cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular characterization of the Fur protein of Listeria monocytogenes

Iron is essential for the survival of almost all organisms, although excess iron can result in the generation of free radicals which are toxic to cells. To avoid the toxic effects of free radicals, the concentration of intracellular iron is generally regulated by the ferric uptake regulator Fur in bacteria. The 150 aa fur ORF from Listeria monocytogenes was cloned into pRSETa, and the His-tagged fusion protein was purified by nickel affinity column chromatography. DNA binding activity of this protein was studied by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay using the end-labelled promoters PfhuDC and Pfur. The results showed a decrease in migration for both promoter DNAs in the presence of the Fur protein, and the change in migration was competitively inhibited with an excess of the same unlabelled promoters. No shift in migration was observed when a similar assay was performed using non-specific end-labelled DNA. The assay showed that binding of Fur to Pfur or PfhuDC was independent of iron or manganese ions, and was not inhibited in the presence of 2 mM EDTA. Inductively coupled plasma MS of the Fur protein showed no iron or manganese, but 0.48 mole zinc per mole protein was detected. A DNase I protection assay revealed that Fur specifically bound to and protected a 19 bp consensus Fur box sequence located in the promoters of fur and fhuDC. There was no requirement for iron or manganese in this assay also. However, Northern blot analysis showed an increase in fur transcription under iron-restricted compared to high-level conditions. Thus, the study suggests that under in vitro conditions, the affinity of the Fur protein for the 19 bp Fur box sequence does not require iron, but iron availability regulates fur transcription in vivo. Thus, the regulation by Fur in this intracellular pathogen may be dependent on either the structure of the DNA binding domain or other intracellular factors yet to be identified.
The effect of π-stacking and H-bonding on ionization energies of a nucleobase: uracil dimer cation

The electronic structure of the ionized π-stacked and H-bonded uracil dimers as well as that of the monomer, is characterized by the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster method for ionization potentials (EOM-IP). Vertical ionization energies (IEs) for the 5 lowest states of the monomer and the 10 lowest states of the dimers are presented. Non-covalent interactions in the dimers reduce the lowest vertical IE by 0.34 and 0.13 eV in the π-stacked and H-bonded dimers, respectively. The electronic spectra of the cations are also presented. The two dimer cations feature intense charge resonance bands at 0.52 and 0.11 eV, respectively. The position and intensity of the bands are sensitive to the dimer structures, for example, the geometric relaxation in the π-stacked dimer blue-shifts the CR band by more than 1 eV and results in a threefold intensity increase. The results of the calculations are rationalized within the dimer molecular orbital – linear combination of fragment molecular orbitals (DMO-LCFMO) framework. The basis set effects and energy additivity schemes are also discussed.
Toward a De Minimis Policy in Risk Regulation

There is increasing recognition that it is inefficient for regulatory agencies to expend resources on controlling risks that might be considered ''trivial.'' The author advocates that the use of a de minimis cutoff would permit agencies to focus their effort on more cost-effective risk reduction and goes on to present some precedents for the use of de minimis in American common law. He cites opportunities where such a cutoff can be implemented and gives two cases--the OSHA and the EPA regulation of benzene--which demonstrate the policy impacts and issues of such an implementation. He discusses the legal, social and economic ramifications of a de minimis approach to risk assessment and ends with a scenario for decision making.
Is there a convenient category of spectra

Abstract The construction of the smash product of two spectra is one of the most unsatisfactory aspects of every available treatment of the stable category. Increased interest in enriched ring and module spectra has made the misbehavior of smash products a source of growing frustration. This paper conveys the unhappy message that this frustration is unavoidable. Five simple, obviously desirable axioms for a good category of spectra with a well-behaved smash product are listed. Then it is shown that no category can satisfy all five of these minimal axioms.
Multiple oxygen and sulfur isotopic analyses on water‐soluble sulfate in bulk atmospheric deposition from the southwestern United States

[1] Sulfate is a major component of bulk atmospheric deposition (including dust, aerosol, fog, and rain). We analyzed sulfur and oxygen isotopic compositions of water-soluble sulfate from 40 sites where year-round dust traps collect bulk atmospheric deposition in the southwestern United States. Average sulfur and oxygen isotopic compositions (δ34S and δ18O) are 5.8 ± 1.4 (CDT) and 11.2 ± 1.9 (SMOW) (n = 47), respectively. Samples have an oxygen 17 anomaly (Δ17O), with an average value of 1.0 ± 0.6‰. Except for a weak positive correlation between δ18O and Δ17O values (r2 ≈ 0.4), no correlation exists for δ18O versus δ34S, Δ17O versus δ34S, or any of the three isotopic compositions versus elevation of the sample site. Exceptional positive Δ17O values (up to 4.23‰) are found in samples from sites in the vicinity of large cities or major highways, and near-zero Δ17O values are found in samples close to dry lakes. Comparison of isotopic values of dust trap sulfate and desert varnish sulfate from the region reveals that varnish sulfate has average isotopic values that are ∼4.8‰ lower for δ18O, ∼2.1‰ higher for δ34S, and ∼0.3‰ lower for Δ17O than those of the present-day bulk deposition sulfate. Although other factors could cause the disparity, this observation suggests a possibility that varnish sulfate may have recorded a long-term atmospheric sulfate deposition during the Holocene or Pleistocene, as well as the differences between sulfur and oxygen isotopic compositions of the preindustrial bulk deposition sulfate and those of the industrial era.
Integrated Control of Suspension and Front Steering to Enhance Vehicle Handling

