cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of metabolically stabilized angiotensin IV analogs as procognitive/antidementia agents.

Angiotensin IV (AngIV: VYIHPF)–related peptides have long been recognized as procognitive agents with potential as antidementia therapeutics. Their development as useful therapeutics, however, has been limited by physiochemical properties that make them susceptible to metabolic degradation and impermeable to gut and blood-brain barriers. A previous study demonstrated that the core structural information required to impart the procognitive activity of the AngIV analog, norleucine1-angiotensin IV, resides in its three N-terminal amino acids, Nle-Tyr-Ile. The goal of this project was to chemically modify this tripeptide in such a way to enhance its metabolic stability and barrier permeability to produce a drug candidate with potential clinical utility. Initial results demonstrated that several N- and C-terminal modifications lead to dramatically improved stability while maintaining the capability to reverse scopolamine-induced deficits in Morris water maze performance and augment hippocampal synaptogenesis. Subsequent chemical modifications, which were designed to increase hydrophobicity and decrease hydrogen bonding, yielded an orally active, blood-barrier permeant, metabolically stabilized analog, N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide (dihexa), that exhibits excellent antidementia activity in the scopolamine and aged rat models and marked synaptogenic activity. These data suggest that dihexa may have therapeutic potential as a treatment of disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, where augmented synaptic connectivity may be beneficial.
Numerical modeling of the origin of calcite mineralization in the Refugio‐Carneros fault, Santa Barbara Basin, California

Many faults in active and exhumed hydrocarbon-generating basins are characterized by thick deposits of carbonate fault cement of limited vertical and horizontal extent. Based on fluid inclusion and stable isotope characteristics, these deposits have been attributed to upward flow of formation water and hydrocarbons. The present study sought to test this hypothesis by using numerical reactive transport modeling to investigate the origin of calcite cements in the Refugio-Carneros fault located on the northern flank of the Santa Barbara Basin of southern California. Previous research has shown this calcite to have low d 13 C values of about )40 to )30& PDB, suggesting that methane-rich fluids ascended the fault and contributed carbon for the mineralization. Fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures of 80‐125� C in the calcite indicate that the fluids also transported significant quantities of heat. Fluid inclusion salinities ranging from fresh water to seawater values and the proximity of the Refugio-Carneros fault to a zone of groundwater recharge in the Santa Ynez Mountains suggest that calcite precipitation in the fault may have been induced by the oxidation of methane-rich basinal fluids by infiltrating meteoric fluids descending steeply dipping sedimentary layers on the northern basin flank. This oxidation could have occurred via at least two different mixing scenarios. In the first, overpressures in the central part of the basin may have driven methane-rich formation waters derived from the Monterey Formation northward toward the basin flanks where they mixed with meteoric water descending from the Santa Ynez Mountains and diverted upward through the Refugio-Carneros fault. In the second scenario, methane-rich fluids sourced from deeper Paleogene sediments would have been driven upward by overpressures generated in the fault zones because of deformation, pressure solution, and flow, and released during fault rupture, ultimately mixing with meteoric water at shallow depth. The models in the present study were designed to test this second scenario, and show that in order for the observed fluid inclusion temperatures to be reached within 200 m of the surface, moderate overpressures and high permeabilities were required in the fault zone. Sudden release of overpressure may have been triggered by earthquakes and led to transient pulses of accelerated fluid flow and heat transport along faults, most likely on the order of tens to hundreds of years in duration. While the models also showed that methanerich fluids ascending the Refugio-Carneros fault could be oxidized by meteoric water traversing the Vaqueros Sandstone to form calcite, they raised doubts about whether the length of time and the number of fault pulses needed for mineralization by the fault overpressuring mechanism were too high given existing geologic constraints.
THE ACTIVE TRANSPORT OF Mg++ AND Mn++ INTO THE YEAST CELL

Certain bivalent cations, particularly Mg++ and Mn++, can be absorbed by yeast cells, provided that glucose is available, and that phosphate is also absorbed. The cation absorption is stimulated by potassium in low concentrations, but inhibited by higher concentrations. From the time course studies, it is apparent that the absorption rather than the presence of phosphate and the potassium is the important factor. Competition studies with pairs of cations indicate that binding on the surface of the cell is not a prerequisite to absorption. The absorption mechanism if highly selective for Mg++ and Mn++, as compared to Ca++, Sr++, and UO2++, whereas the binding affinity is greatest for UO2++, with little discrimination between Mg++, Ca++, Mn++, and Sr++. In contrast to the surface-bound cations which are completely exchangeable, the absorbed cations are not exchangeable. It is concluded that Mg++ and Mn++ are actively transported into the cell by a mechanism involving a phosphate and a protein constituent.
Photoperiodic Versus Metabolic Signals as Determinants of Seasonal Anestrus in the Mare

