cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Possible” Resistance: Comparison of “Possible” HIV Resistance Results Derived from a Genotyping Report Versus the IC50 Virtual Phenotype

Background: HIV drug-resistance testing employs genotyping, phenotyping, or a hybrid method known as virtual phenotyping. Phenotyping is based on the rate that a drug inhibits viral replication. In genotyping, the virus is sequenced and mutations are analyzed permitting the risk of drug resistance to be designated as “high,” “possible,” or “none.” Virtual phenotyping links sequences of phenotyped isolates to genotype-phenotype pairs in a relational database, thus providing quantitative prediction of drug resistance. This 3-month study correlates “possible” genotypic and virtual phenotypic results. Methods: Genotyping and virtual phenotyping utilized the Viroseq and VitualPhenotype systems, respectively. Results: Of the 267 “possible” resistant genotypic results, 47 were resistant by virtual
Capacity of Hybrid Cellular-Ad Hoc Data Networks

In this paper, towards improving spatial reuse in a cellular network, we consider augmenting it with wireless ad hoc connectivity. The coverage area of each base-station is reduced and the users that are within the area relay traffic to nodes outside the area; these users further relay data to more distant users within the cell. The resulting network is referred to as a hybrid network. While this approach can result in shorter range higher-rate links and improved spatial reuse which, together favor a capacity increase, it relies on multi-hop forwarding which is detrimental to the overall capacity. Our objective in this work is to evaluate the impact of these conflicting factors on the capacity of the hybrid network and determine if this capacity is higher than that of the original cellular network. We formally define the capacity of the network as the maximum possible downlink throughput under the conditions of max-min fairness. We analytically compute the capacity of a two-dimensional hybrid network with regular placements of base-stations (BSs) and users. We validate our analytical results via simulations. Our studies demonstrate that capacity improvements are possible in certain parametric regimes in which the penalty due to multi-hop relaying does not outweigh the gains due to spatial reuse and shorter higher-rate links. Our simulations also demonstrate that if the users are placed randomly, the behavioral results are similar to that with regular placements of users.
Coupled AGC-Costas Loops with AM/PM Conversion

Costas loops are invariably designed in conjunction with an automatic gain control (AGC) loop for stabilizing performance. In such systems an inherent coupling between the AGC and Costas loops develops, complicating the standard phase referencing analysis. This coupling is further emphasized if the gain control amplifier introduces an AM/PM conversion, which causes power variations to enter the Costas loop as phase variations. In this paper the coupling effect between AGC and Costas loops is developed, leading to a pair of joint, interconnected dynamical tracking loops. Some degree of solution is attainable by assuming a first order AGC loop, and resorting to quasi-stationary analysis for evaluating the phase referencing generation. Results with and without AM/PM are presented, and illustrate how an improper AGC may in fact degrade the phase referencing from the expected performance.
Symbiosis as a General Principle in Eukaryotic Evolution

Eukaryotes have evolved and diversified in the context of persistent colonization by non-pathogenic microorganisms. Various resident microorganisms provide a metabolic capability absent from the host, resulting in increased ecological amplitude and often evolutionary diversification of the host. Some microorganisms confer primary metabolic pathways, such as photosynthesis and cellulose degradation, and others expand the repertoire of secondary metabolism, including the synthesis of toxins that confer protection against natural enemies. A further route by which microorganisms affect host fitness arises from their modulation of the eukaryotic-signaling networks that regulate growth, development, behavior, and other functions. These effects are not necessarily based on interactions beneficial to the host, but can be a consequence of either eukaryotic utilization of microbial products as cues or host-microbial conflict. By these routes, eukaryote-microbial interactions play an integral role in the function and evolutionary diversification of eukaryotes.
Network Organizations: Symmetric Cooperation or Multivalent Negotiation?

Abstract The network model of organization plays a central role in recent sociological accounts of the information economy. This model is also often presented in organization and information and communication technologies (ICT) literature with an air of enthusiasm that underscores its advantages—flexibility, cooperative culture, innovativeness, and knowledge and technology intensity. Such themes are usually based on a “networking logic” that assumes the trustful cooperation of large and small production firms in a rapidly changing economic environment. We believe that both the logic and the themes based upon it are too narrow to be able to explain the complex dimensions of interorganizational networking. Using Enron as a case study, our goal in this article is to enrich the logic just described and to develop an extended model of the network enterprise. We argue that this is only possible by extending the unit of analysis beyond the production firm, to include, among others, subsidiaries, banks, investors...
Electrical performance of 115 kV transmission lines fiberglass crossarms aged in field

This paper presents the results of an investigation on the ac voltage and lightning impulse performance of 115 kV transmission lines fiberglass crossarms aged in the field. The crossarms removed after 10-20 years from service, crossarms stored outdoors but not in service and new crossarms were examined. The evaluation of electrical performance was based on flashover voltage value at standard lightning impulse voltage and the ac flashover voltage. The CFO voltages for lightning impulses were measured under dry and wet conditions, and the tests were conducted with positive and negative polarity. The obtained flashover voltages show some differences in electrical strength of fiberglass crossarms removed from service.
Comprehensive Approach for Correction of Motion and Distortion in Diffusion-Weighted MRI

