cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reversible inactivation of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase by mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide.

AbstractUnder oxidative stress conditions, mitochondria are the major site for cellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion and H2O2 that can attack numerous mitochondrial proteins including dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLDH). While DLDH is known to be vulnerable to oxidative inactivation, the mechanisms have not been clearly elucidated. The present study was therefore designed to investigate the mechanisms of DLDH oxidative inactivation by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondria, isolated from rat brain, were incubated with mitochondrial respiratory substrates such as pyruvate/malate or succinate in the presence of electron transport chain inhibitors such as rotenone or antimycin A. This is followed by enzyme activity assay and gel-based proteomic analysis. The present study also examined whether ROS-induced DLDH oxidative inactivation could be reversed by reducing reagents such as DTT, cysteine, and glutathione. Results show that DLDH could only be i...
HAPI: Hardware Assisted Pruned Index for Consumer Electronics

We describe HAPI, a novel hardware assisted pruned index (HAPI) component. HAPI is a content indexing device based on a modified inverted index structure. HAPI accommodates patterns of different lengths and supports a varied posting list versus term count feature sustaining high reusability and efficiency. The developed component can be used either as an internal slave component or as an external co-processor. HAPI is efficient in resource demands since the component controllers take only a minimal percentage of the target device space leaving the majority of the space to term and posting entries.
Differences in Cultural Frame of Reference

There are at least two prerequisites for understanding the academic performance of minorities in contemporary urban industrial societies. The first is to distinguish among different types of minority status; the second is to distinguish different types of cultural difference. The distinctions between voluntary and involuntary minorities and between primary and secondary cultural differences are used as explanatory concepts. Voluntary minorities do not have persistent basic academic difficulties, no matter what their primary cultural differences from the dominant majority. The people who have the most difficulty with academic achievement are involuntary minorities. These difficulties stem from the responses that involuntary minorities have made to their forced incorporation and subsequent treatment, especially their formation of oppositional identity and oppositional cultural frame of reference. Such responses constitute secondary cultural differences. Unlike primary cultural differences, secondary cultura...
Comparing bioassay response and similarity ensemble approaches to probing protein pharmacology

Motivation: Networks to predict protein pharmacology can be created using ligand similarity or using known bioassay response profiles of ligands. Recent publications indicate that similarity methods can be highly accurate, but it has been unclear how similarity methods compare to methods that use bioassay response data directly. Results: We created protein networks based on ligand similarity (Similarity Ensemble Approach or SEA) and ligand bioassay response-data (BARD) using 155 Pfizer internal BioPrint assays. Both SEA and BARD successfully cluster together proteins with known relationships, and predict some non-obvious relationships. Although the approaches assess target relations from different perspectives, their networks overlap considerably (40% overlap of the top 2% of correlated edges). They can thus be considered as comparable methods, with a distinct advantage of the similarity methods that they only require simple computations (similarity of compound) as opposed to extensive experimental data. Contacts:djwild@indiana.edu; eric.gifford@pfizer.com Supplementary Information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
EVALUATION OF ANAHEIM ADAPTIVE CONTROL FIELD OPERATIONAL TEST: INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

An overview is provided of the institutional and technical issues associated with the evaluation of the federally sponsored Anaheim Advanced Traffic Control System Field Operations Test. The primary test objectives were the implementation and performance evaluation of adaptive traffic signal control technologies, including an existing second-generation approach, the Split, Cycle, and Offset Optimization Technique (SCOOT), and a 1.5 generation control (1.5GC) approach under development. Also selected for implementation was a video traffic detection system (VTDS). The SCOOT evaluation was defined relative to existing control based on first-generation Urban Traffic Control System (UTCS) but using standard field detectorization rather than that normally associated with SCOOT. Furthermore, SCOOT was installed to operate in parallel to UTCS. The 1.5GC system was planned to be efficiently used to update baseline timing plans. The VTDS was planned for use as a low-cost system detector for deployment in critical a...
The design of distributed real-time video analytic system

Video has become an indispensable carrier of information and requires extremely computation expensive analysis to understand high level semantics. The computational difficulties in extracting embedded information and bridging the semantic gap present the major challenges in interoperability, scalability and real-time response of video analytic systems. In this paper, we propose a distributed scalable infrastructure VAP (Video Analytic Platform) for supporting real-time video stream analysis. In VAP, the application requirements are represented as a Directed Acrylic Graph (DAG), where nodes stand for video analysis computation modules and links show data flow and dependencies between nodes. VAP leverages UIMA (Unstructured Information Management Architecture) framework as the data flow control engine and multiple commodity databases as the storage and computation resources. The actual executions of video analysis computation modules have been pushed down into database engines to minimize the data movement cost. We initially choose video surveillance in retail store as a representative application domain. As a case study, a prototype system has been developed to achieve fundamental functions of real-time video surveillance, including video capture/store, human detection/tracking and customer shopping trajectory analysis.
Relationship Development in Dating Couples: Implications for Relational Satisfaction and Loneliness

