cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HIV-1 group M conserved elements vaccine.

Recent HIV vaccine designs have sought to block viral escape pathways by compressing antigenic diversity. In light of HIV's propensity to mutate and thereby to ever ramify viral populations, could it be that providing sufficient protection against global diversity is an insurmountable problem? We propose an alternative HIV-1 vaccine design that deliberately includes viral segments conserved across the entire main group (or M group) of HIV-1 strains and excludes variable segments. We describe a prototype conserved elements (CE) vaccine constituted of 45 viral segments at least eight amino acids long that fulfill stringent conservation criteria. Our paradigm contends that the best way to cope with HIV-1 diversity may be to avoid it altogether. We argue that a successful vaccine must elicit responses against conserved regions of the viral proteome in which mutations would severely compromise the viability of the virus. Simultaneously, it must not elicit responses against variable, “decoy” elements of the virus, i.e., features that can mutate while retaining function, and that can absorb much of the adaptive host immune response. Coping with HIV-1′s extensive diversity is a major challenge for vaccine design strategies. Centralized (consensus and ancestral) immunogens [1–3] have in some cases improved the breadth of responses, and recent designs seek to compress the more common variant features among circulating strains into immunogens [4–6]. However, there is a practical limit to antigenic complexity that may prevent inclusion of all escape pathways in realistically sized immunogens. Besides, HIV's propensity to mutate has been shown to provide means for HIV to escape from antiretrovirals and antibody and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) pressures. The foregoing considerations led us to propose a vaccine exclusively composed of viral segments strictly conserved in all HIV-1 M group proteins and specifically devoid of mutable segments. The presence of segments that are nearly invariant in all HIV-1 M group proteomes strongly suggests that those CE are both obligatory for viral viability and are the Achilles' heels of the virus. Additionally, considering that variable segments can readily escape CTL pressures and can be highly immunogenic epitopes, we propose that mutable segments may act as immunologic decoys, subverting responses away from conserved elements.
Understanding architectural tradeoffs necessary to increase climate model intercomparison efficiency

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, has been leading an effort to allow remote sensing data available from NASA satellites to be easily compared with climate model outputs available from the DOE-funded Earth System Grid, a national asset in climate science. This partnership is timely with the looming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s 5th Assement Report (AR5) in active discussion, and the metrics to better understand Earth's climate under formulation. JPL's project, titled the Climate Data eXchange (CDX) provides an easy-to-use software framework for cimate scientists to rapidliy integrate and evaluate the efficacy of observational data as applied to climate models.
The effects of bullying

Bullying is a major problem for children. There are well-defined risk factors for bullying that are individual and social. Beyond the immediate trauma of experiencing bullying, victims are at high risk of later physical and emotional disorders. Bullies are the generators of this trauma but also suffer poor long-term effects as a result of their participation. Bystanders are also not immune from bullying's toxic effects nor innocent from its occurrence. While most often occurring at schools, paediatric clinicians can identify and support children suffering from bullying. They also have the unique opportunity to engage the schools and wider society on anti-bullying initiatives. This article will outline the risk, signs and symptoms of bullying to help clinicians identify and address these children in need.
Bromine, iodine, and chlorine in single aerosol particles at Cape Grim

Using a laser ionization mass spectrometer, the chemical compositions of single particles larger than 0.16 µm diameter were measured in the marine boundary layer (MBL) at Cape Grim, Tasmania during the ACE-1 experiment. Chlorine was observed in nearly all of the particles. Bromine was internally mixed with amounts near the sea water mole fraction in most particles. The aerosol mole fraction of iodine was similar to bromine, so iodine was highly enriched relative to sea water. Iodine was not uniformly mixed among all particles. Iodine-rich particles included sea salt and metals. Iodine was also correlated with the presence of organics in the spectra. Chlorine, bromine and iodine were anti-correlated with sodium sulfate. Since particles accumulate sulfate in the MBL, this anti-correlation suggests that the aerosols were losing all three halogens as they aged.
Thyroid hormone down-regulates neural cell adhesion molecule expression and affects attachment of gonocytes in Sertoli cell-gonocyte cocultures.

Contact-mediated interactions between Sertoli cells and gonocytes are important for testicular development. Specifically, down-regulation of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)-based intercellular adhesion during postnatal maturation is likely to be important for appropriate differentiation of testicular cells. Besides NCAM, P-cadherin is also present in neonatal testicular cords, at least in mice, and seems to disappear from the seminiferous epithelium after the first postnatal week. Another factor known to be important in regulating development of the neonatal testis is thyroid hormone (T3). T3 is involved in control of Sertoli cell proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, we examined the effect(s) of T3 on adhesive factors found within the testis using Sertoli cells and gonocytes isolated from neonates and maintained in coculture. T3 (100 nm) down-regulated NCAM expression in vitro, as assessed by Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. This contrasted with the continued expression of NC...
Central noradrenergic activity and the formation of glycol sulfate metabolites of brain norepinephrine.

