cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The levis group of Orthemis revisited: a synopsis including a synonymy and description of six new species of Orthemis from South America (Odonata: Libellulidae)

The levis and ferruginea groups of Orthemis are redefined. Six new species of Orthemis are described: O. aciculata sp. nov. (♂ holotype: Surinam, Para Dist., road near forest, Zanderij I (5°32′ N, 55°10′ W), 17 January 1957, leg. J. Belle [RMNH]), O. celata sp. nov. (♂ holotype: Brazil, Para State, Rio Gurupi, Caninde (0°30′57′ ′ S, 51°14′00′ ′ W), 27–28 February 1966, leg. B. Malkin [RMNH]), O. faaseni sp. nov. (♂ holotype: Brazil, Rondonia State, Porto Velho (8°46′ S, 63°54′ W), 28 February 1922, leg. J.H. Williamson & J.W. Strohm [UMMZ]), O. garrisoni sp. nov. (♂ holotype: Panama, Panama Prov., 7 km NW of Gamboa, Pipeline Road, trail near palm forest, 30 July 1979, leg. RWG & J.A. Garrison [FSCA]), O. paulsoni sp. nov. (♂ holotype: Ecuador, Sucumbios Prov., forest trail ca. 3 km W of Shushufindi (0°09′59′ ′ N, 76°41′30′ ′ W), 14 October 2009, leg. K.J. Tennessen [FSCA]), and O. teres sp. nov. (♂ holotype: Bolivia, Cochabamba Dept., Chapare, Cristal Mayo (17°00′57′ ′ N, 65°38′09′ ′ W), October/November ...
Predicting speech grades from selected spoken language variables

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which selected spoken language characteristics predict grades for an introductory public‐speaking course. A Flesch reading‐ease score, Flesch human‐interest score, and type‐token ratio were computed for the first five hundred words of a public‐speech sample for forty‐five subjects. A multiple regression analysis was computed in which the scores on the spoken‐language characteristics (predictor variables) were regressed on the final grades in the speech course (criterion variable). Results indicated that the final grades in an introductory speech course were significantly related to the number of syllables used by students in public‐speech behavior.
THE NUCLEAR CYTOLOGY OF SIROGONIUM1,2

SUMMARY The nuclear cytology of 9 strains of Sirogonium is described. The interphase nucleus contains 1–3 nucleoli, a nucleolar-organizing track, and many (>100) chromocenters. During the division cycle the nucleoli are transformed into a nucleolar substance which becomes associated with the chromosome and is transported through mitosis on the chromosomes. All strains possess minute dot chromosomes varying in length at metaphase from 0.5 to 1.5 μ; satellite chromosomes are 2.5–3.5 μ long. The number of chromosomes varies from 48 ± 2 to 100 ± 2. No evidence of centromeric activity was observed.
Quantum-Chemistry-Based Force Field for 1,2-Dimethoxyethane and Poly(ethylene oxide) in Aqueous Solution

An atomistic force field for simulations of 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in aqueous solution is presented. The force field is parametrized to reproduce energies of complexes of DME and water as determined from high-level quantum chemistry calculations. The quantum chemistry calculations reveal that the binding of DME to water is comparable to water−water binding in water dimer, indicating strong hydrogen bonding between DME and water. We find that the binding energy of water to DME in the tgt conformation (−7.7 kcal/mol) is greater than that for the other low energy DME conformers (−6.1 kcal/mol for ttt and −6.4 kcal/mol for tg+g- respectively), due to the strong interaction of the water hydrogen atoms with both ether oxygen atoms in the tgt conformer. The accuracy of the force field is verified through a series of molecular dynamics simulations of DME−water solutions performed as a function of temperature and composition. Comparison of simulation values for density, excess vol...
Echinostoma trivolvis: mating behavior of adults raised in hamsters.

Echinostoma trivolvis adults grown in golden hamsters were treated in vitro with [3H]-tyrosine to label sperm and transplanted to uninfected hamsters alone or with four to six unlabeled adults. After 4–5 days, worms were recovered, processed for autoradiography, and observed for silver grains over their seminal receptacles. Of 11 worms transplanted singly, 6 (55%) self-inseminated. In multiple-worm situations, 7 of 12 (58%) labeled worms self-inseminated, and in the process the 12 labeled worms inseminated only 5 of 35 (14%) possible unlabeled worms.E. trivolvis adults self-inseminated when isolated and both self- and cross-inseminated in groups, suggesting an unrestricted mating pattern. These results were compared with the mating patterns of other digenetic trematodes.
Primate lentivirus-associated encephalopathy

