cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Poroelastic finite difference modeling of seismic attenuation and dispersion due to mesoscopic-scale heterogeneity

[1] Seismic attenuation and dispersion are numerically determined for computer-generated porous materials that contain arbitrary amounts of mesoscopic-scale heterogeneity in the porous continuum properties. The local equations used to determine the poroelastic response within such materials are those of Biot (1962). Upon applying a step change in stress to samples containing mesoscopic-scale heterogeneity, the poroelastic response is determined using finite difference modeling, and the average strain throughout the sample computed, along with the effective complex and frequency-dependent elastic moduli of the sample. The ratio of the imaginary and real parts of these moduli determines the attenuation as a function of frequency associated with the modes of applied stress (pure compression and pure shear). By having a wide range of heterogeneity present, there exists a wide range of relaxation frequencies in the response with the result that the curves of attenuation as a function of frequency are broader than in existing analytical theories based on a single relaxation frequency. Analytical explanations are given for the various high-frequency and low-frequency asymptotic behavior observed in the numerical simulations. It is also shown that the overall level of attenuation of a given sample is proportional to the square of the incompressibility contrasts locally present.
Cell division from a genetic perspective

A novel view of the eukaryotic cell cycle is taking form as genetic strategies borrowed from investigations of microbial gene regulation and bacteriophage morphogenesis are being applied to the process of cell division. It is a genetic construct in which mutational lesions identify the primary events, thermolabile gene products reveal temporal order, mutant phenotypes yield pathways of causality, and regulatory events are localized within sequences of gene controlled steps.
Developmental stability and human violence

Developmental stability (the precision with which genotypes are translated into phenotypes under physically stressful developmental conditions), is a major source of phenotypic and behavioural variation, yet researchers have largely ignored its potential role in the ontogeny of individual propensities toward human aggression and violence. In this study, we measured fluctuating asymmetry of the body and administered aggression and fighting history questionnaires to 229 college students (139 female and 90 male undergraduates). Among males, but not females, fluctuating asymmetry correlated negatively and significantly with the participants' number of fights and propensity to escalate agonistic encounters to physical violence. Principal components analyses and scree tests suggested that two psychometric factors underlie observed correlations between self-report measures of aggressive tendencies. The first factor, 'aggressive negative affect', reflected verbal aggression and hostility toward others, while the second factor, 'self-assessed fighting ability', reflected physical violence and a tendency to win fights. The two factors correlated minimally. For both males and females, the second factor correlated with number of fights while the first factor did not. Fluctuating asymmetry did not significantly correlate with either factor for either sex, but for both sexes, psychometric intelligence (IQ) correlated positively with the first factor.
Lysophosphatidic acid receptor expression and function in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a ubiquitously expressed phospholipid that regulates diverse cellular functions. Previously identified LPA receptor subtypes (LPAR1–5) are weakly expressed or absent in the liver. This study sought to determine LPAR expression, including the newly identified LPAR6, in normal human liver (NL), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and non-tumor liver tissue (NTL), and LPAR expression and function in human hepatoma cells in vitro. Methods We determined LPAR1-6 expression by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, or immunohistochemistry in NL, NTL, and HCC, and HuH7, and HepG2 cells. Hepatoma cells were treated with LPA in the absence or presence of LPAR1-3 (Ki16425) or pan-LPAR (α-bromomethylene phosphonate) antagonists and proliferation and motility were measured. Results We report HCC-associated changes in LPAR1, 3, and 6 mRNA and protein expression, with significantly increased LPAR6 in HCC versus NL and NTL. Analysis of human hepatoma cells demonstrated significantly higher LPAR1, 3, and 6 mRNA and protein expression in HuH7 versus HepG2 cells. Treatment with LPA (0.05–10 μg/mL) led to dose-dependent HuH7 growth and increased motility. In HepG2 cells, LPA led to moderate, although significant, increases in proliferation but not motility. Pretreatment with α-bromomethylene phosphonate inhibited LPA-dependent proliferation and motility to a greater degree than Ki16425. Conclusions Multiple LPAR forms are expressed in human HCC, including the recently described LPAR6. Inhibition of LPA-LPAR signaling inhibits HCC cell proliferation and motility, the extent of which depends on LPAR subtype expression.
Effect of filgrastim (G-CSF) in hodgkin's disease patients treated with radiation therapy