AbstractIntegration of vehicle chassis control system has gained increasing attention since it can improve the vehicle safety and performance through effective coordination of individual control systems. This paper presents the development of an integrated control system of active front steering and normal force control using fuzzy reasoning to enhance the vehicle-handling performance. Individual control systems were first developed, and then their performances were compared with that of the integrated system. The simulation results indicate that the integrated chassis control scheme utilizing the steering and suspension controllers has proven to be more effective in attaining the desired performance that would not be attained individually.
Measuring similarity to detect qualified links

The early success of link-based ranking algorithms was predicated on the assumption that links imply merit of the target pages. However, today many links exist for purposes other than to confer authority. Such links bring noise into link analysis and harm the quality of retrieval. In order to provide high quality search results, it is important to detect them and reduce their influence. In this paper, a method is proposed to detect such links by considering multiple similarity measures over the source pages and target pages. With the help of a classifier, these noisy links are detected and dropped. After that, link analysis algorithms are performed on the reduced link graph. The usefulness of a number of features are also tested. Experiments across 53 query-specific datasets show our approach almost doubles the performance of Kleinberg's HITS and boosts Bharat and Henzinger's imp algorithm by close to 9% in terms of precision. It also outperforms a previous approach focusing on link farm detection.
An Exploration of Microscopy for Educational Applications in the High School Classroom

This project was initiated with an undergraduate student’s exploration of two advanced research tools: the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the atomic force microscope(AFM). A research project was developed to study the application of microscopy to introductory physics instruction. Nine modules covering various aspects of introductory physics were created. Module components included discussions, laboratory experiments and assessments. Four of the nine modules were implemented in various high school classes. Assessments were used to compare student learning with the modules versus standard textbook/lecture techniques. Preliminary results of this study are presented along with recently developed methods created to facilitate implementation of these modules within the high school classroom.
Spatially structured superinfection and the evolution of disease virulence

When pathogen strains differing in virulence compete for hosts, spatial structuring of disease transmission can govern both evolved levels of virulence and patterns in strain coexistence. We develop a spatially detailed model of superinfection, a form of contest competition between pathogen strains; the probability of superinfection depends explicitly on the difference in levels of virulence. We apply methods of adaptive dynamics to address the interplay of spatial dynamics and evolution. The mean-field approximation predicts evolution to criticality; any small increase in virulence capable of dynamical persistence is favored. Both pair approximation and simulation of the detailed model indicate that spatial structure constrains disease virulence. Increased spatial clustering reduces the maximal virulence capable of single-strain persistence and, more importantly, reduces the convergent-stable virulence level under strain competition. The spatially detailed model predicts that increasing the probability of superinfection, for given difference in virulence, increases the likelihood of between-strain coexistence. When strains differing in virulence can coexist ecologically, our results may suggest policies for managing diseases with localized transmission. Comparing equilibrium densities from the pair approximation, we find that introducing a more virulent strain into a host population infected by a less virulent strain can sometimes reduce total host mortality and increase global host density.
Improving the reproducibility of the cyclic variation of myocardial backscatter.

The goal of myocardial tissue characterization is to augment information provided by two- and three-dimensional echocardiographic imaging, Doppler blood flow and speckle- or Doppler-derived tissue motion. Tissue characterization based on the systematic variation ofbackscattered ultrasound during the cardiac cycle ('cyclic variation') appears to be effective in characterizing both focal and diffuse myocardial pathologies. Unfortunately, comparison of results from different laboratories is difficult because of a lack of consistency among the several reported methods of analyzing the cyclic variation data. The goals ofthe present work are to present an improved method of analysis and to demonstrate that apparent disagreements are attributable primarily to the distinct approaches employed by different investigators. The improved automated method for determining the magnitude of cyclic variation utilizes binomial smoothing and an average deviation method and was validated using data acquired from 23 patients. This method illustrates a systematic means for resolving differences between laboratories. This resolution facilitates future comparisons between the cyclic variation of myocardial backscatter and measurements derived, for example, from strain-related approaches.
bottlesim: a bottleneck simulation program for long-lived species with overlapping generations

