cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A review of treatment of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury remains a devastating event to the person sustaining the injury. Not only the cost of acute and rehabilitation care, but also the loss of productivity of the victims who are often young men injured at a highly productive period of their lives are a costly illness for society as a whole. In the past 20–30 years, there has been continual improvement in the morbidity and mortality from spinal cord injury with the improvement in prevention of a second injury, prevention of secondary renal, pulmonary and cutaneous complications, better techniques for stabilization of the spinal column, and more effective utilization of remaining neurological function with improved rehabilitation therapy. It remains, however, difficult to demonstrate an effect from a wide range of “acceptable” medical or surgical care on the resultant loss of spinal cord function. The lack of improvement in preventing or reversing the loss of spinal cord function in spite of marked variations in acute spinal cord injury care indicate that acceptable data are still lacking to determine the role of aggressive and conservative management. The need for a more organized approach to the problem is obvious.
Quorum sensing between Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms accelerates cell growth

This manuscript describes the fabrication of arrays of spatially confined chambers embossed in a layer of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and their application to studying quorum sensing between communities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We hypothesized that biofilms may produce stable chemical signaling gradients in close proximity to surfaces, which influence the growth and development of nearby microcolonies into biofilms. To test this hypothesis, we embossed a layer of PEGDA with 1.5-mm wide chambers in which P. aeruginosa biofilms grew, secreted homoserine lactones (HSLs, small molecule regulators of quorum sensing), and formed spatial and temporal gradients of these compounds. In static growth conditions (i.e., no flow), nascent biofilms secreted N-(3-oxododecanoyl) HSL that formed a gradient in the hydrogel and was detected by P. aeruginosa cells that were ≤8 mm away. Diffusing HSLs increased the growth rate of cells in communities that were 1 μM, and had little effect on communities farther away. The HSL gradient had no observable influence on biofilm structure. Surprisingly, 0.1-10 μM of N-(3-oxododecanoyl) HSL had no effect on cell growth in liquid culture. The results suggest that the secretion of HSLs from a biofilm enhances the growth of neighboring cells in contact with surfaces into communities and may influence their composition, organization, and diversity.
Efficiency of single-sire mating programs with beef bulls mated to estrus synchronized females.

Efficiency in reference to pregnancy rates of breeding beef bulls with estrus synchronized cows and heifers was tested. Most bulls (104 of 112) were given a breeding soundness examination and two 10-min libido/serving capacity tests. Females received either Syncro-Mate-B (SMB) or two injections of Prostaglandin F(2)alpha (PGF) to synchronize estrus. They were assigned to single-sire breeding groups with bull-to-female ratios ranging from 1:7 to 1:51. Control groups consisted of untreated females maintained in single-sire breeding pastures with ratios from 1:24 to 1:37. Continuous observations of sexual activity were made for 30 h (SMB) and 48 h (PGF). After the 120-h posttreatment breeding period, females were placed in breeding pastures. During the synchronized breeding period the percentage of pregnant cattle of total treated was 43.5 +/- 1.7% compared (P 0.05). In SMB trials, the percentages of females exhibiting estrus, those serviced at estrus and those pregnant following service during the synchronized breeding period were 90.8 +/- 1.5, 73.3 +/- 4.5 and 56.4 +/- 5.6%, respectively. In PGF trials, the means for these same factors were 78.3 +/- 2.4, 70.4 +/- 5.9 and 56.1 +/- 6.5%, respectively.
Finite element thermal stress analysis of solid oxide fuel cell cathode microstructures

Abstract Two-dimensional images of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathode microstructures (50:50 wt.% LSM:YSZ) are used to generate three-dimensional finite element (FE) models. An approximate, heuristic scheme is developed to derive a microstructure of 30:70 wt.% LSM:YSZ composition from the original, real microstructures. The derived model is validated by calculating three-phase boundary (TPB) and phase surface area densities by comparing with data available in the literature. Construction of such derived microstructures will provide insights on the effects of phase compositions on the mechanics of electrode structures. The heuristic scheme is not proposed as a replacement for rigorous approaches such as the random packing model, but rather as a simplified approach for deriving reasonably realistic microstructures of different compositions within a limited range of validity. The models are analyzed using finite elements to estimate thermal stresses and probability of failure using Weibull analysis. The effects of temperature-dependent material properties and phase volume fractions on probability of failure of the cathode are discussed.
Acute toxicity of industrial and municipal effluents in the state of Maryland, USA: results from one year of toxicity testing

In July, 1986 the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s Aquatic Ecology Section established a bioassay facility for conducting an effluent biomonitoring program for the State of Maryland. Acute toxicity test procedures were developed and implemented for testing freshwater (Pimephales promelas, Daphnia magna, and Ceriodaphnia sp.) and estuarine (Cyprinodon variegatus and Mysidopsis bahia) invertebrates and fish. Procedures and test species are similar to those used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) except that low salinity testing (≤ 15‰) is conducted with the sheepshead minnow and an estuarine mysid found in the Chesapeake Bay.
Purification technique for the removal of ruthenium from olefin metathesis reaction products

