cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Systemic Ceftiofur as a Therapy for Severe Clinical Mastitis in Dairy Cattle

The objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy of intramuscular administration of ceftiofur to reduce the incidence of case-related death and culling following severe clinical mastitis in lactating dairy cattle. A total of 104 cows with severe clinical mastitis (systemic signs) were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Immediately after detection of the case, one group was administered 2.2 mg/kg of ceftiofur intramuscularly, and the dose repeated at 24-h intervals for a total of five doses. The second group of cows did not receive systemic antibacterial therapy. Additionally, all cows in both treatment groups received intramammary pirlimycin (Pirsue) in the affected quarter every 24 h for a total of up to three doses. Also at the onset of the case, all cows on the trial were administered a supportive therapeutic regimen of fluids and anti-inflammatory agents that varied from farm to farm, but was standard within each herd at the discretion of the herd manager and veterinarian. Of all cases 14/104 (13.5%) resulted in a lost cow (died or culled). The proportion of cases that resulted in a lost cow and were treated with ceftiofur (4/51; 7.8%) did not statistically differ from cows that were not treated with ceftiofur (10/53; 18.9%). However, the proportion of cases that resulted in lost cows was higher for those cases that yielded a coliform organism on culture (14/56; 25.0%) than cases that did not yield coliforms (0/48; 0.0%; P < 0.001). Thus, among coliform cases, cows that were not treated with ceftiofur were more likely to be culled or die (10/27, 37.0%; P < 0.05) than cows treated with ceftiofur (4/29, 13.8%). We conclude that intramuscular administration of ceftiofur did not affect the outcome of severe clinical mastitis when all etiologic agents are included in the analysis. However, for severe clinical mastitis cases caused by coliform organisms, ceftiofur therapy reduced the proportion of cases that resulted in cow death or culling. This benefit may be realized because of the amelioration of bacteremic-related pathogenesis.
A magnetically insulated negative ion source for neutral beam heating

A new, magnetically insulated negative ion source has recently been discovered which can produce pulsed negative ion beams (H−, Li−, and C−) with intensities of of 100–300 A/cm2 at 1–4 MeV. This source may provide the basis for a high energy neutral beam system for heating large tokamaks.
Observations on growth of virus and the energy-yielding activities of the host cell

1. Tissue culture techniques have been applied in many studies on factors influencing the growth of animal viruses. 2. Results with various substances which inhibit influenza virus in tissue cultures are summarized and possible modes of action considered. The effects under consideration are reversible and do not result from death of the tissue or inactivation of the virus. 3. Studies on the mode of action of aromatic diamidines on influenza virus are presented-in some detail. 4. Dinitrophenol, a substance which uncouples phosphorylation from oxidation temporarily interferes with the growth of influenza virus in chorioallantoic membrane tissue without affecting respiration. 5. Growth of influenza virus was found to be dependent on depletable substances in tissue and on glucose in the medium. The latter could be partially replaced by pyruvate. 6. The possible dependence of virus growth on readily available sources of energy and on transfer of energy by phosphorylation is discussed. Interference with synthesis of high energy phosphate by the host cell is considered as an explanation of the local inhibition of viral growth by a variety of substances.
Redistribution of mu-opioid receptors in C1 adrenergic neurons following chronic administration of morphine

Neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) are involved in both tonic and reflex control of sympathetic outflow. Many of these neurons express the adrenaline-synthesizing enzyme phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), and are designated C1 neurons. C1 neurons that contain mu-opioid receptors (MORs) are hyperpolarized by MOR activation and are activated during morphine withdrawal. The present study examined the subcellular distribution of the cloned MOR, MOR1, in rat C1 neurons following chronic morphine treatment, using RVLM sections that were dually labeled for PNMT-immunoperoxidase and MOR1-immunogold. Electron microscopic analysis of the subcellular distribution of MOR1 revealed a lower abundance of plasma membrane-associated MOR1 in C1 dendrites of rats treated with morphine, compared to placebo-treated controls, only in distal dendrites. There were no differences in the size of dual-labeled dendrites between treatment groups or in the overall density of MOR1 within PNMT immunoreactive dendrites between treatment groups. These results suggest that chronic morphine treatment leads to a decreased presence of MOR1 at the cell surface, without a significant reduction in cytoplasmic receptor density. These observations suggest that chronic morphine produces a selective internalization of MOR1 in C1 neurons, without apparent changes in receptor synthesis or trafficking. The reduction of accessible MORs on these neurons may be a mechanism for tolerance with regard to autonomic responses to opioid administration and may facilitate the profound sympathetic hyperactivity that occurs during acute opioid withdrawal.
The effect of discontinuities on the order of convergence of numerical inversion methods

