cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical Manifestations and Outcomes in Surgically Managed Gartner Duct Cysts.

Abstract Study Objective Gartner duct cysts (GDCs) are rare embryological remnants of the mesonephric duct with the majority of cases discovered incidentally in asymptomatic patients. The largest prior published series evaluating the surgical management of GDCs included 4 patients. The present study aimed to determine the manifestations and outcomes of surgically managed patients with GDCs with important implications for surveillance, monitoring, and management. Design A retrospective chart review (Canadian Task Force classification III). Setting A tertiary care center. Patients All women diagnosed with GDCs from January 1994 to April 2014 at our institution were identified. Patients were included if they underwent surgical management and had GDCs confirmed by pathology. One hundred twenty-four charts were manually reviewed, and 29 patients were included in the analysis. Interventions All patients underwent surgical management, which included vaginal excision or marsupialization. Measurements and Main Results A total of 29 patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. The median age of the patients included in the analysis was 36 years old. Eleven patients were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis (37.9%). The reason for surgical intervention was not available in 9 of these patients. Surgical intervention was performed in 2 of the 11 asymptomatic patients because of an increasing size of the lesion during observation. Presenting symptoms included dyspareunia or pain with tampon placement (37.9%), pelvic pain or pressure (24.1%), pelvic mass or bulge (17.2%), and urinary incontinence (6.9%). Preoperative imaging studies were obtained in 62% of patients; ultrasound was used in 44.4%, computed tomographic scanning in 22.2%, magnetic resonance imaging in 16.7%, and multiple modalities in 16.7%. Approximately 10% were found to have other genitourinary anomalies, including a bladder cyst, urethral diverticulum, and a solitary right kidney with uterine didelphis and septate vagina. The average cyst size was 3.5 cm (±1.8 cm). Surgical excision of GDCs was performed in all except for 3 cases of marsupialization. No intraoperative complications occurred. The median follow-up was 82 months (range, 0–246 months). One patient had possible recurrence with dyspareunia and protruding tissue diagnosed 14 months postoperatively. There were no other postoperative complications in the follow-up period. Conclusion GDCs are rare pelvic masses that are often asymptomatic but may present with dyspareunia, pelvic pain or pressure, pelvic mass or bulge, or urinary symptoms. Excision or marsupialization is successful in the majority of cases without significant morbidity.
Analysis of Monitoring Results of Bacterial Diarrhea in Xi'an City in 2007

[Objective] To investigate the occurrence,epidemiological characteristics and trends of diarrhea in Xi'an city,and explore control measures.[Methods] The stool specimens were collected from patients with acute diarrhea in 6 diarrhea sentinel surveillance hospitals in Xi'an by using anus swab,and then were Inoculated four kinds of medium(Alkaline peptone water,SS EMB and China blue plate) for detections of vibrio cholerae,salmonella,shigella and pathogenic E.coli after increasing bacteria.[Results] Among 6 diarrhea sentinel surveillance hospitals,the number of stool samples and positive rates(0~9.09%) ranged from high and low.Shigella(75.0%)and vibrio parahaemolyticus were detected in positive isolates.[Conclusion] Vibrio cholera was not detected among those positive isolates which were mainly Shigella in 2007.
Design and Realization of Synthesis Function Generator

A wave generator was designed,the 10kHz,30kHz,50kHz Sine wave were filtered out by filter the square wave,the value of Sine of 10kHz,30kHz and 50kHz is 6 v,2 v and 1 v.The square wave and triangle wave were obtained by shifting the phase of the three waves and adding.The frequency and voltage of three kinds of wave was A / D converted,the conversion results were displayed on 1 602.By using the microcontroller control LM3S811 as the control unit,through the buttons the output frequency and output voltage,phase,showing circuit were controlled.System of man-machine interface is friendly,stable,and meets the requirements.
Reasonable Standards for Contract Interpretations under the CISG