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the effect of filgrastim (recombinant human G-CSF) on radiation-induced neutropenia in a well defined, homogenous patient population. Methods and Materials: Seven patients who were to receive large field subdisphragmatic irradiation after thoracic "mantle" fields for treatment of Hodgkin's disease entered this study. They received daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of filgrastim during subdiaphragmatic irradiation. Total white blood cell (WBC) and absolute neutrophil cell (ANC) counts were measured and compared to a historical series of patients, and hematological toxicity was assessed. The endpoints of the study were nadir WBC and ANC counts and time to WBC and ANC recovery. Results: Compared to the historical series, filgrastim significantly increased the WBC and ANC throughout the period of subdiaphragmatic irradiation. Nadir WBC (5.98 +− 1.24/mm3) and ANC (4.71 +− 1.07/mm3) in the Filgrastim group were approximately two times those of the historical series (3.32 +− 1.06/mm3 and 2.39 +−0.9/mm3 respectively; p Conclusion: Compared to the historical series, filgrastim therapy significantly increased WBC and ANC during extended field radiation therapy and was well tolerated. It may be clinically useful in other groups of patients who are likely to develop profound neutropenia during large field irradiation.
Replicated declustering of spatial data

The problem of disk declustering is to distribute data among multiple disks to reduce query response times through parallel I/O. A strictly optimal declustering technique is one that achieves optimal parallel I/O for all possible queries. In this paper, we focus on techniques that are optimized for spatial range queries. Current declustering techniques, which have single copies of the data, have been shown to be suboptimal for range queries. The lower bound on extra disk accesses is proved to be Ω(log N) for N disks even in the restricted case of an N-by-N grid, and all current approaches have been trying to achieve this bound. Replication is a well-known and effective solution for several problems in databases, especially for availability and load balancing. In this paper, we explore the idea of replication in the context of declustering and propose a framework where strictly optimal parallel I/O is achievable using a small amount of replication. We provide some theoretical foundations for replicated declustering, e.g., a bound for number of copies for strict optimality on any number of disks, and propose a class of replicated declustering schemes, periodic allocations, which are shown to be strictly optimal. The results for optimal disk allocation are extended for larger number of disks by increasing replication. Our techniques and results are valid for any arbitrary a-by-b grids, and any declustering scheme can be further improved using our replication framework. Using the framework, we perform experiments to identify a strictly optimal disk access schedule for any given arbitrary range query. In addition to the theoretical bounds, we compare the proposed replication based scheme to other existing techniques by performing experiments on real datasets.
On-the-fly Numerical Surface Integration for Finite-Difference Poisson-Boltzmann Methods

Most implicit solvation models require the definition of a molecular surface as the interface that separates the solute in atomic detail from the solvent approximated as a continuous medium. Common...
Transient Growth of Thermodynamically Coupled Variations in the Tropics under an Equatorially Symmetric Mean State

Abstract The dynamics of thermodynamically coupled disturbances in the tropics that bear a strong resemblance to observed meridional mode variations are investigated using two simple linear coupled models. Both models involve an ocean equation coupled to the atmosphere via the linearized effect of zonal wind variations on the surface bulk latent heat flux. The two models differ in their atmospheric components, which consist of (i) a Gill–Matsuno style model of the free troposphere in which atmospheric heating is parameterized to be linearly proportional to sea surface temperature and (ii) a reduced-gravity model of the tropical boundary layer in which SST anomalies are associated with hydrostatic pressure perturbations throughout the boundary layer. Both atmospheric models follow the standard shallow-water equations on an equatorial beta plane. Growth rates and propagation of coupled disturbances are calculated and diagnosed via eigenanalysis of the linear models and singular value decomposition of the Gr...
Surgically assisted maxillary expansion imparts three-dimensional nasal change.

Purpose The impact of surgically assisted maxillary expansion (SAME) on facial soft tissue structures has not been adequately studied using 3-dimensional (3D) objective analysis. The purpose of this study was to analyze nasolabial soft tissue after SAME using 3D photographic technology. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing SAME in which pre- and postexpansion 3D photographs (3D VECTRA Photosystem, Canfield, Fairfield, NJ) were analyzed. Nasolabial anthropometric measurements were performed using the 3D postprocessing software (Mirror). A follow-up period of at least 6 months was required for final evaluation. Two observers verified the landmarks on each dataset before measuring. Statistical analysis involved the paired t test, the Simes correction for multiple comparisons, and repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to control for age, gender, and the time lag between pre- and postoperative assessments. Results Twelve patients (24 photogrammetric datasets) were included. The male-to-female ratio was 0.5 (mean age, 17.3 yr). Nasal changes after SAME showed significant increases (P Conclusion Three-dimensional analysis shows widening of the alar width and alar base width after SAME. The magnitude of nasal change parallels that of expansion at the piriform aperture.
Detection for MIMO systems with imprecise channel knowledge

