cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative feeding ecology of felids in a neotropical rainforest

Diet and habitat use of jaguar, puma, and ocelot, and populations of their mammalian prey, were studied in an undisturbed rainforest in southeastern Peru. Analysis of scats (feces) showed terrestrial mammals to be the chief prey of all three felids, but reptiles and birds were also numerically important in the diets of ocelot and jaguar. Prey diversity is high and the cats evidently take any readily captured vertebrate. For major terrestrial mammal prey of felids, density, biomass, prey/predator ratios, and annual offtake from the study area are estimated. All three cat species seem to hunt by opportunistic encounter of prey. Most mammalian prey species were taken in about the ratios of occurrence, but peccaries were taken by jaguar more often than expected. Most prey of jaguar have a body weight of >1 kg, those of ocelot, ≤1 kg. Jaguar often used waterside habitats, where they captured caiman and river turtles. Puma did not use these habitats or resources, although the puma prey sample was too small for much inference. The possible effects of felids on study area prey populations are discussed. Large and small cats partition prey at the body weight region where prey switches from low to high reproductive rates.
Antigen presentation by dendritic cells in renal lymph nodes is linked to systemic and local injury to the kidney

Antigen presentation by dendritic cells in renal lymph nodes is linked to systemic and local injury to the kidney. Background Dendritic cells (DCs) uniquely serve as conduits between innate and cognate arms of the immune system. The normal kidney contains an extensive population of interstitial DCs but their role in the pathogenesis of acute renal injury is not known. Methods Renal DCs were studied by flow cytometric analysis of collagenase-digested mouse kidneys, by immunohistochemistry, and by immunofluorescence microscopy. In vivo ingestion by DCs of intravenously administered fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran particles was examined. A model antigen system (presentation of ovalbumin-derived peptide to TCR transgenic CD4+ T-cells) was employed to examine the influence of systemic (lipopolysacchride injection) and localized (unilateral renal artery clipping) renal injury on DC-mediated T-cell activation in the renal lymph nodes (RLNs). Results Renal DCs were shown to constitute the predominant source of T-cell stimulatory capacity within the kidney, and to avidly ingest both filtered and nonfiltered particles. Lipopolysaccharide resulted in disappearance of DCs from the renal interstitium within 48 hours. This was accompanied by increased renal lymph node DCs, some of which contained intracellular Tamm-Horsfall Protein, indicating abnormal trafficking of kidney-specific antigens following renal injury. Lipopolysaccharide enhanced DC-mediated proliferation of ovalbumin-specific CD4 +ve T-cells within the draining RLN. Unilateral renal ischemia augmented the capacity for DC-mediated T-cell activation in the lymph nodes draining both the ischemic and nonischemic kidney. Conclusion Renal DCs respond to systemic or localized acute renal injury by increasing the traffic of protein antigens from kidney to RLN, resulting in a concomitant increased potential for localized activation of antigen-specific CD4 +ve T-cells.
Atomic orbital energy matching in doubly occupied molecular orbitals

Abstract Atomic orbital energy matching is a valid criterion of bond strength only for half filled molecular orbitals. Doubly occupied molecular orbitals built from atomic orbitals differing in energies may be strongly bonding due to high ionic bond-orders.
PROMIS computerised adaptive tests are dynamic instruments to measure health-related quality of life in patients with cirrhosis.

SUMMARY Background Cirrhotic patients have an impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL), which is usually analysed using static paper-pencil questionnaires. The Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computerised adaptive testing (CAT) are flexible, freely available, noncopyrighted, HRQOL instruments with US-based norms across 11 domains. CAT presents five to seven questions ⁄ domain depending on the patient’s response, from large validated question banks. This provides brevity and precision equivalent to the entire question bank.
Abiotic controls and temporal variability of river metabolism: multiyear analyses of Mississippi and Chattahoochee River data

AbstractWhole-ecosystem metabolism is an important indicator of the role of organic matter, C cycling, and trophic structure in rivers. Ecosystem metabolism is well studied in small streams, but less is known about metabolism in large rivers. We estimated daily whole-ecosystem metabolism over 2 y for 1 site each at the Mississippi and Chattahoochee Rivers in the USA to understand factors influencing temporal patterns of ecosystem metabolism. We estimated rates of gross primary production (GPP), community respiration (CR), and net ecosystem production (NEP) with a curve-fitting approach with publicly available discharge (Q), dissolved O2, temperature, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) data. Models were run for week-long blocks, and power analyses suggested that rates should be established at least once for each 10-wk period throughout the year to characterize annual rates of metabolism accurately in these 2 rivers. We analyzed weekly rates averaged over 10-wk periods with Spearman rank correlat...
Antiarthritic, Antiulcer, and Analgesic Activities of Copper Complexes