Abstract The present study utilized intraventricular injection of Na235SO4 to detect drug induced changes in the in vivo formation of the two major metabolites of rat brain norepinephrine (NE) - the sulfate conjugates of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MOPEG-SO4) and 3,4-dihyd (DOPEG-SO4). Assays involved the hypothalamus only. Rats pretreated with clonidine showed a reduced formation of both MOPEG-35SO4 and DOPEG-35SO4 after intraventricular Na235SO4 as well as reduced synthesis of 3H-NE from intraventricular 3H-tyrosine. Phenoxybenzamine (POB) produced increases in the synthesis of both 35S-labeled conjugates and 3H-NE. Neither drug altered the loss of exogenous 3H-MOPEG-SO4 but clonidine increased both the accumulation of labeled sulfate and the sulfation of exogenous MOPEG in pheniprazine treated rats. These results show that the rates of formation of the labeled glycol sulfates are sensitive indicators of changes in brain NE turnover but can also be influenced by factors involved in sulfation that are unrelated to NE turnover. Blockade of NE synthesis with alpha methyltyrosine did not affect resting or POB-elevated levels of the labeled conjugates until stores of NE were reduced by 40%. The latter findings suggest that central noradrenergic neurons can release and metabolize NE at a normal rate despite synthesis blockade so long as adequate stores of NE are available.
Restrições benéficas: benéficas para quem?

Wolfgang Streeck, num influente trabalho publicado em 1997, sustentou de um modo convincente que a performance economica em sociedades de mercado se incrementa quando as escolhas racionais e voluntaristicas dos atores sofrem restricoes advindas de constrangimentos normativos e institucionais. Neste artigo, proponho tres modificacoes a essa tese central, de inspiracao durkheimiana: primeira, o que pode ser considerado uma "boa performance" em se tratando de um sistema economico varia segundo os agentes de classe atuantes numa economia de mercado; segunda, o nivel de constrangimento institucional que pode ser considerado otimo para uma "boa performance economica" do ponto de vista do interesse dos capitalistas e em geral mais baixo do que o nivel de constrangimento considerado otimo do ponto de vista dos trabalhadores; e, terceira, constrangimentos institucionais as escolhas voluntariamente racionais - mesmo aqueles tidos como otimos pelos capitalistas - podem ter tambem efeitos dinâmicos no equilibrio de poder entre as forcas sociais, os quais podem induzir os capitalistas a preferir constrangimentos que seriam subotimos do ponto de vista da performance economica.
Production of Neptunium Oxide from Impure Solutions by Anion Exchange Followed by Oxalate Precipitation

Abstract The stabilization of the neptunium solutions stored at the Savannah River Site (SRS) has generated additional recycle solutions that contain a different mix of impurities. A list of expected purities and the known laboratory and production data for purification from those impurities has been accumulated. An evaluation has been performed of the options for modifying the current process to ensure oxide product purity does not significantly change when recycle solutions are processed. This paper discusses the details of the reduction of the major impurities utilizing both known production quality analyses and laboratory flowsheet development data and proposes modifications to the anion wash volumes to remove higher levels of each impurity.
Rapid Diffusion of Fluorescent Tracers into Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilms Visualized by Time Lapse Microscopy

The transient diffusion of fluorescent tracers into biofilm cell clusters of Staphylococcus epidermidis was visualized by time lapse confocal scanning laser microscopy. Rhodamine B diffused into the center of cell clusters that were 200 to 600 microm in diameter within a few minutes. The apparent effective diffusion coefficient calculated from these data averaged 3.7 x 10(-7) cm(2) s(-1) or 11% of the value in pure water. Fluorescein diffused into biofilm more rapidly, with a diffusion coefficient that averaged 1.6 x 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1), or 32% of the value in water. This study provides direct, visual confirmation that solutes the size of many antibiotics and biocides can diffuse rapidly into biofilms.
The formin FRL1 (FMNL1) is an essential component of macrophage podosomes

Podosomes are highly dynamic actin-rich adhesion structures in cells of myeloid lineage and some transformed cells. Unlike transformed mesenchymal cell types, podosomes are the sole adhesion structure in macrophage and thus mediate all contact with adhesion substrate, including movement through complex tissues for immune surveillance. The existence of podosomes in inflammatory macrophages and transformed cell types suggest an important role in tissue invasion. The proteome, assembly, and maintenance of podosomes are emerging, but remain incompletely defined. Previously, we reported a formin homology sequence and actin assembly activity in association with macrophage beta-3 integrin. In this study we demonstrate by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting that the formin FRL1 is specifically upregulated during monocyte differentiation to macrophages. We show that the formin FRL1 localizes to the actin-rich cores of primary macrophage podosomes. FRL1 co-precipitates with beta-3 integrin and both fixed and live cell fluorescence microscopy show that endogenous and overexpressed FRL1 selectively localize to macrophage podosomes. Targeted disruption of FRL1 by siRNA results in reduced cell adhesion and disruption of podosome dynamics. Our data suggest that FRL1 is responsible for modifying actin at the macrophage podosome and may be involved in actin cytoskeleton dynamics during adhesion and migration within tissues.
Effects of Simulated Mars Conditions on the Survival and Growth of Escherichia coli and Serratia liquefaciens