Rhesus monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a lentivirus closely related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), develop AIDS and encephalopathy with a frequency similar to that of HIV-infected humans. The pathogenic relationships among systemic virus infection, central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and immune activation, viral infection of the CNS, and clinical encephalopathy are still very poorly understood in HIV disease. Most puzzling is the apparent lack of correlation between extent of virus infection and degree of encephalopathy in human AIDS. This has focused attention on indirect mechanisms of viral insult to the brain. These include generation of neurotoxins and inflammatory mediators in the CNS, and activation or dysregulation of microglia, glia, and neurons. Cellular and neurochemical processes triggered initially by virus infection and leading to encephalopathy can be systematically studied in the SIV-infected rhesus monkey. These same processes, perhaps triggered by other viruses, or by inflammatory events occuring during critical periods of development, may also be involved in other types of human encephalopathy. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Wavelet multiscale feature detection applied to foliage penetration in Landsat images

Detecting man-made objects concealed in dense foliage is an ongoing challenge in military imaging. There is a need to detect, recognize and classify objects and background. Wavelet multiscale feature detection will be applied to Landsat images for the purpose of delineating man-made objects from foliage (or camouflage) which may be used to disguise them.
Immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia secondary to suramin

The authors report a case of suramin-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia occurring in a patient on a Phase II protocol for treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. On withdrawal of suramin, the acute and severe thrombocytopenia did not respond initially to plasmapheresis; subsequently, it resolved promptly and dramatically during the administration of intravenous gamma globulin, also coinciding with a decline in suramin blood levels. Results of immunologic and coagulation studies are reported and clinical implications discussed.
New Disposable Transanal Endoscopic Surgery Platform: Longer Channel, Longer Reach

Background: Transanal endoscopic surgical (TES) resection using rigid transanal platforms (TEM, TEO) is associated with improved outcomes compared to traditional transanal excision (TAE) of rectal lesions. An alternative technique using a disposable single incision surgery platform was developed in 2009, transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS), resulting in a surge in interest and access to transanal access platforms to perform TES. However, compared to rigid transanal access platforms, the disposable platforms do not facilitate internal rectal retraction and have limited proximal reach. A new long channel disposable transanal access platform has been developed (15 cm in length, 4cm in width) thereby facilitating endoluminal surgical access to the upper rectum and rectosigmoid colon.Methods: This is a retrospective case series report. Patient demographics and peri-operative outcome variables were recorded. The Gelpoint Path Long Channel was utilized in three patients with proximal rectal lesions that were not accessible using a standard disposable transanal access platform.Results: Three patients underwent TES excision of rectal adenomas using a long channel, disposable, transanal access platform. All patients were female, aged 51-53, BMI 23-32kg/m^2. The tumor size ranged from 2.4-8.5cm, 15-100% circumference, and proximal location from the dentate line ranged from 9-11cm. Final pathology revealed adenoma with negative margins in all three cases. The hospital length of stay ranged from 1-3 days and there were no perioperative complications. None of the patients have developed a local recurrence during the follow up period ranging from 5-11 months.Conclusions: The new long channel, disposable, transanal access platform facilitates transanal endoluminal surgical removal of lesions in the mid to upper rectum that may be difficult to reach using the standard disposable transanal access devices. We have successfully achieved 100% margin negative rate using this new device in this small series of patients with proximal rectal adenomas.
Private Placement Life Insurance (Not Your Father's Oldsmobile)

Private placement insurance and annuity products have evolved considerably since the mid-1990s. Purchasing such products and having the investments inside those products consist of income-tax-inefficient hedge funds makes sense for the appropriate client, namely, a client who has a long time horizon, who is otherwise materially invested in income-tax-inefficient alternative investments, and who is comfortable not controlling certain aspects of the investment process. This article discusses the income taxation of insurance and annuity products, how those products function economically, and the advantages and disadvantages of accessing those products through privately placed contracts, as well as reviewing examples of how such privately placed products could operate under a robust set of economic and other assumptions.
Effect of temperature on developmental times and survival of early larval stages of Euphausia superba Dana

Abstract Larvae of Euphausia superba Dana were reared from embryo to Calyptopis 3 in the laboratory at four temperatures characteristic of the range found in the environment (−1, 0, 1, and 2°C). The relationship between temperature and developmental times was curvilinear, with a sharp decrease in developmental time between −1 and 0°C, followed by a gradual flattening of the curve. The relationship was best described by the exponential model D = B 0 ∗ e −B 1 (T) + B 2 , where D is developmental time in days, T is the temperature, and B0, B1, and B2 are fitted constants. In three of the four batches of larvae reared at −1°C, all larvae died within 3 days of metamorphosis to Calyptopis 1, while siblings at higher temperatures developed normally. These results suggests that a cold sensitive period exists during early larval development. The type of food available also affected the survival of three groups of siblings. Larvae fed a diatom mixture developed normally, while those fed a small flagellate or starved all died before metamorphosis to Calyptopis 2. The effects of temperature and food type on the development and survival of the early larval stages have important ecological implications for the recruitment of E. superba. If spawning occurs in areas where the embryos or larvae encounter subzero water during a temperature sensitive period, recruitment in these waters may be very low, independent of food availability. If the embryos and larvae do not encounter subzero water during a sensitive period, recruitment may be more dependent on the type and concentration of food available.
Properties of a hybrid between lines sensitive and insensitive to contact inhibition of cell division