The objectives of this study were to compare the timing and mechanisms controlling the onset of anestrus in young and mature mares treated either continuously with melatonin and in those that remained untreated. Changes in body weight, subcutaneous body fat measured to provide an estimate of total body fat, and circulating concentrations of leptin were compared throughout the 1-yr experimental period. The results demonstrate that in young mares the timing of anestrus occurs significantly earlier in the year than in mature mares and that mature mares are more likely to exhibit continuous reproductive activity during the nonbreeding season. The propensity of mature mares to exhibit this phenomenon is not modified by continuous treatment with melatonin but is associated with higher mean circulating concentrations of leptin, body weight, and estimated percent of body fat. In both young and mature mares, body weight, percent of body fat, and circulating concentrations of leptin are higher during summer than winter months. We conclude that, in the mare, the reproductive response to a decrease in photoperiod or a presumptive inhibitory melatonin signal is modified by energy availability, which may be signaled to the hypothalamus-pituitary axis via a change in the circulating concentration of leptin. An additional observation confirmed that the prolactin axis is responsive to continuous treatment with melatonin but that a suppression of prolactin secretion is limited to the spring months.
Engineering an unnatural Nα-anchored disulfide into BPTI by total chemical synthesis: structural and functional consequences

A disulfide-engineered analogue of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI), ((N(alpha)-(CH2)2S-)Gly38)BPTI, has been prepared using a thioester-mediated auxiliary functional group chemical ligation of a N(alpha)-ethanethiol-containing peptide segment with a peptide-alphaCOSR segment. In this study, Nalpha-(ethanethiol)Gly38 replaces the native Cys38, providing the sulfhydryl group required for ligation and folding. Comparisons between ((Nalpha-(CH2)2SH)Gly38)BPTI, synthetic native BPTI and reference BPTI purchased from Sigma were made using mass spectroscopy, enzyme inhibitor association constant determination (K(a)) and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance total correlated spectroscopy (1H-NMR TOCSY) measurements. The K(a) value for ((Nalpha-(CH2)2SH)Gly38)BPTI was approximately 20-fold lower than synthetic and reference BPTI, which was attributed to perturbations in the binding loop of the protein (near Cys14). This hypothesis was confirmed by two-dimensional (2D) 1H-NMR TOCSY experiments. The data reported here demonstrate that total chemical synthesis by auxiliary functional group chemical ligation is a practical method for the synthesis of a novel class of biologically active protein analogues containing additional functional groups linked to the protein backbone.
The CLAMP protein links the MSL complex to the X chromosome during Drosophila dosage compensation

The Drosophila male-specific lethal (MSL) dosage compensation complex increases transcript levels on the single male X chromosome to equal the transcript levels in XX females. However, it is not known how the MSL complex is linked to its DNA recognition elements, the critical first step in dosage compensation. Here, we demonstrate that a previously uncharacterized zinc finger protein, CLAMP (chromatin-linked adaptor for MSL proteins), functions as the first link between the MSL complex and the X chromosome. CLAMP directly binds to the MSL complex DNA recognition elements and is required for the recruitment of the MSL complex. The discovery of CLAMP identifies a key factor required for the chromosome-specific targeting of dosage compensation, providing new insights into how subnuclear domains of coordinate gene regulation are formed within metazoan genomes.
A planar MOS-gated AC switch structure

This paper reports the first discrete high-voltage vertical MOS-gate controlled AC switch structure which exhibits gate-controlled current saturation in the first and third operating quadrants. The anode current can be switched on and off within each quadrant of operation by application of appropriate gate bias. The proposed structure was simulated, designed and fabricated to achieve bi-directional blocking voltage of 3.5 kV and exhibit FBSOA in the first and third quadrants with low on-state voltage drop. Thus, the operation of proposed AC switch has been theoretically and experimentally confirmed.
Trace forms over finite fields of characteristic 2 with prescribed invariants

We determine the possible pairs of invariants of a trace form and construct forms with these invariants. We use this to construct new maximal Artin-Schreier curves.
Self-reported compliance with diabetes self-management during pregnancy

Objective:The current study examined regimen compliance in pregnant women with pre-existing (overt) diabetes across multiple self-care tasks at three times during the pregnancy: mid-second, early third, and late third trimesters.Method:Forty-nine pregnant women with Type I (68%) or Type II (32%) diabetes completed measures to assess compliance with the diabetic regimen, major and minor life stressors, and social support for the diabetic regimen.Results:Pregnant women with overt diabetes generally reported being compliant with their self-care regimen. There were, however, notable differences in reported compliance levels across different regimen tasks. Specifically, 74 to 79 percent of women reported being always compliant with dietary recommendations compared to 86 to 88 percent for insulin administration, 85 to 89 percent in managing insulin reactions, and 94 to 96 percent for glucose testing. Furthermore, stress in the form of major and minor life events and regimen-related social support were significa...
Replication of Theiler's virus requires NF‐κB‐activation: Higher viral replication and spreading in astrocytes from susceptible mice