Copper is presented as an essential metalloelement required by all cells for normal function based upon its presence in all tissues and its requirement for copper-dependent enzyme activity. Copper complexes of non-steroidal anti-arthritic drugs are shown to be more effective than their parent drugs as antiinflammatory and analgesic agents, consistent with the successful use of copper complexes to relieve human arthritic disease and pain. These same copper complexes are also shown to be potent antiulcer agents. All of these activities support the hypothesis that the pharmacological use of copper complexes represent a physiological approach to treatment of arthritic diseases, ulcers, and pain.
Automatic assignment of NOESY Cross peaks and determination of the protein structure of a new world scorpion neurotoxin Using NOAH/DIAMOD

The 3D NMR structures of the scorpion neurotoxin, CsE-v5, were determined from the same NOESY spectra with NOAH/DIAMOD, an automated assignment and 3D structure calculation software package, and with a conventional manual assignment combined with a distance geometry/simulated annealing (X-PLOR) refinement method. The NOESY assignments and the 3D structures obtained from the two independent methods were compared in detail. The NOAH/DIAMOD program suite uses feedback filtering and self-correcting distance geometry methods to automatically assign NOESY spectra and to calculate the 3D structure of a protein. NOESY cross peaks were automatically picked using a standard software package and combined with 74 manually assigned NOESY peaks to start the NOAH/DIAMOD calculations. After 63 NOAH/DIAMOD cycles, using REDAC procedures in the last 8 cycles, and final FANTOM constrained energy minimization, a bundle of 20 structures with the smallest target functions has a RMSD of 0.81 A for backbone atoms and 1.11 A for all heavy atoms to the mean structure. Despite some missing chemical shifts of side chain protons, 776 (including 74 manually assigned) of 1130 NOE peaks were unambiguously assigned, 150 peaks have more than one possible assignment compatible with the bundle structures, and only 30 peaks could not be assigned within the given chemical shift tolerance ranges in either the D1 or the D2 dimension. The remaining 174, mainly weak NOE peaks were not compatible with the final 20 best bundle structures at the last NOAH/DIAMOD cycle. The automatically determined structures agree well with the structures determined independently using the conventional method and the same NMR spectra, with the mean RMSD in well-defined regions of 0.84 A for bb and 1.48 A for all heavy atoms from residues 2-5, 18-26, 32-36, and 39-45. This study demonstrates the potential of the NOAH/DIAMOD program suite to automatically assign NMR data for proteins and determine their structure.
A Bayesian framework for infrasound location

SUMMARY We develop a framework for location of infrasound events using backazimuth and infrasonic arrival times from multiple arrays. Bayesian infrasonic source location (BISL) developed here estimates event location and associated credibility regions. BISL accounts for unknown source-to-array path or phase by formulating infrasonic group velocity as random. Differences between observed and predicted source-to-array traveltimes are partitioned into two additive Gaussian sources, measurement error and model error, the second of which accounts for the unknown influence of wind and temperature on path. By applying the technique to both synthetic tests and ground-truth events, we highlight the complementary nature of back azimuths and arrival times for estimating well-constrained event locations. BISL is an extension to methods developed earlier by Arrowsmith et al. that provided simple bounds on location using a grid-search technique.
Heavy particle modes and signature of the I-Regime

Abstract The recently discovered properties of the I-confinement Regime are explained as resulting from the excitation of a heavy particle mode. The theoretically predicted mode phase velocity in the direction of the electron diamagnetic velocity and the induced confinement of impurities at the edge of the plasma column have been confirmed by the experiments. The direction of the mode phase velocity is consistent with that (opposite) of the spontaneous rotation in the plasma core. The mode is of the “ion-mixing” type, in that it does not produce any electron transport across the fields and it involves significant poloidal magnetic field fluctuations.
The proteoglycan bamacan is a host cellular ligand of vaccinia virus neurovirulence factor N1L.

Neurovirulence is one of the pathological complications associated with vaccinia virus (VV) infection/vaccination. Although the viral N1L protein has been identified as the neurovirulence factor, none of the host N1L-interacting factors have been identified so far. In the present study, we identified N1L-interacting proteins by screening a human brain cDNA expression library with N1L as a bait protein in a yeast two-hybrid analysis. The analysis revealed that N1L interacts with human brain-originated cellular basement membrane-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (bamacan). The N1L-binding domain of bamacan was mapped to its C-terminal 227 amino acids. The N1L-bamacan interaction was further confirmed in both VV-infected and N1L-transfected mammalian cells. Following the confirmation of the protein interactions by coimmunoprecipitation experiments, confocal microscopic analysis revealed that N1L colocalizes with bamacan both in VV-infected B-SC-1 cells as well as in mice neuronal tissue. Furthermore, a human neural cell line, which expresses bamacan to moderately elevated levels relative to a non-neural cell line, supported enhanced viral growth. Overall, these studies clearly suggest that bamacan interacts with the VV-N1L and such interactions seem to play a positive role in promoting the viral growth and perhaps contribute to the virulence of W in neural cells.
On-chip communication hardware resources for globally asynchronous and locally synchronous systems