In this work, we investigate the signal detection for MIMO systems with imprecise channel knowledge. The optimal detector is one which best matches the "total" observation matrix and a "total" signal matrix which has a finite alphabet constraint and a Sylvester structure constraint. An iterative local optimization with interference cancellation (LOIC) algorithm is proposed to achieve low complexity and exploit the finite alphabet constraint. Simulation results show that our proposed algorithms can detect the signals with BER close to the case of perfect channel knowledge, if a rough channel estimate is available initially.
piRNA pathway targets active LINE1 elements to establish the repressive H3K9me3 mark in germ cells

Transposable elements (TEs) occupy a large fraction of metazoan genomes and pose a constant threat to genomic integrity. This threat is particularly critical in germ cells, as changes in the genome that are induced by TEs will be transmitted to the next generation. Small noncoding piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) recognize and silence a diverse set of TEs in germ cells. In mice, piRNA-guided transposon repression correlates with establishment of CpG DNA methylation on their sequences, yet the mechanism and the spectrum of genomic targets of piRNA silencing are unknown. Here we show that in addition to DNA methylation, the piRNA pathway is required to maintain a high level of the repressive H3K9me3 histone modification on long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) in germ cells. piRNA-dependent chromatin repression targets exclusively full-length elements of actively transposing LINE families, demonstrating the remarkable ability of the piRNA pathway to recognize active elements among the large number of genomic transposon fragments.
Endoscopic Detection of Peptic Ulcer Disease in Cystic Fibrosis

Abdominal pain is common among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and may be caused by a variety of conditions. Although peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has not been emphasized as a common cause of abdominal symptoms in CF, the risk for the development of PUD may be increased because of abnormal physiology. Contrast radiography appears to be an especially inaccurate method to document PUD in CF because the duodenal mucosa typically appears nodular and distorted with poor definition of the mucosal folds. These findings may obscure or mimic PUD. The first endoscopic diagnosis of PUD is reported in a CF patient. Based on this case and a review of the literature, endoscopy is the procedure of choice for evaluation of a CF patient who is suspected of having PUD.
Sarcopenia: Effects on Body Composition and Function

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass that happens to everyone with age. However, the rate of sarcopenia and the severity of its sequelae vary greatly according to health status, physical activity, and possibly diet. In this review, I discuss the potential mechanisms of sarcopenia and some ideas about prevention and treatment.
The Handbook for the Computer Security Certification of Trusted Systems

Abstract : The Navy has designated the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) as its Center for Computer Security Research and Evaluation. NRL is actively developing a Navy capability to certify trusted systems. This paper describes the NRL effort to understand assurance, certification, and trusted system certification criteria through the production of the Handbook for the Computer Security Certification of Trusted Systems. Through this effort, NRL hopes to discover new and more efficient ways of satisfying the assurance requirement for a high assurance system.
Ideal Cardiovascular Health and the Prevalence and Progression of Coronary Artery Calcification in Adults With and Without Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE In 2010, the American Heart Association defined seven metrics (smoking, BMI, physical activity, diet, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose) for ideal cardiovascular health (ICH). Subsequent studies have shown that the prevalence of achieving these metrics is very low in the general population. Adults with type 1 diabetes are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but no studies to date have been published on the prevalence of ICH in this population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Data for this analysis were collected as part of the prospective Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes study. This analysis involved 546 subjects with type 1 diabetes and 631 subjects without diabetes who had complete information for calculating the ICH metrics. RESULTS Overall, the prevalence of ICH was low in this population, with none meeting the ideal criteria for all seven metrics. The prevalence of ideal physical activity (10.0%) and diet (1.1%) were particularly low. ICH was significantly associated with both decreased prevalence (odds ratio [OR] 0.70; 95% CI 0.62–0.80) and progression (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.66–0.90) of coronary artery calcification (CAC). CONCLUSIONS ICH is significantly associated with decreased prevalence and progression of CAC; however, prevalence of ICH metrics was low in adults both with and without type 1 diabetes. Efforts to increase the prevalence of ICH could have a significant impact on reducing the burden of CVD.
Propagation of Low-Frequency, Transient Acoustic Signals through a Fluctuating Ocean: Development of a 3D Scattering Theory and Comparison with NPAL Experimental Data

Abstract : Development of a new, 3D theory of low-frequency, long-range sound propagation through a fluctuating ocean, including both CW and transient acoustic signals. Comparison of theoretical and numerical results with NPAL experimental data. To develop a 3D, modal theory of broadband sound propagation though a fluctuating ocean, including analysis of the coherence function for transient acoustic signals and temporal coherence. To develop computer codes for calculation of the horizontal and vertical coherence functions of transient acoustic signals and temporal coherence. To compare theoretical and numerical results with 1998-1999 and 2004 NPAL experimental data and those which will be obtained in the 2010-2011 NPAL experiment in the Philippine Sea.
Rekanalisation von chronisch verschlossenen Koronararterien

