cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phage as a molecular recognition element in biosensors immobilized by physical adsorption.

Biosensors based on landscape phages immobilized by physical adsorption on the surface of a quartz crystal microbalance was used for detection of -galactosidase from Escherichia coli. The sensor had a detection limit of a few nanomoles and a response time of a ∼100 s over the range of 0.003–210 nM. The binding dose–response curve had a typical sigmoid shape and the signal was saturated at the -galactosidase concentration of about 200 nM. A marked selectivity for -galactosidase over BSA was observed in mixed solutions even when the concentration of BSA exceeded the concentration of -galactosidase by a factor of ∼2000. The apparent value of the dissociation constant (Kd) of the interaction of free phage with -galactosidase (9.1 ± 0.9 pM) was smaller compared with the one calculated for the bound phage (1.7 ± 0.5 nM). The binding was specific with three binding sites needed to bind a single molecule of -galactosidase. The Kd obtained from the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the phage and the monoclonal anti--galactosidase antibodies were 21 ± 2 and 26 ± 2 nM, respectively. Although the method of physical adsorption is simpler and more economical in comparison with Langmuir–Blodgett and molecular assembling methods the performances of the sensors made by these technologies compare well. This work provides evidence that phage can be used as a recognition element in biosensors using physical adsorption method for immobilization of phage on the sensor surface.
Husband's Characteristics and Marital Disruption in Black Families*

Throughout the 1960s and the 1970s a great deal of scholarly and popular literature has addressed the status of blacks in American society, some of it concerned with the stability of black family life. This paper, concerned with the relationship between husband's characteristics and marital disruption, focuses on 575 intact black families and identifies several factors associated with disruption. Although husband's age is the strongest bivariate predictor of marital disruption, husband's income is the most important predictor; and husband's employment problems and religiosity are also strong predictors. A causal model of marital disruption shows that education, employment and age at marriage influence marital disruption through their influence on income. Only age, income and religiosity had a significant direct effect.
Spatiotemporal reconstruction of list-mode PET data

We describe a method for computing a continuous time estimate of tracer density using list-mode positron emission tomography data. The rate function in each voxel is modeled as an inhomogeneous Poisson process whose rate function can be represented using a cubic B-spline basis. The rate functions are estimated by maximizing the likelihood of the arrival times of detected photon pairs over the control vertices of the spline, modified by quadratic spatial and temporal smoothness penalties and a penalty term to enforce nonnegativity. Randoms rate functions are estimated by assuming independence between the spatial and temporal randoms distributions. Similarly, scatter rate functions are estimated by assuming spatiotemporal independence and that the temporal distribution of the scatter is proportional to the temporal distribution of the trues. A quantitative evaluation was performed using simulated data and the method is also demonstrated in a human study using /sup 11/C-raclopride.
Stationary cost densities for optimally controlled stochastic systems

Exclusive concern with mean utility has often masked the intrinsically probabilistic nature of the performance of an optimally controlled stochastic system. For a class of linear jump parameter systems, a design algorithm is presented for evaluating the stationary probability distribution of the utility function for the optimal closed loop system.
Regional Variations in U.S. Diurnal Temperature Range for the 11–14 September 2001 Aircraft Groundings: Evidence of Jet Contrail Influence on Climate

The grounding of all commercial aircraft within U.S. airspace for the 3-day period following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks provides a unique opportunity to study the potential role of jet aircraft contrails in climate. Contrails are most similar to natural cirrus clouds due to their high altitude and strong ability to efficiently reduce outgoing infrared radiation. However, they typically have a higher albedo than cirrus; thus, they are better at reducing the surface receipt of incoming solar radiation. These contrail characteristics potentially suppress the diurnal temperature range (DTR) when contrail coverage is both widespread and relatively long lasting over a specific region. During the 11‐14 September 2001 grounding period natural clouds and contrails were noticeably absent on high-resolution satellite imagery across the regions that typically receive abundant contrail coverage. A previous analysis of temperature data for the grounding period reported an anomalous increase in the U.S.-averaged, 3-day DTR value. Here, the spatial variation of the DTR anomalies as well as the separate contributions from the maximum and minimum temperature departures are analyzed. These analyses are undertaken to better evaluate the role of jet contrail absence and synoptic weather patterns during the grounding period on the DTR anomalies. It is shown that the largest DTR increases occurred in regions where contrail coverage is typically most prevalent during the fall season (from satellite-based contrail observations for the 1977‐79 and 2000‐01 periods). These DTR increases occurred even in those areas reporting positive departures of tropospheric humidity, which may reduce DTR, during the grounding period. Also, there was an asymmetric departure from the normal maximum and minimum temperatures suggesting that daytime temperatures responded more to contrail absence than did nighttime temperatures, which responded more to synoptic conditions. The application of a statistical model that ‘‘retro-predicts’’ contrail-favored areas (CFAs) on the basis of upper-tropospheric meteorological conditions existing during the grounding period, supports the role of contrail absence in the surface temperature anomalies; especially for the western United States. Along with previous studies comparing surface climate data at stations beneath major flight paths with those farther away, the regionalization of the DTR anomalies during the September 2001 ‘‘control’’ period implies that contrails have been helping to decrease DTR in areas where they are most abundant, at least during the early fall season.
Rebuilding The Barriers: The Trend In Employment Discrimination Class Actions