Abstract Ring-closing metathesis (RCM) products of reactions utilizing RuCl2(CHPh)(PCy3)2 (1) as a catalyst were successfully purified of unwanted ruthenium using a water-soluble coordinating phosphine, tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine, P(CH2OH)3. Several simple and efficient purification procedures were compared for the isolation of the product of the RCM of diethyl diallylmalonate. The efficiency of this procedure was demonstrated for the isolation of crown-ether 3.
Earthshine on a Young Moon: Explaining the Lunar Farside Highlands

The lunar farside highlands problem refers to the curious and unexplained fact that the farside lunar crust is thicker, on average, than the nearside crust. Here we recognize the crucial influence of Earthshine, and propose that it naturally explains this hemispheric dichotomy. Since the accreting Moon rapidly achieved synchronous rotation, a surface and atmospheric thermal gradient was imposed by the proximity of the hot, post-giant impact Earth. This gradient guided condensation of atmospheric and accreting material, preferentially depositing crust-forming refractories on the cooler farside, resulting in a primordial bulk chemical inhomogeneity that seeded the crustal asymmetry. Our model provides a causal solution to the lunar highlands problem: the thermal gradient created by Earthshine produced the chemical gradient responsible for the crust thickness dichotomy that defines the lunar highlands.
Does linguistic marking have a psychological correlate

This study investigates the psychological correlates of linguistic marking in nouns, verbs, and adjectives covertly marked. Marked and unmarked forms are reliably differentiated by Ss naive with respect to the concept of markedness. The criteria used by Ss in such sorts appeared to be based upon an evaluative feature. Unmarked adjectives are reliably classed in a positive category and marked adjectives into a negative category. Unmarked (present tense) verbs and marked (past tense) verbs are reliably classed in positive and negative categories, respectively. Unmarked (singular) nouns are classed into positive categories and marked (plural) nouns into negative categories if the noun is semantically negative in meaning while the reverse is the case for semantically positive nouns. In addition, oppositional verbs not distinguished by criteria of marking were reliably categorized into positive and negative categories.
Cold collisions of ground state 4He: Giant S-wave scattering cross sections.

We have measured integral elastic cross sections for ground state $^{4}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}^{4}$He scattering at collision energies from 1.35 to 0.5 K using a novel atomic beam apparatus built into a dilution refrigerator. Scattering is almost pure s wave, and is predicted to be enormous due to a possibly bound state near the continuum. The effective integral cross section ranges from 20 to 1000 A${\mathrm{\r{}}}^{2}$ as collision energy is reduced in our experiment. These cross sections are in agreement with the values predicted using the latest analytical potential of Aziz and Slaman.
Maternal morbidity in developing countries: A review and comments

The incidence and prevalence of postpartum maternal morbidity in developing countries are poorly understood. Methodologic problems, such as lack of standard definitions, misclassification of illnesses, use of nonrepresentative samples, and inadequate validation for self-reported data, tend to compromise existing studies. Available data suggest that serious acute illnesses are common, affecting as many as 20% of mothers who deliver in hospitals in some areas. Providing good antenatal and family planning services should significantly reduce acute and chronic sequelae after parturition.
Spheno-Orbital Meningioma with Optociliary Veins

A 40-year-old white woman had slowly progressive unilateral loss of visual acuity and increasing proptosis during an eight-year period. Ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography revealed chronic disk edema and optociliary shunt vessels in the right eye. Polytomography showed an enlarged right optic canal. Cerebral arteriography demonstrated a dumbbell-shaped tumor blush in the right juxtasellar region and a diffuse tumor blush in the right orbit. Right frontal craniotomy and orbital exploration showed a cranio-orbital junction (spheno-orbital) meningioma that invaded the sclera and peripapillary choroid. Anomalous optociliary veins were demonstrated histologically at the optic disk.
Histopathology of Nomuraea rileyi in Plathypena scabra larvae

Abstract Green cloverworm larvae. Plathypena scabra, were inoculated with Nomuraea rileyi by “tumbling” larvae in a vial of conidia. The ontogeny of the pathogen was followed by using standard histological techniques. N. rileyi conidia germinated on green cloverworm integument within 12 hr after inoculation. Germ tubes penetrated larval cuticle 36 hr after inoculation, then grew parallel to endocuticular laminae. After hyphal penetration of the epidermis ca. 4.5 days after inoculation, hyphal bodies were produced and were transported throughout the hemocoel. Hyphal bodies and hemocytes cohabited the hemocoel, but gut epithelial and muscle tissues were not invaded by Day 5. Hemocytes lysed and mycelia completely ramified throughout all larval tissues by 7 days after inoculation. Death of larvae was followed by conidiogenesis ca. 7.5 days after inoculation.
The predictive validity of the Pediatric Trauma Score.