We study numerical methods for a one-dimensional inverse problem in reflection seismology. An impulsive wave in pressure is applied to the surface of a piecewise-smooth stratified elastic half-space and the resulting particle velocity is measured at the surface. The characteristic impedance of the medium is to be determined as a function of travel time.It has been shown recently that if the impulse response is measured appropriately, then several numerical methods to solve this inverse problem approximately are uniformly second-order convergent for piecewise-smooth media with discontinuities occurring only on the grid, i.e., at integer multiples of the mesh width. Piecewise-constant examples show that if the discontinuities do not occur on the grid, uniform convergence is lost near travel times, either where discontinuities occur or which correspond to multiple reflections. In intervals bounded away from these points, convergence appears to be uniform and at least second order.We present an example here of a piecewise-polynomial medium with a discontinuity off the grid for which at best first-order convergence is obtained at any point past the discontinuity. We conclude that unless the location of the discontinuities is either known a priori or determined as part of the solution to the inverse problem, no numerical method for this inverse problem can be expected to converge beyond the first discontinuity any faster than first order. This conclusion carries over to many related reflection inverse problems, including inverse problems for the wave equation with unknown variable velocity.
Influence of vitamin B12 upon vaginal patency in the rat.

SummaryThe onset of sexual maturity in female rats, as measured by vaginal patency, was found to be delayed in vit. B12-dencient animals as compared to vit. B ^-supplemented littermates when their mothers were fed a B12-dencient ration during lactation. No such differences were observed when the mothers were fed B12 during lactation. The nature of the carbohydrate and protein in the ration was found to have an effect on the differences observed.
Exact solutions of incompressible Couette flow with porous walls for slightly rarefied gases

In this work, the transient incompressible Couette flow and steady-state temperature profiles between two porous parallel plates for slightly rarefied gases are solved exactly. The first-order approximation of slip velocity at the boundaries is used in the formulation. The solution is also applicable for Couette flow in micro-channels under certain circumstances. The influences of mass transfer and a nondimensional slip parameter on slip velocities are discussed. It is also found that the transient slip velocities at the walls are greatly different from the steady-state velocity slips. The influences of velocity slip and temperature slip parameters on the temperature distribution and heat transfer at the walls are analyzed and discussed. It is shown that the slip parameters can greatly change the temperature profiles and heat transfer characteristics at the walls.
A molecular meeting

Although cancer and type 2 diabetes are among the most investigated, deliberated, and dreaded diseases of the 21st century, the precise biological basis for the epidemiological link between the two has eluded investigators. Now, Ezzat and colleagues describe a mechanistic thread that might explain the statistical association. The study focused on the gene that encodes fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), which in some individuals carries a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with increased cancer risk and poor prognosis. The resulting protein, FGFR4-R388, carries a G-to-R substitution at amino acid 388. The authors began by studying the function of FGFR4-R388 in insulin secretion using a rat pancreatic islet cell line (RINm5F) and mice in which FGFR4-R385 was knocked in (R385 is the mouse analog for the human R388 SNP), which were compared with prototypic FGFR4-G388 mice. Experiments in the islet cell cultures and mouse models revealed that FGFR4-R388 promoted activation of the STAT3/5 transcription factor, which in turn induced transcription of the gene ( Grb14 ) that encodes growth factor receptor–bound protein 14 (Grb14). Increased expression of Grb14 resulted in enhanced insulin secretion, thus identifying Grb14 as a critical mediator that links the cancer-associated FGFR4-R388 SNP with pancreatic insulin production. The researchers then assessed the pharmacological action of FGF19, a GFR4 ligand, and found that it improved glucose tolerance in FGFR4-R385 mice with substantially enhanced insulin secretion. Last, with human epidemiological (allele-association) studies, the authors demonstrated a role for the FGFR4-R388 allele in a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The human data revealed some gender differences and raised the possibility of a role for parental gene imprinting in Grb14 function. This study illustrates the importance of human genomic data in unearthing disease relationships that illuminate the molecular mechanisms that underlie human disease—which, in turn, pinpoint partially validated therapeutic targets. With this approach, we move—molecule by molecule—toward therapeutic strategies for harrowing human diseases. S. Ezzat et al. , The cancer-associated FGFR4-G388R polymorphism enhances pancreatic insulin secretion and modifies the risk of diabetes. Cell Metab. 17 , 929–940 (2013). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413113001915
Sexuality and Sexual Identity: Critical Possibilities for Teaching Dance Appreciation and Dance History

Abstract The intersections of dance and sexuality and sexual identity are part of the critical discourse important to teaching dance appreciation and dance history. This essay presents aspects of my teaching practice, informed by current writings in queer studies, dance studies, education, and sociology. Awareness of potential classroom diversity helps make student discussion respectful and productive. Critical discourse gives students a way of thinking about their sexual decisions, a rich understanding of the multiple messages of dancing bodies, and allows them a point of comparison between images of sexuality found in concert dance and in popular culture.
Association of hemorrhagic disease and the syndrome of persistent fetal circulation with the fetal hydantoin syndrome.