Globally asynchronous and locally synchronous systems have been considered as a promising solution for the SOC to solve the problems of multiple clock distribution and multiple clock skew. The problem of regulated flow of data between the processing cores could be better addressed with local and global control mechanisms. In this paper an attempt to develop such interface architectures for point to point communication between processing cores is presented. The paper also provides a hierarchical control model for the local and global controllers.
Defect dispositioning in a reticle qualification process

As integrated circuit manufacturing complexity continues to intensity, it becomes increasingly critical to verify reticle quality. In addition, since the capital investment required to stay ahead of the technology curve is so great, the extension of existing toolsets to accommodate next generation technology becomes more practical. Through the use of advanced reticles with various optical enhancement techniques, photolithographers have been able to extend the production capability of their existing tools. It has been shown that the traditional models of defect resolution or printability cannot be used. Mask errors have been enhanced by the fact that photolithography has been printing images considerably smaller than the exposure wavelength. From a manufacturing standpoint, reticle qualification requires inspection at incoming and on a regular basis thereafter. Several methods have been reported which detail the process and frequency of reticle inspections. A natural consequence of documented for verifying printability, such as AIMS, stepper simulation, etc. The purpose of this paper is to report on the success achieved in quickly verifying defect printability on wafers in a manufacturing environment using X-LINK, a software option for the KLA9x System Controller. This utility translates KLA-Tencor's reticle inspection reports to KLARF files such that defective sites can be analyzed on reticle or wafer review tools. In this study wafer review tools were used to drive directly to the wafer site(s) of printability concern. This paper reports on how this process was implemented to expedite reticle dispositioning and provide feedback for validating reticle specifications.
Electrophysiologic and antiarrhythmic properties of bepridil

Bepridil has been shown to block both slow- and fast-channel activity in the heart. Electrophysiologic studies in man demonstrate that oral and intravenous bepridil prolongs sinus cycle length, PR interval and QT interval, without apparently changing the QRS interval. In addition, the drug depresses atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction, resulting in an increased AH interval. Refractoriness in the AV node, atrium and ventricle is increased. There is usually little or no change in the HV interval. The antiarrhythmic properties of bepridil have been noted in patients with supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) and sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). In 17 patients, intravenous bepridil was compared with either verapamil or ajmaline. AV nodal reentrant tachycardia was terminated in all patients with bepridil and verapamil. However, ajmaline was somewhat more effective than bepridil in patients with AV reentry (8 of 8 versus 5 of 8). In 12 of these 17 patients, oral bepridil (500 mg/day for 3 days) suppressed the induction of tachycardia or slowed its rate. In 3 studies of oral bepridil for VPCs, the drug was effective in 68%, 69% and 70% of patients. Another group of studies evaluated bepridil in a total of 30 patients with sustained VT. Intravenous bepridil terminated VT in 17 of 26 patients. The induction of VT by programmed ventricular stimulation was also prevented in 7 of 17 patients. Although torsade de pointes has been reported, its incidence appears to be low.
Work in progress - integrating humanitarian course modules into engineering coursework

This paper describes the ongoing creation of instructional materials for a design-based research intervention that attempts to integrate humanitarian applications of engineering into existing coursework. Using a concept map based approach, a relational framework has been developed that highlights potential applications of engineering & technology in the developing world. Based on a well-known psychological theory of motivation, it illustrates the spectrum of engineering disciplines from the perspective of human needs. Related course modules on water treatment and absorption spectroscopy-based sensors have also been created, and a module on electric power system design is currently under development. Preliminary outcomes of piloting the materials suggest that undergraduate project-based courses lend themselves better to the approach than graduate level quantitative courses. While the materials are likely to benefit all students, indications of possible gender and preferred learning style differences will be of interest. It is hoped that this work will contribute a new perspective on the practice of engineering education with potential to attract and retain more diverse student populations.
Wideband high-power millimeter-wave FEL driven by a storage ring

In this paper we suggest a high power CW mm-Wave source driven by a compact electron storage ring with modest size and energy. The source is working as a `power transformer' of a standard RF power into mm-waves via coherent radiation of fully bunched electron beam. The mm-wave power in a form of TEM Gaussian beam is generated in a high-field long period (high-K) helical wiggler. The wiggler provides for an effective energy exchange between the electron beam and the TEM mm-wave. The storage ring is designed to preserve electron beam with long (multi-hours) life-time. An optical resonator is used for feed-back to make the mm-wave FEL system an oscillator. The storage ring and mm-wave FEL provide for the bunching of the e-beam into mm-size buckets and for amplification of mm-wave inside the cavity.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparison of Graft Patency, Limb Salvage, and Antithrombotic Therapy Between Prosthetic and Autogenous Below-Knee Bypass for Critical Limb Ischemia