This study examined the associations among relationship development, relational satisfaction, and loneliness. One hundred participants in a current romantic relationship and 100 participants in a recently broken-off romantic relationship completed measures of relationship development, including a newly developed self-report measure to assess relationship trajectories and a series of open-ended questions that assessed cognitive appraisals of relationship development. Participants also completed measures of relationship satisfaction and loneliness. Results indicated that reports of faster and broader relationship development trajectories and cognitive appraisals of the relationship development that indicated `weness' over separateness, glorifying the struggle with past stressors, and minimal relational disappointment were positively associated with relational satisfaction. These relationship development assessments, along with relational satisfaction, were also negatively related to loneliness.
A flexure-based gripper for small-scale manipulation

A small-scale flexure-based gripper was designed for manipulation tasks requiring precision position and force control. The gripper is actuated by a piezoelectric ceramic stack actuator and utilizes strain gages to measure both the gripping force and displacement. The position and force bandwidths were designed for ten Hertz and one hundred Hertz, respectively, in order to afford human-based teleoperative transparency. The gripper serves effectively as a one degree-of-freedom investigation of compliant mechanism design for position and force controlled micromanipulation. Data is presented that characterizes the microgripper performance under both pure position and pure force control, followed by a discussion of the attributes and limitations of flexure-based design.
Exploiting temporal coherence in forest dynamics simulation

Understanding the impact of climate and land-use on forest ecosystems involves modeling and simulating complex spatial interactions at many different scales. With this goal in mind, we have developed an individual-based, spatially explicit forest simulator, which incorporates fine-scale processes that influence forest dynamics. In this paper we present new, faster algorithms for computing understory light and for dispersal of seeds --- the two most computationally intensive submodules in our simulator. By exploiting temporal coherence, we circumvent the problem of doing the entire simulation at each step. We provide experimental results that support the efficiency and efficacy of our approach.
Conformational preferences for hydroxyl groups in substituted tetrahydropyrans

Quantum mechanical (ab initio and semiempirical) and force field calculations are reported for representative torsion potentials in several tetrahydropyran derivatives. The overall agreement between the various methods is quite good except that the AMBER torsion profiles are sensitive to the choice of atomic point charges. Using electrostatic potential (ESP) derived atomic point charges determined with the STO-3G basis set we find that AMBER is able to match the best quantum mechanical results quite well. However, when the point charges are derived using the 6-31G* basis set we find that scaling the intramolecular electrostatic nonbond interactions is necessary. AM1 does not work very well for these compounds when compared to the ab initio methods and, therefore, should only be used in cases when ab initio calculations would be prohibitive. Based upon our results we feel that any force field that makes use of 6-31G* ESP derived atomic point charges will need to scale intramolecular interactions. Implications of scaling intramolecular interactions to the development of force fields based on 6-31G* ESP derived atomic point charges are discussed. © 1992 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Wireless Teleradiology and Security

A basic overview of wireless networks and radiology applications of wireless teleradiology networks is given. Also, security of wireless teleradiology networks is scrutinized.
Neighboring Extremal Solution for Nonlinear Discrete-Time Optimal Control Problems With State Inequality Constraints

A neighboring extremal control method is proposed for discrete-time optimal control problems subject to a general class of inequality constraints. The approach is applicable to a broad class of systems with input and state constraints, including two special cases where the constraints depend only on states but not inputs and the constraints are over determined. A closed form solution for the neighboring extremal control is provided and a sufficient condition for existence of the neighboring extremal solution is specified.
A Helium Cooled Li2O Straight Tube Blanket Design for Cylindrical Geometry

A tritium-breeding blanket design is investigated for a D-T Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) scoping study. The thrust of our initial effort on the blanket has been to seek solutions as close to present-day technology as possible, and we have therefore focused on steel structure with helium coolant, The simple FRC cylindrical geometry has allowed us reasonable success due to the low FRC magnetic field and relatively easy maintenance. In this design the breeder is Li 2 O tubes. The design is modular with 10 modules each 2.5 m long. The inner radius of the first wall is 2.0 m and the FW/blanket/shield thickness is about 2 m. The surface heat flux will be radiation dominated, fairly uniform, and relatively low, because most of the charged particles follow the magnetic flux tubes to the end walls. The neutron wall loading is 5 MW/m 2 . In this design the surface heat flux equals 0.19 MW/m 2 . The maximum Li 2 O tube temperature is 1003°C, The helium exit temperature from the heat exchanger is about 800°C which allows a thermal efficiency of about 52%. The local tritium breeding ratio (TBR) equals 1.1 and is sufficient because in the FRC geometry the plasma has nearly full coverage. The helium pumping power is 1 MW. The coolant routing is optimized to limit the steel maximum temperature to 635°C. The same concept would be applicable to a spherical torus arid spheromak.
Age Differences in Sensory and Cognitive Function in Elderly Nepalese

