cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of psychological consulting on life quality and social support system of HIV infectors

AIM: To study the effect of psychological consulting on the life quality and social support status of HIV infectors. METHODS: Ninety-four HIV infectors were asked to fill the questionnaires on life quality (GQOLI-74, generic quality of life inventory-74) and social support system before and after the psychological consulting in Beijing Ditan Hospital. RESULTS: The quality of life, as well as the physical, mental and social function, of the HIV infectors was significantly improved after the outpatient psychological consulting. In male and female, the physical scores ranged respectively from 33.9 to 61.2 and from 31.3 to 56.3, the mental scores from 45.0 to 60.8 and from 32.1 to 57.3 and the social function scores from 67.0 to 91.6 and from 68.3 to 89.1 (P0.05). The social support systems of HIV infectors were significantly improved after the psychological consulting and the scores of objective support and its application level were also improved. The scores of objective support ranged from 3.6 to 4.8 in male and from 3.8 to 5.0 in female and the scores of the application level of the social ranged support from 3.6 to 4.7 in male and from 3.5 to 4.4 in female. CONCLUSION: Psychological consulting is a good means to improve the physical, mental and social functions of HIV infectors.
The dynamic nature of value-based decisions.

During a binary choice task, neuronal activity in monkey orbitofrontal cortex alternated between two network states. The internal dynamics revealed by a linear decoder correlated with the reaction time and with the eventual choice.
Surgical management of the atelectatic ear.

Objective: The surgical management of the atelectatic ear is controversial because the natural course toward cholesteatoma development cannot be predicted, and hearing acuity remains normal until later in the disease course. Consequently, surgery is often delayed until there is a clear indication, such as hearing loss or frank cholesteatoma development, but such delay often necessitates more extensive surgery. Because earlier intervention appears to be in the best interest of the patient but is often avoided because of near normal hearing levels at this stage, the author proposes a staging system for classification and management of the atelectatic ear. Hearing results and complications in patients undergoing tympanoplasty with or without ossicular reconstruction are reported for patients with type III and IV retractions. Study Design: A retrospective study using a computerized otologic database to identify patients who meet the inclusion criteria. Setting: A tertiary referral center. Patients: A total of 55 patients (63 ears) aged 5 to 78 years underwent cartilage tympanoplasty with or without ossicular reconstruction. Interventions: Elevation of the ear drum, followed by cartilage reconstruction of the tympanic membrane, with ossicular reconstruction as indicated. Main Outcome Measures: Postoperative pure tone average air-bone gap for four frequencies (500, 1000, 2000, 4000 Hz) compared with preoperative levels. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in hearing (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This staging system offers an effective treatment algorithm for pars tensa retractions and management of type III and IV retractions via cartilage tympanoplasty with or without ossicular reconstruction and is a proven treatment modality.
198. Adeno-Associated Viral Gene Therapy To Treat Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C1

Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 disease (NPC1) is a heritable lysosomal storage disease characterized by a progressive neurological degeneration that causes disability and premature death. NPC1 commonly manifests in childhood, and there are no approved treatments to delay, stop, or reverse the fatal neurodegeneration that is the hallmark of this disorder. New therapies for patients with NPC1 need to be developed. Defects in the NPC1 gene are the cause of this disease. A murine model of NPC1, Npcnih (also called BALB/(cNctr-Npc1m1N/J), arising from a spontaneous frame-shift mutation in the Npc1 gene has been described. Npcnih homozygotes (Npc1−/-) have an early, severe, and rapidly progressing disease, which is characterized by weight loss, ataxia, and lethality by 9 weeks of age. To test the potential efficacy of gene therapy with the goal of developing a new treatment for NPC patients, we constructed an adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 9 to deliver the human NPC1 gene under the transcriptional control of the neuronal-specific promoter, mouse calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). Npc1−/- mice received 1×1012 GC of AAV9-CaMKII-NPC1 or an equivalent reporter control, AAV9-CaMKII-GFP, between 20 and 25 days of life delivered by retro-orbital injection. To achieve neuronal transduction, we relied upon the well-established property of AAV9 vectors to cross the blood-brain barrier and transduce neurons after systemic delivery. Relative to the untreated or AAV-GFP treated Npc1−/- mice (n=15, mean survival 66 days, SD=0.89), the Npc1−/- mice that received AAV9-CaMKII-NPC1 exhibited an increased life span (n=9, mean survival 105 days, SD=30; P<0.02) Although the AAV9-CaMKII-NPC1 treated Npc1−/- mice did not achieve a normal life expectancy or the same weight of wild-type mice, our results demonstrate, for the first time, the potential efficacy of systemic AAV gene therapy as a therapeutic option in patients with NPC1.
Two-dimensional, error-corrected barcode readout for point-of-care colorimetrie assays

