cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patient satisfaction and diagnostic accuracy with ultrasound by emergency physicians

In recent years, there has been considerable interest and controversy concerning the performance of ultrasound by emergency physicians (ED Sono), but patient satisfaction with ED Sono has not been well studied. The primary purpose of this investigation was to assess the level of patient satisfaction with ED Sono and to compare satisfaction with ED Sono with ultrasound by the Medical Imaging Department (MI Sono). A secondary objective was to assess the accuracy of ED Sono at our facility. During a 5-month period, which included the startup phase of a program for ED Sono, emergency physicians prospectively identified patients who were candidates for ultrasound as a part of their workup. Patients were contacted by telephone after their ED visit and asked to rate satisfaction on a 0 to 10 scale for various aspects of their care, including the ultrasound if one was done. The accuracy of ED Sono was determined by comparing ED ultrasound interpretations with surgical pathology, repeat imaging studies, or clinical follow-up. Two hundred forty patients were entered into the study, and 186 (78%) responded to the satisfaction survey. Satisfaction ratings were similarly high for ED Sono (mean, 8.9; 95% Cl, 8.6 to 9.2) and for MI Sono (mean, 8.8; 95% Cl, 8.2 to 9.4). Eighteen percent of ultrasounds performed by emergency physicians were indeterminate. Excluding indeterminate scans and scans for which confirmation was not possible, the accuracy of ED Sono was 99.1% (95% Cl, 95.1% to >99.9%). We conclude that during the startup phase of our ED Sono program, patient satisfaction was high, and the error rate was very low.
Geology and venting characteristics of the Mothra hydrothermal field, Endeavour segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge

The 500-m-long Mothra hydrothermal field is the largest venting site in areal extent on the Endeavour segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Within this field, there are at least five actively venting sulfide complexes, spaced 40 to 200 m apart along a trend of 020. The clusters are composed of multiple steep-sided pinnacles that rise up to 20 m above the seafloor. Most of the sulfide structures are awash in diffusely venting fluids (30–200 °C) that support rich and diverse macrofaunal and microbial communities. Isolated black smoker chimneys vent 302 °C fluids. The linear arrays of sulfide complexes delineate a zone of active faulting near the western wall of the axial valley. This fault network serves as the conduit for the rising fluids.
Phospholipid modifications in bacteria

Many bacteria alter the acyl chains of their membrane phospholipids in response to changing environmental conditions. Two of these modifications are reviewed: cis-->trans isomerization and cyclopropanation of double bonds. The isomerization reaction is now known to be catalyzed by a periplasmic protein that contains a covalently bound heme. Cyclopropanation has been shown to play a role in Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis and, in Escherichia coli, plays an important role in resistance to acidic conditions.
The Mechanism of Transcriptional Synergy of an In Vitro Assembled Interferon-β Enhanceosome

A functional interferon-beta gene enhanceosome was assembled in vitro using the purified recombinant transcriptional activator proteins ATF2/c-JUN, IRF1, and p50/p65 of NF-kappa B. Maximal levels of transcriptional synergy between these activators required the specific interactions with the architectural protein HMG I(Y) and the correct helical phasing of the binding sites of these proteins on the DNA helix. Analyses of the in vitro assembled enhanceosome revealed that the transcriptional synergy is due, at least in part, to the cooperative assembly and stability of the complex. Reconstitution experiments showed that the formation of a stable enhanceosome-dependent preinitiation complex require cooperative interactions between the enhanceosome; the general transcription factors TFID, TFIIA, and TFIIB; and the cofactor USA. These studies provide a direct biochemical demonstration of the importance of the structure and function of natural multicomponent transcriptional enhancer complexes in gene regulation.
Where do white people come from? A Foucaultian critique of Whiteness Studies:

Over the past 15 years we have seen the rise of a field of inquiry known as Whiteness Studies. Two of its major tenets are (1) that white identity is socially constructed and functions as a racial ...
The multiple basal-cell nevus syndrome in a Negro family.

Abstract Members of three generations of a Negro family with features of the multiple basal-cell nevus syndrome have been investigated. The proband, a 7-year-old boy was originally seen because of multiple odontogenic keratocysts. Further examination disclosed palmar pits and a bifid rib. His 28-year-old mother was found to have multiple jaw cysts, palmar and plantar pits, multiple nevi, and a calcifying ovarian fibroma. Her 30-year-old sister had multiple jaw cysts, palmar and plantar pits, basal-cell carcinoma and fibrosarcoma of the ovaries. The grandfather of the proband also had multiple jaw cysts and palmar pits plus calcification of the falx cerebri and bridging of the sella turcica. These findings support other authors' findings of a high degree of penetrance but a variable expressivity. Interestingly, only one of this kindred has had a malignant disease. The member is also the only one to have had a basal-cell carcinoma. It is because of the associated manifestations and management problems that this syndrome should be considered in any patient having multiple cysts of the jaws.
Nitrate reduction in sediments of lowland tropical streams draining swamp forest in Costa Rica: An ecosystem perspective

