cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development and evaluation of agglutination and fluorescent antibody procedures for the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans

Specific agglutinins and fluorescent antibodies were produced against Cryptococcus neoformans by adsorbing C. neoformans antibodies with cells of C. neoformans var. uniguttulatus, Candida albicans, and Candida curvata. Cross reactions and adsorption data revealed that C. neoformans, the saprophytic cryptococci and several species of Candida possessed common antigens. The agglutination test showed excellent sensitivity and was effective for the rapid and accurate identification of C. neoformans. The fluorescent antibody test was less sensitive and of limited value. The value of these findings, both from a diagnostic and taxonomic viewpoint, is discussed.
Regional Settlement Pattern Studies

This is a critical review of regional settlement pattern archaeology published in the last decade. The regional approach proves to be highly productive of new ideas and lasting results. Cultural resource/heritage databases are increasingly important. Notable advances have been made in regional studies of Paleolithic and Holocene foragers, the reciprocal relations between Neolithic communities and their regional societies, and in understanding states and empires. There are new research potentials in comparisons, macroregional analysis, long-term change, and alternative pathways. Research designs should specify systematic coverage at the regional scale and carry out spatial analysis in which social groups are the primary focus.
Cooperative Farming in North China

A simple linear programming framework is used to simulate various forms of cooperation between representative farms of two villages in prewar China. The results suggest that even though the two farms individually were quite efficient revenue maximizers, significant mutual benefit would result from the formation of an elementary agricultural producers' cooperative. A move to an advanced cooperative in which dividend payments for land brought into the cooperative initially would be eliminated and income distributed solely according to labor contribution, however, would meet with strong resistance because a sizeable income loss would be involved for the farm with the larger initial land endowment.
Neutral particle fueling at the midplane of DIII-D

Abstract Data from an array of eight tangential Dα viewchords, located at the outer midplane of DIII-D, are inverted to obtain atomic neutral density profiles across the separatrix and are compared to results of B2.5 and DEGAS simulations. In H-mode and (low density) L-mode plasma conditions, charge-exchange neutrals reflected and desorbed from the outer midplane region of the vacuum vessel wall can account for the midplane neutral density that is deduced from the Dα data, making it unnecessary to invoke main chamber ion recycling. The midplane measurements and DEGAS calculations are used to validate a slab-model of neutrals in the edge. In this model, cold neutrals from the wall fuel the edge and are attenuated by charge-exchange and ionization, and the results are in agreement with measured neutral profiles.
Microscopic shape memory and superelastic effects under complex loading conditions

Abstract The microscopic shape memory (SM) and superelastic (SE) effects of martensitic and austenitic NiTi alloys were probed by instrumented indentation techniques. Both spherical and pyramidal indenters (i.e. Berkovich and Vickers) were used to determine the mechanical response of the NiTi alloys over a wide range of indentation loads and depths. The magnitude of any SM effects was quantitatively characterized by the thermally activated depth recovery ratio of the residual indentation depth. The magnitude of SE was quantitatively characterized by the depth and work recovery ratios obtained from the load–displacement curves. We show that (1) microscopic SM and SE effects exist under complex loading conditions, (2) the magnitude of the SM and SE effects can be rationalized using the concept of the representative strain and maximum strain and (3) instrumented indentation techniques are useful in quantifying SM and SE effects in the micro- and nano-meter length scales.
Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy: Pharmacologic Management

Pharmacologic management of disease is performed for specific reasons, which include reducing symptoms, preventing disease progression, and preventing mortality (Fig. 1). Symptoms could include heart failure, palpitations, and syncope; disease progression can be seen with agents that prevent heart failure and remodeling in those with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathies. Mortality can be sudden and arrhythmic or secondary to congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction. Occasionally, certain pharmacologic agents may perform all 3 functions. This trio of reasons for drug use has been developed inmany disease states and is particularly relevant to cardiac disease. In some of the more common cardiac diseases, pharmacologic management is well advanced and based on large randomized clinical trials. Examples can be seen in coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. In coronary disease, symptoms of angina are treated by nitrates, b-blockers, and calcium channel blockers. Progression of coronary disease is reduced by lipid lowering agents (but not by b-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or nitrates). Finally, prevention of sudden cardiac death has been seen with b-blockers, and the mortality and incidence of a myocardial infarction is decreased by aspirin. A similar pharmacologic rationale can also be seen in nonischemic cardiomyopathy and
Prediction of Brine Application for Pretreatment and Anti-Icing:

Highway anti-icing strives to prevent the ice—pavement bond by pre-application of chemicals. An effective anti-icing program requires prediction and estimation of the amount, type, and timing of chemicals needed for the expected precipitation event while compensating for time and traffic decay of the chemical on the highway surface. Development of a sodium chloride brine anti-icing methodology was accomplished with an extensive study of brine residual decay on four pavement types. In October and November 2002, brine residual was monitored for up to 3 days after initial application on five sections of four-lane divided highways in Ohio. Four evenly spaced test stations within each highway section were monitored for residual as time passed and traffic accumulated. An instrument that dissolves salt and measures conductivity was used to measure available salt residual. Efficacy of the brine to prevent ice—surface bonding was estimated by using freeze—thaw cycles of various brines. After freezing, the bonds we...
NAS experiences of porting CM Fortran codes to HPF on IBM SP2 and SGI Power Challenge