Escherichia coli and Serratia liquefaciens, two bacterial spacecraft contaminants known to replicate under low atmospheric pressures of 2.5 kPa, were tested for growth and survival under simulated Mars conditions. Environmental stresses of high salinity, low temperature, and low pressure were screened alone and in combination for effects on bacterial survival and replication, and then cells were tested in Mars analog soils under simulated Mars conditions. Survival and replication of E. coli and S. liquefaciens cells in liquid medium were evaluated for 7 days under low temperatures (5, 10, 20, or 30°C) with increasing concentrations (0, 5, 10, or 20%) of three salts (MgCl2, MgSO4, NaCl) reported to be present on the surface of Mars. Moderate to high growth rates were observed for E. coli and S. liquefaciens at 30 or 20°C and in solutions with 0 or 5% salts. In contrast, cell densities of both species generally did not increase above initial inoculum levels under the highest salt concentrations (10 and 20%) and the four temperatures tested, with the exception that moderately higher cell densities were observed for both species at 10% MgSO4 maintained at 20 or 30°C. Growth rates of E. coli and S. liquefaciens in low salt concentrations were robust under all pressures (2.5, 10, or 101.3 kPa), exhibiting a general increase of up to 2.5 orders of magnitude above the initial inoculum levels of the assays. Vegetative E. coli cells were maintained in a Mars analog soil for 7 days under simulated Mars conditions that included temperatures between 20 and −50°C for a day/night diurnal period, UVC irradiation (200 to 280 nm) at 3.6 W m−2 for daytime operations (8 h), pressures held at a constant 0.71 kPa, and a gas composition that included the top five gases found in the martian atmosphere. Cell densities of E. coli failed to increase under simulated Mars conditions, and survival was reduced 1 to 2 orders of magnitude by the interactive effects of desiccation, UV irradiation, high salinity, and low pressure (in decreasing order of importance). Results suggest that E. coli may be able to survive, but not grow, in surficial soils on Mars.
South Africa: The Rise of Traditional Medicine

Traditional medicine also described as folk medicine, refers to the healing practices of the body and mind. It covers a wide variety of therapies and practices that vary from country to country and region to region. It has been used since the beginning of mankind and stems from theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to a particular culture. Despite numerous attempts of governmental interference, traditional medicine continues to strive throughout Africa and certain parts of the world. During colonialism, many colonists accused traditional healers of practicing witchcraft, which led to the prohibition of the practice across various regions in Africa. Today, South Africa is home to more than 200,000 traditional healers who care for more than 27 million people. This article will primarily focus on the history of traditional medicinal practices in South Africa and its rise in modern-day times as a form of complementary alternative medicine (CAM).
Correlation and prediction of crystal solubility and purity

A thermodynamic model is developed for the correlation and prediction of crystal solubility and purity when lattice substitution by isomorphic or near-isomorphic impurities is the dominant mechanism that leads to impure crystals. The model is based on earlier observation that the purity of amino acid crystals obtained from aqueous solutions is related to the relative solubilities of the product and impurity in the solvent. A simple relationship is developed that allows the prediction of the purity of crystals obtained from dilute solutions containing both product and impurity species.
Snail1, Snail2, and E47 promote mammary epithelial branching morphogenesis

Several E-box-binding transcription factors regulate individual and collective cell migration and enhance the motility of epithelial cells by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we characterized the role of a subset of these transcription factors and the EMT proteome in branching morphogenesis of mammary epithelial tissues using a three-dimensional organotypic culture model of the mammary duct. We found that the transcription factors Snail1, Snail2, and E47 were transiently upregulated at branch sites; decreasing the expression of these transcription factors inhibited branching. Conversely, ectopic expression of Snail1, Snail2, and E47 induced branching in the absence of exogenous stimuli. These changes correlated with the expression of mesenchymal markers and repression of E-cadherin, which was essential for branching. Snail1 and Snail2 also promoted cell survival at branch sites, but this was not sufficient to induce branching. These findings indicate that Snail1, Snail2, and E47 can promote collective migration during branching morphogenesis of mammary epithelial tissues through key regulators of EMT.
INTEGRATION MODELING FRAMEWORK FOR ESTIMATING MOBILE SOURCE EMISSIONS

