cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple Functional Domains and Complexes of the Two Nonstructural Proteins of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Contribute to Interferon Suppression and Cellular Location

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a major cause of severe respiratory diseases, efficiently suppresses cellular innate immunity, represented by type I interferon (IFN), using its two unique nonstructural proteins, NS1 and NS2. In a search for their mechanism, NS1 was previously shown to decrease levels of TRAF3 and IKKe, whereas NS2 interacted with RIG-I and decreased TRAF3 and STAT2. Here, we report on the interaction, cellular localization, and functional domains of these two proteins. We show that recombinant NS1 and NS2, expressed in lung epithelial A549 cells, can form homo- as well as heteromers. Interestingly, when expressed alone, substantial amounts of NS1 and NS2 localized to the nuclei and to the mitochondria, respectively. However, when coexpressed with NS2, as in RSV infection, NS1 could be detected in the mitochondria as well, suggesting that the NS1-NS2 heteromer localizes to the mitochondria. The C-terminal tetrapeptide sequence, DLNP, common to both NS1 and NS2, was required for some functions, but not all, whereas only the NS1 N-terminal region was important for IKKe reduction. Finally, NS1 and NS2 both interacted specifically with host microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B). The contribution of MAP1B in NS1 function was not tested, but in NS2 it was essential for STAT2 destruction, suggesting a role of the novel DLNP motif in protein-protein interaction and IFN suppression.
The REACH (Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health) project: study design, methods, and population profile.

The Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health (REACH) Project was designed as an observational study aimed to achieve a better understanding of HIV disease progression and co-morbidity in adolescents in the US. Direct interviews among 242 HIV-infected females and 83 males and 131 high-risk HIV-uninfected females and 40 males aged 12-18 years were conducted to examine the pathogenesis of HIV infection and its spectrum of disease in adolescents. The study also aimed to examine potential immunologic markers in peripheral blood for disease progression specific to adolescents infected with HIV. Results showed that HIV infection predominates among females and youths with poor knowledge on sexual risk behaviors. It was also shown that the seroconversion rate in the homosexual/bisexual male cohort was 7.7/100 person-years while there were no seroconversions among the HIV-uninfected females. Distribution of CD4+ T-cell numbers suggested a progression of the disease among the infected cohorts. Based on the findings the risk behaviors among HIV-infected cohorts demonstrate the need for theory-based development of secondary prevention programs for HIV-positive youth.
Optimized Hybrid MV-kV Imaging Protocol for Volumetric Prostate Arc Therapy

Purpose To develop a real-time prostate position monitoring technique for modern arc radiotherapy through novel usage of cine-MV imaging together with as-needed kV imaging.
Potential causes of subfertility in patients with intramural fibroids

Intramural leiomyomas have been long debated as a potential cause of infertility and pregnancy loss. Previous research has linked intramural fibroids to defective implantation, as well as to abnormal peristaltic events of the uterine smooth muscle. Previous reports describe the effects of intramural fibroids on normal human fertility and early pregnancy loss, specifically in regards to implantation failure. A thorough understanding of prior research may direct new research focus, leading to better understanding of leiomyoma-associated infertility.
Estimation of the number of sources with DOA priors

In this paper, we present a technique for estimating the number of sources based on the eigenvectors of the covariance matrix of received signal at an antenna array when directions of arrival priors are obtained from the received signal, e.g. via a spectral estimation method such as MVDR. The proposed technique is designated the eigenvector order estimation technique (EOET). EOET outperforms AIC, MDL and GDE techniques in practice and provides comparable detection sensitivity as AIC, MDL, and GDE in simulation
Judging givers: Equity and scale in aid allocation

Abstract The paper proposes a ranking index to judge both the quality and quantity of aid given by donor nations. The quality of aid is restricted to a single dimension, viz. , how well an aid giver's allocation conforms to the revealed need of aid recipients. Departing from previous work by McGillivray and White, aid is assumed to be additive to recipient incomes. The index satisfies the twin canons of horizontal and vertical equity and provides unbiased comparisons across all allocations. It also obviates the need to have separate and very likely conflicting rankings of donors by equity and scale of aid allocation.
Secondary bacterial infections complicating skin lesions.

Secondary bacterial infection in skin lesions is a common problem. This review summarises a series of studies of the microbiology of several of these infections: scabies, psoriasis, poison ivy, atopic dermatitis, eczema herpeticum and kerion. Staphylococcus aureus and group A β-haemolytic streptococci were the most prevalent aerobes and were isolated from all body sites. In contrast, organisms that reside in the mucous membranes close to the lesions predominated in infections next to these membranes. In this fashion, enteric gram-negative bacilli and Bacteroides spp. were found most often in buttock and leg lesions. The probable sources of these organisms are the rectum and vagina, where they normally reside. Group A β-haemolytic streptococci, pigmented Prevotella and Porphyromonas spp. and Fusobacterium spp. were most commonly found in lesions of the head, face, neck and fingers. These organisms probably reached these sites from the oral cavity, where they are part of the normal flora. This review highlights the polymicrobial aerobic–anaerobic microbiology of secondarily infected skin lesions.
Porcine fetuses with pulmonary hypoplasia resulting from experimental swine influenza virus infection.