Recanalization of occluded coronary arteries is the aim of percutaneous interventions with acute myocardial infarction. Moreover, chronic coronary occlusion is a common finding during diagnostic coronary angiography and is often a contributing factor in the choice of revascularisation by surgery rather than by percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). An occluded coronary artery with some degree of collateral supply is functionally comparable to a severe coronary stenosis. Therefore, recanalization of chronic occluded coronary arteries results in less angina and often in improvement of left ventricular function. Success is limited in particular in longer lasting occlusions. Characterization of lesions, where recanalization can performed successfully is warranted. We correlated primary success rates of attempted coronary recanalizations with localisation of lesions and procedural characteristics. We analyzed records of 124 consecutive patients, who underwent attempted coronary recanalization of chronically occluded coronary arteries at our institution in 1998. Revascularisation was successful in 84 (64 male, 20 female) of 124 (92 male, 32 female) patients. Therefore, success rate was 67.7% (69.9% in men, 62.5% in women, p = 0.42). Target vessel was the left anterior descending artery (LAD) in 49 cases. Success rate in the LAD did not differ significantly from that in "non-LAD"-vessels (65.3% versus 69.3%; p = 0.35). Successful recanalizations were performed using only one guide-wire in 77.3%. More than one guide-wires were used during procedures without success in 44.5% and exceeded use in successful interventions (p < 0.05). Procedures, failing to be successful after an attempt with a first guide-wire, could be performed successfully using at least a second wire in 50%. Coronary stenting after recanalization has been performed in 84.4% in the LAD and in 59.7% in non-LAD vessels (p < 0.01). Success rate of attempted recanalizations of chronic occluded coronary arteries in unselected patients is high. Most procedures can be performed successfully using only one guidewire. Additional use of other wires can increase success rates in procedures with primary failure to pass the occlusion. Stenting has been performed in three out of four patients with successful recanalization of chronically occluded coronary arteries.
Cold Exposure Reveals Two Populations of Microtubules in Pulmonary Endothelia

Microtubules are composed of α-tubulin and β-tubulin dimers. Microtubules yield tubulin dimers when exposed to cold, which reassemble spontaneously to form microtubule fibers at 37°C. However, mammalian neurons, glial cells, and fibroblasts have cold-stable microtubules. While studying the microtubule toxicity mechanisms of the exotoxin Y from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells, we observed that some endothelial microtubules were very difficult to disassemble in the cold. As a consequence, we designed studies to test the hypothesis that microvascular endothelium has a population of cold-stable microtubules. Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and HeLa cells (control) were grown under regular cell culture conditions, followed by exposure to an ice-cold water bath and a microtubule extraction protocol. Polymerized microtubules were detected by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy and Western blot analyses. After cold exposure, immunofluorescence revealed that the majority of HeLa cell microtubules disassembled, whereas a smaller population of endothelial cell microtubules disassembled. Immunoblot analyses showed that microvascular endothelial cells express the microtubule cold-stabilizing protein N-STOP (neuronal stable tubule-only polypeptides), and that N-STOP binds to endothelial microtubules after cold exposure, but not if microtubules are disassembled with nocodazole before cold exposure. Hence, pulmonary endothelia have a population of cold-stable microtubules.
Calling For Diversity In Health Care Executive Suites And Evaluation Of Effects On Efficiency Using Data Envelopment Analysis

Adequate diversity in the leadership of health care organizations is a problem that potentially affects overall performance. In this paper, we propose the application of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and strategic human information systems to determine how diversity affects the efficiency, stability, and long-term viability of health care organizations at the organization level. Data envelopment analysis could also be applied within a given health care organization to examine how the organization’s diversity make-up in its various departments affects relative efficiencies across the departments. After presenting a brief introduction of DEA, we provide examples of inputs and outputs used in a proposed DEA analysis. We also propose the use of strategic information systems in health care organizations in developing countries at both organization and departmental levels. We suggest that both developed and developing countries would benefit from using these tools as they seek to control costs and improve health care systems.
Maintaining the unmethylated state

Background A remarkable correspondence exists between the cytogenetic locations of the known fragile sites and frequently reported sites of hypermethylation. The best-known features of fragile sites are sequence motifs that are prone to the spontaneous formation of a non-B DNA structure. These facts, coupled with the known enzymological specificities of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), the ATP-dependent and actin-dependent helicases, and the ten-eleven translocation (TET) dioxygenases, suggest that these enzymes are involved in an epigenetic cycle that maintains the unmethylated state at these sites by resolving non-B structure, preventing both the sequestration of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and hypermethylation in normal cells.
Therapeutic Landscapes: Theory and a Case Study of Epidauros, Greece

