cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of micelle formation on chromatographic movement of surfactant mixtures

Solutions are presented for equations which describe the chromatographic transport of binary surfactant mixtures. The formation of micelles in the bulk fluid is taken into account. The effects of micellization on the behavior of surfactant pulses are illustrated by solutions for specific cases. Schemes are presented for offsetting the tendency of surfactant pulses to undergo chromatographic separation because of preferential adsorption of the surfactants on the solid substrate. These schemes take advantage of the effects of micelle formation. Generalizations for n-component surfactant systems are outlined. 10 references.
Nonuniversality of the Archie exponent due to multifractality of resistivity well logs

Archie's law expresses a relation between the formation factor F of porous media and their porosity ϕ, F∝ϕ−m, where m is the Archie or the cementation exponent. Despite widespread use of Archie's law, the value of m and whether it is universal and independent of the type of reservoir have remained controversial. We analyze various porosity and resistivity logs along 36 wells in six Iranian oil and gas reservoirs using wavelet transform coherence and multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis. m is estimated for two sets of data: one set contains the resistivity data that include those segments of the well that contain significant clay content and one without. The analysis indicates that the well logs are multifractal and that due to the multifractality the exponent m is nonuniversal. Thus, analysis of the resistivity of laboratory or outcrop samples that are not multifractal yields estimates of m that are not applicable to well logs in oil or gas reservoirs.
Computational exploration of disinfection of bacterial biofilms in partially blocked channels

SUMMARY The failure of typical disinfectant protocols to eliminate bacterial biofilms is one of the major concerns in industrial, clinical, and environmental biofilm control. Biofilms have a variety of mechanisms that protect the bacteria including physiological, physical, and phenotypic mechanisms. This investigation focuses on an aspect of protection that exploits the combination of physiological tolerance and nutrient gradients. In particular, the fluid flow in a channel that is partially blocked introduces diffusion limited zones where the bacteria can evade the disinfectant challenge. These zones are both up- and down-stream of the obstacle. Using a computational study of a two-fluid system, this novel mechanism is explored. The model is numerically solved using a hybrid boundary integral method where boundary conditions are implemented using the free space Green's function to determine forces that are imparted on the fluid by the boundaries. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sustained Signaling by Phospholipase C-γ Mediates Nerve Growth Factor-Triggered Gene Expression

In contrast to conventional signaling by growth factors that requires their continual presence, a 1-min pulse of nerve growth factor (NGF) is sufficient to induce electrical excitability in PC12 cells due to induction of the peripheral nerve type 1 (PN1) sodium channel gene. We have investigated the mechanism for this triggered signaling pathway by NGF in PC12 cells. Mutation of TrkA at key autophosphorylation sites indicates an essential role for the phospholipase C-γ (PLC-γ) binding site, but not the Shc binding site, for NGF-triggered induction of PN1. In concordance with results with Trk mutants, drug-mediated inhibition of PLC-γ activity also blocks PN1 induction by NGF. Examination of the kinetics of TrkA autophosphorylation indicates that triggered signaling does not result from sustained activation and autophosphorylation of the TrkA receptor kinase, whose phosphorylation state declines rapidly after NGF removal. Rather, TrkA triggers an unexpectedly prolonged phosphorylation and activation of PLC-γ signaling that is sustained for up to 2 h. Prevention of the elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels using BAPTA-AM results in a block of PN1 induction by NGF. Sustained signaling by PLC-γ provides a means for differential neuronal gene induction after transient exposure to NGF.
Germany and Middle Europe: The Economic Pattern, 1871–1914

A large proportion of the wartime and post-war literature which discussed pre-war relationships of Germany with Austria-Hungary, the Balkans, and the Near East, found strong mid-European motivations in the pre-war economic foreign policy of Berlin. Among a host of non-German works, one of the more serious and scholarly stated: ‘German economic policy in the Balkans in most respects paralleled that of Austria. The formulation of the Mittel-Europa [sic] scheme and of the Drang nach Osten gave the Balkans a peculiar importance to both powers, since domination there was essential to the penetration of the Near East. If the Berlin-to-Bagdad Railway were ever completely built, a long section would have to run through this territory, which would be most valuable under either the German or Austrian flag. ...’ 1 German authors were no less convinced. An Austrian-German economist, Arthur Spiethoff, declared in 1915, ‘The establishment of an economic zone of interest from the North Sea to the Persian Gulf has been for nearly two decades the secret, unvoiced aim of German foreign policy.’ 2 In the later 1920’s two other writers stated, ‘Germany, by her Near Eastern policy, expanded the Danubian sphere [Donaukraftfeld] to the aim of domination from Hamburg to Bagdad, with which it sought to create by land an economic and political concentration of interests between Central Europe and Asia Minor...;’ 3 and, ‘over the land bridge of her ally Austria-Hungary [Germany] was pushing towards the Near East. ... [The Bagdad Railroad] was to offer an exit for our land-locked Reich along the path of least resistance, and accordingly became a symbol of the future highway of a German Weltpolitik.’ 4
Myoglobinuric acute renal failure associated with cocaine use