Patient motion and image distortion induced by eddy currents cause artifacts in maps of diffusion parameters computed from diffusion-weighted (DW) images. A novel and comprehensive approach to correct for spatial misalignment of DW imaging (DWI) volumes acquired with different strengths and orientations of the diffusion sensitizing gradients is presented. This approach uses a mutual information-based registration technique and a spatial transformation model containing parameters that correct for eddy current-induced image distortion and rigid body motion in three dimensions. All parameters are optimized simultaneously for an accurate and fast solution to the registration problem. The images can also be registered to a normalized template with a single interpolation step without additional computational cost. Following registration, the signal amplitude of each DWI volume is corrected to account for size variations of the object produced by the distortion correction, and the b-matrices are properly recalculated to account for any rotation applied during registration. Both qualitative and quantitative results show that this approach produces a significant improvement of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data acquired in the human brain.
RSR13: Effects on tumor oxygenation and response to therapy

RSR13,[2,4-[[(3,5-dimethylanilino) carbonyl]methyl]phenoxy]-2-methylpropionic acid], is a new allosteric effector of hemoglobin which causes hemoglobin to off-load oxygen more readily. Intravenous administration of RSR13 to rats bearing the 13762 mammary carcinoma resulted in a decrease in the hypoxic fraction (percent of pO2 readings <5 mmHg) of the tumor that was dependent upon RSR13 dose and was maximal at 30 min after RSR13 administration. Breathing carbogen (95% oxygen/5% carbon dioxide) along with RSR13 administration markedly increased tumor oxygenation. Intravenous infusion of RSR13 (200 mg/kg) over 60 min resulted in maximal tumor oxygenation at 40 min into the infusion. By 30 min after completion of the infusion, tumor oxygenation had returned to baseline. RSR13 was very modestly cytotoxic to EMT-6 murine mammary carcinoma cells when administered to tumor-bearing animals in doses up to 500 mg/kg and was not toxic toward the bone marrow colony forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) from the same animals. Administration of RSR13 to animals bearing the Lewis lung carcinoma prior to each fraction of a fractionated radiation therapy regimen resulted in dose modification with dose-modifying factors up to 1.66. RSR13 administration also resulted in decreased numbers of lung metastases in these same animals. When RSR13 was administered on days 4–18, the modification of fractionated radiation remained the same but the number of lung metastases was decreased further. The combination of RSR13 with chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil, or cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II) resulted in 1.2–1.5-fold increases in the response of the primary tumor and marked decreases in lung metastases. In animals bearing the MB-49 bladder carcinoma, administration of RSR13 resulted in increased responses to both fractionated radiation therapy and chemotherapy and marked decreases in lung metastases. RSR13 was effective in decreasing the number of lung colonies formed by intravenously injected tumor cells if administered on the day prior to, on the same day as, or on the day after the tumor cells. Further investigation of this interesting new drug is warranted. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of Adenomas Found on Colonoscopy in Patients With HIV.

BACKGROUND The life expectancy of patients with HIV has increased significantly since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy in 1995. Although this population of patients now carries less risk for the development of AIDS defining illnesses and malignancies, they are still at risk for non-AIDS defining cancers, such as colon, prostate, and breast. Several studies have shown that HIV infected patients have a higher prevalence of advanced colonic neoplasia which occur at a younger age. Our aim is to examine the prevalence of adenomas and adenocarcinoma in HIV patients undergoing colonoscopy. METHODS HIV patients seen in our gastroenterology clinic and inpatient service undergoing colonoscopy were identified from 2010 - 2011. Indication was screening in 27 patients and diagnostic in 23 patients. Significant lesions were defined as adenomas, serrated polyps, and adenocarcinoma. RESULTS Total 50 patients were included in the study, 32 male and 18 female (mean age: 53.6; range 37 - 72 years), 25 patients were African American, 21 were Hispanic, 3 were Caucasian, and one was Indian, 39 patients had undetectable HIV RNA, 30 patients had CD4 lymphocyte counts greater than 500, 20 had CD4 lymphocyte counts less than 500, and 4 patients had CD4 lymphocyte counts less than 200, 52% (26/50) of patients had polyps. Significant lesions (adenomas and serrated polyps) were seen in 34% (17/50) of patients, 39% in diagnostic and 30% in screening procedures (P = 0.56). Males were found to have significant lesions 28% of the time as compared to 44% of females (P = 0.35), 43% of Hispanics had significant lesions versus 24% of African Americans (P = 0.22), 25% of the patients under age 50 were found to have significant lesions, 45% of the patients with detectable HIV RNA levels were found to have significant lesions vs 31% (P = 0.48). Surprisingly, patients with CD4 counts > 500 had significantly more adenomas than those with CD4 counts 500. Additionally, there was a 25% adenoma detection rate in patients less than fifty years of age. This data reinforces the need for aggressive colon cancer screening in the HIV population.
Instrumented reduction of a fixed C1–2 subluxation using occipital and C2/C3 fixation: A case report