A new direction for medical geographic study is suggested, the analysis of places which have attained an enduring reputation for achieving physical, mental, and spiritual healing. The reasons for the efficacy of these therapeutic landscapes can he examined by using themes derived from the traditional landscape ideas of cultural geography, humanistic geography, structuralist geography, and the principles of holistic health. These themes are categorized as inner/meaning (including the natural setting, the built environment, sense of place, symbolic landscapes, and everyday activities) and outer/societal context (including beliefs and philosophies, social relations and/or inequalities, and territoriality). By using a methodology termed an ‘archaeology of discourse’ in which written and oral documents are examined, the themes are used to investigate the healing reputation of the Asclepian sanctuary at Epidauros, Greece. Study findings have policy implications for health-care practice today.
Microwave scattering from forest canopies

In modeling the scattering for forest canopies at microwave frequencies, several scattering mechanism are usually taken into account: 1) crown volume scattering, 2) trunk volume scattering, 3) surface scattering from forest floor, 4) trunk-surface interaction, 5) trunk-crown interaction, 6) crown-ground interaction. Understanding the behavior of each scattering component for various forest canopies is dependent on the derivation of the models and the underlying assumptions. A majority of the models are discrete scattering models where the vegetation canopy can be viewed as an ensemble of randomly distributed scatterers (leaves, branches, and trunks) in one or many layers. In this study, three commonly used discrete scattering models, distorted Born approximation (DBA), Born approximation (BA) and radiative transfer theory (RT), are compared. The DBA and BA models are formulated according to a field theory point of view and the RT model as an intensity or transport theory. In all three models, each scattering mechanism is formulated explicitly so that its relative contribution to the total backscattering coefficient can be analyzed. The models are used to simulate polarimetric radar data over coniferous and deciduous forests by using the same input parameteres. The model simulations are then analyzed to check the effect of canopy parameters and the importance of scattering mechanisms. The results are also compared with radar images at P-, L-, and C-bands in to order to assess the validity of the model comparisons. >
Making Student Research Data Discoverable: A Pilot Program Using Dataverse

INTRODUCTION The support and curation of research data underlying theses and dissertations are an opportunity for institutions to enhance their ETD collections. This article describes a pilot data archiving service that leverages Emory University’s existing Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) program. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM This pilot service tested the appropriateness of Dataverse, a data repository, as a data archiving and access solution for Emory University using research data identified in Emory University’s ETD repository, developed the legal documents necessary for a full implementation of Dataverse on campus, and expanded outreach efforts to meet the research data needs of graduate students. This article also situates the pilot service within the context of Emory Libraries and explains how it relates to other library efforts currently underway. NEXT STEPS The pilot project team plans to seek permission from alumni whose data were included in the pilot to make them available publicly in Dataverse, and the team will revise the ETD license agreement to allow this type of use. The team will also automate the ingest of supplemental ETD research data into the data repository where possible and create a workshop series for students who are creating research data as part of their theses or dissertations.
Effect of analgesic nerve block electrical stimulation in a patient with adhesive capsulitis

Although the pathophysiology of adhesive capsulitis is poorly understood, the primary goal of therapeutic intervention is to restore pain-free, functional range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder. Pain and muscle guarding, particularly of the subscapularis muscle, are common impairments that occur with adhesive capsulitis. The purpose of this case report is to describe a novel approach to help the pain-muscle guarding-pain cycle associated with pain and limited shoulder motion in a patient with a medical diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis. The patient was a 64-year-old female with adhesive capsulitis. Outcome variables were the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) ROM, and rotational lack. Twelve treatments of moist heat, analgesic nerve block electrical stimulation, contract/relax exercises for shoulder IR/ER, and Pendulum/Codman exercises were administered. After both 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the patient demonstrated marked improvements in all areas...
Perception of changes in airflow resistance in obstructive pulmonary disorders.

The perception of changes in airflow resistance was examined in normal subjects, asthmatics, and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using the psychophysical tests of just noticeable differences and magnitude estimation. The just noticeable difference in airflow resistance expressed as a percentage of the baseline resistance (JND%) was 18 ± 2% SE in normal subjects and this value was not altered by changes in baseline resistance. The exponent for the magnitude estimation (ME) of airflow resistance was 0.93 ± 0.04 SE in normal subjects. Neither JND% nor ME were significantly different from normal in asthmatics. However, in patients with COPD, JND% was increased to 49 ± 7% SE (p < 0.01) and ME was reduced to 0.64 ± 0.10 SE (p < 0.01). In contrast to the abnormalities in the perception of changes in airflow resistance, the perception of heaviness during the lifting of small weights was the same in patients with COPD as in normal subjects and asthmatics. Measures of the perception of ch...
The Impact of Wassily Hoeffding’s Work on Sequential Analysis

