cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Field cage evaluation of the competitiveness of male Glossina morsitans orientalis Vanderplank sterilised with tepa or gamma irradiation.

Laboratory and field cage trials were made with male Glossina morsitans orientalis Vanderplank treated with tepa or gamma irradiation to assess the ability of the sterile males to compete with untreated males for normal females when the ratios of treated males to untreated males to untreated females ranged from 4:1:5 to 5:2:5. Irradiation of the pupal and adult stages with 8000 and 15000 rad or 8000 and 12000 rad, respectively, reduced reproduction by 87–100% (mean, 95%). Contact for 60 min on a glass surface coated with 10 mg tepa/ft2 or exposure to 0·25 ml of 5% tepa in a wind tunnel usually produced complete sterility (mean, 99%) in 0- or 2-day-old male flies. Trials in the laboratory and in a small field cage (288 ft2) with chemosterilised flies generally reduced reproduction to near the expected values. Similar results were obtained with male flies emerging from irradiated puparia, but males treated as adults produced somewhat smaller reductions than expected. Unreplicated competitive trials with chemosterilised and irradiated males in a large field cage (8100 ft2) produced considerably smaller reductions in reproduction than expected, suggesting that treated males released in nature might not compete for normal females as readily as untreated males.
Erratum: Using covariates to model dependence in nonstationary, high frequency meteorological processes

Meteorological processes that are measured at high temporal frequencies require nonstandard statistical models to adequately characterize their observed behavior. We examine this problem through the specific example of a nonstationary, bivariate process—the high-frequency changes in surface temperature and dew point—conditionally on the average hourly level of relative humidity, magnitude of minute-to-minute changes in wind direction, and presence of sunlight. One particularly interesting aspect of this process is that dew point is bounded above by temperature, and so a part of the modeler's challenge is to characterize the joint behavior as temperature approaches dew point (or equivalently as relative humidity approaches 100%). The data analyzed are from early May from the years 2003 through 2012 at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program's Southern Great Plains site in Northern Oklahoma, at the central facility near Lamont, Oklahoma. Our model gives a parametric description of how the spectral matrix of the process varies with covariates over blocks of time. The spectral approach allows for convenient and interpretable models of bivariate processes in time, and our model captures many of the observed changes in the behavior of the process. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boundary element modeling for guided wave reflection and transmission factor analyses in defect classification

The guided wave scattering process by different defects in plate structures is studied with a boundary element method. The purpose is to separate sharp crack-like defects from smooth volumetric-like ones by analyzing the transmission and reflection factors. The traditional normal mode expansion technique has been combined with the boundary element discretization to form a hybrid BEM scheme. With this method, the scattered near-fields and the transmission and reflection coefficients of the far fields on individual modes can be obtained simultaneously. Several features related to the Lamb mode reflection and transmission process in a plate with these defect types are extracted and compared. The theoretical analysis provides a guideline for data acquisition and feature selection for use in the decision algorithm development program via neural nets.
The Principle of Intention to Treat Analysis in Clinical Studies: Its Use and Controversies:

The principle of intention-to-treat (ITT) has become the standard policy for comparing treatment and control groups in clinical studies. Yet, ITT is not without its critics, controversies, and misu...
Radix-8 Digit-by-Rounding: Achieving High-Performance Reciprocals, Square Roots, and Reciprocal Square Roots

We describe a high-performance digit-recurrence algorithm for computing exactly rounded reciprocals, square roots, and reciprocal square roots in hardware at a rate of three result bits -- one radix-8 digit -- per recurrence iteration. To achieve a single-cycle recurrence at a short cycle time, we adapted the digit-by-rounding algorithm, which is normally applied at much higher radices, for efficient operation at radix 8. Using this approach avoids in the recurrence step the lookup table required by SRT -- the usual algorithm used for hardware digit recurrences. The increasing access latency of this table, the size of which grows super linearly in the radix, limits high-frequency SRT implementations to radix 4 or lower. We also developed a series of novel optimizations focused on further reducing the critical path through the recurrence. We propose, for example, decreasing data path widths to a point where erroneous results sometimes occur and then correcting these errors off the critical path. We present a specific implementation that computes any of these functions to 31 bits of precision in 13 cycles. Our implementation achieves a cycle time only 11% longer than the best reported SRT design for the same functions, yet delivers results in five fewer cycles. Finally, we show that even at lower radices, a digit-by-rounding design is likely to have a shorter critical path than one using SRT at the same radix.
Observation of ultraviolet and visible luminescence due to the presence of defect states in the forbidden bandgap of tin oxide nanowires.