Porcine fetuses between 51 and 57 days of gestation were inoculated intra- allantoically with swine influenza virus and examined 3,7, 13, 28 and 58 days after inoculation. At 3 and 7 days, severe epithelial necrosis was seen in most bronchial buds and there was moderate epithelial necrosis in more fully differentiated major bronchi. As a result of the epithelial injury, bronchial buds did not develop further and the surrounding mesoderm failed to differentiate. By 28 days, the lungs of inoculated fetuses were about one-half the size of the normal control lungs. Microscopically, the lungs of the inoculated fetuses were composed of major bronchi surrounded by multiple islands of cartilage, medium to large arteries and a few small, incompletely developed lobules. Influenza virus was isolated most consistently and in greatest quantity from the lung, trachea and chorion of inoculated fetuses. Influenza viral antigen was shown in the epithelium of bronchial buds, bronchi and the trachea by direct fluorescent antibody staining. Hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies to influenza virus were first found in the serum of an inoculated fetus at 13 days and in the sera of all inoculated fetuses at 28 and 58 days.
Variational Finite-Element Solution for Dissipative Waveguides and Transportation Application

A procedure is developed for determining the complex propagation constants and associated complex electromagnetic fields as a function of frequency for electromagnetic waves propagating along an inhomogeneous waveguide composed of dissipative materials and having a complicated shape. The wave equation, which is complex because of the presence of dissipative materials, is transformed for computer solution into a matrix eigenvalue equation by the application of the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method in conjunction with the finite-element method. The results are reviewed for several simple dissipative waveguides for which analytical results are computed for comparison. A novel proposal is then investigated in which a railroad track acts as a surface waveguide for a rapid-transit collision-avoidance system. The results illustrate the usefulness of the numerical method developed and suggest that the modified steering rail warrants further investigation for rapid-transit systems.
Experiments in load migration and dynamic load balancing in SPEEDES

It is well known that the performance of a parallel discrete-event simulation (PDES) depends on the allocation of the workload to processors. In particular, poor performance may be the result of an imbalance of the workload on the processors. In earlier work, we examined automated load balancing techniques that statically allocated the workload based on prior run-time data. However, a good initial distribution of the workload may result in a load imbalance if the characteristics of the simulation change over time. Furthermore, some of the processors may gain external workloads at some point in time. Thus, there is a need for dynamic load balancing methods that can adapt to changes in the simulation or the system. In this paper, we discuss our experiments in dynamic load (object) migration and load balancing using the SPEEDES simulation framework.
Performance of Diploid and Triploid Rainbow Trout Stocked in Idaho Alpine Lakes

Abstract Increased growth, improved survival, and genetic protection of wild stocks have been suggested as benefits of stocking triploid (i.e., sterile) salmonids for recreational fisheries. We examined the return rates and growth of mixed-sex diploid (2N), mixed-sex triploid (3N), and all-female triploid (AF3N) rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss across 28 alpine lakes. Equal numbers of each treatment group were stocked in 2001 and 2003 and sampled 3–4 years later. During 2004 and 2005, a total of 75 2N and 36 3N marked rainbow trout were recaptured. Taken together, the 2N fish accounted for an average of 0.68 of the total marked fish caught, and the combined proportions of test fish (including netting and angling) differed significantly between the test groups and were consistent across survey years. During 2006 and 2007, a total of 60 2N, 31 3N, and 208 AF3N marked rainbow trout were recaptured. The mean length of the test fish was similar between test groups within sampling years. Overall, the return of...
Switching the optical divide: fundamental challenges for hybrid electrical/optical datacenter networks

Recent proposals to build hybrid electrical (packet-switched) and optical (circuit switched) data center interconnects promise to reduce the cost, complexity, and energy requirements of very large data center networks. Supporting realistic traffic patterns, however, exposes a number of unexpected and difficult challenges to actually deploying these systems "in the wild." In this paper, we explore several of these challenges, uncovered during a year of experience using hybrid interconnects. We discuss both the problems that must be addressed to make these interconnects truly useful, and the implications of these challenges on what solutions are likely to be ultimately feasible.
A Discrete Complex Compliance Spectra Model of the Nonlinear Viscoelastic Creep and Recovery of Microcellular Polymers