This paper describes age differences in sensory and cognitive function in a cross-sectional sample of 117 Nepalese men aged 50 to 88 years living in a traditional agrarian society. The prevalence of impairment of vision, hearing, vibration sensitivity, and cognitive function is progressively higher in successively older age categories in this society as it is in Western industrial societies. This has practical consequences for everyday life. Men with vision impairment are less likely to retain the esteemed social role of head of an extended household. Men with visual and hearing impairment leave their household compounds less frequently, have less frequent social contacts outside their households, and remain inactive a greater proportion of the time. In this technologically simple society without modern medical remedies, vision and hearing impairments are associated with social roles and daily activity patterns that foster economic and political dependence and social isolation.
Inaccurate Self-Perception as a Limiting Factor in Managerial Effectiveness:

As part of a large organizational investigation, 52 managers were asked to identify their leadership style on a Climate Opinion Survey. Within the same study, a group of 40 employees who worked for...
A Rapid Assay for Platelet Thromboxane Production and Its Use in Assessing Prior Aspirin Ingestion

In the laboratory evaluation of platelet disorders, there are a number of situations in which determining the capacity of platelets to synthesize thromboxane is of diagnostic value. An assay for thromboxane production is required for the diagnosis of cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthetase defects and is useful in detecting prior aspirin ingestion. The authors describe an assay for platelet thromboxane production that is simple, rapid, inexpensive, and suitable for routine use in the clinical coagulation laboratory. It is based on platelet synthesis of 14C-thromboxane from 14C-arachidonate. 14C-thromboxane is isolated by thin-layer chromatography and its radioactivity quantitated by scintillation counting. The results are expressed as the thromboxane index: 14C-arachidonate converted to thromboxane/platelet count. The assay is linear with respect to platelet concentration and substrate concentration and is independent of recovery. Using this assay, the authors demonstrated that platelet thromboxane production, expressed as thromboxane index (mean +/- standard deviation) was completely inhibited 12-16 hours after ingestion of a single aspirin dose of 650 mg (0.27 +/- 0.14), 325 mg (0.29 +/- 0.18), or 163 mg (0.13 +/- 0.13), with partial inhibition by 81 mg (0.41 +/- 0.46) or 41 mg (1.41 +/- 0.75) (n = 3 for each dose). Thromboxane index for normal controls was 2.41 +/- 0.77 (n = 25). The authors also determined the time for recovery of thromboxane synthetic capacity to normal levels in four subjects followed longitudinally after ingesting a single 650-mg dose of aspirin. Platelets from three of the four subjects recovered normal thromboxane synthetic capacity by the fifth day after aspirin ingestion, consistent with platelet half-life in the circulation. Thus, the authors have developed a rapid, inexpensive assay for assessing the function of cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthetase in platelets, which can be especially useful as a screening test to detect ingestion of aspirin before performance of expensive and labor-intensive platelet function studies.
Synthetic routes to β, β-diaryl-α-amino acids via nitrogen hetercycles†

β, β-Diphenylalanine and its ring-substituted analogs are prepared from oxazolones, thiazolones, imidazolones, hydantoins, thiohydantoins, and piperazine 2,5-diones by alkaline ring opening followed by acid cleavage of the N-benzoyl group. The oxazolone approach, with its variations, offers the most advantageous route to these compounds. Several new amino acids are described.
Axinellamines as broad-spectrum antibacterial agents: scalable synthesis and biology.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria present an ongoing challenge to both chemists and biologists as they seek novel compounds and modes of action to out-maneuver continually evolving resistance pathways, especially against Gram-negative strains. The dimeric pyrrole–imidazole alkaloids represent a unique marine natural product class with diverse primary biological activity and chemical architecture. This full account traces the strategy used to develop a second-generation route to key spirocycle 9, culminating in a practical synthesis of the axinellamines and enabling their discovery as broad-spectrum antibacterial agents, with promising activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. While their detailed mode of antibacterial action remains unclear, the axinellamines appear to cause secondary membrane destabilization and impart an aberrant cellular morphology consistent with the inhibition of normal septum formation. This study serves as a rare example of a natural product initially reported to ...
Recurring Policy Issues of Guidelines (and non-Guidelines) Sentencing: Risk Assessments, Criminal History Enhancements, and the Enforcement of Release Conditions

Criminal History Enhancements, and the Enforcement of Release Conditions Review by: Richard S. Frase Federal Sentencing Reporter, Vol. 26, No. 3, Critical Issues in the Use of Risk Assessments, Prior Record Enhancements, and Probation/Parole Revocation (February 2014), pp. 145-157 Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the Vera Institute of Justice Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/fsr.2014.26.3.145 . Accessed: 23/04/2014 16:56
Model Misspecification in Multiattribute Parameter Estimation

