The six research directions are: (a) what are the effects of varying the anchoring mechanisms from which calibration judgments are made, (b) how does calibration accuracy differ as a function of incentives and task authenticity, (c) how do students self-report the basis of their calibration judgments, (d) how do group interactions and social comparisons affect calibration accuracy, (e) what is the relation between absolute and relative accuracy, and (f) to what extent does calibration accuracy predict achievement? To help point the way to where we go from here in calibration research, we provide these research questions, propose research methods, and identify prior, related studies that have shown promise in leading the way to fill these gaps in the literature.
A reevaluation of the effects of stimulation of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus on gastric motility in the rat.

Our primary purpose was to characterize vagal pathways controlling gastric motility by microinjecting l-glutamate into the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) in the rat. An intragastric balloo...
Bounds on the availability function

This paper gives bounds on the availability function for an alternating renewal process with exponential failure and general repair times. A bound on the error is also given. Several of the bounds with greatest practical consequence are worked out and illustrated. Repair distributions for which a lower bound on availability is easily computed are gamma (integer shape parameter), log normal, and Weibull. Finally, some simulation results for log normal repair versus gamma repair are given.
The Roles of ATF3, an Adaptive-Response Gene, in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Diabetes and Pancreatic β-Cell Dysfunction

Most people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have reduced β-cell mass, and apoptosis is a key factor for this reduction. Previously, we showed that ATF3, an adaptive-response gene, is induced by various stress signals relevant to T2D, such as high glucose and high fatty acid. Because ATF3 is proapoptotic in β-cells, we tested the hypothesis that ATF3 plays a detrimental role and contributes to the development of T2D. We compared wild-type (WT) and ATF3 knockout (KO) mice in an animal model for T2D, high-fat diet-induced diabetes. We also used INS-1 β-cells and primary islets to analyze the roles of ATF3 in β-cell function, including insulin gene expression and glucose-induced insulin secretion. Surprisingly, WT mice performed better in glucose tolerance test than KO mice, suggesting a protective, rather than detrimental, role of ATF3. At 12 wk on high-fat diet, no β-cell apoptosis was observed, and the WT and KO mice had comparable β-cell areas. However, ATF3 deficiency significantly reduced serum insulin levels in the KO mice without affecting insulin sensitivity, suggesting reduced β-cell function in the KO mice. Analyses using INS-1 cells and primary islets support the notion that this defect is due, at least partly, to reduced insulin gene transcription in the KO islets without detectable reduction in glucose-induced calcium influx, a critical step for insulin secretion. In conclusion, our results support a model in which, before apoptosis becomes obvious, expression of ATF3 can be beneficial by helping β-cells to cope with higher metabolic demand.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis: Ultrastructural Studies and Response to Azathioprine

Two boys are presented who fulfilled criteria for a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis. A lung biopsy specimen from the first patient showed alveolar-capillary basement membrane abnormalities, together with abnormalities of capillary endothelial cells and hemosiderin-laden macrophages. A lung biopsy specimen from the second patient showed mainly capillary endothelial abnormalities and interstitial fibrosis. Both patients had a noticeable improvement in symptoms and relative stabilization of their roentgenographic and pulmonary function abnormalities following azathioprine therapy. ( Arch Intern Med 136:1145-1149, 1976)
Morphological and chemical evidence of stromatolitic deposits in the 2.75 Ga Carajás banded iron formation, Brazil