Background The autogenous vein is the preferred conduit in below-knee vascular reconstructions. However, many argue that prosthetic grafts can perform well in crural bypass with adjunctive antithrombotic therapy. We therefore compared outcomes of below-knee prosthetic versus autologous vein bypass grafts for critical limb ischemia and the use of adjunctive antithrombotic therapy in both settings. Methods Utilizing the registry of the Vascular Study Group of New England (2003–2009), we studied 1227 patients who underwent below-knee bypass for critical limb ischemia, 223 of whom received a prosthetic graft to the below-knee popliteal artery (70%) or more distal target (30%). We used propensity matching to identify a patient cohort receiving single-segment saphenous vein yet had remained similar to the prosthetic cohort in terms of characteristics, graft origin/target, and antithrombotic regimen. Main outcome measures were graft patency and major limb amputation within 1 year. Secondary outcomes were bleeding complications (reoperation or transfusion) and mortality. We performed comparisons by conduit type and by antithrombotic therapy. Results Patients receiving prosthetic conduit were more likely to be treated with warfarin than those with greater saphenous vein (57% vs. 24%, P Conclusions Although limited in size, our study demonstrates that, with appropriate patient selection and antithrombotic therapy, 1-year outcomes for below-knee prosthetic bypass grafting can be comparable to those for greater saphenous vein conduit.
A silicon thermal astable multivibrator for flow and temperature sensing

Here we report for the first time on a thermal astable multivibrator modality made possible with a silicon bulk micromachined flow sensor. The sensor shows an oscillatory response for constant current input. Further, the frequency of oscillation is modulated with the temperature of the sensing element, realizing the performance of a thermal multivibrator. The temperature variation is induced via air flow and a change in frequency of 5 Hz is observed for air flow velocities in the range of 0-21 m/s. The low output frequencies (20-25 Hz) observed clearly suggest that the oscillations are purely thermal in origin. In contrast, others have reported many electronic switching effects obtained by the various physical mechanisms via negative differential resistance regimes, which typically give rise to much higher frequencies of oscillations in the range of kHz-GHz.
Vocal Memory and Learning in Adult Bengalese Finches with Regenerated Hair Cells

Critical learning periods are common in vertebrate development. In many birds, song learning is limited by a critical period; juveniles copy songs from adult birds by forming memories of those songs during a restricted developmental period and then using auditory feedback to practice their own vocalizations. Adult songs are stable over time regardless of exposure to other birds, but auditory feedback is required for the maintenance of stable adult song. A technique was developed to reversibly deafen Bengalese Finches by destruction and regeneration of inner ear auditory hair cells. With this approach, we asked two questions about the plasticity of song information stored in the adult brain. First, do adult birds store memories or “templates” of their songs that exist independent of auditory reinforcement? Such memories could be used to control vocal output by acting as fixed models of song to which ongoing vocalizations are matched. Second, can adult song learning, which does not normally occur in this species, be induced by removing and then restoring hearing? Studying changes in adult song behavior during hair cell loss and regeneration revealed two findings: (1) adult birds store memories or templates of their songs that exist independent of auditory input and can be used to restore normal vocal behavior when hearing is restored; (2) under experimental circumstances, adult birds can be induced to acquire song material from other birds. Results suggest that, in Bengalese Finches, the degree of behavioral and neural plasticity in juvenile and adult birds may be less distinct that previously thought.
IRB Reformation Is Unfettered Access the Answer

The purpose of this column is to consider if research using only an interview should be evaluated by an institutional review board (IRB) or if it may be considered exempt. A review of atrocities committed by researchers both in the biomedical and psychosocial domains will be considered as a backdrop to the discussion. Issues that plague IRBs will be examined including lack of transparency, overreach of the process, and stipulations that change the nature of research. Finally, recommendations for reform will be entertained.
Use of 157-nm Photodissociation to Probe Structures of y- and b-Type Ions Produced in Collision-Induced Dissociation of Peptide Ions

y- and b-type fragment ions produced in the collisional dissociation of arginine-terminated peptide ions are photodissociated with 157-nm light in a linear trap. y-type ions are shown to have the same structure as that of intact peptides of the same sequence with the ionizing proton located at the most basic residue(s). For generic b-type ions, the ionizing proton is shown to be sequestered at the N-terminal arginine, which is consistent with the proposed oxazolone structure.
Myocarditis in CD8-Depleted SIV-Infected Rhesus Macaques after Short-Term Dual Therapy with Nucleoside and Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Background: Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection, a number of antiretroviral toxicities have been described, including myocardial toxicity resulting from the use of nucleotide and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Current treatment guidelines recommend the use of HAART regimens containing two NRTIs for initial therapy of HIV-1 positive individuals; however, potential cardiotoxicity resulting from treatment with multiple NRTIs has not been addressed. Methodology/Principal Findings: We examined myocardial tissue from twelve CD8 lymphocyte-depleted adult rhesus macaques, including eight animals infected with simian immunodeficiency virus, four of which received combined antiretroviral therapy (CART) consisting of two NRTIs [(9-R-2-Phosphonomethoxypropyl Adenine) (PMPA) and (+/2)-beta29,39-dideoxy-5-fluoro-39-thiacytidine (RCV)] for 28 days. Multifocal infiltrates of mononuclear inflammatory cells were present in the myocardium of all macaques that received CART, but not untreated SIV-positive animals or SIV-negative controls. Macrophages were the predominant inflammatory cells within lesions, as shown by immunoreactivity for the macrophage markers Iba1 and CD68. Heart specimens from monkeys that received CART had significantly lower virus burdens than untreated animals (p,0.05), but significantly greater quantities of TNF-a mRNA than either SIV-positive untreated animals or uninfected controls (p,0.05). Interferon-c (IFN-c), IL-1b and CXCL11 mRNA were upregulated in heart tissue from SIV-positive monkeys, independent of antiretroviral treatment, but CXCL9 mRNA was only upregulated in heart tissue from macaques that received CART. Conclusions/Significance: These results suggest that short-term treatment with multiple NRTIs may be associated with myocarditis, and demonstrate that the CD8-depleted SIV-positive rhesus monkey is a useful model for studying the cardiotoxic effects of combined antiretroviral therapy in the setting of immunodeficiency virus infection.
When does a camera see rain