Background Different strategies exist for reduction of the cervical spine. Placement of C1 lateral mass screws is a powerful technique but may be impossible in a degenerative or revision setting. We report the open, posterior-only, and instrumented reduction of a fixed C1–2 subluxation using occipital and C2/C3 fixation. The patient had rheumatoid arthritis and had undergone previous surgery of the cervical spine.
Sagittal reformations of volumetric inspiratory and expiratory high-resolution CT of the lung1

Rationale and objectives The purpose of this study is to determine whether sagittal reformations of volumetric high-resolution computed tomography (CT) provide additional information in evaluating lung abnormalities compared to axial high-resolution CT images. Materials and methods Twenty-two consecutive patients who underwent combined inspiratory and expiratory volumetric high-resolution CT from May to July 2003 were studied. Using end-inspiratory and end-expiratory sagittal reformatted images, respiratory motion artifacts were evaluated at upper, middle, and lower lung areas bilaterally. Diaphragmatic motion artifacts were evaluated bilaterally. The detection of major and minor fissures was assessed. Additional findings on sagittal reformations were graded using a three-point scale: grade 1 = no additional findings; grade 2 = additional findings of no diagnostic significance; grade 3 = additional findings of diagnostic significance. Results Respiratory motion artifacts were either imperceptible or present but not diagnostically limiting except for one case, in which diagnostically limiting image degradation was noted in the bilateral lower lung areas. Diaphragmatic motion artifacts were frequently present: 95% (21/22) at end-inspiration, and 86% (19/22) at end-expiration; however, diagnostically limiting artifacts were observed in only two cases. The grading of additional findings on sagittal reformatted images was statistically significant (grade 1, n = 13; grade 2, n = 7; grade 3, n = 2; median, 1; P = .004) compared to axial images. Additional findings included relationship between mass/nodules and fissure/pleura/pericardium (grade 2, n = 4; grade 3, n = 2), distribution of interstitial abnormalities of the lung (grade 2, n = 2), and diaphragmatic eventration (grade 2, n = 1). Conclusion Sagittal reformatted images of volumetric high-resolution CT provided additional information compared to volumetric axial images alone with statistical significance.
Localized feature selection for Gaussian mixtures using variational learning

Typical unsupervised feature selection algorithms select a common feature subset for all the clusters. Consequently, clusters embedded in different feature subspaces are not discovered. In this paper, we propose a novel approach of simultaneous localized feature selection and model detection for unsupervised learning. In our approach, local feature saliency, together with other parameters of Gaussian mixtures, are estimated by Bayesian variational learning. Experiments performed on real-world datasets illustrate that our approach is superior over both global feature selection and subspace clustering methods.
Tumor control and morbidity following transperineal iodine 125 implantation for stage T1/T2 prostatic carcinoma.

PURPOSETo quantify disease progression and morbidity following computer tomography (CT)-based transperineal iodine 125 prostate implantation.METHODSNinety-two patients with clinical stage T1 or T2, Gleason score 2 to 7/10, prostatic carcinoma had outpatient, CT-based transperineal 125I prostate implantation and were monitored for 1 to 7 years (median, 3). The prescribed minimum radiation dose was 140 to 160 Gy. Lymph node dissection and postimplantation prostatic biopsies were not routinely performed.RESULTSIn 46% of patients, radiation-related urinary symptoms were substantial enough at 1 month following implantation to require medication. Radiation-related urinary symptoms gradually resolved. Two years after implantation, 14% of patients had persistent urinary symptoms of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) > or = grade 2. Eight percent of patients underwent a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) within 2 years of implantation. Five patients developed radiation-induced rectal ulcerations. ...
Optimal Coin Flipping

This paper studies the problem of simulating a coin of arbitrary real bias q with a coin of arbitrary real bias p with minimum loss of entropy. We establish a lower bound that is strictly greater than the information-theoretic bound. We show that as a function of q, it is an everywhere-discontinuous self-similar fractal. We provide efficient protocols that achieve the lower bound to within any desired accuracy for \((3-\sqrt 5)/2 < p < 1/2\) and achieve it exactly for p = 1/2.
A hybrid technique for wire antennas in a cavity

