cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serum treatment of western equine encephalitis in mice determined by the course of viral infection.

SummaryIf 2 cc of rabbit hyperimmune antiserum of high titer were given intraperi-toneally to mice of about 17 g weight— prodigious amount since it represents twice the total blood volume of the host—encephalitis was prevented from developing in animals receiving intracerebrally ordinarily lethal doses of the virus of Western equine encephalitis. The preventive effect was noted when the virus was multiplying but had not as yet reached its maximal titer. Thus, if animals were treated with antiserum 2 hours before, at the same time, or from 4-16 hours after the virus was inoculated, it was effective in preventing an attack of encephalitis. Even if serum was administered 24, 36 or 48 hours after the virus certain but not all mice survived without recognizable signs of the disease. At 72 hours, however, only an exceptional mouse survived after serum treatment. Finally, at 73 or more hours after virus inoculation, when definite manifestations of experimental Western equine encephalitis could be observed, injec...
Priming events and retrograde injury signals. A new perspective on the cellular and molecular biology of nerve regeneration.

Successful axon regeneration requires that signals from the site of injury reach the nucleus to elicit changes in transcription. In spite of their obvious importance, relatively few of these signals have been identified. Recent work on regeneration in the marine molluskAplysia californica has provided several insights into the molecular events that occur in neurons after axon injury. Based on these findings, we propose a model in which axon regeneration is viewed as the culmination of a series of temporally distinct but overlapping phases. Within each phase, specific signals enter the nucleus to prime the cell for the arrival of subsequent signals. The first phase begins with the arrival of injury-induced action potentials, which act via calcium and cAMP to turn on genes used in the early stages of repair. In the next phase, MAP-kinases and other intrinsic constituents activated at the injury site are retrogradely transported through the axon to the nucleus, informaing the nucleus of the severity of the axonal injury, reinforcing the earlier events, and triggering additional changes. The third phase is characterized by the arrival of signals that originate from extrinsic growth factors and cytokines released by cells at the site of injury. In the last phase, signals from target-derived growth factors arrive in the cell soma to stop growth. Because many of these events appear to be universal, this framework may be useful in studies of nerve repair in both invertebrates and vertebrates.
A New Determination of αS from Neutrino—Nucleon Scattering in CCFR

A new measurement of the strong coupling constant αS from the v-N deeply inelastic scattering experiment CCFR at Fermilab is presented. The combined fit to Q 2 evolution of nucleon structure functions F 2 and xF 3, measured in CCFR, yields the QCD scale parameter \(\Lambda \frac{{(4)}}{{MS}}\) (NLO) = 337 ± 28(exp) ± 13(HT) MeV. This corresponds to the value of αS at Q 2 = M Z 2 of 0.119±0.002(exp)± 0.001(HT) ± 0.004(scale), one of the most precise measurement of this quantity.
School library nostalgias

ABSTRACTThis paper explores nostalgia as both a limiting cultural force in the lives of school librarians and a practice that can be used to more accurately portray library work. The stereotype of the shushing, lone school librarian, based on restorative nostalgia, is related to a nostalgic oversimplification of the school librarian's historical role. Yet, this prevalent view overshadows the real work of school librarians, which is often behind the scenes. The persistence of this misperception results in school leaders simultaneously professing love for school libraries of the past while at the same time eliminating current programs. By practicing reflective nostalgia, school librarians can look at the past through the lens of their present working realities to more accurately portray their lives and work. Reflective nostalgia is the foundation of a reflective teaching practice that helps school librarians advocate for their programs and prevent demoralization. This conceptual analysis thus contributes to...
The Theory of Jazz Music "It Don't Mean a Thing ..."

Even theoretically equipped jazz critics tend to avoid the question, "What is jazz?" Some texts settle for a plurality of "views." I But this does not satisfy the intuition that by the end of the second decade of the twentieth century, a new musical phenomenon with definite features had come into being. Jazz could be defined better in terms of necessary and sufficient conditions. Usually, this amounts to a list.2 But any such list, however thoughtfully prepared, leaves us with a nagging question: What is it about the interaction of several factors that transforms them into jazz? The ideal definition, in short, ought to be able to explain the unified effect that is created by the various elements that contribute to the making of jazz. This is what underlies the bold essentialism of Andre Hodeir.3 His boldness is matched only by his almost perverse willingness to bruise our pre-analytic intuitions, particularly our sense that jazz has some vital connection with (i) improvisation and (ii) blues tonality. We can learn something by examining his argument. Hodeir's exposition is complicated-and sometimes confused. He does not always cling to his own best insights. Further, his theory is indecisive on one rather fundamental point. For these reasons, I shall have to reconstruct what his argument ought to say. As I interpret Hodeir, he makes a very interesting case for the thesis that jazz is an essentially rhythmic matter. Much of the effort in this essay is devoted to solving problems in working out such a theory, although some space will be left for a consideration of criticisms. Hodeir defends the following negative propositions:4 Jazz music is not defined (i) by any special relationship to tonality, (ii) by its use of special metrical devices, (iii) by a connection with "architecture" (meaning, roughly, "form," e.g., theme-and-variations, sonata-allegro, etc.), (iv) by any fundamental connection with "sound" (matie?re sonore),5 or (v) by its use of improvisation. Hodeir's defense of these negative claims may seem obscure because he's guided by a curious ground-rule regarding necessary and sufficient conditions: If any musical element discoverable in jazz can also be found elsewhere, then it cannot even be part of a definition of jazz.6 Odd as this rule seems, I believe an important insight underlies it. It connects with the idea that a definition of jazz should be a unitary one. We shall examine this idea in the course of a consideration of Hodeir's negative claims.
Sex Differences in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Hispanic/Latino Youth