Nitrate reduction and denitrification were measured in swamp forest streams draining lowland rain forest on Costa Rica's Atlantic slope foothills using the C2H2-block assay and sediment-water nutrient fluxes. Denitrification assays using the C2H2-block technique indicated that the full suite of denitrifying enzymes were present in the sediment but that only a small fraction of the functional activity could be expressed without adding NO3 −. Under optimal conditions, denitrification enzyme activity averaged 15 nmoles cm−3 sediment h−1. Areal NO3 − reduction rates measured from NO3 − loss in the overlying water of sediment-water flux chambers ranged from 65 to 470 umoles m−2 h−1. Oxygen loss rates accompanying NO3 − depletion averaged 750 umoles m−2 h−1. Corrected for denitrification of NO3 − oxidized from NH4 + in the sediment, gross NO3 − reduction rates increase by 130 umoles m−2 h−1, indicating nitrification may be the predominant source of NO3 − for NO3 − reduction in swamp forest stream sediments. Under field conditions approximately 80% of the increase in inorganic N mass along a 1250-m reach of the Salto River was in the form of NO3 − with the balance NH4 + . Scrutiny of potential inorganic N sources suggested that mineralized N released from the streambed was a major source of the inorganic N increase. Despite significant NO3 − reduction potential, swamp forest stream sediments appear to be a source of inorganic N to downstream communities.
Impedance-Based Void Fraction Measurement and Flow Regime Identification in Microchannel Flows

Electrical impedance of a two-phase mixture is a function of void fraction and phase distribution. The difference in the electrical conductance and permittivity of the two phases can be exploited to measure electrical impedance for obtaining void fraction and flow regime characteristics. An electrical impedance meter is constructed for the measurement of void fraction in microchannel two-phase flow. The experiments are conducted in air-water two-phase flow under adiabatic conditions. A transparent acrylic test section of hydraulic diameter 780 micrometer is used in the experimental investigation. The impedance void meter is calibrated against the void fraction measured using analysis of images obtained with a high-speed camera. Based on these measurements, a methodology utilizing the statistical characteristics of the void fraction signals is employed for identification of microchannel flow regimes.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
A bench scale PVD remediation system experiment

Prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) have been used for decades for soil improvement. Recent research has shown that PVDs can also be used to remediate contaminated fine-grained soils. A research program was undertaken at The University of Texas at Austin to study the use of PVDs in soil flushing (pump and treat). This research program included both analytical and experimental studies. The focus of this paper is the experimental part of the research effort. The design and results of two experiments are presented. These results provided insight into the operation and design of PVD remediation systems and exposed areas that need additional research. The laboratory results support prior research that indicate that PVD remediation systems can be an effective means of remediating contaminated fine-grained soils. In addition, the importance of keeping the injection and extraction rates similar to minimize consolidation was highlighted. The measured heads did not indicate that a significant amount of drawdown occurred over the course of the experiment. More research needs to be done on maintaining a consistent extraction rate and additional post experiment concentration measurements would be required if determining the tracer mass balance is the focus of any future experiments.
SLAVOPHILE RELIGIOUS THOUGHT AND THE DILEMMA OF RUSSIAN MODERNITY, 1830–1860*

Russian public opinion in the first half of the nineteenth century was buffeted by a complex of cultural, psychological, and historiosophical dilemmas that destabilized many conventions about Russia's place in universal history. This article examines one response to these dilemmas: the Slavophile reconfiguration of Eastern Christianity as a modern religion of theocentric freedom and moral progress. Drawing upon methods of contextual analysis, the article challenges the usual scholarly treatment of Slavophile religious thought as a vehicle to address extrahistorical concerns by placing the writings of A. S. Khomiakov and I. V. Kireevskii in the discursive and ideological framework in which they originated and operated. As such, the article considers the atheistic revolution in consciousness advocated by Russian Hegelians, the Schellingian proposition that human freedom and moral advancement were dependent upon the living God, P. Ia. Chaadaev's contention that a people's religious orientation determined its historical potential, and the Slavophile appropriation of Russia's dominant confession to resolve the problem of having attained historical consciousness in an age of historical stasis.
A miniaturized wearable high gain and wideband inkjet-printed AMC antenna

A highly directive AMC-based wearable antenna which exhibits a wide 1 GHz impedance bandwidth and a gain of over 6 dBi which covers the 802.11 Wifi band is demonstrated for the first time while maintaining a small electrical size. The antenna is inkjet printed on paper substrate making it low-cost and bio-friendly. The performance of the antenna is studied in air and on a body phantom to demonstrate the high performance of the antenna whether in air or on a lossy body.
Using physicochemical properties of amino acids to induce graphical models of residue couplings