Two numerical techniques for solving the current distribution on wire antennas, namely point matching and reaction matching, have been combined in a particular fashion to yield a new technique termed the "hybrid method." The hybrid method is well suited for a wire antenna mounted in a cavity. Over the antenna, piecewise sinusoidal basis functions with reaction matching are used, and on the support structure, point matching is used with pulse basis functions. The hybrid method has been applied to calculate the input impedance and the radiation efficiency of the three-turn loop antenna in an open circular cavity. Calculated input resistance of the antenna is found to agree quite well with measured data. Effects of varying the extent of recession of the antenna and varying the radius and the material of the antenna wire on the bandwidth, the efficiency, the antiresonance frequencies, and the general input reactance level of the antenna have been examined for a specific antenna geometry. The results are considered to be indicative of the general characteristics of a multiturn loop antenna with nearby support structure. The computer program that has been developed may be applied to a systematic parametric study of this type of antenna in order to optimize it for a particular application.
Pilot Study of Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records in Radiation Oncology

Adoption and meaningful use of electronic health record (EHR) systems is an important national goal. We under- took a pilot study to determine the level of adoption and barriers to implementation of meaningful use (MU) of EHR systems as defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in US radiation oncology practices. Materials and Methods: We administered a Web-based sur- veyinstrumenttoaconveniencesampleof40departmentsofradiation oncology. We determined the current status of EHR system use at each facility, attitudes toward EHR systems, knowledge of MU criteria, plans and barriers to implementation, and whether selected interven- tions would be helpful with regard to compliance with MU criteria. Results: Twenty-one of 40 radiation oncology facilities com- pleted the survey, for a 53% response rate. Respondents were mostly large academic practices with a median of six (range, one to 32) full-time physicians and 70 (range, eight to 650) patients treated daily. Most facilities (81%) currently used an EHR system. The majority (84%) of facilities were aware of MU criteria, and of these, 67% expected to imple- ment MU-compliant systems by the year 1 reporting deadline of October 1, 2011. The most frequently cited barriers to implementation were high cost, difficulty integrating with hospital systems, and a lack of national guidelines for implementation. Conclusion: Most large academic radiation oncology prac- tices have already incorporated EHR systems into practice and plan to meet MU requirements. Further work should focus on assessment of needs for smaller practices. Radiation oncology-specific guidelines may improve widespread adoption.
Chronic benzodiazepine administration alters hippocampal CA1 neuron excitability: NMDA receptor function and expression

Rats are tolerant to benzodiazepine (BZ) anticonvulsant actions two days after ending one-week administration of the BZ, flurazepam (FZP). Concurrently, GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition is reduced and AMPA receptor-mediated excitation is selectively enhanced in CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices. In the present study, the effects of chronic FZP exposure on NMDA receptor (NMDAR) currents were examined in CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices and following acute dissociation. In CA1 neurons from chronic FZP-treated rats, evoked NMDAR EPSC amplitude was significantly decreased (52%) in slices, and the maximal current amplitude of NMDA-induced currents in dissociated neurons was also significantly reduced (58%). Evoked NMDAR EPSCs were not altered following acute desalkyl-FZP treatment. Using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques, a selective reduction in NR2B subunit mRNA and protein expression was detected in the CA1 and CA2 regions following FZP treatment. However, total hippocampal NMDAR number, as assessed by autoradiography with the NMDAR antagonist, [ 3 H]MK-801, was unchanged by FZP treatment. These findings suggest that reduced NMDAR-mediated currents associated with chronic BZ treatment may be related to reduced NR2B subunit-containing NMDARs in the CA1 and CA2 regions. Altered NMDAR function and expression after chronic BZ exposure may contribute to BZ anticonvulsant tolerance or dependence.  2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Development of a Cyclic Pitch Turbine

A novel wind turbine design is proposed that increases turbine efficiency. The design consists of blades symmetrically positioned around a vertical axis. The blades experience cyclic pitch variations while rotating about the axis. The pitch variation is accomplished by an innovative mechanism that rotates the blades about a horizontal axis during rotation of the turbine. This controlled pitch variation allows the blades travelling upstream to be oriented horizontally so minimum drag is obtained. On the other hand, the blades travelling downstream are oriented vertically so maximum drag is achieved. Since the aiding downstream drag is maximum and the adverse upstream drag is minimum, this configuration allows for higher power output compared to conventional vertical axis wind turbines. Experiments on the turbine conducted in a water tunnel suggest an increase in power efficiencies.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Fast Stiffness Mapping of Cells Using High-Bandwidth Atomic Force Microscopy.

The cytoskeleton controls cellular morphology and mediates the mechanical interactions between a cell and its environment. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has the unique capability to map cytoskeletal mechanics and structures with nanometer resolution. However, whole-cell cytomechanical imaging with conventional AFM techniques is limited by low imaging speed. Here, we present fast nanomechanical mapping of cells using high-bandwidth AFM (HB-AFM), where >106 nanoindentation measurements were acquired in ∼10 min—a task that would take weeks to finish using conventional AFM. High-bandwidth measurements enabled capture of the entire tip–sample interaction for each tap on cells, engendering a new measurement (“force phase”) that exceeds the contrast of conventional tapping mode and enabling spectral visualization of >10 harmonics. The abundance of measurements allowed discovery of subtle cytomechanical features, including the stiffness of fibers of the cellular spectrin network in situ. This approach bridges HB-...
α-Adrenergic vasoconstriction in active skeletal muscles during dynamic exercise