To investigate viral replication and cell-cell spreading in astrocytes, recombinant Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) during the replication was generated. GFP and TMEV proteins were processed correctly in infected cells and production of viral proteins could be tracked by fluorescent microscopy. Viral replication of both wild-type TMEV and GFP-TMEV was dependent on the activation of NF-kappaB and partially MAP kinase, based on chemical inhibition studies. Viral replication was significantly reduced in primary astrocytes from NF-kappaB1 (p105)-deficient mice compared with that from wild-type control mice, whereas cytokine production was enhanced. These results suggest an association of canonical NF-kappaB subunits in viral replication, but not cytokine production. Viral replication was also suppressed in both IKKalpha and IKKbeta-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), compared with that in wild-type MEF. However, the inhibition was significantly greater in IKKbeta-deficient MEF, suggesting that IKKbeta plays a stronger role in supporting viral replication. Interestingly, viral replication and spreading in primary astrocytes from susceptible SJL/J mice were several-fold higher than those in astrocytes from resistant C57BL/6 mice, suggesting that higher viral replication levels in astrocytes may also contribute to the viral persistence in the central nervous system (CNS) of susceptible SJL/J mice. A relatively higher level of activated NF-kappaB was found in the nuclei of virus-infected SJL astrocytes compared with C57BL/6 astrocytes suggest that the NF-kappaB activation level affects on viral replication.
Maintaining Stability: Fancy and Passion in The Coquette

Hannah Webster Foster's The Coquette performs the ideological task of quelling women's grievances against marriage in order to conserve social stability more broadly. The novel's sustained denigration of passion and fancy deprives female readers of the means by which to register their dissatisfaction and to imagine alternative social relations.
Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion: the role of oxygen radicals in tissue injury

Thrombolytic therapy has gained widespread acceptance as a means of treating coronary artery thrombosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Although experimental data have demonstrated that timely reperfusion limits the extent of infarction caused by regional ischemia, there is growing evidence that reperfusion is associated with an inflammatory response to ischemia that exacerbates the tissue injury. Ischemic myocardium releases archidonate and complement-derived chemotactic factors, e.g., leukotriene B4 and C5a, which attract and activate neutrophils. Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium accelerates the influx of neutrophils, which release reactive oxygen products, such as superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, resulting in the formation of a hydroxyl radical and hypochlorous acid. The latter two species may damage viable endothelial cells and myocytes via the peroxidation of lipids and oxidation of protein sulfhydryl groups, leading to perturbations of membrane permeability and enzyme function. Neutrophil depletion by antiserum and inhibition of neutrophil function by drugs, e.g., ibuprofen, prostaglandins (prostacyclin and PGE1), or a monoclonal antibody, to the adherence-promoting glycoprotein Mo-1 receptor, have been shown to limit the extent of canine myocardial injury due to coronary artery occlusion/reperfusion. Recent studies have challenged the hypothesis that xanthine-oxidase-derived oxygen radicals are a cause of reperfusion injury. Treatment with allopurinol or oxypurinol may exert beneficial effects on ischemic myocardium that are unrelated to the inhibition of xanthine oxidase. Furthermore, the human heart may lack xanthine oxidase activity. Further basic research is needed, therefore, to clarify the importance of xanthine oxidase in the pathophysiology of reperfusion injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pharmacological basis for the role of curcumin in chronic diseases: an age-old spice with modern targets

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a yellow pigment in the spice turmeric (also called curry powder), has been used for centuries as a treatment for inflammatory diseases. Extensive research within the past two decades has shown that curcumin mediates its anti-inflammatory effects through the downregulation of inflammatory transcription factors (such as nuclear factor κB), enzymes (such as cyclooxygenase 2 and 5 lipoxygenase) and cytokines (such as tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1 and interleukin 6). Because of the crucial role of inflammation in most chronic diseases, the potential of curcumin has been examined in neoplastic, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic diseases. The pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of curcumin have been examined in animals and in humans. Various pharmacological aspects of curcumin in vitro and in vivo are discussed in detail here.
Mentoring women in the public sector: expectations and realities

Though many government agencies use mentoring programmes to advance women, there is a little research investigating whether mentoring produces significantly different results for women than men in the public sector. This paper investigates the role of mentoring in advancing the careers of women in the public sector by testing a series of hypotheses about the relationships between gender, mentor type (formal/informal and internal/external), and the outcomes of mentoring. The findings indicate that participating in mentorships increases public managers' career outcomes, measured as protege promotion and the number of employees supervised by the protege. Furthermore, though women are more likely to have female mentors, mentoring outcomes do not significantly vary by mentor gender. These findings point to the importance of mentoring in the public sector and call into question the focus on mentoring as a tool for advancing women in particular.
CUTANEOUS INFECTIVITY IN EXPERIMENTAL POLIOMYELITIS : INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY AFTER NEUROSURGICAL PROCEDURES.