Objective To determine the prevalence of obesity and cardiometabolic risk in US Hispanic/Latino youth and examine whether there are disparities by sex in cardiometabolic risk factors. Study design Study of Latino Youth is a population-based cross-sectional study of 1466 Hispanic/Latino youth (8-16 years old) who were recruited from 4 urban US communities (Bronx, NY, Chicago, IL, Miami, FL, and San Diego, CA) in 2012-2014. The majority of children were US-born (78%) and from low-income and immigrant families. Cardiometabolic risk factors were defined by the use of national age- and sex-specific guidelines. Results The prevalence of obesity was 26.5%. The prevalence of class II-III obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia was high (9.7%, 16.5%, and 23.3%, respectively). The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors increased with severity of obesity in both boys and girls. Boys had a greater prevalence of diabetes and of elevated blood pressure than girls (20.9% vs 11.8% and 8.5% vs 3.3%). In multivariable analyses, younger boys were more likely to have obesity class II-III than girls (OR 3.59; 95% CI 1.44-8.97). Boys were more likely to have prediabetes than girls (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.35-3.02), and the association was stronger at older ages. Conclusions The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors was high in this sample of Hispanic youth. Boys had a more adverse cardiometabolic profile compared with girls that may put them at higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. Reasons for this disparity and the long-term clinical implications remain to be elucidated.
Using GoNoodle to Introduce Health Concepts in the K-5 Classroom.

This article introduces readers to the GoNoodle platform for incorporating physical activity throughout the school day, and describes how one of the features, Ultimate Champ Training, can be used to teach health concepts in the elementary school classroom.
Clinical outcomes of ACL reconstruction with tibialis anterior allograft using an anteromedial portal approach.

Abstract Background The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of ACL reconstruction with tibialis anterior allograft using the anatomic anteromedial portal approach and aperture sheath and screw fixation. Methods We evaluated primary ACL reconstructions with tibialis anterior allograft using an anatomic anteromedial portal approach performed at our institution between January 2011 and February 2014. Patients with a minimum of two years of follow-up were contacted and brought back for a complete physical examination of the knee. A KT-1000 arthrometer was used to measure anterior tibial translation in both knees. Clinical outcome scores were generated using validated outcome measures. Results Forty-five patients with a mean age of 43.9 years were available for complete follow-up at a mean of 30.8 months. Of the 45 patients who came in for follow-up, two were found to have a clinical failure/ruptured graft (4.4%). Significant improvements were noted to be present compared to baseline values for all assessed clinical outcome measurements. KT-1000 arthrometer measures demonstrated a mean (± standard deviation) of 0.26 ± 1.11 mm side to side difference compared to the contralateral side with maximum manual stress applied. Conclusions Our data demonstrating significant improvements in clinical outcome assessments coupled with excellent KT-1000 arthrometer values and a low rate of clinical failure supports the use of tibialis anterior allografts with an anteromedial portal surgical approach in ACL reconstruction. This improvement in results may be related to more accurate anatomic tunnel placement via AMP drilling and improved graft fixation methods.
A Model of Pattern Coupled to Form in Metazoans

A model of patterning in living systems is examined, one involving the sequential interaction of a pair of signaling pathways. The model of pattern is coupled to the changing shape of a (closed, thick) epithelial shape. Focus is on patterning that couples localized cell differentiation and epithelial shape changes. Aspects of the model are discussed in turn: the pattern, the epithelial sheet geometry, and the coupling of the latter two. Changes in the pattern give rise to a changing epithelial shape, and a changing epithelial shape in turn causes a change in the pattern, and so on, as the total a area increases. The model is intended to provide a simplest example of morphogenesis. An effort is made to reduce morphogenesis to its most elemental ‘modules’: pattern, shape and their interaction. This may be seen as a reversal from the usual historical progression (e.g., as in physics), i.e., first from phenomenological modeling, then only later, to its reductionist underpinnings: first came thermodynamics and later statistical mechanics. Post DNA biology has been for the past fifty years primarily, and certainly very fruitfully, focused on the genetic and molecular basis of development. The present work attempts to work from the genetic and molecular underpinnings toward a more phenomenological model of the origin of animals, but one simpler and more comprehensible. Mathematical modeling has rarely dealt with animal form, or with its coupling to pattern, and an attempt is made in this direction. A preliminary attempt is made to uncover possible molecular and genetic foundations of the present elemental model of interacting shape and pattern.
Why Challenge Solutions