The present work reports a discrete stress-dependent, complex compliance spectra method that may be used to predict the mechanical response of nonlinear viscoelastic polymers during creep and recovery processes. The method is based on the observation that the real and imaginary parts of a discrete complex compliance fre- quency spectra obtained from creep and recovery measurements are smooth, easily fit functions of stress. The new method is applied to a set of microcellular polycarbonate materials with differing relative density. The nonlinear viscoelastic characteristics of a microcellular polycarbonate material system are very sensitive to relative density and therefore, this material system is a particularly difficult modeling challenge. However, the present model was able to exhibit excellent quantitative agreement with the basis creep and recovery measurements at all experimental stress levels for each of the experimental relative density material types. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 691- 697, 2000
Vessel-Specific Toll-Like Receptor Profiles in Human Medium and Large Arteries

Background— Inflammatory vasculopathies, ranging from the vasculitides (Takayasu arteritis, giant cell arteritis, and polyarteritis nodosa) to atherosclerosis, display remarkable target tissue tropisms for selected vascular beds. Molecular mechanisms directing wall inflammation to restricted anatomic sites within the vascular tree are not understood. We have examined the ability of 6 different human macrovessels (aorta and subclavian, carotid, mesenteric, iliac, and temporal arteries) to initiate innate and adaptive immune responses by comparing pathogen-sensing and T-cell–stimulatory capacities. Methods and Results— Gene expression analysis for pathogen-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 1 to 9 showed vessel-specific profiles, with TLR2 and TLR4 ubiquitously present, TLR7 and TLR9 infrequent, and TLR1, TLR3, TLR5, TLR6, and TLR8 expressed in selective patterns. Experiments with vessel walls stripped of the intimal or adventitial layer identified dendritic cells at the media-adventitia junction as the dom...
The contrast effect with avatars

The contrast effect of attractiveness was tested with avatars and a photograph.Attractive avatar exposure led to lower attractiveness ratings of the photograph.Exposure to unattractive avatars led to higher attractiveness ratings.Evidence for the contrast effect comparing computer-generated stimuli and humans. Kenrick and Gutierres (1980) found that participants exposed to attractive women would later rate an average-looking woman as less attractive compared to participants who had not been exposed to the attractive women. Because of the increase in our use of technology and computer programs utilizing avatars, two experiments were conducted to determine whether this contrast effect would occur when participants were presented with attractive avatars. Participants were told that they were in a study interested in first impressions and they were asked to rate images on a number of characteristics, including attractiveness. In Experiment 1, participants were presented with either three attractive or three unattractive avatars and then one photograph of an average-looking woman. In Experiment 2, participants were presented with either three attractive or three unattractive male or female avatars and rated a photograph of a man or woman, respectively. In both experiments, participants exposed to the attractive avatars rated the woman as significantly less attractive compared to the participants exposed to the unattractive avatars.
Molecules of various pharmacologically-relevant sizes can cross the ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening in vivo

Focused ultrasound (FUS) is hereby shown to noninvasively and selectively deliver compounds at pharmacologically relevant molecular weights through the opened blood-brain barrier (BBB). A complete examination on the size of the FUS-induced BBB opening, the spatial distribution of the delivered agents and its dependence on the agent's molecular weight were imaged and quantified using fluorescence microscopy. BBB opening in mice (n=13) was achieved in vivo after systemic administration of microbubbles and subsequent application of pulsed FUS (frequency: 1.525MHz, peak-rarefactional pressure in situ: 570 kPa) to the left murine hippocampus through the intact skin and skull. BBB-impermeant, fluorescent-tagged dextrans at three distinct molecular weights spanning over several orders of magnitude were systemically administered and acted as model therapeutic compounds. First, dextrans of 3 and 70 kDa were delivered trans-BBB while 2000 kDa dextran was not. Second, compared with 70 kDa dextran, a higher concentration of 3 kDa dextran was delivered through the opened BBB. Third, the 3 and 70 kDa dextrans were both diffusely distributed throughout the targeted brain region. However, high concentrations of 70 kDa dextran appeared more punctated throughout the targeted region. In conclusion, FUS combined with microbubbles opened the BBB sufficiently to allow passage of compounds of at least 70 kDa, but not greater than 2000 kDa into the brain parenchyma. This noninvasive and localized BBB opening technique could, thus, provide a unique means for the delivery of compounds of several magnitudes of kDa that include agents with shown therapeutic promise in vitro but whose in vivo translation has been hampered by their associated BBB impermeability. (E-mail: ek2191@columbia.edu).
Ovine lentiviral infection (maedi/visna) in Morocco: a serologic and postmortem survey.