The thesis of this article is that restrictive certification, as predicted early on, is draining the life out of Title VII. Class actions are a necessary tool to vindicate Title VII rights, and the courts should not eliminate such actions in deference to a false assumption that only a person with the same claim as the class can be an adequate representative. The courts are expecting a perfect class representative, thus ignoring the realities of Title VII litigation. It is difficult for anyone to sue his or her employer. Class representatives are not as likely to present themselves in such suits as in other litigation. Furthermore, only the largest employers employ enough people with identical current claims to fill a class. Therefore, the present trend must be reversed. If class actions are to be a viable tool in the enforcement of Title VII, the courts must be willing to certify smaller classes and to accept as a class representative one whose claims are related, but not identical, to the claims of the class.This article analyzes the present trend in a historical context and suggests solutions which allow the courts to take into consideration the problems the Title VII plaintiff faces, while assuring compliance with Rule 23.
North Central and the Expansion of Code Sec. 1031(f) Related-Party Exchange Rules

In North Central Rental & Leasing, LLC v. United States, the Eighth Circuit held that an exchange that involved an equipment leasing company and its related-party equipment dealer did not qualify for Code Sec. 1031 nonrecognition. This is yet another example of courts denying Code Sec. 1031 nonrecognition to related-party exchanges. In this instance, however, the court appears to have expanded the related-party rules to extend beyond the scope envisioned by Congress. This Article examines the Eighth Circuit’s decision and illustrates how the holding extends Code Sec. 1031(f) beyond the bounds Congress intended.
Rule of Law Indicators as a Technology of Power in Romania

Rule of law indicators are relatively new technologies of governance that promise objectivity, efficiency, transparency and consistency. This paper examines rule of law indicators as a technology of power in Romania and identifies two main discourses. First, rule of law indicators are a technology of control by the European Union through the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. Its disciplinary effects include (re)defining the rule of law as anti-corruption and judicial reform. Second, rule of law indicators are a technology of reform deployed by state and civil society actors unevenly and within distinct reformation domains. This domestic mobilization depends upon indicators’ value added and ability to deliver on promises of objectivity and impartiality.
Notes on New Species of Ustilaginales

The descriptions of the following ten new species and one new combination are based on specimens sent to the author by members of the Union Department of Agriculture, Pretoria, Union of South Africa, and by Ross W. Davidson of the office of Mycology and Disease Survey, United States Department of Agriculture. The specimens from the United States Depart? ment of Agriculture are from collections made by Mrs. Agnes Chase in Brazil and she has determined all hosts originating from Brazil.
Apparent Male Defense of Tree Hollows in the Fruit Bat, Artibeus jamaicensis

In the forests of central Panama and western Mexico, Artibeus jamaicensis roost during the day in foliage and inside hollow trees. Foliage roosts were generally occupied by solitary males or groups of 2 to 3 male and juvenile bats. Hole roosts contained 4 to 11 females, their young, and invariably a single adult male. The composition of day roosting groups suggests a harem mating organization based on male defense of hole roosts used by females.
Tissue Engineering, Stem Cells, and Cloning: Current Concepts and Future Trends

Tissue engineering efforts are currently underway for virtually every type of tissue and organ within the human body. As tissue engineering incorporates the fields of cell transplantation, materials science, and engineering, personnel who have mastered the techniques of cell harvest, culture, expansion, transplantation, as well as polymer design are essential for the successful application of this technology. Various engineered tissues are at different stages of development, with some already being used clinically, a few in preclinical trials, and some in the discovery stage. Recent progress suggests that engineered tissues may have an expanded clinical applicability in the future as they represent a viable therapeutic option for those requiring tissue replacement. More recently, major advances in the areas of stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and nuclear transfer techniques have made it possible to combine these technologies to create the comprehensive scientific field of regenerative medicine.
Politics, legislation and archaeology: A New South Wales case study