Sympathetic vasoconstriction in working muscles during dynamic exercise has been demonstrated by intra-arterial administration of α1-adrenergic antagonists. The purpose of this study was to examine...
Watching the Watchers

An essay from Wired Magazine (UK)'s special edition, The Wired World in 2014. The essay argues that sourveillance - watching the watchers - is an important development that will be on the rise in 2014.
Hyperspectral imaging with a liquid crystal polarization interferometer

A novel hyperspectral imaging system has been developed that takes advantage of the tunable path delay between orthogonal polarization states of a liquid crystal variable retarder. The liquid crystal is placed in the optical path of an imaging system and the path delay between the polarization states is varied, causing an interferogram to be generated simultaneously at each pixel. A data set consisting of a series of images is recorded while varying the path delay; Fourier transforming the data set with respect to the path delay yields the hyperspectral data-cube. The concept is demonstrated with a prototype imager consisting of a liquid crystal variable retarder integrated into a commercial 640x480 pixel CMOS camera. The prototype can acquire a full hyperspectral data-cube in 0.4 s, and is sensitive to light over a 400 nm to 1100 nm range with a dispersion-dependent spectral resolution of 450 cm(-1) to 660 cm(-1). Similar to Fourier transform spectroscopy, the imager is spatially and spectrally multiplexed and therefore achieves high optical throughput. Additionally, the common-path nature of the polarization interferometer yields a vibration-insensitive device. Our concept allows for the spectral resolution, imaging speed, and spatial resolution to be traded off in software to optimally address a given application. The simplicity, compactness, potential low cost, and software adaptability of the device may enable a disruptive class of hyperspectral imaging systems with a broad range of applications.
Foreign Aid, the Rule of Law, and Economic Development in Africa

Foreign aid has failed to bring about any significant development results in the poor countries of Africa in over sixty years of existence. The failure of aid is due to the fact that development planning faces an insurmountable calculation problem. Attempting to salvage aid by making it more selective does not address this problem, and will not make aid effective. Aid by its very nature causes waste, corruption, politicization, privilege seeking, and statism, all of which are detrimental to economic development. Instead of relying on aid, African economies should occupy themselves with creating legal institutions that are commensurate with the protection of private property and the Rule of Law, which are foremost among the institutions necessary for sustainable, long run economic growth.
DEVELOPMENT OF CLEAR FRACTURING FLUIDS IN ABROAD

The introduction of viscoelastic surfactant (VES), or clear fracturing fluids (ClearFRAC fluid), which is capable of eliminating polymer damage while enhancing conductivity of proppant packs, has changed the way of proppant transport by traditional polymer fracturing fluids. The paper has summed up and reviewed systems of present hydraulic fracturing fluid at home and their shortcomings, and summarized the development, the theory basis and cases of successful fracturing treatments of ClearFRAC fluid in abroad. Field results have shown that the performances of the ClearFRAC fluid are better than polymer fracturing fluid, which are high effective and non-damages over conventional polymer fluid systems. Some comments on the studies of ClearFRAC fluid in our country have been given in this paper.
Vein of Galen Fistulas

The vein of Galen malformations continue to be challenging lesions for the neurosurgeon. Evolving therapies, including transvenous and transarterial embolotherapies, have dramatically changed our approach to these lesions over the past 5 years. The neurosurgeon remains the physician in charge of the care of these individuals. In neonates suffering from severe progressive cardiac failure, about a 50% survival rate can be expected. Those patients demonstrating significant injury to the central nervous system prior to therapy should probably be excluded from the aggressive treatment category. Low morbidity and mortality can be expected in the infant and older childhood group of patients harboring vein of Galen malformations treated interventionally. The tendency today is toward a combined transvenous transarterial approach to these lesions, no matter which clinical category is treated. Aggressive therapy is indicated in the control of hydrocephalus and seizures before, during, and after treatment. The overall philosophy, especially in the transvenous approach to these lesions, remains the careful and repeated embolization of these lesions in a staged fashion to encourage a graded thrombosis in an attempt to minimize the risk of hemorrhage and injury to the central nervous system. The overall prognosis is difficult to predict at this time, but it would appear to be better than with standard surgical treatment of these lesions. These therapies are evolving, and further improvements in the techniques and outcome are anticipated.
Replacement of ruptured chordae tendineae of the mitral valve with autologous pericardial chordae

Severe mitral regurgitation owing to rupture of chordae tendineae has been repaired in 10 patients by construction of new chordae from autologous pericardium. The site of rupture was the posterior leaflet in eight patients, the anterior leaflet in one patient, and both leaflets in one patient. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated severe mitral regurgitation (average 49 percent) and a left atrial V wave of 45 mm. Hg. The reconstruction was carried out with pericardium rolled into a chorda with one end attached to the appropriate papillary muscle and the other attached to the flail edge of the mitral valve leaflet being repaired. One patient died on the seventh postoperative day from pneumonia. The remaining nine patients are alive and well (Functional Class I) from 6 months to 9½ years (average 3 years) following the operation. None requires anticoagulants.
Data correlations between gender, cytomegalovirus infection and T cells, NK cells, and soluble immune mediators in elderly humans.