Hybrid cell lines have been prepared between 3T3, a line highly sensitive to contact inhibition of division, and cl 1-D, an L cell derivative which is not sensitive. A number of hybrid clones isolated were found to be quite sensitive, indicating that in this respect the 3T3 behavior is the more fully expressed in the hybrid. On serial subculture, the hybrid lines gave rise to variants less sensitive to contact inhibition.
Cell-specific Regulation of Androgen Receptor Phosphorylation in Vivo

The biological ramifications of phosphorylation of the androgen receptor (AR) are largely unknown. To examine the phosphorylation of AR at serine 213, a putative substrate for Akt, a phosphorylation site-specific antibody was generated. The use of this antibody indicated that AR Ser-213 is phosphorylated in vivo and that phosphorylation is tightly regulated in a cell type-specific manner. Furthermore, Ser-213 phosphorylation took place with rapid kinetics and was inhibited by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002. Phosphorylation occurred in response to R1881 and dihydrotestosterone but weakly if at all in response to testosterone. It did not occur in response to AR antagonists or growth factor stimulation in the absence of an AR agonist. Transcription assays using an AR-responsive reporter gene construct showed that activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibited transcription mediated by wild type AR but not that of a mutant AR variant (S213A), which could not be phosphorylated at Ser-213. By immunohistochemistry, the AR Ser(P)-213 antigen was detected in prostate epithelial but not stromal cells despite the fact that an antibody recognizing both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of AR demonstrates that AR is present in both cell types as expected. In fetal tissue the AR-Ser(P)-213 antigen was present in epithelial cells of the urogenital sinus when endogenous androgen levels were high and activated Akt was prevalent, but absent at a later stage of development when endogenous androgen levels were low and Akt activation was minimal. Immunoreactivity was evident in differentiated cells lining the lumen of the urogenital sinus but not in rapidly dividing, Ki67 positive cells within the developing prostate or stromal tissue, suggesting that site-specific phosphorylation of AR Ser-213 by cellular kinases occurs in a non-proliferating cellular milieu.
Liver transplantation in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims The increasing incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States is only partially accounted for by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is not known; guidelines from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases do not recommend surveillance imaging. We sought to determine the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma among patients undergoing liver transplantation for NASH-related cirrhosis and their outcome after surgery, compared with controls. Methods We reviewed the records of adult patients with NASH cirrhosis who underwent liver transplantation by using a prospectively collected database from a single center. Data from patients with NASH cirrhosis were compared with matched controls who received transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis/primary sclerosing cholangitis, alcoholic liver disease, or HCV. Results Seventeen of 98 patients (17%) with NASH cirrhosis were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. The mean age was 63 years, and 70% were male. Six patients were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma incidentally on explant. Survival after liver transplantation was 88% after mean follow-up of 2.5 years. The number of NASH patients known to have hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation was greater than the number of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis/primary sclerosing cholangitis and comparable to the number of patients with alcoholic liver disease and HCV. Conclusions Patients with NASH cirrhosis are at risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma; patients with NASH cirrhosis, especially men older than 50 years, should undergo surveillance imaging. Patients with NASH and hepatocellular carcinoma have good outcomes after liver transplantation.
Aerodynamic particle sizing versus light scattering intensity measurement as methods for real-time particle sizing coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Measurement of scattered light intensity and aerodynamic particle sizing are two methods that have recently been coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry for real-time determination of aerosol particle size and composition. An aerosol analysis technique recently developed in our laboratory, aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry, offers a unique experimental platform to evaluate both of these sizing techniques. This paper presents a comparison of results obtained with these two methods.
Altered cardiac calcium handling in diabetes

Diabetes results in a cardiomyopathy characterized by reduced contractility that is primarily the result of changes in calcium handling within the myocyte. Because most of the calcium involved in excitation-contraction (EC) coupling is derived from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), it is no surprise that many studies have found a reduction in sarco-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) activity in the diabetic state. In this review, we outline the changes to SR calcium handling in the diabetic state and, through the use of transgenic mice and adenoviral gene therapy, we examine how SR function can be improved by the expression of various proteins that are directly and indirectly involved in calcium handling. Improving SERCA activity plays an important role in ameliorating the contractile phenotype associated with the diabetic state.
Visible absorption spectra of N-methyltetraphenylporphyrin complexes

Abstract The Mn(II), Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of N-methyl-α,β,γ,δ-tetraphenylporphine exhibit very similar visible absorption spectra. These species are true complexes, yet the spectral similarities resemble results for porphyrin ion-pairs in which the porphyrin moiety is protonated. Such spectral comparisons have been made in discussions of the existence of porphyrin “sitting-atop” complexes as intermediates in the formation of natural metalloporphyrins. The changes in the spectrum of the free base N-methylporphyrin when a metal complex is formed involve bathochromic shifts that have been observed on protonation of the corresponding nonmethylated porphyrin, TPP.
Single spin detection by magnetic resonance force microscopy