Population bottlenecks reduce genetic diversity and thus cause great concern in conservation biology. Previous theoretical studies often assume discrete generations in projecting declines in genetic diversity caused by bottlenecks. This assumption creates complexities when applying the models to long-lived species with overlapping generations. bottlesim is a program for simulating bottlenecks to estimate the impact on genetic diversity; the novelties include an overlapping-generation model, a wide range of reproductive systems, and flexible population size settings. With these features, bottlesim will be a useful tool for estimating the genetic consequences of bottlenecks, evaluating conservation plans, and performing power analysis.
Fast adaptive equalization/diversity combining for time-varying dispersive channels

We examine adaptive equalization and diversity combining methods for fast Rayleigh-fading frequency selective channels. We assume a block adaptive receiver in which the receiver coefficients are obtained from feedforward channel estimation. For the feedforward channel estimation, we propose a novel reduced dimension channel estimation procedure, where the number of unknown parameters are reduced using a priori information of the transmit shaping filter's impulse response. Fewer unknown parameters require a shorter training sequence. We obtain least-squares, maximum-likelihood, and maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimators for the reduced dimension channel estimation problem. For symbol detection, we propose the use of a matched filtered diversity combining decision feedback equalizer (DFE) instead of a straightforward diversity combining DFE. The matched filter form has lower computational complexity and provides a well-conditioned matrix inversion. To cope with fast time-varying channels, we introduce a new DFE coefficient computation algorithm which is obtained by incorporating the channel variation during the decision delay into the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion. We refer to this as the non-Toeplitz DFE (NT-DFE). We also show the feasibility of a suboptimal receiver which has a lower complexity than a recursive least squares adaptation, with performance close to the optimal NT-DFE.
Modulation of dendritic cell maturation and function by the Tax protein of human T cell leukemia virus type 1

Human T cell leukemia virus type 1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is characterized by the generation of an intense CTL cell response directed against the viral transactivator protein Tax. In addition, patients diagnosed with HAM/TSP exhibit rapid activation and maturation of dendritic cells (DC), likely contributing to the robust, Tax-specific CTL response. In this study, extracellular Tax has been shown to induce maturation and functional alterations in human monocyte-derived DC, critical observations being confirmed in freshly isolated myeloid DC. Tax was shown to promote the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines involved in the DC activation process in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, Tax induced the expression of DC activation (CD40, CD80, and CD86) and maturation (CD83) markers and enhanced the T cell proliferation capability of DC. Heat inactivation of Tax resulted in abrogation of these effects, indicating a requirement for the native structure of Tax, which was found to bind efficiently to the DC membrane and was internalized within a few hours, suggesting that extracellular Tax may possess an intracellular mechanism of action subsequent to entry. Finally, inhibitors of cellular signaling pathways, NF-kappaB, protein kinase, tyrosine kinase, and phospholipase C, were shown to inhibit Tax-mediated DC activation. This is the first study reporting the immunomodulatory effects of extracellular Tax in the DC compartment. These results suggest that DC, once exposed to Tax by uptake from the extracellular environment, can undergo activation, providing constant antigen presentation and costimulation to T cells, leading to the intense T cell proliferation and inflammatory responses underlying HAM/TSP.
Adaptive Coincidence Detection and Dynamic Gain Control in Visual Cortical Neurons In Vivo

Several theories have proposed a functional role for response synchronization in sensory perception. Critics of these theories have argued that selective synchronization is physiologically implausible when cortical networks operate at high levels of activity. Using intracellular recordings from visual cortex in vivo, in combination with numerical simulations, we find dynamic changes in spike threshold that reduce cellular sensitivity to slow depolarizations and concurrently increase the relative sensitivity to rapid depolarizations. Consistent with this, we find that spike activity and high-frequency fluctuations in membrane potential are closely correlated and that both are more tightly tuned for stimulus orientation than the mean membrane potential. These findings suggest that under high-input conditions the spike-generating mechanism adaptively enhances the sensitivity to synchronous inputs while simultaneously decreasing the sensitivity to temporally uncorrelated inputs.
Emergence of ocular dominance columns in cat visual cortex by 2 weeks of age.