1. Bilateral olfactory neurectomy did not prevent experimental poliomyelitis on intravenous or intracutaneous inoculation. 2. Various operative procedures increased the susceptibility of monkeys to infection with experimental poliomyelitis.
Molecular cloning and endometrial expression of porcine amphiregulin

The porcine amphiregulin gene was previously reported to be within the quantitative trait locus (QTL) for uterine capacity on chromosome 8. Because amphiregulin stimulates cell proliferation, the amphiregulin gene might be responsible for this QTL. The objectives of this study were to clone amphiregulin cDNA and compare endometrial expression of its mRNA in pregnant Meishan (M) and White composite (WC) pigs. We obtained two amphiregulin cDNAs, one with 1,221 bp and another with 1,109 bp. The 112 bp difference corresponded to exon 5 of the human amphiregulin gene, which codes for the cyto- plasmic domain. Endometrial mRNA expression of amphiregulin was significantly lower in M pigs than in WC pigs during early pregnancy (day 15-40 of gestation). Amphiregulin mRNA expression in the endometrium of both M and WC pigs increased (P <0.01) from days 15 to 20, decreased (P¼0.01) from days 20 to 30, and did not change between days 30 and 40. This may result in reduced amphiregulin protein production leading to the slower development of M conceptuses, contributing to greater uterine capacity and litter size in prolific Chinese M pigs. Porcine genomic sequences isolated from a bacterial artificial chromosome genomic library contained exon 5, suggesting that the deletion of exon 5 in the mRNA may be due to differential splicing. The amphiregulin gene consisted of six exons and five introns spanning 10.3 kb. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 65: 366-372, 2003. 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fine-scale wetland features mediate vector and climate-dependent macroscale patterns in human West Nile virus incidence

Mosquito-borne diseases in the United States are notorious for their seemingly erratic temporal and spatial outbreak patterns in humans. Identifying linkages between fine-scale phenomenon and macroscale outbreak patterns can improve the understanding of these complex socio–ecological systems. Using West Nile virus (WNV) as a model system, we examine whether fine-scale wetland characteristics—wetland size, connectivity, and inundation regime—have an important effect on macroscale human disease outbreak in the northeastern and midwestern United States. We take a spatially explicit GIS-based approach, derive new macroscale wetland metrics based on fine-scale wetland characteristics, and use county-level annual human WNV incidence data over 11 years to evaluate linkages between the fine and macroscales (1.6 million km2). In regions dominated by the Culex tarsalis WNV vector, U.S. counties with a small average wetland size had more than 100 % higher human WNV incidence than counties with a large average wetland size. In regions dominated by the Cx. pipiens and Cx. restuans vectors, a low proportional area of connected wetland was associated with at least 50 % higher human WNV incidence than a high proportional area of connected wetland. Finally, Cx. tarsalis-dominated counties with a high proportional area of semi-permanent wetland that were experiencing drought conditions had over 300 % higher annual WNV incidence than drought-affected counties with a low proportional area of semi-permanent wetland. Our results suggest that phenomena occurring at the individual wetland scale may aggregate to influence macroscale human WNV outbreak patterns and may be mediated by the interplay of other factors such as vector species-specific traits and climate.
Importance of diagnosing intra-medullary spinal cord metastases on 18F-FDG PET-CT

1078 Learning Objectives 1. Discuss the importance of detecting Intra-medullary Spinal Cord Metastases on18F-FDG PET-CT in patients with metastatic soft tissue cancers. 2. Discuss the importance of its early clinical recognition and initiation of early treatment to improve palliation and survival. Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCM) can be a devastating complication of cancer. Although relatively rare, they may present with rapidly progressing neurological deficits. Since they are amenable to therapy with steroids, radiation, and chemotherapy, an early recognition and diagnosis are essential for a potentially improved neurologic outcome. A Sample Case: A 55 year old female with metastatic small cell lung cancer was incidentally found to have an asymptomatic ISCM on a restaging PET-CT scan. MRI confirmed a lesion at C7-T1 spine level. The patient was referred to radiation oncology. Though asymptomatic at diagnosis, a prophylactic palliative course of external beam radiation therapy (20 Gy/ 5 fractions) for pain control and stabilization of bone was offered with the hope to prevent any possibly devastating neurologic sequelae. Conclusions: One should be aware of the possibility of detecting an ISCM in a patient with disseminated soft tissue malignancy. Additional bone findings on 18F-FDG PET-CT can help to identify and confirm the presence of ISCM and may play an important role in differentiating diagnostically challenging lesions seen on a MRI or other imaging modalities. Early recognition and diagnosis can help guide therapy and may improve the patient’s quality of life and overall survival
Incommensurate c-domain superstructures in calcian dolomite from the Latemar buildup, Dolomites, Northern Italy