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is well known as a powerful technique for visualizing subsurface structures with three-dimensional spatial resolution. Pushing the resolution below 1 micro m remains a major challenge, however, owing to the sensitivity limitations of conventional inductive detection techniques. Currently, the smallest volume elements in an image must contain at least 10(12) nuclear spins for MRI-based microscopy, or 10(7) electron spins for electron spin resonance microscopy. Magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) was proposed as a means to improve detection sensitivity to the single-spin level, and thus enable three-dimensional imaging of macromolecules (for example, proteins) with atomic resolution. MRFM has also been proposed as a qubit readout device for spin-based quantum computers. Here we report the detection of an individual electron spin by MRFM. A spatial resolution of 25 nm in one dimension was obtained for an unpaired spin in silicon dioxide. The measured signal is consistent with a model in which the spin is aligned parallel or anti-parallel to the effective field, with a rotating-frame relaxation time of 760 ms. The long relaxation time suggests that the state of an individual spin can be monitored for extended periods of time, even while subjected to a complex set of manipulations that are part of the MRFM measurement protocol.
InteMon: intelligent system monitoring on large clusters

InteMon is a prototype monitoring and mining system for large clusters. Currently, it monitors over 100 hosts of a prototype data center at CMU. It uses the SNMP protocol and it stores the monitoring data in an mySQL database. Then, it allows for visualization of the time-series data using a JSP web-based frontend interface for users.What sets it apart from other cluster monitoring systems is its ability to automatically analyze the monitoring data in real time and alert the users for potential anomalies. It uses state of the art stream mining methods, it has a sophisticated definition of anomalies (broken correlations among input streams), and it can also pinpoint the reason of the anomaly. InteMon has a user-friendly GUI, it allows the users to perform interactive mining tasks, and it is fully operational.
Real-time measurement of frequency using affordable rotary encoder and LabVIEW

The accuracy of measurements from a rotary encoder is of high importance and the level of accuracy desired will depend on the nature of the application in which the encoder is used. Due to the various errors in the rotary encoder measurement during real-time usage, this work has designed a LabVIEW program that exempts erroneous readings that are not within the chosen range, forms an array of readings within the acceptable range and finds the mean of the array once the size of the array is equal to the chosen size of the array stipulated in the program. This mean value is given as the actual measurement. This gives a more accurate real-time measurement than is the case without the program. A motor-generator set frequency measurements is used to validate the effectiveness of this program and frequency readings on the inverter driving the motor are compared with that displayed on the system through the program. Some analyses are carried out in order to ascertain the dependency of the accuracy of the measurements acquired on the array size utilized in the program.
Better you than I: Perspectives and emotion simulation during narrative comprehension

Recent studies suggest that readers develop richer multidimensional situation models when they mentally participate as characters in narrative worlds. The present study tested this by examining whether readers differentially represent situational elements when they read narratives using the pronoun “you” or “I” to describe a protagonist, and whether the pronoun “you” would make readers more likely to react to the emotional valence of narratives, embodying the affective states of protagonists. Response times and error rates to comprehension questions demonstrated a richer representation of the spatial organisation of narrative worlds with the pronoun “you” relative to “I”. Further, readers were more emotionally reactive to valenced narrative events with the pronoun “you”. Results demonstrate that readers differentially represent narrative worlds as a function of perspective, developing richer spatial mental models of layouts and a greater internalisation of emotional events when directly addressed as a pro...
Involvement of a non-human sialic acid in human cancer

Sialic acids are common monosaccharides that are widely expressed as outer terminal units on all vertebrate cell surfaces, and play fundamental roles in cell-cell and cell-microenvironment interactions. The predominant sialic acids on most mammalian cells are N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) and N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac). Neu5Gc is notable for its deficiency in humans, due to a species-specific and species-universal inactivating deletion in the CMAH gene encoding the hydroxylase that converts CMP-Neu5Ac to CMP-Neu5Gc. However, Neu5Gc is metabolically incorporated into human tissues from dietary sources (particularly red meat), and detected at even higher levels in some human cancers. Early life exposure to Neu5Gc containing foods in the presence of certain commensal bacteria that incorporate dietary Neu5Gc into lipooligosaccharides can lead to generation of antibodies that are also cross-reactive against Neu5Gc-containing glycans in human tissues (“xeno-autoantigens”). Such anti-Neu5Gc “xeno-autoantibodies” are found in all humans, although ranging widely in levels among individuals, and displaying diverse and variable specificities for the underlying glycan. Experimental evidence in a human-like Neu5Gc deficient Cmah-/- mouse model shows that inflammation due to “xenosialitis” caused by this antigen-antibody interaction can promote tumor progression, suggesting a likely mechanism for the well-known epidemiological link between red meat consumption and carcinoma risk. In this review, we discuss the history of this field, mechanisms of Neu5Gc incorporation into tissues, the origin and specificities of human anti-Neu5Gc antibodies, their use as possible cancer biomarkers, implications of xenosialitis in cancer initiation and progression, and current and future approaches towards immunotherapy that could take advantage of this unusual human-specific phenomenon.
Survey Cyber security in the Smart Grid: Survey and challenges