The United Nations (“UN”) Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Good (“CISG”) offers the promise of harmonizing international sales law and facilitating international trade and global commerce. But there is a “homeward trend bias” that may encourage domestic courts to construe the gaps in the CISG broadly and fill them with non-uniform domestic legal rules. Questions about contract interpretation under the CISG raise the same concerns about a homeward trend bias as questions about the interpretation of express CISG provisions. The CISG has express provisions governing contract interpretation but their application may not provide an unambiguous interpretation. This presents two risks. One is that courts might reinterpret questions to be about the validity of contracts rather than their interpretation; in that case the CISG will not apply and courts will therefore apply domestic legal rules to answer the questions. The other possibility is that courts might rule that the interpretive questions are not governed by the CISG and might therefore use private choice of law rules to identify domestic legal rules to answer the questions. Neither of these possibilities should be welcomed. Courts that use non-uniform domestic laws to answer questions about the interpretation of CISG contracts will undermine the intent and purpose of the CISG no less than courts that answer other questions about matters that should be governed by the CISG using non-uniform domestic laws. All questions about contract interpretation under CISG contracts should therefore be governed either by the CISG’s explicit provisions or by the CISG’s general principles. This essay provides an analysis of the CISG’s express contract interpretation provisions and illustrates how they can result in ambiguities. It argues that when there are ambiguities, the general principles on which the CISG is based imply that courts should interpret the contracts to promote reasonable commercial standards of fair dealing in the trade.
Native Mass Spectrometry Characterizes the Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex from the Purple Bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Native mass spectrometry (MS) is an emerging approach to study protein complexes in their near-native states and to elucidate their stoichiometry and topology. Here, we report a native MS study of the membrane-embedded reaction center (RC) protein complex from the purple photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The membrane-embedded RC protein complex is stabilized by detergent micelles in aqueous solution, directly introduced into a mass spectrometer by nano-electrospray (nESI), and freed of detergents and dissociated in the gas phase by collisional activation. As the collision energy is increased, the chlorophyll pigments are gradually released from the RC complex, suggesting that native MS introduces a near-native structure that continues to bind pigments. Two bacteriochlorophyll a pigments remain tightly bound to the RC protein at the highest collision energy. The order of pigment release and their resistance to release by gas-phase activation indicates the strength of pigment interaction in the RC complex. This investigation sets the stage for future native MS studies of membrane-embedded photosynthetic pigment–protein and related complexes.
Effects of stimulation frequency and pulse train duration on skeletal muscle ventricle performance

The potential cardiac assistance obtained from skeletal muscle ventricles (SMVs) is dependent on optimizing SMV pumping performance. Stimulation frequency, pulse train duration and the number of stimuli delivered to the muscle effect SMV performance. Results indicate that for a fixed number of stimuli, there exists an optimum combination of stimulation frequency and pulse train duration for SMV ejection.
Family child care home providers as role models for children: Cause for concern?

Abstract Health behaviors associated with chronic disease, particularly healthy eating and regular physical activity, are important role modeling opportunities for individuals working in child care programs. Prior studies have not explored these risk factors in family child care home (FCCH) providers which care for vulnerable and at-risk populations. To address this gap, we describe the socio-demographic and health risk behavior profiles in a sample of providers (n = 166 FCCH) taken from baseline data of an ongoing cluster-randomized controlled intervention (2011–2016) in North Carolina. Data were collected during on-site visits where providers completed self-administered questionnaires (socio-demographics, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, number of hours of sleep per night and perceived stress) and had their height and weight measured. A risk score (range: 0–6; 0 no risk to 6 high risk) was calculated based on how many of the following were present: not having health insurance, being overweight/obese, not meeting physical activity, fruit and vegetable, and sleep recommendations, and having high stress. Mean and frequency distributions of participant and FCCH characteristics were calculated. Close to one third (29.3%) of providers reported not having health insurance. Almost all providers (89.8%) were overweight or obese with approximately half not meeting guidelines for physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and sleep. Over half reported a “high” stress score. The mean risk score was 3.39 (± 1.2), with close to half of the providers having a risk score of 4, 5 or 6 (45.7%). These results stress the need to promote the health of these important care providers.
Hairy Cell Leukemia and Secondary Lymphoproliferative Disorders.

Abstract Prolonged immunosuppression is generally associated with an increase in incidence of lymphoid cancers. Transplant recipients, primary or genetic immunodeficiencies and patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have a known increased incidence of lymphoproliferative disorders. Patients who develop hairy cell leukemia (HCL) also have impaired immune function at the T-cell level that is present before definitive therapy. The lack of T-cell responsiveness is due to a decrease in memory T helper cells, abnormal activation of spleen T lymphocytes that behave like tumor infiltrating cells, and selection of oligoclonal T-cell populations with a very restricted and skewed T-cell repertoire. Inadequate antigen presentation may also play a role due to monocytopenia and lack of CD 28 on T-cells. Treatment with purine analogs, particularly pentostatin and cladribine, targets both resting and proliferating lymphocytes. This further impairs immune function by producing a prolonged reduction of normal lymphocytes, mainly CD4 cells, for as long as two years. There are reports of lymphoproliferative disorders as a second malignancy after treatment for HCL. However, it is not clear if treatment with purine analogs can induce second malignancies due to immune suppression. We reviewed the literature for cases of secondary lymphoproliferative disorders in patients treated with and without purine analogues for HCL. Purine analogues do not appear to have an increased risk for a secondary lymphoproliferative disorder. However, a preexisting immunosuppressed state may exist that antecedes the treatment of HCL and predisposes some patients to secondary lymphoproliferative disorders. Secondary Lymphoproliferative Disorders in Patients Treated for Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) Prior Treatment for HCL Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma Hodgkin's Lymphoma Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Multiple Myeloma Purine Analogues 16 3 2 1 Other Systemic Therapies 7 2 0 1 No Systemic Therapy 10 0 0 0 Unknown 3 1 0 0
Are psychology students getting worse at math?: Trends in the math skills of psychology statistics students across 21 years