Abstract We describe evidence of biogenicity in the morphology and carbon content of well-preserved, Neoarchean samples of banded iron formation (BIF) from Carajas, Brazil. Silica-rich BIF layers contain translucent ellipsoidal or trapezoidal structures (∼5–10 μm diameter) composed of silica, hematite, and kerogen, which are arranged in larger ring-like forms (rosettes). Stable carbon isotope analysis yields a δ13C value of −24.5‰ indicating that the contained carbon is likely biogenic. Raman and SEM analyses, as well as wavelength-dispersive X-ray elemental maps, show kerogen inside the rosette forms. Within the iron-rich BIF layers, tubular structures (0.5–5 μm) were observed between hematite granules and blades. Kerogen and kaolinite are present in these structures. Both the rosettes and the tubular structures resemble morphologies that are characteristic of some bacterial species. We hypothesize that the Carajas BIFs originated as biomats formed by one or more species that over time produced large stromatolitic structures. The rosettes and the tubular structures, associated with chert-rich and iron-rich BIF layers, respectively, may represent two different species, or perhaps, two phases of a bacterium life cycle. For example, some modern myxobacteria exhibit similar morphologies in their resting and vegetative stages. Fe(III) precipitation may have occurred by contact of Fe(II) with bacterial slime, leading to oxidation by chemical reactions with exposed polysaccharide hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. The Fe(III) would then have been available for use as a source of energy in a dissimilatory iron reduction type of metabolism. Organic carbon input presumably came from primary producers (not necessarily aerobic) within the local water column, perhaps in shallow-water communities. Alternatively, the carbon may have originated by Fischer–Tropsch synthesis at ocean hydrothermal vents. The observed lateral continuity of BIF layers may perhaps be explained by chemical signaling by the bacteria of favorable or unfavorable environmental conditions, leading to nearly synchronous cell morphogenesis from a vegetative to resting phase and vice versa.
Gas content and age of tektites

Abstract The following experimental findings are discussed: (a) The gas content of bubbles present in tektites is extremely low; (b) tektites give off small amounts of CO 2 , CO, H 2 , and H 2 O when heated to approxi- mately 1200°C; (c) the low content of radiogenic argon permits an upper limit of the order of 10 7 years to be set for the age of the tektites. The problem of the origin of the tektites is discussed in view of this new experimental evidence.
Clinical Problem Solving Utility of Sonography in Oncologic Patients

This review demonstrates the unique advantages of sonography in the oncologic setting. Although computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography are primary imaging modalities for evaluation of the oncologic patient, sonography is useful for evaluation of various conditions and clinical scenarios associated with cancer. The following article will illustrate the utility of sonography at a tertiary cancer center for diagnosis and problem solving.
A domain decomposition method for modelling Stokes flow in porous materials

An algorithm is presented for solving the Stokes equation in large disordered two-dimensional porous domains. It is applied to random packings of discs, but the geometry can be essentially arbitrary. The approach includes the subdivision of the domain and a subsequent application of boundary integral equations to the subdomains. This gives a block diagonal matrix with sparse off-block components that arise from shared variables on internal subdomain boundaries. The global problem is solved using a biconjugate gradient routine with preconditioning. Results show that the effectiveness of the preconditioner is strongly affected by the subdomain structure, from which a methodology is proposed for the domain decomposition step. A minimum is observed in the solution time versus subdomain size, which is governed by the time required for preconditioning, the time for vector multiplications in the biconjugate gradient routine, the iterative convergence rate and issues related to memory allocation. The method is demonstrated on various domains including a random 1000-particle domain. The solution can be used for efficient recovery of point velocities, which is discussed in the context of stochastic modelling of solute transport
Regulation of the yeast INO1 gene. The products of the INO2, INO4 and OPI1 regulatory genes are not required for repression in response to inositol.

The ino2 Δ, ino4 Δ, opi1 Δ, and sin3 Δ mutations all affect expression of INO1 , a structural gene for inositol-1-phosphate synthase. These same mutations affect other genes of phospholipid biosynthesis that, like INO1 , contain the repeated element UAS INO (consensus 5′ CATGTGAAAT 3′). In this study, we evaluated the effects of these four mutations, singly and in all possible combinations, on growth and expression of INO1. All strains carrying an ino2 Δ or ino4 Δ mutation, or both, failed to grow in medium lacking inositol. However, when grown in liquid culture in medium containing limiting amounts of inositol, the opi1 Δ ino4 Δ strain exhibited a level of INO1 expression comparable to, or higher than, the wild-type strain growing under the same conditions. Furthermore, INO1 expression in the opi1 Δ ino4 Δ strain was repressed in cells grown in medium fully supplemented with both inositol and choline. Similar results were obtained using the opi1 Δ ino2 Δ ino4 Δ strain. Regulation of INO1 was also observed in the absence of the SIN3 gene product. Therefore, while Opi1p, Sin3p, and the Ino2p/Ino4p complex all affect the overall level of INO1 expression in an antagonistic manner, they do not appear to be responsible for transmitting the signal that leads to repression of INO1 in response to inositol. Various models for Opi1p function were tested and no evidence for binding of Opi1p to UAS INO , or to Ino2p or Ino4p, was obtained.
CHARACTERIZATION OF TIME DEPENDENT FLOW PROPERTIES OF MAYONNAISE UNDER STEADY SHEAR