Summary In an attempt to estimate the importance of maedi/visna virus infection in Moroccan sheep and to assess the relationship, if any, between seroreactivity and pulmonary lesions, an abattoirbased serologic survey was undertaken over a period of 2 years. A total of 1000 blood samples and related lungs were collected from sheep of different breeds and ages slaughtered at three major municipal abattoirs in Morocco (Casablanca, Kenitra and Rabat). The agar gel immunodiffusion test showed that the seropositivity for all samples was 24.8%. At post-mortem examination, 107 out of the 248 (43.1%) sheep scored seropositive had gross lesions of maedi; typical microscopic lesions were observed in 125 (50.4%) seropositive sheep, including the 107 with gross lesions. Of the 752 seronegative animals, only 13 (1.7%) sheep had macroscopic maedi-like lesions. Seventeen (2.2%) of these seronegative cases, including those with gross lesions, had histologic pulmonary changes consistent with maedi. No other maedi/visna-associated lesions were found during this study; however, coexisting secondary bacterial bronchopneumonia was frequently encountered. The association between serologic and pathologic findings is reported and discussed. Resume Infection au Lentivirus Ovin (Visna-maedi) au Maroc: Une Enquete Serologique completee par Etude Anatomo-pathologique Afin d'apprecier l'importance de l'infection Visna-maedi du mouton au Maroc et d'etudier d'eventuels rapports existant entre les resultats serologiques et les lesions pulmonaires, une enquete sero-pathologique basee sur des visites aux abattoirs a ete menee durant une periode de deux ans. Les prelevements de sang destines au sondage serologiques ainsi que les poumons respectifs ont ete effectues sur 1000 ovins, d'âge et de race differents, abattus au niveau de trois principaux abattoirs municipaux du Maroc (Casablanca, Kenitra, Rabat). La methode serologique d'immunodiffusion sur gelose (I.D.G) a revele un pourcentage de positivite de 24,8% sur l'ensemble des echantillons testes. Quant a l'etude anatomo-pathologique, elle a montre que 107 sur 248 (43, 1 %) animaux reagissants presentaient des lesions macroscopiques alors que 125 cas (50, 4 %) positifs, parmi lesquels figuraient les 107 ayant les lesions macroscopiques, avaient des lesions microscopiques typiques du maedi. Sur les 752 animaux seronegatifs, 13 (1, 7%) ovins seulement presentaient des lesions macroscopiques comparables a celles du maedi. Histologiquement, 17 cas seronegatifs, y compris ceux avec des lesions macroscopiques, avaient des lesions caracteristiques du maedi. Aucune autre lesion associee au complexe Visna-maedi n'a ete decelee, parcontre, des lesions de bronchopneumonie dues a des surinfections bacteriennes ont ete communement rencontrees. Il convient donc de retenir une correlation supposant une relation etiologique entre les constatations serologiques et anatomo-pathologiques.
Pulmonary Artery and Conduit Reintervention Rates After Norwood Using a Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Artery Conduit

Background There is a high incidence of cardiovascular reinterventions in patients undergoing a Norwood procedure (NP). The goal of this study was to analyze the rate of pulmonary artery (PA) and conduit stenosis using the right ventricle (RV)-to-PA modification of the NP. Methods Patients who underwent a NP January 2005 to December 2009 were included. The procedure was performed with a ringed conduit sutured to a membrane to form a patch. The patch was sutured to the PA confluence, and the spatulated conduit was anastomosed to an appropriately sized right ventriculotomy. Rates of PA and conduit stenosis requiring reintervention were calculated based on cardiac catheterization data. Results Thirty-three patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome underwent a NP. Perioperative mortality was 6% (2 of 33). Twenty-eight patients (85%) had a Glenn procedure 5 ± 1 months later, and 12 patients (36%) had a Fontan procedure 34 ± 2 months after the Glenn. Pulmonary artery stenosis occurred in 11 patients (33%), and RV-PA conduit stenosis occurred only in 2 patients (6%). One-year and 3-year actuarial survival rates were 82% and 77%, respectively. Both branch PAs showed good and symmetric growth at cardiac catheterization before Glenn. Conclusions The NP with RV-PA conduit using a ringed graft and a pulmonary patch is a technique associated with a low rate of PA and conduit stenosis, and good outcomes.
Racial and ethnic differences in advance care planning: identifying subgroup patterns and obstacles

Objectives:The author investigated (a) whether Whites, Blacks, Latinos, and Asians differ in their rates of advance care planning (ACP; that is, living will, health care proxies, discussions), (b) sources of within-racial group heterogeneity, and (c) racial differences in the explanations offered for not doing ACP.Methods:The author estimated logistic regression models with data from a national sample of married and cohabiting adults ages 18 to 64 in the Knowledge Networks study (N = 2,111).Results:Latinos are less likely than Whites to discuss preferences and to have a living will, although the latter gap is fully accounted for by education. Asians are less likely than Whites to have discussions, but more likely to have living wills. Black-White differences emerge only among low SES (socioeconomic status) subgroups. Each group noted distinctive obstacles to planning.Discussion:Public policies should target increasing rates of ACP for all adults prior to onset of major health concerns.
‘Excuse me, sir. Please don’t smoke here’. A qualitative study of social enforcement of smoke-free policies in Indonesia