Rain produces sharp intensity fluctuations in images and videos, which degrade the performance of outdoor vision systems. These intensity fluctuations depend on various factors, such as the camera parameters, the properties of rain, and the brightness of the scene. We show that the properties of rain - its small drop size, high velocity, and low density - make its visibility strongly dependent on camera parameters such as exposure time and depth of field. We show that these parameters can be selected so as to reduce or even remove the effects of rain without altering the appearance of the scene. Conversely, the parameters of a camera can also be set to enhance the visual effects of rain. This can be used to develop an inexpensive and portable camera-based rain gauge that provides instantaneous rain rate measurements. The proposed methods serve to make vision algorithms more robust to rain without any necessity for post-processing. In addition, they can be used to control the visual effects of rain during the filming of movies
Optical Add-Drop Filter Design Based on Photonic Crystal Ring Resonators

We report here an optical add-drop filter (ADF) based on photonic crystal ring resonators. Both backward- and forward-dropping were achieved in dual-ring PCRRs with different modal symmetry. The scalability and tunability were also analyzed for optical add-drop multiplexers and electrooptical switches.
Building Human-Level AI for Real-Time Strategy Games

Video games are complex simulation environments with many real-world properties that need to be addressed in order to build robust intelligence. In particular, realtime strategy games provide a multi-scale challenge which requires both deliberative and reactive reasoning processes. Experts approach this task by studying a corpus of games, building models for anticipating opponent actions, and practicing within the game environment. We motivate the need for integrating heterogeneous approaches by enumerating a range of competencies involved in gameplay and discuss how they are being implemented in EISBot, a reactive planning agent that we have applied to the task of playing real-time strategy games at the same granularity as humans.
Some properties of hypotensive, smooth muscle-contracting principle in placenta of rabbit.

Summary1) A hypotensive, smooth muscle-contracting principle has been identified in the placenta of the rabbit and of several other species. It is dialysable, stable to heat at neutral pH for 3 minutes at 100°C, and unstable in alkali and acid. It has been separated chromatographically and by use of inhibitors from acetyl choline, serotonin, and histamine. The active principle is hydrolysable with liberation of free amino acids and with resulting loss of activity on guinea pig ileum and blood pressure. It has been tentatively identified as a polypeptide. 2) On intravenous injection the active principle causes a fall in blood pressure, cardiac dilatation, intestinal and uterine peristalsis, and death from respiratory failure. It is found predominantly in the fetal part of the placenta and at all stages of pregnancy in the rabbit from 16th day to term.
Use of Treeless and Forested Habitat by Marbled Murrelets in South-Central Alaska

--Although the Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) usually nests in mature coniferous trees throughout most of its range, in south-central Alaska Marbled Murrelet nests have been found on the ground in unforested areas as frequently as they have been found in older-aged forests. Because ground nests are typically found serendipitously, the relative occurrence of ground nesting is unknown. Further, the importance of unforested habitat to nesting murrelets is unknown. Comparing murrelet dawn activity (related to breeding activity) in forested and unforested habitats in the Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska inJuly, 1993, we found that the number of inland murrelet "detections" was appreciably and significantly higher in forested than in unforested habitat (forested stations: x = 48.1 detections per station, SE + 7.7; unforested stations: x = 17.4, SE ? 4.0). Visual observations of murrelets flying close to the ground or trees are indicators of nesting, and were much more frequently observed in forested areas. Within unforested areas, murrelet land-use may be related to the amount of low vegetation and shrubs, as stations with more vegetation had higher dawn activity. These data suggest that, although Marbled Murrelets nest on unforested ground in south-central Alaska, forested habitat is much more heavily occupied than unforested habitat. We propose that habitat devoid of older-aged coniferous forest is suboptimal due to the shortage of nest sites that are as protected from predators and weather as those provided by the 3-dimensional structure of mature trees and older-aged forests. Received 4 May 2000, accepted 30July 2000.
Siege on Second Avenue—And Laboratory Staff Didn’t Miss a Beat

Pressure, as most readers know, is part of the laboratorian’s job—stat testing, deadlines, quotas. Sometimes, however, a disaster occurs that truly tests a laboratorian’s mettle. This article is based on the daily diary entries of Jan Susanin, supervisor, Newborn Screening Laboratory, during the floods that ravaged the Des Moines laboratory. It shows how laboratory staff maintained operations during a time of crisis.— Eds .
Epidemiological Analysis of Hand-foot-mouth Disease in Xuchang from 2009 to 2010