Orange and Ultraviolet (UV) luminescence has been obtained from vapor-liquid-solid grown SnO 2 nanowires. The orange luminescence was found to be originating from the defect states in the forbidden bandgap and shows dependence on the nanowire diameter. Annealing of the nanowires under various conditions also seems to have an effect on their optical properties [1,6]. Finally the origin of the UV luminescence has been investigated from which the donor and acceptor binding energies have been calculated.
‘S1-03-04: The autophagy protein Beclin 1 is reduced in early Alzheimer's disease and regulates Abeta accumulation in vivo

Background: Autophagy is the principal cellular pathway for degradation of long-lived proteins and organelles and regulates cell fate in response to stress. It has recently been implicated in neurodegeneration but it is unclear whether it is detrimental or protective. Methods: We used postmortem human brain tissue, mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and autophagy, lentiviral vectors, and cell culture models to study expression and function of Beclin 1, a protein with a key role in autophagy, in AD pathogenesis. Results: We discovered that Beclin 1 is decreased early in affected brain regions of patients with AD. Heterozygous deletion of Beclin 1 (Bcn1) in mice decreased neuronal autophagy and resulted in neurodegeneration and disruption of lysosomes. In transgenic mice that express human amyloid precursor protein (APP), a model for AD, genetic reduction of Bcn1 expression increased intraneuronal beta amyloid (A ) accumulation, extracellular A deposition, neurodegeneration, and caused microglial changes and profound neuronal ultrastructural abnormalities. Increasing Beclin 1 expression by lentiviral delivery reduced both intracellular and extracellular amyloid pathology in APP transgenic mice. Conclusions: We conclude that Beclin 1 deficiency disrupts neuronal autophagy, modulates APP metabolism and promotes neurodegeneration in mice and that increasing Beclin 1 may have therapeutic potential in AD.
Understanding Differences in Fathering Activities across Race and Ethnicity.

This study examines the differences in self-reported fathering activities of men who were reported to be a residential biological father or father figure. Specifically, this study examines self-rep...
A Quantitative Study of the Estimation Error of the DFT in Estimating Noisy Sinusoids

A study is presented on the implications of the use of the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) in estimating sinusoidal signals of fixed frequency under large amounts of noise. Although the DFT technique has been extensively investigated and heavily employed in diverse areas, no systematic study seems to have reported the effects of various parameters, such as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), sampling rate, constant phase of the sinusoid of interest, and the length of the available data, on the error incurred in the process of estimation of sinusoids under noise. A quantitative study of the estimation error as a function of the process variables is performed. While the dependency of the error on the value of the SNR and the length of the available data is a pretty obvious observation, the study sheds light on some other dependencies which are not as intuitive. More particularly, it is observed that under noisy conditions the estimation error is notably dependent on the constant phase of the sinusoidal signal of interest and the sampling rate beyond that implied by the Nyquist criterion
Abdominal Wall Reconstruction with a Vascular External Abdominal Oblique Myofascial Flap

A myofascial island flap for abdominal wall reconstruction was based on the lumbar component of the external abdominal oblique muscle and supplied by a major neurovascular pedicle consisting of branches of the cranial abdominal artery, cranial hypogastric nerve, and a satellite vein. The flap was elevated and sutured into a 10 cm x 10 cm body wall defect in five dogs. The dogs were observed for 26 to 28 days. Abdominal wall contour and function were preserved. All dogs developed seromas, two of which became infected. One dog developed a hernia at the dorsal margin of the flap, which was repaired. At necropsy, there was no evidence of dehiscence in any of the dogs. Loose adhesions of omentum to the inner surface of the flap occurred in four dogs. Results of histologic examination confirmed the clinical impression of flap viability. The myofascial island flap has a wide range of mobility over the ventral and caudal areas of the abdomen and lateral thoracic wall. It has potential clinical use for reconstruction of defects within its arc of rotation.
Pharmacogenomic biomarkers in dermatologic drugs

Biomarkers are becoming increasingly important when considering the efficacy, toxicology, mechanism of action, and risk of adverse events in certain drugs. As availability of bio-genomic information increases, more treatments can be tailored to specific individuals, with a net effect of improved health outcomes. Many dermatology drugs have pharmacogenomic information on their labels. Knowing the risks and benefits associated with genomic biomarkers can aid physicians to make more knowledgeable decisions when identifying treatments for their patients.
Investigating an Increase in Methicillin Resistant Staphyloccus aurues (MRSA) Infections in a Free Standing Outpatient Hemodialysis Center

recommendations for treatment of GI/GU infections and community, healthcare and vent associated pneumonia. The poster was presented to senior management which consisted of vp of patient safety and chair of surgery; and all department heads. The poster was distributed to all departments and nursing units. A letter explaining the program was signed by the president of the medical staff and chair of the Infection Control Committee(ICC) and sent to all attendings. The Chair of ICC discussed this antibiotic program informally with the hospitalists and resident physicians.
The Russo-Seymour-Welsh Theorem