Previous anatomic studies of the geniculocortical projection showed that ocular dominance columns emerge by 3 weeks of age in cat visual cortex, but recent optical imaging experiments have revealed a pattern of physiologic eye dominance by the end of the second week of life. We used two methods to search for an anatomic correlate of this early functional ocular dominance pattern. First, retrograde labeling of lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) inputs to areas of cortex preferentially activated by one eye showed that the geniculocortical projection was already partially segregated by eye at postnatal day 14 (P14). Second, transneuronal label of geniculocortical afferents in flattened sections of cortex after a tracer injection into one eye showed a periodic pattern at P14 but not at P7. In the classic model for the development of ocular dominance columns, initially overlapping geniculocortical afferents segregate by means of an activity-dependent competitive process. Our data are consistent with this model but suggest that ocular dominance column formation begins between P7 and P14, approximately a week earlier than previously believed. The functional and anatomic data also reveal an early developmental bias toward contralateral eye afferents. This initial developmental bias is not consistent with a strictly Hebbian model for geniculocortical afferent segregation. The emergence of ocular dominance columns before the onset of the critical period for visual deprivation also suggests that the mechanisms for ocular dominance column formation may be partially distinct from those mediating plasticity later in life. J.
Regulation of ischemic cell death by the lipoic acid-palladium complex, Poly MVA, in gerbils

Modulation of ischemic cell death can be accomplished via a multitude of mechanisms, such as quenching radical species, providing alternative energy sources, or altering glutamate excitation. Transient cerebral ischemia will induce apoptotic cell death selectively to hippocampal cornus ammon's field 1 of the hippocampus (CA1) pyramidal cells, while neighboring CA3 and dentate neurons are spared. Poly MVA is a dietary supplement based on the nontoxic chemotherapeutic lipoic acid-palladium complex (LAPd). LAPd is a liquid crystal that works in cancer cells by transferring excess electrons from membrane fatty acids to DNA via the mitochondria. Therefore, by its structural nature and action as a redox shuttle, it can both quench radicals as well as provide energy to the mitochondria. To understand the role of LAPd in regulating ischemic cell death, we studied Poly MVA. Male Mongolian gerbils were subjected to 5 min of bilateral carotid artery occlusion under a controlled temperature environment (37.0-38.0 degrees C). Animals were injected with physiological saline or either 30, 50, or 70 mg/kg of Poly MVA every 24 h beginning immediately after the occlusion until being sacrificed on experimental day 4. Damage was evaluated by analyzing nesting behavior and conducting blinded measures of viable CA1 lengths. All Poly MVA treatment dosages significantly (p < 0.05) reduced hippocampal CA1 damage by 72 h. Nesting scores were significantly improved after 30 and 50 mg/kg treatment but not 70 mg/kg. While nesting is usually a very accurate indicator of morphological damage, the 70 mg/kg-treated animals demonstrated excessive energy, thus ignoring the nesting material. While numerous routes offer varying degrees of CA1 neuronal survival after transient global ischemia, only the LAPd complex, which quenches radicals and provides energy to stabilize the mitochondria, offers such significant protection. Thus, the administration of Poly MVA may be a potent neuroprotective agent for victims of transient ischemic attack (TIA), cardiac arrest, anesthetic accidents, or drowning.
Appendicitis outcomes with increasing computed tomographic scanning.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine appendicitis outcomes over time as computed tomographic (CT) scanning was incorporated into practice. Basic Procedures: Using chart review, appendectomy cases from 1998 to 2004 were analyzed by year for CT scanning rate, delay in treatment, complications, negative appendectomies, and time to surgery. Delay in treatment was defined as discharge from the ED at first visit or more than 20 hours from examination until surgery. Main Findings: Computed tomographic scanning increased from 12.3% in 1998 to 84.4% in 2004. Delay in treatment decreased from 7.8% in 1998 to 3.0% in 2004. Complications decreased from 33.3% in 1998 to 21.3% in 2004. Negative appendectomy rate did not change significantly over time. There was a slight decrease that may have resulted from chances, variation (p=.087) for the line trend. Median time to surgery increased from 250 minutes in 1998 to 426 minutes in 2002, decreasing to 370 minutes by 2004. Conclusion: During the period when CT scanning increased dramatically, delays in treatment and complications decreased significantly, but negative appendectomy rates decreased only slightly, if at all. Median time to surgery increased.
An initial-value problem for testing numerical models of the global shallow-water equations

We present an initial-value problem for testing numerical models of the global shallow-water equations. This new test case is designed to address some of the difficulties that have recently been uncovered in the canonical test case suite of Williamson et al. The new test case is simple to set up, yet able to generate a complex and realistic flow. The initial condition consists of an analytically specified, balanced, barotropically unstable, mid-latitude jet, to which a simple perturbation is added to initiate the instability. The evolution is comprised of an early adjustment phase dominated by fast, gravity wave dynamics, and a later development characterized by the slow, nearly balanced roll-up of the vorticity field associated with the initial jet. We compute solutions to this problem with a spectral transform model to numerical convergence, in the sense that we refine the spatial and temporal resolution until no changes can be visually detected in global contour plots of the solution fields. We also quantify the convergence with standard norms. We validate these solutions by recomputing them with a different model, and show that the solutions thus obtained converge to those of the original model. This new test is intended to serve as a complement to the Williamson et al. suite, and should be of particular interest in that it involves the formation of complicated dynamical features similar to those that arise in numerical weather prediction and climate models.
Interleukin-1α (IL-1α) promotes angiogenesis in vivo via VEGFR-2 pathway by inducing inflammatory cell VEGF synthesis and secretion