indicate that death was due to massive intravascular sickling of red blood cells introduced during the procedure. The only other report of an occurrence similar to this involved a newborn infant who died seven days following an exchange transfusion in which donor blood with sickle cell trait was used? Intravascular sickling with resulting death can occur from the injection of the quantity of blood used in exchange transfusions if that blood contains cells with the potential for sickling. This reaction is likely if there is hypoxemia during or after the exchange transfusion. The need for both of these factors to be present (or others such as acidosis or dehydration) probably accounts for the paucity of reports such as this. In our patient, early findings indicated pulmonary hypertension with much right-to-left shunting ~ (persistent fetal circulation). The infant had repeated episodes of enhanced right-to-left shunting as suggested by periods of diminished Pa% without changes in Pae% or pH. Although he seemed to be improving, such an episode might have occurred after the exchange transfusion. The use of CPAP can result in a rapid fall of Pao2 if it is applied through nasal prongs; that System has been shown to have intrinsic problems which can lead to hypoxemia? -6 In any event, it is likely that our patient experienced an episode of hypoxemia which caused the intravascular sickling and death.
Acute and long-term effects of enalapril on the cardiovascular response to exercise and exercise tolerance in patients with congestive heart failure

Enalapril is a recently developed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor that improves cardiac function at rest in patients with congestive heart failure. This study investigated the acute effects of enalapril on the cardiovascular response to exercise, and then evaluated the long-term effects of enalapril on exercise capacity and functional status during a 12 week placebo-controlled trial in patients with heart failure. Ten patients underwent hemodynamic monitoring while at rest and during incremental bicycle exercise before and after 5 to 10 mg of enalapril orally. At rest, enalapril decreased mean blood pressure 13% (p These 10 patients and an additional 13 patients were then randomized to either placebo or enalapril treatment and followed up for 2 weeks. Of the 11 patients assigned to active treatment, 73% considered themselves improved compared with 25% of the patients assigned to placebo treatment (p
Anodic Oxidation of Lithium Bromide in Tetrahydrofuran Solutions

The anodic oxidation of lithium bromide was studied on glassy carbon and pyrolytic graphite electrodes in solutions using the cyclic voltammetric, rotating disk, and rotating ring‐disk electrode techniques. The cyclic voltammograms obtained at stationary electrodes and anodic polarization curves obtained at rotating disk electrodes showed that the bromide ion undergoes a stepwise oxidation to tribromide ion and bromine, respectively, at potentials positive to ~3.5V vs. the lithium reference electrode. The ring‐disk electrode experiments showed that the tribromide ions formed by the oxidation of bromide ions at the disk electrode could be collected at the ring electrode and reduced to the bromide ions at potentials below ~3.5V. It was further found that the bromine generated at the disk electrode during the second step combined with the excess bromide ions in solution to form the tribromide ions so that only the tribromide ions were detected at the ring electrode. Both bromine and the tribromide ions were found to react with the electrolyte, but the homogeneous reaction of the tribromide ions with the electrolyte was found to be slow on the time scale of rotating ring‐disk electrode experiments. The diffusion coefficient of the bromide ion was evaluated from the limiting currents on rotating disk electrodes and found to be .
Morphology of the specialized conducting tissue in the atria of the equine heart.

The gross and microscopic anatomy of the sinus node (SN), atrioventricular node (AVN) and specialized fibers in the atrium were studied in 19 horses and eight mules. The SN is supplied with blood by a branch from the left circumflex artery which subdivides within the node. The SN has a body and long tapering cranial and caudal crura which encircle the lateral margin of the precaval orifice. The AVN, which has no large artery consistently present within its structure, is located within the fibrous septum above the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve and anterior to the coronary sinus. Histologically most of the fibers in the SN and AVN are similar to those in other species. They are smaller, paler staining and much more interwoven than ordinary myocardial fibers. In the caudal crus of the SN, the fibers are clumped together with loss of individual characteristics. Large, glycogen-rich cells morphologically similar to ventricular Purkinje fibers are found in the right atrial subendocardium. The distribution of these fibers suggest that they may be concerned with intraatrial spread of excitation. Muscular pathways between the SN and AVN are composed of ordinary myocardial fibers. The large atrial myocardial fibers do not connect directly with SN or AVN fibers.
Peer review among students of Spanish as a heritage language: The effectiveness of a metalinguistic literacy task

Abstract This empirical study examined the effectiveness of peer review with heritage speakers of Spanish and sought to determine what considerations should be taken into account when applying the peer review method with heritage student populations. Sixteen college-level students participated in a guided peer review and completed a post-activity questionnaire. Analysis of the peer review feedback, quantitative and qualitative analyses of the questionnaire responses, and an analysis of the textual characteristics of three essay drafts suggest that peer review can indeed be a valuable writing exercise for heritage language students. Specifically, the overall response was positive, there was evidence of student reflection on writing, and there were indications of independent vocabulary learning. Participants were able to provide mostly accurate feedback (87% overall), even on writing issues related to language use, though they did appear to be somewhat limited in their ability to identify informal language contact phenomena in their peers’ essays.
The wild turkey as a host for Heterakis gallinarum and Histomonas meleagridis.