Current Connection Machine (CM) Fortran codes developed for the CM-2 and the CM-5 represent an important class of parallel applications. Several users have employed CM Fortran codes in the production mode on the CM-2 and the CM-5 for the last five to six years, constituting a heavy investment in terms of cost and time. With Thinking Machines Corporation's decision to withdraw from the hardware business and with the decommissioning of many CM-2 and CM-5 machines, the best way to protect the substantial investment in CM Fortran codes is to port the codes to High Performance Fortran (HPF) on highly parallel systems. HPF is very similar to CM Fortran and thus represents a natural transition. The Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation (NAS) Program, located at NASA Ames Research Center, is a pathfinder in high-performance computing for NASA and is dedicated to advancing the science of computational aerodynamics. Their experiences with the conversion issues involved in porting CM Fortran codes on the CM-5 to HPF are presented. Several CM Fortran codes have been ported to Subset HPF on the IBM SP2 and the SGI Power Challenge. Speedup ratios versus number of processors for the linear solver and DSMC (direct simulation Monte Carlo) code are presented.
The Frank-Starling mechanism is not mediated by changes in rate of cross-bridge detachment

We tested the hypothesis that the Frank-Starling relationship is mediated by changes in the rate of cross-bridge detachment in cardiac muscle. We simultaneously measured isometric force development and the rate of ATP consumption at various levels of Ca2+ activation in skinned rat cardiac trabecular muscles at three sarcomere lengths (2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 μm). The maximum rate of ATP consumption was 1.5 nmol ⋅ s−1 ⋅ μl fiber vol−1, which represents an estimated adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) rate of ∼10 s−1 per myosin head at 24°C. The rate of ATP consumption was tightly and linearly coupled to the level of isometric force development, and changes in sarcomere length had no effect on the slope of the force-ATPase relationships. The average slope of the force-ATPase relationships was 15.5 pmol ⋅ mN−1 ⋅ mm−1. These results suggest that the mechanisms that underlie the Frank-Starling relationship in cardiac muscle do not involve changes in the kinetics of the apparent detachment step in the cross-bridge cycle.
Chronic activity of ectopic type 1 fibroblast growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase in prostate epithelium results in hyperplasia accompanied by intraepithelial neoplasia.

BACKGROUND Ectopic expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) tyrosine kinase in epithelial cells is associated with progression of prostate cancer. Ectopic expression by transfection of FGFR1 in premalignant epithelial cells from nonmalignant Dunning tumors accelerated time-dependent progression of epithelial cells to malignancy. This study was designed to test the effect of chronic androgen-dependent ectopic activity of FGFR1 in the normal adult mouse epithelium by gene targeting. MATERIALS AND METHODS Constitutively active FGFR1 (caFGFR1) was targeted to prostate epithelial cells using the androgen-dependent probasin (PB) promoter. Prostate tissues of three strains were characterized over a period of 2 years by HE staining, immunohistochemical analyses for cytokeratin and α-actin, and rate of androgen-induced regeneration after castration. RESULTS Relative to wildtype littermates, transgenic mice showed increased overall size, hyperplasia in epithelial, and, to a lesser extent, stromal compartments and nuclear atypia in epithelial cells of the prostate with increasing age. Androgen-induced regeneration after castration was enhanced at day 3 by two-fold in mice expressing ectopic caFGFR1. CONCLUSIONS The ectopic presence and chronic activation of FGFR1 in mouse prostate epithelial cells induces progressive prostate intraepithelial neoplasia. These results confirm results suggested by the transplantable Dunning tumor and cell culture models that, in contrast to homeostasis-promoting resident FGFR2, chronic ectopic FGFR1 kinase activity in the epithelium disrupts homeostasis between stroma and epithelium. Although insufficient alone, it may cooperate with other oncogenic changes to promote epithelial cells down the path to malignancy. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Islamic Law and the Iran–United States Claims Tribunal: The Primacy of International Law over Municipal Law