Labeling a problem “environmental” creates a pervasive belief that science and technology can, should, and will generate solutions for issues ranging from pandemic disease to stream functions to nuclear contamination. These, however, are “wicked problems” that defy simple or long-term solutions, but rather must be continually managed. Further, what are defined in the twenty-first century as “environmental problems” are often the consequence of perceived “solutions” implemented in a previous era. The perception of these issues as problems is derived, in part, from Enlightenment ideas segregating Homo sapiens from nature and a belief that humans can contain or control biophysical processes. Solutionist thinking and language perpetuates a self-referential problem-solution-problem cycle that begs the question of what constitutes a “solution” and simultaneously elides the reality that human systems and biophysical systems are inseparable.
Preferences for Farmstead, Artisan, and Other Cheese Attributes: Evidence from a Conjoint Study in the Northeast United States

While many small American dairy farms are struggling to stay in business due to fluctuating milk prices and rising production costs, value-added products such as cheese may help to boost revenue and diversify production practices. This study assesses consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for selected cheese attributes (farmstead, artisan, organic, local, and use of renewable energy in cheese production) through a conjoint survey conducted in Vermont, Manhattan, and Boston. Survey participants were found to segment into two groups: a qualityseeking group that displays strong preferences and a significant WTP of 15% to 25% more for each of the quality attributes, and a price-sensitive group with preference ratings highly determined by price. This research provides useful information to managers and marketers involved in farmstead and artisan dairy production and marketing.
Effect of provider-selected order indications on appropriateness of antimicrobial orders in a pediatric hospital

Purpose The effect of mandatory provider-selected order indications (PSOIs) on appropriateness of antimicrobial ordering in a tertiary pediatric hospital was evaluated. Methods Mandatory PSOIs for 14 antimicrobials were implemented in September 2013. Data on initial and final orders in the first 24 hours after ordering were collected from the electronic medical record. Orders from pre-PSOI and post-PSOI implementation were randomly selected and compared with documentation at the time of order to elicit the documentation-determined clinical indication (DDCI). Appropriateness of the order for the DDCI was evaluated and compared between groups using 2-sample t tests, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Results Among the total 1,304 orders included in the review, 275 (21.1%) were inappropriate based on DDCI. The indications associated with the greatest number of inappropriate orders in both groups were suspected sepsis/bacteremia, meningitis/central nervous system infection, and pneumonia. A total of 128 (18.3%) of 700 initial orders were inappropriate compared with the DDCI in the pre-PSOI period, and 82 (17.8%) of 461 initial orders were inappropriate in the post-PSOI period ( p = 0.83). A total of 78 (11.1%) of 700 final orders were inappropriate in the pre-PSOI period, and 29 (6.3%) of 461 final orders were inappropriate in the post-intervention period ( p = 0.01). Overall, 84 (12%) of 700 inappropriate orders reached the patient in the pre-PSOI period versus 43 (9.3%) of 461 inappropriate orders in the post-PSOI period ( p = 0.15). Conclusion PSOIs were effective in reducing inappropriate antimicrobial orders in the first 24 hours after ordering if the correct indication was selected.
Design of X-ray Contrast Agents

In vivo imaging for diagnostic purposes began with the utilization of x-rays to penetrate the body and with film to record the differential absorption of tissues. Advances in imaging this process continue today, including digital detection of the penetrating x-rays with planar, circular, and soon volumetric detector arrays. Computer-based reconstruction of x-rays completing the journey have dramatically improved the quality and utility of imaging x-ray absorption or scatter. It is too soon to declare that further developments in radiographic imaging technologies are unlikely; for example, the time of flight methods being developed for visible light, gating or pulsing algorithms, adopting interference technologies, or building hybrid systems combining simultaneous imaging with complementary modalities could lead to new generations of medical (and nonmedical) instruments. Traditionally, contrast agent enthusiasts have had to adapt their methods and materials for existing radiographic devices.
NUT midline carcinoma with leukemic presentation mimicking CD34-positive acute leukemia.