Freshly embryonated eggs of Heterakis gallinarum gathered from naturally infected domestic turkeys and chickens developed the first 4 weeks essentially as well in young wild turkeys as in domestic poults, but then became progressively retarded and failed in most birds to result in females with fertile eggs. There was no significant difference in the prevalence or progress of infections with Histomonas meleagridis in the two kinds of turkeys, both of which differed from chickens only in that the latter had neither liver involvement nor mortality. In a second test, heterakids hatched from eggs stored 5-6 months at 4 C (comparable to overwintering) sustained very heavy losses in all birds, with greatly accelerated liberations of H. meleagridis. Few worms reached maturity and still fewer produced fertile eggs. In turkeys, and especially in wild turkeys, replacement of infective stages was so poor, that these birds were of no importance in contaminating the soil.
Clinical application of whole-genome sequencing: proceed with care.

Stunning advances have been made over the last 5 years in the ability to rapidly and inexpensively detect variation in the human genome. In the mid-2000s massively parallel detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on gene chips (genotyping) burst on to the scene, launching the era of genome-wide association studies and high-profile direct-to-consumer marketing of genetic testing of questionable clinical value.1 More recently, substantial credible evidence has been accumulating for the research and clinical value of whole-exome sequencing (WES) for conditions ranging from cancer to developmental delay to mendelian disorders.2- 5 Whole-exome sequencing uses high-throughput sequencing technologies to determine the arrangement of DNA base pairs specifying the protein coding regions of an individual’s genome, also known as the exome. As remarkable as SNP genotyping and WES technologies are, they are both interim methods for detecting DNA variation. Assuming perfect technical accuracy, both are limited in the extent of variation that they can discover in a patient. In the case of SNP genotyping, this is because of the type of known variations the platforms can detect and in WES because the exome comprises about 1% of the entire genome.
Ecodevelopmental contexts for preventing type 2 diabetes in Latino and other racial/ethnic minority populations

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and it is now cited along with obesity as a global epidemic. Significant racial/ethnic disparities exist in the prevalence of diabetes within the US, with racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes and its complications. Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic factors influence the development and course of diabetes at multiple levels, including genetic, individual, familial, community and national. From an ecodevelopmental perspective, cultural variables assessed at one level (e.g., family level dietary practices) may interact with other types of variables examined at other levels (e.g., the availability of healthy foods within a low-income neighborhood), thus prompting the need for a clear analysis of these systemic relationships as they may increase risks for disease. Therefore, the need exists for models that aid in “mapping out” these relationships. A more explicit conceptualization of such multi-level relationships would aid in the design of culturally relevant interventions that aim to maximize effectiveness when applied with Latinos and other racial/ethnic minority groups. This paper presents an expanded ecodevelopmental model intended to serve as a tool to aid in the design of multi-level diabetes prevention interventions for application with racial/ethnic minority populations. This discussion focuses primarily on risk factors and prevention intervention in Latino populations, although with implications for other racial/ethnic minority populations that are also at high risk for type 2 diabetes.
Commentary: Insights from across diagnostic boundaries: ADHD in the RDoC era – a commentary on Scerif and Baker (2015)

Unbiased genomewide association studies of tens of thousands of individuals are transforming our understanding of the origins and structure of psychopathology across the lifespan. Together with findings from epidemiology and cognitive neuroscience, these recent molecular genetic studies underscore the importance of studying phenotypes across as well as within conventional psychiatric diagnoses in order to construct a more pathophysiologically grounded taxonomy from the bottom up. Such efforts, promoted by NIMH's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework, are critical to developing more accurate models of the risk mechanisms that are shared and distinct across various psychopathologic outcomes. In turn, these models could reveal new treatment targets and early intervention opportunities. In their article in the 2015 JCPP Annual Research Review, Scerif and Baker remind us that bottom-up insights into psychiatric illness might also be gained by examining specific genetic disorders that often fall within the purview of pediatrics and neurology. These authors note high rates of symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in syndromes with known and often monogenic genetic causes (e.g. Fragile X) and suggest that studying the ADHD-like phenomena in these conditions may provide insight into ADHD itself. This commentary highlights themes from Scerif and Baker's review that overlap with the core tenets of RDoC and notes their significance for advancing our understanding of ADHD in the coming years. It concludes by suggesting ways in which further attention to the RDoC framework could also enhance Scerif and Baker's agenda.
Value of information in the polya urn process

A series of games based on the Polya urn process is considered. The objective is to develop an understanding of the concept of the value of information in connection to these games. It is rigorously shown that information may have negative, zero or positive incremental value to player for calculating a fair bet. It is also shown that additional information will, in many cases, not effect the betting strategy of the player.
Quantitation of total metastatic tumor volume in the rat liver: correlation of MR and histologic measurements.