We report a semiquantitative readout technique using structured Quick Response (QR) codes partially patterned with colorimetric assay. This allows error-corrected readout at point-of-care (POC) the assay using mobile devices while transparently enabling remote tabulation of population-level statistics through analysis of web traffic.
Alpha-7 nicotinic agonists for cognitive deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders: A translational meta-analysis of rodent and human studies

Cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia (SCZ) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major driver of functional disability but is largely unresponsive to current therapeutics. Animal models of cognitive dysfunction relevant to both disorders suggest the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) may be a promising drug development target, with multiple clinical trials subsequently testing this hypothesis in individuals with SCZ and AD. However, the translational value of rodent cognitive tasks for predicting the overall efficacy of this therapeutic target in clinical trials is unknown. To compare effect sizes between rodent and human studies, we searched PubMed and the Cochrane Library for all randomized, placebo-controlled trials of compounds with pharmacological activity at the α7 nAChR for treatment of cognitive dysfunction in SCZ and AD and identified 18 studies comprising 2670 subjects treated with eight different compounds acting as full or partial agonists. Cognitive outcomes were standardized, and random-effects meta-analyses revealed no statistically significant effects of α7 nAChR agonists on overall cognition or any of eight cognitive subdomains when all doses were included (Range of all cognitive outcomes: Cohen's d=-0.077 to 0.12, negative favoring drug). In contrast, analysis of 29 rodent studies testing the same α7 agonists revealed large effect sizes in multiple commonly used preclinical behavioral tests of cognition (Range: d=-1.18 to - 0.73). Our results suggest that targeting the α7 nAChR with agonists is not a robust treatment for cognitive dysfunction in SCZ or AD and necessitate a better understanding of the translational gap for therapeutics targeting the α7 nAChR.
A model for evaluating production and environmental performance of kenaf in rotation with conventional row crops

Abstract The potential inclusion of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) into the conventional corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation of the U.S. Midwest requires investigation. A new kenaf model within the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) was developed and subsequently used to address questions needed for decision making: 1) what is the optimum planting date of kenaf under water-nitrogen limited and non-limited conditions in central Iowa; 2) does soil nitrate accumulation vary among kenaf, corn, and soybean crops?; 3) is soil organic matter (SOC) influenced in the long term?; and 4) how do kenaf water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) compare to corn and soybean? The model indicated that simulated optimum planting date for maximizing kenaf production ranged from April 15 to June 1. Model analysis of different rotation systems showed that there was a slight tradeoff between kenaf stem biomass and soybean yield. Long term soil organic carbon simulations (30 years) indicated a slight decrease over time while inclusion of kenaf in the corn-soybean (C-S) rotation did not affect this trend. In conclusion, this study brings to the scientific literature a new kenaf model that provided information that was missing for decision support.
Structured Abstract: Examining Consumer Reaction Toward Marketer-Provided Information About Secondhand Goods

The market for secondhand goods has increased dramatically in importance. This study seeks to understand how consumers react to marketer-provided information about secondhand products from a perspective of the Accessibility and Diagnosticity of information.
Epigenome-Based Drug Repositioning in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Background. Repositioning approved drugs for the treatment of new indications is a promising avenue to reduce the burden of drug development. Most currently available computational methods based on molecular evidence can only utilize gene expression for repositioning despite a growing interest in the epigenome in human disease. We recently described a novel repositioning method, ksRepo, that enables investigators to move beyond microarray-based gene expression and utilize a variety of other sources of molecular evidence, such as DNA methylation differences. Methods. We downloaded differential DNA methylation data from two publicly available acute myeloid leukemia (AML) datasets, a cancer with known, extensive epigenomic perturbations. We consolidated CpGs-level to non-directional gene-level differential methylation using Brown9s correction to Fisher9s method. We then used ksRepo, which ignores directionality in disease- and gene-drug associations, to mine the resulting prioritized gene lists and and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) for predicted repositioning candidates. Results. We successfully recovered four compounds that were significant (FDR
Robotic Surgery Training

In December of 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the da Vinci Surgical System for transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Prior to that, most surgeons in training or already in practice had not been exposed to the surgical robot or to the techniques for TORS. Training programs have since been created to bridge gaps in knowledge and technical skills. Over time, these programs have grown and progressed to incorporate evolving technology and surgical techniques that have accompanied the widespread adoption of TORS.
Web Development with Tcl/Tk 8.1: A Complete Resource for Programmers and Developers

Starting with Tcl Variables and Expressions Program Flow Text String Handling in Tcl Procedures and Arrays Buttons and Labels Handling Text and the Mouse Checkbuttons Radiobuttons Listboxes Canvases Scales and Scrollbars Basic Menus Advanced Menus Layouts and Frames Image Handling Toolbars and Status Bars The Built-in Tk Dialog Boxes Files Creating Windows and Dialog Boxes Creating Tclets Browsing the Web Using Tcl CGI: Writing Server-Based Tcl Scripts CGI Scripts and Tcl Sockets About the Web Site Index.
The Thyroid Hormone Axis: Its Roles in Body Weight Regulation, Obesity, and Weight Loss