We describe a cohort of 50 elderly subjects, age at least 70 years. We present gender-specific findings in T lymphocyte markers and soluble immune mediators. We show the correlation between cytomegalovirus infection status with CD56dim NK cell responses to a variety of stimuli and with CD56bright/CD56dim NK cell ratio. We also present the correlation of retinol binding protein (RBP)−4 plasma levels with NK cell responses and we explore the relationship between gender and adiponectin, 25(OH)D (vitamin D), and RBP4 in affecting CD56dim NK cell responses. These data are discussed in Al-Attar et al. (2016) [1].
Adaptive finite‐time fault‐tolerant tracking control for a class of MIMO nonlinear systems with output constraints

Summary In this work, we present a novel adaptive finite-time fault-tolerant control algorithm for a class of multi-input multi-output nonlinear systems with constraint requirement on the system output tracking error. Both parametric and nonparametric system uncertainties can be effectively dealt with by the proposed control scheme. The gain functions of the nonlinear systems under discussion, especially the control input gain function, can be not fully known and state-dependent. Backstepping design with a tan-type barrier Lyapunov function and a new structure of stabilizing function is presented. We show that under the proposed control scheme, finite-time convergence of the output tracking error into a small set around zero is guaranteed, while the constraint requirement on the system output tracking error will not be violated during operation. An illustrative example on a robot manipulator model is presented in the end to further demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Botanicals and Nutrition in the Treatment of Epilepsy

Publisher Summary This chapter explores complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment of epilepsy with botanicals or diet therapy. The use of ketogenic diet in children is shown to be the most effective natural treatment for epilepsy and in women patients, natural progesterone has a powerful anticonvulsant effect and melatonin has been considered as an adjunct to anticonvulsant treatment. An account of the various CAM for epilepsy is described that includes western herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, ayurvedic medicine and anthroposophic medicine and homeopathy among others. The extract of Ginkgo biloba is commonly used for preventing cognitive impairment and can be used as treatment for epilepsy due to its antioxidant effects. The high fat, low carbohydrate ketogenic diet is used in children with medically refractory seizures and recently, a modified Atkins diet has been evaluated for control of seizures. The role of the amino acid, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in epileptic seizures is discussed and its potential as a target for anticonvulsant drug design. The anticonvulsant activity of the pineal gland hormone, melatonin is elaborated.
WHY SUPPLIER INTEGRATION FAILS: A SALESPERSON’S PERSPECTIVE

OF DISSERTATION WHY SUPPLIER INTEGRATION FAILS: A SALESPERSON’S PERSPECTIVE In a traditional relationship, a salesperson is the sole gatekeeper in the supplier’s relationship with a buying firm. Supplier integration (SI) suggests that each domain expert (e.g., engineering) of a buying firm should directly communicate with the supplying firm personnel, without passing through the traditional boundary spanner—a salesperson. Existing literature argues that such a multichannel relationship generates significant degrees of benefit (e.g., better product design, product innovation). However, SI may fail unless the salesperson accepts the disintermediated communication. The multichannel communication structure of SI may limit his/her role of the sole gatekeeper thereby causing his/her behavioral constraints. This dissertation aims to extend the existing SI literature by understanding a multichannel relationship from a salesperson’s perspective. This study understands how the work routine of a salesperson changes under a multichannel relationship, especially when an engineer of his/her company can also directly communicate with the buying firm. With the aid of some in-depth interviews with eight salespersons in a display industry, and with an inductive research approach, we have developed several propositions. These explain how SI changes a salesperson’s work characteristics and in what way such changes might affect his/her behavior. Based on these propositions, a set of testable hypotheses is established for an empirical study. These hypotheses are tested using (1) the survey data from the salespersons, and (2) the performance evaluation data from a manufacturer. The empirical study tests how SI affects an engineer’s and a salesperson’s behaviors (i.e., an engineer’s opportunism, his/her inadvertent benevolence, and a salesperson’s barricading behavior). Our results explain that SI triggers an engineer’s inadvertent benevolence—an engineer’s willingness to accommodate a buyer’s request without proper consideration for the consequences of the accommodation—which in turn causes a salesperson’s barricading behaviors to block SI. The barricading behaviors damage the supplier’s performance. For the implications, this dissertation addresses the root cause of SI failure, which might occur due to traditional boundary spanners (salespersons). Also, this research explains that benevolence— which is essential for external collaboration—could cause internal behavioral constraints that damage the external collaboration. This means that SI causes internal behavioral constraints, which paradoxically, damage SI.
Enabling Cross-Site Content Sharing between Social Networks