Residue coupling in protein families is an important indicator for structural and functional conservation. Two residues are coupled if changes of amino acid at one residue location are correlated with changes in the other. Many algorithmic techniques have been proposed to discover couplings in protein families. These approaches discover couplings over amino acid combinations but do not yield mechanistic or other explanations for such couplings. We propose to study couplings in terms of amino acid classes such as polarity, hydrophobicity, size, and reactivity, and present two algorithms for learning probabilistic graphical models of amino acid class-based residue couplings. Our probabilistic graphical models provide a sound basis for predictive, diagnostic, and abductive reasoning. Further, our methods can take optional structural priors into account for building graphical models. The resulting models are useful in assessing the likelihood of a new protein to be a member of a family and for designing new protein sequences by sampling from the graphical model. We apply our approaches to understand couplings in two protein families: Nickel-responsive transription factors (NikR) and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The results demonstrate that our graphcial models based on sequences, physicochemical properties, and protein structure are capable of detecting amino acid class-based couplings between important residues that play roles in activities of these two families.
A novel assay reveals preferential binding between Rabs, kinesins, and specific endosomal subpopulations.

Identifying the proteins that regulate vesicle trafficking is a fundamental problem in cell biology. In this paper, we introduce a new assay that involves the expression of an FKBP12-rapamycin–binding domain–tagged candidate vesicle-binding protein, which can be inducibly linked to dynein or kinesin. Vesicles can be labeled by any convenient method. If the candidate protein binds the labeled vesicles, addition of the linker drug results in a predictable, highly distinctive change in vesicle localization. This assay generates robust and easily interpretable results that provide direct experimental evidence of binding between a candidate protein and the vesicle population of interest. We used this approach to compare the binding of Kinesin-3 family members with different endosomal populations. We found that KIF13A and KIF13B bind preferentially to early endosomes and that KIF1A and KIF1Bβ bind preferentially to late endosomes and lysosomes. This assay may have broad utility for identifying the trafficking proteins that bind to different vesicle populations.
Advances in the Prenatal and Molecular Diagnosis of the Hemoglobinopathies and Thalassemias

Prenatal diagnosis is available for pregnancies at risk for virtually all inherited disorders of hemoglobin production. The field of reproductive genetics must confront many ethical, legal, and social concerns regarding its use, many of which derive from a woman's desire to bear children but legal right to abortion. The goal of more widespread utilization of prenatal diagnosis is sought in the context of questioning the ethical control to be exerted over the biological makeup of future generations. Its appropriate application would be facilitated greatly by the availability of reliable DNA markers of disease severity. Advances in fetal sampling and in detecting mutant globin genes have provided the safe, accurate methodology required for prenatal diagnosis. Chorionic villus sampling in the first trimester has become standard practice, but second trimester amniocentesis also is used for sampling fetal DNA. The use of preimplantation diagnosis and testing fetal cells from the maternal circulation will soon be practical. DNA-based detection of globin gene mutations has been facilitated greatly by the polymerase chain reaction revolution, and several reliable diagnostic methods are available. Polymerase chain reaction-based methods rely on restriction analysis, allele-specific hybridization or amplification, DNA sequence analysis, and new non-polymerase chain reaction methods for DNA amplification in vitro. These methods are available for detecting hemoglobinopathy, thalassemia, and thalassemic-hemoglobinopathy genes that affect alpha- or beta-globin loci.
Empirically Derived Models of Strategic Decision-making Processes

This paper reports on an empirical study of strategic decision-making processes and organizational learning in 32 business organizations facing complex environments. The decision processes were found to vary in four prototypical patterns described here as the strategic decision-making models. These models are proposed as an initial step towards the development of a taxonomy of strategic decision processes. The relationships between strategic decision-making models and organizational learning systems that support them are explored. These models may help researchers to conceptualize and practitioners to manage strategy formulation processes in organizations.
LTCC Metamaterial Substrates for Millimeter-Wave Applications

The LTCC (Low-temperature Cofired Ceramics) technique is considered for the metamaterial substrate of a microstrip antenna. The target frequency is 76 GHz~77 GHz for the automotive radar. The metamaterial substrate design and microstirp antenna design are discussed in this paper. The reflection and transmission coefficients of metamaterials are simulated using HFSS simulator. The permittivity and the permeability are calculated from these coefficients. The microstrip antennas are designed with this substrate. The characteristics of antenna on the metamaterial substrate are compared with those of the antennas on the dielectric substrate.
Male seminal fluid proteins are essential for sperm storage in Drosophila melanogaster.

The seminal fluid that is transferred along with sperm during mating acts in many ways to maximize a male’s reproductive success. Here, we use transgenic Drosophila melanogaster males deficient in the seminal fluid proteins derived from the accessory gland (Acps) to investigate the role of these proteins in the fate of sperm transferred to females during mating. Competitive PCR assays were used to show that while Acps contribute to the efficiency of sperm transfer, they are not essential for the transfer of sperm to the female. In contrast, we found that Acps are essential for storage of sperm by females. Direct counts of stored sperm showed that 10% of normal levels are stored by females whose mates transfer little or no Acps along with sperm.
Estrogenic endocrine disruptive components interfere with calcium handling and differentiation of human trophoblast cells.