THE PROPHET Muhammad acted as arbitrator for the Muslims in the beginning of Islam.1 The Prophet also recognized arbitration by appointing an arbitrator, accepting that arbitrator's decision, and counselling a tribe to use arbitration to resolve a dispute.2 The Qur'an expressly addresses arbitration with regard to family matters, and requires that Muslims use arbitration to resolve such disputes.3 The Rashidin Caliphs who immediately succeeded the Prophet in leading the Muslims applied these arbitration principles to disputes arising out of commercial transactions.4 Many leading Islamic scholars have promoted arbitration in similar matters over the centuries.5 Today, most, if not all Middle Eastern countries have legislation favourable to arbitration in resolving international trade disputes.6 Despite this long history and doctrinal nexus between Islam and arbitration, many contemporary Muslims are wary of international arbitration.7 One potential reason for this scepticism is the disastrous application of international arbitration to the political dispute that split the Islamic world into Sunni and Shi'ite.8 The perceived reluctance of tribunals to rely on Islamic law, or Shari'a, is another.9 Critics who subscribe to this latter reasoning demand greater incorporation of Islamic law into arbitration proceedings.10 This Note responds to these demands by analysing the ways in which the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal (‘the Tribunal’) relies on Islamic law, and by exploring the limitations upon the Tribunal, and other tribunals, in relying on Islamic law to a greater extent.11 This Note is divided into four sections. Section I describes each instance where the Tribunal explicitly mentions Islamic law in a decision or dissenting opinion. Section II draws parallels between Islamic and Tribunal jurisprudence. Section III explains how several Islamic countries have constitutionalized Islamic law, thus making it their municipal law.12 It is this constitutionalization that hinders greater …
Ulfila's Own Conversion

Ulfila the Goth (ca. 310–383) has gained fame as the Arian apostle to his people. More accurately, he was responsible for the conversion of semi-Arianism during the 340s. Yet two distinct traditions exist regarding Ulfila's own religious formation. One is an Arianized version of his life in the reports of Philostorgius and Auxentius, which claims Ulfila as an Arian from birth. The other, a Nicene version gleaned from the works of Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret, asserts that Ulfila “converted” from Nicene orthodoxy to Arianism sometime between 360 and 376. How compelling is either biography? If, moreover, Ulfila had remained loyal to Nicene doctrines until at least 360, to what had he converted the Goths in the 340s?
Clinical Studies with Male Hormone V. Therapeutic Use of Pellets of Testosterone Propionate

Administration of hormones by the implantation of compressed pellets of the pure substances has been practiced extensively since the introduction of this technique by Deanesly in 1937 (1)-Pellets of desoxycorticosterone acetate have been carefully studied by Thorn and his collaborators, and their therapeutic usefulness in patients suffering from Addison's disease has been established(2, 3,4). Although the experimental use of androgenic sterols in patients was begun even before desoxycorticosterone was available, the therapeutic use of pellets of testosterone derivatives in patients suffering with androgen deficiency is by no means established on a sure foundation. For this delay there are several reasons. There has not yet been evolved any standardization of dosage of androgenic substances in any of the techniques of administration. The criteria of adequate and optimal therapeutic effect are matters on which workers in this field have not reached a uniformity of opinion (5,6). One great difficulty lies in...
Hepatic Morphologic and Biochemical Changes Induced by Subacute Cocaine Administration in Mice

The initial event and site of cocaine-induced hepatic injury have not been elucidated. In an attempt to identify the minimal effective dose and the site of injury, we have examined the livers of mice exposed to small daily doses of cocaine, using morphological and biochemical methods. All doses of cocaine greater than 5 mg/kg were able to cause significant elevation of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase. Light microscopy revealed a progression of centrilobular necrosis as the dose increased from 10-30 mg/kg. The initial morphologic changes observed prior to necrosis included aggregation of intermediate filaments and dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum with loss of ribosomes. Immunohistochemistry, using antibodies to cytokeratins, showed staining of individual hepatocytes in livers from cocaine-treated animals but not in controls. In contrast to earlier reports, we found little, if any, disruption of mitochondria. In vitro, the direct application of cocaine, norcocaine, and N-hydroxynorcocaine on isolated mitochondria had no effect on the ADP:O or respiratory control ratios, at concentrations up to 2.0 mM. Our studies demonstrate that any early cellular alterations in cocaine-induced hepatic injury are manifested in intermediate filaments and endoplasmic reticulum with no evidence of mitochondrial involvement.
“Electromaglev” (“active-maglev”) – magnetic levitation of a superconducting disk with a DC field generated by electromagnets. Part 4: theoretical and experimental results on supercurrent distributions in field-cooled YBCO disks

We present Part 4 results of a comprehensive theoretical study of an ‘‘electromaglev’’ system, in which a high-temperature superconducting bulk YBCO sample is levitated stably in a DC magnetic field generated by magnet system underneath the floating object. An electromagnetic analysis, based on a three-dimensional finite element technique (FEM) applied to the current vector potential method, has been developed to determine the supercurrent distribution in a field-cooled (and hence trapped-flux) YBCO disk that levitates stably in a magnetic field generated by the magnet system. The supercurrent distribution thus determined was in turn used to compute trapped-flux-induced field profiles of the disk and predict a ‘‘levitation current’’ in the magnet system at which the disk, initially resting on a support plate, begins to levitate. Agreement between computed field profiles and levitation currents and those measured in the experiment was excellent, validating the analysis itself and the method used to derive solutions. The analysis demonstrates that the supercurrent distribution within a trapped-flux disk is far more complicated than that derived from the Bean model for a long cylinder under a uniform axial magnetic field. It is used for a parametric study of the eAects of disk dimensions (radius, thickness, radius/thickness ratio) and trapped-flux strength on supercurrent distribution and lift-to-weight ratio. The magnitude of the Br component generated by the magnet system is very important for lift and it is shown that thinner disks rather than thicker disks can improve lift-to-weight ratio. Because accuracy of the analysis is disk-size independent, small disks are time-eAcient for performing the analysis. ” 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Power line carrier impedance matching monitor