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD) in Xuchang from 2009 to 2010,and to provide a scientific evidence for prevention and control of HFMD.Methods The data about HFMD in Xuchang from 2009 to 2010 were collected,and then analyzed by descriptive epidemiology method.Results There were HFMD cases reported in 8 counties(cities or districts).The incidence rate of HFMD in 2010 was 166.0752/100,000,and up by 2.94% over the previous year;the mortality was 0.0285%,and down by 35.37% over the previous year.HFMD peaked in April,and appeared mainly in the children below 4 years old.The morbidity and mortality both peaked in children lived in their families.Etiology monitoring showed that children were mainly affected by EV71,and there was statistically significant difference in the distribution(χ2=22.411,P0.05).There were 265 cases with severe HFMD in 2009 and 742 cases in 2010,and there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of severe HFMD among 8 counties(χ2=97.34、431.24,P0.01).Conclusions The incidence of HFMD showed a tendency to go up in Xuchang,with the characteristics of peaking in April and appearing area clustering.The main pathogen of HFMD was EV71.The children below 4-year-old lived in their families should be the key objects of prevention and treatment.
Survey on knowledge,attitude and behavior of AIDS and psychological status among people with HIV/AIDS and their spouses in Huanan City

Objective To understand the knowledge,attitude and behavior of AIDS and psychological status among people with HIV and their spouses,and provide evidence for the behavioral intervention in the family.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted by one to one,53 HIV/AIDS patients were from HIV positive family and their spouses enrolled the investigation.Result The awareness rate on AIDS was 85.85%,71.70% of them thought that the identity of people with HIV infection should be kept confidential,86.79% of HIV/AIDS patients could calmly accept the fact of HIV infection,81.82% of them could use condom when having sex intercourse with their spouse,37.74% of respondents had symptoms of depression.Conclusion Health education and anti-discrimination publicity should be strengthened and care skills training should be carried out.Psychological support should be provided for HIV/AIDS to improve the quality of life of patients.
Evaluation Method of Low-Mature Gaseous and Its Application in North Songliao Basin

Aimed at the problem of no an effective method to evaluate the generation amount of low-mature gas quantitatively,this paper deduces,based on the formation mechanism of low temperature thermal thermogenesis of low mature gas,that the chemical kinetics theory,which has been applied widely and successfully in evaluating generation amount of normal thermal thermogeneicsis natural gas,remains to be an effective meothod of evaluating the low-mature gas generation amount of low-mature gaseous.On this foundation,the chemical kinetics models of representative kerogen samples of kerogen are constructed and calibrated,and in accompany with the kineticals models of resine and asphatene,which may be the precursor of low mature gas partly,they constitutes the evaluation meothod of low mature gas.It is the few minor compoenents with of low activation energy that results in the generation of low mature gas.The initial application indicates that the total generation amount of low mature gas is about 41 992×108m3 in north Songliao basin.In case of 1% of migration and accumulation coefficient,the resource amount of low mature gas is about 420×108m3,much lower than that of the normal thermal thermogenesisic natural gas.This suggests that it is workable to evaluate the generation amount of low mature gas using the chemical kinetic models and it can be also to popularize to other basins rich in low mature gas.
Factors that impact health-related quality of life over time for individuals with head and neck cancer.

Objectives/Hypothesis To identify sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients over time. Study Design A population-based longitudinal cohort study. Methods Newly diagnosed HNC patients (N = 587) were administered the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Head and Neck questionnaire at baseline (median 3 months postdiagnosis) and two follow-up assessments (median 22 and 42 months). Linear mixed-effect models were used with backward variable selection to identify factors associated with HRQOL over time (P < .05). Adjusted means reported at 2 years postdiagnosis. Results African Americans reported better Functional Well-Being than whites (mean of 20.01 vs. 18.53) and fewer HNC symptoms over time. Older patients (75+ years) reported better HRQOL than younger patients (< 50 years). Current tobacco use compared to no tobacco use had worse Physical (20.20 vs. 21.50), Emotional (17.55 vs. 19.06), Social (21.28 vs. 22.88), and Functional (17.32 vs. 19.29) Well-Being and more HNC symptoms (21.50 vs. 23.71). Radiation therapy was associated with worse Physical and Functional Well-Being and more head and neck symptoms over time, but HRQOL was similar to those who were not irradiated by 2 to 4 years postdiagnosis. Conclusion This study identified key factors for individuals at risk for poorer HRQOL that may help clinicians and caregivers find solutions to address these decrements. Smoking cessation programs can be encouraged for survivors who use tobacco. Psychological and social support and medications may help for dealing with emotional distress and dealing with the physical symptoms from treatment. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 126:2718–2725, 2016
Flecks in Recessive Stargardt Disease: Short-Wavelength Autofluorescence, Near-Infrared Autofluorescence, and Optical Coherence Tomography.