Time dependent flow properties of commercial mayonnaise have been measured at shear rates of 0.530, 0.169, 0.052, and 0.0169 s−1. The flow curves were fitted with a series of two first order rate functions. It appears that the time dependent flow properties of mayonnaise are better characterized by this model than with only the initial and final stress values of the stress decay curves or with a single first order rate function.
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics of 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in Mice

5-Methoxy-N,N,-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), an abused serotonergic indolealkylamine drug, was placed into Schedule I controlled substance status in the United States as of January 19, 2011. In previous studies, we have shown the impact of monoamine oxidase A and cytochrome P450 2D6 enzymes on 5-MeO-DMT metabolism and pharmacokinetics. The aim of this study was to investigate 5-MeO-DMT pharmacokinetic properties after intravenous or intraperitoneal administration of three different doses (2, 10, and 20 mg/kg) to CYP2D6-humanized (Tg-CYP2D6) and wild-type control mice. Systemic exposure [area under the curve (AUC)] to 5-MeO-DMT was increased nonproportionally with the increase in dose. The existence of nonlinearity in serum 5-MeO-DMT pharmacokinetics was clearly manifested by dose-normalized AUC values, which were approximately 1.5- to 2.0-fold (intravenous) and 1.8- to 2.7-fold (intraperitoneal) higher in wild-type or Tg-CYP2D6 mice dosed with 10 and 20 mg/kg 5-MeO-DMT, respectively, than those in mice treated with 2 mg/kg 5-MeO-DMT. Furthermore, a two-compartment model including first-order absorption, nonlinear (Michaelis-Menten) elimination, and CYP2D6-dependent linear elimination from the central compartment was developed to characterize the intravenous and intraperitoneal pharmacokinetic data for 5-MeO-DMT in wild-type and Tg-CYP2D6 mice. In addition, 5-MeO-DMT was readily detected in mouse brain after drug treatment, and brain 5-MeO-DMT concentrations were also increased nonproportionally with the increase of dose. The results establish a nonlinear pharmacokinetic property for 5-MeO-DMT in mice, suggesting that the risk of 5-MeO-DMT intoxication may be increased nonproportionally at higher doses.
Micromachine-enabled capture and isolation of cancer cells in complex media.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are the primary entities responsible for spawning cancer metastasis. Detection of CTCs provides an indicator for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of various types of cancers. Several approaches, based primarily on flowing the sample through antibody-coated magnetic-beads[1] or microchip[2,3] surfaces have been described for isolating and counting CTCs. However, these approaches require extensive sample preparation and/or complex surface microstructures to detect the extremely low abundance of CTCs in blood.[3,4] In this study we describe a immunomicromachine-based approach for an in-vitro isolation of cancer cells that holds promise for direct CTC detection without sample pre-processing.
An Investigation into a Neural Network's performance based on the Number of Neurons in the Hidden Layer

An important benchmark for closed-loop flow control is the suppression of the von Karman vortex street in the wake of a circular cylinder at a Reynolds number of 100. A low-dimensional Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) is applied to the flow field and a four sensor configuration is placed based on the intensity of the resulting spatial Eigenfunctions. This effort focuses on the performance of a non-linear Artificial Neural Network Estimator (ANNE) used for real-time mapping of flow field sensors to POD states. This investigation examines the sensitivity of ANNE by varying the number of neurons in the hidden layer. The aim is to determine if there is an optimum number of neurons in the hidden layer. Three input data sets were studied, the first had no noise on the training and testing data, the second had 10% noise applied to the training and testing data, and the third had 25% noise applied to the training and testing data sets. In all cases 50 randomly selected training data sets were applied to the back-propagating network. A separate data set was used for testing the feed-forward network. During the validation process, network outputs were compared to desired outputs and the Root Mean Squared (RMS) error was calculated for each of the four output nodes. Results show that in general, the more nodes in the hidden layer the better the performance of the network. However, there appeared to be a consistently reduced error when eight (8) nodes were used in the hidden layer. Results from ANNE when compared to the state-of-the-art Linear Stochastic Estimator (LSE) shows significant benefits.
Safety of drugs commonly used to treat hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes (the metabolic syndrome): part 1.