Social Networks is one of the major technological phenomena on the Web 2.0. Hundreds of millions of people are posting articles, photos, and videos on their profiles and interacting with other people, but the sharing and interaction are limited within a same social network site. Although users can share some contents in a social network site with people outside of the social network site using a public link of content, appropriate access control mechanisms are still not supported. To overcome those limitations, we propose a cross-site content sharing framework named x-mngr, allowing users to interact with others in other social network sites, with a cross-site access control policy, which enables users to specify policies that allow/deny access to their shared contents across social network sites. We implemented our proposed framework through a photo sharing application that shares user's photos between Face book and My Space based on the cross-site access control policy. To evaluate our approach, we conducted a user study for the x-mngr framework.
Demographic structure and genetic variability throughout the distribution of Platte thistle (Cirsium canescens Asteraceae)

Aim Understanding spatial variation in the demographic and genetic structure of populations is central to explaining causes of species range limits and to species conservation. The Abundant Centre Hypothesis (ACH) predicts that as one moves away from the centre of a species’ biogeographical range, populations become less frequent and more isolated, as well as exhibiting decreasing within-population density. This increased isolation may lead to reduced genetic variability in peripheral populations by limiting gene flow. In this study, we asked whether the frequency, within-population density and genetic diversity of Cirsium canescens (Platte thistle) populations decreased from the range centre to the edge, as predicted by the ACH. Location Central United States, including portions of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. Methods Frequency of population occurrence at regional and landscape scales, within-population density, and within-population genetic variation were evaluated along eight centre-edge transects within the species’ distribution. Leaf tissue samples were collected from each population to establish genetic variability using six simple sequence repeat loci. Results Consistent with the ACH, peripheral regions of C. canescens’ range were less likely to contain populations than central regions. In regions where C. canescens did occur, however, frequency of populations at a landscape scale peaked at intermediate distances from centre and within-population density was unrelated to distance. Populations exhibited reduced genetic variability towards range edges. Main conclusions The ACH underestimates the complexity of the relationship between variation in abundance and genetic diversity with distance from C. canescens’ range centre. Decreases in Platte thistle population frequency combined with no decreases in within-population density near range edges suggest that quality habitat exists in the peripheral range, but these patches are rarer. Although genetic variability was reduced at the distribution edges, this decline was stronger towards the western edge, associated with increased topographic complexity.
Variance reduction for estimating a failure probability with multiple criteria

We consider a system subjected to multiple loads with corresponding capacities to withstand the loads, where both loads and capacities are random. The system fails when any load exceeds its capacity, and the goal is to apply Monte Carlo methods to estimate the failure probability. We consider various combinations of variance-reduction techniques, including stratified sampling, conditional Monte Carlo, and Latin hypercube sampling. Numerical results are presented for an artificial safety analysis of a nuclear power plant, which illustrate that the combination of all three methods can greatly increase statistical efficiency.
Auditing the subjects of fair trade: Coffee, development, and surveillance in highland Chiapas

Fair trade certification is a mechanism used by coffee cooperatives to assist farmers with accessing cash income and securing a better price for their product. Third-party certifiers regulate the f...
An Integrated Approach to Teaching Biotechnology and Bioengineering to an Interdisciplinary Audience

Advancements in bioengineering and biotechnology demand interdisciplinary cooperation, yet communication between engineers, scientists, and clinicians is often a limiting factor in developing effective working teams. To simultaneously engage engineering, biology and physical science students in cross-disciplinary training, a graduate course entitled `Bioengineering and Biotechnology' was introduced at UNC Charlotte. Developed through the combined efforts of a two-member faculty team from Mechanical Engineering and Biology, relevant biotechnology and bioengineering applications lectures that emphasized cross-disciplinary innovations were presented using an integrated team-teaching format, as complements to lectures on fundamental concepts in engineering and biology. An understanding of the interdependence of engineering, biology, and the physical sciences in biotechnology and bioengineering was also achieved using working examples and cooperative learning exercises. The culmination of the course was the student presentations of written final projects. These projects, prepared by two member cross-disciplinary teams, allowed the students to discuss and critically evaluate a bioengineering or biotechnology innovation using primary literature. The components of this semester-long course provided the interdisciplinary student audience with a working knowledge of biotechnology and bioengineering, while helping them appreciate the complementary aspects of their diverse educational backgrounds. The framework, implementation, and results of the course are presented in this work.
Revisiting the behavioural framework of feeding in predatory aquatic mammals.