A case of a young muscular male presenting in anuric acute renal failure after cocaine use with a distal obstructive nephropathy by myoglobin casts is presented. Insights into cocaine metabolism, adverse effects, and interaction with alcohol, diagnostic considerations, and mechanisms involved in renal damage are addressed.
Model for Calculating the Compressive Deformability of Double‐Layered Curdlan Gels

The compressive force-deformation relationships of double-layered curdlan gels (made of 2.5% and 3.5% gels) were calculated from those of the components. On the basis of the assumptions that the normal force in the layers is the same, that their deformations are additive, and that the effects of lateral stresses and viscoelasticity can be neglected, the calculation was done by using a mathematical model the constants of which were determined from the behavior of the individual layers. The calculated relationships were in agreement with experimental relationships over a considerable range of strain. Failure of the arrays, however, preceded that of the layers and was accompanied by their separation, a phenomenon that is unrelated to the model but limits the strain range of its applicability.
Eye Movements for Reward Maximization

Recent eye tracking studies in natural tasks suggest that there is a tight link between eye movements and goal directed motor actions. However, most existing models of human eye movements provide a bottom up account that relates visual attention to attributes of the visual scene. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new model of human eye movements that directly ties eye movements to the ongoing demands of behavior. The basic idea is that eye movements serve to reduce uncertainty about environmental variables that are task relevant. A value is assigned to an eye movement by estimating the expected cost of the uncertainty that will result if the movement is not made. If there are several candidate eye movements, the one with the highest expected value is chosen. The model is illustrated using a humanoid graphic figure that navigates on a sidewalk in a virtual urban environment. Simulations show our protocol is superior to a simple round robin scheduling mechanism.
Secretion of follicle-regulatory protein by porcine granulosa cells.

Follicle-regulatory protein (FRP) affects ovarian steroidogenesis and thus follicular maturation. However, secretion of FRP by cells from different-sized follicles as well as the modulation of FRP production by gonadotropins and locally produced steroids are unknown. To evaluate which cell type secretes FRP, tbeca and granulosa cells were obtained from porcine follicles. In addition, the effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and steroids on FRP secretion from granulosa cells of small ( 8 mm) porcine follicles and theca cells of large follicles were determined. Granulosa cells were obtained from foiicular aspirates, whereas theca cells were recovered after digestion of the stereomicroscopically removed thecal layer. Both were cultured in monolayer in serum-free medium. Granulosa cells were treated as follows: 1) control; 2) FSH (250 nglml); 3) progesterone (500 ng/ml, 3 Mg/mI), or estradiol-1 7� (500 ng/mI, 4Mg/ml), or dibydrotestosterone (500 ng/ml, 1 ,�g/ml); 4) FSH + progesterone, or estradiol-1 7p, or dibydrotestosterone. Theca cells received the same treatment except that human chorionic gonadotropin (bCG) (Sm JU/ml) was used in place of FSH. At 48 or 96 b, media were removed and FRP was quantitated by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). FRP was identified in granulosal medium from follicles of all sizes, but was not present in thecal cultures. At 48 b, granulosa cells from small and medium-sized follicles produced more FRP (20.04 ± 4.4, 35.42 ± 4.1 immunoreactive units [IRU]) than cells from large (3.53 ± 0.97 IRU) follicles. Secretion of FRP was enhanced at 96 h from granulosa cells of medium and large follicles. Neither FSH nor steroids alone bad any apparent effect on FRP secretion from granulosa cells from any sized follicle. However, steroids plus FSH increased FRP secretion from granulosa cells of small follicles while inhibiting FRP secretion from large follicles. Therefore, granulosa cells from medium and small follicles appear to produce the majority of endogenous FRP found in porcine ovaries. FSH alone appears to have little effect on FRP secretion; however, in conjunction with steroids, the effect of FSH can be stimulatory or inhibitory depending on tbe stage of follicular development.
Airspace Complexity Measurement: An Air Traffic Control Simulation Analysis

This paper describes results of a dynamic density (DD) human-in-the-loop simulation and DD model development activity that was designed to examine the complexity measures. DD measures that were presented at the US/Europe ATM 2003 Seminar were used in the analysis. This study differed from the previous one in three aspects: first, the simulation included Reduced Vertical Separation Minima procedures, second, the study focused on the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center’s airspace where previous study results showed the weakest correlation, and third, the traffic was actively controlled during the simulation, whereas in the previous study, audio/video replays were shown. The results indicated that the DD metric performed better than aircraft count, which is the basis of the presently used complexity gauge, and that the new DD model performed better than the previous model for Cleveland Center.
Sensitivity of passive microwave snow depth retrievals to weather effects and snow evolution