Early exposure cap microdolomites ( Previously described c-domain superstructures in dolomite are reported as commensurate with the host structure; c-diffraction spots are situated exactly halfway between the principal (a and b) reflections. Re-examination of published diffraction patterns reveals that some are actually incommensurate. Individual c-domains are monoclinic and have been interpreted to be more calcium-rich than the host dolomite. Newly recognized c-domains resemble previously described c-domains but are distinct because they are incommensurate with the dolomite host and produce diffraction spots with irrational indices. In samples from the Latemar buildup, the c -axes of the host and modulations are parallel, but the [110] directions are not parallel. Further, the length of c * dolomite ≈ c * superstructure , but the lattice spacing of d superstructure 110 is more than twice d dolomite 110 . The superstructure phase is metrically monoclinic and is interpreted to incorporate more calcium than dolomite. Domains are, however, too small to analyze directly. Excess calcium may account for the more than doubling of the domains’ a –dimension relative to that of dolomite. Inclination of the domain lattice relative to the host lattice may vary as a function of calcium content.
Diels Alder Polyphenylene Anion Exchange Membrane for Nonaqueous Redox Flow Batteries

Here highly conductive, solvent-resistant anionic Diels Alder polyphenylene (DAPP) membranes were synthesized with three different ionic contents and tested in an ionic liquid-based nonaqueous redox flow battery (RFB). These membranes display 3–10× increase in conductivity in propylene carbonate compared to some commercially available (aqueous) anion exchange membranes. The membrane with an ion content of 1.5 meq/g (DAPP1.5) proved too brittle for operation in a RFB, while the membrane with an ion content of 2.5 meq/g (DAPP2.5) allowed excessive movement of solvent and poor electrochemical yields (capacity fade). Despite having lower voltage efficiencies compared to DAPP2.5, the membrane with an intermediate ion content of 2.0 meq/g (DAPP2.0) exhibited higher coulombic efficiencies (96.4% vs. 89.1%) and electrochemical yields (21.6% vs. 10.9%) after 50 cycles. Crossover of the electroactive species was the primary reason for decreased electrochemical yields. Analysis of the anolyte and catholyte revealed degradation of the electroactive species and formation of a film at the membrane-solution interface. Increases in membrane resistance were attributed to mechanical and thermal aging of the membrane; no chemical change was observed. As a result, improvements in the ionic selectivity and ionic conductivity of the membrane will increase the electrochemical yield and voltage efficiency of future nonaqueousmore » redox flow batteries.« less
EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTION OF SCOLIOSIS

Scoliosis can be produced in a dog by an injury to the epiphyseal cartilaginous plate on one side of the body of a vertebra. It is possible that asymmetrical injury of the epiphyseal cartilaginous plate as a corrective procedure for deformities of the spine may be successfully utilized clinically. Hemivertebrae and other anomalies, growth disturbances, scoliosis, and epiphysitis may be amenable to this method in suitable cases in which the lumbar vertebrae are involved.
High-speed VSD imaging of visually evoked cortical waves: decomposition into intra- and intercortical wave motions.

In the pond turtle,Pseudemys scripta elegans, visually evoked cortical waves propagate at different velocities within the primary visual area compared with waves that pass into the secondary visual...
A Quantitative Analysis of Subclonal and Clonal Gene Mutations before and after Therapy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Purpose: CLL-associated gene mutations that influence CLL cell fitness and chemotherapy resistance should increase in clonal representation when measured before therapy and at relapse. Experimental Design: To uncover mutations associated with CLL relapse, we have performed whole exome sequencing (WES) in a discovery cohort of sixty-one relapsed CLL patients identifying eighty-six recurrently mutated genes. The variant allele fractions (VAFs) of nineteen genes with mutations in {greater than or equal to} 3/61 cases were measured in fifty-three paired pre- and post-treatment CLL samples sorted to purity using panel-based deep re-sequencing or by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Results: We identify mutations in TP53 as the dominant subclonal gene driver of relapsed CLL often demonstrating substantial increases in VAFs. Subclonal mutations in SAMHD1 also recurrently demonstrated increased VAFs at relapse. Mutations in ATP10A, FAT3, FAM50A and MGA, although infrequent, demonstrated enrichment in {greater than or equal to}2 cases each. In contrast, mutations in NOTCH1, SF3B1, POT1, FBXW7, MYD88, NXF1, XPO1, ZMYM3 or CHD2 were predominantly already clonal prior to therapy indicative of a pre-treatment pathogenetic driver role in CLL. Quantitative analyses of clonal dynamics uncovers rising, stable and falling clones and subclones without clear evidence that gene mutations other than in TP53 and possibly SAMHD1 are frequently selected for at CLL relapse. Conclusion: Data in aggregate support a provisional categorization of CLL-associated recurrently mutated genes into three classes i) often subclonal pre-therapy and strongly enriched after therapy, or, ii) mostly clonal pre-therapy or without further enrichments at relapse, or, iii) subclonal before and after therapy and enriching only in sporadic cases.
Resistance Factors for Driven Piling Developed from Load-Test Databases