The object of this chapter is a result which states that if the crossing probabilities of certain rectangles in both the horizontal and vertical direction are bounded away from zero, then so are the crossing probabilities for larger rectangles. This result will then be used to prove the existence of occupied circuits surrounding the origin. The idea is to connect an occupied horizontal crossing of [0,n1] × [0,n2] and an occupied horizontal crossing of [m,n1 + m] × [0,n2] by means of a suitable occupied vertical crossing, in order to obtain a horizontal crossing of [0,n1 + m] × [0,n2]. This would be quite simple (compare the proof of Lemma 6.2) if one had a lower bound for the probability of an occupied vertical crossing of [m,n1] × [0,n2], but in the applications one only has estimates for the existence of occupied vertical crossings of rectangles which are wider and/or lower. One therefore has to use some trickery, based on symmetry to obtain the desired connections. Such tricks were developed independently by Russo (1978) and Seymour and Welsh (1978). (See also Smythe and Wierman (1978), Ch. 3 and Russo (1981).) These papers dealt with the one-parameter problems on the graphs G0 or G1 (see Ex. 2.1(i) and (ii)) and therefore had at their disposal symmetry with respect to both coordinate axes, as well as invariance of the problem under interchange of the horizontal and vertical direction. We believe that neither of these properties is necessary, but so far we still need at least one axis of symmetry. We also have to restrict ourselves to a planar modification Gpl of a graph G which is one of a matching pair of graphs in ℝ2.
Slo-Phyllin® Gyrocaps® (Dooner)

Theophylline is a xanthine bronchodilator. Like other xanthines it also has cardiac positive inotropic, vasodilating, and diuretic actions. It is an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Slo-phyllin capsules are in timed-release form in a special base that provides for a prolonged therapeutic effect.
Higher Education End-of-Course Evaluations: Assessing the Psychometric Properties Utilizing Exploratory Factor Analysis and Rasch Modeling Approaches

This paper offers a critical assessment of the psychometric properties of a standard higher education end-of-course evaluation. Using both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Rasch modeling, the authors investigate the (a) an overall assessment of dimensionality using EFA, (b) a secondary assessment of dimensionality using a principal components analysis (PCA) of the residuals when the items are fit to the Rasch model, and (c) an assessment of item-level properties using item-level statistics provided when the items are fit to the Rasch model. The results support the usage of the scale as a supplement to high-stakes decision making such as tenure. However, the lack of precise targeting of item difficulty to person ability combined with the low person separation index renders rank-ordering professors according to minuscule differences in overall subscale scores a highly questionable practice.
Reflections on Responsibility: Thucydides and Grote

Aristotle in the Politics III raises a troubling question about democratic equality that he himself avoids answering, namely his claim that there are disputes about what the city actually is, some arguing that the city performed an action, others that it was not the city but the oligarchy or the tyrant. Aristotle asks, when we talk about a political regime: Who acts? It may be easy to answer such a question in the case of a tyranny (Saddam and not the Iraqis), but the case of democracy does not allow for an easy answer. In my effort to confront the challenge posed by Aristotle about the meaning of democratic responsibility, I look at Thucydides' discussion of the decision of the Athenians to invade Sicily with a view to how that story is retold in George Grote's History of Greece from the middle of the 19th century.
Creep Characterization Of Ceramic BGA

Long term creep of a ceramic ball grid array (CBGA) solder ball under compressive loading was investigated. An experiment was conducted with two levels of loading and four of temperature. Analysis of the data assumed the composite ball structure could be simulated by an interconnection having the same shape, but of a single equivalent material. Curve fitting determined the stress exponent and activation energy of the equivalent material in the Norton creep model; the values were consistent with the range of values of the individual components available in the literature. Nonlinearity of the change in ball height with time was hypothesized to be due to geometric stiffening, a hypothesis which was confirmed by a simplified model. The model may be used to estimate creep behavior of other ball geometries having the same material set. The final result of this work - a closed form equation describing height decrease as a function of compressive force, temperature and time - can be used to simplify complex model...
"Differential cleavage rate" in 2-day litter mate rabbit embryos.

SummaryTwo-day litter mate embryos were obtained from superovulated rabbits, divided into slow- and fast-cleaving according to the number of blastomeres per embryo, and stored in 1:1 serum:saline at 10°C for 48 hr. Slow- and fast-cleaving embryos obtained from one donor were transferred into the 2 Fallopian tubes of one recipient. The recipients were laparotomized at 8 days p.c and autopsied at 29 days p.c. The viability of fast-cleaving embryos, as judged by per cent implants after storage, was higher than in slow-cleaving embryos. In most cases, 2-day embryos with more blastomeres had larger implants and heavier fetuses than embryos with less blastomeres; these differences were not statistically significant.
Para-aminohippurate and tetraethylammonium transport in fragments of rat renal cortex.