The benefits of blood pressure lowering, lipid lowering, and glycemic control on morbidity and mortality have been established in major long-term clinical trials. The most extensive information is ...
The Diurnal Cycle and Its Depiction in the Community Climate System Model

Abstract To evaluate the performance of version 2 of the Community Climate System Model (CCSM2) in simulating the diurnal cycle and to diagnose the deficiencies in underlying model physics, 10 years of 3-hourly data from a CCSM2 control run are analyzed for global and large-scale features of diurnal variations in surface air temperature, surface pressure, upper-air winds, cloud amount, and precipitation. The model-simulated diurnal variations are compared with available observations, most of which were derived from 3-hourly synoptic reports and some new results are reported for surface air temperatures. The CCSM2 reproduces most of the large-scale tidal variations in surface pressure and upper-air winds, although it overestimates the diurnal pressure tide by 20%–50% over low-latitude land and underestimates it over most oceans, the Rockies, and other midlatitude land areas. The CCSM2 captures the diurnal amplitude (1°–6°C) and phase [peak at 1400–1600 local solar time (LST)] of surface air temperature ove...
The Tropic Heat Program: An overview

Short-term climate changes which take place in both the tropics and at mid-latitudes are strongly influenced by large-scale fluctuations in near-equatorial ocean sea surface temperatures and by attendant fluctuations in air-sea fluxes of heat and moisture. In particular, there is evidence that changes in winter climate patterns over North America and in the Walker Circulation over the tropical Pacific Ocean are linked to changes in the upper equatorial Pacific Ocean thermal energy pool. This pool evolves in response to both local and distant sources of heat. Locally, solar radiation heats the ocean, while evaporation, equatorial upwelling, and vertical mixing cool it.
Effect of Supplemental High-fat Forage on Body Composition in Wild Meadow Voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

We evaluated the effect of dietary fat on body fat of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) in the field after a 6-wk supplemental feeding period with a 25% dietary-fat food. The initial 3-wk period showed no difference in body composition, but, after 6-wk, 33% of captures showed body fat exceeding 10%, levels atypical of wild populations. Fattening levels found with supplemental food were similar to body fat levels seen in lab-reared or wild animals removed and kept under lab conditions. Our results suggest that the lean body composition found in wild populations is influenced strongly by high-fiber and low dietary-fat forage, along with other environmental constraints. When provided easily available and abundant high dietary-fat food in the wild, a higher percentage of individuals increased body fat to levels rarely seen under natural conditions.
Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopic Study on Pore-Forming Behavior of Streptolysin O on Supported Phospholipid Bilayers

A novel supported bilayer membrane was formed on top of a hydrophobic spacer layer of hexyl thioctate (HT) and its application in the detection of pore forming toxins was demonstrated. The formation kinetics, effect of different flow rates on the fusion process of vesicles and perforation by incubation with streptolysin O (SLO) and pristine membranes were investigated. Individual layers of the multilayer structure were successfully characterized with surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and the resulting spectra were analyzed in order to determine the layer thickness and other membrane properties. The interaction of SLO with the pristine biomimetic membrane resulted in a pronounced change in the reflectivity spectrum. Elements of these spectral changes were analyzed to explain the process of toxin binding and pore formation taking place on the lipid membrane.
Imaging of Proximal Tibiofibular Joint Instability: A 10 year retrospective case series

Abstract Objective Detail the imaging findings in patients with proximal tibiofibular instability treated with surgical stabilization. Methods Retrospective analysis of preoperative imaging in patients with clinically confirmed tibiofibular instability. Results Operative fixation of the 16 patients was as follows: 11 using a fiberwire suture construct and 5 using screw fixation. Proximal tibiofibular ligamentous abnormalities were present in 100% of acute ( 6 months) instability cases who underwent MRI. Conclusion MRI is sensitive in the evaluation of tibiofibular ligamentous integrity in proximal tibiofibular instability. Chronic instability should be considered in younger adults with isolated tibiofibular osteoarthritis.
Militant Nonviolence: A Spirituality for the Pursuit of Social Justice

This essay suggests that a clearer understanding of violence and nonviolence as means to be used in the pursuit for justice will be achieved if we move the discussion of nonviolence to the domain of spirituality rather than ethics. A distinction is made between militant nonviolence and historic forms of pacifism and nonresistance, and it is argued that militant nonviolence only makes sense as a spirituality, rather than as an ethical demand. Finally it is argued that such a spirituality is essential for the pursuit of justice and some practical implications are drawn.
Dispersion dipoles for coupled Drude oscillators