During development, calcium (Ca) is actively transported by placental trophoblasts to meet fetal nutritional and the skeletal mineralization needs. Maternal exposure to estrogenic pesticides, such as 1,1-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (DDT) and methoxychlor (MTC), has been shown to result in reproductive disorders and/or abnormal fetal development. In this study, we have examined the effects of exposure of trophoblastic cells to MTC and DTT, in comparison to 17beta-estradiol (E2) and diethylstilbestrol (DES), to test the hypothesis that cellular Ca handling is a target for these endocrine disruptive components. Treatment with DDT, MTC, DES, or E2 increased cellular Ca uptake, and the expression of trophoblast-specific human Ca binding protein (HCaBP) was down-regulated by both MTC and DDT. Treatment with MTC, DDT, and DES inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and suppressed expression of several trophoblast differentiation marker genes. These effects were reversed by overexpression of metallothionein IIa, a gene highly responsive to cadmium and other metals. These results strongly suggest that trophoblast Ca handling functions are endocrinally modulated, and that their alteration by candidate endocrine disruptors, such as MTC and DDT, constitutes a possible pathway of the harmful effects of these components on fetal development.
Refining lunar impact chronology through high spatial resolution 40Ar/39Ar dating of impact melts

Quantitative constraints on the ages of melt-forming impact events on the Moon are based primarily on isotope geochronology of returned samples. However, interpreting the results of such studies can often be difficult because the provenance region of any sample returned from the lunar surface may have experienced multiple impact events over the course of billions of years of bombardment. We illustrate this problem with new laser microprobe 40Ar/39Ar data for two Apollo 17 impact melt breccias. Whereas one sample yields a straightforward result, indicating a single melt-forming event at ca. 3.83 Ga, data from the other sample document multiple impact melt–forming events between ca. 3.81 Ga and at least as young as ca. 3.27 Ga. Notably, published zircon U/Pb data indicate the existence of even older melt products in the same sample. The revelation of multiple impact events through 40Ar/39Ar geochronology is likely not to have been possible using standard incremental heating methods alone, demonstrating the complementarity of the laser microprobe technique. Evidence for 3.83 Ga to 3.81 Ga melt components in these samples reinforces emerging interpretations that Apollo 17 impact breccia samples include a significant component of ejecta from the Imbrium basin impact. Collectively, our results underscore the need to quantitatively resolve the ages of different melt generations from multiple samples to improve our current understanding of the lunar impact record, and to establish the absolute ages of important impact structures encountered during future exploration missions in the inner Solar System.
Some Recent Developments of Regenerative Circuits

A system of circuits is described whereby the effective resistance of a regenerative circuit is periodically made positive and negative, tho predominantly positive. Such a circuit will respond to impressed electromotive forces by setting up free oscillations during the negative resistance period, which oscillations are proportional to the exciting emf. The forced oscillations produced by the exciting emf. will be comparatively small. The free oscillations caused by any normal variations in tube operation will also be small. Means of carrying regenerative circuits thru the requisite resistance cycles are shown, and the practical operation of the system, including the case when extreme amplifications are desired, is discussed.
Influenza B virus NS1 protein inhibits conjugation of the interferon (IFN)‐induced ubiquitin‐like ISG15 protein

Of the several hundred proteins induced by interferon (IFN) α/β, the ubiquitin-like ISG15 protein is one of the most predominant. We demonstrate the novel way in which the function of the ISG15 protein is inhibited by influenza B virus, which strongly induces the ISG15 protein: a specific region of the influenza B virus NS1 protein, which includes part of its effector domain, blocks the covalent linkage of ISG15 to its target proteins both in vitro and in infected cells. We identify UBE1L as the E1 enzyme that catalyzes the first activation step in the conjugation of ISG15, and show that the NS1B protein inhibits this activation step in vitro. Influenza A virus employs a different strategy: its NS1 protein does not bind the ISG15 protein, but little or no ISG15 protein is produced during infection. We discuss the likely basis for these different strategies.
Preparation and utilization of leukocyte poor apheresis platelets

Abstract Efficiency of collection of apheresis platelets was found to be equivalent (approximately 50%) with the COBE 2997, the Fenwal CS3000, Haemonetics V50 or COBE Spectra™ cell separators. A minor fraction (1.5–3.5%) of 6466 consecutive transfusions of apheresis platelets were complicated by febrile transfusion reactions (FTRs). There was a 12.1% incidence of second FTRs following an initial reaction. Centrifugation, filtration, or the provision of platelets harvested on the COBE Spectra™ reduced the incidence of subsequent FTRs to ⩽3.1% in patients with two prior FTRs. Leukocyte content in apheresis platelets ranged from 5 × 105 in COBE Spectra™ apheresis platelets to 109 in platelets from the Fenwal CS3000 or COBE 2997. Filtered platelets from the Haemonetics V50 were as leukopoor as COBE Spectra™ apheresis platelets, but centrifugation or filtration of other apheresis platelets did not achieve equivalent leukodepletion. These results suggest that (1) FTRs are rare after transfusion of apheresis platelets; and (2) provision of either platelets from the COBE Spectra™ or other apheresis platelets which have been centrifuged or filtered can avoid FTRs in the majority of patients with a history of repeated prior reactions.
Measurement and correlation of critical heat flux in two-phase micro-channel heat sinks