![Figure][1] A 17-year-old boy presented with cough, chest pain for 3 weeks, and weight loss for several months. He was treated with multiple rounds of antibiotics with no improvement. A right lower lobe lung lesion with extension into the mediastinum and innumerable bone metastases were
Responsive Stimulation in the Management of Medically Refractory Epilepsy

It is estimated that epilepsy affects 0.6% of people living in developed countries [1] and 1.6% of all people in more rural undeveloped countries. As a result, epilepsy poses a substantial economic burden for health systems across the globe [2]. While the primary first line therapy for treating this disorder is antiepileptic medication, 20% to 30% of patients are unable to gain seizure control with medication alone [3]. In these patients, further medication trials are of very limited utility, and current guidelines recommend referral of these patients to an epilepsy surgery team.
Patient reflections on the disenchantment of techno-medicine.

Over one hundred years after Max Weber delivered his lecture “Science as a Vocation,” his description of the work of the physician in a disenchanted world still resonates. As a chronically ill patient who interacts with physicians frequently, I struggle with reconciling my understanding of my ill body with how my physician makes sense of my illness. My diagnosis created an existential crisis that caused me to search for meaning in my embodied experience, but I soon learned there is little room for such a search within modern biomedicine. Instead, I turned to fine art to help me make sense of my ill body and its purpose in my life. With the aid of my printmaker sister, Darian Goldin Stahl, I have transformed the magnetic resonance images of my body into works of art, which help to re-enchant my body and give purpose to my illness.
Home hemodialysis with a central venous catheter

Nowadays, there is a trend towards the development of home dialysis ; more than 300 patients in France benefit from this technique, mostly on a daily rythm (between 4 to 7 sessions per week, in a short period : 2 to 3 hours per session). The majority of patients in home dialysis programs have an arterio-venous fistula as a vascular access. According to the RDPLF reports, only 13 patients dialyse regularly with a central venous catheter. In this article we report the first patient trained for home dialysis making a self-connexion with the Physidia S3 system.
Discovery of disease- and drug-specific pathways through community structures of a literature network.

Motivation In light of the massive growth of the scientific literature, text mining is increasingly used to extract biological pathways. Though multiple tools explore individual connections between genes, diseases and drugs, few extensively synthesize pathways for specific diseases and drugs. Results Through community detection of a literature network, we extracted 3444 functional gene groups that represented biological pathways for specific diseases and drugs. The network linked Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms of genes, diseases and drugs that co-occurred in publications. The resulting communities detected highly associated genes, diseases and drugs. These significantly matched current knowledge of biological pathways and predicted future ones in time-stamped experiments. Likewise, disease- and drug-specific communities also recapitulated known pathways for those given diseases and drugs. Moreover, diseases sharing communities had high comorbidity with each other and drugs sharing communities had many common side effects, consistent with related mechanisms. Indeed, the communities robustly recovered mutual targets for drugs [area under Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUROC)=0.75] and shared pathogenic genes for diseases (AUROC=0.82). These data show that literature communities inform not only just known biological processes but also suggest novel disease- and drug-specific mechanisms that may guide disease gene discovery and drug repurposing. Availability and implementation Application tools are available at http://meteor.lichtargelab.org. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Are American Coasts Under-Protected?

AbstractThis study tests whether potential coastal sea walls would pass a cost benefit test given current risks of flooding. The paper combines detailed GIS property data with local scientific meas...
Three-Dimensional Pressure Profile of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter and Crural Diaphragm in Patients with Achalasia Esophagus

Background & Aims Smooth muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and skeletal muscle of the crural diaphragm (esophagus hiatus) provide the sphincter mechanisms at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). We investigated differences in the 3-dimensional (3D) pressure profile of the LES and hiatal contraction between healthy subjects and patients with achalasia esophagus. Methods We performed a prospective study of 10 healthy subjects (controls; 7 male; mean age, 60 ± 15 years; mean body mass index, 25 ± 2) and 12 patients with a diagnosis of achalasia (7 male; mean age, 63 ± 13 years; mean body mass index, 26 ± 1), enrolled at a gastroenterology clinic. Participants underwent 3D high-resolution manometry (3DHRM) with a catheter equipped with 96 transducers (for the EGJ pressure recording). A 0.5-mm metal ball was taped close to the transducer number 1 of the 3DHRM catheter. EGJ pressure was recorded at end-expiration (LES pressure) and at the peak of forced inspiration (hiatal contraction). Computed tomography (CT) scans were performed to localize the circumferential location of the metal ball on the catheter. Esophagus, LES, stomach, right and left crus of the diaphragm, and spine were segmented in each CT scan slice images to construct the 3D morphology of the region. Results The metal ball was located at the 7 o'clock position in all controls. The circumferential orientation of metal ball was displaced 45 to 90 degrees in patients with achalasia compared with controls. The 3D-pressure profile of the EGJ at end-expiration and forced inspiration revealed marked differences between the groups. The LES turns to the left as it entered from the chest into the abdomen, forming an angle between the spine and LES. The spine-LES angle was smaller in patients with achalasia (104°) compared with controls (124°). Five of the 10 subjects with achalasia had physical breaks in the left crus of the diaphragm Conclusions Besides LES, the 3D pressure profile of the EGJ can indicate anatomic and functional abnormalities of the crural diaphragm muscle in patients with achalasia esophagus. Further studies are needed to define the nature of hiatal and crural diaphragm dysfunction in patients with achalasia of the esophagus.
Open Versus Endoscopic Component Separation: How to Choose One or the Other