AbstractStatistics is an important subject in psychology and social science education. However, inadequate mathematical skills can pose a barrier to learning statistics. Some educators have suggested that students’ math skills are declining. The present research examined trends in the math skills of psychology undergraduates across 21 years. Students (n = 3735) who were enrolled in an introductory psychology statistics course from 1990 to 2011 completed a pencil-and-paper math skills test. Over the 21-year period, there was a 9% decline in math skills scores and a 28% increase in the number of attempts required to pass the test. Consistent with national trends, SAT Math scores also increased by 7%; however, the pencil-and-paper math skills test was nearly twice as predictive of course performance as was the SAT. Results suggest that important math abilities have declined. Implications for statistical education in the social sciences are discussed.
Becoming Critical Communities of Practice in Pre-Kindergarten

Communities of practice seek to support all members to move from the margins of education to the center. This study draws on data collected in one diverse universal pre-kindergarten (UPK) community in West Virginia over a 4-year period as a basis for considering home-school relationships. The findings indicated that while not yet a reality in the community due to persistent challenges, there is a deep interest among educators and diverse families to support their children's educations and to develop cross-cultural understandings. Given the current community context and the role of universal pre-kindergarten as a major pathway into K-12 education, this research found that it makes sense to pursue the development of communities of practice through induction, integration and investment strategies (Hong, 2011), with UPK serving as an important site for initial induction and integration.
Early Stage Anodic Instability of Glassy Carbon Electrodes in Propylene Carbonate Solvent Containing Lithium Hexafluorophosphate

Irreversible changes to the morphology of glassy carbon (GC) electrodes at potentials between 3.5 and 4.5 V vs Li/Li+ in propylene carbonate (PC) solvent containing lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) are reported. Analysis of cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments in the range of 3.0 to 6.0 V shows that the capacitance of the electrochemical double-layer increased irreversibly beginning at potentials as low as 3.5 V. These changes resulted from nonfaradaic interactions, and were not due to oxidative electrochemical decomposition of the electrode and electrolyte, anion intercalation, nor caused by the presence of water, a common impurity in organic electrolyte solutions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images revealed that increasing the potential of a bare GC surface from 3.0 to 4.5 V resulted in a 6× increase in roughness, in good agreement with the changes in double-layer capacitance. Treating the GC surface via exposure to trichloromethylsilane vapors resulted in a stable double-layer capacitance between 3...
An MRI-compatible force sensor for measuring differential isometric precision grip force

Investigating neural correlates of fine motor control in a magnetically sensitive environment requires special considerations in sensor design. Our application requires measurement of forefinger and thumb forces during precision grip in a relatively low (< 20 N) force range. This work describes the design, characterization and performance evaluation of an MR-compatible precision grip sensor that independently measures forefinger and thumb forces. We selective laser sintered Nylon 12 into a flexure, measuring deformation using optic fibers which matches our finite element model simulation. We found that the device was capable of measuring forces within the desired range, with some hysteresis at higher frequencies as expected. We conclude that the device performs well compared to specifications.
APPLICATIONS OF AUTOMATIC PTC AMINO ACID ANALYSIS

Publisher Summary Amino acid analysis has become a deceptively simple methodology provided sufficient sample is available. However, micro-amino acid analysis remains one of the most difficult analytical procedures in protein chemistry. Amino acids vary widely in their stability/lability to acid hydrolysis, oxidation, and modification. Minor variability in hydrolysis and derivatization conditions as well as instrument performance contribute a statistical dimension to the measurement while background contributions (contamination) complicate the analysis further. This chapter presents the applications of the automatic phenylthiocarbamyl methodology to polyvinylidene difluoride immobilized samples and to tryptophan and cysteic acid analysis. Automatic hydrolysis is method of choice for amino acid analysis of most samples because of (1) reduced labor requirements and (2) improved results relative to manual hydrolysis (i.e., better accuracy and recovery). Cysteic acid (cya) analysis following oxidative hydrolysis in the presence of dimethylsulfoxide appears to be one of the easiest methods available for Cys quantification. Cya response factors derived from the analysis of standard proteins provides improved quantification..
ECS: Error-Correcting Strings for Lifetime Improvements in Nonvolatile Memories