This paper describes an impedance matching monitor for use with power line carrier systems on high voltage transmission lines. The purpose of the monitor is to determine when an undesirable impedance mismatch between a carrier transmitter and its load occurs, and to provide an alarm when the condition occurs. The alarm output is based on a calibrated setpoint that corresponds to some given percent reflected power level, or reflection coefficient, as opposed to an actual calculation of percent reflected power or reflection coefficient for a given impedance mismatch. That is, the system is calibrated with known impedance that results in the reflection coefficient that yields the desired percent reflected power alarm point. The monitor developed consists of two key components, which are a directional coupler and a controller. The impedance matching monitor was successfully installed on a PLC system used with a directional comparison blocking protection scheme on a 115-kV line.
HANDEDNESS AND TEMPERAMENT

Answers to a questionnaire from members of the Tecumseh Community Health Study showed a relationship of handedness and temperament, especially for younger persons. Left-handed persons rated themsel...
Calculation of eigenfrequencies for rectangular free orthotropic plates – An overview

In this paper, the free transverse vibrations of rectangular orthotropic plates with completely free boundary conditions are considered. Some methodologies for calculating the eigenfrequencies and eigenmodes, based on the classical thin plate theory are presented in a comparative overview. The advantages and disadvantages of these methodologies are discussed for an orthotropic plate application with specific material and geometric properties.
Treatment of a chronic Scedosporium apiospermum vertebral osteomyelitis: Case report

Scedosporium apiospermum is a rare cause of fungal vertebral osteomyelitis that may result in chronic infection requiring multiple surgical interventions and long-term medical therapy. This case is the seventh one reported in the literature and is the first to include salvage surgery of a previous major spinal reconstruction. This report is also the first to describe the use of the new antifungal agent voriconazole. In treating this case of chronic vertebral osteomyelitis, several principles are emphasized from both the surgical and medical perspectives. From a surgical perspective, the use of salvage surgery, temporary avoidance of spinal instrumentation, and an appropriate choice of graft materials are emphasized. From a medical perspective, confirmation of the diagnosis, the need for long-term antifungal therapy, the need for long-term patient compliance, and the use of the new antifungal agent voriconazole are emphasized. Application of these principles has led to an adequate 2-year outcome.
Microstrip reflectarray with elements having variable rotation angles

Two Ka-band, half-meter diameter, circularly polarized microstrip reflectarrays have been developed. One has identical square patches with variable-length phase delay lines. The other uses identical square patches and delay lines with variable element rotation angles. Although both antennas demonstrated excellent efficiencies, adequate bandwidths, and low average sidelobe and cross-pol levels, the one with variable rotation angles achieved superior overall performance. It is believed that these are electrically the largest microstrip reflectarrays (6924 elements with 42 dB gain) ever developed. It is also the first time that circular polarization has been actually demonstrated using microstrip patch elements. It is known that, if a circularly polarized antenna element is rotated from its original position by /spl psi/ degrees, the phase of the element will be either advanced or delayed by the same /spl psi/ degrees. Hence, the technique of rotating circularly polarized elements to achieve the required phases for a conventional array to scan its beam has been previously demonstrated. This technique was also demonstrated for a spiraphase reflectarray where physically large spiral elements with discrete and limited switchable phase states were used to scan the beam. Here small and low-profile printed microstrip elements are used in a reflectarray with continuous variable angular rotations to achieve far-field phase coherence. It has been previously proposed that a controllable miniature or micro-machined motor can be placed under each patch element of a reflectarray to scan the beam to wide angular directions. By doing so, the high-cost/high-loss phase shifters, T/R modules, and beamformer are no longer needed in a beam scanning antenna.
Ultralow-noise packaged 1.55-µm semiconductor external-cavity laser with 0.37-W output power

We demonstrate a semiconductor external-cavity laser comprising a slab-coupled optical waveguide amplifier (SCOWA) and a fiber Bragg grating. The laser exhibits a Lorentzian linewidth of 1.75 kHz and a sidemode suppression ratio ≫ 80 dB.
Experimental Performance Evaluation of a Centrifugal Pump With Different Impeller Vane Geometries