In humans and other vertebrates, thyroid hormone is essential to the development and function of every tissue in the body. During adulthood, thyroid hormone is critical to mediating changes in metabolism as it is key to the regulation of resting energy expenditure, body temperature, and hepatic lipid metabolism, to name a few. The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis functions as a negative feedback loop where thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is released from neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and stimulates the secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the pituitary. TSH signals the release of thyroid hormones, both the prohormone thyroxine (T4) and the active hormone triiodothyronine (T3) from the thyroid. Through central actions, TRH and TSH are negatively regulated by T3 at several levels including gene transcription and prohormone processing. The HPT axis is a dynamic system that responds to environment including food availability, environmental temperature, weight loss, and illness normally through central mechanisms. The following chapter will focus on the regulation of thyroid hormone, its role in body weight, and how weight loss can affect thyroid hormone levels. Currently, thyroid hormone is a poor therapeutic to treat obesity and to elevate energy expenditure because it has detrimental effects such as atrial fibrillation, osteoporosis, and muscle wasting. Researchers are focusing on thyroid hormone analogs as therapeutics for weight loss to eliminate the negative side effects. As detailed below, thyroid hormone action in peripheral tissues can be just as important to energy expenditure as the central regulation of thyroid hormone.
Fetal Tachycardia Is an Independent Risk Factor for Chromosomal Anomalies in First-Trimester Genetic Screening.

OBJECTIVES The association of an abnormal fetal heart rate (FHR) and chromosomal anomalies in the first trimester of pregnancy remains unclear, probably because of the lack of control for known confounding factors. This study was designed to determine whether an increased FHR is an independent risk factor for chromosomal anomalies between 11 and 14 weeks' gestation. METHODS This cohort study included women who underwent first-trimester genetic screening between 2011 and 2014 at a single institution. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether an FHR of 170 beats per minute (bpm) or higher, derived from a receiver operating characteristic curve, is an independent risk factor for all chromosomal anomalies while controlling for known confounding factors. P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS An FHR of 170 bpm or higher was observed in 7% (228 of 3254), and chromosomal anomalies were present in 1.0% (31 of 3254) of the population. A higher proportion of fetuses with an FHR of 170 bpm or higher had chromosomal anomalies compared to those with an FHR lower than 170 bpm. An FHR of 170 bpm or higher was an independent risk factor for chromosomal anomalies after controlling for known confounding factors. Of note, in the group of fetuses with a nuchal translucency above the 95th percentile, the frequency of chromosomal anomalies was significantly higher among fetuses with an FHR of 170 bpm or higher compared to those with an FHR lower than 170 bpm. CONCLUSIONS Fetal tachycardia is a risk factor for chromosomal anomalies during first-trimester genetic screening, independent of increased nuchal translucency, nuchal septations, and maternal age.
Urban Trees and Water Use in Arid Climates: Insights from an Integrated Bioeconomic-Health Model

Managing outdoor water use while maintaining urban tree cover is a key challenge for water managers in arid climates. Urban trees generate flows of ecosystem services in arid areas, but also requir...
Launching into interprofessional education: graduate students learning and growing together.

ABSTRACTInterprofessional education (IPE) is vital in university clinical settings to prepare graduate students to engage in today’s health care system. However, few university programs have succes...
Revisiting the Narrative about Least Restrictive Environment in Physical Education.

ABSTRACTSince 1975, the implementation of the Least Restrictive Environment, a federal mandate of Public Law 94–142, has been historically challenging for physical educators and adapted physical ed...
Spatial accessibility to pediatric primary care in Philadelphia: an area-level cross sectional analysis

Pediatric primary care visits are a foundational element in the health maintenance of children. Differential access may be a driver of racial inequities in health. We hypothesized that pediatric primary care accessibility would be lowest in neighborhoods with higher proportion of non-Hispanic Black residents. Annual ratios (2008–2016) of providers to pediatric population were calculated by census tract in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Marginal logistic regression was used to estimate the independent association between neighborhood racial composition and access to pediatric primary care controlling for confounders. In general, low access to care was associated with greater neighborhood disadvantage (e.g., SES, % poverty, % public insurance). After controlling for neighborhood indicators of disadvantage, risk of being in the lowest quintile of access significantly increased as the percent of non-Hispanic Black residents increased. A new measure of pediatric primary care accessibility demonstrates a persistent disparity in primary care access for predominantly non-Hispanic Black neighborhoods.
Democoin: A Publicly Verifiable and Jointly Serviced Cryptocurrency.