Transportation network improvements are commonly evaluated by estimating average speeds from a transportation/traffic model and converting them into emission estimates using an environmental model such as MOBILE or EMFAC. Unfortunately, recent research has demonstrated that average speed, and perhaps even simple estimates of the amount of delay and the number of vehicle stops on a roadway, is insufficient to fully capture the environmental impacts of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) strategies such as adaptive traffic signal control. Specifically, for the same average speed, one can observe widely different instantaneous speed and acceleration profiles, each resulting in very different fuel consumption and emission levels. In an attempt to address this limitation, the paper presents the \IINTEGRATION\N model framework for quantifying the environmental impacts of ITS alternatives. The model combines car-following, vehicle dynamics, lane changing, energy, and emission models to estimate mobile source emissions directly from instantaneous speed and acceleration levels. The validity of the model is demonstrated using sample test scenarios that include traveling at a constant speed, traveling at variable speeds, stopping at a stop sign, and traveling along a signalized arterial. The study also demonstrates that an adjustment in driver aggressiveness can provide environmental benefits that are equivalent to the benefits of adaptive traffic signal control.
Cryptococcus neoformans Resistance to Echinocandins: (1,3)β-Glucan Synthase Activity Is Sensitive to Echinocandins

(1,3)β-d-Glucan synthase (EC 2.4.1.34. UDP-glucose: 1,3-β-d-glucan 3-β-glucosyltransferase) uses UDP-glucose as substrate and catalyzes the polymerization of glucose ([1,3]-β-linkages) to form the major carbohydrate component of the fungal cell wall. We have optimized in vitro assay conditions for (1,3)β-glucan synthase activity from Cryptococcus neoformans. Cells lysed in 50 mM Tris, pH 7.75, containing 20% glycerol, 2 mM NaF, 1 mM dithiothreitol, 0.1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 5 mM MgCl2, 0.1% protease and phosphatase inhibitor cocktails, and 60 μM GTPγS produced maximum specific activity in vitro. We tested in vitro C. neoformans (1,3)β-glucan synthase activity against the (1,3)β-glucan synthase inhibitors, caspofungin and cilofungin, and have determined that (1,3)β-glucan synthase activity is very sensitive (apparent Ki of 0.17 ± 0.02 μM and 22 ± 5.7 μM, respectively) to these echinocandins. Taken together with high MICs for C. neoformans (caspofungin MIC, 16 μg/ml; cilofungin MIC, 64 μg/ml), our results indicate that C. neoformans is resistant to caspofungin and cilofungin by a mechanism(s) unrelated to (1,3)β-glucan synthase resistance.
The influence of niobium and niobium-titanium grain size on the drawing instability of niobium diffusion barriers in niobium-titanium wire

A major source of extrinsic limitation to the critical current density in Nb-Ti superconductors has been sausaging initiated by the formation of hard Cu-Ti-Nb intermetallics during heat treatment. Traditionally, a Nb diffusion barrier is wrapped around each Nb-Ti filament as a means of protection. However, a Nb barrier is permeable to both Ti and Cu and local thinning, caused by non-uniform deformation during wire reduction, can decrease the amount of protection provided by a given barrier. We have examined the effect of varying the initial microstructural condition of both the Nb barrier and the Nb-Ti rod on the uniformity of barrier thickness reduction after extrusion and during wire drawing. Results show that an increasing initial Nb or Nb-Ti grain size escalates the rate at which the coefficient of barrier thickness variation increases as a function of strain. In addition, the two grain sizes appear to combine additively in promoting non-uniform barrier deformation.
Social Psychological Orientations and Accent Strength

Past research has focused on demographic and skill-acquisition variables, such as age of arrival and length of residence in the host country, to predict accent strength in a nonnative language. The...
The Role of Building Evaluation in Earthquake Hazard Reduction

This chapter will describe the current and potential roles of building evaluation in earthquake hazard reduction. It will discuss studies which focus on the relationship between environment and behavior before, during, and after earthquakes. It will describe why earthquakes are important, where the benefits lie, and where the field is going.
Intrarater and interrater reliability of three isometric dynamometers in assessing shoulder strength

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of three separate isometricstrength testing devices. Seventeen (10 female, 7 male) adult volunteers with no known shoulder dysfunction participated. Each subject's internal rotation, external rotation, and abduction strength was measured with the Nicholas Manual Muscle Tester (MMT), Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer, and Isobex 2.0. Two investigators administered the test to each subject with each device. Data were analyzed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Ranges of the intrarater intraclass correlation coefficient (3, 1) values for each muscle group with each device for both testers were as follows: Nicholas MMT=.84 to .97, Biodex=.97 to .99, and Isobex 2.0=.95 to .98. Ranges of interrater intraclass correlation coefficient values for each device and muscle group were as follows: Nicholas MMT=.79 to .94, Biodex=.93 to .96, and Isobex 2.0=.90 to .97. Time to complete testing was shortest for Nicholas MMT, followed by Isobex 2.0, then Biodex. Measurements taken on the same day by the same therapist appear to be highly reliable for all three devices. Measurements taken over a 3-day period by two therapists appear to be highly reliable for all devices and muscle groups with the exception of Nicholas MMT abduction (.79), which was moderately reliable.
Acquisition of coinfection and simultaneous transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia phagocytophila by Ixodes scapularis ticks.