Snow fall and snow accumulation are key climate parameters due to the snow's high albedo, its thermal insulation, and its importance to the global water cycle. Satellite passive microwave radiometers currently provide the only means for the retrieval of snow depth and/or snow water equivalent (SWE) over land as well as over sea ice from space. All algorithms make use of the frequency-dependent amount of scattering of snow over a high-emissivity surface. Specifically, the difference between 37- and 19-GHz brightness temperatures is used to determine the depth of the snow or the SWE. With the availability of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E) on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Earth Observing System Aqua satellite (launched in May 2002), a wider range of frequencies can be utilized. In this study we investigate, using model simulations, how snow depth retrievals are affected by the evolution of the physical properties of the snow (mainly grain size growth and densification), how they are affected by variations in atmospheric conditions and, finally, how the additional channels may help to reduce errors in passive microwave snow retrievals. The sensitivity of snow depth retrievals to atmospheric water vapor is confirmed through the comparison with precipitable water retrievals from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU-B). The results suggest that a combination of the 10-, 19-, 37-, and 89-GHz channels may significantly improve retrieval accuracy. Additionally, the development of a multisensor algorithm utilizing AMSR-E and AMSU-B data may help to obtain weather-corrected snow retrievals.
Transplanting fresh donor faeces to cure symptomatic relapsing Clostridium difficile infection: a literature review

Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a pathogen that affects hospitalised patients on broad-spectrum antibiotics. Recently, a more virulent strain resistant to standard treatment has been observed, in parallel with increasing rates of C. diff in hospitalised and nursing home patients. Metronidazole is the current initial treatment for mild to moderate C. diff, followed by high doses of vancomycin for unresponsive or difficult-to-treat patients. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an alternative therapy that is more efficacious. The findings of the first randomised controlled trial (RCT) on FMT were released in January 2013, and they provide statistically significant results that suggest FMT is more effective than standard therapies. This article reviews the RCT and three other studies, all of which provide a solid recommendation for clinicians to consider fresh faecal transplantation for patients with debilitating recurrent C. diff infections.
What drives the evolution of the Milky Way's disk?

Data from the recently launched Gaia satellite in combination with data from large spectroscopic and asteroseismology surveys will allow great progress in unraveling the evolutionary history of the Milky Way disk over the next decade. Here, I briefly review the progress made with observations in the solar neighborhood in constraining the main processes involved in the formation and evolution of the Galactic disk. I then focus on recent new insights on the chemo-dynamical structure of the disk from SEGUE and APOGEE data. I conclude by summarizing the current state of knowledge and what evolutionary actors best explain the data that we have now, and by looking forward to the most informative measurements that Gaia and other surveys can make.
Commutativity in Finite Matrices

(1957). Commutativity in Finite Matrices. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 64, No. 4, pp. 229-235.
Abstract 4021: Transcriptomic landscape of Ewing sarcoma based on RNAseq.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Ewing sarcoma is the second most common primary bone tumor in children, constituting 3% of all pediatric tumors. The 5 year survival rate is 59% to 76% for children younger than 15 years and from 20% to 49% for those aged 15 to 19 years. 85% of Ewing sarcoma are characterized by a chromosomal translocation between the Ewing sarcoma gene (EWS) breaking point and the ETS family of transcription factor FLI1, which creates a new type of fusion transcription factor with novel functions. While EWS-FLI1 is the predominating translocation event, other types of translocations between EWS and other ETS transcription factors have been reported. Mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) are thought to be the cell of origin for Ewing sarcoma. The molecular mechanisms of transformation of hMSCs with ectopic EWS-FLI1 expression has been extensively studied, however, a complete transformation of hMSCs into Ewing sarcoma tumor cells is not yet achieved suggesting there are other elements required for the transformation of hMSCs. RNAseq has proved to be a powerful new method for capturing multiple arrays of information simultaneously such as gene expression, nucleotide variation, alternative splicing patterns and fusion transcripts. RNAseq has been used only once in the literature in identification of a novel fusion transcript in Ewing sarcoma tumor cells. Here we obtained RNAseq data from Ewing sarcoma patients and cell lines to gather novel insight into the pathogenesis of Ewing sarcoma. We obtained sequencing data from two Ewing sarcoma cell lines (A673 and SK-PN-DW); human brain vascular pericytes (HBVP), 8 patient tumors and 3 matched normal control tissues. Initial data analysis was performed through an in-house developed pipeline that uses publicly available software and further data analysis was performed using R with various packages. We describe the gene expression changes in patients compared to normal tissues as well as HBVP. We also discovered a group of novel fusion transcripts that we subsequently confirmed with RT-PCR. Since EWS is also an RNA splicing protein, changes in alternative splicing are also described. Citation Format: Ahmet Zehir, Srikanth R. Ambati, Malcolm AS Moore. Transcriptomic landscape of Ewing sarcoma based on RNAseq. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4021. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4021
Fraternal Twins: Legislative History and the History of Legislation

The "legislative history" that lawyers research to help them interpret the language of statutes, bears very little resemblance to the actual history of how that law was passed. In his The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Master of the Senate historian Robert A. Caro showed LBJ's gritty, convoluted and intensely personality driven battle to pass a civil rights act. The texts of the laws passed in these years reflected compromises, political decisions, and intentions only dimly reflected in the bills, amendments, House and Senate reports, and debates that one would examine using the traditional implements of legislative history. Moreover, sometimes the tools that historians use — papers, accounts of journalists, memoirs — are available to lawyers soon enough to use along with the legislative history toolkit to interpret federal legislation. This short article discusses a few of these resources and offers examples of good histories and journalistic treatments of lawmaking.
Disciplinary Interrelationships: are they Being Given Proper Consideration?