We present a new, decentralized, efficient, and secure digital cryptocurrency, in which the ordinary users themselves keep turns to ensure that the systems works well. ∗sergeyg@mit.edu †silvio@csail.mit.edu
Theorems for a Price: Tomorrow's Semi-Rigorous Mathematical Culture

The future of mathematics is described, by using the WZ algorithmic proof theory as a parable.
Epidemiology of Foot and Ankle Injuries in NCAA Jumping Athletes in the United States During 2009-2014:

Background:Foot and ankle injuries comprise a significant proportion of all injuries sustained by National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes. In particular, sports that combine jumpin...
Small RNAs – Big Players in Plant-Microbe Interactions

Eukaryotic small RNAs (sRNAs) are short non-coding regulatory molecules that induce RNA interference (RNAi). During microbial infection, host RNAi machinery is highly regulated and contributes to reprogramming gene expression and balancing plant immunity and growth. While most sRNAs function endogenously, some can travel across organismal boundaries between hosts and microbes and silence genes in trans in interacting organisms, a mechanism called "cross-kingdom RNAi." During the co-evolutionary arms race between fungi and plants, some fungi developed a novel virulence mechanism, sending sRNAs as effector molecules into plant cells to silence plant immunity genes, whereas plants also transport sRNAs, mainly using extracellular vesicles, into the pathogens to suppress virulence-related genes. In this Review, we highlight recent discoveries on these key roles of sRNAs and RNAi machinery. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of sRNA biogenesis, trafficking, and RNAi machinery will help us develop innovative strategies for crop protection.
Chronic Marijuana Use, Inhibitory Control, and Processing Speed in Young Adult College Students

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance in the United States, and its use is especially prevalent among young adults. Over the past two decades, there has been an overall decline in perceived harmfulness of marijuana use in young adults ages 18-30, despite growing evidence that chronic marijuana use may be associated with cognitive impairment. There have been mixed results regarding the effects of chronic marijuana use on inhibitory control. Furthermore, previous literature has shown inconsistent results regarding processing speed in marijuana users. The current study examined inhibitory control and processing speed in chronic marijuana-using young adult college students and healthy controls ages 18-22. 33 healthy controls (mean age: 19.18 ± 1.13; 18 male) and 28 chronic marijuana users (mean age: 20.25 ± 1.17; 19 male) were included in the study. Chronic marijuana users had to have used marijuana ≥5 times/week over the past year to be eligible. Participants were instructed to remain abstinent from marijuana use for 12 hours prior to the study visit. The 30-day Timeline Followback (TLFB) was used to assess recent marijuana use and participants were asked to estimate age at first marijuana use and lifetime days of marijuana use. Participants completed the Stroop Color Word Task (SCWT), and the interference t-score was used as a measure of inhibitory control. Furthermore, we examined marijuana use characteristics (i.e. age at first use, lifetime marijuana use, and past 30-day marijuana use) in relation to performance on the SCWT. Additionally, exploratory analyses investigated differences in the color and word conditions of the SCWT between the two groups and as a function of marijuana use characteristics. Results indicated no significant group differences on the interference, word, and color conditions of the SCWT. Furthermore, there were no significant correlations between age at first use, lifetime marijuana use, and past 30-day marijuana use with any conditions of the SCWT, but, there was a trend for greater past 30-day marijuana use to be associated with poorer performance on the color condition (r(26) = -0.26, p = 0.09). These findings indicate that chronic, heavy marijuana use may not be associated with impairments in inhibitory control or processing speed, which is consistent with other studies examining current use, heavy use, and chronic use in adolescents, young adults, and adults. Further research is needed to determine whether chronic, heavy marijuana use during young adulthood affects higher-order cognitive functioning skills needed for success in college, starting a career, and transitioning into adulthood.
A Polyethylene-Based Triblock Copolymer Anion Exchange Membrane with High Conductivity and Practical Mechanical Properties

A challenge in anion exchange membrane (AEM) development is simultaneously optimizing alkaline chemical stability and mechanical integrity during thermal and humidity cycling and achieving high ani...
Trends in Clinical Characteristics and Prescribing Preferences for SGLT2 Inhibitors and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists, 2013–2018

OBJECTIVE There is a paucity of data evaluating recent changes in clinical and prescriber characteristics of patients initiating sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS U.S.-based administrative-claims data (July 2013 to June 2018) were used to identify initiators of SGLT2i and GLP-1RA. RESULTS Over 5 years, empagliflozin initiation (as a proportion of SGLT2i) increased by 57.1% (P CONCLUSIONS For SGLT2i, shifts in preference for empagliflozin followed changes in drug labels and guidelines, while in GLP-1RA, other factors such as price or ease of administration may have led to a preference for dulaglutide over liraglutide.
Induced polarization response within a spheroidal particle from an incident electromagnetic wave

The improved anomalous diffraction approximation for particle cross sections requires the induced polarization response to the incident electromagnetic field as an input. Solutions to Maxwell’s equations are developed for the induced polarization vector response for spheroidal particles. The emphasis is on near infrared wavelengths and micron sized particles. The model agrees with published results in the static limit. There is no published literature on the optical frequency dependence. General spheroidal shapes are examined. The goal is to apply the result to obtain the Muellar matrix.
The Association Between Health Insurance and Opioid Misuse in Pregnancy