Assessing tumor response to chemotherapy in the liver has always been difficult. Most investigators estimate tumor volume as either a product of the two perpendicular diameters of a tumor nodule, or, in animal studies, simply count surface tumor nodules. The authors evaluated magnetic resonance (MR) imaging as a technique for determining absolute tumor volume in the liver in an animal model. Specifically, histologic volumetric and MR imaging measurements of tumor and liver volumes were quantitatively compared over a wide range of tumor burdens in a rat model of hepatic metastasis of a colorectal carcinoma. Twenty-three rats were imaged, with two different section thicknesses used in each animal. Both section thicknesses showed highly significant correlations between MR and histologic measurements for both tumor and liver volumes (P less than .001). MR imaging may be useful for noninvasively quantifying tumor burden and temporal response of metastatic disease in the liver to novel antineoplastic regimens.
A new silicon‐based photoconductive microwave switch

A silicon-based photoconductive microwave switch has been designed and fabricated within a coplanar waveguide on a high resistivity Si substrate. This device offers improved signal attenuation per incident optical power when compared with other types of optically controlled attenuators that have been reported. Attenuation of more than 30 dB was achieved by illumination from a single infrared LED. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 248–252, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23961
Wolf spiders lack mirror-image responsiveness seen in jumping spiders

Abstract Many jumping spiders (Salticidae), having good acuity and feature recognition mechanisms, display toward their mirror image. Since there was evidence for visually based communication in some wolf spiders (Lycosidae), mirror-image responsiveness was tested in four species of wolf spiders. Schizocosa ocreata and Lycosa rabida were expected to be more responsive than S. saltatrix and L. punctulata , the former two species having ornamented appendages used during display. However, none of these lycosids showed salticid-like orientation or display toward the mirror image. Yet, a moving male in a nearby acoustically isolated cage elicited orientation and, in many cases, approach or display in males of all four species. Apparently, wolf spiders must be motionless to respond visually to conspecifics, which relates to their sit-and-wait mode of prey capture and their reciprocal signalling during courtship. Unlike jumping spiders, wolf spiders seem unable to analyse retinal input consisting of a moving image against a background image that is moving due to the spider's locomotion.
Quadratic Optimization Problems

In this chapter, we consider two classes of quadratic optimization problems that appear frequently in engineering and in computer science (especially in computer vision): 1. Minimizing $$f(x)=\frac{1}{2}x^\top Az+x^\top b$$ over all \(x \varepsilon \mathbb{R}^n\), or subject to linear or affine constraints. 2. Minimizing $$f(x)=\frac{1}{2}x^\top Az+x^\top b$$ over the unit sphere.
Interfacial Properties as Stability Predictors of Lecithin-Stabilized Perfluorocarbon Emulsions

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of small quantities of minor lecithin components (phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and cholesterol) and Pluronic F68 to lecithin could improve the stability of lecithin-stabilized perfluorocarbon emulsions. Attempts were made to correlate emulsion stability with interfacial properties (tension and charge). Dynamic interfacial tension was determined using a Teflon Wilhelmy plate method [reported previously (1)]. Emulsions were prepared by microfluidization. Microelectrophoresis was used to measure emulsion droplet charge, and photon correlation spectroscopy and Coulter analysis were used to determine emulsion stability as a function of droplet size. Thermal kinetic accelerated stability testing was conducted. Various droplet size parameters were used to compare emulsion stabilities, and an overall stability ranking, based on these parameters, was obtained for each emulsion. Small quantities of additives altered emulsion stability and these data were correlated with interfacial properties and initial droplet diameters. The addition of cholesterol to lecithin resulted in the most stable perfluorocarbon emulsion.
Coreceptor-Dependent Inhibition of the Cell Fusion Activity of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Env Proteins

The cytoplasmic tail (R peptide) sequence is able to regulate the fusion activity of the murine leukemia virus (MuLV) envelope (Env) protein. We have previously shown that this sequence exerts a profound inhibitory effect on the fusion activity of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-MuLV chimeric Env proteins which contain the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the SIV Env protein. Recent studies have shown that SIV can utilize several alternative cellular coreceptors for its fusion and entry into the cell. We have investigated the fusion activity of SIV and SIV-MuLV chimeric Env proteins using cells that express different coreceptors. HeLa cells were transfected with plasmid constructs that carry the SIV or SIV-MuLV chimeric Env protein genes and were overlaid with either CEMx174 cells or Ghost Gpr15 cells, which express the Gpr15 coreceptor for SIV, or Ghost CCR5 cells, which express CCR5, an alternate coreceptor for SIV. The R-peptide sequence in the SIV-MuLV chimeric proteins was found to inhibit the fusion with CEMx174 cells or Ghost Gpr15 cells. However, a significant level of fusion was still observed when HeLa cells expressing the chimeric Env proteins were cocultivated with Ghost CCR5 cells. These results show that the R-peptide sequence exerts differential effects on the fusion activity of SIV Env proteins using target cells that express alternative coreceptors.
The Last Artificial Virtue Hume on Toleration and Its Lessons