SummaryTo develop a simple in vitro procedure which, compared to slices, yields less variation in organic anion and cation transport, we used fragments of renal cortex. Each fragment contained 11–15 glomeruli and, after 90 min of incubation, showed normal brush border and well-preserved epithelium. With this technique, there was less variation in transport studies within a given experiment, and fragments responded in the same manner as slices to addition of acetate and serum to the medium.
ACAT inhibitors decrease secretion of cholesteryl esters and apolipoprotein B by perfused livers of African green monkeys

To test the hypothesis that newly synthesized cholesteryl esters are required for hepatic lipoprotein assembly and secretion, isolated livers of African green monkeys were perfused with medium containing an ACAT inhibitor. Three ACAT inhibitors with different structural and chemical properties were used: CI-976 (Parke-Davis), CP-113818 (Pfizer), or PD-138142-15 (Parke-Davis). Each compound produced variable effects on secretion of lipids and apolipoproteins. A significant decrease in the secretion rates of cholesteryl ester and apoB was common to all three inhibitors, indicating that fewer lipoprotein particles were secreted during ACAT inhibition. Triacylglycerol secretion was decreased in the presence of CP-113818 and PD-138142-15 but no decrease in triacylglycerol secretion was observed with CI-976. Particles secreted in the presence of CI-976 were enriched in triacylglycerol relative to apoB. Effects on secretion of other apolipoproteins (apoA-I, apoA-II, and apoE) were variable. When all data were combined, the percent inhibition of cholesteryl ester secretion and apoB secretion in the presence of ACAT inhibitors was positively correlated (r = 0.84), whereas a similar relationship was not observed between triacylglycerol and apoB. While the results demonstrate some lack of specificity for these ACAT inhibitors, the complimentary results using the three different ACAT inhibitors suggest that secretion of cholesteryl ester and apoB are coordinately regulated. The data suggest that newly synthesized cholesteryl esters may participate in and promote the assembly and secretion of hepatic apoB-containing lipoproteins. The availability of triacylglycerol during lipoprotein assembly, while also important, would appear to serve a role separate from that of cholesteryl ester.
Bayesian Penalty Mixing: The Case of a Non-separable Penalty

Separable penalties for sparse vector recovery are plentiful throughout statistical methodology and theory. Here, we confine attention to the problem of estimating sparse high-dimensional normal means. Separable penalized likelihood estimators are known to have a Bayesian interpretation as posterior modes under independent product priors. Such estimators can achieve rate-minimax performance when the correct level of sparsity is known. A fully Bayes approach, on the other hand, mixes the product priors over a shared complexity parameter. These constructions can yield a self-adaptive posterior that achieves rate-minimax performance when the sparsity level is unknown. Such optimality has also been established for posterior mean functionals. However, less is known about posterior modes in these setups. Ultimately, the mixing priors render the coordinates dependent through a penalty that is no longer separable. By tying the coordinates together, the hope is to gain adaptivity and achieve automatic hyperparameter tuning. Here, we study two examples of fully Bayes penalties: the fully Bayes LASSO and the fully Bayes Spike-and-Slab LASSO of Rockova and George (The Spike-and-Slab LASSO, Submitted). We discuss discrepancies and highlight the benefits of the two-group prior variant. We develop an Appell function apparatus for coping with adaptive selection thresholds. We show that the fully Bayes treatment of a complexity parameter is tantamount to oracle hyperparameter choice for sparse normal mean estimation.
Lasers for Material Processing in Advanced Manufacturing Applications

Traditional "workhorse" lasers for industrial laser processing are carbon dioxide lasers, lamp-pumped Nd:YAG lasers, and to a less extent, argon and krypton ion lasers. These have been widely used in various industries, including welding, drilling, cutting, surface hardening, printing, and entertainment. In the past several years, new laser sources have become mature, reliable, and readily available for new applications in industrial materials processing; particularly noticeable are excimer lasers and high-power diode lasers as well as diode-pumped solid-state lasers. This paper concentrates on some novel applications of these new laser sources in "hi-tech" manufacturing of semiconductor and data-storage devices.
Modeling Operationalized Measures of Customer Loyalty

How can customer loyalty be operationalized and measured? The marketing literature has taken several approaches to understanding the basis of customer loyalty. Oliver (1997) defines loyalty as “a deeply held commitment to rebuy or repatronize a preferred product or service consistently in the future, despite situational influences and marketing efforts having the potential to cause switching behavior” (p. 392). Brand loyalty, service loyalty, vendor loyalty, and store loyalty have each been studied and some attempts at operationalized measurement have occurred.
Wealth Effects and the Government Budget Constraint

In recent years it has been widely argued that a stimulative fiscal policy is inherently ineffective unless accompanied by an expansion of the money supply. The reason is that the government deficit must be financed by borrowing, that is, by open market sales of new government bonds to the private sector, thus raising the private sector’s wealth. Since the demand for money is widely held to be an increasing function of wealth, this will raise demand with a fixed money supply, and so will bid up interest rates for all levels of income, counteracting the stimulus to spending provided by the deficit. The new equilibrium is likely to be at about the same level of income, but with a higher level of interest rates. This argument is unacceptable.
Learning-Based and Data-Driven TCP Design for Memory-Constrained IoT