The Smart Grid, generally referred to as the next-generation power system, is considered as a revolutionary and evolutionary regime of existing power grids. More importantly, with the integration of advanced computing and communication technologies, the Smart Grid is expected to greatly enhance efficiency and reliability of future power systems with renewable energy resources, as well as distributed intelligence and demand response. Along with the silent features of the Smart Grid, cyber security emerges to be a critical issue because millions of electronic devices are inter-connected via communication networks throughout critical power facilities, which has an immediate impact on reliability of such a widespread infrastructure. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey of cyber security issues for the Smart Grid. Specifically, we focus on reviewing and discussing security requirements, network vulnerabilities, attack countermeasures, secure communication protocols and architectures in the Smart Grid. We aim to provide a deep understanding of security vulnerabilities and solutions in the Smart Grid and shed light on future research directions for Smart Grid security.
Engineering of a peptide probe for β-amyloid aggregates

Aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) is central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ aggregation produces amyloid assemblies, such as oligomers and fibrils. In contrast to non-toxic Aβ monomers, Aβ oligomers and fibrils can act directly as major toxic agents and indirectly as pools of the toxic entities, respectively. Thus, the detection of Aβ aggregates is of diagnostic interest and should benefit enhanced molecular understanding of AD. Among many molecular platforms, peptide-based ligands hold promise as Aβ probes due to their relative simplicity, ease of optimization and facile conjugation to other molecular contexts. In this regard, Aβ hydrophobic segments (critical in Aβ self-assembly) or variants thereof can serve as lead molecules for Aβ probe development. Unfortunately, the resulting peptides are either highly self-aggregation-prone or their probe potential has not been thoroughly examined. In the present study, we characterized a novel peptide ligand, KLVFWAK, which was created by simple point mutations of an Aβ hydrophobic segment (16KLVFFAE22). We found that KLVFWAK displayed low self-aggregation propensity and was preferentially bound to Aβ oligomers and fibrils relative to Aβ monomers. Interestingly, binding of KLVFWAK to Aβ aggregates occurred at a non-homologous Aβ segment (e.g., Aβ C-terminal domain) rather than the homologous 16KLVFFAE22. We also show that detection of Aβ aggregates during incubation of fresh Aβ was possible with KLVFWAK, further supporting KLVFWAK's high probe potential for Aβ aggregates. In short, this study presents creation of a non-self-aggregating peptide ligand for Aβ aggregates through simple point mutation of an Aβ-derived segment.
A Review of “King's Dream: The Legacy of Martin Luther King's “I Have a Dream” Speech”

Eric J. Sundquist makes another contribution to the canon of scholarship on Martin Luther King Jr. in his meticulous account of the rhetorical traditions of what he characterizes as a “new national...
Sedation for pediatric radiological procedures: analysis of potential causes of sedation failure and paradoxical reactions.

Background. Sedation for diagnostic imaging and interventional radiologic procedures in pediatrics has greatly increased over the past decade. With appropriate patient selection and monitoring, serious adverse effects are infrequent, but failure to sedate and paradoxical reactions do occur. Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine, among patients undergoing sedation for radiologic procedures, the incidence of sedation failure and paradoxical reaction to pentobarbital and to identify potentially correctable causes. Materials and methods. Records of 1665 patients who were sedated in the radiology department from 1 November 1997 to 1 July 1998 were reviewed. Patients failing sedation or experiencing paradoxical reaction were compared with respect to sex, age group, diagnosis, scan type, time of day, NPO status, use of IV contrast and type of sedation agent using the Fisher exact test, Pearson chi-square, analysis of variance (ANOVA), the Student t-test, and logistic regression. Results. Data analysis revealed a sedation failure rate of 1 % and paradoxical reaction rate of 1.2 %. Stepwise multiple logistic regression revealed that the only significant independent multivariate predictor of failure was the need for the administration of a combination of pentobarbital, fentanyl, and midazolam IV. Conclusion. The low rate of sedation failure and paradoxical reactions to pentobarbital was near optimal and probably cannot be improved with the currently available sedatives.
Regulation of parasite antigen-driven immune responses by interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-12 in lymphatic filariasis