We present the dispersion-induced dipole moments of coupled Drude oscillators obtained from two approaches. The first approach evaluates the dipole moment using the second-order Rayleigh-Schrodinger perturbation theory wave function allowing for dipole-dipole and dipole-quadrupole coupling. The second approach, based on response theory, employs an integral of the dipole-dipole polarizability of one oscillator and the dipole-dipole-quadrupole hyperpolarizability of the other oscillator over imaginary frequencies. The resulting dispersion dipoles exhibit an R(-7) dependence on the separation between the two oscillators and are connected to the leading-order C6/R(6) dispersion energy through the electrostatic Hellmann-Feynman theorem.
In Vivo Microcomputed Tomography of Nanocrystal-Doped Tissue Engineered Scaffolds

Tissue engineered scaffolds (TES) hold promise for improving the outcome of cell-based therapeutic strategies for a variety of biomedical scenarios, including musculoskeletal injuries, soft tissue repair, and spinal cord injury. Key to TES research and development, and clinical use, is the ability to longitudinally monitor TES location, orientation, integrity, and microstructure following implantation. Here, we describe a strategy for using microcomputed tomography (microCT) to visualize TES following implantation into mice. TES were doped with highly radiopaque gadolinium oxide nanocrystals and were implanted into the hind limbs of mice. Mice underwent serial microCT over 23 weeks. TES were clearly visible over the entire time course. Alginate scaffolds underwent a 20% volume reduction over the first 6 weeks, stabilizing over the next 17 weeks. Agarose scaffold volumes were unchanged. TES attenuation was also unchanged over the entire time course, indicating a lack of nanocrystal dissolution or leakage. ...
“Antennapetlia”: An Unusual Antennal Mutation in Tribolium castaneum

There have been three previously reported antennal mutations for Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (“paddle,” Park and Frank 1951; “fused antennal segments,” Sokoloff 1960; and “short antennae,” Krause et al. 1962). In each of the above cases the mutation merely involved a reduction in the number of antennal segments due either to complete loss or fusion of certain segments. “Antennapedia,” ap, which apparently arose as a spontaneous mutation in a laboratory stock of T. castaneum, exhibits, in addition to the reduction and fusion of antennal segments, the presence of tarsal segments and the two tarsal claws on the antenna to give a “leglike” appearance. In its less extreme expression only partial fusion of the ninth and tenth distal segments of the antenna is evident, but the mutant is easily distinguished by the tarsal claws arising from the eleventh antennal segment. Genetic evidence from F1, F2, and backcross data (cf. table 1) indicates that this mutation is inherited as an autosomal recessive. Although phenotypic expression is varied, the mutation exhibits complete penetrance and its expression does not overlap with that of the normal wild type antenna. The camera lucida drawings of figure 1 illustrate the contrast which exists between the antenna of wild type with that of “antennapedia.”
Green Leaf Volatiles Inhibit Conidial Germination of the Entomopathogen Pandora neoaphidis (Entomopthorales: Entomophthoraceae)

We tested whether a tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum (L.), plant defense against tobacco aphids, Myzus nictianae (Blackman), might also inhibit the entomopathogenic fungus Pandora neoaphidis (Remaudiere & Hennebert). Growth of fungal colonies exposed to macerated and unmacerated tobacco leaves, hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, and (E)-2-hexenol was strongly suppressed compared with controls. Large numbers of ungerminated conidia were recovered from the media surrounding the treated colonies, whereas few ungerminated conidia were found in media surrounding the controls. Conidia were then collected onto glass coverslips and exposed to the same treatments during the first 4 h after conidial relase. Relative to controls, hexanal substantially suppressed conidial germination, the leaf material suppressed germination substantially more than hexanal and (E)-2-hexenal was the strongest inhibitor indicating that the principal effect of the plant volatiles was inhibition of conidial germination. Based on scanning electron microscope examination, when conidia were deposited directly onto live aphids instead of cover slips, these volatiles had no effect on aphid infection rates, indicating that the inhibition of conidial germination does not occur when conidia are actually on an aphid surface. Finally, germination of conidia exposed to volatiles of plants previously infested with aphids was substantially suppressed relative to uninfested controls. These studies suggest that tobacco plant volatiles produced in response to wounding such as aphid feeding inhibit conidial germination by the entomopathogen unless the conidia are in direct contact with the aphid integument. We suggest that the conidia respond to presence of wound-induced volatiles by delaying germination so as to increase their probability of finding an aphid host ; the conidia use the plant's wound response as a cue to indicate host proximity. A conceptual model of this process is presented.
Advanced Income Tax Topics Utilizing Romney's Tax Returns