Most applications of conjoint analysis have emphasized main-effects models, largely because fewer data points are needed to fit that type of model at the individual level. The authors suggest that ...
Research Status and Prospect of Mechanized Hybrid Rice Seed Production

The status of the research on the mechanization of hybrid rice seed production was introduced.The existing problems in mechanized hybrid rice seed production were analyzed.On the basis of this,the authors put forward a tentative strategy to facilitate the mechanization of hybrid rice seed production,and gave an outlook for the mechanized hybrid rice seed production.
Push-Pull Test History

Research related to what we now call push-pull tests began in the late 1960s although significant development of the method has occurred since the late 1990s. A type of single-well injection/extraction test was first used in a qualitative way by Sternau et al. (1967) to study the degree of mixing of injected water with background groundwater. The theory of dispersive transport in the radial flow field near an injection well was first presented by Hoopes and Harleman (1967) who were investigating processes occurring during the recharge and disposal of injected liquid wastes and wastewater. They solved the advection-dispersion equation including linear sorption to predict tracer concentrations as a function of radial distance and time from the injection well. They also conducted a large-scale (~6 m) laboratory push-pull test in a semi-cylindrical sand box to compare experimental results with model predictions.
Scleral homografts in tympanic-membrane reconstruction.

The author presents his experience in utilizing homograft sclera for tympanic-membrane reconstruction. In-vitro and in-vivo studies suggest that sclera is an excellent material for tympanic-membran...
SU‐F‐T‐657: In‐Room Neutron Dose From High Energy Photon Beams

Purpose: To estimate neutron dose inside the treatment room from photodisintegration events in high energy photon beams using Monte Carlo simulations and experimental measurements. Methods: The Monte Carlo code MCNP6 was used for the simulations. An Eberline ESP-1 Smart Portable Neutron Detector was used to measure neutron dose. A water phantom was centered at isocenter on the treatment couch, and the detector was placed near the phantom. A Varian 2100EX linear accelerator delivered an 18MV open field photon beam to the phantom at 400MU/min, and a camera captured the detector readings. The experimental setup was modeled in the Monte Carlo simulation. The source was modeled for two extreme cases: a) hemispherical photon source emitting from the target and b) cone source with an angle of the primary collimator cone. The model includes the target, primary collimator, flattening filter, secondary collimators, water phantom, detector and concrete walls. Energy deposition tallies were measured for neutrons in the detector and for photons at the center of the phantom. Results: For an 18MV beam with an open 10cm by 10cm field and the gantry at 180°, the Monte Carlo simulations predict the neutron dose in the detector to be 0.11% of the photon dose in the water phantom for case a) and 0.01% for case b). The measured neutron dose is 0.04% of the photon dose. Considering the range of neutron dose predicted by Monte Carlo simulations, the calculated results are in good agreement with measurements. Conclusion: We calculated in-room neutron dose by using Monte Carlo techniques, and the predicted neutron dose is confirmed by experimental measurements. If we remodel the source as an electron beam hitting the target for a more accurate representation of the bremsstrahlung fluence, it is feasible that the Monte Carlo simulations can be used to help in shielding designs.
Outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma with TP53 deletion after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

TP53 gene deletion is associated with poor outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM). We report the outcomes of patients with MM with and without TP53 deletion who underwent immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) and/or proteasome inhibitor (PI) induction followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (auto-HCT). We identified 34 patients with MM and TP53 deletion who underwent IMiD and/or PI induction followed by auto-HCT at our institution during 2008-2014. We compared their outcomes with those of control patients (n = 111) with MM without TP53 deletion. Median age at auto-HCT was 59 years in the TP53-deletion group and 58 years in the control group (P = 0.4). Twenty-one patients (62%) with TP53 deletion and 69 controls (62%) achieved at least partial remission before auto-HCT (P = 0.97). Twenty-three patients (68%) with TP53 deletion and 47 controls (42%) had relapsed disease at auto-HCT (P = 0.01). Median progression-free survival was 8 months for patients with TP53 deletion and 28 months for controls (P < 0.001). Median overall survival was 21 months for patients with TP53 deletion and 56 months for controls (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis of both groups, TP53 deletion (hazard ratio 3.4, 95% confidence interval 1.9-5.8, P < 0.001) and relapsed disease at auto-HCT (hazard ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.2-3.4, P = 0.008) were associated with a higher risk of earlier progression. In MM patients treated with PI and/or IMiD drugs, and auto-HCT, TP53 deletion and relapsed disease at the time of auto-HCT are independent predictors of progression. Novel approaches should be evaluated in this high-risk population. Am. J. Hematol. 91:E442-E447, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The enigma of sleep