Centrifugal pumps vane geometry plays an important role in pump’s overall performance. Thus, to know the impeller vane geometry effects on the performance of a centrifugal pump are essential from pump’s design point of view. In this study, an experimental investigation is carried out to judge the impeller vane geometry effects on the performance of a centrifugal pump. The performance of three different impeller vane geometries is evaluated in this investigation. To acquire pump performance and characteristics curves, inlet and outlet valves were manually adjusted and the pump’s rpm were varied remotely through computer control. The pressure data were obtained via installed flow rotameter for different flow rates with constant pump speed – 1800 rpm. Experimental data were used to calculate different physical parameters, such as the pump head, water horsepower — the power added to the fluid, power input to the pump–brake horse power, and pump efficiency for each of impeller vane geometries. The pump’s performance curves and the system curves were then plotted for each of the vane geometries. The results show that the pump performance as well as efficiency varies significantly for each of the impeller vane geometries. The results help to understand how to determine appropriate operating conditions and design parameters for different impeller vane geometries for obtaining optimized pump performance.© 2014 ASME
A Review of: “The SQUID Handbook: Fundamentals and Technology of SQUIDS and SQUID Systems”

This 395-page handbook provides an in-depth and systematic treatment of superconducting Quantum Interference Devices and many applications. This volume is divided into seven chapters: 1) Introducti...
Delineation of a chemical and biological signature for stormwater pollution in an urban river

Stormwater is a major source of Escherichia coli in urban waterways. This study assessed the chemical and bacterial contaminant load in stormwater entering an urban river using chemical analyses, E. coli enumeration and antibiotic resistance testing. Inline monitoring of five major stormwater outfalls revealed that E. coli concentrations can range from 100 to >240,000 CFU 100ml(-1) in stormwater; 15% of the samples contained >240,000 CFU 100 ml(-1). E. coli levels increased from 20,000 CFU 100ml(-1) in the receiving waters following storm events. Metals and nutrients were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in inline stormwater samples compared with baseflow river water. Chromium, zinc, lead and total phosphorus were co-ordinately elevated in stormwater, but E. coli levels did not correlate to this chemical signature. E. coli isolates from stormwater and river water samples (n = 2,478) were tested for resistance to 10 antibiotics and compared with over 1,800 isolates from human and non-human sources. The antibiotic resistance frequencies of isolates from human sources were considerably higher than those found in non-human sources. Isolates from human sources were resistant to multiple antibiotics; however, no specific multiple resistance pattern was found. One of five stormwater outfalls tested contained E. coli resistant to antibiotics at frequencies that were not significantly different from those of E. coli isolates from wastewater treatment plant influent (p < 0.05). The results from antibiotic resistance testing suggested that the elevated E. coli levels observed after storm events are a mixture of human and non-human sources. The results of this study demonstrate that there is a considerable E. coli load to receiving waters from stormwater and that sanitary sewage inputs may not be limited to recognized sewer overflows.
Atomic-layer epitaxy for heterostructures

Atomic-layer epitaxy offers the ultimate control of interface abruptness and thickness uniformity across a large-area wafer. In the work reported here, GaAs, AlGaAs, and InGaP were grown by atomic-layer epitaxy with one monolayer of growth per deposition cycle. Atomic-layer-epitaxy-grown AlGaAs/ GaAs quantum well structures showed excellent thickness uniformity, and resonant tunneling diodes showed excellent uniformity in both threshold voltage and threshold current. GaInP/GaAs quantum structures were grown and studied; they had well widths as thin as One lattice constant. This 5.6 A GaAs quantum well is believed to be one of the thinnest grown in this material system.
Application of Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia on Stroke: A Meta-Analysis (P04.055)

Objective: This meta-analysis aims to summarize the available clinical studies on the relation between low body temperature (hypothermia) and post-stroke symptomatology. We aim to collect solid evidence to define whether induced hypothermia is a useful and safe procedure providing long-term benefits to acute stroke patients. Background Stroke occurs due to interruption in cerebral blood supply affecting neuronal function, and a high mortality risk is observed in the stroke aftermath. Body temperature on hospital admission is an important predictor of clinical outcome. Fever in the early aftermath of symptom onset predicts worse clinical outcome. Therapeutic hypothermia is promising in clinical settings and may be applied with external or endovascular methods. Side-effects include shivering, coagulopathy, and pneumonia. Design/Methods: MEDLINE/PubMed, CENTRAL, Stroke Center, and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched. Articles written in English on human stroke patients with hypothermia used as intervention were identified. Papers with no data reported, multiple treatments, incompatible outcome measurement, poorly defined stroke criteria, case reports, review papers and meta-analyses were excluded. Observational studies, self-controlled and randomized trials were included. Hypothermia was induced by external or endovascular cooling. NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were the main stroke scales used, and mortality was also reported. Results: Seven parallel-controlled clinical trials were included in the meta-analysis. Sample sizes ranged from 18 to 62 patients, yielding a total of 288. Target temperature (∼33oC) was reached within 3-4 hours. Stroke severity (Cohen9s d = -0.17, 95% CI: -0.42 to 0.08, p=0.32; I2 =73%; Chi2=21.89, p=0.0001) and mortality (RR = 1.60, 95% CI: 0.93 to 2.78, p=0.11; I2 = 0%; Chi2=2.88, p=0.72) were not significantly affected by hypothermia. Conclusions: Hypothermia does not significantly improve stroke severity; however, this finding should be taken with caution due to the high heterogeneity of included studies. No impact on mortality was observed. Supported by: Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation (GNIF), Los Angeles, CA. Disclosure: Dr. Lakhan has nothing to disclose.
An RNA matchmaker protein regulates the activity of the long noncoding RNA HOTAIR