Abstract Critical heat flux (CHF) was measured for a water-cooled micro-channel heat sink containing 21 parallel 215 × 821 μm channels. Tests were performed with deionized water over a mass velocity range of 86–368 kg/m 2 s, inlet temperatures of 30 and 60 °C, at an outlet pressure of 1.13 bar. As CHF was approached, flow instabilities induced vapor backflow into the heat sink’s upstream plenum, which significantly altered the coolant temperature at the channel inlets. The backflow negated the advantages of inlet subcooling, resulting in a CHF virtually independent of inlet temperature but which increases with increasing mass velocity. Due to the vapor backflow and other unique features of parallel micro-channels, it is shown previous correlations that are quite accurate at predicting CHF for single mini-channels are unsuitable for micro-channel heat sinks. Using the new heat sink water CHF data as well as previous data for R-113 in heat sinks with multiple circular mini- and micro-channels, a new CHF correlation is proposed which shows excellent accuracy in predicting existing heat sink data.
African American female professors’ strategies for successful attainment of tenure and promotion at predominately White institutions: It can happen:

In their pursuit of tenure and promotion, African American female faculty members continue to prevail over workplace adversities such as ridicule, marginalization, alienation, isolation, and lack of information. In this descriptive phenomenological study, the lived experiences of five African American female professors who successfully navigated the tenure and promotion process at predominantly White institutions were explored through the lens of Black feminist thought and relational-cultural theory. Data analysis through a phenomenological reduction process revealed participants’ experiences with systemic oppression, as well as the internal coping mechanisms and external supports they relied on to navigate the tenure process. Research implications and recommendations are discussed, ideally, to give hope to African American female faculty pursuing tenure and provide strategies for how higher education leaders can actively support these faculty members.
Evaluating Mediation in Longitudinal Multivariate Data: Mediation Effects for the Aban Aya Youth Project Drug Prevention Program

This study illustrates a method to evaluate mediational mechanisms in a longitudinal prevention trial, the Aban Aya Youth Project (AAYP). In previous studies, interventions of AAYP were found to be effective in reducing the growth of violence, substance use and unsafe sex among African American adolescents. In this article, we hypothesized that the effects of the interventions in reducing the growth of substance use behavior were achieved through their effects in changing intermediate processes such as behavioral intentions, attitudes toward the behavior, estimates of peers’ behaviors, best friends’ behaviors, and peer group pressure. In evaluating these mediational mechanisms, difficulties arise because the growth trajectories of the substance use outcome variable and some of the mediating variables were curvilinear. In addition, all of the multivariate mediational measures had planned missing data so that a score from the multiple items for a mediator could not be formed easily. In this article, we introduce a latent growth modeling (LGM) approach; namely, a two-domain LGM mediation model, in which the growth curves of the outcome and the mediator are simultaneously modeled and the mediation effects are evaluated. Results showed that the AAYP intervention effects on adolescent drug use were mediated by normative beliefs of prevalence estimates, friends’ drug use behavior, perceived friends’ encouragement to use, and attitudes toward the behavior.
Effects of serial lesions of somatosensory cortex and further neodecortication on tactile retention in rats

Four groups of rats with bilateral lesions of somatosensory cortex and one of animals sustaining only sham operations were tested for retention of a difficult tactile discrimination. Two of the lesion groups had serial ablations, in one case with interoperative testing, and two had one-stage lesions. Bilateral ablations of somatosensory cortex severely retarded retention in all lesion groups relative to the control group and serial and one-stage groups did not differ from each other. The sham operated rats then experienced lesions of cortex anterior and posterior to the somatosensory areas. These lesions only marginally affected retention. Somatosensory cortex then was ablated and severe performance decrements were seen. Removal of additional neocortex in animals that previously had relearned the discrimination after somatosensory cortex lesions also resulted in very poor retention. These data demonstrate the importance of the somatosensory cortex in mediating tactile discriminations and suggest that non-somatosensory cortex may play a role in recovery after somatosensory cortical lesions.
The role of experiments in investigating the taphonomy of exceptional preservation

In the last 20 years, much taphonomic experimentation has focused on the interpretation of exceptionally preserved fossils. Decay experiments have been used to interpret the features preserved in soft-bodied fossils and to determine the sequence of character loss and its impact on phylogenetic position. Experiments on the impact of microbial communities on decay and mineralization have started to illuminate the processes involved in the fossilization of soft tissues, including embryos. The role of decay in promoting authigenic mineralization has been used to investigate the formation of Ediacaran macrofossils and concretions. Maturation experiments have shown how the constituents of animals and plants are transformed over time to a macromolecular material that converges on a similar stable composition. Other maturation experiments have explained how structural colours in fossils are altered from the original. A major area requiring investigation is the role of specific types of microbes in decay and their impact on sediment and pore water chemistry, as well as the environmental controls that determine their presence and level of activity. Microbial activity has received less attention than other factors in attempts to explain why the occurrence and nature of exceptional preservation varies in time and space through the fossil record.
Role of TSPAN9 in Alphavirus Entry and Early Endosomes.