This series of six assignments uses Romney’s 2011 federal individual income tax return to explore advanced individual tax issues. The assignments provide insight into the taxation of high-wealth individuals and require students to understand complex reporting and measurement issues within individual tax returns. The students also perform research, think strategically, and explore international taxation. The topics studied are flow-through entities within individual tax returns; investment interest expense; noncash charitable contributions; new taxes for 2013 including the additional 0.9% medicare tax, the 3.8% net investment income tax, and the increase to 20% for capital gains tax; alternative minimum tax; and foreign financial assets reporting.
The role of islet antigen presenting cells and the presentation of insulin in the initiation of autoimmune diabetes in the NOD mouse.

Summary We have been examining antigen presentation and the antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the islets of Langerhans of the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. The purpose is to identify the earliest events that initiate autoimmunity in this confined tissue. Islets normally have a population of macrophages that is distinct from those that inhabit the exocrine pancreas. Also found in NOD islets is a minor population of dendritic cells (DCs) that bear the CD103 integrin. We find close interactions between beta cells and the two APCs that result in the initiation of the autoimmunity. Even under non-inflammatory conditions, beta cells transfer insulin-containing vesicles to the APCs of the islet. This reaction requires live cells and intimate contact. The autoimmune process starts in islets with the entrance of CD4+ T cells and an increase in the CD103+ DCs. Mice deficient in the Batf3 transcription factor never develop diabetes due to the absence of the CD103/CD8α lineage of DCs. We hypothesize that the 12–20 peptide of the beta chain of insulin is responsible for activation of the initial CD4+ T-cell response during diabetogenesis.
Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction.

Since 1985, 57 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal (GE) junction have undergone surgical resection. In this group, 16 of the tumors arose in a Barrett’s esophagus. There was a significant predilection toward white men above the age of 55 (15/16; 94%) in this subgroup. The mean proximal extent of abnormal columnar involvement was 5.4 cm above the gastroesophageal junction (range 2.5 to 11 cm). The mean location of the neoplasm centered in the distal esophagus 1.8 ± 0.5 cm above the gastroesophageal junction. During the same time period, 30 patients with Barrett’s esophagus were seen without associated adenocarcinoma. There were no statistical differences in the proximal extent of columnar involvement or the presence of reflux symptoms between the two groups. There were no significant differences in age, smoking history, and alcohol consumption between patients with benign or malignant Barrett’s esophagus as compared to those with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction not associated with Barrett’s mucosa. The marked male predominance seen in the group with malignant Barrett’s esophagus was in contrast to the benign cases (16/30; 53%) but was similar to the adenocarcinoma group, without recognized Barrett’s esophagus (38/41; 93%). The mean location of the tumor in the latter was 0.9 ± 1.2 cm above the gastroesophageal junction and was comparable to the location in the group with Barrett’s adenocarcinoma. The 4-year survival rate of patients in the non-Barrett’s adenocarcinoma group is approximately 30%. Of those with Barrett’s adenocarcinoma, the present 4-year survival rate is 60%. The demographic and morphometric similarities between the Barrett’s and non-Barrett’s adenocarcinoma groups may be of primary importance in determining the true clinical prevalence of Barrett’s adenocarcinoma. Our findings suggest that the sensitivity of endoscopic surveillance may be improved if biopsy specimens are concentrated within the distal 3 cm of the esophagus and the esophagogastric junction. Finally, the reason for the current difference in survival between the Barrett’s and non-Barrett’s adenocarcinoma groups is uncertain but may be related to endoscopic surveillance permitting earlier diagnosis and treatment.
A New Era for Expungement Law Reform? Recent Developments at the State and Federal Levels