The human long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HOTAIR acts in trans to recruit the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) to the HOXD gene cluster and to promote gene silencing during development. In breast cancers, overexpression of HOTAIR increases metastatic potential via the repression of many additional genes. It has remained unclear what factors determine HOTAIR-dependent PRC2 activity at specific genomic loci, particularly when high levels of HOTAIR result in aberrant gene silencing. To identify additional proteins that contribute to the specific action of HOTAIR, we performed a quantitative proteomic analysis of the HOTAIR interactome. We found that the most specific interaction was between HOTAIR and the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A2/B1, a member of a family of proteins involved in nascent mRNA processing and RNA matchmaking. Our data suggest that A2/B1 are key contributors to HOTAIR-mediated chromatin regulation in breast cancer cells: A2/B1 knockdown reduces HOTAIR-dependent breast cancer cell invasion and decreases PRC2 activity at the majority of HOTAIR-dependent loci. We found that the B1 isoform, which differs from A2 by 12 additional amino acids, binds with highest specificity to HOTAIR. B1 also binds chromatin and associates preferentially with RNA transcripts of HOTAIR gene targets. We furthermore demonstrate a direct RNA-RNA interaction between HOTAIR and a target transcript that is enhanced by B1 binding. Together, these results suggest a model in which B1 matches HOTAIR with transcripts of target genes on chromatin, leading to repression by PRC2.
The determination of water in the carya cathayensis nut

Objective:To determinate the content of water in carya cathayensis nut and compare the two methods for water determination.Methods: According to "determination of water in food"(GB/T5009.3–2010),the second method by decompression dry and the third method by distillation were used.Results: The results of decompression dry method and distillation method was 0.69% and 0.75%,respectively.Conclusion: There is a difference between the results from the two methods.
Regeneration and Aging

This chapter reflects on the aging effects on regeneration of a variety of structures while explaining the general principles that can be derived from the individual data sets. In the chick embryo, epidermal wounds do not heal at all until the tenth day of development. At that point, the epidermis develops the in vivo capability of covering a defect. Human fetuses show a similar pattern of fetal healing, and the tendency toward scarless healing has been a stimulus for attempting a variety of in utero surgical procedures. The basis for the transition from the fetal to the adult healing pattern remains not well understood, although most emphasis has been placed on the in vivo growth factor environment. The hematopoietic system is another that must support physiological regeneration throughout the life span of the individual. A difference between aging humans and mice is that, in humans, there is a much smaller reserve hematopoietic capacity in the marrow. During adult life, the liver is normally mitotically quiescent, but after hepatectomy, most of the cells of the liver enter the mitotic cycle while the original mass of the liver is rapidly restored. Like the kidneys, the lungs continue to produce functional units (alveoli) during early postnatal ontogenesis.
Withdrawal of Antiepileptic Treatment

Investigators at the Division of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Hospital General de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, evaluated the withdrawal of antiepileptic treatment over a one year period in 608 epileptics who had been seizure-free for 5 years.
Is the Clean Air Act Unconstitutional? Coercion, Cooperative Federalism and Conditional Spending after NFIB v. Seblius

The Clean Air Act (CAA) is a persistent source of federal-state conflict. Like many federal environmental laws, the CAA relies upon the cooperation of state environmental agencies for its execution and enforcement. To induce such cooperation, the CAA authorizes, even requires, the imposition of sanctions on noncooperating states, including the loss of federal highway funds. NFIB v. Sebelius, however, casts doubt on the constitutionality of the CAA’s sanction regime. Specifically, NFIB enforced limits on the use of conditional spending to induce state cooperation with a federal program and held that Congress may not use conditional spending to “coerce” state cooperation. Combined with South Dakota v. Dole, NFIB provides objecting states with a powerful set of arguments that the CAA highway fund sanctions are unconstitutional, and suggests potential challenges to other CAA sanction provisions as well.
Felted Paper Circuits Using Joomchi

The integration of electronics and paper is a burgeoning topic for tangible interaction. Here we show how to use the Korean technique of hand-felting paper known as joomchi to embed electronics in paper after the sheet forming process. This method requires the use of specialized papers that are amenable to joomchi. We present embedded LEDs, multi-layer circuit "sheets", and speakers. While labor-intensive, joomchi both enables one to completely integrate paper and electronics, while also making tangible connections between ancient and modern craft.
A snapshot of potentially personalized care: Molecular diagnostics in gynecologic cancer.