I was tremendously privileged to have been one of Wassily Hoeffding’s colleagues. While his demeanor and utter clarity of thought could be intimidating at times, it truthfully can be stated that he was always gracious and generous in his assessments of his colleagues, reserving for himself standards that only someone of his exceptional intellectual stature could hope to achieve.
2′Fluoro Modification Differentially Modulates the Ability of RNAs to Activate Pattern Recognition Receptors

Although the use of RNAs has enormous therapeutic potential, these RNA-based therapies can trigger unwanted inflammatory responses by the activation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and cause harmful side effects. In contrast, the immune activation by therapeutic RNAs can be advantageous for treating cancers. Thus, the immunogenicity of therapeutic RNAs should be deliberately controlled depending on the therapeutic applications of RNAs. In this study, we demonstrated that RNAs containing 2′fluoro (2′F) pyrimidines differentially controlled the activation of PRRs. The activity of RNAs that stimulate toll-like receptors 3 and 7 was abrogated by the incorporation of 2′F pyrimidine. By contrast, incorporation of 2′F pyrimidines enhanced the activity of retinoic acid-inducible gene 1-stimulating RNAs. Furthermore, we found that transfection with RNAs containing 2′F pyrimidine and 5′ triphosphate (5′ppp) increased cell death and interferon-β expression in human cancer cells compared with transfection wit...
How Effective are International Development Partnerships

Over the past two decades the international development landscape has seen a rise in global partnerships, a relatively new mechanism for tackling poverty and improving social and human development. Their rise in international development is due to a confluence of factors ranging from the development effectiveness agenda to the idea that pooled resources and leveraging other partners strengths will lead to the best development results. In addition, levels of donor funding have been inadequate in responding to development needs which has led to the rise of partnerships among an increasingly wider range of actors from civil society, private organizations, and the public sector. This context saw the rise of a number of global partnerships such as the Global Fund to Combat Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Global Vaccine Alliance Initiative, the Global Partnership for Education and others.This paper is the first step of a research program building on theories of collaborative management to analyze the effectiveness of partnerships among international development agencies. Beginning with a history of how and why such partnerships came about, it summarizes the findings of existing work on the benefits and challenges. It then looks at preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of nine of the most prominent partnerships, and concludes with suggestions for future research.
Characteristic of Pre-sag Voltage Compensation Strategy for Series Power Quality Regulator

A "two steps measures" for series power quality regulator(SPQR) in its limitation voltage is proposed based on the analysis of the pre-sag voltage compensation strategy's optimal compensation aim.The proposed measures can make the equipment realize the optimal compensation aim with its fullest ability.The analysis formula and influence curves of optimal compensation aim show that the equipment's optimal aim is influenced by three factors which include the limitation value of the compensation voltage,magnitude and phase of the source voltage.In addition,the source voltage variation scope which can realize the optimal compensation aim in limitation voltage is given.The analysis results will be useful to compensation strategy design and engineering practice.
Bladder Evaluation in Pediatric Patients Before Undiversion in Previously Diverted Urinary Tracts

AbstractA technique is described for simulating physiologic micturition in the defunctionalized bladder, allowing for accurate clinical observations of continence and emptying prior to undiversion.
An Equational Extension

It has been recognized for some time that Prolog will need to be extended in order for it to realize the vision of declarative programming. One example is the so-called problem of equality and functions. The underlying deduction mechanism for Prolog, SLD-resolution, is defined only for languages without equality. As mentioned in chapter 1, current Prolog systems include a collection of interpretations of the equality symbol which are basically inherited from LISP, and that it is even possible for the “equality” predicate to cause the side-effect of binding an uninstantiated variable to an instantiated variable. The absence of equality also means that value-returning functions cannot be defined equationally. Instead, an n-ary function f(x 1,..., x, n ) is defined by an n+1-ary predicate p(x 1,..., x n , x n+l) which “collects” the value in the n + 1 st argument. In order for Prolog to reason equationally, rules for rewriting one term to another must be expressed via a distinguished predicate (say rewrite).
Spectral diffusion of V 4 + in Ti O 2

Electron-spin-echo experiments have been used to study the phase memory decay of ${\mathrm{V}}^{4+}$ in Ti${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ in the liquid-helium temperature range. The transverse magnetization decay signal displays the functional form $V(2\ensuremath{\tau})\ensuremath{\sim}\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}m{\ensuremath{\tau}}^{2}\ensuremath{-}2b\ensuremath{\tau})$. Our measurements show that the ratio $\frac{m}{2b}$ is proportional to the spin-lattice relaxation rate which is predicted by the theory of Zhidomirov and Salikhov.
Serum biochemistry panels in African buffalo: Defining reference intervals and assessing variability across season, age and sex