Objective District policies were recently put into place in Indonesia prohibiting smoking in public spaces. This study sought to (1) assess participants’ general knowledge of secondhand smoke (SHS) dangers; (2) assess participants’ awareness of and specific knowledge of smoke-free (SF) policies; and (3) assess the extent to which such policies are socially enforced and gather examples of successful social enforcement. Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted in Bogor and Palembang cities with both community members and key informants such as government officials, non-government agency staff, religious leaders and health workers. Results Participants in both Palembang and Bogor find SF policy important. Although there was awareness of SHS dangers and SF policies, accurate knowledge of the dangers and an in-depth understanding of the policies varied. There was a high level of support for the SF policies in both cities among both smokers and non-smokers. Many participants did have experience asking a smoker not to smoke in an area where it was restricted, even if their comfort in doing so varied. There was, however, a higher level of comfort in telling smokers to stop or to move away from pregnant women and children. Hesitation to socially enforce the policies was especially present when asking men of status and/or community leaders to stop smoking, but overall participants felt they could comfortably ask someone to obey the law. Conclusion Palembang and Bogor may be evolving towards creating social norms in support of prohibiting smoking in public spaces. If provided with more support from government and law officials, such as government officials themselves promoting the policies and demonstrating compliance, and renewed efforts to promote and enforce policies in general were made, Indonesians in these cities may feel more confident protecting non-smokers from SHS.
Cardiovascular responses to mental arithmetic and handgrip during different conditions of postural change.

Twenty healthy male subjects, aged 18–29 yrs, were studied during three sequences of four different postural trials-sitting, sitting to standing, standing, and standing to sitting. The first sequence was a baseline, without other stimulation. In the remaining two, subjects performed a mental arithmetic task and an isometric handgrip task during each trial (counterbalanced). Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and skin conductance were recorded during the trials. The physiological responses to the two tasks were shown to vary as a function of the specific postural trial. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were generally more sensitive to these effects than heart rate or skin conductance. The two tasks facilitated increases in blood pressure during the sitting to standing trials, especially during the standing phase. The increases in blood pressure were comparable to those reported previously for voluntary control and biofeedback procedures. Mental and physical strategies are effective in increasing blood pressure during postural change and may be useful in the management of orthostatic hypotension.
Controversies in Contrast Material-induced Acute Kidney Injury: Closing in on the Truth?

In the risk-benefit analysis that should precede all medical tests, consideration must be given to both sides of the equation, with decision-making guided by fact instead of fear and misinformation.
Oral Inosine Persistently Elevates Plasma antioxidant capacity in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction Higher serum urate predicts slower progression in PD. The aim of this work was to assess whether oral inosine alters antioxidant capacity of plasma or CSF or urinary markers of oxidative injury in early PD. Methods We assayed plasma and CSF antioxidant capacity by ferric-reducing antioxidant power and measured DNA oxidation adduct 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine from urine in Safety of URate Elevation in PD, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of oral inosine assessing safety of elevating serum urate from <6 mg/dL to 6.1–7.0 or 7.1–8.0 mg/dL in patients with early PD. Results At 6 months, antioxidant capacity was 29% higher among mild and 43% higher among moderate group participants compared to placebo and correlated with change in serum urate (r = 0.86) and inversely with rate of clinical decline (r = −0.26). CSF antioxidant capacity and urine 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine did not differ. Conclusions The findings demonstrate a dose-dependent, persistent elevation of plasma antioxidant capacity from oral inosine of potential therapeutic relevance. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Helping Couples Deal with Intimacy and Sexuality

Sexual and intimate relationships are often sabotaged by the innate inclinations that have been endowed by evolutionarily ancient tendencies. Specifically, sexual attraction and subsequent bonding tends to be short-lived and predicated on biological tendencies that humans have in common with other primates. Thus, innate human mating tendencies often impact the duration and intensity of love and sexual attraction in virtually all relationships. These intrinsic proclivities are a key predicate of most sexual conflicts between couples. This chapter will help the practitioner become aware of these underlying causes of intimacy conflict and assist them in applying cognitively-based methods to best resolve related barriers to satisfactory relationships.
Muramyl dipeptide-induced sleep and fever: effects of ambient temperature and time of injections

Sleep-promoting factors isolated from rabbit brain and human urine enhance slow-wave sleep (SWS) when administered to rabbits and other mammalian species. These substances were identified as muramyl peptides (MPs). A simple synthetic chemical analogue to these substances, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (or MDP for muramyl dipeptide), was also found to enhance SWS. MDP is also pyrogenic and can alter rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. However, the effects of MDP on rabbit REM sleep and the relationship between thermoregulation and MDP-altered sleep have not been investigated. We tested, therefore, MDP in rabbits. We found that 1) intracerebroventricular administration of 125 pmol of MDP reduced REM sleep time from 10 +/- 3% of total recording time after vehicle to 4 +/- 3%; 2) a stereoisomer of MDP, N-acetylmuramyl-D-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, failed to have any effects on the sleep and temperature parameters measured; 3) acute elevation of ambient temperature from 21 to 27 degrees C enhanced SWS (37 +/- 3-55 +/- 3%) but not REM sleep; 4) at 27 degrees C MDP further enhanced SWS to 67 +/- 3% and its REM sleep suppression effect persisted; and 5) intravenously injected MDP had greater effects on body temperature during light hours than if administered during dark hours. We conclude that MDP reduces REM sleep in rabbits, that its effects on thermoregulatory processes depend on the time of injection, and that the effects of the thermoregulatory process on sleep are independent of, in part, the effects of MDP on sleep.
Effectiveness of Vitamin D in Infancy in Relation to the Vitamin Source