Recessive Stargardt disease (STGD1) is characterized by an increase in the fluorescent compounds comprising the lipofuscin of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. These fluorophores are all-trans-retinaldehyde adducts that undergo accelerated formation due to reduced or absent activity of the adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter 4 (ABCA4).1,2 The augmented accumulation of RPE lipofuscin pigments confers a vermillion color to the fundus under white light imaging,3 altered gray level intensities in fundus autofluorescence (AF) images,2,4,5 and often, but not always, a dark choroid in fluorescein angiograms.6 The adverse effects of accelerated lipofuscin deposition also lead to the demise of RPE cells that is visualized as areas of decreased short-wavelength autofluorescence (SW-AF) and near-infrared autofluorescence (NIR-AF).7,8 Particularly conspicuous in SW-AF fundus images obtained from patients with STGD1 are intensely fluorescent foci (flecks) that vary in size and shape; some are surrounded by a halo of reduced autofluorescence.9 With disease progression, flecks typically emerge along the central to peripheral axis of retina in somewhat regular patterns.10 While in SW-AF images the flecks are usually hyperautofluorescent, in NIR-AF images, flecks are most often hypoautofluorescent.8 With time, the SW autofluorescence of flecks undergoes decay.10 The SW-AF of flecks denotes a link to lipofuscin and RPE. Indeed, it has been suggested that flecks reflect lipofuscin-engorged RPE cells, displaced and stacked RPE, and/or remnants of RPE cell lysis.11,12 At the same time, flecks visible in SW-AF images have been equated with hyperreflective material in the RPE/Bruch's membrane and photoreceptor cell-attributable bands in optical cross sections of retina (optical coherence tomography, OCT).13,14 Nevertheless, there has been difficulty reconciling the intraretinal position of flecks with the autofluorescence usually associated with the lipofuscin in RPE. Thus the structural basis and location of flecks are poorly understood, and these lesions are still assumed to be positioned at the level of RPE.15–17 Here we have sought to understand how the SW-AF signal that is assumed to originate primarily from RPE lipofuscin can be increased at fleck positions wherein NIR-AF emitted primarily by melanin in RPE is reduced or absent. Examining flecks across multiple modalities, we have evaluated SW- and NIR-AF patterns, assessed the spatial distribution of flecks with time, and studied the structural changes in retina at the positions of flecks.
TGF-β1 overexpression: A mechanism of diastolic filling dysfunction in the aged population

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the United States dramatically increases with age. A hallmark feature of the aged myocardium is increased fibrosis resulting in diastolic dysfunction. Moreover, the survival of patients subsequent to a myocardial infarction is inversely related to age because of a certain extent to maladaptive remodeling mediated by cardiac fibroblasts. Our hypothesis is that cardiac fibroblast (CF) dysfunction results in overexpressed TGF-beta1 leading to increased cardiac collagen content in the aged population. TGF-beta1 stimulates the synthesis of the extracellular matrix proteins, including collagen in the cardiac tissues. The RT-PCR analysis of mRNA expression of TGF-beta1 of the CF was increased by 43% in the aged mice as compared to the younger. The stiffness of the left ventricle is expressed with the slope of the end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship parameter, beta (mmHg/microL). In a mouse model, we demonstrated that beta was 0.30 +/- 0.05 in the young as compared to 0.52 +/- 0.10 in the aged (p < .05). The ventricular stiffness was associated with the myocardial collagen content; namely, young versus the aged was 9.5 +/- 4.0 as compared to 16.4 +/- 2.3% of total protein, respectively (p < .05). In conclusion, the gene structure-function relationships support our hypothesis that cardiac fibroblast disregulation contributes to diastolic filling dysfunction in elderly persons. These data provide a potential contributory mechanism for diastolic dysfunction that may be vital in caring for the aged open-heart surgical patient.
Abstract 1034: Leptin induces early onset and aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer

Background: During the past 30 years, pancreatic cancer (PC) has constantly been the fourth leading cause of cancer death. PC is usually advanced at the time of diagnosis, with an overall five years survival rate of less than 5%. Obesity, characterized by high levels of leptin, is pandemic in United States and a risk factor for PC. Notch abnormal signaling is linked to carcinogenesis, tumor angiogenesis and self renewal capacity of PC stem cells (PCSC). We have previously shown that leptin induces proliferation of PC cell lines, increases Notch expression, PCSC and tumorsphere formation. To test leptin effects in a PC mouse model, a specific and potent signaling inhibitor bound to nanoparticles, IONP-LPrA2 was produced by us. Hypothesis: High levels of leptin induce early onset and multiplicity of PC xenografts, which is abrogated by IONP-LPrA2 treatment. Methods: Human PC cell line MiaPaCa-2 was challenged with leptin or IONP-LPrA2. The expression of pluripotency associated genes (STAT3, Oct4, Sox2 and NANOG) was evaluated. MiaPaCa-2 cells forming tumorspheres were treated with leptin or IONP-LPrA2 and inoculated into CD1 nu/nu mice. Untreated tumorspheres were inoculated as controls. A group of mice were injected twice a week with IONP-LPrA2. Tumor onset and growth were assessed. PC xenografts were analyzed for expression of Ki67 (proliferation marker), leptin targeted molecules (Notch), PCSC markers etc. Results: Leptin induced the expression of PCSC pluripotency markers. Moreover, leptin treatment of tumorspheres induced early tumor onset and multiplicity. Also, leptin increased proliferation, PCSC and oncogenic markers in PC xenografts. IONP-LPrA2 reduced leptin effects. No changes of mice food intake and body weight were observed. Conclusions: This observation might imply that obese patients are at high risk to develop PC. Inhibition of leptin signaling may be used as preventative or therapeutic strategy for PC, especially in obese patients. Acknowledgements: this work was supported by DOD W81XWH-13-1-0382; NIH/SBIR 1R41CA183399-01A1; Pilot Project Award from MSM/Tuskegee University/UAB Cancer Center partnership grant 5U54CA118638; PC SPORE Grant from UAB to RRGP, and facilities and support services at Morehouse School of Medicine (1G12RR026250-03; NIH RR 03034 and 1C06 RR18386). Citation Format: Adriana Harbuzariu, Antonio Rampoldi, Danielle S. Daley-Brown, Tia L. Harmon, Derrick J. Beech, Gabriela Oprea-Ilies, Ruben R. Gonzalez-Perez. Leptin induces early onset and aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1034.
‘There are Races, as there are Trees’: Challenges to Domestic Empire in Late Victorian Politics

The splitting up of mankind into a multitude of infinitesimal governments, in accordance with their actual differences of dialect or their presumed differences of race, would be to undo the work of civilisation and renounce ail the benefits which the slow and painful process of con-solidation has procured for mankind... There are races, as there are trees, which cannot stand erect by themselves, and which, if their growth is not hindered by artificial constraints, are ail the healthier for twining round some robuster stem.
Chapter 4 - Coronavirus Pathogenesis

Coronaviruses infect many species of animals including humans, causing acute and chronic diseases. This review focuses primarily on the pathogenesis of murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) and severe acute respiratory coronavirus (SARS-CoV). MHV is a collection of strains, which provide models systems for the study of viral tropism and pathogenesis in several organs systems, including the central nervous system, the liver, and the lung, and has been cited as providing one of the few animal models for the study of chronic demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. SARS-CoV emerged in the human population in China in 2002, causing a worldwide epidemic with severe morbidity and high mortality rates, particularly in older individuals. We review the pathogenesis of both viruses and the several reverse genetics systems that made much of these studies possible. We also review the functions of coronavirus proteins, structural, enzymatic, and accessory, with an emphasis on roles in pathogenesis. Structural proteins in addition to their roles in virion structure and morphogenesis also contribute significantly to viral spread in vivo and in antagonizing host cell responses. Nonstructural proteins include the small accessory proteins that are not at all conserved between MHV and SARS-CoV and the 16 conserved proteins encoded in the replicase locus, many of which have enzymatic activities in RNA metabolism or protein processing in addition to functions in antagonizing host response.
Considerations in the Design of a Grounding System for a Complex Electronic Facility

The control of unwanted coupling between potentially incompatible signals within a facility depends upon the correct design of the grounding system for that facility. The four basic noise minimization techniques associated with signal grounding that may be used to reduce unwanted coupling are described in this paper. Each technique offers certain advantages and disadvantages. However, none of the techniques individually will entirely eliminate coupling between signal circuits in most facilities. Therefore, an optimum approach to grounding would require that the best features of each of the basic techniques be used. A grounding philosophy incorporating the best features of several basic techniques in a manner appropriate for complex electronic facilities is proposed. Specifically, single-point grounding for low frequency equipments and multiplepoint grounding for high frequency equipments are recommended. Interfaces between the low frequency elements and between low frequency and high frequency elements employ the common mode rejection features of balanced lines to avoid compromising the single point portion of the grounding system.
Wearable microfluidic biomarker sensor for human performance assessment

Sweat carries valuable information about our physiological and cognitive status. Measurement of various biomarkers in sweat provides a pathway for the assessment of fatigue or cognitive ability, disease, or even physical conditions such as blood glucose or hydration levels for individuals [1]. There has been a significant interest in developing a non-invasive, wearable sensor platform to facilitate the detection of a range of biomarkers from sweat. This paper will describe approaches for development of a wearable microfluidic platform suitable for non-invasive detection of sweat-based biomarkers (for example glucose, Orexin A, cortisol and IL-6). The wearable platform is composed of miniaturized electrical sensors integrated with flexible, printed microfluidic components that allow for on-demand sample acquisition and transport of sweat, and subsequent detection of biomarkers at the sensing surface site. Sample acquisition is achieved utilizing absorbent pads affixed to the skin that feed hydrophylic microchannels with on-demand sample acquisition controlled through printed electro-wetting valves enabling capillary pumping to continuously deliver sample to the sensor.