Advances in wireless technology have resulted in pervasive deployment of devices of a high variability in form factors, memory and computational ability. The need for maintaining continuous connections that deliver data with high reliability necessitate re-thinking of conventional design of the transport layer protocol. This paper investigates the use of Q-learning in TCP cwnd adaptation during the congestion avoidance state, wherein the classical alternation of the window is replaced, thereby allowing the protocol to immediately respond to previously seen network conditions. Furthermore, it demonstrates how memory plays a critical role in building the exploration space, and proposes ways to reduce this overhead through function approximation. The superior performance of the learning-based approach over TCP New Reno is demonstrated through a comprehensive simulation study, revealing 33.8% and 12.1% improvement in throughput and delay, respectively, for the evaluated topologies. We also show how function approximation can be used to dramatically reduce the memory requirements of a learning-based protocol while maintaining the same throughput and delay.
Integrated cytochrome P450 reaction phenotyping: attempting to bridge the gap between cDNA-expressed cytochromes P450 and native human liver microsomes.

With the increased availability of human liver tissue, recombinant (cDNA-expressed) cytochrome P450 proteins (rCYPs), and knowledge of the human CYP pool (e.g. immunoquantitated levels of each CYP form in native liver microsomes), it is now possible to carry out in vitro "CYP reaction phenotyping" in an integrated manner. Reaction phenotyping allows one to identify which CYP form(s) is (are) involved in the metabolism of a given drug, using a combination of data obtained with native human liver microsomes and rCYP proteins. The following describes how one can attempt to integrate such data. A total of ten drugs are included in the analysis, represented by twelve reactions (six hydroxylations, two O-demethylations, one N-demethylation, one O-deethylation, and two sulfoxidations) that are largely catalyzed (> or =20%) by various combinations of CYPs (CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP1A2, and CYP2D6), and characterized by a wide range of apparent Km values (12-820 microM). Briefly, reaction rates measured with individual rCYPs are normalized with respect to the nominal specific content of the corresponding CYP in native human liver microsomes. In turn, the normalized rates for each rCYP are summed, yielding a "total normalized rate" (TNR), and the normalized rate for each rCYP is expressed as a percent of the TNR (% TNR). Finally, % TNR is related to inhibition (percent inhibition in the presence of CYP form selective chemical inhibitors; % I) and univariate regression analysis (r > or = 0.63; P or = 10 different livers) data obtained with native human liver microsomes. Therefore, the reaction phenotype of a drug is assigned by integrating all three data sets (r, % TNR, and % I).
Height of head centre of gravity predicts paediatric head injury severity in short-distance falls

Commentary on : Hughes J, Maguire S, Jones M, et al. Biomechanical characteristics of head injuries from falls in children younger than 48 months. Arch Dis Child 2016;101:310–315[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2]. Short-distance falls are common events in infants and young children, and they are also a common false-case history for child physical abuse cases. Establishing whether a head injury to a child was the result of a short fall or physical abuse can be challenging during a forensic investigation. Current injury assessments on a possible child physical abuse case are principally based on clinical evidence and experts' personal experiences.1 ,2 The relationship between fall height and head injury severity—particularly at low heights—has been debated in the scientific literature. This study investigated the relationship between fall height and head injury severity using witnessed fall cases. In this study, data from witnessed falls <3 m (10 feet) for children younger than 48 months were collected for two … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DArch%2BDis%2BChild%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Farchdischild-2014-306803%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F26384509%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=archdischild&resid=101/4/310&atom=%2Febmed%2F22%2F1%2F36.atom
Assessment of cetuximab-induced infusion reactions and administration rechallenge at an academic medical center.

Cetuximab is approved for treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Cetuximab is generally well tolerated, but does carry a black box warning for infusion reactions (IRs). Incidence of IR in clinical trials was 15–20% for all grades and 3–5% for grades III–IV. Retrospective studies reported a higher incidence of all grade IRs and grades III–IV IR in areas of the Southeastern United States. Information regarding rechallenge doses after an IR has not been well described. At our institution, we frequently rechallenge on the same day after an initial IR. The primary objective was to determine the incidence, timing, IR grade, and completion of a rechallenge dose in patients who experienced an initial IR. Secondary objectives included: (1) determining the incidence and grade of IR in patients who received a first dose of cetuximab and (2) identifying specific risk factors for cetuximab IR with the first dose. A single-center retrospective chart review was conducted in SCCHN patients treated with cetuximab between June 2008 and September 2015 at the University of Kansas Hospital Cancer Center and inpatient setting. The majority of patients (87.9%) were able to be quickly and successfully rechallenged after an initial IR. Minimal patients (27.6%) experienced a rechallenge IR, resulting in only 1 patient discontinuation. Rechallenge doses were most frequently (37.9%) administered between 30 and 59 min after initial dose discontinuation. This was a single-center retrospective study based on data collected from electronic medical records. Other limitations include interpretation of infusion reactions on a subjective basis by providers. These findings demonstrate the practice of same-day rechallenges in initial IR patients is feasible and safe.
Proposed Improvements for Land Surveys and Title Transfers