This thesis examined the political influences on protective legislation of archaeological resources. Pluralist theory was borrowed from political science to produce a critique on the changes by examining the reasons behind these changes. Through identification and comparison of 'pressure groups', how and why the legislation changed was shown. The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) was used as a case study to historically analyse the influence of pressure groups in New South Wales. My analysis allows archaeologists to develop a political perspective on legislative change and participate more effectively in the legislative process. The proposed amendments to the National Parks and Wildlife Act reflect that social perspectives are changing. The National Parks and Wildlife (Aboriginal Ownership) bills have purported to give Aboriginal communities ownership of culturally significant areas. To date, these amendments have had trouble being passed. Such legislation, once passed, will undoubtedly have an impact on archaeology and cultural resource management in Australia Significantly, if the bills are left unpassed, this impact will be considerably greater. It was concluded that the National Park and Wildlife Act had developed in three chronological stages. From these it was seen that Aboriginal pressure groups were by far the most influential in initiating change. Among these changes, the most important was that the 'universality' of Aboriginal cultural heritage is being broadened. Archaeologists were left in a reactive role to all changes. Â
Discussion of "Long-Run Risks and Risk Compensation in Equity Markets"

1. SUMMARY Bansal and his co-authors have produced a series of important and provocative papers that demonstrate how low-frequency risk can provide a justification for observed risk premia. Bansal summarizes this work and helps us understand the linkages between long-run risk in consumption and long-run risk in financial securities. Since he does such a nice job of explaining the economics of the approach, I focus on a few issues raised by Bansal's work and by some of my own. 2. A LOW-FREQUENCY COMPONENT IN CONSUMPTION? An important aspect of the model of Bansal and Yaron (2004) is the presence of a low- frequency component in aggregate consumption. Shocks to the level of consumption are persistent, as are shocks to volatility. A substantial and time-varying equity premium results when dividends display exposure to the shocks. It is natural to ask whether there is any empirical support for the assumed model of consumption. As Bansal argues, one piece of evidence may come from financial markets. Agents could use the model's structure along with signals from asset prices to detect the low-frequency component. This may take the rational expectations assumption to an untenable position, however. Unless agents directly observe the low-frequency shocks driving consumption, it is not clear how the shocks could be reflected in security prices. Appealing to the standard idea that the econometrician observes a smaller information set than agents is also a little delicate in this context. In the model of preferences con- sidered by Bansal and Yaron (2004), the exact conditioning information of the agents is needed in order to derive the implications of the model.
A New Exploration in Mesoscopic Brain Dynamics

This paper epistemologically and methodologically analyzes the new research program in neuroscience, in which the American neuroscientist, Walter J. Freeman, treats with the phenomena of Mesoscopic Brain Dynamics by Nonlinear Stochastic Chaos Theory. The author maintains that Freeman's emergence mode of neural network is significant for getting rid of mind-body dualism and reductionism.
Prophylactic acyclovir effectively reduces herpes simplex virus type 1 reactivation after exposure of latently infected mice to ultraviolet B.

Purpose To determine the potential efficacy and anatomic sites of action of prophylactic oral acyclovir using a murine model of ultraviolet-B-induced reactivation of herpes simplex 1 keratitis. Methods Latent infection with herpes simplex 1 (McKrae) was established in 80 National Institutes of Health inbred strain of mice. Forty of the mice were given acyclovir orally and the other 40 latently infected mice served as controls. Mice were exposed to 250 mJ/cm2 of ultraviolet-B radiation and killed on days 1, 2, 3, and 4 after ultraviolet-B radiation. Trigeminal ganglia and eyes from these mice were homogenized and incubated on Vero cell monolayers for recovery of reactivated virus. Results Based on the recovery of infectious virus after ultraviolet-B in treated versus control groups, acyclovir effectively reduced detectable viral reactivation at both the ocular level (P = 0.003) and the ganglionic level (P = 0.025). The numbers of viral culture-positive eye and trigeminal ganglia homogenates in the control group were 11 and 6 out of 40, respectively, compared to 1 and 0 out of 40 culture-positive eye and trigeminal ganglia homogenates in the acyclovir treated mice. Therapeutic serum levels of acyclovir were confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography. In the acyclovir-tested group, the single case of viral break-through at the ocular surface was not an acyclovir-resistant mutant. Conclusion Prophylactic acyclovir effectively reduces the incidence of herpes simplex virus-1 reactivation after ultraviolet-B-induced reactivation in National Institutes of Health inbred strain of mice.
TH-E-202-03: PET for Tumor Response Evaluation