A methodology is developed to determine resistance factors for driven piling. Several pile load test databases are used to identify simple statistical parameters necessary to describe the uncertainties associated with predicting pile capacities. These statistics are used to determine the uncertainty with which axial pile capacities are predicted, and use these estimates of uncertainty to determine resistance factors, ~, for and LRFD approach. Introduction There have been several approaches used to develop and apply LRFD to pile foundations (Goble, 1999). Such approaches have included the following: 1) back-calculating resistance factors based on calibration with existing FS methods, 2) determination of resistance factors based on site-specific load tests and soil-information (Yoon and O'Neill, 1997), and 3) determination of resistance factors based on the predicted and measured capacity for a collection of load tests on driven piling. This study employs the third approach to develop resistance factors. Statistics are employed herein to determine the uncertainty with which axial pile loads are predicted, to use these estimates of uncertainty to determine the reliability of pile foundations, and to justify the resistance factor, if, to achieve a desired reliability. Load test databases and statistics are used as tools to quantify the uncertainty with which axial capacity can be predicted. The ratio of predicted axial capacity to measured axial capacity (Rv/R~) is used as the measure for a method's ability to predict capacity. A value of unity for Rp/R~ corresponds to perfect agreement between predicted and measured. A ratio greater than unity occurs when the method over-predicts capacity and a value less than unity occurs when the predicted capacity is less than measured. When several load tests are available, the ratio (R~/Rm) can be determined for each load test, and statistics can be used to assess the precision and bias for a predictive method. This paper is in two parts. The first part presents a discussion of simple statistics used to quantify the bias and precision associated with a predictive method. The lognormal distribution is discussed and used to fit data associated with R~/Rm. The second part associates load and resistance factors, ~, and ~ with a desired degree of reliability. The factor, ~, is determined for cases in which the load is known, and for cases in which there is uncertainty in the load. The factors are quantified using the standard deviation of the predictive method as the measure of uncertainty in capacity.
Effect of sodium oleate on growth of Streptobacillus moniliformis.

SummarySodium oleate in a concentration of 90 γ of sodium oleate per ml of medium inhibits the growth of Streptobacillus moniliformis. This inhibitory effect was reversed by addition of adequate amounts of bovine serum. Animal lecithin in concentrations of 100 and 200 γ per ml of medium failed to neutralize the inhibitory effect of sodium oleate.
Appraisal of instrument for counting erythrocytes by scatter photometry, with an adaptation for hemoglobin determination.

In the fall of 1950, it was brought to our attention that an instrument had been developed in Germany which would determine the erythrocyte and leukocyte counts Avith an accuracy and speed heretofore unobtainable. The development of the initial instrument was begun early in 1949 by Hans Loeschcke and Ruetger Wever at the Physiologic Institute of the University of Goettingen. The instrument consisted of a photoelectric photometer determining the number of cells suspended in solution by measuring the scattered light. The novelty of the instrument lay in a device for the compensation of variations in reading due to cell size. The hemoglobin determination was an additional feature incorporated through the adaptation of standard procedures. Instruments were tested at various stages of development through the cooperation of the manufacturer. As a result of our investigations, improvements were incorporated in the later models upon which this report is based.
Comparative Development of Pheasant and Chick Embryo Sera.

SummaryPheasant and chick embryonic sera share common features as the embryo matures: emergence of albumin from a minor to a dominant position in the serum spectrum; the presence of an embryo-specific alpha-2 globulin-E which declines from a prominent position in the serum at midincubation to either disappear (chick) or become a minor component (pheasant) by the 21st day of incubation. The pheasant embryo serum contains a stage-specific serum protein, alpha-3 globulin-E, which in addition is species-specific, i.e., no similar staining protein is found in the chick embryo serum.
On Bitumen Sedimentation and Formation Damage

The flocculating setting of bitumen from crude oil in reservoir may plug formation and production facilities,seriously affecting normal operation in an oilfield.Hence,it is necessary to study the sedimentary mechanism of bitumen and formation dam age caused from it to find scientific basis of prevention from bitumen sedimentation.According to previous understandings of bitu men sedimentary mechanism,all mechanisms about it and all factors influenced are presented in this paper,including the rea-sons in detail why bitumen sediments easily in vicinity of wellbore and causes formation damages.Also,this paper reviews about thermodynamic models for bitumen simulation such as micellar model and state equation simulation approach for bitumen sedi -menta tion,and these advantages and disadvantages in real application are analyzed.
Epidemiological Analyse of measles in 2004～2006 in Nanchong

Objective This study was conducted to analyse epidemiological characterristics of measles,and discuss preventive means of measles control.Method Descript_ive Epidemiological method was adopted to analyze the data of measls attacked in Nanchong.Result It was found that 1840 cases was reported,and The average repoting rate of measls in Nanchong was 8.17/100 000 between2004-2005.Cases were mainly enfants who were 1-14 years old and students,being 1384(75.22%).Each county(city or section)reported cases.The prevalent season was from March to July.20.49% of the measls cases were immunized,25.60% cases were without immunization history and 53.91% were with unknown immunization history.Conclusion Prevalent main reason of measls were low level of public immunity,and accumulation of impressionable people.The initial vaccination and fortified vaccination should be improved in order to reduce morbidity of measls and breaking out of measls.Also revaccination should be adopted to children between 1 to 14 years old.
Creative Artists and Creative Scientists: Where Does the Buck Stop?