The Pediatric Trauma Score was evaluated in 450 injured children by a paramedic in the field and a physician in an E.D. There was agreement between the scores of these two individuals 93.6% of the time, correlation coefficient 0.991, r2 = 0.982. Further testing at the 0.01 level of significance indicated that a positive association existed between these two variables in the population from which our sample was drawn. Mortality for the group was 2.9%. No deaths occurred in patients whose PTS was greater than 8, which was defined as the Critical Triage Point. The sensitivity of the PTS when used for triage at the critical triage point was 95.8%. The specificity of the PTS was 98.6%. The Pediatric Trauma Score appears to be highly accurate, reliable, predictable, and easy to use for assessing the severity of injury and hence is a straightforward modality for triage of injured children.
Rio Balsas most likely region for maize domestication.

In this issue of PNAS, two related articles researched and written by five scholars of early plant use, Piperno, Ranere, Holst, Iriarte, and Dickau, present long awaited data on early maize use in the heartland of its wild progenitor, the Rio Balsas area of Mexico. One, Starch Grain and Phytolith Evidence for Early Ninth Millennium B.P. Maize from the Central Balsas River Valley, Mexico (1), focuses on the microevidence for domestic plant use from tools and surrounding soils beginning ≈8700 B.P. The second paper, Preceramic Human Occupation of the Central Balsas River Valley, Mexico: Cultural Context of Early Domesticated Maize and Squash (2), provides the contextual information of the site and region from which these important data were uncovered. The strata, artifacts, sediments, and microbotanical evidence firmly points toward the domestication of both maize and squash occurring between 8,990 and 8,610 cal. B.P. in Mexico, perhaps even from that region of Mesoamerica, for these are the earliest dates yet recorded for maize. That these remains have been found in the ostensible homeland of the wild progenitor of maize further solidifies the thesis that this region in Guerrero was the probable locus of maize domestication.
‘Every disease has its cure’: faith and HIV therapies in Islamic northern Nigeria

Northern Nigeria has one of the highest levels of HIV prevalence among societies that are predominantly Muslim. In the last decade the region has experienced marked expansion of religiously-oriented healing practices following the formal adoption of Islamic sharia law. Since 2005, international funding has also made antiretroviral therapy (ART) more widely available throughout Nigeria. This study uses ethnographic data collected in Kano, northern Nigeria's largest city, to examine Muslims’ perspectives on HIV treatment in the context of popular health beliefs and expanding therapeutic options. The research found that passages from classical Islamic texts are regularly cited by both HIV/AIDS practitioners and patients, especially when talking about the supposition that Allah sends a cure to humankind for every disease. Some religious scholar-practitioners (malamai) working in the Islamic traditions of prophetic medicine insist that HIV can be completely cured given sufficient faith in the supernatural powe...
Activation of protein kinase A accelerates bovine bronchial epithelial cell migration

Bronchial epithelial cell migration is required for the repair of damaged airway epithelium. We hypothesized that bronchial epithelial cell migration during wound repair is influenced by cAMP and the activity of its cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase A (PKA). We found that, when confluent monolayers of bronchial epithelial cells are wounded, an increase in PKA activity occurs. Augmentation of PKA activity with a cell-permeable analog of cAMP, dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, isoproterenol, or a phosphodiesterase inhibitor accelerated migration of normal bronchial epithelial cells in in vitro wound closure assays and Boyden chamber migration assays. A role for PKA activity was also confirmed with a PKA inhibitor, KT-5720, which reduced stimulated migration. Augmentation of PKA activity reduced the levels of active Rho and the formation of focal adhesions. These studies suggest that PKA activation modulates Rho activity, migration mechanisms, and thus bronchial epithelial repair mechanisms.
Bilayer composition, temperature, speciation effects and the role of bilayer chain ordering on partitioning of dexamethasone and its 21-phosphate.

Purpose Models to predict membrane-water partition coefficients (Kp) as a function of drug structure, membrane composition, and solution properties would be useful. This study explores the partitioning of dexamethasone (Dex) and its ionizable 21-phosphate (Dex-P) in liposomes varying in acyl chain length, physical state, and pH.
Interactions between a fungal entomopathogen and malaria parasites within a mosquito vector

Mosquitoes are becoming increasingly resistant to the chemical insecticides currently available for malaria vector control, spurring interest in alternative management tools. One promising technology is the use of fungal entomopathogens. Fungi have been shown to impact the potential for mosquitoes to transmit malaria by reducing mosquito longevity and altering behaviour associated with flight and host location. Additionally, fungi could impact the development of malaria parasites within the mosquito via competition for resources or effects on the mosquito immune system. This study evaluated whether co-infection or superinfection with the fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana affected malaria infection progress in Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. The study used two parasite species to examine possible effects of fungal infection at different parasite development stages. First, the rodent malaria model Plasmodium yoelii was used to explore interactions at the oocyst stage. Plasmodium yoelii produces high oocyst densities in infected mosquitoes and thus was expected to maximize host immunological and resource demands. Second, fungal interactions with mature sporozoites were evaluated by infecting mosquitoes with the human malaria species Plasmodium falciparum, which is highly efficient at invading mosquito salivary glands. With P. yoelii, there was no evidence that fungal co-infection (on the same day as the blood meal) or superinfection (during a subsequent gonotrophic cycle after parasite infection) affected the proportion of mosquitoes with oocysts, the number of oocysts per infected mosquito or the number of sporozoites per oocyst. Similarly, for P. falciparum, there was no evidence that fungal infection affected sporozoite prevalence. Furthermore, there was no impact of infection with either malaria species on fungal virulence as measured by mosquito survival time. These results suggest that the impact of fungus on malaria control potential is limited to the well-established effects on mosquito survival and transmission behaviour. Direct or indirect interactions between fungus and malaria parasites within mosquitoes appear to have little additional influence.
Special delivery of insulin to the liver