David Hume's position on religion is, broadly speaking, “politic”: instrumental and consequentialist. Religions should be tolerated or not according to their effects on political peace and order. S...
Degradation mechanism of phosphorescent-dye-doped polymer light-emitting diodes

The degradation mechanism of phosphorescent-dye-doped polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) is investigated. The active medium of our PLED is a polymer blend comprising poly(vinylcarbazole) (PVK), [2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-(4-tert-butyl-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole] (t-PBD), and platinum(II)-2,8,12,17-tetraethyl-3,7,13,18-tetramethylporphyrin (PtOX). The cyclic voltammetry result shows that the reductive reversibility of PtOX is poor. This result suggests that PLED doped with PtOX is not stable if PtOXs trap electrons and turn into anionic PtOX species. This was indeed verified by fabricating single-layer PLEDs with various amounts of electron-transporting material, t-PBD. A slower degradation rate was observed from the devices with higher concentration of t-PBD, because of the reduction of the electron accumulation at the PtOX sites. The half decay lifetime of our phosphorescent polymer LED has been improved by a factor of ∼40, from 1.2 to 45 h.
Matrilineal Background of Genealogies in Genesis

Biblical scholars have long struggled with the problems of kinship and inheritance as expressed in the formal genealogies and narratives of Genesis. One barrier to clarification of the problems has been the nature of the document itself. Additional problems have geen generated by the bias of the analysts, a factor only recognized in recent years.
The telemetric and holter ECG warehouse initiative (THEW): A data repository for the design, implementation and validation of ECG-related technologies

we present an initiative supported by the National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute and the Food and Drug Administration for the development of a repository containing continuous electrocardiographic information to be shared with the worldwide scientific community. We believe that sharing data reinforces open scientific inquiry. It encourages diversity of analysis and opinion while promoting new research and facilitating the education of new researchers.
Higher Integrity Health Care Evidence-Based Shared Decision Making

Two recent books1,2 have added to the body of work3–6 describing how the pharmaceutical industry has influenced medical research in its favor. By selective reporting, targeted educational efforts, and incentivizing prescriber behavior, the industry also has a profound impact on the way medicine is practiced. The medical device industry, promoting advances in procedural and diagnostic arenas, has not yet had the spotlight so carefully focused on it, but any future examination is likely to reveal similar influence. Many companies walk a thin line when it comes to providing free equipment and offering training when promoting the use and uptake of novel technologies.7 In both industries, the interests of patients often take second place to marketing. The accounts in Goldacre’s and Gotzsche’s books cast serious doubt on the governance of current healthcare practice. In addition, billions of dollars are invested in direct-to-consumer advertising and the manufacture of consumer interest in healthcare services, either by creating new disease labels, so-called disease mongering,8 or by promoting the use of drugs to address spurious risk predictions. This has become particularly noticeable given the recent promotion of drugs to reduce cholesterol, control blood pressure, and more recently, prevent bone loss, where in many circumstances, there is increasing debate about the appropriate thresholds for pharmaceutical intervention for these conditions.9 Many have spotted the problem. Physicians and patients tend to assume that newer and more technologically advanced care means better care.10 The practice of medicine has also been heavily influenced by efforts to lower diagnostic thresholds, thereby intervening more often, without paying attention to the increasingly small level of benefit, or to the substantial potential harms.11–13 In 2013, the first international conference was held on the theme of overdiagnosis: >300 researchers, clinicians, and policy …
Conformations of Ammonium 3-Deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonate (KDO) and Methyl α- and β-Ketopyranosides of KDO: X-Ray Structure and 1H NMR Analyses

Abstract Ammonium 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonate monohydrate (KDO) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121, and the cell dimensions are a - 6.9700(4)A, b = 7.7230(4) A, c = 23.4067 (12) A. X-ray intensity data were measured on a diffractometer, and the structure was determined by direct methods. Least-squares refinement, which included all hydrogen atoms, converged at R = 0.034 for 1526 observed reflections. The pyranose ring exists in an almost perfect 5C2 (D) chair conformation. The COO-, 4-OH and 6-CHOHCH2OH groups are In equatorial orientation, while the 2-OH and 5-OH groups are axial. The solution conformations of the ammonium salts of methyl α- and β-ketopyranosides of KDO were determined by high-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy. The conformation of the ethylene glycol side chain in the α-methyl glycopyranoside of KDO was found to be indistinguishable from that in the solid state. However, the solution conformation of the side chain is different in the β-anomer, possibly indicative of an ...
A new high throughput internet access protocol for vehicular networks