Abstract HISTORIC BACKGROUND ON COOPERATION THE NEED for greater consideration of interrelationships in the experimental design of poultry research was recognized early in the history of the agricultural experiment stations. In 1887, just after the passage of the Hatch Act, at the first meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Experiment Stations, Atwater stated: In a co-ordination of work a pretty full liberty of choice will have to be left to the workers and no definite line can be laid down as to what they shall do. Freedom of action is one of the prime essentials of all successful research.… At the same time, unless I greatly err, there are numerous ways in which the large questions of agricultural experiments, for which Congress is expected to make provision, may be materially facilitated by union of effort. At the second meeting of the Association (1889), Atwater discussed cooperation again, quoting from …
Zinc and copper in infant diets.

The diets of 59 healthy Utah infants were examined for nutritional adequacy. Group averages showed adequate dietary intake, with copper the limiting nutrient.
Mercury inhibits Na-K-ATPase primarily at the cytoplasmic side

The investigation of active Na-K transport inhibition by mercury is difficult to perform in a cell because of the presence of numerous other membrane and intracellular proteins modifiable by mercury. Thus purified Na-K-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) molecules performing active transport in an artificial membrane are required to demonstrate unequivocally the inhibition of active transport by mercury. We made use of a single population of Na-K-ATPase liposomes filled with ATP and Na to show mercury inhibition of active 86Rb transport mediated by both the inside-out and right-side-out pumps in the same liposome. The effect of HgCl2 on the Na-K-ATPase in cell-like and reversed orientation was measured in comparison with convallatoxin. A dilution series showed that 10 microM externally added HgCl2 inhibited the active 86Rb transport at the cytoplasmic side first; at 50 microM both pump populations were blocked, indicating either membrane permeation by HgCl2 and inhibition at the internal intracellular domains or onset of extracellular action at higher HgCl2 concentration. The results show that the metal-binding interface of Na-K-ATPase molecule is profoundly implicated in active ion transport and that the intracellular part of the Na-K-ATPase molecule presents the primary target for mercury action.
Describing Failure in a Clinical Clerkship: Implications for Identification, Assessment and Remediation for Struggling Learners

In addition to training future members of the profession, medical schools perform the critical role of identifying students who are failing to meet minimum standards in core competencies. To better understand reasons for failure in an internal medicine clerkship. A qualitative content analysis of letters describing reasons for students’ failure. Forty-three students (31 men) who failed the internal medicine clerkship at the University of Minnesota Medical School, 2002–2013. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of the 43 letters describing reasons for students’ failure. We coded critical deficiencies and mapped them to the Physician Competency Reference Set (PCRS) competency domains and classified them into two categories: conduct (unprofessional behaviors) and knowledge and skills specific to the practice of medicine. We then calculated the frequency of each critical deficiency. We statistically tested for relationships between gender and critical deficiencies in each of the competency domains. We coded 50 critical deficiencies with all codes mapping to a PCRS competency domain. The most frequently cited deficiencies were “insufficient knowledge” (79 % of students) and “inadequate patient presentation skills” (74 %). Students exhibited critical deficiencies in all eight competency domains, with the highest concentrations in Knowledge for Practice (98 %) and Interpersonal and Communication Skills (91 %). All students demonstrated deficiencies in multiple competencies, with 98 % having deficiencies in three or more. All 43 students demonstrated deficits in the knowledge and skills category, and 81 % had concurrent conduct issues. There were no statistically significant relationships between gender and critical deficiencies in any competency domain. This study highlights both the diversity and commonality of reasons that students fail a clinical clerkship. Knowing the range of areas where students struggle, as well as the most likely areas of difficulty, may aid faculty in identifying students who are failing and in developing remediation strategies.
Effect of Hydrophilicity of Clay on Cold Crystallization of Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) Nanocomposites

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) nanocomposites with two different clays were fabricated via a novel two-step process. Structure, morphology, and cold crystallization of these nanocomposites were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD results reveals that PTT-15A nanocomposites were fully exfoliated, whereas PTT-30B nanocomposites were partially exfoliated. Non-isothermal cold crystallization temperature and the crystallinity of non-isothermally cold-crystallized PTT-15A nanocomposites increased with increasing 15A content. The crystallinity of isothermally cold-crystallized PTT-15A nanocomposites was shown to increase with crystallization temperature and the clay content, but no clear trend in crystallinity was observed for PTT-30B nanocomposites. The combination of FTIR and DSC has been used to determine the conformational changes during isothermal cold crystallization. The results show that the crysta...
Lesion Morphology in Multifocal Infantile Hemangiomas