The agents of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia phagocytophila) are both transmitted by the tick Ixodes scapularis. In nature, ticks are often infected with both agents simultaneously. We studied whether previous infection with either Borrelia or Ehrlichia in ticks would affect acquisition and transmission of a second pathogen. Ehrlichia-infected I. scapularis nymphs were fed upon Borrelia-infected mice, and Borrelia-infected I. scapularis nymphs were fed upon Ehrlichia-infected mice. The efficiency with which previously infected nymphal ticks acquired a second pathogen from infected hosts was compared to that of uninfected ticks. An average of 51% ± 15% of ticks acquired Ehrlichia from infected mice regardless of their prior infection status with Borrelia. An average of 85% ± 10% of ticks acquired Borrelia from infected mice regardless of their prior infection status with Ehrlichia. Also, we assessed the efficiency with which individual nymphs could transmit either agent alone, or both agents simultaneously, to individual susceptible hosts. An average of 76% ± 9% of Borrelia-infected ticks and 84% ± 10% of Ehrlichia-infected ticks transmitted these agents to mice regardless of the presence of the other pathogen. There was no evidence of interaction between the agents of Lyme disease and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in I. scapularis ticks. The presence of either agent in the ticks did not affect acquisition of the other agent from an infected host. Transmission of the agents of Lyme disease and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis by individual ticks was equally efficient and independent. Dually infected ticks transmitted each pathogen to susceptible hosts as efficiently as ticks infected with only one pathogen.
Evolution of phase transitions in methane hydrate

Abstract We consider a simplified model of methane hydrates which we cast as a nonlinear evolution problem. For its well-posedness we extend the existing theory to cover the case in which the problem involves a measurable family of graphs. We represent the nonlinearity as a subgradient and prove a useful comparison principle, thus optimal regularity results follow. For the numerical solution we apply a fully implicit scheme without regularization and use the semismooth Newton algorithm for a solver, and the graph is realized as a complementarity constraint (CC). The algorithm is very robust and we extend it to define an easy and superlinearly convergent fully implicit scheme for the Stefan problem and other multivalued examples.
Double aortic arch with hypoplastic right aortic arch and type C atresia of left aortic arch

We report the case of a 2-month-old baby with a double aortic arch, type C atresia of the left arch and severe hypoplasia of the right aortic arch between the right carotid and subclavian arteries, resulting in systemic obstruction, left ventricular dysfunction and congestive heart failure. Surgical augmentation of the right aortic arch ameliorated the obstruction with improvement in left ventricular function and symptoms.
Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of a Low-Intensity Patient-Directed Intervention to Promote Colorectal Cancer Screening

Purpose Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is the most underused evidence-based cancer screening test in the United States. Few studies have reported the cost-effectiveness of CRC screening promotional efforts. In a recent randomized controlled trial, a patient-directed intervention for average-risk patients who had been referred for screening colonoscopy led to a 12% increase in CRC screening rates. The objective of this secondary analysis is to assess the cost-effectiveness of this intervention. Patients and Methods Patients in the intervention arm received a customized mailed brochure that included a reminder to schedule a screening colonoscopy and general information about CRC, the importance of CRC screening, and how to prepare for the procedure. The end point was completion of screening colonoscopy. The costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of this patient-directed intervention were derived. Sensitivity analyses were based on varying the costs of labor and supplies. Results Rates of CRC scre...
Measurement of cross-phase modulation in optical materials through the direct measurement of the optical phase change.

We measure the cross-phase modulation (XPM) nonlinear indices of optical materials resulting from the interaction of an ultrashort pump pulse at 800??nm with a weak ultrashort probe pulse at 400??nm through the direct measurement of the optical phase change, using frequency-resolved optical gating. The materials studied include fused silica SiO2, borosilicate glass (BK-7), ??BBO, and KD*P. This method results in a XPM nonlinear index that is in agreement with calculations based on nonlinear indices from previous self-phase modulation measurements.
Enzymatic Synthesis and Characterization of PolyQuercetin

Quercetin is a flavonol found in fruits, onions and wine. Recently, quercetin has been extensively investigated for its antioxidant behavior in food such as poultry and fish. While quercetin has been shown to be a good stabilizer for several oils, the thermal stability and solubility at neutral and slightly alkaline conditions continue to be an area of huge concern. However, increasing the stability and the antioxidant potency of this flavonol would be beneficial to the food industry. We utilized horseradish peroxidase, a phytochemical enzyme, to polymerize quercetin in biocompatible water/ethanol mixtures. This unique, one pot procedure has provided a method to synthesize polyquercetin under mild conditions. The final polymer is soluble in a water/ethanol mixture. Preliminary data were presented in the Material Research Society fall meeting in Boston on December 3, 2008. However, in this article, enzymatically synthesized polyquercetin has also been characterized by a variety of techniques. Using UV-Vis ...
How often is minimally invasive minimally effective: what are the complication rates for minimally invasive surgery?