UNLABELLED Alphaviruses are small enveloped RNA viruses that infect cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis and low-pH-triggered fusion in the early endosome. Using a small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen in human cells, we previously identified TSPAN9 as a host factor that promotes infection by the alphaviruses Sindbis virus (SINV), Semliki Forest virus (SFV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Depletion of TSPAN9 specifically decreases SFV membrane fusion in endosomes. TSPAN9 is a member of the tetraspanin family of multipass membrane proteins, but its cellular function is currently unknown. Here we used U-2 OS cells stably overexpressing TSPAN9 to show that TSPAN9 is localized at the plasma membrane and in early and late endosomes. Internalized SFV particles colocalized with TSPAN9 in vesicles early during infection. Depletion of TSPAN9 led to reductions in the amounts of the late endosomal proteins LAMP1 and CD63 and an increase in the amount of LAMP2. However, TSPAN9 depletion did not alter the delivery of SFV to early endosomes or change their pH or protease activity. Comparative studies showed that TSPAN9 depletion strongly inhibited infection by several viruses that fuse in early endosomes (SFV, SINV, CHIKV, and vesicular stomatitis virus [VSV]), while viruses that fuse in the late endosome (recombinant VSV-Lassa and VSV-Junin), including an SFV point mutant with a lower pH threshold for fusion (SFV E2 T12I), were relatively resistant. Our data suggest that TSPAN9 modulates the early endosome compartment to make it more permissive for membrane fusion of early-penetrating viruses. IMPORTANCE Alphaviruses are spread by mosquitoes and can cause serious human diseases such as arthritis and encephalitis. Recent outbreaks of CHIKV infection are responsible for millions of cases of acute illness and long-term complications. There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments for these important human pathogens. Alphaviruses infect host cells by utilizing the endocytic machinery of the cell and fusing their membrane with that of the endosome. Although the mechanism of virus-membrane fusion is well studied, we still know relatively little about the host cell proteins that are involved in alphavirus entry. Here we characterized the role of the host membrane protein TSPAN9 in alphavirus infection. TSPAN9 was localized to early endosomes containing internalized alphavirus, and depletion of TSPAN9 inhibited virus fusion with the early endosome membrane. In contrast, infection of viruses that enter through the late endosome was relatively resistant to TSPAN9 depletion, suggesting an important role for TSPAN9 in the early endosome.
Semen Evaluations in the Clinical Laboratory: How Well Are They Being Performed?

Because semen analysis is the primary diagnostic tool in male fertility investigations, we assessed its performance in clinical laboratories. Werandomly surveyed United States hospital laboratories to determine the factors that predict demand for semen analysis and to assess the technical caliber and quality of semen testing performed. Hospital size, presence of a fertility center in the hospital, reproductive care physicians ordering the test, and quality of testing are factors that predict semen analysis demand. Our study also revealed that, in spite of increased demand for semen analysis, testing is not comprehensive, technology is minimal, and quality is compromised. Most clinical laboratories do not offer a quality semen analysis sufficient for diagnosing infertility.
Business Ethics: Law as a Determinant of Business Conduct

The Principles of Corporate Governance require that business conduct conform to the law. In recent years, news reports of business misconduct have cast doubt on a conclusion that conformity is the prevalent practice. This article explores the influence of law on business conduct by comparing the law's requirements and purposes with actual business conduct in the market. Specifically, it explores whether certain legal regimes are more effective than others in inducing greater commitment to legal compliance by corporate actors. The conclusion drawn is that the prevalent legal regime - a vague common law or legislative mandate - is typically associated with corporate conduct that evades or ignores the law's mandate or its underlying purpose.
Ambivalent feelings about parenthood may lead to inconsistent contraceptive use--and pregnancy.