In this paper, we introduce a new cross-layer communication protocol for vehicular internet access along highways which is called the Controlled Vehicular Internet Access (CVIA) protocol. The objective of the new protocol is to increase the end-to-end throughput while achieving fairness in bandwidth usage between road segments. CVIA creates single-hop vehicle clusters and mitigates the hidden node problem by dividing the road into segments and controlling the active time of each segment. Simulation results confirm that the proposed CVIA protocol provides higher throughput and better fairness in multi-hop data delivery in vehicular networks when compared with purely IEEE 802.11 based protocols.
Sparse array DOA estimation in the presence of unknown non-uniform noise

This paper investigates three algorithms for estimating the direction of arrival (DOA) of incoming wireless signals. The algorithms studied are Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (MVDR), MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC) and Maximum Likelihood (ML). The goal was to study these algorithms under the following conditions: a sparse sensor array, unknown nonuniform noise and the presence of noise and signal correlation. The simulations show that while noise correlation has a limited effect on DOA estimation error, signal correlation has a strong effect, especially when ML is used. The simulations also show that MUSIC is the most effective algorithm when signal correlation exists. Tests on real signal data were also performed. 1 2
Optoelectronic integration of quantum well infrared photodetector for array fabrication

This paper presents a novel approach to the fabrication of infrared imaging arrays. The approach involves the integration of quantum well infrared photodetectors with light emitting diodes using III-V semiconductor heterosystems.
Linking Biophysical, Socioeconomic, and Political Effects of Climate Change on Agro-Ecosystems

To meet the sustainability challenges of the future, we need leaders who are trained to work well in diverse, multidisciplinary teams and a populace that understands the biophysical and socioeconomic challenges facing humanity and how to meet the needs of its diverse stakeholders. With a goal of increasing climate literacy amongst college students, we developed a cooperative jigsaw activity to encourage students to explore the complexities of joint decision making when taking into account multiple perspectives. We found that undergraduate science (natural science and natural resources) students were engaged, drew on a variety of types of evidence to support claims about managing rangelands impacted by climate change, and referenced both complex social and natural systems in their postassessment. 2014 National Association of Geoscience Teachers. [DOI: 10.5408/13-070.1]
Effect of prolonged fasting on carcass composition and blood fatty acids and glucose of neonatal swine.

Eight littermate pigs from each of four purebred Yorkshire sows were used to determine the relative change in carcass composition and blood fatty acids and glucose in piglets during a 72-hour fast or feeding period at birth and at 1 week of age. Fasted piglets at 72 hours had more moisture content and less percentage glycogen, whereas piglets fed to 72 hours had more percentage crude protein and total lipids but less percentage moisture and glycogen than pigs at birth. Carcasses of fed pigs at 1 week of age were lower in moisture, ash and glycogen and higher in total lipids and crude protein than piglets at birth. The only significant change occurring with fasting the week-old pigs was a decrease in total lipids of fasted pigs. After the 72-hour fasting period, the 3-day-old fasted pigs varied in their fatty acid composition significantly when compared to pigs allowed to suckle. Three-day fed animals decreased in stearic and arachidonic acids as percentage of fatty acids, while 3-day fasted piglets increased in these two fatty acids. The percentages of oleic and linoleic acids increased from birth in 3-day fed piglets, but these two fatty acids decreased in fasted piglets. Fasting had no effect on fatty acid composition of piglets at 1 week of age. Three-day fasted piglets had low blood glucose by 48 hours, whereas other piglets increased in blood glucose and maintained a high level. These data support other evidence of differences in fatty acid metabolism during fasting. J. Nutr. 104: 210-217, 1974.
Persistence of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection in a Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Female University Students

Background Little is known about the epidemiology of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections that persist for more than a few years. Methods Four to 12 years after participation in a longitudinal study of incident HPV infection, a cohort of former university students returned for a follow-up visit that included HPV genotyping of cervical and vulvovaginal swab specimens and collection of colposcopy-directed biopsy specimens. Results Of 147 women with HPV infection detected during their undergraduate years, 24 (16.3%) were positive for 1 or more of the same HPV types at follow-up. Overall, 27 (4.8%) of 567 type-specific HPV infections persisted, and DNA sequence analyses of a subset revealed that all were variant specific. Long-term HPV persistence was positively associated with frequent but sporadic detection of the same HPV type early during the course of the infection and with abnormal Pap tests and genital warts; it was negatively associated with marriage and was not associated with the number of intercurrent sex partners. Conclusions HPV variant and behavioral risk factor analyses indicated that long-term detection of the same HPV type was more consistent with viral persistence than with reinfection. Although long-term persistence was not common, it was associated with detection of HPV-related pathologies.
Seasonal Distribution of Anthocoris spp. and Deraeocoris brevis (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae, Miridae) in Orchard and Non-Orchard Habitats of Central Washington