The repair of massive ventral hernias has remained a challenging problem for surgeons. Primary repair is rarely successful and has associated recurrence rates of 18–62% depending on the defect size. The addition of synthetic mesh decreases recurrence rates significantly from 2 to 32%. The use of large sheets of synthetic material for hernia repair often results in a rigid, noncompliant, adynamic abdominal wall and in most cases is contraindicated in the setting of contamination. The principles of ventral hernia repair are well established: wound closure should be free of excessive tension, sutures should be placed in healthy tissue, and strong suture material should be used to support the wound through the critical period of healing.
Clinical Course of Unilateral Moyamoya Disease.

Background The natural history of unilateral moyamoya disease (MMD) progressing to bilateral MMD remains an enigma in modern vascular neurosurgery. Few, small series with limited follow-up have reported relatively high rates of contralateral stenosis progression. Objective To review our large series of unilateral MMD patients and evaluate radiographic and surgical progression rates, and identify any factors associated with progression. Methods We included all unilateral MMD cases treated from 1991 to 2017 in an observational study. We examined time to contralateral radiographic progression and contralateral progression requiring surgery. Using Cox regression analysis, we evaluated factors potentially associated with contralateral progression. Results There were 217 patients treated for unilateral MMD. About 71% were female, and the average age at first surgery was 33.8 yr. Average follow-up was 5.8 yr (range 1-22 yr). A total of 18 patients (8.3%) developed contralateral progression. And 8 of these (3.7%) developed progression requiring bypass surgery. Baseline stenosis and hyperlipidemia (HLD) were significantly associated with radiographic progression (hazard ratio [HR] = 9.7, P = .006; HR = 4.0, P = .024). Baseline stenosis was associated with surgical progression (HR = 44.2, P = .002). Results were similar when controlling for possible confounders using multivariate regression. Conclusion Previous series showed relatively high rates of progression in unilateral MMD (15%-30%), but these studies were small and long-term follow-up was rarely available. Our large series indicates that the rate of progression is lower than previously reported but still warrants yearly noninvasive screening. These data may provide indirect support for statin therapy in MMD.
Content-Aware Galaxies: Digital Fingerprints of Discussions on Social Media

The emergence of social media has facilitated new ways of communication and social engagement. Political elites and public figures use social media to inform and mobilize users. Discussions appearing around these tweets reflect valuable information from the communities, their interests, and concerns. The majority of the studies on conversational dynamics on social media use the network between users to track the flow of information and impact. In this study, a different approach is introduced in which discussion threads as the network between tweets are considered as the main components of the analysis. Based on this approach, a novel framework is proposed to provide a high-level overview of a Twitter stream. The metric energy is introduced to quantify user engagement in discussions initiated by each tweet and to study the patterns of user-participation overtime. To mine the content of the tweets, some recently developed text analysis methods are integrated into our model to extract the topic of the tweets, the sentiment of the tweets, the stance of tweets toward a controversial topic, and the coherency between the tweet-reply pairs. Three different data sets from politics, healthcare, and sport are collected to be used as case studies. The proposed framework provides a better understanding of how opinions form around a tweet, how different topics to bond together and make the whole discussions, for which topics discussions are more coherent, and which users are able to initiate a cross cutting and coherent conversation over social media.
Multi-fidelity surrogates from shared principal components

Computational cost of high-fidelity simulations limits the number of evaluations which may be performed in design exploration and optimization. Surrogates based on samples of multiple fidelities are used to decrease computational cost and lower error from single-fidelity surrogates. This paper develops a novel multi-fidelity surrogate model based on principal components which are shared between multiple fidelities of finite element model samples. This method does not require a common grid between the fidelities, further reducing computational cost. The new method was tested on various design spaces of the Transonic Purdue Research Compressor and compared to other common and novel multi-fidelity methods. The new method was more accurate and required less computational cost than the other tested methods. Little to no increase in computational cost was needed to reduce surrogate error to 50% of the single-fidelity error. For fixed error, the computational cost was reduced by more than 75%. These results were also validated by testing the method on a more complex turbomachinery blade, Parametric Blade Study Rotor 4. The decreased error and computational cost improve effectiveness of design exploration and optimization. Such improvements help meet the demand for cleaner and safer engines by allowing high-fidelity design exploration within reasonable time frames.
Indian spices boost the immune system against COVID-19