We investigated the mechanisms by which interleukin-10 (IL-10) regulates antigen-specific hyporesponsiveness in asymptomatic microfilaremic (MF) individuals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from MF individuals (n = 11) were stimulated in vitro with Brugia malayi antigen (BMA) or mycobacterial purified protein derivative (PPD) in the presence of neutralizing anti-IL-10 or isotype control monoclonal antibodies. As expected, BMA stimulated little or no gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) secretion in MF individuals, whereas PPD stimulated IFN-gamma in all but one. Neutralization of endogenous BMA-driven IL-10 secretion led to augmentation of IFN-gamma in seven of nine MF individuals (1.5- to 10-fold) and did so in a BMA-specific manner (PPD-driven IFN-gamma was augmented in only two of eight MF individuals and only 1.5- to 2-fold), indicating that IL-10 downregulates type 1 responses in these individuals. Type 2 responses (IL-5 secretion) were unaffected by the IL-10 blockade. To assess whether IL-12 could reverse the type 1 downregulation observed, the effect of recombinant human IL-12 (rhIL-12) on BMA-driven IL-5 and IFN-gamma production was also evaluated. rhIL-12 augmented both BMA- and PPD-driven IFN-gamma production 5- to 10-fold in six of nine MF individuals. These data demonstrate that IL-10 downregulates BMA-driven type 1 responses and that IL-12 can overcome downregulation of Th1 responses associated with MF but does so in a non-antigen-specific manner.
Repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor/neuronal restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF) can regulate HSV-1 immediate-early transcription via histone modification

Background: During primary infection of its human host, Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 (HSV-1) establishes latency in neurons where the viral genome is maintained in a circular form associated with nucleosomes in a chromatin configration. During latency, most viral genes are silenced, although the molecular mechanisms responsible for this are unclear. We hypothesized that neuronal factors repress HSV-1 gene expression during latency. A search of the HSV-1 DNA sequence for potential regulatory elements identified a Repressor Element-1/Neuronal Restrictive Silencer Element (RE-1/NRSE) located between HSV-1 genes ICP22 and ICP4. We predicted that the Repressor Element Silencing Transcription Factor/Neuronal Restrictive Silencer Factor (REST/ NRSF) regulates expression of ICP22 and ICP4. Results: Transient cotransfection indicated that REST/NRSF inhibited the activity of both promoters. In contrast, cotransfection of a mutant form of REST/NRSF encoding only the DNAbinding domain of the protein resulted in less inhibition. Stably transformed cell lines containing episomal reporter plasmids with a chromatin structure showed that REST/NRSF specifically inhibited the ICP4 promoter, but not the ICP22 promoter. REST/NRSF inhibition of the ICP4 promoter was reversed by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA). Additionally, chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP) assays indicated that the corepressor CoREST was recruited to the proximity of ICP4 promoter and that acetylation of histone H4 was reduced in the presence of REST/NRSF. Conclusion: Since the ICP4 protein is a key transactivator of HSV-1 lytic cycle genes, these results suggest that REST/NRSF may have an important role in the establishment and/or maintenance of HSV-1 gene silencing during latency by targeting ICP4 expression.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with ascending aortic dilatation: safety of the procedure and mid-term follow-up†.

OBJECTIVES: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) does not enable concomitant or simultaneous ascending aortic intervention. This investigation evaluates the safety of TAVI in patients with ascending aortic dilatation and demonstrates mid-term follow-up. METHODS: From November 2007 to December 2012, among 1143 patients with severe aortic stenosis screened for TAVI, a cohort of 457 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, a total of 98 patients [71% males, median age 85.0 (9.0) years] were diagnosed with concomitant ascending aortic dilatation (4.0–5.0 cm). An additional 2 patients had an ascending aortic diameter of >5.0 cm. The mid-term followup (652.2 patient-years) was 100% complete. RESULTS: There was no iatrogenic dissection in patients with dilatated ascending aorta. Intraoperative aortic rupture occurred in 1 patient with mildly dilatated ascending aorta. One-year survival rates in patients with dilatated and non-dilatated ascending aorta were 65 of 75 (87%) and 201 of 242 (83%, P= 0.573). The mean ascending aortic diameter remained stable at 4.1 (0.2) and 4.7 (0.2) cm in patients with mild and moderate dilatation, respectively, with a median follow-up of 14 months after TAVI. Two patients with an aortic diameter of over 5.0 cm survived the procedure and expired 7 and 20 months after TAVI due to tumour and heart failure, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ascending aortic dilatation is diagnosed in almost one-fourth of patients treated with TAVI. Their intraprocedural risk of adverse aortic events is low. The ascending aortic dilatation does not affect mid-term survival in the TAVI population.
Germline and Somatic Transformation of Mating Tetrahymena Thermophila by Particle Bombardment

Mating Tetrahymena thermophila were bombarded with ribosomal DNA-coated particles at various times in development. Both macronuclear and micronuclear transformants were recovered. Optimal developmental stages for transformation occurred during meiosis for the micronucleus and during anlagen formation for the macronucleus. Evidence is given for transient retention of the introduced plasmid. Genetic and molecular tests confirmed that sexually heritable transformation was associated with integration at the homologous site in the recipient micronuclear chromosome.
Changes in phytoplankton community structure during the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) invasion of the Hudson River (New York)