PET/CT is a very important imaging tool in the management of oncology patients. PET/CT has been applied for treatment planning and response evaluation in radiation therapy. This educational session will discuss: 1.Pitfalls and remedies in PET/CT imaging for RT planning 2.The use of hypoxia PET imaging for radiotherapy 3.PET for tumor response evaluation The first presentation will address the issue of mis-registration between the CT and PET images in the thorax and the abdomen. We will discuss the challenges of respiratory gating and introduce an average CT technique to improve the registration for dose calculation and image-guidance in radiation therapy. The second presentation will discuss the use of hypoxia PET Imaging for radiation therapy. We will discuss various hypoxia radiotracers, the choice of clinical acquisition protocol (in particular a single late static acquisition versus a dynamic acquisition), and the compartmental modeling with different transfer rate constants explained. We will demonstrate applications of hypoxia imaging for dose escalation/de-escalation in clinical trials. The last presentation will discuss the use of PET/CT for tumor response evaluation. We will discuss anatomic response assessment vs. metabolic response assessment, visual evaluation and semi-quantitative evaluation, and limitations of current PET/CT assessment. We will summarize clinical trials using PET response in guiding adaptive radiotherapy. Finally, we will summarize recent advancements in PET/CT radiomics and non-FDG PET tracers for response assessment. Learning Objectives: 1.Identify the causes of mis-registration of CT and PET images in PET/CT, and review the strategies to remedy the issue. 2.Understand the basics of PET imaging of tumor hypoxia (radiotracers, how PET measures the hypoxia selective uptake, imaging protocols, applications in chemo-radiation therapy). 3.Understand the basics of dynamic PET imaging, compartmental modeling and parametric images. 4.Understand the basics of using FDG PET/CT for tumor response evaluation. 5.Learn about recent advancement in PET/CT radiomics and non-FDG PET tracers for response assessment. This work was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute Grants R01CA172638.; W. Lu, This work was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute Grants R01CA172638.
Introduction to the Forum on When and Whether Psychological Research is Ready for Use in the Justice System

In this introduction to the forum, we consider the conceptual and historical context in which psychologists decide when (or whether) their research results are ready for use in the justice system. Topics covered in the forum include the accuracy of police officers when they are crime witnesses; research on eyewitness identifications; and studies of lie detection and interrogation procedures.
Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease by control of beta-amyloid production in the periphery

Abstract Using a novel approach for identification of disease modifier genes, it was demonstrated that the level of expression of the Presenilin2 gene by the liver regulates the accumulation of pathogenic concentrations of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-initiating beta-amyloid within the brain. The anti-leukemia therapeutic imatinib (trade name Gleevec), which does not cross the blood-brain barrier, reduced liver production of beta-amyloid and lowered its accumulation in the brain below pathogenic levels. These observations suggest that Alzheimer’s disease is preventable. The imatinib-related compound, imatinib para-diaminomethylbenzene trihydrochloride, is more than three-fold more potent in inhibiting beta-amyloid production than imatinib and exhibits only 1/16th of the activity of imatinib in the inhibition of Abl kinase (the imatinib target in leukemia), resulting in a selectivity ratio of nearly 60 for the AD indication. These studies suggest that prophylactic reduction of beta-amyloid at the site of its production in the livers of aging humans has the potential to lower the incidence AD and point to the identity of a drug that can accomplish that goal.
Analyzing Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography Images Using Differential Spatial Pyramid Matching

Spatial pyramid matching (SPM) has achieved impressive successes in analyzing and classifying images across several domains. SPM computes a similarity measure over images by using bag of words similarity score over different levels of coarseness of the images. In this paper we propose a novel, simple approach based on SPM, differential SPM (DSPM) that incorporates finer differences among images while determining image similarity. The approach propagates the differences seen at fine levels to dampen the similarity observed at the coarser levels, thereby highlighting differences among images at small, localized regions. The resulting similarity scores among images can better separate images that match at coarse levels, but have subtle differences. DSPM integrated with K-nearest neighbor classification approaches was used to identify and analyze retinal Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images containing normal retinal scans as well as those from subjects with AMD (age-related macular degeneration) and DME (diabetic macular edema). The proposed approach achieved higher classification accuracy with smaller training overheads in comparison to SPM in all cases in our experiments.
Anchoring a Terrain: Landscape Beyond Urbanism

Is Philadelphia a cohesive and exclusive unit, a separate existence that lends itself to the idea of a city and the essence of urban; or is it an open and dynamic terrain on which people, but also other species and, more broadly, actors, including water, anchor? If by the first reading Philadelphia is seen as an urban entity seeded by William Penn in 1682 with a layout that today is considered the center of its place and its plan, by the second it is seen as a place of multiple anchors. Each anchor generates trajectories that are not necessarily traceable to Penn’s layout. Indeed Penn’s initiative is merely one of many in this terrain, one that has tended to dominate. This paper lays a ground for seeing Philadelphia as the subject of a plural history and a mode of intervening toward the future that is intrinsically resilient, agile and tenacious, qualities that are important in a time of increasing openness, complexity, ambiguity, and uncertainty when foresight and control of singular entities like cities are even more elusive than ever before.
Early Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions in Childhood Cancer Survivors.