Although the concept of pregnancy intention has been widely used in research intention has been measured with a relatively small number of items over the years. As a consequence even when a significant correlation is found between intention and behavior there is generally a fairly large subset of women among whom that correlation is not observed. The paper suggests that measures of intention have been used to predict what can only be predicted in the presence of cogent measures of contraceptive attitudes. A further argument is that data available on the intention status in the US may not represent as serious a failure in contraceptive practice as is often supposed. Central to understanding the relationship between fertility intention and contraceptive use is an understanding of the concept of ambivalence toward both conception and contraception. It is further argued that ambivalent feelings about parenthood may lead to inconsistent contraceptive use. Ambivalence toward birth control methods is implicated in many cases in which an unintended pregnancy occurs. The implications for understanding adolescent childbearing which has been of such public concern in the US are discussed.
Computationally Projecting the Influence of Nucleic Acid on Pathways of Nucleation-Limited Virus Capsid Assembly

Elucidating assembly pathways of complex macromolecular structures, such as virus capsids, is an important problem for understanding the many cellular processes dependent on self-assembly but also challenging given limited experimental technologies for observing such systems. We have previously addressed this problem through simulation-based data fitting, learning rate parameters of coarse-grained stochastic simulation models to match light scattering data from bulk assembly of purified coat protein in vitro providing an unprecedented view of the fine-scale reaction pathways that might have produced those data. A key question raised by such models, though, is how well they might reflect assembly under more natural cellular conditions where factors such as local concentration changes, non-specific crowding, and often the influence of nucleic acid during assembly become relevant. In the present study, we examine the latter issue, how using analytical models of various contributions of RNA folding to assembly would influence overall pathways and kinetics, primarily with reference to cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV). We find a surprising complexity and synergy of interaction effects. Energetic effects that gain or lower free energy tend to disrupt successful assembly relative to the in vitro model individually, while the full combination of positive and negative effects collectively promotes greatly accelerated assembly without loss of yield. Furthermore, it accomplishes this change in kinetics while substantially altering the ensemble of assembly pathways open to the system. These simulation results help us understand how RNA viral coat and genome may interact in assembly to promote rapid growth while avoiding kinetic traps expected from much prior theory, bringing us a step closer to the goal of understanding how viral assembly in the cell may differ from our current conception based largely on in vitro models.
Gas exchange, δ 13 C, and heterotrophy for Castilleja linariifolia and Orthocarpus tolmiei , facultative root hemiparsites on Artemisia tridentata

Gas exchange and carbon isotope ratios were measured on 2 facultative hemiparasites, Castilleja linariifolia Benth. (Indian paintbrush); Scrophulariaceae) and Othrocarpus tomiei H. & A. (Tolmie owl clover, Scrophulariaceae), and their Artemisia tridentata L. (big sagebrush; Asteraceae) hosts. Photosynthetic rates differed greatly between years; rates in 1995 were more than double those in 1994, likely due to more precipitation and less water stress during 1995. Despite the difference in precipitation, photosynthetic rates for C. linariifolia were not different from those of their hosts for either year. However, carbon isotope ratios of C. linariifolia and O. tolmiei were up to 3% more negative than those of their A. tridentata hosts. Using measured δ 13 C ratios in conjunction with δ 13 C predicted from gas exchange measurements, we calculated that C. linariifolia derived, on average, 40% of its leaf carbon heterotrophically. Contrary to current suggestions that high photosynthetic rates of hemiparasites are an indication of reduced heterotrophy, C. linariifolia exhibited photosynthetic rates similar to autotrophic plants and used a substantial amount of host-derived carbon. Moreover, this evidence shows that manipulation of a heterotrophic carbon supply transcends obligate hemiparasites to include those plants whose parasitism is facultative.
A null space based defense for pollution attacks in network coding

A network coding system allows intermediate nodes of a network to code packets together which ultimately results in better network performance. Due to the nature of network coding, it is difficult to impose hop-by-hop data integrity as intermediate nodes change packet contents. Without hop-by-hop data integrity, a byzantine adversary can mount a denial of service attack (pollution attack) which cripples a network coding system. Much work has focused on pollution defenses, but they all have limitations in terms of time synchronization, expensive computations, and large coding headers. A recent solution based on null spaces [3] has the potential to escape the aforementioned limitations. However, their solution does not work for arbitrary network topologies. We propose a new protocol with a novel null space splitting technique that ensures practical defense for arbitrary topologies.
Apolipoprotein E and its association with Alzheimer's disease.

Apolipoprotein E (apo E) has long been recognized as a determinant of coronary artery disease risk. Recently though, it has also been noted for it’s potential pathogenic role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The gene for apo E is polymorphic in the population. The three common alleles are e2, e3, and e4 and they code for specific forms of apo E differing by a single amino acid substitution. Among middle aged Caucasians, 78% have the e 3 allele, 15% have at least one e4 allele and 7% are at least heterozygous for the e2 allele1. Over ninety separate studies indicate that the e4 allele confers an increased risk of developing AD The 2% of the Caucasian population who end up being homozygous for the e4 allele
Transpubic urethroplasty for prostatomembranous urethral disruption.