Insulin encapsulated in lipid vesicles and targeted to hepatocytes by means of a digalactosy diglyceride moiety [(designated vesicle encapsulated insulin (VEI)] was administered intrave nously to conscious catheterized diabetic dogs to determine the effects on hepatic and extrahepatic glucose utilization. Our results indicate that VE administered intravenously to diabetic dogs ove a dose range of 0.5 to 2.0 mU · kg−1·min−1 reduce hepatic glucose output or induces hepatic glucos uptake without causing any significant alteratios in the rate of extrahepatic glucose utilization. Steady-state comparisons of 1.0 mU·kg−1·min−1 VEI with intraportal and peripherally administered insulin revealed that VEI and intraportal insulin result in significantly less extrahepatic glucose utilization than does an equivalent dose of peripherally administered insulin (6.36 ± 1.21 and 5.08 ± 0.97 vs. 8.82 ± 1.61 mg.kg−1.min−1; P < 0.03). Through the use of VEI, we were able to significantly alter the deposition of intravenously administered glucose from 11% hepatic and 89% extrahepatic noted with peripheral insulin to 35% hepatic and 65% extrahepatic with VEI (P < 0.03). Thus, by encapsulating insulin into a lipid carrier specifically targeted to the liver, selective hepatic insulinization can be achieved. As a result of this approach, one can alter the distribution of a glucose load to favor hepatic deposition.
Some observations on the relation of response speed to frequency of photic stimulation under conditions of EEG synchronization

Abstract The question of whether a person's reaction time can be increased and decreased merely by slowing down and speeding up the frequency of the brain's dominant rhythm was investigated. From a total of 48 subjects who were examined, five were found whose EEGs could be synchronized to a flashing light over a wide frequency range while they were tested on a reaction task. Although response time and period of the photic stimulus proved to be positively correlated under conditions of EEG synchronization, the findings were only suggestive and could not be used as a basis for any generalization.
Engaging the Millennial Generation in Class Discussions

Students in the Millennial Generation (late 20s and younger) have been raised in an environment in which individuality is highly valued and information, entertainment, and social interactions are unlimited and at their fingertips. As a result, these students may have different educational expectations and needs than previous generations. Class discussions, if conducted correctly, can be a learning activity that complements the learning styles of this variety seeking, collaborative generation. To understand how to effectively engage Millennial students in active class discussions, we conducted six focus groups with students between the ages of 18 and 21 to explore whether and why they value class discussions and to identify the barriers and the facilitators of active participation in class discussions. The present article summarizes the focus group findings, integrates them with what we know about students in the Millennial Generation, and uses this information to develop suggestions for actively engaging ...
Architectural exploration and optimization of local memory in embedded systems

Embedded processor-based systems allow for the tailoring of the on-chip memory architecture based on application-specific requirements. We present an analytical strategy for exploring the on-chip memory architecture for a given application, based on a memory performance estimation scheme. The analytical technique has the important advantage of enabling a fast evaluation of candidate memory architectures in the early stages of system design. Our experiments demonstrate that our estimations closely follow the actual simulated performance, at significantly reduced run times.
Uncertainty Modeling and Fixed-Order Controller Design for a Hypersonic Vehicle Model

Control system design for hypersonic vehicles will be complicated by coupling effects between aerodynamics, propulsion, and structure. Using H1 and π-synthesis techniques, these features can be modeled as uncertainties and incorporated into the design procedure of a e ight control system. However, modern control theory techniques generallyleadtohigh-ordercontrollers.Thetimedelays,whicharecreatedwhenthesecontrollersareimplemented, may not be acceptable. A technique to constrain controller dimension a priori in the design process is used to design e xed-order π controllers that are robust to mixed real/complex uncertainties. Typical hypersonic effects such as propulsion system perturbations and aeroelastic fuselage bending are modeled as uncertainties in a robust control design framework. Three different e xed-order controllers are synthesized for a hypersonic vehicle model accelerating through Mach 8. A comparison with full-order and reduced-order designs is conducted and the results illustrate that the e xed-order controllers exhibit robustness properties similar to full-order designs while considerably reducing controller complexity.
THE EFFECTS OF VARIED VERSUS CONSTANT HIGH‐, MEDIUM‐, AND LOW‐PREFERENCE STIMULI ON PERFORMANCE