Purpose of Review Childhood cancer survivors experience excessive weight gain early in treatment. Lifestyle interventions need to be initiated early in cancer care to prevent the early onset of obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We reviewed the existing literature on early lifestyle interventions in childhood cancer survivors and consider implications for clinical care.
The Bonding of Quantum Physics with Quantum Chemistry

The bond that developed between quantum physics and quantum chemistry, that led to the award of a big chemistry prize to the physicist Walter Kohn in 1998, developed not without trial. Here I give an account of it. An element in this bond has been a friendship between Walter Kohn and me. My having reached 80 first, he has already kindly spoken of this1 Now it is my turn.
Member-Created Participatory Paradoxes in Church Decision Making

ABSTRACTChurch organizations provide a unique perspective from which to study participation and paradox. While participatory paradoxes to date focus on paradoxes created by leaders for members, it is important to remember that organizing is co-constructed between leaders and members. It is, therefore, also important to study how members create paradoxes for leaders. Church organizations shed light on the embedded nature of paradoxes. The purpose of this study is to explore member-created leadership paradoxes during decision-making events in a church organization. Qualitative methods guided this research. Three member-created paradoxes were discovered: the organizing paradox, the information paradox, and the involvement paradox. Future research should study members of multiple churches to determine how paradoxes in participation exist within different organizations.
Patient-centered medical home and integrated care in the United States: An opportunity to maximize delivery of primary care

The reciprocal relationship between mental and physical health is well established. Undiagnosed, untreated, and poorly managed mental health conditions are associated with numerous physical health complications, poor treatment adherence, and decreased quality of life. Despite growing evidence regarding the importance of effectively addressing these conditions in primary care, the rates of identification remain low and follow-up and management by primary care providers has been criticized. The objective of this review was to demonstrate the role of Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and mental health integration in addressing comprehensive health care needs in primary care patients, and to describe common barriers and facilitators to the implementation of these types of programs.
Talent and force: A Bakhtinian Reading of "Mountains beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder

What challenges and imports do Mikhail Bakhtin's dialogics-the belief that a novel should be polyphonic and resist a closed view of meaning presented through a single voice-carry for an increasingly globalized world? How could/should contemporary writers respond to these challenges? These questions are particularly relevant for literary nonfiction and travel writers who are concerned with not reducing a people or place to a single authorial perspective, especially one from the outside. Pulitzer Prize winning author Tracy Kidder provides an example of a polyphonic work in his book "Mountains Beyond Mountains", which follows the life and career of physician and anthropologist Paul Farmer. Kidder renders Farmer's life by showing scenes of Farmer with his patients, using exposition to describe Farmer's relationships with his family and friends, summarizing his academic and intellectual life, employing dialogue to show his unique idiosyncrasies, and using himself, the writer, as an antihero. His approach of including multiple voices, of which his is just one among many, is an important example for how an author can "to an extraordinary extent broaden, deepen and rearrange this consciousness... in order to accommodate the consciousness of others" and hence provide a paradigm for global writers to come (Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics 59).
Alternatives in Community and Resource Development

T HE goals of community and resource development are frequently considered to be the improvement of incomes and the quantity and quality of goods and services available to people living in a given area [1]. Attainment of such goals requires evaluation of the alternatives by which these aspirations can be reached. Such study implies the availability of information permitting comparison of the possible means of development. In most instances, knowledge must be drawn from studies and experiences at different points in time. Planning groups, trying to determine the most appropriate development path for their area, find little to reduce their uncertainty. In order to provide a better basis for such decisions, a study was undertaken to determine how growth in a particular industry would affect total output of all industries in the area. The objectives of the study included (1) determining the industrial composition of the area and (2) developing a conceptual model which would describe, explain, and estimate effects of increasing demand in one sector on the total economy.
A Delicate Handoff: Improving Transfer of Care from the Neurologic Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to Non-ICU Neurologic Hospital Services (P05.009)