Imagine this scenario: Picasso, an innovator of early twentieth-century modern art, is sitting in his studio in France in the 1950s. He has just received unsettling news from Spain. General Franco, the autocratic dictator long despised by Picasso, has given a nationally broadcast speech in which he praised the artist effusively. This bulletin alone, while distasteful, is not what is troubling him. Instead, he is replaying a passage from the speech in which Franco referred to one of Picasso’s recent paintings and gave his considered interpretation. Believing—not entirely incorrectly—that Picasso had a longing to reconnect with the country he had not seen in decades, Franco suggested that this latest work reflected an important turning point in Picasso’s career: unlike earlier paintings, this one represented deeply nationalist sentiments that had long lain dormant. Furthermore, Franco expressed his gratitude for Picasso’s tacit but unambiguous endorsement of the regime.
Opponent-Colours Theory

The latter-day Cantabridgians working in vision continue to remind us of the brilliance of Newton, Young and Maxwell in whose shadows they continue to ply their trade. (Mollon and Sharpe, 1983). The contributions of these geniuses are universally admired and understandably so. The list could be extended by adding still another extraordinary Cantabridgian, Lord Rayleigh. Or still another, but this one from the other Cambridge, namely Cambridge, Massachusetts and one whose name as an eponym is virtually a household word to those in this lecture room.
Targeting Bacterial Nitric Oxide Synthase with Aminoquinoline-Based Inhibitors

Nitric oxide is produced in Gram-positive pathogens Bacillus anthracis and Staphylococcus aureus by the bacterial isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Inhibition of bacterial nitric oxide synthase (bNOS) has been identified as a promising antibacterial strategy for targeting methicillin-resistant S. aureus [Holden, J. K., et al. (2015) Chem. Biol. 22, 785–779]. One class of NOS inhibitors that demonstrates antimicrobial efficacy utilizes an aminoquinoline scaffold. Here we report on a variety of aminoquinolines that target the bacterial NOS active site, in part, by binding to a hydrophobic patch that is unique to bNOS. Through mutagenesis and crystallographic studies, our findings demonstrate that aminoquinolines are an excellent scaffold for further aiding in the development of bNOS specific inhibitors.
Selective disulfide reduction for labeling and enhancement of Fab antibody fragments.

Many methods have been developed for chemical labeling and enhancement of the properties of antibodies and their common fragments, including the Fab and F(ab’)2 fragments. Somewhat selective reduction of some antibody disulfide bonds has been previously achieved, yielding antibodies and antibody fragments that can be labeled at defined sites, enhancing their utility and properties. Selective reduction of the two hinge disulfide bonds present in F(ab’)2 fragments using mild reduction has been useful. However, such reduction is often not quantitative and results in the reduction of multiple disulfide bonds, and therefore subsequent multiple labeling or conjugation sites are neither homogenous nor stoichiometric. Here, a simple and efficient selective reduction of the single disulfide bond linking the partial heavy chain and the intact light chain which compose the Fab fragment is accomplished utilizing tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) immobilized on agarose beads. The resultant reduced cysteine residues were labeled with several cysteine-selective fluorescent reagents, as well as by cysteine-directed PEGylation. These two cysteine residues can also be re-ligated by means of a bifunctional cysteine cross-linking agent, dibromobimane, thereby both restoring a covalent linkage between the heavy and light chains at this site, far removed from the antigen binding site, and also introducing a fluorescent probe. There are many other research and clinical uses for these selectively partially reduced Fab fragments, including biotinylation, toxin and drug conjugation, and incorporation of radioisotopes, and this technique enables simple generation of very useful Fab fragment derivatives with many potential applications.
Framing for a New Transnational Legal Order: The Case of Human Trafficking

How does transnational legal order emerge, develop and solidify? This chapter focuses on how and why actors come to define an issue as one requiring transnational legal intervention of a specific kind. Specifically, we focus on how and why states have increasingly constructed and acceded to international legal norms relating to human trafficking. Empirically, human trafficking has been on the international and transnational agenda for nearly a century. However, relatively recently – and fairly swiftly in the 2000s – governments have committed themselves to criminalize human trafficking in international as well as regional and domestic law. Our paper tries to explain this process of norm convergence. We hypothesize that swift convergence on norms against human trafficking and on a particular legal solution – criminalization – is the result of a specific set of conditions related to globalization and the collapse of the former Soviet Union in the 1990s. We argue that a broad coalition of states had much to gain by choosing a prosecutorial model over one that makes human rights or victim protection its top priority. We explore the framing of human trafficking through computerized textual analysis of United Nations resolutions – the central forum for debates over the nature of human trafficking and what to do about it. We look for evidence of how the framing of human trafficking has shifted over time, and how the normative pressure as reflected in these documents has waxed and waned. We will argue that a binding legal instrument became possible because of the normative convergence solidified by linking human trafficking to transnational crime more generally.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Type Strain Desulfuribacillus alkaliarsenatis AHT28, an Obligately Anaerobic, Sulfidogenic Bacterium Isolated from Russian Soda Lake Sediments