Emerging nonvolatile memories (NVMs) suffer from low write endurance, resulting in early cell failures (hard errors), which reduce memory lifetime. It was recognized early on that conventional error-correcting codes (ECCs), which are designed for soft errors, are a poor choice for addressing hard errors in NVMs. This led to the evolution of hard error correction schemes like dynamically replicated memory (DRM), error-correcting pointers (ECPs), SAFER, FREE-p, PAYG, and Zombie memory to improve NVM lifetime. Whereas these approaches made significant inroads in addressing hard errors and low memory lifetime in NVMs, overcoming the challenges of underutilization of error-correcting resources and/or implementation overhead (e.g., codec latency, hardware support) remain areas of active research and development.This article proposes error-correcting strings (ECSs) as a high-utilization, low-latency solution for hard error correction in single-/multi-/triple-level cell (SLC/MLC/TLC) NVMs. At its core, ECS adopts a base-offset approach to store pointers to the failed memory cells; in this work, base is the address of the first failed cell in a memory block and offsets are the distances between successive failed cells in that memory block. Unlike ECP, which uses fixed-length pointers, ECS uses variable-length offsets to point to the failed cells, thereby realizing more pointers to tolerate more hard errors per memory block. Further, this article proposes eXtended-ECS (XECS), a page-level error correction architecture, which employs dynamic on-demand ECS allocation and opportunistic pattern-based data compression to improve NVM lifetime by 2× over ECP-6 for comparable overhead and negligible impact to system performance. Finally, this article demonstrates that ECS is a drop-in replacement for ECP to extend the lifetime of state-of-the-art ECP-based techniques like PAYG and Zombie memory; ECS is also compatible with MLC/TLC NVMs, where it complements drift-induced soft error reduction techniques like ECC and incomplete data mapping to simultaneously extend NVM lifetime.
Low Delay Coding of Speech and Audio Using Nonuniform Band Filter Banks

Over the last decade, analysis-synthesis systems based on maximally decimated filter banks have emerged as one of the important techniques for speech and audio coding. For speech and audio signals, the analysis-synthesis filter bank can be thought of as modeling the human auditory system, where the critical band model of aural perception is reflected in the design of the filter banks. The constraints imposed by the aural model are best met by nonuniform analysis-synthesis systems in which the bandwidths of the channels increase with increasing frequency.
Cognition and depression in children and adolescents.

There is now convincing evidence that children and adolescents can develop various forms of depressive disorders (e.g., Kovacs, Feinberg, Crouse-Novak, Paulauskas, Polluck, & Finkelstein, 1984; Ryan et al., 1987), although there is still some debate concerning whether or not there is variation in the expression of depressive symptomatology over the course of development (e.g., Carlson & Garber, 1986; Digdon & Gotlib, 1985; Weiss & Garber, 1989). The rates of diagnosable depressive disorders among children in the community range between 2 and 10 percent depending upon the age of the children considered (e.g., preschoolers versus adolescents) (Kashani, Ray, & Carlson, 1984; Kashani et al., 1983; Kashani & Simonds, 1979), and the rates of syndrome depression are even higher (between 15 and 20 percent), depending upon the criterion measure used (Kashani et al., 1983). Depression in children and adolescents is often associated with problems in academic (Fauber, Forehand, Long, Burke, & Faust, 1987; Tesiny, Lefkowitz, & Gordon, 1980) and social functioning (e.g., Altman & Gotlib, 1988; Faust, Baum, & Forehand, 1985; Puig-Antich, Lukens, Davies, Goetz, Brennan-Quattrock, & Todak, 1985), and it also may be accompanied by suicidal ideation and attempts (Brent et al., 1988;Carlson & Cantwell, 1982; Shaffer, 1986). Finally, there is increasing evidence from follow-up studies that individuals who had experienced depression during childhood or adolescence are very likely to have episodes of depression and associated dysfunction in the future (Garber, Kriss, Koch, & Lindholm, 1988; King & Pittman, 1969; Kovacs et al., 1984; Strober & Carlson, 1982). Thus, this growing literature suggests that childhood and adolescent depression is a topic of considerable clinical concern.
Information Management Systems, Especially the Automatic Anesthetic Record Keeper

The anesthetic information management system, including the automated anesthetic record (AAR), appears to be an idea whose time has come. The concepts involved with the AAR have been discussed for a long time. And for a long time we all struggled with questions such as what form(s) should it take, would anybody use it, and how should data be entered. These discussions were met with reactions ranging from polite consternation to less polite skepticism by many members of the audience, who felt that the clinical and medical legal risks of the AAR far outweighed its advantages. Times have changed. Last year at the Vail Meeting on Monitoring, there were four presentations on the AAR, a large percentage of the total presentations. This year, I have been asked to discuss the AAR four times in two months. Three years ago, only experimental systems were running in a few operating rooms. Today, entire operating suites have converted to the AAR, and a very large number of operating suites will soon convert. Several commercial systems are available, and there are rumors that the AAR may become a standard of care, much as certain monitors have. What has happened in the interim that such large changes have been wrought? The following lists some of the events that have changed the attitude towards the AAR, as well as the impact of these events.
University Mathematics Content Courses and Elementary Prospective Teachers: A Review of Research from 1990 to 2014