During inflammation, functional changes occur in the vasculature, including extensive endothelial cell mitotic activity and remodeling of capillaries. Interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha)is a prototypical proinflammatory cytokine. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a strong endothelial cell-specific mitogen that exerts a pivotal role in angiogenesis under physiological and pathological conditions. We show that IL-1alpha stimulates VEGF secretion by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) in a dose-dependent manner. This represents induction of de novo VEGF synthesis, as an induction of VEGF mRNA was observed. Also, the release of VEGF was blocked by cycloheximide. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detected four VEGF splice variants in unstimulated and in IL-1alpha-stimulated PBMNCs. In vivo in mice, subcutaneously administered IL-1alpha caused a strong local angiogenic response, which was accompanied by an infiltrate of VEGF-expressing inflammatory cells. The angiogenic effect of IL-1a was blocked when the mice were treated with VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) neutralizing antibodies. VEGFR-1 blocking antibodies had a marginal inhibitory effect on IL-1alpha-induced angiogenesis. These observations indicate that IL-1alpha induces angiogenesis by activating the VEGF-VEGFR-2 signaling pathway between inflammatory cells and blood vessel endothelial cells. This novel mechanism of IL-1alpha-action may enhance the shift to angiogenic phenotype in various conditions designated by excessive angiogenesis.
Validation of a Locally Revised Topographic Index in Central New Jersey, USA

Saturation excess is a major runoff process in humid regions such as the US Northeast. Topographic index (TI) is used to simulate the pattern of runoff-contributing areas following a saturation excess runoff process. Although TI is useful to delineate saturated areas, i.e., hydrologically sensitive areas, for taking spatially distinctive actions in watersheds for improving water quality, local resource management practitioners often question its applicability to local conditions. This study introduces two methods to validate a locally revised TI in humid central New Jersey, USA. The revised TI uses soil moisture deficit instead of water table depth as the state variable in simulating the saturation excess runoff process. First, the calculated TI values were compared to the soil moisture measurements sampled in two sites in Tewksbury Township in the region to evaluate their correlations. Second, a watershed model Variable Source Load Function (VSLF) that incorporates TI was applied to the Neshanic River Watershed in the region and compared to another watershed model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to evaluate its capability in predicting the streamflow and its runoff and baseflow components. The positive correlations between soil moisture measurements and TI suggested TI is a good indicator of runoff-generating potential. VSLF achieves a modeling efficiency comparable to SWAT in simulating watershed hydrology. Such validation gives practitioners confidence to incorporate TI pattern into watershed management practices for improving their efficiency. The results are applicable to shallow, interflow-driven watersheds in humid regions.
Why the Deficit Is a Problem

Since I was born in 1967, there have only been 4 years in which the US government took in as much money in taxes as it spent: 1969, 1998, 1999, and 2000. In the other 40 years, the federal government of the United States had an annual budget deficit. The government was able to spend more than it took in because it could easily borrow the money necessary to make up the shortfall by issuing government bonds, which simply means that investors loan money to the government, and in return, the government agrees to pay investors interest and principal over a specified period of time. The federal government pays the lowest possible interest rate because it has never failed to pay creditors the interest they were due. Even with the debt ceiling debate, the interest rate the US government is currently paying on our debt is very low.
Echocardiographic Diagnosis of Mitral Apparatus Dysfunction with Mitral Insufficiency

The normal continuity between the posterior aortic root echo and the anterior mitral leaflet can be demonstrated by a sweep of the ultrasound beam from the aorta down through the mitral valve. The significance of abnormal systolic closure of the anterior mitral leaflet behind the aortic root was examined prospectively in 92 patients (pts) undergoing cardiac catheterization. Of 4 9 pts with mitral closure 8 mm posterior to the aortic root, 46 had no mitral insufficiency (MI) by cineangiography. Two of the remaining 3 had echo and angiographic evidence of posterior leaflet prolapse. Of the 43 pts with mitral closure 8 mm behind the aortic root, 41 (95%) had MI. No correlation was found between the degree of abnormal closure and the severity of MI. The etiology of the MI varied and included coronary artery disease (29%), congenital heart disease (21%), cardiomyopathy (15%) and rheumatic heart disease (12%). Pts with mitral stenosis were excluded from this study.
The Americans with Disabilities Act: An Empirical Look at U.S. District Court Litigation Involving Government Services and Public Accommodations Claims