Sleep has a critical role in promoting and maintaining neurological health and organismal homeostasis. Research over the past 135 years has brought significant understanding on various aspects of sleep biology; however, many questions still remain around the role and function of sleep. Sleep clearly has a powerful influence on infectious disease, cardiovascular health and neurological disorders. During the modern age, the majority of investigation into sleep has focused on identifying the biological factors underlying the effect of sleep on various pathological conditions. Disorders of sleep have the power to affect neuroimmunity, cognition and the development of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and autism. This present short review will highlight these factors affecting sleep.
Cardiovascular health metrics among South Asian adults in the United States: Prevalence and associations with subclinical atherosclerosis

South Asians, a fast growing ethnic group in the US, have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease compared to the general population. We examined the prevalence and distribution of the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics using data from Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study, and cross-sectional associations between number of CVH metrics in the ideal range with subclinical atherosclerosis assessed using coronary artery calcium (CAC) measured using cardiac computed tomography and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) measured using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. CAC was modeled as Agatston scores=0, 1-400 and >400; CIMT was examined continuously and as internal CIMT>1.5mm. In the MASALA cohort (N=875; mean age: 55years; 53% men; living in greater San Francisco and Chicago areas; October 2010-March 2013) without prevalent coronary heart disease, no participant had all 7 metrics in ideal range; approximately 20% of the participants had at least 5 metrics in ideal range. Higher number of CVH metrics in the ideal range was inversely associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. A 1 unit increase in the number of CVH metrics in the ideal range was associated with 32% lower odds of CAC=1-400 (vs. CAC=0; OR=0.68, 95% CI: 0.60, 0.78) and 28% lower odds of internal CIMT>1.5mm (OR=72, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.85). These data show the prevalence of CVH metrics among South Asians in the US, and provide empirical evidence on inverse associations of meeting ideal levels for higher number of metrics and subclinical atherosclerosis.
Evaluation of code provisions for design of medium rise buildings supporting brick veneer wall systems under the effect of in-plane seismic loads

Abstract The seismic performance of masonry veneer wall systems has come under increasing scrutiny in the past few years. As part of this scrutiny an investigation evaluating the interaction of masonry veneers and medium rise structural frames under seismic loads was conducted. In this investigation, the in-plane interaction of structural frames and masonry veneer wall systems are evaluated. The responses of the medium rise building system to seismic loading are compared using a mass representation of the masonry veneer wall system (as is allowed by design codes) and by a more accurate strut and frame model. These building frame-wall system models were subjected to the design based earthquake (DBE) and maximum considered earthquake (MCE) levels of selected ground motion. A parametric study was conducted that encompassed the range of stiffness and strength of both the frames and the wall systems encountered in common construction practice in the United States. The paper will present a summary of the effects of the veneer wall systems on the response of the building frames that support them, when loaded in their in-plane direction, during a seismic event. It will be shown that at the extremes of stiffness that bound the response of veneer wall systems, the prescriptive code requirements can significantly over estimate the effect of the wall systems when these are incorporated into highly flexible structural frames and can produce slightly unconservative results when addressing masonry veneer walls in very stiff reinforced concrete shear wall systems.
Nonlinear simulations of beam-driven compressional Alfvén eigenmodes in NSTX

Results of 3D nonlinear simulations of neutral-beam-driven compressional Alfven eigenmodes (CAEs) in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) are presented. Hybrid MHD-particle simulations for the H-mode NSTX discharge (shot 141398) using the HYM code show unstable CAE modes for a range of toroidal mode numbers, n=4−9, and frequencies below the ion cyclotron frequency. It is found that the essential feature of CAEs is their coupling to kinetic Alfven wave (KAW) that occurs on the high-field side at the Alfven resonance location. High-frequency Alfven eigenmodes are frequently observed in beam-heated NSTX plasmas, and have been linked to flattening of the electron temperature profiles at high beam power. Coupling between CAE and KAW suggests an energy channeling mechanism to explain these observations, in which beam-driven CAEs dissipate their energy at the resonance location, therefore significantly modifying the energy deposition profile. Nonlinear simulations demonstrate that CAEs can channel the ...
It Takes Two to Tango: Engaging Patients and Providers With Portals

Patient portals are designed to be tools to more fully engage patients in their health care and help enable them to better manage their own health information. As the U.S. health care system rapidly adopted electronic health records (EHRs) over the past decade, many with linked patient portals, enthusiasm and expectations for this new technology as a means to engage and empower patients grew. Most patient portals have a set of core features designed to facilitate health care transactions, information tracking, and communication with care team members. The evidence supporting the anticipated benefits of patient portals on patient outcomes, however, remains mixed and incomplete. Moreover, a paradox exists in that, despite a high consumer interest in patient portals, widespread adoption remains relatively low. Potential reasons include the need for greater provider endorsement, examination and adaptation of clinical workflows, and the recognition of patient engagement as a reciprocal process.
Molecular epidemiological characteristics of measles virus in Sichuan province in 2015