The transfer of real estate in the United States is surrounded by difficulties out of all proportion to the values involved. This is particularly obvious when a comparison is made with the transfer...
Regulation of lung endothelial permeability and inflammatory responses by prostaglandin A2: role of EP4 receptor

The role of prostaglandin A2 (PGA2) in modulation of vascular endothelial function is unknown. We investigated effects of PGA2 on pulmonary endothelial cell (EC) permeability and inflammatory activation and identified a receptor mediating these effects. PGA2 enhanced the EC barrier and protected against barrier dysfunction caused by vasoactive peptide thrombin and proinflammatory bacterial wall lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Receptor screening using pharmacological and molecular inhibitory approaches identified EP4 as a novel PGA2 receptor. EP4 mediated barrier-protective effects of PGA2 by activating Rap1/Rac1 GTPase and protein kinase A targets at cell adhesions and cytoskeleton: VE-cadherin, p120-catenin, ZO-1, cortactin, and VASP. PGA2 also suppressed LPS-induced inflammatory signaling by inhibiting the NFκB pathway and expression of EC adhesion molecules ICAM1 and VCAM1. These effects were abolished by pharmacological or molecular inhibition of EP4. In vivo, PGA2 was protective in two distinct models of acute lung injury (ALI): LPS-induced inflammatory injury and two-hit ALI caused by suboptimal mechanical ventilation and injection of thrombin receptor-activating peptide. These protective effects were abolished in mice with endothelial-specific EP4 knockout. The results suggest a novel role for the PGA2-EP4 axis in vascular EC protection that is critical for improvement of pathological states associated with increased vascular leakage and inflammation.
Characterization of a selenocysteine-ligated P450 compound I reveals direct link between electron donation and reactivity

Strong electron-donation from the axial thiolate ligand of cytochrome P450 has been proposed to increase the reactivity of compound I with respect to C-H bond activation. However, it has proven difficult to test this hypothesis, and a direct link between reactivity and electron donation has yet to be established. To make this connection, we have prepared a selenolate-ligated cytochrome P450 compound I intermediate. This isoelectronic perturbation allows for direct comparisons with the wild-type enzyme. Selenium incorporation was achieved using a cysteine auxotrophic Escherichia coli strain. The intermediate was prepared with meta-chloroperbenzoic acid and characterized by UV-visible, Mossbauer and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies. Measurements revealed increased asymmetry around the ferryl moiety, consistent with increased electron donation from the axial selenolate ligand. In line with this observation, we find that the selenolate-ligated compound I cleaves C-H bonds more rapidly than the wild-type intermediate.
Discovery of new GPCR ligands to illuminate new biology

Although a plurality of drugs target G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), most have emerged from classical medicinal chemistry and pharmacology programs and resemble one another structurally and functionally. Though effective, these drugs are often promiscuous. With the realization that GPCRs signal via multiple pathways, and with the emergence of crystal structures for this family of proteins, there is an opportunity to target GPCRs with new chemotypes and confer new signaling modalities. We consider structure-based and physical screening methods that have led to the discovery of new reagents, focusing particularly on the former. We illustrate their use against previously untargeted or orphan GPCRs, against allosteric sites, and against classical orthosteric sites that selectively activate one downstream pathway over others. The ligands that emerge are often chemically novel, which can lead to new biological effects.
Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction and Metabolic Abnormalities in Individuals with Familial Partial Lipodystrophy Is Associated with Diminished Mitochondrial Fatty Acid Oxidation

Background: Familial Partial Lipodystrophy, Dunnigan variety (FPLD) is characterized by post-natal fat loss leading to severe insulin resistance. Affected individuals also display striking skeletal muscle hypertrophy, but there is limited information on muscle function and energy metabolism. We therefore systematically investigated muscle and mitochondrial function in 6 individuals with FPLD and 6 matched controls. Methods: Body composition and intramyocellular lipid content (IMCL) were assessed by DEXA and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. Maximal voluntary strength and fatigue were assessed for both recumbent leg press and seated chest press. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained prior to and following a high fat (40%) mixed-meal. Oxygen consumption in isolated mitochondria was measured using substrates supporting carbohydrate or lipid-based respiration. Insulin Sensitivity Index (SI) was calculated by minimal modelling. Results: Individuals with FPLD had significantly lower SI, lower body fat content, and higher lean mass. Peak leg press and chest press force were not different, but FPLD individuals had earlier fatigue during chest press (number of repetitions: 15 ± 0.6 vs. 20 ± 0.3, p = 0.01). They also had a 50-60% decrease in state 3 respiration measured using substrates supporting lipid-based respiration (p = 0.04). Further, mitochondrial oxidative capacity showed a strong correlation with muscle fatigue (r = 0.76, p = 0.003), and inversely correlated with fasting and post-prandial lipemia and measures of insulin resistance. Conclusion: Individuals with FPLD have higher lean body mass and lower insulin sensitivity. Despite preserved peak muscle strength, they demonstrated earlier muscle fatigue. Decreased mitochondrial fatty acid oxidative capacity, likely related to elevated IMCL, may contribute to muscular and metabolic abnormalities. Disclosure V. Simha: None. I.R. Lanza: None. N. LeBrasseur: None. K. Klaus: None. J. Port: None. M.C. Laurenti: Other Relationship; Self; GlySens Incorporated. C. Cobelli: Research Support; Self; Sanofi-Aventis. Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc.. K. Nair: None.
Present Status of the Theory of High-Temperature Superconductivity