We sought to evaluate the association between insurance type and non-medical opioid use in pregnant women in the United States. We conducted a study in women aged 12 to 49 years using the 2005–2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Though multivariable regression, we specifically analyzed the difference in non-medical opioid use during pregnancy between women covered by Medicaid versus private insurance. A total of 244,353 reproductive-aged women were included. Of those women, 8,862 (3.6%) were pregnant at the time of survey and 79 (0.03%) reported non-medical opioid use in the past month. After controlling for socioeconomic factors, we found nonmedical opioid use was greater for pregnant women on Medicaid compared to private insurance in the second trimester (adjusted odds ratio, 6.5; p = .015), despite no significant difference in the first trimester (0.84; p = .656). This difference may suggest a discrepancy in access to care.
The Role of Monitoring in Reducing the Moral Hazard Problem Associated with Government Guarantees: Evidence from the Life Insurance Industry

State guaranty funds provide partial protection to life insurance holders in the event of an insolvency, thus creating a moral hazard problem akin to the one associated with deposit insurance in the banking industry. We find that differences across states in the financing of these government guaranty systems affects risk taking by life insurance companies (LICs). In states where taxpayers do not pay for the costs of resolving insolvencies, LICs hold portfolios with lower overall stock market risk. These portfolios, however, are characterized by higher levels of both capital and risky assets. These empirical findings have policy implications for improving monitoring of financial intermediaries receiving government liability guarantees. We also examine the effects of franchise value, size and ownership structure on portfolio risk. We find that larger LICs and LICs with more franchise value take less risk. We also find that risk decreases with insider holdings until insiders own about 25 percent of the firm and increases thereafter.
Comparison of the immunologic response to herpes simplex virus type 1 entry glycoproteins induced in humans after primary infection of oral or genital sites

Objectives We sought to determine potential differences in the humoral immune response to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in patients after primary infection in either oral or genital sites. Methods Serum samples from 20 patients with primary HSV-1 infection (10 oral, 10 genital) were compared. A neutralization assay categorized samples by their ability to inhibit virus entry into cells. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay determined the quantity of antibodies against each of the major HSV-1 glycoproteins (gD, gB, gC, gH/gL). Surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) was used to estimate the quality of the response by determining the epitope specificity of antibodies against the receptor-binding glycoprotein gD. Information from these assays was combined to develop a comprehensive profile of immunologic response to HSV-1 infection. Results All 10 oral site serum samples contained significant levels of virus-specific antibodies to block virus entry and demonstrated excellent immune response to the major virion glycoproteins. In contrast, only 4 of the 10 genital site serum samples were able to block virus entry. The 6 genital site sera that failed to block entry had markedly reduced antiglycoprotein antibody levels, indicating a poor overall HSV-1 immunologic response. The quantity of antiglycoprotein antibodies in the 4 genital (protective) sera mirrored that induced by oral infection. Subsequently, SPRi was used to determine whether the qualitative response was equivalent between the oral and genital site sera. All 10 oral site sera targeted gD epitopes at levels significantly higher and more varied than those generated for the 4 protective genital site samples. Interestingly, the gD epitope profiles of the 6 nonprotective genital site samples were directed at a single non-neutralizing antigenic site on gD that is involved in cell-to-cell spread. Conclusions Based on a comprehensive profile of immunologic response to HSV-1 infection for individuals infected at either oral or genital sites, results of this study suggest that the site of primary infection is important in driving the overall humoral immune-protective response. Findings of this study will have direct implications for the future development of a glycoprotein-epitope–based HSV-1 vaccine.
Host lung environment limits Aspergillus fumigatus germination through a SskA-dependent signaling response

Aspergillus fumigatus isolates display significant heterogeneity in growth, virulence, pathology, and inflammatory potential in multiple murine models of invasive aspergillosis. Previous studies have linked the initial germination of a fungal isolate in the airways to the inflammatory and pathological potential; but the mechanism(s) regulating A. fumigatus germination in the airways are unresolved. To explore the genetic basis for divergent germination phenotypes, we utilized a serial passaging strategy in which we cultured a slow germinating strain (AF293) in a murine lung based medium for multiple generations. Through this serial passaging approach, a strain emerged with an increased germination rate that induces more inflammation than the parental strain (herein named Lung Homogenate Evolved (LH-EVOL)). We identified a potential loss of function allele of Afu5g08390 (sskA) in the LH-EVOL strain. The LH-EVOL strain had a decreased ability to induce the SakA-dependent stress pathway. In support of the whole genome variant analyses, sskA, sakA, or mpkC loss of function strains in the AF293 parental strain increased germination both in vitro and in vivo. Since the airway surface liquid of the lungs contains low glucose levels, the relationship of low glucose concentration on germination of these mutant AF293 strains was examined; interestingly, in low glucose conditions the sakA pathway mutants exhibited an enhanced germination rate. In conclusion, A. fumigatus germination in the airways is regulated by SskA through the SakA MAPK pathway and drives enhanced disease initiation and inflammation in the lungs. IMPORTANCEAspergillus fumigatus is an important human fungal pathogen particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Initiation of growth by A. fumigatus in the lung is important for its pathogenicity in murine models. However, our understanding of what regulates fungal germination in the lung environment is lacking. Through a serial passage experiment using lung-based medium, we identified a new strain of A. fumigatus, which has increased germination potential, and inflammation in the lungs. Using this serially passaged strain we found it had a decreased ability to mediate signaling through the osmotic stress response pathway. This finding was confirmed using genetic null mutants demonstrating that the osmotic stress response pathway is critical for regulating growth in the murine lungs. Our results contribute to the understanding of A. fumigatus adaptation and growth in the host lung environment.
YAC128 mouse model of Huntington disease is protected against subtle chronic manganese (Mn)-induced behavioral and neuropathological changes.