5029 Background: Genetic abnormalities underlie the development of cancer. It has been proposed that tumors be recategorized by gene mutation such as BRAF in LG serous, TP53 in HG serous, and PIK3C...
Disparities in tobacco marketing and product availability at the point of sale: Results of a national study.

Abstract Objective Neighborhood socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities exist in the amount and type of tobacco marketing at retail, but most studies are limited to a single city or state, and few have examined flavored little cigars. Our purpose is to describe tobacco product availability, marketing, and promotions in a national sample of retail stores and to examine associations with neighborhood characteristics. Methods At a national sample of 2230 tobacco retailers in the contiguous US, we collected in-person store audit data on: Availability of products (e.g., flavored cigars), quantity of interior and exterior tobacco marketing, presence of price promotions, and marketing with youth appeal. Observational data were matched to census tract demographics. Results Over 95% of stores displayed tobacco marketing; the average store featured 29.5 marketing materials. 75.1% of stores displayed at least one tobacco product price promotion, including 87.2% of gas/convenience stores and 85.5% of pharmacies. 16.8% of stores featured marketing below three feet, and 81.3% of stores sold flavored cigars, both of which appeal to youth. Stores in neighborhoods with the highest (vs. lowest) concentration of African-American residents had more than two times greater odds of displaying a price promotion (OR = 2.1) and selling flavored cigars (OR = 2.6). Price promotions were also more common in stores located in neighborhoods with more residents under age 18. Conclusions and relevance Tobacco companies use retail marketing extensively to promote their products to current customers and youth, with disproportionate targeting of African Americans. Local, state, and federal policies are needed to counteract this unhealthy retail environment.
The Life You Save Be Your Own1: White, Female Pre-service Teachers Imagine the

Marginalized students at the secondary level are frequently "locked out" of the structures of opportunity by the often well-meaning white, female teachers whose own schooling experiences represent formative models of "success" in school, despite being largely uninterrogated. In this study of pre-service teachersâ€™ stories about future professional life and self, participants at the secondary level dedicated significant parts of their narratives to imaginative rehearsal of interactions with members of marginalized student populations. In these discourses, the pre-service teacher sees imagines him or herself in a romantic, messianic role: "saving" the "problem student". This narrative fails to name the structures of racism at work, instead locating the mechanisms of marginalization in the students and seeking to subsequently "save" them from themselves. Teacher educators must encourage pre-service teachers to interrupt such messianic discourses and work to deconstruct their own belief in a benign schooling structure, beginning with critical examination of their own schooling experiences and trajectory.
The Bats of Yushe

The screen-washing activities of three field seasons by the Sino-American Yushe teams processed tons of sediment from two dozen localities. Of the many micromammals recovered from Late Neogene deposits, only five chiropteran (bat) teeth were found. These are from five localities dated between 6 and 3 Ma. The bat fossils are assignable or very close to modern genera. In distribution, three of the genera occur in North China today, while at least one is currently of more southerly distribution, occurring to the southwest in Sichuan Province. Together with Pleistocene records, the Yushe Basin fossils suggest that current bat distributions are reduced with respect to early Pleistocene species ranges.
USPTO Patent Prosecution and Examiner Performance Appraisal

Patent examination is a complex and information-intensive process. For researchers and policy analysts studying this process, it is important to have a basic understanding of how patents typically proceed through examination and how the behaviour and incentives facing examiners might influence (or be influenced by) this process. This document provides a simplified overview of the patent examination process and the Performance and Appraisal Plan (PAP) for patent examiners. As the title indicates, this is a primer that provides a researcher-friendly introduction. Additional references are provided throughout the document to direct readers to more authoritative and detailed sources of information on each of the topics covered.
Silicon photonics and the future of optical connectivity in the data center

The bandwidth growth inside data centers has driven significant innovations in networking and optical connectivity. We'll review recent advances in silicon photonics, discuss where silicon photonics is deployed in the data center of today, and how it will be transforming future data centers.
Are humans prone to autoimmunity? Implications from evolutionary changes in hominin sialic acid biology.