A critical introduction and review is given of theoretical activities connected with the physics of high-temperature superconductors. The topics discussed include: Pairing mechanisms, low-dimensional electron systems with strong correlations, properties of doped and disordered quantum antiferromagnets, model hamiltonians, flux phases, the quantum spin liquid, model wave functions, fractional statistics and superconductivity, theory of anomalous normal state properties.
Screening and Patient Examination

Cancer of the head and neck including the oral cavity remains among the top ten malignancies in the US and worldwide. Among these cancers squamous cell carcinoma originating from the surface epithelium is responsible for over 90% of the malignancies diagnosed in this region. Significant advances in the treatment of these malignancies over the last several decades have not been matched by improvement in survival. The main reason for this failure to improve on outcomes in head and neck and oral cavity cancers is delay in diagnosis. Late diagnosis means advanced stage disease often with presence of regional and even distant metastasis that negatively impact on survival. This disturbing fact maybe difficult to understand and explain given the accessibility of the region that makes it amenable to frequent inexpensive and non invasive examinations by health care providers. The importance of a detailed systematic thorough clinical examination of the head, neck and oral cavity cannot thus be emphasized enough. It is the goal of this chapter to provide a comprehensive review of a detailed clinical examination along with an up to date review of the available adjunct diagnostic aids. In addition guidelines for screening high risk population along with follow up schemas for those diagnosed with head, neck and oral cavity cancers will be provided based on the currently available “evidence based” information.
Chiaro e Scuro Inverted

Leonardo da Vinci characterized chiaro e scuro as an invention in the art of painting, to depict the illusion of volumes in space.57 His conception referred to the gradation effected from the light to the shadowed side of a three-dimensional object, as a development of a range of grays, arising from his observation of their placement or distribution relative to their surfaces. That both the term and the visual structure it defines have endured is testament to the “truth” of the discovery.
Review of Qualrus Idea Works Inc. 2002

Qualrus is multipurpose software designed primarily for qualitative analysis and featuring graphical data display, intelligent coding, and a variety of data analysis tools. Qualrus can be used to analyze a wide variety of data including videotaped observations, television commercials, and MP3 files.
Pathogenesis and Treatment of Immune-mediated Renal Disease

There is now convincing evidence to suggest that most forms of glomerulonephritis and tubulointerstitial nephropathy involve the immune system in the destructive process. Such involvement can be mediated by a humoral immune response, a cell-mediated immune response, or a coordinated response of both limbs of the immune system derived from complementary T- and B-cell interactions.
The Determinants of Military Expenditure in Asia and Oceania, 1992–2016: A Dynamic Panel Analysis

Using a dynamic panel approach, this article examines the determinants of military expenditures for 29 Asian and Oceanian countries during 1992–2016. A two-step difference-GMM estimator is applied. Both the impact of Chinese and US military expenditure on sample countries’ military budgets are considered. Results show that sample countries do not respond to Chinese military expenditure; however, these countries respond to US military expenditure. Moreover, lagged military expenditure, GDP, population, and trade openness are important determinants of military spending, while wars and regime type are not.
Numerical Simulation of a Combined Time Domain Impedance Probe and Plasma Wave Receiver System for Small Satellite Applications

A Plasma Impedance Probe measures electron density and electron neutral collision frequencies in the ionosphere. This instrument has been tested on a sounding rocket flight and is now being further developed to fly on a NASA Undergraduate Student Instrument Program (USIP) cubesat to be launched out of the ISS in 2019. Here we report on the development of a new combined PIP and plasma wave instrument from a computational perspective. The new instrument can be used on cubesat platforms to measure local electron parameters, and also to receive or transmit electron scale waves. Two dipole antennas will be used. One is optimized for impedance measurements, while the other is optimized for transmitter-receiver performance. Here we use Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulations of an electrically long antenna immersed in a magnetized plasma to analyze the configuration.
UNIT 8.1 Locomotor Behavior

The study of locomotor activation in rodents does not involve extensive learning or conditioning, and so this dependent measure is often used as the initial screen for pharmacological effects predictive of therapeutic efficacy of a drug class in humans. Methods for evaluating locomotor behavior in rodents fall into two general categories: automated monitoring of behavior and direct observational techniques. This unit presents protocols for measurement of locomotor activity using photocell-based automated monitoring systems, and direct observation using interval and ordinal scales. Other methods used to quantify locomotor activity include video-based systems, rotometers, and running wheels; these are discussed in the commentary. The protocols provided are designed for rats, although they can easily be adapted for use with mice and other rodents. Curr. Protoc. Neurosci. 40:8.1.1-8.1.9. © by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: Photocell; behavior; locomotor; mouse; rat; automated
Groundwork for Neural Network-Based Specific Emitter Identification Authentication for IoT