Abstract Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient but excessive levels induce neurotoxic effects. Increasing evidence suggests a deficit of bioavailable Mn in Huntington disease (HD), an inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor and cognitive disturbances. Previous studies have shown rescue of some molecular HD phenotypes by acute Mn exposure. This study simultaneously examined the potential for chronic Mn exposure to attenuate HD behavioral phenotypes, and for the HD genotype to offer protection against detrimental effects of chronic Mn exposure. In two independent studies a chronic Mn exposure paradigm was implemented in the YAC128 mouse model of HD and behavior was assessed at several timepoints. Study 1 exposed WT and YAC128 mice to twice weekly subcutaneous injections of 0, 5, 15, or 50 mg/kg MnCl[2] tetrahydrate from 12 to 32 weeks of age. A promising protective effect against motor coordination decline in 5 mg/kg MnCl[2] tetrahydrate-treated YAC128 mice was detected. Study 2 thus exposed WT and YAC128 mice to either 0 or 5 mg/kg MnCl[2] tetrahydrate from 12 to 52 weeks of age (with a partial randomized treatment crossover at 31 weeks). The same protective effect was not observed under these conditions at higher statistical power. We report subtle toxicological changes in exploratory behavior and total activity induced by chronic Mn exposure in WT mice only, despite similar total increases in brain Mn in WT and YAC128 mice. Further, chronic Mn treatment resulted in a 10–12 % decrease in striatal NeuN positive cell density in WT mice but not YAC128 mice, despite vehicle cell counts already being reduced compared to WT mice as expected for the HD genotype. The subtle changes observed in specific outcome measures, but not others, following long-term low-level Mn exposure in WT mice delineate the neurobehavioral and neuropathological effects at the threshold of chronic Mn toxicity. We conclude that these chronic low-dose Mn exposures do not significantly rescue behavioral HD phenotypes, but YAC2128 mice are protected against the subtle Mn-induced behavioral changes and decreased striatal neuron density observed in Mn-exposed WT mice.
Nearby Halo Streams

The number of known halo streams has increased dramatically with the advent of deep, well-calibrated, wide-area sky surveys. Twenty nearby halo streams have been discovered to date, a number that is likely to at least double as surveys of the southern hemisphere progress. By themselves these streams tell us something about the accretion and disruption history of stellar aggregates in our Galaxy. More importantly, they will ultimately enable us to put much tighter constraints on the three dimensional shape of the Galactic potential. The morphologies of cold streams may also help us to constrain the occurrence and mass function of a predicted population of dark matter subhalos. We tabulate some basic properties of the known nearby streams, and discuss prospects for future discoveries.
The Kinematics of Open Loop Manipulators using IMP (Integrated Mechanisms Program)

An existing general purpose mechanism analysis computer program, IMP (Integrated Mechanisms Program), has been modified to allow IMP to analyze open loop kinematic chains with much greater ease. Previously, IMP's difficulties with these types of mechanisms were twofold. First, IMP's solution strategy for iteratively closing the loops of a mechanism depended on the fact that each of the loops was closed. Second, IMP's kinematic mode would analyze only one input at a time. Both of these aspects of IMP made IMP difficult to use as a tool for studying spatial open loop manipulators. A set of commands has now been added to IMP's language that alleviates these problems. In addition an input strategy has been developed which makes it easier to input either path or joint data. This paper overviews IMP and presents the modifications to IMP as well as giving an illustrative example.
TU-B-304-00: The Aftermath of TG-142