ABSTRACTThis project reviewed the state of the research drawing from articles published from 1990 to 2014 (25 years) with elementary prospective teachers (EPTs) as participants, who were completing university courses focused on mathematics content. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Of these studies, 11 examined noncognitive factors such as beliefs, attitudes, motivation, and identity, 10 investigated mathematical knowledge in various forms, two explored noncognitive factors and mathematical knowledge, and one examined classroom norms and mathematical justification. Nineteen of the 24 studies occurred in the context of courses categorized as involving alternative pedagogy. The analysis revealed positive changes in EPTs’ affect (e.g., beliefs, attitudes, emotions) were possible as a result of course experiences, but these shifts were sometimes difficult to come by and encountered resistance from EPTs. Some studies showed an increase in EPTs’ content knowledge across the courses,...
Building mathematics self-efficacy of STEM undergraduates through mathematical modelling

Persistence in STEM majors largely depends on persistence in mathematics, which in turn is predicted by a number of student characteristics including mathematics self-efficacy. While previous resea...
Identification of 15 Phthalate Esters in Commercial Cheese Powder via Cyclodextrin-Promoted Fluorescence Detection.

A challenge for detecting phthalates in commercial products such as cheese powders is that the composition of the products is highly complex, and current methods for detection rely on gas chromatog...
Vulvar diseases: Conditions in adults and children

The most problematic vulvovaginal conditions are familiar to dermatologists but may exhibit distinct clinical features or medication management because of the anatomic location. The second article in this continuing medical education series focuses on management pearls for treating vulvar diseases. We highlight key conditions, such as lichen sclerosus, erosive lichen planus, and vulvodynia. In addition, we review conditions that dermatologists may be less familiar with, such as plasma cell vulvitis, desquamative inflammatory vaginitis, vulvar aphthae, and low estrogen states. Nearly 1 in 6 women experience undiagnosed and untreated vulvovaginal discomfort at some point in their lives. Physicians who treat vulvar disorders will improve the quality of life of countless women.
Optimizing Additive Ratios in Alkaline Zincate Electrodeposition

Alkaline non-cyanide zinc electrogalvanizing is utilized in some plating applications. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a commercial carrier, booster, and leveler in a strong zinc (37.5 g/L) and alkaline (210 g/L) plating solution. Hull cell plating was used to assess the roles of each additive on the appearance of the zinc deposits produced from synthetic solutions. Bright white deposits were generated with several different combinations of additives at current densities of 170–420 A/m2. The zinc structures were characterized using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to understand the microstructure which produced the bright deposits in order to determine the optimal conditions leading to mirror-like deposits.
Exclusive Breastfeeding at 6 Weeks Related to Pain Self-Management, Emotion and Self-Efficacy: A Secondary Analysis of a Pilot Randomized Control Trial

Abstract Introduction Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) outcomes can vary by concomitant emotions, ongoing pain, and breastfeeding self-efficacy. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of ongoing pain with breastfeeding, concomitant emotions and breastfeeding self-efficacy scores (BSES) with EBF outcomes at 6 weeks postpartum. Design A secondary analysis of a randomized pilot trial of a home-based breastfeeding pain self-management (BSM) intervention for 56 mothers (26 BSM, 30 Control). The BSM intervention provided self-management strategies for breastfeeding and breastfeeding pain. Effect modification of EBF and associated symptoms of depression, anxiety, sleep, well-being pain severity scores, BSES, and group assignment was assessed using the likelihood ratio test. Results EBF at 6 weeks controlling for demographic covariates, the group, pain severity, anxiety and sleep were significant predictors. Mothers with every one point increase in their pain severity score and sleep score, had a decrease of 9% (OR = .91, 95%CI = [.79, .98]) and 25% (OR = .75, 95% CI = [.52, .95]) respectively and with a one point increase in the anxiety score, a 58% (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = [1.13, 2.72]) increase in the odds of EBF at week 6. Conclusion Examinations of EBF at 6 weeks should include evaluation of mothers’ ongoing pain and emotional distress, as mothers continue breastfeeding even at personal cost. Early identification and validation of breastfeeding challenges, ongoing pain, and emotional distress are needed to bolster mothers’ confidence in their breastfeeding skills, thus supporting their EBF goals. Quick points Unresolved pain during breastfeeding may affect breastfeeding self-efficacy, maternal self-efficacy and bonding The effect of maternal emotion on breast and nipple pain and breastfeeding outcomes is not consistently evaluated during breastfeeding Mothers who received breastfeeding pain self-management strategies reported higher breastfeeding self-efficacy scores and lower pain and anxiety scores Providing breastfeeding pain self-management is a pathway to increase breastfeeding self-efficacy and exclusive breastfeeding Empowering women with the skills needed to self-manage anxiety and pain by providing real-time support in the first weeks after birth support mother to reach their breastfeeding goals
What’s in a Game? Wake Working (Fantasy) Football’s Anti-Black Temporalities

For Christina Sharpe, “wake work” involves a consciousness of how Black being still operates in the afterlives of transatlantic slavery. This article invokes wake work to highlight the palatability...
Rhinovirus reduces the severity of subsequent respiratory viral infections, which is associated with dampened inflammatory responses