In the past decade, due to heightened interest in criminal law reform, several states have enacted specific laws attempting to expand the range of expungement remedies available to individuals with publicly available criminal records. This article evaluates these efforts. It begins with a discussion of the pervasive availability of arrest and conviction records, both publicly and privately. It then surveys the myriad collateral consequences that enmesh individuals who have made contact with the criminal justice system and details how jurisdictions have responded with somewhat unambitious expungement regimes. It notes that while these remedies were crafted with good intentions, they were often limited by skepticism of the soundness of their legal basis. The article proceeds to evaluate a few legislative efforts at the state level that are geared towards increasing relief, discussing the texts of the laws in depth and comparing them with previously existing remedies. The article also evaluates recent federal legislative efforts and efforts in the federal courts to allow for expungement at the federal level. The piece concludes by situating these recent reforms within a broader discussion about how to alleviate the effects and collateral consequences of criminal records.
Mathematical and Empirical Models

Traffic models are very useful for various purposes. First, they can help in the design and operations of traffic systems since they can predict traffic operational conditions at some time in the future under various sets of design, traffic, and control characteristics. Traffic engineers and designers can make decisions regarding facility modifications or traffic management improvements based on the expected impact of those improvements in the transportation system. Second, they can help in the evaluation of existing systems and in the development of priorities for improvement. Mathematical models are those that describe a physical system mathematically. Such models describe specific relationships. For example, Flow = Speed × Density is a mathematical model. Empirical models are those based on field observations (empirical observations) rather than on relationships that can be mathematically described. Empirical models predict how a system behaves rather than explaining how its components interact. Empirical models can be very useful when the mathematical relationship is unknown or very difficult to express. Examples of empirical models are the traffic stream relationships discussed in Chap. 3.
The Role of NK Cells and T Cells in the Rejection of Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Tissues

Embryonic stem (ES) cells provide a unique opportunity for the establishment of new cell-based therapies that could benefit human health in the future. However, before that step can be taken, we need to better understand how to manipulate the differentiation of stem cells into cell lineages of interest and to define the immunological characteristics of these cells in the context of allogeneic transplantation. Here, we will discuss the interaction of ES cell progenitors with alloreactive T cells and NK cells and discuss how low MHC expression by ES cell derivatives may be exploited for therapies in humans.
Patient Perceptions of the Direct Anterior Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Background The quest for less invasive surgical approaches for total hip arthroplasty (THA) has garnered much attention recently in the community, as well as media outlets. There are very little data demonstrating the actual differences in these approaches. We are unaware of any information documenting patients' perceptions of the direct anterior approach (DAA) for THA. The purpose of this study was to collect information regarding patients' perceptions of the DAA THA. Methods We surveyed 166 consecutive new patients being evaluated for hip osteoarthritis in our outpatient clinic. Demographic data and their knowledge of the DAA were collected, as well as a number of questions on a 5-item Likert scale. Results Forty-six (28%) responded that they were aware of the DAA. Respondents primarily learned about the DAA from friends and family (58%), and healthcare professionals (38%). Respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the DAA is less painful (70%), reduces the amount of time spent on a cane after surgery (70%), damages tissues less (68%), allows patients to more quickly return to work (64%), and allows for shorter hospital stays (62%), compared to other procedures. In addition, 30% felt there is a consensus among surgeons that the DAA is the safest and most effective procedure for THA. Conclusion Many people are unaware of the DAA, with a majority of healthcare information being transmitted by friends and family members. The patients' perceptions are inconsistent with published data about the DAA and are likely influenced by marketing and individuals surrounding them.
Burst Error Studies with DVB-S2 and 3D Wavelet Reversible Variable-Length Coding for Ultraspectral Sounder Data Compression

Satellite data transmission may possess random and burst errors. Our previous study [1] shows that 3D wavelet transform with reversible variable-length coding (3 DWT- RVLC) [1] has significantly better error resilience than JPEG 2000 Part 2 [2,3] on 1-bit random error remaining after channel decoding. In this paper, we investigate the burst error correction performance of the Digital Video Broadcasting - Second Generation (DVB-S2) standard for the 3 DWT-RVLC- compressed ultraspectral sounder data. DVB-S2 consists of Low density parity-check (LDPC) codes, which have been shown to perform close to the Shannon limit. We also study the error contamination after 3DWT-RVLC source decoding. Experimental results for the 10 standard AIRS ultraspectral test granules show that 3DWT-RVLC produces significantly fewer erroneous pixels than JPEG 2000 Part 2 due to errors remaining after DVB-S2 LDPC channel decoding of burst errors.