Background/Objectives Multifocal infantile hemangiomas (MIHs; previously called neonatal hemangiomatosis) can be associated with extracutaneous hemangiomas. We observed different morphologic types of hemangiomas in children with MIHs and sought to find out whether they are related to the clinical course. Methods This was a retrospective study of 103 infants with MIHs and a control group of 261 age-matched patients with solitary focal infantile hemangiomas (IHs) seen at an academic pediatric dermatology department between 2004 and 2014. Results Two morphologic subtypes of hemangiomas were identified: miliary focal hemangiomas (MFHs; small, lens shaped) in 58 of 103 MIH patients (56.3%), and classical nonmiliary focal IHs (NMIHs; larger, irregularly shaped) in 17 of 103 patients (16.5%). MIHs featuring both types (mixed type) were observed in 28 of 103 patients (27.2%). MFH lesions were significantly smaller (mean 5.3 mm [range 1–20 mm] vs 22.0 mm [range 2–100 mm]), more numerous (23.4 ± 27.3 [range 5–175] vs 7.4 ± 2.8 [range 5–15] p < 0.001), and occurred up to an older age (6.0 ± 5.8 months [range 0–27 months] vs 3.8 ± 2.6 months [range 0–9 months]) than NMIHs. There was a weakly positive correlation between the number and presence of extracutaneous IHs in children with MFHs. Significantly more children with MIHs were delivered preterm than those with solitary IHs. Conclusions The number of IHs correlates inversely with their size. MFHs follow a clinical course different from that of classical IHs, are associated with prematurity, and may confer greater risk of extracutaneous hemangiomas. Miliary hemangiomas thus appear to present a separate IH subset requiring special attention.
A recent review of mid-wavelength infrared type-II superlattices: carrier localization, device performance, and radiation tolerance

The last two decades have seen tremendous progress in the design and performance of mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) type-II superlattices (T2SL) for detectors. The materials of focus have evolved from the InAs/(In)GaSb T2SL to include InAs/InAsSb T2SLs and most recently InGaAs/InAsSb SLs, with each materials system offering particular advantages and challenges. InAs/InAsSb SLs have the longest minority carrier lifetimes, and their best nBn dark current densities are 120 K) where these SL unipolar barrier detectors are diffusion-limited and Auger-limited. The SL barrier detectors remain diffusion-limited post proton irradiation, but the dark current density increases due to the minority carrier lifetime decreasing with increased displacement damage causing an increase in the trap density. For these SL detectors to operate in space, the continued understanding and mitigation of point defects is necessary.
Quantitative Shedding of Multiple Genotypes of Cryptosporidium and Giardia by Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in a Major Agricultural Region on the California Central Coast

Deer mice ( Peromyscus maniculatus ) are abundant and widely distributed rodents in North America that occupy diverse habitats, including agricultural landscapes. Giardia and Cryptosporidium are common parasites in wildlife including deer mice, which may play a role in on-farm contamination of produce. An important step in assessing the risk of produce contamination by Cryptosporidium and Giardia shed by deer mice is to determine the prevalence, levels, and genotypes of (oo)cysts in mouse feces. A total of 63 (30.3%) and 53 (25.5%) of 208 deer mice trapped on 12 farms on the California Central Coast were positive for Cryptosporidium and Giardia, respectively. Of these mice, 41 (19.7%) contained both parasites. The odds of Cryptosporidium shedding were 2.5 to 5 times higher for mice trapped in autumn than for mice trapped in summer or spring. Female mice had a higher prevalence and two- to threefold higher levels of Cryptosporidium and Giardia compared with male mice. Female adults and female juveniles had the highest rates of contamination of the environment with Cryptosporidium and Giardia, respectively. We estimated that 20 infected deer mice inhabiting 1 ha of a typical leafy green produce farm in the study region could shed approximately 5.3 × 108 Cryptosporidium and 10.5 × 108 Giardia, respectively, per day into the environment. The small-subunit rRNA gene loci from a subset of protozoan isolates were sequenced and compared with existing sequences in GenBank. Multiple genotypes of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were found, and BLAST analyses suggest that Giardia and the majority of Cryptosporidium genotypes in deer mice circulate within various rodent populations, but some Cryptosporidium isolates possess zoonotic potential.
Comparison of linezolid and vancomycin lock solutions with and without heparin against biofilm-producing bacteria.