OBJECTIVE: To implement a standardized documentation template for physician use during transfer from the neurosciences intensive care unit (ICU) to non-ICU neurology hospital services. BACKGROUND: Transfer of neurologic patients from an ICU to hospital services is a complex process leading to discontinuity in care with potential for errors. DESIGN/METHODS: A survey methodology was used to identify problem areas in the Neurosciences ICU to non-ICU transfer process. A standardized documentation template was developed with sections addressing medication reconciliation, urinary catheter use, vital sign parameters, rehabilitation consultation and outstanding test results. Physicians during the three-month intervention period were trained to incorporate elements of the template into the transfer note. Physician satisfaction regarding the transfer process was assessed before and after intervention. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 37.5% pre-intervention and 19% post-intervention. The compliance rate of the standardized transfer template was 93%. Overall, satisfaction with the transfer process by accepting physicians was unchanged in the post-intervention period (p=0.34). There was a significant decline in the average number of patient transfers with urinary catheter (1.74 to 0.79; p=0.04), but not in the number of times that medications had not been reconciled (1.84 to 1.26; p=0.20). The majority of accepting physicians felt that the transfer template made documentation easier to complete (74%) and saved time for the physician in the transfer process (95%). Of accepting physicians, 84% felt that the template should continue, with the most useful aspects being medication reconciliation and reducing urinary catheter use. Of transferring physicians, 88% felt that the template reminded them to address an issue prior to patient transfer. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of standardized documentation for the transfer of neurologic patients from the ICU to the non-ICU hospital services was beneficial to both transferring and accepting physicians, and decreased the number of patients transferred with urinary catheters, potentially preventing infections. Disclosure: Dr. Morparia has nothing to disclose. Dr. Coon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Fabris has nothing to disclose. Dr. Klaas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Burkholder has nothing to disclose. Dr. Broomall has nothing to disclose. Dr. Graff-Radford has nothing to disclose. Dr. Moore has nothing to disclose. Dr. Morita has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rubin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Britton has nothing to disclose.
A recombinant multi-antigen vaccine with broad protection potential against avian pathogenic Escherichia coli

Chickens are a major source of protein worldwide, yet infectious diseases continue to threaten the poultry industry. Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), a subgroup of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), causes colibacillosis in chickens resulting in economic loss because of treatment, condemnation of products, and death. In this study, we evaluated a recombinant antigens (rAg) vaccine combining common ExPEC surface proteins EtsC, OmpA, OmpT, and TraT for broad protective potential against APEC infections in chickens. The specific objectives were to evaluate antibody (serum) and cytokines (lymphoid organs) responses to vaccination; in vitro bactericidal ability of serum and splenocytes against multiple APEC serotypes; and in vivo protection against APEC challenge in chickens. Groups of four-day old chickens (N = 10) were vaccinated twice (two-week interval) subcutaneously with rAgs alone or in combination and CpG adjuvant or PBS (control). IgY antibody in the serum and mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, IFN-γ, IL-4, IFN-β, and IL-8 in bursa, spleen, and thymus were measured using ELISA and RT-qPCR, respectively. Serum and splenocytes were tested for their bactericidal ability in vitro against multiple APEC isolates. Vaccinated and non-vaccinated chickens were challenged with 108 CFU of APEC-O2 via air sac at 31 days post first vaccination. Vaccine protection was determined by the decrease of bacterial loads in blood and organs (lung, heart, spleen, and liver), as well as gross colibacillosis lesion scores in air sac, heart, and liver. Vaccination significantly (P < 0.05) elicited IgY against specific antigens, induced immune related mRNA expression in the spleen and bursa, reduced in vitro growth of multiple APEC serotypes, and decreased bacterial loads in the heart and spleen, and gross lesion scores of the air sac, heart and liver in chickens. The vaccine reported may be used to provide broad protection against APEC strains, increasing animal welfare and food production.
MAVEN Observations of the Effects of Crustal Magnetic Fields on Electron Density and Temperature in the Martian Dayside Ionosphere

Mars lacks a global magnetic field but possesses concentrated regions of crustal magnetic field that influence the planet's interaction with the solar wind and the structure of the Martian ionosphere. In this study we survey 17 months of MAVEN Langmuir Probe and Waves dayside electron density and temperature measurements to study how these quantities are affected in regions with strong crustal magnetic fields. Above 200 km altitude, we find that regions of strong crustal magnetic fields feature cooler electron temperatures and enhanced electron densities compared to regions with little or no crustal magnetic field. Neutral densities and temperatures are not significantly affected. Closed field lines on which electrons can be trapped are more prevalent in strong crustal field regions than elsewhere. Trapped on closed field lines, electrons are protected against loss processes involving the solar wind. This would lead to longer plasma lifetimes, higher densities, and lower temperatures.
CO2-expanded nanofiber scaffolds maintain activity of encapsulated bioactive materials and promote cellular infiltration and positive host response.