This report concerns the preliminary findings regarding the utilization by the human infant of vitamin D from different sources. The criterion chosen was the quantity of calcium retained by well infants given the same amount of milk and the same rat unitage of vitamin D. Irradiated evaporated milk containing 50 units,∗ and evaporated milk containing the unsaponifiable fraction of cod liver oil (Zucker concentrate) allowing 150 units per quart of reconstituted milk respectively, were compared with evaporated milk plus vitamin D given separately as a cod liver oil containing 40 units of D per gram. The Zucker concentrate milk was mixed with plain evaporated milk, and the quantities of cod liver oil were so chosen that the vitamin D unitage of each diet was constant for any given intake of milk, and was regulated by the amount present in the irradiated milk. The youngest infants received only 22 units daily, but by 16 weeks of age, all the infants were ingesting approximately 50 units of D daily. The plan of...
In situ measurements of wind pressures on low slope membrane roofs

Abstract Pressure distributions created by wind flow on low slope roofs is an issue addressed by many wind tunnel studies and selective field experimental studies. Building codes and standards specify pressure coefficient data to determine the wind loads for commercial roofing claddings. Field measurements can provide valuable data to validate the current code provisions for wind loads, as well provide supporting data for existing wind uplift test methods for roof claddings. Thus the Special Interest Group on Dynamic Evaluation of Roofing Systems (SIGDERS) selected four locations (Ottawa, Vancouver, Mt. Pleasant and Rialto) across North America and collected wind speed, wind direction and wind pressure data for extended time periods to understand the wind interaction with low slope membrane roofs. This paper presents the data collected from November 2012 to November 2013 from the Ottawa, Ontario site. Based on the National Building Code of Canada׳s (NBCC) zoning procedure, pressure taps were installed to obtain data for the corner, edge and field roof zones. Occurrences of wind speed exceeding 16 m s−1 were considered for various wind directions. Peak and mean pressure coefficients were calculated and compared with NBCC (2010) ’s specifications. When instantaneous peak pressure coefficients were compared with the NBCC (2010) , the measured data exceeded NBCC (2010) ’s specifications for some wind directions. Nevertheless, when the pressure coefficients were compared by paring with their respective tributary area, the data concluded that the current NBCC (2010) ’s specifications for the roof cladding and components are equally adequate for the wind load design of low slope membrane roofs.
Adolescent Conflict Appraisals Moderate the Link Between Marital Conflict and Physiological Stress Reactivity.

The goal of this study was to advance understanding of how adolescent conflict appraisals contribute uniquely, and in combination with interparental conflict behavior, to individual differences in adolescent physiological reactivity. Saliva samples were collected from 153 adolescents (52% female; ages 10-17 years) before and after the Trier Social Stress Test. Saliva was assayed for cortisol and alpha-amylase. Results revealed interactive effects between marital conflict and conflict appraisals. For youth who appraised parental conflict negatively (particularly as threatening), negative marital conflict predicted dampened reactivity; for youth who appraised parental conflict less negatively, negative marital conflict predicted heightened reactivity. These findings support the notion that the family context and youth appraisals of family relationships are linked with individual differences in biological sensitivity to context.
Structure and biosynthesis of carbohydrate ligands for animal lectins involved in cell adhesion.

3 Darvill, A., Augur, C., Hergmann, C., Carlson, R. W., Cheong, J.-J., Eberhard, S., Hahn. M. G., Lo, V.-M., 542-544 Marfa, V., Meyer, H.. Mohnen, D., O’Neill. M. A,, Spiro, M. D., Van Halbeek, H., York, W. S. and Albersheim, 1’. (1 992) Glycobiology 2, 18 1 198 4 York, W. S., Harvey, I,. K., Guillen, K., Albersheim, P. and Darvill, A. G. (1993) Carbohyd. Kes. 248, 285-301 5 Kormelink, F. J. M., Hoffmann, K. A,, Gruppen, H., Voragen, A. G. J., Kamerling, J. P. and Vliegenthart, J. F. G. (1993) Carbohyd. Kes. 249, 369-382 6 Fry? S. C. (1993) Curr. Biol. 3, 355-357
Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease

The prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide over the past few decades. In 2013, the prevalence of obesity exceeded the 50% of the adult population in some countries from Oceania, North Africa, and Middle East. Lower but still alarmingly high prevalence was observed in North America (≈30%) and in Western Europe (≈20%). These figures are of serious concern because of the strong link between obesity and disease. In the present review, we summarize the current evidence on the relationship of obesity with cardiovascular disease (CVD), discussing how both the degree and the duration of obesity affect CVD. Although in the general population, obesity and, especially, severe obesity are consistently and strongly related with higher risk of CVD incidence and mortality, the one-size-fits-all approach should not be used with obesity. There are relevant factors largely affecting the CVD prognosis of obese individuals. In this context, we thoroughly discuss important concepts such as the fat-but-fit paradigm, the metabolically healthy but obese (MHO) phenotype and the obesity paradox in patients with CVD. About the MHO phenotype and its CVD prognosis, available data have provided mixed findings, what could be partially because of the adjustment or not for key confounders such as cardiorespiratory fitness, and to the lack of consensus on the MHO definition. In the present review, we propose a scientifically based harmonized definition of MHO, which will hopefully contribute to more comparable data in the future and a better understanding on the MHO subgroup and its CVD prognosis.
Some Properties of Dislocations

This chapter focuses on some properties of dislocations. Actual lattice dislocations, according to observations by electron microscopy, are seldom assimple as the continuum prototypes. They commonly assume complex shapes and tangle in complex ways. Therefore, it is customary to infer the effects of such complex forms from the simple one. The complex forms and distributions often differ from grain to grain in a metal and even from point to point in one grain. However, they can produce broadly reproducible properties. Therefore, the proper treatment of dislocations would be a statistical one like the treatment of molecular distributions in the kinetic theory of gases. Actual distributions are mixed and complex. Moreover, they vary with the metal. The dislocations in deformed aluminum tend to line up in cell-like formations but in copper they form much more random formations. Yet there is no equally striking difference between the strain-hardening of either metal. No specific distribution is crucial; that hardening in practice is a statistical consequence of some factor that is much the same for varied distributions.
Home moves and child wellbeing in the first five years of life in the United States

By the time they are five years old, nearly 70% of children in the United States have moved home, with a substantial minority moving more than once. These early years are important for children’s later learning and development. Yet, there are a limited number of studies of residential mobility’s impact on young children. The literature indicates the importance of stressful family events, unstable housing, economic hardship, and neighbourhood conditions for residential mobility and child wellbeing. But research seldom examines the impact of these dimensions simultaneously. We used data from the first four waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to analyse precursors of residential mobility and the association of residential mobility with child behavior (N=2,511) and cognitive capabilities (N=2,033) at age five. Using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), we find that the frequency of moving is explained by a range of stressful circumstances, including lack of parental employment, partnership transitions, paternal incarceration, unstable housing tenure, and financial hardship. These circumstances are associated with increased likelihood of moving home even when other family and neighbourhood conditions are controlled, suggesting that moving is part of a constellation of events and changes experienced by young children. Using OLS regression models we find that, for young children, the circumstances associated with moving residence appear to be more consequential for child wellbeing than does moving itself, even when children experience multiple moves.
Computer Demonstration Session

This stage of the Conference was devoted to displays and demonstrations of environmental data systems. We were fortunate in having demonstrations which covered a variety of applications of interest to both environmental scientists and managers. The organizers would like to take this opportunity to again thank those participants who provided displays and demonstrations.
A game theoretic approach to flow control in an integrated environment with two classes of users

With the power as the performance criterion, a game-theoretical approach is proposed and analyzed. A network or system optimization solution leads to a Pareto optimal point. In a user or individual optimization setting the Nash and the Stackelberg equilibria are found. A decentralized and easily implementable algorithm is proved to converge to the Nash equilibrium. The choice of the strategy to be used depends on the particular application and the desirable overall performance. >
SU‐E‐T‐317: MOSFET Assessment of Radiation Dose Delivered to Mice Using the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP)

Purpose: MOSFETS were employed in this study for in situ assessment of radiation dose delivered by the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP) to mouse anatomical target volumes: brain, left kidney, left lung,liver, pancreas and prostate. Method and Materials:MOSFET detectors were calibrated with conversion factors (CF) determined for each MOSFET as a function of depth in tissue equivalent material. Calibrated MOSFET was surgically implanted post‐euthanasia into the mouse target volume, with minimal organ disruption. Using CBCTimaging and robotic motion, the mouse was then positioned with implanted MOSFET at the isocenter of the SARRP. The depth of the MOSFET from the CBCTimage and corresponding CF were used in the SARRP dose calculation program to calculate the target dose for 220 kVp and 13 mA, without heterogeneity correction. Irradiations were conducted using a 0.15 cm copper filter. Three readings per MOSFET were obtained for each organ of three euthanized male mice. The measured dose was determined by averaging the MOSFET readings for that organ. The percentage difference between the measured and calculated dose was determined. Results: The results showed differences between the calculated and measured dose of between: +1.2 to 4.6 %, −3.3 to +4.8 %, +0.9 to +5.1 %, −5.9 to +2.5 %, ‐2.3 to +1.0 %, and −4.3 to +1.4 %, for the left kidney,liver, pancreas, prostate, left lung, and brain, respectively. Conclusions: The study indicates that, for 220 kVp x‐rays, the radiation dose delivered by the SARRP to characteristic target volumes in mice is within 6% of the calculated dose. The results provide a useful assessment of the need for tissue heterogeneity corrections in SARRP dose calculations for clinically relevant tumor model sites. The work also demonstrates the feasibility of using MOSFET dosimeters for in situ assessment of SARRP radiation dose delivery.
Brand Leadership: Behaviors that Drive Brand and Consumer Engagement—An Abstract