Objective To analyze the genetic characteristics of measles virus in Sichuan province in 2015. Methods Measles virus was isolated from throat swab specimens collected from suspected measles cases. Nucleotide sequences coding for C terminus of nucleoprotein were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. Results 398 measles virus isolates were obtained from 971 throat swab specimens. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 397 belonged to H1 genotype, the sequences homologies were 96.2%-98.0% compared with H1 genotype reference strain; and all those isolates separated into 2 clusters in phylogenetic tree with the average nucleotide divergence of 2.0%.1 isolate belonged to A genotype, and shared 98.0% nucleotide homology compared with A genotype reference strain. Conclusions H1 genotype virus remained predominant circulating in Sichuan Province. There was no much genetic variation in N gene. But a minor nucleotide divergence existed between different clusters, leading to 2 transmission chains. Key words: Measles virus; Nucleoproteins; Genotype
Stereotactic EEG via multiple single-path omnidirectional trajectories within a single platform: institutional experience with a novel technique

OBJECTIVEStereotactic electroencephalography (SEEG) is being used with increasing frequency to interrogate subcortical, cortical, and multifocal epileptic foci. The authors describe a novel technique for SEEG in patients with suspected epileptic foci refractory to medical management.METHODSIn the authors' technique, standard epilepsy evaluation and neuroimaging are used to create a hypothesis-driven SEEG plan, which informs the 3D printing of a novel single-path, multiple-trajectory, omnidirectional platform. Following skull-anchor platform fixation, electrodes are sequentially inserted according to the preoperative plan. The authors describe their surgical experience and technique based on a review of all cases, adult and pediatric, in which patients underwent invasive epilepsy monitoring via SEEG during an 18-month period at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Platform and anatomical variables influencing localization error were evaluated using multivariate linear regression.RESULTSUsing this novel technology, 137 electrodes were inserted in 15 patients with focal epilepsy with favorable recording results and no clinical complications. The mean entry point localization error was 1.42 mm (SD 0.98 mm), and the mean target point localization error was 3.36 mm (SD 2.68 mm). Platform distance, electrode trajectory angle, and intracranial distance, but not skull thickness, were independently associated with localization error.CONCLUSIONSThe multiple-trajectory, single-path, omnidirectional platform offers satisfactory accuracy and favorable clinical results, while avoiding cumbersome frames and prohibitive up-front costs associated with other SEEG technologies.
Brainstem Dose Constraints in Nonisometric Radiosurgical Treatment Planning of Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Single-Institution Experience.

Background CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for trigeminal neuralgia (TGN) administers nonisometric, conformational high-dose radiation to the trigeminal nerve with risk of subsequent hypoesthesia. Methods We performed a retrospective, single-institution review of 66 patients with TGN treated with CyberKnife SRS to compare outcomes from 2 distinct treatment periods: standard dosing (n = 38) and reduced dosing (n = 28). Standard and reduced dosing permitted a maximum brainstem dose of 45 Gy and 25 Gy, respectively, each with a prescription dose of 60 Gy. Primary and secondary outcomes were Barrow Neurologic Institute pain and numbness scores. Maximum brainstem dose, prepontine nerve length, and treatment history were recorded for their predictive contributions by logistic regression. Results After matching, patients in the standard dosing and reduced dosing groups were followed for a median of 25 months and 19.5 months, respectively. Mean trigeminal nerve length was 8.55 mm in the standard dosing group and 9.46 mm in the reduced dosing group. Baseline rates of poorly controlled pain were 97% and 88%, respectively, which improved to 23.4% and 8.3%, respectively (P Conclusions These outcomes demonstrate that a lower maximum brainstem dose can provide excellent pain control without affecting facial numbness. Longer nerves may achieve better long-term outcomes and help optimize individual plans.
Laurent Cancellation for Rings of Transcendence Degree One Over a Field

If R is an integral domain and A is an R-algebra, then A has the Laurent cancellation property over R if \(A^{[\pm n]}\mathop{\cong}_{R}B^{[\pm n]}\) implies A ≅ R B (n ≥ 0 and B an R-algebra). Here, A [±n] denotes the ring of Laurent polynomials in n variables over A. Our main result (Theorem 4.1) is that, if R is a field and the transcendence degree of A over R is one, then A has the Laurent cancellation property over R. Two additional cases of Laurent cancellation are given in Theorem 5.1
Effect of Pharmacological Agents on Calcium Stores in Amphibian Fast and Slow Muscle Fibers