We analyzed differences in the cell density and taxonomic composition of phytoplankton assemblages in the tidal, freshwater portion of the Hudson River to assess the impact of the recent zebra mussel invasion. In order to assess this change, phytoplankton genera were identified and counted during two representative periods, 1987-88 (before zebra mussel invasion) and 1993-94 (after invasion) and major groups in 199S and 1996. Average cell density of phytoplankton declined -17-fold from 25.6 x 10 6 cells H before invasion to 1.5 x 10 6 cells I"1 after invasion. Dominance of the phytoplankton (by cell density, assessed on an annual scale) shifted from cyanobacteria before the invasion to diatoms during the invasion; cyanobacterial density decreased 778-fold and diatoms decreased by a factor of only 2.5. Samples from 1995 and 1996, counted only to class, confirm the patterns from the more detailed counts in 1993 and 1994: a major decline in cell numbers and a dramatic decline in cyanobacteria relative to diatoms. The taxonomic composition of assemblages based on relative abundances of both genera and divisions showed significant shifts from colonial and unicellular cyanobacteria to large, colonial or benthic diatoms. Also, the large decline in cyanobac- teria and some diatom genera, which had been abundant in late summer, dampened the seasonal variation in the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton following the zebra mussel invasion.
Ladder Forms Lin Estimation And System Identification

Abstract : Ladder forms are probably the most promising canonical forms in estimation and system identification. Many record applications, such as in geophysical signal processing, high resolution ('maximum entropy') spectral estimation and speech encoding, justify the interest in these forms. They appear in many contexts, such as scattering and network theory and the theory of orthogonal polynomials. The state-space model ladder realizations are very closely related in (block) Schwarz matrix canonical forms, which generally appear in the context of stability analysis. In fact they are the natural 'stability canonical form' for (discrete-time) Lyapunov equations since the associated positive definite (covariance) matrices are diagonal resp. an identity. This fact leads also to close connections to square-root algorithms including the ones of Cholesky and Chandrasekhar type, since again Ladder forms are the natural canonical forms. In realization theory these forms are obtained via orthonormal state-space bases using Gram-Schmidt type procedures. Ladder forms have many other advantages, such as lowest computational complexity, good numerical behavior, stability 'by inspection' properties and relations to physical properties such as reflection or partial correlation coefficients, and perhaps absorption coefficients.
Ionization-induced frequency shifts in intense femtosecond laser pulses

Electromagnetic plasma computer simulations are used to analyze the frequency shifts caused by the ionization of atmospheric-density noble gases during interaction with intense femtosecond laser pulses; the results are presented and compared with experimental data. The simulations trace the temporal evolution of plasma growth during the femtosecond ionizing pulse and calculate the resulting self-induced blue shift of the ionizing pulse spectrum. Variations with pulse intensity, gas pressure, and gas species are calculated. The relative contributions of strong-field ionization and electron-impact ionization on the frequency shifts are discussed. The simulations provide qualitative explanations of most of the features observed experimentally in the blue-shifted spectra. The technique of spectral blue shifting intense femtosecond laser pulses provides a new diagnostic tool for studying strong-field ionization and laser-induced breakdown in dense plasmas.
Gait Design and Modeling of a 12-Tetrahedron Walker Robot

This work describes the use of a simulating walking robot to model the tetrahedron walker robots being developed at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. As a contribution to the gait generation and motion control of the tetrahedron walker robots, a concept has been formulated to implement in the case of choreographic designed gaits. This work is part of the contribution of this Hope College team to the development of tetrahedron walker robots by the ANTS group at Goddard. http://ants.gsfc.nasa.gov.
Residential mobility, neighborhood activism and neighborhood problems

Abstract A common idea in urban studies is that of a trade-off between relocation and locally based political activism as alternative means of coping with residential stress. This idea is evaluated empirically and then treated critically as an expression of more fundamental, less readily apparent social relations. To evaluate the degree to which relocation and neighborhood activism are substitutable strategies, simple behavioral models are tested with survey data for Columbus, Ohio. From this it appears that housing tenure plays a strategic role in the trade-off: in the presence of neighborhood problems owners are much more likely to be activists than renters: renters, on the other hand, are much more likely to express an intention to move than are owners. The explanation probably lies in the differential transaction costs owners and renters confront on relocation. One criticism of behavioral models is their spatial and temporal boundedness. This can be taken care of by the insertion of contextual variables. Nevertheless this leaves open the questions of precisely why those contexts and precisely why those individual interests in terms of which people respond to those contexts. Failure to ask those questions betrays a particular epistemological position, that of subject-object separation, which blinds the investigator to the socio-historic character of individuals and social contexts and, indeed, of his/her own conceptions of individual and society. An alternative epistemological position is therefore outlined in which the subject-object and hence the investigator-investigated and individual-society dichotomies are collapsed. Individuals are now individuals only by virtue of the social relations in which they stand to each other. The deciphering of those relations makes plausible the view of conflicts over neighborhood issues as underlain by the pursuit of class interests. The important question now becomes: why do residents pursue essentially individualistic strategies such as relocation or neighborhood coalition rather than class strategies?
Factors associated with geographic variation in cost per episode of care for three medical conditions