Purpose The activity of linezolid and vancomycin lock solutions against biofilm-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis , and Enterococcus faecalis was studied. Methods Two strains each of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and S. epidermidis , and 1 strain of vancomycin-susceptible E. faecalis and vancomycin- resistant E. faecalis were tested against vancomycin and linezolid to assess prevention of biofilm formation and eradication of these pathogens within a formed biofilm. Activity was also tested in a 72-hour in vitro central venous catheter (CVC) model. After 24 hours of biofilm growth in a CVC, a lock solution containing vancomycin (2 or 5 mg/mL) or linezolid (1 or 2 mg/mL) alone or in combination with heparin sodium (5,000 units/mL with benzyl alcohol 0.45%) was instilled and incubated at 35 °C for 72 hr. Heparin and 0.9% sodium chloride injection were also tested. Results Linezolid and vancomycin prevented biofilm formation below the minimum inhibitory concentration for 88% and 25% of isolates tested, respectively. The addition of preservative-containing heparin decreased the activity of vancomycin and linezolid lock solutions against all strains. Vancomycin 2- and 5-mg/mL lock solutions had the most activity against MSSA and E. faecalis strains ( p < 0.01). Linezolid 2 mg/mL was the most active lock solution against the MRSA strains tested ( p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in vancomycin or linezolid lock solution activity against S. epidermidis . Conclusion Heparin reduced activity of vancomycin and linezolid lock solutions against S. aureus, S. epidermidis , and E. faecalis biofilms. While linezolid or vancomycin lock solution reduced overall biofilm burden, it did not completely eradicate the bacteria at tested concentrations.
Overcoming the Impact of Corruption through Diligence: The Experience of Russian Female Managers

This article proposes that managerial time spent dealing with regulations, in addition to being a reflection of regulatory burden, can also be partially accounted by managerial strategy and propens...
Antihypertensive Therapies and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy.

It is widely accepted that successful lowering of blood pressure (BP) in patients with hypertension leads to regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, whether differences exist among pharmacological BP-lowering therapies is debated. In this report, we discuss these differences in light of recent literature and the position of extant practice guidelines. Studies comparing the effects of antihypertensive classes on LVH regression reached different conclusions, but the overall direction which is reflected in current society guidelines is that successful lowering of BP is more important than selection of an individual antihypertensive class. Nevertheless, some practice guidelines added statements about considering a specific antihypertensive class for its potential benefit such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or excluding a class such as direct vasodilators. On the other hand, reports have been consistent about the more favorable effect of intensive BP-lowering strategy (target systolic BP 140 mmHg), which is not yet discussed in the current practice guidelines. Successful lowering of BP leads to LVH regression. While reports have been inconsistent about differences among antihypertensive classes, lowering BP beyond currently recommended levels has consistently showed a greater effect on LVH regression.
Localized DNA Hybridization Chain Reactions on DNA Origami.

The field of DNA nanoscience has demonstrated many exquisite DNA nanostructures and intricate DNA nanodevices. However, the operation of each step of prior demonstrated DNA nanodevices requires the diffusion of DNA strands, and the speed of these devices is limited by diffusion kinetics. Here we demonstrate chains of localized DNA hybridization reactions on the surface of a self-assembled DNA origami rectangle. The localization design for our DNA nanodevices does not rely on the diffusion of DNA strands for each step, thus providing faster reaction kinetics. The locality also provides considerable increased scalability, since localized components of the devices can be reused in other locations. A variety of techniques, including atomic force microscopy, total internal reflection fluorescence, and ensemble fluorescence spectroscopy, are used to confirm the occurrence of localized DNA hybridization reactions on the surface of DNA origami. There are many potential biological applications for our localized DN...
Quantitative phase imaging characterization of tumor-associated blood vessel formation on a chip

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from existing ones, is a biological process that has an essential role in solid tumor growth, development, and progression. Recent advances in Lab-on-a-Chip technology has created an opportunity for scientists to observe endothelial cell (EC) behaviors during the dynamic process of angiogenesis using a simple and economical in vitro platform that recapitulates in vivo blood vessel formation. Here, we use quantitative phase imaging (QPI) microscopy to continuously and non-invasively characterize the dynamic process of tumor cell-induced angiogenic sprout formation on a microfluidic chip. The live tumor cell-induced angiogenic sprouts are generated by multicellular endothelial sprouting into 3 dimensional (3D) Matrigel using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). By using QPI, we quantitatively measure a panel of cellular morphological and behavioral parameters of each individual EC participating in this sprouting. In this proof-of-principle study, we demonstrate that QPI is a powerful tool that can provide real-time quantitative analysis of biological processes in in vitro 3D biomimetic devices, which, in turn, can improve our understanding of the biology underlying functional tissue engineering.
An Impact Damage Model of Ceramic Coatings

An elasto-dynamic finite element model with a failure criterion based on damage mechanics was used to replicate impact damage experiments of partially stabilized zirconia and borosilicate-glass coated reusable surface insulation (RSI) tiles. The finite element model was then used to predict impact damage in zirconia coated steel and RSI tiles under different impact conditions.
Metaphors for visualization