ABSTRACT Desulfuribacillus alkaliarsenatis AHT28T is an obligately anaerobic, sulfur- and arsenate-reducing haloalkaliphile that was isolated from Russian soda lake sediments. Here, we present the 3.1-Mb draft genome sequence for this strain, consisting of 36 contigs with a G+C content of 37.5% and 2,978 protein-coding sequences.
Ovarian Artery Embolization as a Treatment for Persistent Ovarian Remnant Syndrome

Ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) is a rare condition in which ovarian tissue persists at the site of prior oophorectomy and often causes debilitating pelvic pain. Gold standard of treatment is surgical resection. We report a case of persistent ORS in a 44-year-old female who was successfully treated with ovarian artery embolization after failure of standard medical and gynecologic therapies. The ovarian tissue remnant was reduced by 75% in volume, and the patient was near symptom-free four months after the procedure.
Reconstructing tree trunks by 3D bar filters

In this work, we propose an new problem to be solved: reconstruct the 3D points cloud of wild forest from 2D images sequences, locate the tree trunk position and estimate the tree trunk diameters from those reconstructed 3D points and we developed an novel method to solve those three problem once which is able to reconstruct the 3D tree trunk structures, locate the tree trunk and estimate the tree trunk diameters. This is the first work trying to solving those problems jointly. The previous work separate those problem as three sub-tasks: Reconstruct the 3D points from images sets using structure from motion techniques, detect the tree trunk locations and diameters by fitting cylinder models. Unfortunately, the first sub-task is extremely hard due to the poor discriminative image features, strong illumination changes, data corruption caused by the shadows and limited camera view inside the wild forest. The second sub-task requires the first sub-task to provide high quality 3D point cloud. In this work, we found that we are able to take advantage of the vertical structures in the forest to obtain more stable feature matching. Furthermore, with those vertical structure we are able to obtain the tree locations and diameters directly in the process of 3D reconstruction. We demonstrated that our method is able to provide a unified frame work for reconstructing the 3D tree models, estimate the location and trunk size using the 2D images sequences or videos taken in the forest.
An Educator-Practitioner Interaction Program

The teachers in engineering colleges and universities should possess some practical design experience on a continuing basis so that they are cognizant of the real-world, day-to-day engineering problems that are encountered by the practicing engineer, as well as the solutions that he is applying to them. The Residencies in Engineering Practice sponsored by the Ford Foundation and administered by ASEE is certainly one method of achieving this. An alternate approach would be to offer institutes or short courses during the summer that would bring the faculty in direct contact with practicing engineers. The program should be planned and organized by a university, but the major part of the teaching responsibilities should be delegated to engineers from practice. The advantages of such a program are two fold: (1) it provides an insight into design practice for the participating faculty member; and (2) it provides the practicing engineer with a critical review of his design.
Effect of electric current on densification behavior of conductive ceramic powders consolidated by spark plasma sintering

Abstract The densification mechanism of conductive powders is revealed by comparing the electric current-assisted spark plasma sintering (SPS) of ZrN powder with conventional hot pressing (HP) carried out with the same powder and under the same pressure and temperature. To determine the actual temperature inside ZrN powder, a sacrificial thermocouple is directly inserted into the powder during the SPS process. The spatial distribution of the electric current passing through the powder is calculated using the finite element modeling. The porosity-interparticle neck area geometrical relationship is applied to estimate the electric current density inside the powder volume subjected to SPS. For the first time, by taking into account the explicit influence of the electric current effect on the SPS densification mechanism, the constitutive equations describing the electric current-assisted hot pressing of powders are developed. The densification mechanism of ZrN is determined by the inverse regression of the new SPS constitutive equations and by utilizing the experimental results on ZrN powder consolidation with and without the participation of the electric current effect.
Evolving Strategies in Cardiac Arrest Management

Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States, with a hospital discharge rate of approximately 10%. International resuscitation guidelines offer standardized cardiac arrest management approaches, but beyond the guidelines, are promising innovations to improve resuscitative care. Although clinical data do not yet support the routine use of mechanical chest compressions, corticosteroids, thrombolytics, and adjunctive ventilation devices during arrest, these therapies may have an important role in select patients. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a promising advancement and may have survival benefit in select patients. The evidence for standard therapies and these innovations is discussed.