AbstractTranspubic urethroplasty was done in 15 patients with prostatomembranous urethral disruption secondary to pelvic trauma. Satisfactory results were obtained in 13 patients (87 per cent). One patient remains partially incontinent, while 1 has a significant recurrent stricture. The operative technique to prevent complications is emphasized.
Oocyte donation and gamete intrafallopian transfer in premature ovarian failure

Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) was performed in eight patients with premature ovarian failure (POF), using donated oocytes. The steroid replacement protocol consisted of the administration of increasing dosages of 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P). Hormonal replacement was maintained until day 100 of gestation. All patients underwent an evaluation cycle in which serum levels of E2 and P were monitored and an endometrial biopsy was performed on day 21 or 22. All cases of GIFT were performed between days 12 and 15. Six clinical pregnancies were achieved in eight cycles (75% success rate). Three patients delivered and three are in their second or third trimester. No ectopics or miscarriages occurred. These results offer a promising approach for the establishment of fertility in agonadal patients.
[Protruding plaques of the thoracic aorta in the transesophageal echocardiogram: clinical and echographic characteristics].

BACKGROUND Transesophageal echocardiography has a better sensitivity than conventional echocardiography for the detection of protruding atherosclerotic plaques of the thoracic aorta. AIM To study the clinical and echographic features of protruding aortic plaques detected with transesophageal echocardiography. PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinical histories of 308 patients subjected to transesophageal echocardiography were reviewed. Subjects with protruding aortic plaques > 0.5 cm were selected. RESULTS Fifteen patients had protruding aortic plaques on transesophageal echocardiography and none of these were detected with conventional echocardiography. All these patients were in sinus rhythm and had high blood pressure. Ten subjects (67%) had a history of ischemic cerebrovascular or peripheral artery diseases (compared to 31% of subjects without protruding plaques) and in seven, the plaque was the only embolic source. Six patients (40%) smoked and 4 (27%) had coronary artery disease. One patient was diabetic and one had hypercholesterolemia. CONCLUSIONS Transesophageal echocardiography allows the detection of protruding aortic plaques that are potential embolic sources in patients with vascular diseases.
Functions of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Are Differentially Associated with Suicide Ideation and Past Attempts among Childhood Trauma Survivors

Research into factors for suicide has revealed relations between trauma exposure and suicidality (e.g., Bridge, Goldstein, & Brent, ; Joiner, Sachs-Ericson, Wingate, Brown, Anestis, & Selby, ) wherein painful and provocative experiences (e.g., nonsuicidal self-injury [NSSI]) are an important link (e.g., Van Orden, Witte, Cukrowicz, Braithwaite, Selby, & Joiner, ; Smith, ). No prior research has assessed the relationship between functions of NSSI and suicidality among childhood trauma survivors. Participants who endorsed childhood trauma exposure (N = 121; Mage = 18.69, range 18-22) completed measures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, NSSI, and suicidality. Multiple regressions assessing whether the four functions of NSSI predicted suicide ideation and past attempts after controlling for PTSD symptom severity found that only social negative reinforcement was associated with SI (β = .304, SE = .243, t = 2.23, p = .028), while only automatic negative reinforcement was associated with past attempts (β = .470, SE = .066, t = 2.25, p = .028). FINDINGS highlight the importance of assessing NSSI functions when assessing suicidality among trauma survivors.© 2016 The American Association of Suicidology. Language: en
Taking the S.T.A.I.R.S: A Philosophy in Managing Student Workers

How would you develop, engage, mentor, train and assess a group of 30 part-time student workers at a non-conventional Tech Desk? As part of my interview to become the Service Desk Manager in the Vice Provost Office of Teaching and Learning at Stanford University, I was tasked with formulating an answer to this complex question. To accomplish this, I developed a philosophy entitled "Taking the S.T.A.I.R.S." It outlines the most important ideas and concepts to successfully manage a group of student workers. Specifically, these concepts include identifying Strengths in each individual student, being Transparent with them, emphasizing their Accountability and responsibility, seeking their Input and teaching them how to take initiative, emphasizing Respect toward each other and the university, and showing Support for them and their decisions. Now, roughly six months into my new position, I keep returning to this philosophy to evaluate its effectiveness.
Fragile X and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Case Presentation and Management Challenges.

A high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been reported in individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS). Untreated OSA can further complicate both medical and cognitive sequelae. Thus, id...
Multi-label informed feature selection

Multi-label learning has been extensively studied in the area of bioinformatics, information retrieval, multimedia annotation, etc. In multi-label learning, each instance is associated with multiple interdependent class labels, the label information can be noisy and incomplete. In addition, multilabeled data often has noisy, irrelevant and redundant features of high dimensionality. As an effective data preprocessing step, feature selection has shown its effectiveness to prepare high-dimensional data for numerous data mining and machine learning tasks. Most of existing multi-label feature selection algorithms either boil down to solving multiple single-labeled feature selection problems or directly make use of imperfect labels. Therefore, they may not be able to find discriminative features that are shared by multiple labels. In this paper, we propose a novel multi-label informed feature selection framework MIFS, which exploits label correlations to select discriminative features across multiple labels. Specifically, to reduce the negative effects of imperfect label information in finding label correlations, we decompose the multi-label information into a low-dimensional space and then employ the reduced space to steer the feature selection process. Empirical studies on real-world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed framework.