ADA litigation occurs in two ways under Titles II and III of the ADA. While the Department of Justice can intervene in private parties’ lawsuits or bring independent suits, the majority of Title II and III enforcement actions are initiated by private individuals. Not only can individuals bring civil suits to induce compliance, because of the Department of Jus-ice’s failure to adequately enforce the ADA’s accessibility provisions, “the primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with the ADA now rests with the persons with disabilities and the attorneys who represent them.” Still, since its enactment, the Act’s private enforcement provisions have often been criticized as giving rise to abusive litigation. Much of this criticism is based on the public perception of ADA litigation, not on sound empirical evidence. In this paper, I empirically explore ADA claims and respond to public criticism of the ADA in light of my findings. Based on a random sample of 100 ADA Title II and III cases, I provide descriptive statistics on Title II and III claims filed in district courts, answering for the first time with empirical data such questions as: Whom are plaintiffs suing in Title II and III cases? From what types of disabilities do ADA plaintiffs suffer? How are these cases resolved?
Laboratory and Field Cage Studies of the Effects of Gamma Radiation on Codling Moths

Gamma radiation of the codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella (L.), as an adult or fully mature pupa reduced the F1, generation 98% when male moths treated with 40 kr were mated with untreated female moths. Treated female moths irradiated with 20 kr and mated with untreated males deposited no viable eggs. The population reduction in the F1, generation was 84% when adult males treated with 40 kr were confined in field cages at a ratio of 20 treated males to 1 untreated male and 1 untreated female moth. The reduction of the F1 generation was slightly lower, 76%, when both the adult females and males treated with 40 kr were released in field cages at a ratio of 20 treated males and 20 treated females to 1 untreated male and 1 untreated female moth.
Automated Coupled Ion Exclusion-Ion Chromatography for the Determination of Trace Anions in Fermentation Broth

Although conventional ion chromatography is well-suited for the determination of trace inorganic anions, it suffers from a matrix interference if the aqueous sample contains a relatively high concentration of weak carboxylic acids (organic acids). Attempts to measure chloride, nitrate, and sulfate ions at parts-per-million concentration levels in sample matrices that have a 10% or higher organic acid content are impossible. Combining ion-exclusion chromatography with low capacity anion exchange (IE-IC) solves the organic acid matrix problem and has wide utility to problems encountered in applying ion chromatography to biotechnology. A Dionex BioLC ion chromatograph is modified so as to accomplish IE-IC. The modified instrument is connected to a dual channel interface that affords simultaneous dual ion chromatograms. To achieve acceptable precision and accuracy, an internal standard mode of calibration had to be developed. This paper discusses our experience with IE-IC and shows our success on actual pilot plant samples from a proprietary biotechnology process
Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea HI1, Determined Using Roche 454 and PacBio Single-Molecule Real-Time Hybrid Sequencing.

ABSTRACT We report here the 6.0-Mb draft genome assembly of Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea strain HI1 using Roche 454 and PacBio single-molecule real-time hybrid-sequencing analysis. This strain is of biological importance since it has the capacity to induce the settlement and metamorphosis of the serpulid polychaete Hydroides elegans and the coral Pocillopora damicornis.
Quantification of the 5-Year Incidence of Thromboembolic Events in U.S. Air Force Academy Cadets in Comparison to the U.S. Naval and Military Academies

AbstractThe medical literature is replete with case reports of thromboembolic events related to high altitude exposure. Studies have shown an increased risk of thromboembolic events at high and very high altitudes. Most of these case reports and studies have been documented at altitudes between 3,000 m and 8,000 m (9,843–26,247 ft). The U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) rests at moderate altitude of 7,250 ft (2,210 m). This study was designed to quantify the incidence of thromboembolic events in USAFA cadets over a 5-year period and then compare the incidence of events to those in the age-matched, similarly screened midshipmen and cadet populations of the U.S. Naval and U.S. Military Academies living at sea level. Our study showed an increased incidence of thromboemoblic events in USAFA cadet outpatients compared with that in the U.S. Military Academy cadets and U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen. This implicates moderate altitude as a potential risk factor for thrombosis.
Ethics in Global Surgery

Interest in making contributions to medical practice and research in low and middle income countries (LMIC) has become increasingly prevalent. The greatest strides have been made in preventive and primary care health measures applied toward vaccination strategies for infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. However, for many reasons, addressing surgical disease in LMIC’s has been a challenge. Although individual groups continue to deliver surgical care throughout the world, an organized agenda for surgical care has been lacking. Concentrated efforts by organizations such as the World Health Organization Global Initiative for Essential and Emergency Surgical Care (WHO-GIEESC) and more recently, the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery and the advocacy-based Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anaesthesia Care (G4 Alliance) are finally yielding benefits by building political priority for surgical care as part of the global development agenda. In May 2015, the World Health Assembly (WHA) passed a landmark resolution on the importance of surgical care in the universal health care plan. The WHA mandate was a significant step towards mobilizing vital surgical initiatives, individuals, institutions, and health care teams. Given the significance of these initiatives, it is imperative and timely, that the ethical issues surrounding global surgery are delineated and better understood. Surgeons who function in this realm carry a significant burden of responsibility to provide safe, cost-effective, culturally-appropriate and good quality care in the most ethical manner possible
Timing of surgery following spinal cord injury.