The purpose of the current study was to compare the delivery of varied versus constant high-, medium-, and low-preference stimuli on performance of 2 adults on a computer-based task in an analogue employment setting. For both participants, constant delivery of the high-preference stimulus produced the greatest increases in performance over baseline; the varied presentation produced performance comparable to constant delivery of medium-preference stimuli. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for the selection and delivery of stimuli as part of employee performance-improvement programs in the field of organizational behavior management.
Review of The Triumph of Numbers by I. B. Cohen

I. Bernard Cohen, The Triumph of Numbers: How Counting Shaped Modern Life. (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2005). 209 pp. $24.95 (USA). ISBN 0-393-05769-0. The premier historian of science ends his career telling how the world has become awash in numbers—“how numbers entered the conduct of life and of government, the understanding of nature, and the analysis of societies.” The stories begin with Kepler and end with Florence Nightingale. In between, major players include Galileo, Harvey, Leeuwenhoek, and Halley; Graunt and Petty; Jefferson and Franklin; Lavoisier, Sinclair, Pinel and Louis; Guerry and Quetelet. The book tells of the spread of what Cohen refers to as the “quantifying spirit” from physical science to “political arithmetic” (Sir William Petty), economics, and the beginning of psychiatry, sociology, medical statistics, and public health.
Transcriptional Regulation of Type B Human Natriuretic Peptide Receptor Gene Promoter. Dependence on Sp1

The type B natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-B) is the cognate receptor for the C-type natriuretic peptide and, as such, is responsible for signaling growth-suppressant activity in vascular smooth muscle cells. Here we report the isolation and characterization of the human (h) NPR-B gene promoter. Using 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends analysis, we have identified the 5′ terminus of the hNPR-B gene transcript ≈732 base pairs upstream from the presumed translation start site of the protein. We generated a series of 5′ deletion mutants linked to a luciferase reporter and introduced these constructs into rat aortic smooth muscle cells or neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts. Maximal expression was seen with a construct harboring 441 base pairs of 5′ flanking sequence. Site-directed mutagenesis of the proximal promoter revealed a series of GC-rich sequences, 5 of which contributed modestly (≈25%) to basal hNPR-B promoter activity. Mutation of a sixth GC-rich sequence led to a >90% reduction in promoter activity. This sequence was shown to associate with Sp1 and Sp3 in vitro. The same mutation that resulted in loss of functional activity also resulted in loss of binding activity in vitro. Overexpression of Sp1 or Sp3 in Drosophila Schneider cells resulted in an increase in hNPR-B promoter activity that was completely nullified with the Sp1 binding site mutation described above. These studies provide the first description and characterization of the NPR-B gene promoter and suggest that this promoter’s activity is dominated by a single cluster of Sp1-binding elements in the proximal 5′ flanking sequence of the gene.
Synthetic Control of Molecular Structure in Organic Aerogels

Organic aerogels have been formed from the aqueous, sol-gel polymerization of resorcinol with formaldehyde. These materials are transparent and have continuous porosity with cell/pore sizes of less than 1000 A. Their microstructure is composed of interconnected colloidal-like particles with diameters of 30-200 A. The particle size, cell size, surface area, and density of the aerogels are predominantly controlled by the catalyst concentration used in gel preparation.
3-D motion estimation using a sequence of noisy stereo images

The authors discuss a kinematic-model-based approach for the estimation of 3-D motion parameters from a sequence of noisy stereo images. The approach consists of representing the constant acceleration translational motion and constant angular velocity or constant precession rotational motion in the form of a bilinear state-space model using standard rectilinear states for translation and quaternions for rotation. Closed-form solutions of state transition equations are obtained to propagate the quaternions in both constant-angular-velocity and constant-precession models. The measurements are noisy perturbations of 3-D feature points represented in an inertial coordinate system. It is assumed that the structure is known and that 3-D feature points are extracted from the stereo images and matched over the frames. Owing to the nonlinearity in the state model, nonlinear filters are designed for the estimation of motion parameters. >
Learning new vocabulary in German: the effects of inferring word meanings, type of feedback, and time of test

In the present study, introductory-level German students read a simplified story and learned the meanings of new German words by reading English translations in marginal glosses versus trying to infer (i.e., guess) their translations. Students who inferred translations were given feedback in English or in German, or no feedback at all. Although immediate retention of new vocabulary was better for students who used marginal glosses, students who inferred word meanings and then received English feedback forgot fewer translations over time. Plausible but inaccurate inferences (i.e., those that made sense in the context) were more likely to be corrected by students who received English feedback as compared with German feedback, providing support for the beneficial effects of mediating information. Implausible inaccurate inferences, however, were more likely to be corrected on the delayed vocabulary test by students who received German feedback as compared with English feedback, possibly because of the additional contextual support provided by German feedback.
Increased Survival and Reduced Neutrophil Infiltration of the Liver in Rab27a- but Not Munc13-4-Deficient Mice in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Systemic Inflammation