Abstract Traditional electrospun nanofiber membranes were incapable of promoting cellular infiltration due to its intrinsic property (e.g., dense structure and small pore size) limiting their use in tissue regeneration. Herein, we report a simple and novel approach for expanding traditional nanofiber membranes from two-dimensional to three-dimensional (3D) with controlled thickness and porosity via depressurization of subcritical CO2 fluid. The expanded 3D nanofiber scaffolds formed layered structures and simultaneously maintained the aligned nanotopographic cues. The 3D scaffolds also retained the fluorescent intensity of encapsulated coumarin 6 and the antibacterial activity of encapsulated antimicrobial peptide LL-37. In addition, the expanded 3D nanofiber scaffolds with arrayed holes can significantly promote cellular infiltration and neotissue formation after subcutaneous implantation compared to traditional nanofiber membranes. Such scaffolds also significantly increased the blood vessel formation and the ratio of M2/M1 macrophages after subcutaneous implantation for 2 and 4 weeks compared to traditional nanofiber membranes. Together, the presented method holds great potential in the fabrication of functional 3D nanofiber scaffolds for various applications including engineering 3D in vitro tissue models, antimicrobial wound dressing, and repairing/regenerating tissues in vivo. Statement of Significance Electrospun nanofibers have been widely used in regenerative medicine due to its biomimicry property. However, most of studies are limited to the use of 2D electrospun nanofiber membranes. To the best of our knowledge, this article is the first instance of the transformation of traditional electrospun nanofiber membranes from 2D to 3D via depressurization of subcritical CO2 fluid. This method eliminates many issues associated with previous approaches such as necessitating the use of aqueous solutions and chemical reactions, multiple-step process, loss of the activity of encapsulated biological molecules, and unable to expand electrospun nanofiber mats made of hydrophilic polymers. Results indicate that these CO2 expanded nanofiber scaffolds can maintain the activity of encapsulated biological molecules. Further, the CO2 expanded nanofiber scaffolds with arrayed holes can greatly promote cellular infiltration, neovascularization, and positive host response after subcutaneous implantation in rats. The current work is the first study elucidating such a simple and novel strategy for fabrication of 3D nanofiber scaffolds.
A systematic review on CO2 capture with ionic liquids: Current status and future prospects

Abstract Global warming due to the emission of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), has a significant effect on the climate change and has become a widespread concern in the recent years. Carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) strategy appears to be effective in decreasing the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere. Despite a great progress in this field, there are still major limitations in commercialized the CO2 capture methods that rely on absorption phenomena. High capital costs of for the CO2 capture, low absorption and desorption rates (which require large facilities), solvent losses due to evaporation, and the use of corrosive solvents are among main obstructions. Recently, CO2 capture with ionic liquids (ILs) has appreciably attracted researchers’ attention. The distinct properties of ILs such as negligible vapor pressure and their affinity to capture the CO2 molecules make them a feasible alternative for currently available solvents including, different amines. This paper covers a brief review of previous engineering and research works on various CO2 capture techniques, the description of CO2 capture process using ILs, mechanisms of the CO2 capture with ILs at molecular level, CO2 and ILs properties, characterization of the CO2/IL systems, impacts of operating and fluids conditions on CO2 absorption capacity by ILs, and CO2 solubility and selectivity in ILs. Moreover, the technical and economic aspects of the CO2 capture with ILs, screening criteria for ILs/CO2 systems, and important results obtained from previous studies will form the last parts of this manuscript. This review offers a proper/systematic guideline that assists researchers and engineers to comprehensively understand and to effectively design the CO2/ILs processes, focusing on the thermodynamic and mass transfer aspects.
Glia-mediated modulation of extracellular potassium concentration determines the sexually dimorphic output frequency of a model brainstem oscillator.

Abstract Sexual dimorphism in behavior is widespread among animals, but the cellular mechanisms underlying neural control of this phenomenon are largely unknown. One behavior that has provided some important clues about how such sex differences might develop is the electric organ discharge of Apteronotus leptorhynchus. In this weakly electric fish, the mean discharge frequencies of males and females are 880 Hz and 740 Hz, respectively, with little overlap of the two frequency bands. The discharges are controlled, in a one-to-one fashion, by the neural oscillations of the pacemaker nucleus in the medulla oblongata. Experimental evidence has shown that the astrocytic syncytium associated with the neural network that generates these oscillations is significantly larger, and stronger coupled via gap junctions, in females than in males. In the present study, modeling of this network was performed to test the hypotheses that the sex-dependent differences in the structure and properties of the astrocytic syncytium mediate better buffering of extracellular potassium in females than in males, which in turn causes, via a lowering of the potassium equilibrium potential, a decrease in the oscillation frequency. Simulations of the neural activity of the pacemaker nucleus and its individual components demonstrated that under both spontaneous and induced conditions the oscillation frequency and the potassium equilibrium potential are strongly positively correlated. These simulations predict that sufficient separation of the electric organ discharge frequencies for establishment of the sexual dimorphism can be achieved by rather minor alterations in the concentration of the extracellular potassium concentration in the pacemaker nucleus.
Blinding Polyphemus: Geography and the Models of the World