This paper investigates the use of several common objects such as spray cans, flashlights, carving knives, and others as metaphors for visualization. The motivation behind this work is to provide an intuitive and natural 3D interface such that users will view these objects as tools during the visualization process. To help achieve this goal, the selection of the object tools are derived from expressions commonly used during visualization. For example, “let’s paint this (iso)surface red”; “cut away the front part of that volume”; “look at it from this angle”; “you get similar effects from an x-ray photo”; and “let’s explore this data set”. In this paper, we also extend the metaphor of cutting planes to allow users to carve non-planar cross-sectional cuts through their data sets. This extension will directly benefit applications such as medical visualization where one might want to generate curved coronal cross-sections of lumbar spines; and in oceanography where one might want to compare numerical model output against data obtained along non-planar ship tracks.
Classical Partition Function and Euler’s Product Formula

With various Substitution of q and z, Jacobi’s triple product identity gives many interesting results. For example, if we put q = q3/2 and then z = −q−1/2 into (11.1), we get $$ \sum\limits_{n \in \mathbb{Z}} {( - 1)^n q^{\frac{{(3n^2 - n)}} {2}} } = \prod\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {(1 - q^{3n} )(1 - q^{3n - 2} )} (1 - q^{3n - 1} ) = \prod\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {(1 - q^n ),} $$ (12.1) which is called Euler’s product formula. We proved that it holds when |q| < 1. It follows that it also holds as an equality of formal power series in q (see Chapter 8). The formula may also be written using Euler’s product $$ \phi (q) = \prod\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {(1 - q^n )} $$ as $$ \phi (q) = \sum\limits_{n \in \mathbb{Z}} {( - 1)^n q^{e_n } } , $$ (12.2) where $$ e_n = \frac{{3n^2 - n}} {2} $$ (12.3) are called pentagonal numbers. The reader is encouraged to multiply out the first few factors of Euler’s product to discover the astonishing fact that indeed the enth coefficient is (−1) n and all other coefficients are zero.
Mycobacterial Infections in AIDS

Tuberculosis (TB) remains uniquely important among acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated opportunistic infections: it presents the greatest public health hazard worldwide, is the most readily curable, and is largely preventable with existing means. Given the expanding pool of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive persons, particularly in developing nations where Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a leading health problem, one can expect a continued rise in TB cases during the 1990s. Global efforts to eliminate TB are now inextricably entwined with the effectiveness of measures to curtail the HIV epidemic. Mycobacterium avium complex infection, currently an intractable late complication of aids, may increase in clinical importance as success in managing other opportunistic infections and HIV disease itself improves. Understanding of the pathogenesis and management of mycobacterial diseases should increase rapidly given the renewed research spurred on by the advent of HIV.
Finescale Assessment of Mobile Home Tornado Vulnerability in the Central and Southeast United States

AbstractResearch has illustrated that tornado disaster potential and impact severity are controlled by hazard risk and underlying physical and social vulnerabilities. Previous vulnerability studies...
SPLUNC1 degradation by the cystic fibrosis mucosal environment drives airway surface liquid dehydration

The multi-organ disease cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene ( CFTR ) that lead to diminished transepithelial anion transport. CF lungs are characterised by airway surface liquid (ASL) dehydration, chronic infection/inflammation and neutrophilia. Dysfunctional CFTR may upregulate the epithelial Na + channel (ENaC), further exacerbating dehydration. We previously demonstrated that short palate lung and nasal epithelial clone 1 (SPLUNC1) negatively regulates ENaC in normal airway epithelia. Here, we used pulmonary tissue samples, sputum and human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) to determine whether SPLUNC1 could regulate ENaC in a CF-like environment. We found reduced endogenous SPLUNC1 in CF secretions, and rapid degradation of recombinant SPLUNC1 (rSPLUNC1) by CF secretions. Normal sputum, containing SPLUNC1 and SPLUNC1-derived peptides, inhibited ENaC in both normal and CF HBECs. Conversely, CF sputum activated ENaC, and rSPLUNC1 could not reverse this phenomenon. Additionally, we observed upregulation of ENaC protein levels in human CF bronchi. Unlike SPLUNC1, the novel SPLUNC1-derived peptide SPX-101 resisted protease degradation, bound apically to HBECs, inhibited ENaC and prevented ASL dehydration following extended pre-incubation with CF sputum. Our data indicate that CF mucosal secretions drive ASL hyperabsorption and that protease-resistant peptides, e.g. SPX-101, can reverse this effect to rehydrate CF ASL.
The Indigenous Governor of Tlaxcala and Acceptable Indigenousness in the Porfirian Regime