Ad spending worldwide was expected to reach $569 billion in 2015. Despite this level of spending, declining brand revenue trends and brand deaths occur (e.g., Oldsmobile, Plymouth, and Woolworth stores). What causes a brand to start losing market share, which could eventually lead to it being phased out of the market? Do they lose touch with the consumers’ wants and needs? Are management teams unable to influence the consumer’s reason to buy innovative products? Yet, some brands (e.g., John Deere) remain relevant to generations of consumers over time. What is the secret formula to sustainable brand growth? Research has shown that when brands are able to be consumer oriented, they have a higher likelihood to produce innovative product offerings that drive the value proposition with consumers. But what role do the behaviors of brand leaders play on driving the brand engagement with consumers? Do the behaviors of brand leaders impact the company’s culture to drive the brand engagement with consumers? These are the key questions that we sought to answer to reveal learnings on how brand leaders start building a road map to drive long-term brand sustainable growth.
Microsurgical anatomy of the intracranial part of the vertebral artery

We studied the intracranial portion of the vertebral artery and its branches in 11 cadaveric specimens. We evaluated the course of vessels and their dimensions (external diameter and length), as well as relationships between each of them. The vertebral artery was larger on the left side in two cases, on the right in five cases, and equal on both sides in four cases. The right and left vertebral arteries joined each other forming the basilar artery at the level of the pontomedullary junction in four cases, 2 mm below it in one case, and 1 to 7 mm above it in six cases. We divided all branches of the intracranial vertebral artery into two groups: the medial branches and the lateral branches. Two major types of medial branches were observed: the anterior spinal artery and the branches of the foramen caecum. The origin of the anterior spinal artery was located 6.5 mm (5-11 mm) proximal to vertebrobasilar junction on the right and 8.5 mm (6-17 mm) on the left. The anterior spinal artery was absent on the right in two cases and on the left in one. Branches arising from the vertebral artery to the foramen caecum were found in four brains. Lateral branches originated from the posterolateral or lateral aspect of vertebral artery. The posterior inferior cerebellar artery, the largest branch of the vertebral artery, was included in this group. Other branches were mostly located between the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the vertebrobasilar junction. Forty-six lateral branches originating from the vertebral artery were found in 11 brains (26 on the right and 20 on the left). Lateral branches widely anastomosed with perforators from the basilar artery, posterior inferior cerebral artery, and the anterior inferior cerebellar artery.
From Auto- to Allotransplantation: Immunomodulatory Protocol for Hand and Arm Transplantation

Aim To achieve a favorable risk–benefit balance for hand transplantation, an immunomodulatory protocol was developed in the laboratory and translated to clinical application. Methods Following donor bone marrow infusion into transplant recipients, hand and arm allografts have been maintained on low-dose tacrolimus monotherapy. Results Good-to-excellent functional recovery has been achieved in patients compliant with medication and therapy, thus restoring autonomous and productive lives. Conclusion The risk-benefit balance can be tilted in favor of the hand transplant recipients by using an immunomodulatory protocol with minimum immunosuppression.
Mechanism of production of the serum transferrin receptor.

The detection of a soluble form of the transferrin receptor (TfR) in human sera has been a major advance in hematological and ferrobiological research. Since the predominant expression of TfR is on the erythroid colony forming unit and late erythroid progenitors, the serum TfR would be expected to provide a quantitative measure of the size of the late progenitor pool. This has been confirmed by its excellent correlation with the size of this pool as determined ferrokinetically (Huebers et al. 1990). The other determinant of tissue receptor mass is the cellular iron content. A raised serum TfR is the earliest biochemical indicator of depletion of the functional iron pool (Skikne et al. 1990) and the most reliable indicator of iron deficiency in pregnancy where other measurements, including hemoglobin concentration, serum iron, percentage saturation, and serum ferritin, are often not helpful (Carriaga et al. 1991). Serum TfR is the only non-invasive measure to reliably distinguish the anemia of chronic disease from that of iron deficiency (Ferguson et al. 1992). Given these attributes, this measurement is becoming a crucial component in the evaluation of population iron nutriture (Cook et al. 1992; Cook et al. 1993a; Cook et al. 1993b).