Genetic defects in the Rab27a or Munc13-4 gene lead to immunodeficiencies in humans, characterized by frequent viral and bacterial infections. However, the role of Rab27a and Munc13-4 in the regulation of systemic inflammation initiated by Gram-negative bacterium-derived pathogenic molecules is currently unknown. Using a model of lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation, we show that Rab27a-deficient (Rab27aash/ash) mice are resistant to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced death, while Munc13-4-deficient (Munc13-4jinx/jinx) mice show only moderate protection. Rab27aash/ash but not Munc13-4jinx/jinx mice showed significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) plasma levels after LPS administration. Neutrophil sequestration in lungs from Rab27aash/ash and Munc13-4jinx/jinx LPS-treated mice was similar to that observed for wild-type mice. In contrast, Rab27a- but not Munc13-4-deficient mice showed decreased neutrophil infiltration in liver and failed to undergo LPS-induced neutropenia. Decreased liver infiltration in Rab27aash/ash mice was accompanied by lower CD44 but normal CD11a and CD11b expression in neutrophils. Both Rab27a- and Munc13-4-deficient mice showed decreased azurophilic granule secretion in vivo, suggesting that impaired liver infiltration and improved survival in Rab27aash/ash mice is not fully explained by deficient exocytosis of this granule subset. Altogether, our data indicate that Rab27a but not Munc13-4 plays an important role in neutrophil recruitment to liver and LPS-induced death during endotoxemia, thus highlighting a previously unrecognized role for Rab27a in LPS-mediated systemic inflammation.
Communication deficits in babies and infants with autism and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)

Objective: To investigate if, and in what ways, communication impairments are present in toddlers (17–37 months) diagnosed with autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder–Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).Methods: Study 1—The scores of 20 toddlers with autism or PDD-NOS (i.e. ASD group) were compared to those of 20 typically-developing infants on the Communication sub-scale of the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT)–Part 1. Study 2—These same scores were compared between 660 toddlers who fell into three groups: autism, PDD-NOS and non-ASD-related developmentally delayed.Results: Infants with an ASD exhibited greater communication impairments than did typically-developing infants overall and on all items. Additionally, significant differences were found in overall communication impairments and the majority of individual items between all three groups in Study 2.Conclusions: Significant communication impairments are present in toddlers diagnosed with autism and PDD-NOS before 3...
Coordinating bilateral export subsidies under monopolistic competition

Recently new welfare-enhancing roles have been identified for the policy of export subsidization. They include the use of export subsidies to generate terms of trade gains via market linkages under perfect competition, to extract international profits under oligopoly, and to correct informational distortions of new product quality under monopoly. This paper identifies another role: coordinating bilateral export subsidies to counteract consumption distortions under monopolist competition, which can be both nationally and globally welfare improving. Reflecting structural characteristics, analytical conditions are derived to dictate coordination in a general equilibrium two-country framework. Numerical aspects of the structurally determined coordination ‘range’ are also provided.
A Longitudinal Study of Depression, Fatigue, and Sleep Disturbances as a Symptom Cluster in Women With Breast Cancer

Context Depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances have been identified as a symptom cluster among breast cancer patients. However, few longitudinal studies have examined the temporal relations between these symptoms surrounding diagnosis and treatment.
Telomere shortening in a long-lived marine bird: cross-sectional analysis and test of an aging tool

Abstract A correlation between length of telomere restriction fragments (TRFs) and age has recently been demonstrated in several bird species. Comparisons of different-aged individuals within a population have shown that TRFs typically shorten with age and that this shortening continues throughout the life span of the species. In addition, it has been shown that telomere rate-of-change (TROC) correlates tightly with life span across several bird species. Previous studies of long-lived birds, however, have shown exceptions to these trends, demonstrating no declines in TRF length in adults in some cases and increases in TRF length with age in other cases. Here, we report known ages of individuals from a colony of Great Frigatebirds (Fregata minor) based on recaptures of leg-banded birds, including two individuals that were at least 44 years of age, the oldest Great Frigatebirds ever reported. Using a previously developed molecular technique, we report a predictable, nonlinear decline of TRF length with age ...
Signal Estimation Under Random Time-Warpings and Nonlinear Signal Alignment

While signal estimation under random amplitudes, phase shifts, and additive noise is studied frequently, the problem of estimating a deterministic signal under random time-warpings has been relatively unexplored. We present a novel framework for estimating the unknown signal that utilizes the action of the warping group to form an equivalence relation between signals. First, we derive an estimator for the equivalence class of the unknown signal using the notion of Karcher mean on the quotient space of equivalence classes. This step requires the use of Fisher-Rao Riemannian metric and a square-root representation of signals to enable computations of distances and means under this metric. Then, we define a notion of the center of a class and show that the center of the estimated class is a consistent estimator of the underlying unknown signal. This estimation algorithm has many applications: (1) registration/alignment of functional data, (2) separation of phase/amplitude components of functional data, (3) joint demodulation and carrier estimation, and (4) sparse modeling of functional data. Here we demonstrate only (1) and (2): Given signals are temporally aligned using nonlinear warpings and, thus, separated into their phase and amplitude components. The proposed method for signal alignment is shown to have state of the art performance using Berkeley growth, handwritten signatures, and neuroscience spike train data.
Development of joining processes and fabrication of US first wall qualification mockups for ITER