Abstract Coinfection by unrelated viruses in the respiratory tract is common and can result in changes in disease severity compared to infection by individual virus strains. We have previously shown that inoculation of mice with rhinovirus (RV) two days prior to inoculation with a lethal dose of influenza A virus (PR8), provides complete protection against mortality. In this study, we extend that finding to a second lethal respiratory virus, pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) and characterize the differences in inflammatory responses and host gene expression in single virus infected vs. coinfected mice. RV prevented mortality and weight loss associated with PVM infection, suggesting that RV-mediated protection is more effective against PVM than PR8. Major changes in host gene expression upon PVM infection were delayed compared to PR8, which likely provides a larger time frame for RV-induced gene expression to alter the course of disease. Overall, RV induced earlier recruitment of inflammatory cells, while these populations were reduced at later times in coinfected mice. Findings common to both coinfection conditions included upregulated expression of mucin-associated genes in RV/PR8 and RV/PVM compared to mock/PR8 and mock/PVM infected mice and dampening of inflammation-related genes late during coinfection. These findings, combined with differences in virus replication levels and disease severity, suggest that the suppression of inflammation in RV/PVM coinfected mice may be due to early suppression of viral replication, while in RV/PR8 coinfected mice may be due to a direct suppression of inflammation. Thus, a mild upper respiratory viral infection can reduce the severity of a subsequent severe viral infection in the lungs through virus-dependent mechanisms. Author Summary Respiratory viruses from diverse families co-circulate in human populations and are frequently detected within the same host. Though clinical studies suggest that coinfection by more than one unrelated respiratory virus may alter disease severity, animal models in which we can control the doses, timing, and strains of coinfecting viruses are critical to understand how coinfection affects disease severity. In this study, we compared gene expression and immune cell recruitment between two pairs of coinfecting viruses (RV/PR8 and RV/PVM) that both result in reduced severity compared to infection by PR8 or PVM alone in mice. Reduced disease severity was associated with suppression of inflammatory responses in the lungs. However, differences in disease kinetics and host and viral gene expression suggest that protection by coinfection with RV may be due to distinct molecular mechanisms.
CD11c regulates hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells under stress

β2 integrins are well-known leukocyte adhesion molecules consisting of 4 members: CD11a-d. Their known biological functions range widely from leukocyte recruitment, phagocytosis, to immunological synapse formation, but the studies have been primarily focused on CD11a and CD11b. CD11c is 1 of the 4 members and is extremely homologous to CD11b. It has been well known as a dendritic cell marker, but the characterization of its function has been limited. We found that CD11c was expressed on the short-term hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent progenitor cells. The lack of CD11c did not affect the number of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in healthy CD11c knockout mice. Different from other β2 integrin members, however, CD11c deficiency was associated with increased apoptosis and significant loss of HSPCs in sepsis and bone marrow transplantation. Although integrins are generally known for their overlapping and redundant roles, we showed that CD11c had a distinct role of regulating the expansion of HSPCs under stress. This study shows that CD11c, a well-known dendritic cell marker, is expressed on HSPCs and serves as their functional regulator. CD11c deficiency leads to the loss of HSPCs via apoptosis in sepsis and bone marrow transplantation.
Microbial community in biofilters for water reuse applications: A critical review

The combination of ozonation (O3) and biofiltration processes has become practical and desirable in advanced water reclamation for water reuse applications. However, the role of microbial community and its characteristics (source, abundance, composition, viability, structure) on treatment performance has not received the same attention in water reclamation biofilters as in other applications, such as in drinking water biofilters. Microbial community characterization of biofilters used in water reuse applications will add evidence to better understand the potential microorganisms, consequent risks, and mechanisms that will populate drinking water sources and ultimately influence public health and the environment. This critical review provides insights into O3-biofiltration as a treatment barrier with a focus on development, structure, and composition of the microbial community characteristics involved in the process. The effect of microorganism seeding by the influent before and after the biofilter and ozone oxidation effects are explored to capture the microbial ecology interactions and environmental factors affecting the media ecosystem. The findings of reviewed studies concurred in identifying Proteobacteria as the most dominant phylum. However, Proteobacteria and other phyla relative abundance differ substantially depending upon environmental factors (e.g., pH, temperature, nutrients availability, among others) gradients. In general, we found significant gaps to relate and explain the biodegradation performance and metabolic processes within the biofilter, and hence deserve future attention. We highlighted and identified key challenges and future research ideas to assure O3-biofiltration reliability as a promising barrier in advanced water treatment applications.
Allied Joint Force Commands Brunssum, and Naples