Serum biochemical parameters can be utilized to evaluate the physiological status of an animal, and relate it to the animal’s health. In order to accurately interpret individual animal biochemical results, species-specific reference intervals (RI) must be established. Reference intervals for biochemical parameters differ between species, and physiological differences including reproductive status, nutritional resource availability, disease status, and age affect parameters within the same species. The objectives of this study were to (1) establish RI for biochemical parameters in managed African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), (2) assess the effects of age, sex, pregnancy, and season on serum biochemistry values, and (3) compare serum biochemistry values from a managed herd to a free-ranging buffalo herd and to values previously published for captive (zoo) buffalo. Season profoundly affected all biochemistry parameters, possibly due to changes in nutrition and disease exposure. Age also affected all biochemical parameters except gamma glutamyl transferase and magnesium, consistent with patterns seen in cattle. Sex and reproductive status had no detectable effects on the parameters that were measured. The biochemical profiles of managed buffalo were distinct from those observed in the free-ranging herd and captive buffalo. Biochemical differences between buffalo from captive, managed, and free-ranging populations may be related to nutritional restriction or lack of predation in the context of management or captivity. The reference intervals provided in this study, in addition to the seasonal and age-related patterns observed, provide a foundation for health investigations that may inform management strategies in this ecologically and economically important species.
Strongyloides stercoralis Hyperinfection

A 47-year-old man who had lived in Laos and was taking prednisone for dermatomyositis presented with hemoptysis, rash, abdominal pain, and melena. He was found to have Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection syndrome.
Bias, limits of agreement, and percent errors between acceleromyography and mechanomyography in anesthetized dogs.

Abstract This study compared measurements of neuromuscular function with mechanomyography (MMG) and acceleromyography (AMG) in nine anesthetized dogs receiving 0.1 mg/kg vecuronium intravenously. Train-of-four (TOF) stimulation was applied to each ulnar nerve every 15 s. The resulting amplitude of the first twitch (T1) and the TOF ratio were measured with both monitors. The baseline TOF ratio (prior to vecuronium), onset time (time of injection to T1 25% between monitors were identified for each dog. Bias, limits of agreement (LOA) and percentage error (PE) between methods were calculated from Bland–Altman plots for T1 and TOF ratio for the complete data set, and for TOF ≥ 0.7 during recovery. There were no statistical differences in baseline TOF ratio, onset, recovery index, duration, AMG 0.7 and AMG 0.9. Individual errors > 25% were evident in onset, recovery index, AMG 0.7 and AMG 0.9. Overall, T1 and TOF ratio had a small bias, wide LOA and PE > 100%. Percent error was reduced to 30% when TOF ≥ 0.7 was analyzed. Although there were no statistical differences between MMG and AMG in any variable of interest, individual discrepancies, wide LOA and high PE suggest that these monitors should not be used interchangeably for serial measurements on the same animals.
Impact of fluopyram fungicide and preemergence herbicides on soybean injury, population, sudden death syndrome, and yield

Abstract Field experiments were conducted in Indiana and Iowa in 2014 and 2015 to examine the effect of preemergence herbicides and fluopyram seed treatment on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) injury, plant population, sudden death syndrome (SDS; Fusarium virguliforme O'Donnell & T. Aoki), and yield. Sulfentrazone + cloransulam-methyl + S-metolachlor and flumioxazin + chlorimuron ethyl + S-metolachlor herbicides resulted in higher phytotoxicity at growth stage VC-V1 compared to a non-treated control. Phytotoxicity due to preemergence herbicide was rarely observed at V4. Seed treated with fluopyram resulted in higher phytotoxicity at VC-V1 than seed without fluopyram, regardless of preemergence herbicide treatment. The combination of preemergence herbicide and fluopyram did not increase the severity of soybean injury in any year or location compared to either applied alone. Preemergence herbicide treatment reduced plant population in Indiana in 2014 and Iowa in 2015 compared to the non-treated control, but did not affect yield. Fluopyram seed treatment reduced foliar symptoms of SDS by over 70% and increased yield up to 12% in Indiana, but had no effect on SDS or yield in Iowa. These results indicate that while injury can occur with both preemergence herbicides and fluopyram-treated seed, phytotoxicity is not more severe when both pesticides are used together, and yield is not reduced by their use. Farmers should continue to use preemergence herbicide programs if they treat their seed with fluopyram to manage SDS, and use production practices that minimize the risk of preemergence herbicide injury in soybean.
A Case Study to Address the AACSB Curricula Management Review

This paper examines a curricula management improvement process model to apply to the review of a business school core curriculum consistent with AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International) Standard 8. AACSB accredited schools are required to perform periodic curricula management review. A flexible business process model extensible to other curriculum programs is proposed. The results of the model implementation from an action-research study at a medium-size public university in the northeastern United States are discussed. AACSB requires that a continuous improvement review process for curricula management be in place. However, there is a lack of formal business processes to address how business schools can systematically manage their curriculum. This paper bridges that gap by presenting a formal approach. Lessons learned from the process and recommendations are also presented.
Mixed Conifer Forest