Amphibian fast and slow muscles muscle fibers differ in regard to structure, innervation, and contractile response. These differences can be utilized to study drug effects on cellular Ca2+ metabolism. The amphibian slow muscle fiber contains multiple end plates, is innervated by small nerve fibers, and gives a graded tonic response to repetitive neural stimulation. Tension is regulated by graded levels of depolarization of the surface membrane (Kuffler and Williams, 1953a, 1953b). Identical contractures produced by K+ depolarization or acetylcholine are associated with a sustained increase in Ca2+ influx, a transient increase in Ca2+ efflux and a net gain of Ca2+ which amounts to 0.24 µmol/g for the KC1 contracture and 0.27 µmol/g for the acetylcholine contracture (Bianchi, 1968a). During relaxation the Ca2+ becomes sequestered within the sarcoplasmic reticulum of the slow muscle fibers. The sarcoplasmic reticulum of the amphibian slow muscle fiber lacks the triad structure of the amphibian fast muscle fiber, but does contain invaginations of the cell membrane which extend into the cell interior and run in a longitudinal fashion parallel to the fiber axis (Page, 1965). The primary function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum present in the amphibian slow muscle fiber is to allow for rapid relaxation following the shutting off of Ca2+ influx during repolarization of the surface membrane. In the relaxed state Ca2+ efflux must exceed influx in order to restore the fiber Ca2+ content to steady state conditions.
Chapter 27 – Vision

Publisher Summary The connections among cell types in the retina provide a remarkable preliminary analysis of the visual scene before any information gets to the brain. Because fish species are so numerous, much of what scientific community know is derived from careful studies of fish visual systems. Particularly, the idea that there is a flow of information through the retina and also across the retina at two levels has provided significant insight into how all vertebrae retinas analyze information. This chapter provides information from its arrival as photons to its coding into ganglion cell firing patterns. The retina is a neuroepithelial structure segregated into layers, each of which contains neurons responsible for collecting, transforming and finally transmitting information to the brain. Excitation of a photoreceptor by light initiates a signal that passes from the photoreceptors to bipolar cells and then to ganglion cells. In the ganglion cells, visual information is encoded in action potentials that travel to the brain via the optic nerve. The idea that there is a direct pathway from photon detection to the brain is appealing in some respects. However, information arriving at the photoreceptors is modified substantially by interactions that occur orthogonal to this direct flow of information. Lateral interactions modulate the direct retinal pathway at two levels—the outer plexiform layer and the inner plexiform layer. The connections resulting from these lateral interactions produce the first level of analysis or image extraction of a visual scene.
Modern Epidemiologic Study Designs

A fundamental challenge pervasive to all experimental and nonexperimental (observational) research is valid inference of causal effects. Although actions (through undefined mechanisms, but conventionally denoted by treatment, exposure, etc.) and reactions (e.g., disease, remission, cure) must occur by definition in individuals, the realm of epidemiology principally lies in the study of individuals in the aggregate, such as patients enrolled in clinical trials, participants in cohorts, and populations. Until recently, advancements in epidemiological methods developed in the last half-century have hence largely fallen into the domain of the two major observational study designs used: cohort and case-control studies (cf. Chap. I.5 and I.6 of this handbook).
AN INVESTIGATION OF DNA REPAIR POTENTIAL IN BLOOM'S SYNDROME

ABSTRACT Bloom's syndrome is characterized cytogenetically by increased frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges. We have earlier suggested that these increases are due to the endogenous production of an agent(s) capable of damaging DNA, and not due to a DNA repair deficiency. In an examination of DNA repair potential, Bloom's syndrome cells exhibited an increase in UV-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis and a decrease in chromosomal aberrations induced by a G 2 exposure to ionizing radiation. These findings suggest that instead of being DNA repair deficient, Bloom's syndrome cells may have an increased capability of handling certain kinds of DNA damage.
Economic Design of Fraction Defective Control Charts: Simplification of the Multiple Assignable Causes Situation

Several models for the economic design of p- and np-charts have been developed where the process can be disturbed by more than one assignable cause. It has been speculated that this multiple causes situation can be converted to the simpler single cause version that yields a matching solution. In this paper, heuristics are developed for determining the matching single cause problem for two multiple causes models. These new heuristics are compared with previously suggested heuristics across a wide range of values for a variety of model parameters.
Abstract 4839: Colocalization of Regional MEF2 Activity With Myocardial Scarring in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Background- The molecular triggers activated by a sarcomere gene mutation that remodel the heart and produce histopathologic manifestations of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are incompletely known. Myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) has emerged as a critical regulator of gene expression in the heart. Objective- To examine whether MEF2 is essential for HCM pathogenesis, we assessed in vivo MEF2 expression versus myocyte hypertrophy, disarray and interstitial fibrosis, the prototypic histopathology of HCM. Methods and Results- Wild-type or heterozygous mice harboring an Arg403Gln missense mutation in the alpha-myosin heavy chain gene (MHC403/+ mice) were crossed with transgenic mice harboring a MEF2-dependent reporter gene. Mouse hearts at 30 weeks of the age were evaluated by beta-galactosidase staining to detect transcriptional activity of MEF2 in vivo. Activity of MEF2 was heterogeneously increased in the left ventricle of MHC403/+ mouse hearts compared with wild-type mouse hearts. Gomori’s trichrome staining for collagen revealed that regional activation of MEF2 uniquely colocalized with myocardial scarring in MHC403/+ mouse hearts whereas only baseline activity of MEF2 was detected in the area without myocardial scarring. von Kossa staining revealed myocardial necrosis near to MEF2 staining. To further explore whether MEF2 activity is involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial necrosis, mice carrying a homozygous Arg403Gln mutation (MHC403/403) and the MEF2-dependent reporter gene were analyzed. MEF2 was regionally activated in 3-days old MHC403/403 mouse hearts, in advance of the myocardial necrosis that occurs in homozygous mutant hearts. At 6-days, greater MEF2 activity was observed compared with 3-days old MHC403/403 hearts, and massive necrosis was present where MEF2 was activated. Conclusions- These findings provide the first evidence for regional activation of the MEF2-pathway is involved in evolution of myocardial fibrosis and necrosis in HCM. Because myocyte loss and myocardial scarring is implicated in the progression of ventricular dysfunction, these data indicate that strategies to prevent MEF2 activation may attenuate remodeling and heart failure development.
P126 : A CASE STUDY: ACUTE HUMORAL REJECTION DUE TO ANTI-HLA DP ANTIBODIES IN A RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT

We report the case of a highly sensitized 37 year old male who suffered an acute humoral rejection due to donor specific anti-HLA DP (DP) following a second kidney transplant. A previous living donor kidney graft failed in 2005 due to noncompliance with immunosuppression and he returned to hemodialysis. Past history included two blood transfusions. On evaluation for retransplant in 2010, his cPRA using microarray single antigen beads (One Lambda) was 100% including anti-DP1 (MFI 4221). On 2/17/14, he received a deceased donor kidney (KDPI 17%). T and B cell crossmatches by CDC-AHG/CDC long incubation and by the rosette method (Life Technologies) were compatible. There were no donor specific antibodies (DSA) to HLA A B Cw DR or DQ. DP typing of deceased donors was not performed. Retrospective DP typing indicated that the donor was DP1. The clinical staff was advised. He received Thymoglobulin induction and was placed on Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF), prednisone and Tacrolimus. By post op day (POD) 10, his creatinine decreased to 1.6 mg/dL. On POD 18, his creatinine increased to 2.5 mg/dL. Biopsy results showed acute glomerulitis and acute tubular necrosis. C4d staining was positive. A biopsy day serum showed anti-DP1 (MFI 7627) by microarray single antigen beads and (MFI 26038) using the C1q binding assay (One Lambda). C1q testing of archived crossmatch serum did not show anti-DP1. After treatment with plasmapheresis and 1 g/kg IVIg, his creatinine stabilized at 1.8–2 mg/dL. He is currently maintained on MMF, Tacrolimus and prednisone. A survey of 1069 renal transplant candidates revealed that 13% had DP antibodies. Two of three transplanted patients with DP antibodies retrospectively determined to be DSA had humoral rejections. Another patient with no pre-transplant DSA received a crossmatch compatible kidney and had a rejection due to de novo anti-DP. These 3 cases were regrafts. Our experience is consistent with recent literature. With increasing evidence that DP antibodies can cause graft rejection and with technology available to perform HLA DP typing and antibody monitoring, the transplant community should take action to recognize the potential risk of DP antibodies in renal transplant, require DP typing of all donors prior to transplant and consider incompatible donor DP antigens unacceptable for regrafts.
Flare Irradiance Spectral Model (FISM): Daily component algorithms and results

[1] The solar photon output from the Sun was once thought to be constant but is now known to vary considerably over timescales from seconds during solar flares to years due to the solar cycle. This is especially true in the wavelengths shorter than 208 nm (Al ionization edge), where measurements and models of the solar irradiance at these short wavelengths are needed. The time-variant solar irradiance drives physical changes in the Earth's atmosphere that can affect many things including GPS accuracy and satellite drag rates. The Flare Irradiance Spectral Model (FISM) is an empirical model that estimates the solar irradiance at wavelengths from 0.1 to 190 nm at 1 nm resolution with a time cadence of 60 s. This is a high enough temporal resolution to model variations due to solar flares, where few accurate measurements at these wavelengths exist, as well as the solar cycle and solar rotation variations. The modeling of the FISM daily component, including the solar irradiance variations due to the solar cycle and the solar rotation, is the topic of this paper. The daily component algorithms are given, and results and comparisons of the daily component demonstrate that the FISM estimations agree within the stated uncertainties to the various measurements of the solar VUV irradiance. A third type of event that causes sudden changes in the solar irradiance is solar flares. The FISM modeling of the variations in the solar irradiance due to solar flares is the topic of the second paper.
Thermal, Radiation, and Mechanical Analysis for Unsteady-State Fuel Restructuring of Cylindrical Oxide Elements in Fast Reactors

The time-dependent radius of the central void and the extents of the columnar grain, the equiaxed grain, and the unaffected grain regions of a typical oxide cylindrical fuel rod in a fast reactor a...