To identify associations between market factors, especially relative reimbursement rates, and the probability of surgery and cost per episode for three medical conditions (cataract, benign prostatic neoplasm, and knee degeneration) with multiple treatment options. We use 2004– 2006 Medicare claims data for elderly beneficiaries from sixty nationally representative communities to estimate multivariate models for the probability of surgery and cost per episode of care as a function local market factors, including Medicare physician reimbursement for surgical versus non-surgical treatment and the availability of primary care and specialty physicians. We used Symmetry’s Episode Treatment Groups (ETG) software to group claims into episodes for the three conditions (n = 540,874 episodes). Higher Medicare reimbursement for surgical episodes and greater availability of the relevant specialists are significantly associated with more surgery and higher cost per episode for all three conditions, while greater availability of primary care physicians is significantly associated with less frequent surgery and lower cost per episode. Relative Medicare reimbursement rates for surgical vs. non-surgical treatments and the availability of both primary care physicians and relevant specialists are associated with the likelihood of surgery and cost per episode.
Aggregate Milk Supply Response and Investment Behavior on U.S. Dairy Farms

This paper presents a dynamic model of herd composition and supply response in the U.S. dairy sector. By incorporating biological information, the influences of the economic environment on culling rates and the dynamics of the dairy cow population are analyzed. Short-run and long-run supply elasticities provide considerable insights on milk supply adjustments over time.
Antibodies in patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis treated with lymphoblastoid interferon.

Serum specimens from 53 evaluable patients enrolled in a clinical trial of lymphoblastoid interferon in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis were screened for the presence of interferon-binding antibodies by an indirect enzyme immunoassay and evaluated for neutralizing antibody measured as the inhibition of antiviral activity. Immunoglobulin G antibodies that specifically bound lymphoblastoid interferon were detected in 66% (35 of 53) of patients; neutralizing antibody was detected in 11 of the 35 patients having binding antibody (and in none of the patients who were negative for binding antibody). The incidence of detectable neutralizing antibody in this study population was 20.8% (11 of 53), which is markedly higher than in previous reports of lymphoblastoid interferon in patients with other diseases (i.e., less than 1% incidence). The cumulative dose received at the time of detection of neutralizing antibody ranged from 163 to 385 MU per square meter of body surface. Neutralizing antibody was detectable at a median time of 120 days after initiation of interferon therapy, and binding antibody appeared earlier in those patients (median 59 days) than in patients in whom only binding antibody was produced (median 116 days). Despite the tendency of binding antibody to appear either in patients in whom neutralizing antibody was eventually formed, the detection of binding antibody was not necessarily predictive of the subsequent development of neutralizing antibodies. Binding antibody persisted after neutralizing antibodies had become undetectable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Anesthesia for Urological Surgery

Learn the pertinent urinary system anatomy and physiology Understand anesthetic management of common urologic procedures Discuss common complications associated with urologic surgery
The Bodies Politic: Chronic Health Conditions and Voter Turnout in the 2008 Election

Health policy researchers often evaluate the social and economic consequences of chronic illness, but rarely have they considered the implications of chronic illness on one important form of political participation: voting. However, if chronic illnesses--already unequally distributed in society--are associated with differential rates of voter turnout, then these inequalities in democratic representation could, in turn, produce further health inequity. In this study, we use data from eight states from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey to examine the associations between having diagnoses of five chronic conditions and turnout in the 2008 US presidential election. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and some health-related confounding factors, we find that individuals with cancer diagnoses are more likely to vote, while those with heart disease diagnoses are less likely to vote. These associations differ by race and educational status; notably, African Americans and those with lower education with cancer are even more likely to turn out to vote than whites and those with more education with cancer. We discuss the implications of our findings in the context of health social movements and the role of health organizations in shaping political processes, important directions for the study of health politics.
Sensitivity Analysis in Linear Integer Programming

Abstract A discussion of post-optimality and sensitivity analysis of linear integer programming problems through the construction of Hermitian bases. These bases are closely related to a Gaussian reduction for solving sets of linear equations. It is shown that from such a basis, the optimal integer solution for discrete changes in the constraint vector may be analyzed and bounds established for which the basis remains feasible. In addition, the effects of changes in the objective function can also be investigated. All of these analyses are direct extensions of linear programming post-optimality analysis applied to these special Hermitian bases. Other near optimal solutions can also be obtained.