We report here the fabrication processes used to manufacture US Party Team First Wall Qualification Mockups along with the detailed microstructural characterization and mechanical properties of the Be/CuCrZr/316L HIP bonds. A companion submission to this conference describes details of the PMTF heat flux testing and the performance of the first US FWQM.
Combined Treatment Potentiates the Developmental Toxicity of Ibuprofen and Acetazolamide in Rats

Aspirin (ASA), an irreversible cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, induces ventricular septal defect (VSD) and diaphragmatic hernia (DH) in rat fetuses when administered on gestation days (GDs) 9-10, a critical period for cardiovascular (CV) and midline development. Evaluation of a spectrum of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; reversible COX inhibitors) showed that while some NSAIDs induced VSD in rats, none of the NSAIDs evaluated produced DH. In addition to inhibiting COX, ASA also inhibits carbonic anhydrase. The purpose of this study was to determine whether concurrent inhibition of COX and carbonic anhydrase would produce a teratogenic profile that includes both VSD and DH. To inhibit both COX and carbonic anhydrase, ibuprofen (COX inhibitor) and acetazolamide (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) were coadministered on GDs 9-10. Groups of 20 female Crl:CD(SD)IGS BR rats were given either 300 mg kg(-1) day(-1) ibuprofen, 1000 mg kg(-1) day(-1) acetazolamide, or both (combination of ibuprofen and acetazolamide). Fetuses were evaluated on GD 21 for external and visceral development. Ibuprofen induced VSD in 3.7% of fetuses per litter; no defects in appendicular skeletal development were noted. Acetazolamide induced VSD in 5.9% of the fetuses per litter and appendicular defects in 41% of the fetuses per litter. Coadministration of ibuprofen and acetazolamide produced VSD in 18.7% of the fetuses per litter and appendicular defects in 77% of the fetuses per litter; however, there were no DH. Therefore, while concurrent inhibition of COX and carbonic anhydrase did not produce DH, potentiation was noted for the induction of VSD and appendicular anomalies.
Stabilization of γ-Al2O3 surfaces by additives: insights from computer simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations of the pure and doped surfaces ofγ-Al2O3 were performed. Thermal behavior of both the D-layer of the (110) surface and the E-layer of the (001) surface was examined. An abrupt increase in mobility of surface ions was observed at high temperatures. An onset of diffusion occurs for the pure (110) surface at 1200 K. The instability is caused by the cation vacancies adjacent to the surface. Silicon and cerium ions deposited into the sub-surface vacancies reduce the mobility of the surface ions and prevent the onset of diffusion, cerium being more efficient in stabilization than silicon. This forms a microscopic picture of the role of additives in the stabilization of theγ-Al2O3 surfaces.
A heuristic framework for the cultural adaptation of interventions

What conditions justify cultural adaptations to evidence-based treatments, and how might those adaptations be developed? Lau's (2006) analysis brought considerable clarity to these questions. We place Lau's insights and those of others within an elaborated framework that proposes tests of three types of cultural equivalence to determine when evidence-based treatments might merit adaptations: equivalence of (a) engagement, (b) action theory, and (c) conceptual theory. Extrapolating from Lau's examples and recommendations of others, we describe a sequence for developing adaptations that consists of the following phases: (a) information gathering, (b) preliminary adaptation design, (c) preliminary adaptation tests, and (d) adaptation refinement.
Praxelis clematidea (Asteraceae): A New Plant Invader of Florida

Abstract Praxelis clematidea (Praxelis; Asteraceae), a native of South America, was first discovered in Florida in Orange County in 2006; it has now been confirmed in 6 other counties: Hardee, Hillsborough, Lake, Manatee, Osceola, and Polk counties. These populations are concentrated around the Lake Wales Ridge (LWR) region and may pose a threat to the already imperiled flora and fauna of the LWR. An assessment of the threat to the LWR and other Florida ecosystems is essential, and control methods must be evaluated for Florida before the species becomes an insurmountable problem. Our goal is to inform the people of Florida of the threat of Praxelis and to urge them to report any populations so they can be controlled or eradicated.
Transaxillary Subcutaneouscopic Excision of Fibroadenoma of the Breast in Children: The Covert Scar Approach.