Since 12th December 2019, the epidemic outbreak of an unknown acute respiratory tract infection has emerged in Wuhan City, China. The World Health Organization (WHO) discovered that this outbreak was caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or the extreme acute respiratory coronavirus 2 syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). No vaccine or no specific anti-viral treatment against COVID-19 has been made available so far. Therefore, COVID-19 can be prevented by enhancing the body's immune system and fighting off the symptoms. Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) is one of the essential transcription factors in humans which are responsible for the regulation of immune cell, synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and gene expression of inflammatory molecules and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Phytochemicals derived from Indian spices (turmeric, garlic, ginger, etc.) can modulate the gene expression in the NF-κB pathway. In the midst of pandemic COVID-19, adding spices to food (eg. ‘Rasam’) can boost up the body's immune system. Indian spices are emerging as potential agents for the prevention of COVID-19.
Increased whiB7 expression and antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium chelonae carrying two prophages.

Background The global rise in the incidence of non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infections is of increasing concern due their high levels of intrinsic antibiotic resistance. Although integrated viral genomes, called prophage, are linked to increased antibiotic resistance in some bacterial species, we know little of their role in mycobacterial drug resistance. Results We present here for the first time, evidence of increased antibiotic resistance and expression of intrinsic antibiotic resistance genes in a strain of Mycobacterium chelonae carrying prophage. Strains carrying the prophage McProf demonstrated increased resistance to amikacin. Resistance in these strains was further enhanced by exposure to sub-inhibitory concentrations of the antibiotic, acivicin, or by the presence of a second prophage, BPs. Increased expression of the virulence gene, whiB7, was observed in strains carrying both prophages, BPs and McProf, relative to strains carrying a single prophage or no prophages. Conclusions This study provides evidence that prophage alter expression of important mycobacterial intrinsic antibiotic resistance genes and additionally offers insight into the role prophage may play in mycobacterial adaptation to stress.
Effectiveness of a peer-led gatekeeper program: A longitudinal mixed-method analysis.

The current study evaluated the long-term effectiveness of a peer delivered suicide prevention gatekeeper training program for college students. Participants: 1,345 undergraduate students (Mage = 2...
Anomaly Detection to Protect Networks from Advanced Persistent Threats Using Adaptive Resonance AI Concepts

In this paper, we will improve the Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) attack detection rate accuracy by using an artificial intelligence based anomalous intrusion detection that will be based on unsupervised learning techniques. This system will be mainly network-based with a thin layer running on the host device. We plan to mainly use an unsupervised artificial intelligence technique that utilizes Adaptive Resonance theory that will be paired with a signature-based system that will filter anomalous data and significantly improve detection rates and decrease false positive rates compared to typical anomalous intrusion detection system (IDS). If proven here, this system could be applied to future IDS and can significantly increase overall network security for an organization.
Introduction: Motivations for a New Trust Model

The key technical and security requirements of the mobile Internet are summarized to identify threats that have to be addressed by a cybersecurity protection strategy. The limitations of current protection strategies using cognitive-computational approaches to trust based on identity are discussed. Socio-cognitive trust models provide the most promising approach to trust without identity and modeling human social interaction in an open and dynamic environment such as the mobile Internet. A virtue-based trust model is proposed as an example of such trust models, which emphasize a more dynamic conception of trust that is not reducible to the belief state of one entity regarding the intentions or future actions of another entity. Network entities establish trust on their own independently of centralized authentication and authorization services, and proper trust is defined as the mean between being too trusting of other entities and not trusting enough of them.
Armies of empire : the 9th Australian and 50th British divisions in battle, 1939-1945

1. Morale and Battlefield Performance in the Second World War 2. Operations and the Curve of Morale, 1939-45 3. Organisation 4. Other Ranks 5. Leaders and Leadership 6. Training, Weapons, and Tactics 7. Discipline and Psychiatry 8. Morale in Action Conclusion: a New Paradigm of Morale.
Effects of passivation on synthesis, structure and composition of molybdenum carbide supported platinum water–gas shift catalysts

Abstract High surface area molybdenum carbides are attractive for use as catalysts and supports. Due to their pyrophoricity, carbides are typically passivated prior to use. Research described in this paper compared the synthesis, structural and compositional properties, and water–gas shift activities of catalysts produced by depositing Pt onto unpassivated and passivated Mo 2 C. Passivation had a profound effect on the character of interactions between the Pt precursor salt (H 2 PtCl 6 ) and Mo 2 C. Nanoscale Pt metal particles were deposited onto the unpassivated Mo 2 C while very large Pt particles were deposited onto the passivated Mo 2 C (p-Mo 2 C). In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed reduction of Pt 4+ in contact with the unpassivated Mo 2 C with commensurate oxidation of Mo. Water–gas shift activities were significantly higher for the Pt/Mo 2 C compared to the Pt/p-Mo 2 C catalyst. Overall, the results indicate that the passivation of Mo 2 C prior to metal deposition had deleterious effects on the Pt loadings, structures, and activities.
Quota mobility and quota values.