Hocking et al . [1] (hereafter HEA) present a framework for defining and evaluating feeding strategies in predatory aquatic mammals. While we appreciate the review, we address three difficulties with the framework: (i) the tetrapod feeding cycle needs minimal revision to accommodate aquatic mammals, (ii) the proposed feeding strategies need further clarification and (iii) evolution should not be described as a logical sequence. Our goal is to clarify and expand on HEA's feeding framework to ensure that predatory aquatic mammals can be examined in a comparative framework with other tetrapods. First, HEA argue that the four stages of the tetrapod feeding cycle—ingestion, intraoral transport, processing and swallowing [2]—do not adequately address the problems faced by air-breathing aquatic mammals. HEA, therefore, propose an alternative feeding cycle: (I) prey capture, (IIa) prey manipulation and transport and (IIb) prey processing, (III) water removal and (IV) swallowing. These changes constrain our ability to compare feeding behaviour across tetrapod lineages. The tetrapod feeding cycle is already sufficiently flexible to accommodate behaviourally diverse clades, so we propose using the existing tetrapod feeding cycle [2] with some revisions based on HEA (figure 1). Figure 1. Modified feeding cycle of aquatic tetrapods based on Schwenk [2] and Hocking et al . [1]. (Online version in colour.) In the tetrapod feeding cycle, ingestion encompasses all behaviours used to capture, subdue, kill and process prey before it enters the oral cavity [2]. Therefore, HEA's stages I, IIa and IIb are already included in ingestion and can distinguish between different behaviours prior to prey entering the mouth (figure 1). For example, sea otters ( Enhydra lutris ) dive to grab benthic prey (prey capture), move prey using their mouth/forepaws (prey manipulation) and use tools/teeth to open hard-shelled prey (external prey processing) [3]. …
Atmospheric Pressure Drift Tube Ion Mobility–Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry: Initial Performance Characterization

Atmospheric pressure drift tube ion mobility spectrometry (AP-DTIMS) was coupled with Fourier transform Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The performance capabilities of this versatile new arrangement were demonstrated for different DTIMS ion gating operation modes and Orbitrap mass spectrometer parameters with regard to sensitivity and resolving power. Showcasing the optimized AP-DTIMS-Orbitrap MS system, isobaric peptide and sugar isomers were successfully resolved and the identities of separated species validated by high-energy collision dissociation experiments.
How grazing affects soil quality of soils formed in the glaciated northeastern United States

Historically, much of the New England landscape was converted to pasture for grazing animals and harvesting hay. Both consumer demand for local sustainably produced food, and the number of small farms is increasing in RI, highlighting the importance of characterizing the effects livestock have on the quality of pasture soils. To assess how livestock affect pasture on Charlton and Canton soils series in RI, we examined soil quality in farms raising beef cattle (Bos taurus), sheep (Ovis aries), and horses (Equus ferus caballus), using hayed pastures as a control. We sampled three pastures per livestock type and three control hayed pastures in May, August, and October 2012. Hay fields and pastures grazed by sheep had statistically significant (P sheep > beef cattle > horses. The results of our study provide baseline data on the effect different types of livestock have on pasture soil quality in RI, which may be useful in making sound land use and agricultural management decisions.
HRIF Clinic Organization: A Statewide Approach

There are a great deal of variability in the structure of neonatal follow-up clinics and no clear standards. In California, there is an established Title V program referred to as California Children’s Services (CCS) which has a High-Risk Infant Follow-Up program as a diagnostic service to ensure NICU graduates are connected to medical specialty practices and early intervention services at the earliest signs of difficulty or developmental delay. Key to the program is a dedicated coordinator who makes certain that the child accesses follow-up services. Medical eligibility is determined by risk factors for neurodevelopmental disabilities. HRIF evaluations include assessments of complex care needs, growth, development and the neurological examination. Many ill children need EI services, but states are variable in their criteria required to access these services and many do not accept an “at-risk” eligibility category. A recommended follow-up schedule is included.
The ethanolamine permease EutH promotes vacuole adaptation of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes during macrophage infection

ABSTRACT Ethanolamine is a ubiquitous and essential molecule within a host. Significantly, bacterial pathogens exploit ethanolamine during infection to promote growth and regulate virulence. The ethanolamine permease EutH is dispensable for growth in vitro under standard conditions, whereas EutH is required for ethanolamine utilization at low pH. These findings suggested a model in which EutH facilitates diffusion of ethanolamine into the bacterial cell in acidic environments. To date, the ecological significance of this model has not been thoroughly investigated, and the importance of EutH to bacterial growth under physiologically relevant conditions is not known. During infection, immune cells internalize invading bacteria within an acidic, nutrient-depleted vacuole called the phagosome. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that EutH promotes bacterial survival following phagocytosis. Our findings indicate that EutH is important for survival and replication of the facultative intracellular pathogens Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes during prolonged or transient exposure to the phagosome, respectively. Furthermore, in agreement with EutH being important in the acidic environment, neutralization of the vacuole abolished the requirement for EutH. Significantly, consistent with a role for EutH in promoting intramacrophage survival, EutH was not required during S. Typhimurium local intestinal infection but specifically conferred an advantage upon dissemination to peripheral organs. These findings reveal a physiologically relevant and conserved role for EutH in spatiotemporal niche adaptation during infection.