Abstract Background Minimally invasive spine surgery is being popularized as a safe and effective alternative to open spine procedures. However, the negative results of this procedure are typically underreported in the literature because few spine surgeons submit and even fewer journals publish negative results. Methods Using personal communications and second opinions with or without secondary surgery, the author reviewed negative results occurring within 1 year concerning 2 minimally invasive lumbar procedures: MED/METRx (Medtronic, Memphis, Tenn) and X-Stop (Kyphon Inc, St Francis Medical Technologies Inc, Alameda, Calif). Results For, MED/METRx, 4 patients underwent MED/METRx procedures at outside institutions. Two patients reoperated upon by the author showed no evidence of scarring at the site of the lateral and far lateral disk herniations. The third patient (seen for second opinion only) exhibited progressive L4-5 discitis/osteomyelitis on successive MRI studies and was referred back to her original surgeon. The fourth patient (personal communication) underwent 2 MED/METRx procedures within 2 days for recurrent/residual disk herniation excision. An evolving cauda equina syndrome 1 month later required open surgery to repair a CSF fistula. For X-Stop, through personal communication, 2 elderly patients with severe comorbidities underwent 1- to 2-level X-Stop lumbar procedures resulting in infection and hematoma, both of which required prolonged hospitalizations. Conclusions The literature demonstrates few negative results/complications for minimally invasive spinal surgery. Encouraging more surgeons to submit and more journals to publish negative results for minimally invasive spinal approaches may better determine their safety/efficacy.
Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Encodes a bZIP Protein with Homology to BZLF1 of Epstein-Barr Virus

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a recently discovered human gamma herpesvirus strongly implicated in AIDS-related neoplasms. We report here the identification in the KSHV genome of a gene for a protein designated K-bZIP and belonging to the basic-leucine zipper (bZIP) family of transcription factors. K-bZIP shows significant homology to BZLF1, which plays a key role in the replication and reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus. K-bZIP is a homodimerizing protein of 237 amino acids with a prototypic bZIP domain at the C terminus. The N-terminal portion of K-bZIP is derived from the K8 open reading frame which, through in-frame splicing, adjoins the ZIP domain. This structure was revealed by rapid analysis of cDNA ends, followed by cloning of the entire cDNA. A 1.35-kb transcript encoding K-bZIP was detected in BCBL-1 cells treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. The synthesis of this transcript was blocked by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide but not by the viral DNA synthesis inhibitor phosphonoacetate, a result which classifies it as an early lytic gene. RNase protection analysis further mapped the major transcription start site for the 1.35-kb K-bZIP mRNA and identified two other splice variants which encode proteins with the N-terminal portion of K-bZIP but lacking the C-terminal ZIP domain. Full-length K-bZIP forms dimers with itself, and the C terminus encompassing the ZIP domain is required for this process. Our studies set the stage for understanding the role of K-bZIP in the replication and reactivation of the KSHV genome.
The Nematode Anisakis simplex in American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) in Two Oregon Rivers

This paper represents the first report of the nematode Anisakis simplex in the American shad (Alosa sapidissima) in its introduced range in the American Pacific Northwest. All the adult shad sampled from spawning populations in the Willamette (n = 9) and Umpqua (n = 12) rivers were infected with A. simplex with intensities ranging from 6 to 89 worms per fish. This preliminary investigation contrasts sharply with previous studies in the native range of American shad and confirms that this fish may be an important intermediate host for A. simplex in the Pacific Northwest. It is suggested that this new parasite-host relationship has led to an ecological expansion into rivers and Anisakis may present an emerging health risk for wildlife and some human consumers.
The Turn in Takeovers: A Study in Public Appeasement and Unstoppable Capitalism

Beginning with an analytical overview of the theoretical underpinnings of corporate takeovers, this article explores and explains the contradictions underlying the current resurgence of record-breaking takeover activity. Takeovers are examined in light of the classic corporate governance tensions, the newer economic perspectives, and the skewed vision of public perception. Building upon this theoretical foundation, the article reviews the history of takeover activity since the 1960s, giving special emphasis to the turbulent 1980s, which set the stage for today’s paradoxical resurgence. It evaluates both the theory and practice underlying decades of uneven corporate action and legal reaction, as well as the surrounding commentary that incorrectly forecasted the demise of corporate takeovers. Ultimately, this article determines that the seemingly illogical current takeover climate is in fact the logical outcome of a complex regulatory scheme and that the antitakeover legislation and corporate defenses have effectively facilitated business acquisitions while forestalling any meaningful social or political resistance. The various corporate constituencies competing for consideration in the governance debates have achieved a fragile, yet successful, balance under today’s takeover regime, and economic forces will rightfully control the levels of business activity without hindrance from the substantial legal constraints.
What We Have Lost / What We Have Gained: Tangible Interactions Between Physical and Digital Bodies