Franco Farinelli, trans. C. Chalmers. New York, NY: Seagull Books, 2018. viii and 236 pp., references. $24.50 cloth (ISBN 9780857423788).This book effectively debunks Baudrillard's (1981) claim tha...
Correction to: Services and simulation frameworks for vehicular cloud computing: a contemporary survey

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors flagged that this reference is missing from the article:
Medicine and the Mind — The Consequences of Psychiatry’s Identity Crisis

Medicine and the Mind In psychiatry, checklists of symptoms now take the place of thoughtful diagnosis, and trial-and-error “medication management” dominates practice. We face stark limitations of ...
Developing a conceptual model and power capacity estimates for a low-temperature geothermal prospect with two chemically and thermally distinct reservoir compartments, Hawthorne, Nevada, USA

Abstract The Hawthorne area in the Basin and Range province in Nevada in the western USA has been the focus of geothermal investigations for over 40 years, with initial discovery of blind resources via anomalously-warm water wells. Subsequent studies and drilling of temperature gradient holes and geothermal wells identified three separate blind geothermal prospects in the Hawthorne part of the Walker Lake basin. In this study, we conducted a detailed review of all existing geoscience data acquired at the site to date to develop a quantitative estimate of geothermal resource potential for one of the Hawthorne geothermal prospects (prospect A — along the southwest side of the basin). This included review of substantial well data from water wells and geothermal exploration wells (downhole temperature logs, lithology, water chemistry, borehole televiewer, and alteration mineralogy), detailed geological and structural mapping information, geophysical data (gravity, magnetic, and seismic reflection), 2-meter temperature data, and an existing 3D geological model of the basin. We find that the thermal anomalies associated with prospect A reflect the influence of two geothermal fluids in close proximity that are chemically-distinct, with different temperatures and spatial extent (lateral and vertical). One fluid represents a deeper resource, hosted in altered, fractured Mesozoic granitic basement along a segment of the Wassuk Range-front fault system, and characterized by equilibrated, alkali-chloride fluids, with ∼4000 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS) and a maximum measured temperature of ∼115 °C at ∼1500 m depth. A second fluid is hosted in Neogene basinal sediments at
Appointment Scheduling at Outpatient Clinics Using Two-Stage Stochastic Programming Approach

Clinics with a large volume of patients are often burdened with limited resources such as nurses and providers. Also, an efficient health system seeks short wait times for the patients to see the provider (indirect wait time) and within the clinic (direct wait time) during the day of the appointment. Additionally, the appointment duration, volume of patients, no-show behavior are uncertain. The direct and indirect wait times, stochastic parameters, rising treatment costs, and increased demand of patients motivate the need for efficient appointment schedules and clinic operations. In this paper, we develop a two-stage stochastic mixed-integer linear programming model (SMILP) integrated with a simulation model to generate a scheduling template for the providers to schedule individual patient appointments and resources. The model minimizes the expected wait times for the patients with a fair and equitable utilization of the resources. Computational experiments were conducted using a data-driven simulation model, and the results indicate that the proposed approach can significantly decrease patients’ direct and indirect wait times when compared to a deterministic indexing policy used for scheduling appointments.
Deformation accommodating periodic computational domain for a uniform velocity gradient

Abstract Many multiscale methods for granular materials use periodic computational domains to consider particle scale interactions and then calculate the stress to drive the continuum scale calculations. For problems involving large material deformations, the computation domain often needs to be reinitialized because of the distortion, causing the loss of the history information of the system. This work introduces an algorithm to accommodate a large deformation of the material while maintaining the computational domain cuboid to avoid the domain reinitialization during the computation. The algorithm uses a rotating frame of reference, in which the velocity gradient can be represented by an upper triangular matrix. The deformation caused by the upper triangular matrix is treated by the image system implied in the periodicity to maintain the computational domain cuboid. The effect from the rotation of the reference frame is considered using the inertial forces. Simulations of simple and pure shear motions are carried out to illustrate the algorithm.