Although published in 2009, the AAPM TG-142 report on accelerator quality assurance still proves a challenge for full clinical implementation. The choice of methodologies to satisfy TG-142 requirements is critical to a successful application. Understanding the philosophy of TG-142 can help in creating an institution-specific QA practice that is both efficient and effective. The concept of maintaining commissioned beam profiles is still found confusing. The physicist must also consider technologies not covered by TG-142 (i.e. arc therapy techniques). On the horizon is TG-198 report on implementing TG-142. Although the community still lacks a final TG-100 report, performing a failure-mode -and-effects analysis and statistical process control analysis to determine the institution-specific clinical impact of each TG-142 test may be useful for identifying trends for pro-active surveillance. Learning Objectives: 1. To better understand the confusing and controversial aspects of TG-142. 2. To understand what is still missing from TG-142 and how to account for these tests in clinical practice 3. To describe which QA tests in TG-142 yield the largest potential clinical result if not discovered.
Studies of spark decomposition products of SF/sub 6/ and SF/sub 6//perfluorocarbon mixtures

The ion and neutral species produced in electrical discharges in SF/sub 6/ and SF/sub 6//PFC (Perfluorocarbon) mixtures were studied. A variety of experimental techniques were employed. An attempt was made to distinguish among early products, products formed by later reaction with the ambient gas, and the final, long-lived species. For ionic species formed early following the spark discharge in SF/sub 6/, it was found that O/sub 2/ and N/sub 2/ played an influential role when present at the ppM level. The major positive ions detected at P approx. > 40 kPa in unpurified (99.65%) SF/sub 6/ were N/sub 2/O/sub 2/F +, H/sub 2/SOF/sub 2//sup +/, N/sub 2/F/sub 4//sup +/, S/sub 2/NF/sub 4//sup +/, SO/sub 2/F/sub 5//sup +/, S/sub 2/NOF/sub 4//sup +/, S/sub 2/NO/sub 2/F/sub 4//sup +/, and S/sub 2/NF/sub 8//sup +/. After extensive purification of SF/sub 6/, the predominant ion at these pressures was S/sub 2/F/sub 7//sup +/ and, to a lesser extent, SF/sub 3//sup +/. Of the early neutral products, we have so far concentrated on the key role played by SF/sub 4/. Preliminary results will be presented for the amount of SF/sub 4/ formed in sparked SF/sub 6/. We have observed the reaction of SF/sub 4/ with watermore » via SF/sub 4/ + H/sub 2/O SOF/sub 2/ + 2HF, and have estimated the rate constant for this reaction to be approx. 1.8 +- 0.9 x 10/sup -19/ cm/sup 3//s at 350/sup 0/K. The effect of SF/sub 4/ and its subsequent reaction products in degrading insulator materials will be discussed. Finally, as an example of the practical utility of these studies, we will describe how the problem of SF/sub 6/ corrosion can be reduced by the addition of PFC gases to SF/sub 6/.« less
Stability analysis and control design for an all-electric ship MVDC power distribution system using a passivity based stability criterion and power hardware-in-the-loop simulation

This paper demonstrates the usefulness of Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) simulation techniques in the stability analysis and control design of a notional MVDC distribution system on an all-electric ship. PHIL simulation provides the capability to split a complex multi-converter system into a software simulated portion and hardware portion at a power interface. Using this technique, a detailed system interaction study is performed on a notional MVDC distribution system such that system level stability issues may be addressed early in the hardware development. System stability is evaluated according to the recently proposed Passivity Based Stability Criterion. An impedance measurement technique is used to identify the system bus impedance for determination of whether the system is passive and, therefore, stable. The stability information obtained from the PHIL experiment is then used to design a stabilizing controller using a Positive Feed-Forward control technique to ensure overall system performance.
Leap-Frog Path Design for Multi-Robot Cooperative Localization

We present a “leap-frog” path designed for a team of three robots performing cooperative localization. Two robots act as stationary measurement beacons while the third moves in a path that provides informative measurements. After completing the move, the roles of each robot are switched and the path is repeated. We demonstrate accurate localization using this path via a coverage experiment in which three robots successfully cover a 20m x 30m area. We report an approximate positional drift of 1.1m per robot over a travel distance of 140m. To our knowledge, this is one of the largest successful GPS-denied coverage experiments to date.
Blood Donation and Transfusion: A Primer for Health Educators

Abstract Advent of the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s focused attention on the adequacy and safety of the nation's blood supply. Today clinicians assert that the U.S. blood supply is safer than ever before. This paper serves as a primer to health educators on the topic of blood donation and transfusion. Presented are (1) a brief discussion of the nature of human blood, (2) background information on blood transfusion, (3) information about blood donation criteria and the impact of these criteria on the status of the blood supply, (4) a summary of risks related to homologous blood transfusion, (5) a discussion of directed blood donation, (6) a discussion of potential alternatives to homologous transfusion, and (7) a list of resources for education about blood donation and blood transfusion.
Lack of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Enhances Susceptibility to Infection but Does Not Alter Latency or Reactivation of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in IL-6 Knockout Mice