This paper explores the use of rear projected fabric panel tangible interfaces for use in music performance, interactive sculpture, and experiential systems. This idea is explored using the piece What We Have Lost / What We Have gained as an example. This paper demonstrates how HCI can be applied to and included within art disciplines to increase engagement with the artworks by transforming viewers into performers, participants, players, and co-creators. It further argues that by including embodied interactions artworks expand their ability to convey meaning to users.
Mechanism, the Senses, and Reason: Franciscus Sylvius and Leiden Debates Over Anatomical Knowledge After Harvey and Descartes

By the mid-seventeenth century, philosophy, anatomy, and chymistry were inextricably bound together, and concentrated in lively debates over the action of the heart. In the wake of Harvey’s anatomical demonstration of the circulation of the blood, and Descartes’s provocative but error-prone anatomical speculations, Dutch physicians adopted varied positions on the sources and status of anatomical knowledge. This article attends to Leiden professor Franciscus Sylvius’s central place in this history, beginning with his early demonstrations of the circulation and his dissections and disputes with Descartes. His collaboration with Johannes Walaeus produced innovative experimental work on the circulation and the origins of the blood in digestion. Sylvius and his colleagues were generally comfortable with mechanical explanations, which they had already met in Galen’s depictions of the mechanical anatomy of Erasistratus, but only as far as they squared with sensory experience. Even prominent mechanistic anatomists such as Sylvius’s student Nicolaus Steno would accept ideals and methods of mechanistic explanation, while rejecting extant mechanisms for their sensory and experimental inadequacy. Our own, anachronistic sense of early moderns’ errors is of little use to our historical understanding, but their perceptions of error, especially in the combination of philosophical systems and the autoptic anatomical tradition, were essential to their history.
Real-time EEG Source-mapping Toolbox (REST): Online ICA and source localization

The Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a noninvasive functional brain activity recording method that shows promise for becoming a 3-D cortical imaging modality with high temporal resolution. Currently, most of the tools developed for EEG analysis focus mainly on offline processing. This study introduces and demonstrates the Real-time EEG Source-mapping Toolbox (REST), an extension to the widely distributed EEGLAB environment. REST allows blind source separation of EEG data in real-time using Online Recursive Independent Component Analysis (ORICA), plus near real-time localization of separated sources. Two source localization methods are available to fit equivalent current dipoles or estimate spatial source distributions of selected sources. Selected measures of raw EEG data or component activations (e.g. time series of the data, spectral changes over time, equivalent current dipoles, etc.) can be visualized in near real-time. Finally, this study demonstrates the accuracy and functionality of REST with data from two experiments and discusses some relevant applications.
Effect of Superposition on Spanwise Film-Cooling Effectiveness Distribution on a Gas Turbine Blade

The effect of film cooling holes placed along the span of high pressure turbine blade in a 5 bladed linear cascade on film cooling effectiveness is studied using the Pressure Sensitive Paint (PSP) technique. Four rows of film cooling holes are provided on the pressure side while two such rows are provided on the suction side of the blade. Around 22 cylindrical holes with a diameter of 0.65mm are drilled in each row at a compound angle of 45° to the blade span in the radial direction and at 45° in the axial direction. Film cooling effectiveness over the entire blade region is determined from full coverage film cooling with coolant blowing from all rows and from each individual row. The effect of superposition of film cooling effectiveness from each individual row is then compared with full coverage film cooling. The coolant is injected at four different average blowing ratios of 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 and 1.5. The free stream Reynolds number, based on the axial chord length and the exit velocity, is 750,000 and the inlet and the exit Mach numbers are 0.27 and 0.44, respectively resulting in a blade pressure ratio of 1.14. Turbulence intensity level at the cascade inlet is 6% with an integral length scale of around 5cm. Results show that the effectiveness magnitudes from superposition of effectiveness data from individual rows are comparable with that from full coverage film cooling. Varying blowing ratios can have a significant impact on film-cooling effectiveness distribution with a blowing ratio of 0.6 showing highest effectiveness immediately downstream of the holes.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Collateral Damage in Treating Relationship Problems (and How to Avoid It)