Trust is a prominent concern with the continued expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT). As new devices enter the market, device security must be a design pillar. In order to trust these devices, they must be identifiable and authenticated before they begin transmitting possible sensitive information, and given the vast number of IoT devices in the future, it may prove difficult to properly trust and authenticate these authorized devices on networks with current methods. Machine learning neural networks (NNs) have the ability to uniquely identify transmitters based on their physical waveform characteristics which could be used to identify and authenticate IoT nodes in large networks with little impact to latency, providing an extra layer of security and trust. This paper presents the groundwork for performing NN-based specific emitter identification (SEI) on resource constrained IoT devices using only raw in-phase and quadrature (IQ) streams, with protocols to secure IoT networks. As proof of concept, an existing NN-based SEI algorithm is executed on both a resource-rich and a more resource-constrained device with low latency, demonstrating the feasibility of using such algorithms on IoT devices now and in the future.
Sequential Extraction and Characterization of Lignin-Derived Compounds from Thermochemically Processed Biorefinery Lignins

As the most abundant source of renewable aromatic compounds on the planet, lignin is an attractive feedstock for producing a range of chemicals and products that are currently derived from petroleum. Despite its great potential, separation of lignin depolymerization products remains one of the main obstacles toward cost-effective lignin valorization. Two lignin-rich streams, residues from enzymatic hydrolysis of the dilute acid and alkaline-pretreated corn stover, were depolymerized via pyrolysis using induction heating and catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis (CTH), respectively. Differences in phenolic compounds from gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and gel permeation chromatography analyses suggest that both pretreatment conditions and lignin depolymerization methods affected the product distribution. CTH lignin oils contain less polar compounds as compared to pyrolysis lignin oils, probably due to saturation of the derived compounds as a result of the reductive chemistry. The resulting liquid oils we...
Pneumococcal vaccine to counter emerging infectious disease threat in the military.

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes severe morbidity and mortality worldwide and poses a significant threat to the health and readiness of U.S. military personnel. Although a vaccine to prevent pneumococcal infections has been available for almost 25 years, its use has been limited. Recently, increasing antibiotic resistance among S. pneumoniae strains has emerged, prompting health care professionals to reevaluate the benefit of administering pneumococcal vaccine. The Naval Health Research Center, in collaboration with professionals from numerous civilian and military organizations, has initiated a rigorous double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the operational value of vaccinating young adults as they enlist in the military.
The Role of Animal Models in Developing Pharmacotherapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent disease characterized by recurrent closure of the upper airway during sleep. It has a complex pathophysiology involving four main phenotypes. An abnormal upper airway anatomy is the key factor that predisposes to sleep-related collapse of the pharynx, but it may not be sufficient for OSA development. Non-anatomical traits, including (1) a compromised neuromuscular response of the upper airway to obstruction, (2) an unstable respiratory control (high loop gain), and (3) a low arousal threshold, predict the development of OSA in association with anatomical abnormalities. Current therapies for OSA, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and oral appliances, have poor adherence or variable efficacy among patients. The search for novel therapeutic approaches for OSA, including pharmacological agents, has been pursued over the past years. New insights into OSA pharmacotherapy have been provided by preclinical studies, which highlight the importance of appropriate use of animal models of OSA, their applicability, and limitations. In the present review, we discuss potential pharmacological targets for OSA discovered using animal models.
Electrophoretic Mobility of DNA in Solutions of High Ionic Strength

Abstract The free-solution mobilities of small single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) have been measured by capillary electrophoresis in solutions containing 0.01–1.0 M sodium acetate. The mobility of dsDNA is greater than that of ssDNA at all ionic strengths because of the greater charge density of dsDNA. The mobilities of both ssDNA and dsDNA decrease with increasing ionic strength until approaching plateau values at ionic strengths greater than ∼0.6 M. Hence, ssDNA and dsDNA appear to interact in a similar manner with the ions in the background electrolyte. For dsDNA, the mobilities predicted by the Manning electrophoresis equation are reasonably close to the observed mobilities, using no adjustable parameters, if the average distance between phosphate residues (the b parameter) is taken to be 1.7 A. For ssDNA, the predicted mobilities are close to the observed mobilities at ionic strengths ≤0.01 M if the b-value is taken to be 4.1 A. The predicted and observed mobilities diverge strongly at higher ionic strengths unless the b-value is reduced significantly. The results suggest that ssDNA strands exist as an ensemble of relatively compact conformations at high ionic strengths, with b-values corresponding to the relatively short phosphate-phosphate distances through space.