Abstract The institutional arrangements governing quota mobility influence quota prices and the structural development of the dairy sector. This article considers milk quotas in a number of OECD countries where they are applied under different conditions and with various policy goals. Pressure to free quota markets and to increase quota mobility is inherent in a quota system in a market economy, unless very strict government rules are applied. This implies that quota rights are capitalized in quota prices, which increases the financial burden of new producers, among others. Improving quota mobility by organizing quota trade or leasing will speed up structural development. Empirical research tends to confirm economic theory about the factors which determine quota values. Larger and/or more efficient farms increase their share in milk production by trading or leasing.
Clinical use of approved influenza antivirals: therapy and prophylaxis

Currently, there are two commonly used classes of antiviral agents approved for the prevention of and treatment for influenza: the M2 Inhibitors (amantadine and rimantadine) and the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, laninamivir, peramivir and zanamivir). These agents have been proven to be safe and effective alone or in combination for the treatment of uncomplicated influenza in otherwise healthy individuals. Although there are few prospective, randomized studies of these antivirals for the treatment of pregnant women, hospitalized patients, and immunocompromised patients infected with seasonal, pandemic, or avian H5N1 influenza, these agents are widely used for these indications. This article reviews the pharmacokinetics and clinical data available relative to the use of commercially available antiviral agents for the prevention of and treatment for influenza.
Frequency Shaped Variable Structure Control

This paper describes a systematic approach to Variable Structure Control wherein a frequency shaping filter is inserted so that high frequency vibrational modes are not excited due to the switching phenomena inherent in such controllers. This is accomplished by considering a Quadratic Regulator problem during sliding mode. It has been shown earlier that the weights in the quadratic cost criterion are related to the definition of the switching surface. The introduction of frequency weighted Quadratic Regulators supplies the filter design approach suggested. Applications discussed are related to slewing flexible structures in general and flexible manipulator control in particular.
Charting Our Extraterrestrial Efforts

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Space Missions, Applications and Exploration. Fernand Verger, Isabelle Sourbes-Verger, and Raymond Ghirardi. Cambridge University Press, New York, 2003. 428 pp. $50. ISBN 0-521-77300-8. This profusely illustrated overview of human efforts to explore space surveys the entire spectrum of space applications (scientific, technical, commercial, and military) and the activities of all countries.
Qunits: queried units in database search

Keyword search against structured databases has become a popular topic of investigation, since many users find structured queries too hard to express, and enjoy the freedom of a ``Google-like'' query box into which search terms can be entered. Attempts to address this problem face a fundamental dilemma. Database querying is based on the logic of predicate evaluation, with a precisely defined answer set for a given query. On the other hand, in an information retrieval approach, ranked query results have long been accepted as far superior to results based on boolean query evaluation. As a consequence, when keyword queries are attempted against databases, relatively ad-hoc ranking mechanisms are invented (if ranking is used at all), and there is little leverage from the large body of IR literature regarding how to rank query results. Our proposal is to create a clear separation between ranking and database querying. This divides the problem into two parts, and allows us to address these separately. The first task is to represent the database, conceptually, as a collection of independent ``queried units'', or ``qunits'', each of which represents the desired result for some query against the database. The second task is to evaluate keyword queries against a collection of qunits, which can be treated as independent documents for query purposes, thereby permitting the use of standard IR techniques. We provide insights that encourage the use of this query paradigm, and discuss preliminary investigations into the efficacy of a qunits-based framework based on a prototype implementation.
Single-center analysis of living donor nephrectomy: hand-assisted laparoscopic, pure laparoscopic, and traditional open.

Context—Laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy has been shown to be a safe method for removing kidneys for transplantation, but concerns have been raised regarding safety and long-term kidney function.Objective—To compare safety and long-term kidney function in hand-assisted laparoscopic, pure laparoscopic, and traditional open living donor nephrectomy.Method—The charts of 48 patients with more than 1 year follow-up were reviewed. Thirty-four consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy, and 14 had open donor nephrectomy. All kidneys functioned immediately at transplantation. In the laparoscopic group, 11 had the pure laparoscopic technique, and 23 patients had hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy.Results—Total operative and warm ischemic times were reduced with the hand-assisted technique when compared with pure laparoscopy. Operative and warm ischemic times were similar in open nephrectomy and hand-assisted laparoscopy. Long-term follow-up of serum creatinine levels revealed no si...
Selective conversion of an enantioenriched cyclononadienone to the xeniolide, xenibellol, and florlide cores: an integrated routing strategy