The ability of the pleotropic, proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) to affect the replication, latency, and reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in cell culture and in IL-6 knockout (KO) mice was studied. In initial studies, we found no effect of exogenous IL-6, monoclonal antibodies to IL-6, or monoclonal antibody to the IL-6 coreceptor, gp130, on HSV-1 replication in vitro by plaque assay or reactivation ex vivo by explant cocultivation of latently infected murine trigeminal ganglia (TG). Compared with the wild-type (WT) mice, the IL-6 KO mice were less able to survive an ocular challenge with 10 5 PFU of HSV-1 (McKrae) (40% survival of WT and 7% survival KO mice; P 5 0.01). There was a sixfold higher 50% lethal dose of HSV-1 in WT than IL-6 KO mice (1.7 3 10 4 and 2.7 3 10 3 PFU, respectively). No differences were observed in titers of virus recovered from the eyes, TG, or brains or in the rates of virus reactivation by explant cocultivation of TG from latently infected WT or KO mice. Exposure of latently infected mice to UV light resulted in comparable rates of reactivation and in the proportions of WT and KO animals experiencing reactivation. Moreover, quantitative PCR assays showed nearly identical numbers of HSV-1 genomes in latently infected WT and IL-6 KO mice. These studies indicate that while IL-6 plays a role in the protection of mice from lethal HSV infection, it does not substantively influence HSV replication, spread to the nervous system, establishment of latency, or reactivation. Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are important human pathogens that cause orofacial and genital lesions (37). During the initial infection, HSV replicates at the site of entry and then undertakes centripetal transit in sensory nerves to the ganglia, where it remains in a latent state until reactivated by stimuli such as heat and UV light (18‐20, 30, 37), when it travels back down nerve axons to replicate near the initial portal of entry. The risk and consequences of HSV reactivation in vivo depend on many viral and host factors such as the virus type, the anatomical site of infection (28), the
The Preservation of the Ceremonial Complexes of Easter Island

Easter Island in the southeast Pacific Ocean is both a national and an international resource. In 1935 the Chilean government declared the island an open air museum in recognition of the significance and importance of its extensive archaeological monuments. These include the ceremonial complexes. In the 1960' studies of the archaeological remains were sponsored by UNESCO and the International Fund for Monuments. In the reports from these studies concern was expressed over the need to protect the monuments of the "Old World" from major construction works.
Krylov Iterative Methods for Support Vector Machines to Classify Galaxy Morphologies

Large catalogues of classified galaxy images have been useful in many studies of the universe in astronomy. There are too many objects to classify manually in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, one of the premier data sources in astronomy. Therefore, efficient machine learning and classification algorithms are required to automate the classifying process. We propose to apply the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm to classify galaxy morphologies and Krylov iterative methods to improve runtime of the classification. The accuracy of the classification is measured on various categories of galaxies from the survey. A three-class algorithm is presented that makes use of multiple SVMs. This algorithm is used to assign the categories of spiral, elliptical, and irregular galaxies. A selection of Krylov iterative solvers are compared based on their efficiency and accuracy of the resulting classification. The experimental results demonstrate that runtime can be significantly improved by utilizing Krylov iterative methods without impacting classification accuracy. The generalized minimal residual method (GMRES) is shown to be the most efficient solver to classify galaxy morphologies.
Influence of microstructure on tensile properties of spheroidized ultrahigh-carbon (1.8 Pct C steel

Ultrahigh-carbon steel (UHCS) containing 1.8 pct carbon was processed to create microstructures consisting of fine-spheroidized carbide particles (0.2- to 1.5-μm size range) within a fine-grained ferrite matrix (0.3- to 5-μm range) through a variety of thermomechanical processing and heat-treatment combinations. Tensile ductility, yield, and fracture strengths, and strain-hardening behavior were evaluated at room temperature. Yield strengths ranged from 640 to 1450 MPa, and uniform tensile elongation ranged from 3 to 23 pct. Quantitative analyses revealed that a Hall-Petch type relationship exists between the yield strength and the ferrite grain size and carbide particle size within grain interiors. The fracture strength, on the other hand, was found to be uniquely dependent on the coarse carbide particle size typically found at grain boundaries. Data from other investigators on spheroidized carbon steels were shown to correlate well with the data for the UHCS (1.8 pct C) material. It was shown that the tensile ductility will increase when the difference between the fracture strength and the yield strength is increased and when the strain-hardening rate is decreased. The basis for the trends observed is that the tensile ductility is limited by the fracture process that appears to be dictated by the nucleation of cracks at large carbide particles. The results obtained indicate that UHCSs have significant potential for sheet applications where high strength and good ductility are primary requirements.
ANALYSIS OF THICKNESS VIBRATIONS OF C-AXIS INCLINED ALUMINUM-NITROGEN THIN FILM RESONATORS

ABSTRACT The effect of the C-axis angle of inclination on the thickness vibration modes of Thin Film Bulk Acoustic Wave Resonators (FBAR) is discussed. Theoretical analysis for the frequency equation and mode shape of C-axis inclined FBAR connected with an external impedance is carried out. The impedance characteristics of FBAR are derived and compared with previous experimental results.