This Chapter focuses on an overview of the two operational-level headquarters responsible for overseeing the conduct of operations. The two commands, Headquarters Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (in The Netherlands), and Headquarters Allied Joint Force Command Naples (in Italy) are akin to a US Combatant Command like the US European or Central Commands. In terms of current operations, these two are responsible for recent missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, respectively. They also rotate between one another for the responsibilities for the standby readiness of NATO Response Force (NRF) operations, serving ready to respond to real-world exigencies as they surface. These include such operations as the NRF support to the Pakistan earthquake in 2005 and the Libyan air war in 2011. These commands oversee the air, land, and maritime components covered in later chapters.
Comparison of the Full-Scale Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Designs Consisting of Modified Bardenpho Process with and Without Membrane Bioreactor for Nutrient Removal: Cost Analysis

Cost estimating for wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) construction/upgrade projects is a worldwide priority and is useful for forecasting its future economic needs. On the other hand, sensitivity analysis can provide valuable information about design decisions. Nowadays, there is an increasing interest to use membrane bioreactor (MBR) for wastewater treatment. This study intends to analyze and compare the total project construction, operation labor, maintenance labor, material, chemical, energy and amortization costs of the proposed full-scale municipal WWTP configurations consisting of modified Bardenpho (5-stage biological nutrient removal) process with and without MBR for different average influent wastewater flow rates. The designs, theoretical effluents quality and costs comparison of the two WWTP configurations were reported. Results demonstrated that the application of MBR system in WWTP could result in not only higher capital cost but also higher operation and maintenance costs than conventional processes for the same average influent wastewater flow rate. In addition, the costs were enhanced with increasing the average influent wastewater flow rate.
In vivo drug discovery for tauopathy using novel zebrafish models (P4.081)

OBJECTIVE: The long-term goal of our work is to develop efficacious neuroprotective treatments for tauopathies. The objective of this study was to develop in vivo vertebrate models of tauopathy optimized for drug discovery and development. BACKGROUND: Tauopathies including PSP, CBD, Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy are common and incurable. Development of effective pharmacological therapies has been limited by lack of in vivo models that allow high-throughput discovery screens and rapid efficacy testing and structure/activity optimization against relevant neurological phenotypes. The zebrafish is a vertebrate animal model that is particularly suited to high throughput applications such as drug discovery or comparative efficacy testing and is being used increasingly for studying human neurological diseases. METHODS: We generated transgenic zebrafish that express human wild type or mutant tau conditionally at high levels and analyzed their survival, motor function and oculomotor function. RESULTS: Our novel transgenic zebrafish lines show: impaired survival; motor abnormalities demonstrable using automated video tracking methods in multiwell plates suitable for high-throughput applications; oculomotor abnormalities reminiscent of PSP; histopathological changes including somatodendritic accumulation of hyperphosphorylated Tau. These phenotypes are similar to the clinical, pathological and biochemical abnormalities that characterize human tauopathies. CONCLUSIONS: Transgenic tau zebrafish show rapid onset phenotypes representative of human disease, with robust abnormalities that can be measured using automated assays suitable for high-throughput applications. This model is optimized for drug discovery, rapid comparative testing of putative therapeutic agents, and studies to identify novel therapeutic targets. Consequently, tauopathy zebrafish will be an invaluable tool for translational studies to develop new therapies for PSP, CBD, Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Study Supported by: NINDS; CurePSP Disclosure: Dr. Burton has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bai has nothing to disclose.
Chapter 21. Recent Advances in Bone Metabolism and Osteoporosis Research

Publisher Summary Although the term “osteoporosis” (OP) is frequently used in reference to the process of abnormally accelerated bone loss (osteopenia), particularly that associated with the onset of menopause, it is, in fact, a heterogeneous disorder clinically defined as a predisposition to bone fracture. It is the pathological end result of multiple causes and risk factors that include peak bone mass prior to the onset of aging-related bone loss and, in women, its exacerbation by the loss of ovarian hormonal support. There has been an exponential growth in the fundamental knowledge of bone metabolism and how defects in this system are reflected in disorders, such as OP, Paget's disease, and osteomalacia. This chapter discusses some of the new developments in bone research at both the basic and clinical levels. The chapter explains bone metabolism with mechanistic insights that involves growth factors, cytokines, noncollagenous bone protein, bone cell estrogen receptor, proton pump, calcitonin, and superoxide. Clinical developments include current therapies and recent therapies on osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment, hormone replacement, bisphosphonates (BP), calcitonin, and thiazide therapies. Advancements in clinical and preclinical research have resulted in tests for the identification of antiresorptive agents, bone formation inducing agents, bisphosphonate modes of action, enzyme inhibitors, prostaglandins, and other agents.
Identification under Frequency Domain Bounded Dynamical Perturbations

A parameter identification task, motivated by the study of robust adaptive control, is examined. The received signal is assumed to be corrupted not by stochastic noise, but by the presence of a linear dynamical operator which is unknown except for certain frequency domain bounds. The corruption may enter in an additive form, a multiplicative form, or both. The simplest case is found to be the case of additive perturbations to the identification signals, which arise from stable factor perturbations of the system dynamics. A general parametric identification scheme is proposed, and a specialization is defined for each of the three forms of measurement corruption. Abstract conditions are obtained under which the parameter vector estimate converges to a neighborhood of the true parameter vector. Application of these conditions is illustrated through the use of a Long Observation Time analysis.
Model Checking: From Tools to Theory