Occurrence of Anthocoris tomentosus Pericart, A. antevolens White, A. whitei Reuter, and Deraeocoris brevis (Uhler) in non-orchard habitats is described for areas adjacent to the pear growing regions of Yakima, WA. The four species were found on a number of tree and shrub species, especially willow, cottonwood, oak, alder, aspen, poplar, and bitterbrush. The four predators differed in degree of specialization. A. whitei was found almost exclusively on antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata Pursh), apparently in close association with an unidentified psyllid. The other two anthocorids were more generalized, but differed in occurrence on some tree species. Adult and immature A. antevolens were common on oak, cottonwood, and poplar. Conversely, A. tomentosus was comparatively uncommon on these species, but was more abundant than A. antevolens on the neighboring willows; immatures of A. tomentosus were never recovered from oak. Adult and immature D. brevis were collected from several species not shown to support populations of Anthocoris spp., suggesting that the mirid is more of a generalist than the anthocorids. Anthocoris spp. were rare in apple orchards, whereas D. brevis was common there. A. tomentosus and A. antevolens showed distinct seasonal changes in plant use. Both species congregated on willow catkins beginning in March, but began to appear on summer hosts (oak, cottonwood, alder, aspen, poplar) in May and June. Some of the movement from willow may have been a result of the disappearance of a univoltine psyllid from this host plant. Traps composed of corrugated cardboard were placed at different sites to collect overwintering predators. A. antevolens and D. brevis were more broadly distributed among plant species than A. tomentosus or A. whitei (the latter restricted to pear and bitterbrush). A. antevolens was very abundant in traps collected from poplar and cottonwood, apparently because both tree species are important sources of late-summer prey for this predator. Other miscellaneous Anthocoridae and Deraeocoris spp. were collected while sampling, and lists of these species are provided. Orius tristicolor (White) was common at several sites, and was easily the most abundant anthocorid in overwintering traps at one intensively sampled orchard. This species was particularly abundant in traps placed in peach trees. Overwintering sex ratios of D. brevis, Anthocoris spp., and O. tristicolor were moderately to strongly female-biased.
Structural and Conformational Features Relevant to the Anti-Tumor Activity of Calicheamicin γ 1I

The structural and conformational features of the potent 10-membered enediyne-containing calicheamicin γ 1I that account for its remarkable DNA site-specific binding and cleavage are reviewed. A variety of spectroscopic and biophysical techniques were used to gain insight into the binding and stereospecific DNA cleavage of this potent antitumor agent. These include gel-shift cleavage assays, atom transfer NMR experiments, drug-DNA conformational studies, circular dichroism, and capillary electrophoresis. Computational descriptions are described for the DNA binding and cleavage of calicheamicin and its activated transient intermediates based on density functional and molecular mechanics calculations. In addition, the structure and clinical utility of calicheamicin immunoconjugates for antibody-targeted chemotherapy is presented. Chirality, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Frequency of Cognitive Deficits in Neurofibromatosis

The frequency and severity of specific cognitive deficits in 81 children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), ages 8 to 16 years, compared to 49 unaffected sibling controls, were assessed in a study at the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
A study of the agglutination test for bovine infectious abortion

The presence of normal agglutinins for B. abortus (alcaligenes) in cattle serum has been the theme of much discussion. The following dilutions have been considered normal agglutinating limits: McFadyean and Stockman,' 1: 25; Zwick,2 1: 100; Smiley, Little, and Florence,3 1: 49; and Detre and Rohnyi,4 1: 50. Although the latter investigators were dealing with a badly infected herd, and 24% of all animals tested failed to give a reaction in dilutions as high or higher than 1: 50, they accept this as the normal agglutinating limit. The question naturally arises, Why should such a variety of opinions exist ? H. R. Seddon 5 concluded that the actual amount of serum used, and not the dilution, was the important factor in the agglutination test. However, his results can be explained by the ratio that exists between the serum and organisms when the titer of a serum is reached. The literature on the agglutination test for infectious abortion reveals one striking variation in technic, namely, the methods employed to determine the number of organisms in the antigen. For instance, an investigator may compare the turbidity of his antigen with a "paratyphoid bouillon density," or with a "48-hour typhoid bouillon culture." McFarland's nephelometer may have been used, but frequently the methods of standardization have not been discussed.
Human Performance with Multiple Devices Influencing a Single Cursor

The goal of this study is to better understand how collaborative influence upon a single cursor may impact the performance of simple tasks like movement and selection. Two techniques for combining input from multiple devices are compared to an individual controller using a Fitts’s selection task. The results suggest that it is possible for multiple users to collaboratively move a single pointer without significant degradation in performance.