AbstractBackground: The optimal timing for surgical intervention after traumatic spinal injuries with spinal cord injury remains unclear.Design: Literature review.Findings: Multiple laboratory investigations (in animal models) and many clinical studies suggest better neurological outcomes with early surgical intervention. Conclusive evidence (well-designed randomized, controlled studies), however, is lacking, partly due to the logistics involved in executing such an investigation. Early surgery also appears to decrease the incidence of complications, reduces hospital stay, and helps reduce costs associated with acute management.Conclusion: Early surgical treatment is beneficial in terms of reducing complications, length of stay, and hospital costs. Further studies are needed to clearly demonstrate the impact of operative timing on neurological outcome.
Performance Analysis of a Model-Free Predictor for Delay Compensation in Networked Systems

Abstract One important challenge with networked systems is that communication delays can significantly deteriorate system performance. This paper considers a model-free predictor framework to compensate for communication delays and improve networked system performance, where the term "model-free" indicates that the predictor does not need to know the dynamic equations governing the system. Stability analysis of this predictor is available in the literature; however, ensuring stability does not guarantee a good performance. Understanding when the predictor can perform well and what its limitations are is critical, but the performance characteristics of the predictor are unknown. Hence, this paper aims to fill this gap by providing a predictor performance analysis for constant time delays. First, a frequency-domain analysis is performed for the predictor and the relationship between the predictor design parameter, time delay, and steady-state performance is revealed. Fundamental limitations of the predictor at higher frequencies are laid out. Next, this analysis is confirmed on a case study. The case study further allows for testing the transient performance of the predictor in closed-loop with the networked system, and shows that the predictor holds significant potential to alleviate the negative impact of communication delays, even if its higher frequency performance may be limited.
Draft Genome Sequence of Rhizobium sp. GHKF11, Isolated from Farmland Soil in Pecan Grove, Texas

Rhizobium sp. GHKF11 is an organophosphate-degrading bacterial strain that was isolated from farmland soil in Pecan Grove, Texas, USA. In addition to a capacity for pesticide degradation, GHKF11 shares conserved traits with other Rhizobium spp., including heavy metal resistance and transport genes that may have significant agricultural biotechnology applications.
A reconfigurable ROIC for integrated infrared spectral sensing

The focus of this paper is to design an intelligent readout integrated circuit (iROIC) with built-in programmable analog blocks, capable of performing basic spatio-temporal image-processing and image-recognition operations utilizing temporal and spatial tunable bias unit cells.
Pathogenic Role of Surface Platelet Factor 4 Complexes in Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is caused by antibodies that recognize complexes between high molecular weight heparin and Platelet Factor 4 (PF4). Current therapy with direct thrombin inhibitors is not effective in all cases, likely because it acts downstream of antibody-induced platelet activation. More directed therapies to the underlying pathology in HIT may be more effective. Heparin and PF4 only bind HIT antibodies over a narrow molar ratio of reactants at which ultralarge soluble complexes are formed. We asked whether similar complexes form between PF4 and endogenous platelet glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and their pathogenic role in experimental HIT. Platelet surface GAG:PF4 complexes are indeed antigenic over a narrow molar range of reactants. Heparin is not required for either HIT-IgG or a HIT-like monoclonal antibody KKO to bind to PF4 on human or mouse platelet surfaces in vitro, but enhances antigenicity when very high levels of surface PF4 are present. Antigenicity is maximal at a PF4 concentration of 50 μg/mL (well within the range that can be achieved within a thrombus) and ~25 μg/mL heparin (~0.5 U/mL, which is within the therapeutic range) optimally enhances antigenicity when surface PF4 levels were increased 4-fold. Using transgenic mice lines each with platelets expressing a different level of hPF4, ranging from 0.5 – 6 X’s human platelet levels and all expressing FcRγIIA, were given KKO. The different lines developed thrombocytopenia proportional in severity and duration to hPF4 expression. A standard subcutaneous (sq) heparininzing dose (20 U/kg, sq daily) prolonged the duration of severe thrombocytopenia in high hPF4 expressing mice. We reasoned that altering the ratio of PF4 to GAG in either direction would alter antigenicity and could block the development of thrombocytopenia. In accordance with this concept, both high concentrations of anionic heparin (100 U/kg, sq daily) and cationic protamine sulfate (2 mg/kg, sq daily) decreased KKO binding in vitro and prevented KKO-induced thrombocytopenia in vivo as a demonstration of successful therapeutic intervention. These studies affirm a central role of surface GAG:PF4 complexes in the development of HIT, suggest ways to identify patients at high risk to develop HIT even prior to heparin exposure, and offers a new and rationale therapeutic paradigm based on disrupting surface antigen formation.
A multifunctional biphasic water splitting catalyst tailored for integration with high-performance semiconductor photoanodes