Abstract Introduction: Fibroadenoma is a common condition in adolescent girls. Most tumors are excised either through a periareolar approach or the inframammary approach. Both approaches produce visible scars in adolescent girls. We propose a new cosmetic approach to this lesion and report our experience with the transaxillary subcutaneouscopic approach for excision of the fibroadenoma of the breast. The purpose of this case report is to delineate an innovative surgical approach to resection of a breast fibroadenoma that yields an adequate resection without possible damage to the ductal system while optimizing cosmetic results by avoiding scars. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of four adolescent girls who underwent the above approach for excision of fibroadenoma of the breast. The age range was 14–16 years. Results: There were no complications in all 4 patients. The final result at the 3-month follow-up revealed an esthetically pleasing skin incision that healed well...
Coded Aperture Snapshot Spectral Imager Based on Liquid Crystal Spatial Light Modulator

We describe the use of a liquid crystal on silicon modulator to jointly code spatial and spectral features for snapshot spectral imaging. We demonstrate compressive measurement of megapixel multispectral image with 5 nm resolution.
Relaxation of New-Tpi Thermoplastic Polyimide Studied by Thermally Stimulated Depolarization Current

Semicrystalline polyimide, Regulus™ NEW-TPI, is a thermoplastic polyimide produced by Mitsui Toatsu. This aromatic polyimide possesses outstanding heat resistance, high tensile strength, excellent electrical properties, and strong solvent resistance. It has become the subject of recent study in our group [1-6] and others [7-13]. The flexible ether and meta linkages in the monomer unit lower its glass transition temperature (Tg) to 250°C in quenched amorphous material. The chemical repeat unit has been reported previously [1,13] and is shown below
It Is What It Is (Or Is It?): Further Reflections on the Buddhist Representation of Manuscripts

Books are a common motif in the art of medieval Indian Buddhism. The questions addressed in this article are: What are these Buddhist images of books? What are they images of? Or, more to the point, are they images of anything at all? This article suggests that such images are like sculptural snapshots. These are not images not to be worshipped—although the main goddesses or bodhisattvas presented in the images were certainly objects of veneration—but they are images of worship. As such, they may be evidence of this worship, but they may also be rhetorical or polemical statements about the importance of the book in the Buddhist communities that produced them.
IT/Mathematics: Statistical Science

This chapter is devoted to the mathematics component of the FI3T project, which focused on statistical science with applications in three increasingly important areas of scientific inquiry: public health and medical data, environmental issues, and manufacturing reliability and safety issues. We describe the workshops of the capacity building first year as well as the project-related work during the second year for both cohorts of students in the project. The descriptions of workshop activities, of the work of visiting scientists, and of field trips to local businesses exhibit the applications and importance of mathematics and statistics in STEM related fields. The chapter also provides information about career opportunities and how the workshop themes align with the high school Common Core Standards.
Border Contraband: A History of Smuggling across the Rio Grande . By George T. Díaz.

Border Contraband: A History of Smuggling across the Rio Grande . Inter-America Series. By George T. Diaz. (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2015. xiii + 241 pp. Illustrations, maps, appendix, notes, bibliography, index. $45.00.) The Rio Grande border, long a central character in numerous historic accounts of smugglers and revolutionaries, remains a focus for contemporary concerns about security. In Border Contraband , George T. Diaz analyzes the history of smuggling along the river by documenting how fronterizos negotiated the rules and regulations imposed on them by distant capitals. Examining the years between 1848 and 1945, Diaz divides this excellent scholarly work into two phases: first, how smuggling began following the imposition of the legal border (and new tariffs) after the … jgarza2{at}unl.edu
The reservoir characteristic research on the leikoupo-1~1 submember of the middle Triassic in the central and south section of Sichuan basin

Integrating with the petroleum exploratory progress of the leikoupo-11 submember in the transition zone of Sichuan basin,this paper highlights the petrology,petrophysical properties,pore structure and the reservoir developed and outspread law based on the core thin—section and cast thin—section analysis data,etc.The result shows that the lithology in this area is mostly dolomite,anhydrite dolomite and a few lime dolomites.The main reservoir space is dissolved pore besides the dolomite intercrystalline pore.The reservoir of the petrophysical properties is poor,belonging to low porosity and low permeability reservoir it developed in the anhydrite or salt rock,and formed eventually the pore dolomite reservoir under the salt in leikoupo-11 submember.
Does intraoperative gallbladder perforation influence the early outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is rapidly becoming the preferred therapy for symptomatic cholelithiasis. It was our impression that the necessary traction exerted on the gallbladder during this procedure would frequently lead to intraoperative perforation with bile leak. We sought to determine prospectively the incidence of gallbladder perforation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and to ascertain whether or not intraoperative bile leak resulted in overt complications. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed successfully on 250 patients between November 1989 and December 1990. Gallbladder perforation occurred in 80 patients (32%). Compared with those without a bile leak, there was a larger percentage of men (p < 0.05), and the average weight was greater (p < 0.01) in those developing a bile leak. Operating time was significantly longer in patients with gallbladder perforation (mean +/- SEM, 104 +/- 4 min) than in those without a bile leak (94 +/- 3 min, p < 0.01), presumably because of the increased time spent irrigating the abdomen and retrieving gallstones. There was no difference in postoperative serum liver enzymes, amount or type of analgesia administered, interval to return to work or to full activity, or the development of postoperative infections. A wound infection requiring antibiotic therapy developed in only one patient who had not suffered a bile leak. The incidence of bile leak during the performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy is therefore appreciable, occurring in approximately a third of our patients. Gallbladder perforation does not lead to any other adverse complications and should not cause the surgeon to convert to an open cholecystectomy.