Model checking is often cited as a success story for transitioning and engineering ideas rooted in logics and automata to practice. In this paper, we discuss how the efforts aimed at improving the scope and effectiveness of model checking tools have revived the study of logics and automata leading to unexpected theoretical advances whose impact is not limited to model checking. In particular, we describe how our efforts to add context-free specifications to software model checking led us to the model of nested wordsas a representation of data with both a linear ordering and a hierarchically nested matching of items. Such dual structure occurs in diverse corners of computer science ranging from executions of structured programs where there is a well-nested matching of entries to and exits from functions and procedures, to XML documents with the hierarchical structure specified by start-tags matched with end-tags. Finite-state acceptors of nested words define the class of regular languages of nested words that has all the appealing theoretical properties that the class of regular word languages enjoys. We review the emerging theory of nested words, its extension to nested trees, and its potential applications.
Time borrowing and clock skew scheduling effects on multi-phase level-sensitive circuits

This paper addresses the effects of time borrowing and clock skew scheduling on level-sensitive synchronous circuits. Synchronization of level-sensitive circuits can be accomplished through single-phase or multi-phase clocking schemes. This paper expands previous single-phase clock signal analysis to include multiphase clock signal synchronization. The tradeoffs of synchronous circuit operation with different types of registers and synchronization schemes are analyzed. The presented timing analysis problem specifically targets clock period minimization. The modified big M method is used to linearize the formulation of the timing analysis problem and experiments are performed on the ISCAS'89 benchmark circuits. For single and multi-phase level-sensitive circuits, up to 63% and 62% improvements, respectively, over conventional zero-skew, flip-flop based circuits are achieved through the simultaneous application of both time borrowing and non-zero clock skew scheduling.
Mathematical Considerations in the Design of Microreactor-Based DNA Computers

DNA-based computation in microreactors allows the use of smaller volumes and simplifies automation, reducing both cost and time commitments. We examine ways to construct and implement small microreactor systems implementing analogues of the Boolean functions AND and OR. Relative positions of microreactors (in series and in parallel) are considered, as are different methods of recovery of solution strands, i.e. either from the fraction specifically retained in the microreactor (positive selection) or allowed to pass through after non-solution strands are removed (negative selection). Primary consideration is given to the overall accuracy of the system implementing the functions, and a secondary concern for the OR function is a balanced representation of correct solution strands in the final pool. We conclude that positive selection should confer higher accuracy than negative selection and that both AND and OR functions are better implemented by microreactors arranged in series.
Mobilization of sarcoplasmic reticulum stores by hypoxia leads to consequent activation of capacitative Ca2+ entry in isolated canine pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells.

Capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) has been speculated to contribute to Ca2+ influx during hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). The aim of the present study was to directly test if acute hypoxia causes intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) rises through CCE in canine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). In PASMCs loaded with fura-2, hypoxia produced a transient rise in [Ca2+]i in Ca2+-free solution, indicating Ca2+ release from the intracellular Ca2+ stores. Subsequent addition of 2 mm Ca2+ in hypoxia elicited a sustained rise in [Ca2+]i, which was partially inhibited by 10 μm nisoldipine. The dihydropyridine-insensitive rise in [Ca2+]i was due to increased Ca2+ influx, because it was abolished in Ca2+-free solution and hypoxia was shown to significantly enhance the rate of Mn2+ quench of fura-2 fluorescence. The dihyropyridine-insensitive rise in [Ca2+]i and the increased rate of Mn2+ quench of fura-2 fluorescence were inhibited by 50 μm SKF 96365 and 500 μm Ni2+, but not by 100 μm La3+ or 100 μm Gd3+, exhibiting pharmacological properties characteristic of CCE. In addition, predepletion of the intracellular Ca2+ stores inhibited the rise in [Ca2+]i induced by hypoxia. These results provide the first direct evidence that acute hypoxia, by causing Ca2+ release from the intracellular stores, activates CCE in isolated canine PASMCs, which may contribute to HPV.
Bullish or Bearish

The sentiment of newsletter writers, whether bullish or bearish, does not forecast future returns, but past returns and the volatility of those returns do affect sentiment. High returns over four-week periods are associated with a migration of newsletter writers from the bearish camp into the bullish camp. High returns over periods of 26 and 52 weeks are associated with “nervous bullishness”—a migration of newsletter writers from the bearish camp into both the bullish and the correction camps. High volatility, instead of scaring newsletter writers into bearishness, reduces the effects of both positive and negative returns on sentiment. Also, contrary to a popular hypothesis, the crash of 1987 had no significant effect on the pattern of forecasts.