Artificial photosystems are advanced by the development of conformal catalytic materials that promote desired chemical transformations, while also maintaining stability and minimizing parasitic light absorption for integration on surfaces of semiconductor light absorbers. Here, we demonstrate that multifunctional, nanoscale catalysts that enable high-performance photoelectrochemical energy conversion can be engineered by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. The collective properties of tailored Co3O4/Co(OH)2 thin films simultaneously provide high activity for water splitting, permit efficient interfacial charge transport from semiconductor substrates, and enhance durability of chemically sensitive interfaces. These films comprise compact and continuous nanocrystalline Co3O4 spinel that is impervious to phase transformation and impermeable to ions, thereby providing effective protection of the underlying substrate. Moreover, a secondary phase of structurally disordered and chemically labile Co(OH)2 is introduced to ensure a high concentration of catalytically active sites. Application of this coating to photovoltaic p+n-Si junctions yields best reported performance characteristics for crystalline Si photoanodes.
Real World Outcomes of Less Well-Characterized Acute Leukemias: A Population-Based Survival Analysis Using SEER Registry (1973-2012)

Introduction: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry captures data on acute leukemias (AL) that morphologically do not conform to well characterized acute leukemic entities in the established French-American-British (FAB) nomenclature. Not much is known about population level outcomes of these rare AL. We performed a comprehensive survival analysis of these rare AL over a forty-year period using the SEER registry. Methods: SEER 18 dataset was queried to identify adult patients (pts > 18 years) diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and rare AL from 1973-2012. Rare AL cases were identified using ICD-O-3 morphology codes and included Leukemias, Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) (9800-01, 9860) and myeloid sarcoma (9930). Data on demographics,follow up and survival was abstracted. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors influencing survival of rare AL and survival patterns were compared to AML and ALL. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. Results: We identified 61,550 AML pts, 13,457 ALL pts, 525 myeloid sarcoma pts and 13,446 pts with leukemia NOS. Median age at diagnosis was 68 years (yrs, range 18-100) for AML, 54 yrs (18-100) for ALL, 65 yrs (18-95) for myeloid sarcoma and 76 yrs (18-100) for leukemia NOS. Gender distribution was similar with females comprising 45.9% of AML, 43% of ALL, 42.3% of myeloid sarcoma and 47.2% of leukemia NOS cases. Over 80% pts in all categories were Caucasian. Median survival was as follows: 0.4 (0-40) yrs for AML; 1.4 (0-39.8) yrs for ALL; 0.7 (0-32.9) yrs for Myeloid Sarcoma; and 0.3 (0-38.9) yrs for leukemia NOS. In univariable analysis, younger age predicted for better survival for both myeloid sarcoma and leukemia NOS (p 60 yrs with rare AL was as follows: 2.68 (2.13-3.37; p 60 yrs had a better outcome (HR=0.93; 0.91-0.95; p 60 yrs (HR= 0.77; 0.69-0.87; p<0.0001). Conclusion: Pts with leukemias NOS have poor outcomes compared to AML and ALL but prognosis has improved in recent years. The most probable explanation is identification of prognostic molecular mutations that has allowed accurate risk-stratification of pts using the WHO classification and in turn better selection of treatment strategies. Several reasons have limited our understanding of these rare AL - small numbers, exclusion from clinical trials and wide variability in treatment options used. Efforts at better molecular characterization of these AL holds the most promise for improving outcomes. ![Figure][1] ![Figure][1] ![Figure][1] Disclosures Sekeres: Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TetraLogic: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. [1]: pending:yes
Bad vibrations? Cell phone dependency predicts phantom communication experiences

Phantom cell phone experiences are instances when mobile cell phone users perceive ringing, vibrations, and/or visual stimuli indicating an incoming call or message, yet no call or message actually registers on the phone. As a human signal-detection issue, these experiences may be influenced by psychological factors. We hypothesize that phantom cell phone experiences are a symptom of psychological dependency on cell phone communications and the resulting hypersensitivity to stimuli in the same class as cell phone notification methods. We find support for this hypothesis with path model analyzing responses from a large undergraduate sample. Self-reported symptoms of cell phone dependency strongly predicted the frequency of phantom cell phone experiences and mediated the relationships between personality factors, age, and participant sex with the frequency of phantom cell phone experiences. Women, younger individuals, and those with lower conscientiousness and emotional stability (i.e. higher neuroticism) had higher symptoms of cell phone dependency. Display Omitted Cell phone users have reported phantom ringing and vibrations.Psychological factors may exacerbate false positives in signal-detection.Psychological dependency sensitizes individuals to the class of rewarding stimuli.Psychological dependency on cell phones predicts phantom phone experiences.