Mixed Conifer Forest occurs in an elevational band below Spruce-Fir Forest and above Ponderosa Pine Forest. It has diverse stands reflecting elevation, topography, moisture availability, disturbance history, and successional state. Trees include ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, white fir, quaking aspen, southwestern white pine, limber pine, blue spruce, and others. A primary driver of Mixed Conifer Forest has been fire. The historical, mixed-severity fire regime combined frequent, widespread, low-severity surface fires and infrequent, patchy, high-severity crown fires. Important anthropogenic disturbances are livestock grazing, fire management, modern climate change, invasive species, recreation, and nearby land use. Gap dynamics and succession are key vegetation dynamics. Historical conditions are poorly known. Forest density and basal area increased as a result of exclusion of fire, which began in the second half of the nineteenth century. At least some stands decreased in density and basal area during the twentieth century, apparently as a result of density-dependent factors and exogenous factors such as climate change. Fire exclusion also increased landscape homogeneity. Greater fuel loads and more continuous fuels have resulted in landscape-scale crown fires. Vegetation dynamics are illustrated in a nested, three-tiered set of conceptual models. Key conclusions and challenges for researchers and land managers are summarized.
Roles of Eph–Ephrin Signaling in Axon Guidance

The developing nervous system uses a variety of signaling mechanisms to direct axons to their final destinations. The pathways taken by growing axons are dictated by a series of molecular cues supplied at intermediate targets. Axons then recognize and innervate their target areas. Innervation patterns may form topographic maps, preserving neighbor-neighbor relationships, or may involve other kinds of mapping. Axon guidance decisions are influenced by a combination of secreted and membrane-bound proteins that are detected by cell surface receptors on axons, ultimately leading to cytoskeletal rearrangements that influence the direction of axon growth. Eph receptors form the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases in vertebrates, and interact with membrane-bound ligands known as ephrins. Ephs and ephrins are evolutionarily ancient, and are found in all known animal phyla. Vertebrate ephrins may be GPI-anchored (ephrin-A) or transmembrane (ephrin-B) and Eph receptors can be classified as A or B type based on their ligand binding specificity. As ephrins are cell surface molecules, Eph/ephin signals provide contact-mediated axon guidance cues. Eph signaling can act in forward, reverse, or bidirectional modes and can promote axon attraction or repulsion depending on the context. Graded distributions of Eph receptors and ephrins play a central role in topographic mapping of axons to targets in the vertebrate CNS.
Synthetic hepatitis B surface antigen peptide vaccine.

A synthetic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) peptide was prepared containing amino acid residues 122–137 of the major HBsAg polypeptide. This peptide was cyclized by the introduction of an intrachain disulfide bond between cysteine residues at positions 124 and 137 because previous studies had shown that intact disulfide bonds are critical for maintenance of HBsAg activity. An anti-HBs response was produced in mice by free peptide entrapped in liposomes. However, the immunogenicity was enhanced by aggregation into micelles, and by coupling to tetanus toxoid. Analysis of the peptide with a panel of monoclonal antibodies showed that peptide 122–137 contained a conformation (discontinuous) group a epitope and a sequential (continuous) subgroup y epitope. In addition, the cyclic peptide inhibited a human anti-HBs idiotype-antiidiotype reaction with specificity for group a determinant(s). The potential for synthetic peptides for hepatitis B virus vaccine development is discussed.
All Together Now: Using an Internal Google Site to Streamline Workflows

During the 2011–2012 academic year, the College of Charleston’s Addlestone Library merged the Student Computing Support Desk and the Reference Desk into a single Information Desk service point in the center of the first floor of the library. At the newly combined desk, students could receive research assistance as well as computer assistance in one centralized location. Workers at the newly combined desk included library staff, IT staff, and student peer staff. This innovation session demonstrated how an internal Information Desk Google site was used to streamline workflows and get everyone working together. Twenty-Nine Employees, Two Departments, One Desk Prior to 2011, Addlestone Library had three service desks on the first floor of the library: the Circulation Desk, the Reference Desk, and the Student Computing Support Desk. Checkouts and reserves were at one desk, research assistance was at another desk, and computing help was at a third desk. Depending on their needs, students would have to go to multiple service points for assistance. Additionally, it was challenging to staff three separate service points 98 hours per week. In the Fall 2011 semester, the library’s reference department teamed with information technology’s student computing support department to provide both research and computing services at one desk. The goal was for 15 library staff members, 4 information technology professionals, and 10 peer staff student employees to provide consistent research and computing services at one combined service