Abstract Given varied intrinsic and extrinsic challenges to the immune system, it is unsurprising that each evolutionary lineage evolves distinctive features of immunoreactivity, and that tolerance mechanisms fail, allowing autoimmunity. Humans appear prone to many autoimmune diseases, with mechanisms both genetic and environmental. Another rapidly evolving biological system involves sialic acids, a family of monosaccharides that are terminal caps on cell surface and secreted molecules of vertebrates, and play multifarious roles in immunity. We have explored multiple genomic changes in sialic acid biology that occurred in human ancestors (hominins), some with implications for enhanced immunoreactivity, and hence for autoimmunity. Human ancestors lost the enzyme synthesizing the common mammalian sialic acid Neu5Gc, with an accumulation of the precursor sialic acid Neu5Ac. Resulting changes include an enhanced reactivity by some immune cells and increased ability of macrophages to kill bacteria, at the cost of increased endotoxin sensitivity. There are also multiple human-specific evolutionary changes in inhibitory and activating Siglecs, immune cell receptors that recognize sialic acids as “self-associated molecular patterns” (SAMPs) to modulate immunity, but can also be hijacked by pathogen molecular mimicry of SAMPs. Altered expression patterns and fixed or polymorphic SIGLEC pseudogenization in humans has modulated both innate and adaptive immunity, sometimes favoring over-reactivity. Meanwhile, dietary intake of Neu5Gc (derived primarily from red meats) allows metabolic incorporation of this non-human molecule into human cells––apparently the first example of "xeno-autoimmunity" involving "xeno-autoantigen" interactions with circulating “xeno-autoantibodies”. Taken together, some of these factors may contribute to the apparent human propensity for autoimmunity.
Sovereignty in Pre-colonial Mali and Northern Africa

This chapter investigates pre-colonial notions of black African political sovereignty in Northwest Africa that predate the long history of Arab and European imperial ventures in the region. What this chapter shows is not simply that Mali existed as a sovereign state in the years prior to its colonization, both Arab and European, but that Malians understood very well how sovereign states are politically instituted, and that they had developed their own complex thinking of sovereignty and its pragmatic institution long before articulations of the concept of sovereignty by European philosophers like Bodin, Hobbes, and Rousseau. Malian texts discussed include the Tarikh al fattash, Tarikh al sudan, The Epic of Askia Mohammed, and chronicles about Al Hajj Umar Tall and the Umarian Tijaniyya of Northern Mali. In this chapter, Wise then goes on to show the relevance of Malian conceptions of sovereignty and its institution in pre-colonial Mali, in relation to Obama-Clinton “humanitarian” interventions in Libya in 2011 and post-Gaddafi, Arabist, and Wahhabi efforts to create the independent state of Azawad in northern Mali.
Early life experience shapes neural genome.

The brain is constantly changing in response to environmental experiences throughout life. Mounting evidence from animal and human studies suggests that brain development and behavior are influenced by early life experiences. Several compelling experimental models have been developed to study the effect of early life experiences on the brain, such as stress, exposure to toxins, availability of nutrients, adversity, and quality of maternal care ( 1 ). The relationship between genes and environment on the brain and how they affect behavior has been a long-standing issue. Can the genome of individual brain cells be changed by environmental factors? If so, which types of genetic changes can result? What is the molecular basis of this genetic diversity? What are the physiological implications? On page 1395 of this issue, Bedrosian et al. ( 2 ) explore one possibility for how neuronal genomes can exhibit plasticity in response to environmental factors during early life, providing integrative evidence for the effect of early maternal care on the genomes of neurons.
Can NATO's ‘new’ allies and key partners exercise national-level command in crisis and war?

ABSTRACTThis article posits that most postcommunist members of NATO and key partners continue the practice of using communist concepts of command at the national level of governance. These concepts include the hyper-centralization of decision making, collective decision making, and of most concern, unclear chains of command and alignment of authority with responsibility. Combined, these concepts have the potential for inhibiting the timely and clear command of a nation's armed forces, let alone their effective assimilation into the alliance's integrated command structure. Such an eventuality has clearly negative implications for the alliance generally, but these weaknesses also could have the unexpected consequence of compromising “new” allies' national sovereignty in crisis and war.
Characterizations of handwashing sink activities in a single hospital medical intensive care unit.

Summary Background Handwashing sink drains are increasingly implicated as a potential reservoir of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospital outbreaks; however, usage patterns that may promote this source remain unknown. Aim To understand behaviours in the intensive care unit (ICU) that may facilitate establishment and nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant Gram negatives from a sink-trap reservoir to a patient. Methods Motion-sensitive cameras captured anonymized activity paired with periodic in-person observations during a quality investigation from four ICU sinks (two patient rooms and two patient bathrooms) in a university hospital. Findings We analysed 4810 sink videos from 60 days in patient rooms (3625) and adjoining bathrooms (1185). There was a false-positive rate of 38% (1837 out of 4810) in which the camera triggered but no sink interaction occurred. Of the 2973 videos with analysed behaviours there were 5614 observed behaviours which were assessed as: 37.4% medical care, 29.2% additional behaviours, 17.0% hand hygiene, 7.2% patient nutrition, 5.0% environmental care, 4.2% non-medical care. Handwashing was only 4% (224 out of 5614) of total behaviours. Sub-analysis of 2748 of the later videos further categorized 56 activities where a variety of nutrients, which could promote microbial growth, were disposed of in the sink. Conclusion Several non-hand hygiene activities took place regularly in ICU handwashing sinks; these may provide a mechanism for nosocomial transmission and promotion of bacterial growth in the drain. Redesigning hospital workflow and sink usage may be necessary as it becomes apparent that sink drains may be a reservoir for transmission of multidrug-resistant bacteria.