This article examines how Prospero Cahuantzi, governor of Tlaxcala from 1885–1911, claimed his Indigenous heritage. Cahuantzi asserted his Indigenousness by contributing to the Porfirian administration’s nation-building campaigns, which glorified Mexico’s Indigenous past. The article traces how Cahuantzi collected, disseminated, and protected Indigenous artifacts and history. Through his actions, which included giving speeches in Nahuatl at the Eleventh International Congress of Americanists (Mexico City, 1895), Cahuantzi ingratiated himself to national and international elites. Thus, the article shows how Cahuantzi’s Indigenousness helped him to secure a permanent political position in Porfirio Diaz’s dictatorship (1876–1910). Este articulo examina la manera en que Prospero Cahuantzi, gobernador de Tlaxcala entre 1885 y 1911, reclamo para si su legado indigena. Cahuantzi afirmo su caracter indigena colaborando con las campanas de construccion nacional del gobierno porfiriano que glorificaban el pasado indigena de Mexico. En el articulo se revisa como Cahuantzi recolecto, difundio y protegio los objetos y la historia indigenas. Mediante sus acciones, entre las que se conto pronunciar discursos en nahuatl en el Decimo Primer Congreso Internacional de Americanistas (ciudad de Mexico, 1895), Cahuantzi se congracio con las elites nacionales e internacionales. Asi, el articulo muestra como la condicion indigena de Cahuantzi le ayudo a mantener un puesto politico permanente en la dictadura de Porfirio Diaz (1876–1910).
Testing for Meningitis in Febrile Well-Appearing Young Infants With a Positive Urinalysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine factors associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing in febrile young infants with a positive urinalysis and assess the probability of delayed diagnosis of bacterial meningitis in infants treated for urinary tract infection (UTI) without CSF testing. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from the Reducing Excessive Variability in Infant Sepsis Evaluation quality improvement project. A total of 20 570 well-appearing febrile infants 7 to 60 days old presenting to 124 hospitals from 2015 to 2017 were included. A mixed-effects logistic regression was conducted to determine factors associated with CSF testing. Delayed meningitis was defined as a new diagnosis of bacterial meningitis within 7 days of discharge. RESULTS: Overall, 3572 infants had a positive urinalysis; 2511 (70.3%) underwent CSF testing. There was wide variation by site, with CSF testing rates ranging from 64% to 100% for infants 7 to 30 days old and 10% to 100% for infants 31 to 60 days old. Factors associated with CSF testing included: age 7 to 30 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8–5.5), abnormal inflammatory markers (aOR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.8–2.5), and site volume >300 febrile infants per year (aOR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2–2.6). Among 505 infants treated for UTI without CSF testing, there were 0 (95% CI: 0%–0.6%) cases of delayed meningitis. CONCLUSIONS: There was wide variation in CSF testing in febrile infants with a positive urinalysis. Among infants treated for UTI without CSF testing (mostly 31 to 60-day-old infants), there were no cases of delayed meningitis within 7 days of discharge, suggesting that routine CSF testing of infants 31 to 60 days old with a positive urinalysis may not be necessary.
An Adaptive, Contextual, Technology-Aided Support (ACTS) System for Chronic Illness Self-Management

Policy Points Fundamental changes are needed in how complex chronic illness conditions are conceptualized and managed. Health management plans for chronic illness need to be integrated, adaptive, contextual, technology aided, patient driven, and designed to address the multilevel social environment of patients' lives. Such primary care-based health management plans are feasible today but will be even more effective and sustainable if supported by systems thinking, technological advances, and policies that create and reinforce home, work, and health care collaborations. Context The current health care system is failing patients with chronic illness, especially those with complex comorbid conditions and social determinants of health challenges. The current system combined with unsustainable health care costs, lack of support for primary care in the United States, and aging demographics create a frightening probable future. Methods Recent developments, including integrated behavioral health, community resources to address social determinants, population health infrastructure, patient-centered digital-health self-management support, and complexity science have the potential to help address these alarming trends. This article describes, first, the opportunity to integrate these trends and, second, a proposal for an integrated, patient-directed, adaptive, contextual, and technology-aided support (ACTS) system, based on a patient's life context and home/primary care/work-setting "support triangle." Findings None of these encouraging trends is a panacea, and although most have been described previously, they have not been integrated. Here we discuss an example of integration using these components and how our proposed model (termed My Own Health Report) can be applied, along with its strengths, limitations, implications, and opportunities for practice, policy, and research. Conclusions This ACTS system builds on and extends the current chronic illness management approaches. It is feasible today and can produce even more dramatic improvements in the future.
Diamond Nucleation by a Selective Etching Technique

Microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of diamond films on silicon carbide and tungsten carbide (with 6% cobalt) surfaces using fluorocarbon gases has been demonstrated. The diamond films are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The proposed nucleation and growth mechanism involves concurrent etching of the non-carbon component by atomic fluorine and deposition of diamond. Optical emission spectroscopy is used to corroborate this growth mechanism.
Design and Development of an Automated Spatial Analysis Robot

Today's industry lacks the compact, autonomous, and precise tools to quickly and accurately model interior spaces. With advancements in virtual reality headsets, creating an accurate three-dimensional model of interior or exterior environments possesses many valuable uses. The applications of these models can be used for precise measurement of complex environments, architectural preservation, and the creation of virtual interactive training environments for military applications. The scope of this design was to create a spatial mapping system that is capable of rapid deployment to autonomously map a desired environment. The system utilizes a ZED stereo camera for depth mapping and matrix-meshing that creates a framework for the virtual environment build-up in the Unity software platform. Through testing and analysis, design improvements are identified, and it is determined that the design of an autonomous spatial analyzer is a practical and affordable option for a variety of applications.