359 1 Private practice, Cambridge, MA, and Faculty, Psychodynamic Couple and Family Institute of New England, Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Psychodynamic Therapy and Research. Correspondence should be addressed to Joseph Shay, PhD, 1218 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138. Email: joseph_shay@hms.harvard.edu. I am pleased to respond to the issues highlighted in Lee Kassan’s excellent piece. He has drawn attention to a relatively underappreciated phenomenon in therapies of all kinds, namely, what I have termed collateral damage (Shay, in press). By this I mean the unintended negative consequences on individuals who are not the specific focus of a treatment (e.g., individual therapy, as described by Kassan), or may be part of the treatment but receive shrapnel wounds or worse from traveling in the orbit of the therapeutic process of others (e.g., group therapy), or may be part of a collaborative treatment in which the treaters don’t agree (e.g., the couple therapist and the individual therapist; Maltas, 1998). In Kassan’s article, he focuses on at least two very important themes. The first relates to what he calls the “treatment gap,” when an individual therapy process can create negative consequences for a couple, if one member who comes to deal with relationship problems improves while the other stands still. The second theme draws attention to another potentially damaging process, namely, when the therapist, based on the subjective, if not frankly distorted, presentation of the person in the office promotes a particular direction that may, unknowingly, result in collision paths for the individual in therapy and his or her partner. I will comment on the first of these themes only briefly, given that it is better known by clinicians than the second. All of us, patients and therapists alike, live inside patterned relationships that have implicit expectations and responsibilities that result in predictability. At times, what is predicted is a continuation of dysfunctional interaction, although this dysfunction often exists in a state of equilibrium. As Kassan explains, this equilibrium is jeopardized—and perhaps should be
The Distribution of Ant Species in Tennessee with Reference to Ecological Factors

This study was undertaken with two ideas in mind: (1) To get a list including as many species as possible of the ants occurring in Tennessee. (2) To determine what ecological factors influence their distribution. The plan for collecting was to cover as many ecological situations as seemed advisable; at different altitudes, on dry ridges and in wet ravines, open situations and those of dense shade, hill and mountain slopes of all directions, different forest types, and substrata.
Problems and Solutions in the English Translation of Chinese Cuisine Courses

The translation of Chinese Cuisine Courses is a unique part in Applicable English translation.In this paper,we shall discuss(define) some rules in putting Chinese Cuisine Courses into English based on the special needs of restaurant business.Here we focus on "expressiveness" with reference to "faithfulness" and "elegance".The courses of Chinese Cuisine are similar to Chinese idioms(set-phrases) —— mostly composed of four characters.Therefore attention must be paid to the numbers of syllables,rhythm and rhyme in the English translation.We prefer to use the method of translation according to the pronunciation so as to avoid the loss of meaning in the process of translation.To achieve the best result,efforts must be made to adjust both the original version and the translation by balancing the number of characters in the original and the syllables needed in the English translation.
Epidemiologic characteristic of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Henan province from 2004 to 2010

Aim:To analyze epidemiologic characteristics of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis(AHC)in Henan province from 2004 to 2010 and explore measures for AHC control and prevention.Methods:Descriptive epidemiologic method was used to analyze characteristics of reported AHC cases and outbreaks derived from routine infectious disease monitoring system and outbreaks monitoring system from 2004 to 2010.Results:The reported AHC sporadic cases distributed in the rest areas except for northwest of Henan,during 2004~2006 and 2008~2009,the peaks were always on April or the third quarter,and the month peak value of new cases was only 82.The reported AHC became epidemic in 2007 and 2010,which lasted from August to October with a peak on September,and the highest month cases were 317 and 1 264,respectively.The most cases were students,children below 10 years age or farmers below 50 years age.Conclusion:The incidence of AHC in Henan is lower than the average level of China.The core strategy of controlling AHC in Henan could be emphasizing AHC symptoms monitoring in school.
Surgical Considerations in Congenital Arteriovenous Fistula

Congenital arteriovenous fistulas are manifest in a broad spectrum of lesions. Fortunately, only a few require surgical intervention because of their systemic effect. Operative intervention is difficult and at times life-threatening.
Real time monitoring of twin boundary motion in polycrystalline magnetocaloric Ni2+xMn1−xGa by in situ focused ion beam microscopy

Abstract Polycrystalline Ni-Mn-Ga intermetallics were studied for their potential in magnetic refrigeration near room temperature. Previous research has shown an interrelation between entropy change and magnetocrystalline anisotropy. In this work, the influence of mechanical stress on magnetocrystalline anisotropy was studied. Both, uncontrolled processing and defined in situ mechanical loading with focused ion beam imaging were used to show the influence of initial directional solidification and the relationship between compressive stress and movement in twin boundaries in the martensite phase.
The Invention of the Object: Object Orientation and the Philosophical Development of Programming Languages

Programming languages have developed significantly over the past century to provide complex models to think about and describe the world and processes of computation. Out of Alan Kay’s Smalltalk and a number of earlier languages, object-oriented programming has emerged as a preeminent mode of writing and organizing programs. Tracing the history of object-oriented programming from its origins in Simula and Sketchpad through Smalltalk, particularly its philosophical and technical developments, offers unique insights into philosophical questions about objects, language, and our digital technologies. These early attempts to understand objects as basic elements of computation demonstrate the ways in which language, while firmly planted in the material reality of computation, must delimit objects from each other. This essay critically explores this history and explicates a theory of objects suggested by the development of object-oriented programming languages, which insists on the importance of language for representing and delimiting objects. It argues that the philosophies behind object-oriented programming are ultimately opposed to the claims of object-oriented ontology and find themselves more closely allied with philosophies that insist on the mediation of what exists through language.