Members of the xenicane superfamily induce a variety of biological responses in vitro. In order to enable a better understanding of the function of these substances, we have developed a strategy that integrates the synthetic routes to many of its members. The core ring systems of the xeniolide, xenibellol, and florlide natural products were constructed stereoselectively from an enantioenriched cyclononadienone. The use of the cyclononadiene scaffold, reagent-controlled transannulations, and the parallels of these transformations to possible biosynthetic pathways of the natural product classes are discussed.
Determination of efficiency of attachment of biotinylated antibodies to avidin-linked, aqueous-based microcapsules by flow cytometry

We used flow cytometry to determine the percentage of aqueous-based microcapsules bearing antibodies specific for various antigen-presenting cells (APCs) within a given population of putative APC-specific microcapsules. Flow cytometry offers a high-throughput, rapid and simple method to analyze antibody binding to noncellular, nonspherical material.
Adsorption studies on a nickel/alumina methanation catalyst

In the work reported, hydrogen chemisorption on supported nickel catalysts at room temperature can be compared with the quantity of adsorption that occurs during an actual catalytic process. The process is the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide or methanation. Thermal gravimetric studies were performed on a Ni/Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ catalyst in a mixture of CO and H/sub 2/. The adsorption studies were performed in situ at 1 atm pressure under temperature conditions of the methanation reaction. The plausibility of a relationship between the amount of CO--H/sub 2/ adsorbed, referred to as a ''complex,'' and active sites were developed. Furthermore, insight into the nature of the complex was presented. (auth)
Experimental Pulmonary Edema: The Effect of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure on Lung Water

Abstract The effect of 10 cm of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on lung water was studied during pulmonary edema induced in dogs by inflating a Foley balloon placed in the left atrium. Colloid oncotic pressure (COP) was measured directly. Intrapleural pressure (IPP) was measured after surgical closure of the chest. Transmural left atrial (LA) pressure (LA minus IPP) minus COP was considered to be the net force driving water out of the capillaries. LA pressure was elevated so that transmural LA pressure minus COP averaged +7.5 mm Hg. Water accumulation was expressed as the ratio of wet to dry weight. The control ratio of wet to dry lung weight was 4.30 ± 0.10 (± SE). After 2 hours of standardized pulmonary edema and ventilation without PEEP, wet-to-dry lung weight was 5.63 ± 0.24. In animals ventilated with 10 cm of PEEP through 2 hours of pulmonary edema the ratio was 5.36 ± 0.14. Animals ventilated with 10 cm of PEEP showed a significant increase in functional residual capacity and decreased intrapulmonary shunt. Ten centimeters of PEEP, however, had no statistically significant effect on water accumulation during experimental pulmonary edema.
Spoken Language Phonotactics Implications for the ESL/EFL Classroom in Speech Production and Perception.

Abstract Language realized as speech undergoes a striking metamorphosis from pre-dynamic citation form strings (words, sentences, text) to dynamic running speech (the flow of quasi-uninterrupted acoustic energy). This transition is not possible without a host of absorption processes that alter segmental sequences through assimilation, reduction, loss and similar levelling features and result in restructured syllabication. The phonostylistics of the spoken language, as the statistical analysis of a representative sample of informal American speech shows, exposes vowels and consonants, words and sentences as perhaps less pivotal entities in running speech than sonorants and obstruents, syllables and syllabic phrases (i.e. “runs” of articulated speech defined by their respective pausal envelopes). Such an inquiry into the nature of running speech has implications, not only for our understanding of the properties of the oral language, but also for second language acquisition in the way listening comprehension and oral fluency acquisition may be facilitated.
Noise-source turbulence statistics and the noise from a Mach 0.9 jet

Turbulence statistics that are relevant to jet noise modeling but difficult to measure in experiments are computed using a previously validated simulation database of a Mach 0.9 cold jet. Initial focus is on fourth-order statistics that are at the core of acoustic analogy based models built on both the Lilley and Lighthill equations. Common simplifications of fourth-order correlations based on normal statistics are found to be accurate. We see that although two-point correlations are well fitted by exponential functions, as is typical of turbulence at all but the lowest Reynolds numbers, the spatially integrated fourth-order space/retarded-time covariances, which are used in the models, are instead very well fitted by Gaussian functions of different widths for different components, which is counter to conventional modeling practice. We also examine the components of Lighthill’s analogous noise source that are linear and quadratic in velocity fluctuations, as well as components that are deviations from p′=...
An automated microfluorometric determination for salicylate in body fluids and tissue extracts

Abstract An automated fluorometric determination for the total salicylate in body fluids and tissue extracts is described utilizing Auto-Analyzer modules. The technique is sensitive enough to be performed on microliter quantities of capillary blood. Tissue blanks are sufficiently low to allow a simple one-step aqueous extraction. Modifications which may be utilized for the measurement of acetylsalicylate, salicyluric acid, or salicylamide in the presence of salicylate are described.