cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soluble Steroids I: Sugar Derivatives

Glucamine, glucosamine, and N-methylglucamine derivatives of cholesterol, testosterone, 9-α-fluorohydrocortisone, triamcinolone acetonide, and hexestrol have been synthesized in an attempt to provide compounds with increased aqueous solubility. The acylable hydroxy group of the steroid was converted to the chloroformate and then condensed with the appropriate amino sugar. In general, the derivatives which have been prepared possess 8 to 13 times the aqueous solubility of the parent compounds. The N-methylglucamine and glucosamine derivatives of triamcinolone acetonide, when applied topically, failed to show appreciable pharmacological activity.
Molecular electronic spectroscopy by Fabry-Perot interferometry. Effect of nuclear quadrupole interactions on the line widths of the B3Πo+-X1Σg+ transition of the I2 molecule

Abstract A pressure-scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer spectrometer was tested by recording the 5461 A atomic lines of mercury in absorption in a radio-frequency discharge. The smallest half-width (full width at half height) measured was 0.024 cm−1. Assuming the indicated resolving power of 750 000, we studied the 18-0 and 20-1 vibrational bands near 5650 A and the 30-0 band near 5350 A in the B 3 Π 0 + -X 1 Σ g + transition of iodine vapor at a pressure of about 10 μ. Instead of lines sharper than those of mercury, lines at least 25% broader were found. Moreover, the half-width alternates with the rotational quantum number J, being about 0.030 cm−1 for even J″ and 0.035 cm−1 for odd J″. These widths are explained in detail by a nuclear electric quadrupole interaction in both states, with a difference in coupling constants of |eQq′ − eQq″| = 0.070 cm−1. The result is confirmed by our studies of 129I2 line widths and agrees well with a recent interpretation of saturated absorption by one rotational line in the 11-5 band of the same transition.
Soluble Carbohydrates Oligosaccharides and Starch in Lima Bean Seeds

Seven genotypes of lima bean seeds at three maturity stages were analyzed by HPLC for the monosaccharide, fructose; the disaccharide, sucrose; the oligosaccharides, raffinose, stachyose, and verbascose; and the polysaccharide, starch. As maturity and size of the seeds increased, the concentrations of fructose and sucrose decreased while raffinose, stachyose and verbascose increased. No significant differences were found in the starch concentration. The concentration of the carbohydrates did not correlate with cotyledon color, seed color or growth habit. Sufficient variability existed in the oligosaccharide concentration in the investigated genotypes that reduction of the flatulence promoters (raffinose, stachyose and verbascose) might be possible by breeding.
Trust as a Complex Multi-Dimensional Construct:

While many uses of the construct trust assume unidimensionality, there is a lack of agreement as to meaning and measurement. Some have suggested trust to be a multi-dimensional construct. This study explored further the notion that trust is multi-dimensional. A factor analysis of three paper-and-pencil measures of trust yielded four underlying factors: suspicion-trust, risk-taking, gambling, and cynicism. The implications of this finding are discussed. Recommendations for future conceptualization and study are included.
Behavioral Characteristics of Spammers and Their Network Reachability Properties

By analyzing a two-month trace of more than 25 million emails received at a large US university campus network, of which more than 18 million are spam messages, we characterize the spammer behavior at both the mail server and the network levels. We also correlate the arrivals of spam with the BGP route updates to study the network reachability properties of spammers. Among others, our significant findings are: (a) the majority of spammers (93% of spam only mail servers and 58% of spam only networks) send only a small number of spam messages (no more than 10); (b) the vast majority of both spam messages (91.7%) and spam only mail servers (91%) are from mixed networks that send both spam and non-spam messages; (c) the majority of both spam messages (68%) and spam mail servers (74%) are from a few regions of the IP address space (top 20 "/8" address spaces); (d) a large portion of spammers (81% of spam only mail servers and 27% of spam only networks) send spam only within a short period of time (no longer than one day out of the two months); and (e) network prefixes for a non-negligible portion of spam only networks (6%) are only visible for a short period of time (within 7 days), coinciding with the spam arrivals from these networks. We discuss the implications of the findings for the current anti-spam efforts, and more importantly, for the design of future email delivery architectures.
Gametocyte sex ratio in single-clone infections of the malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum.

SUMMARY Sex ratio theory predicts that malaria parasites should bias gametocyte production toward female cells in single-clone infections because they will experience complete inbreeding of parasite gametes within the vector. A higher proportion of male gametocytes is favoured under conditions that reduce success of male gametes at reaching females such as low gametocyte density or attack of the immune system later in the infection. Recent experimental studies reveal genetic variation for gametocyte sex ratio in single-clone infections. We examined these issues with a study of experimental singleclone infections for the lizard malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum in its natural host. Gametocyte sex ratios of replicate single-clone infections were determined over a period of 3–4 months. Sex ratios were generally female biased, but not as strongly as expected under simple sex ratio theory. Gametocyte density was not related to sex ratio, and male gametocytes did not become more common later in infections. The apparent surplus of male gametocytes could be explained if male fecundity is low in this parasite, or if rapid clotting of the lizard blood reduces male gamete mobility. There was also a significant clone effect on sex ratio, suggesting genetic variation for some life-history trait, possibly male fecundity.
ESTABLISHING A BREEDING EIDER DUCK POPULATION IN MASSACHUSETTS

ABSTRACT In an effort to make a waterfowl population with a limited breeding range—Maine to the Canadian Maritimes—less vulnerable to local catastrophe from petroleum activities, a population of common eiders (Somateria mollissima dressesi) was transplanted from Maine to Massachusetts. The objective of the relocation of the eiders was to see if a population of seabirds could successfully be moved from an area subject to petroleum activities to a new breeding ground. This move involved taking a group of birds from its existing breeding ground to a nonbreeding territory and establishing another breeding population. Such wildlife management techniques could contribute to increasing the reproductive potential of birds lost to oil spills, thus decreasing the need for high-cost oiled bird rehabilitation, which is often ecologically unsound. From 1973 to 1975, adult eiders and eggs were collected from Casco Bay, Maine. Eggs were hatched and hand-reared for several weeks both at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center...
Characterization of the human and mouse WRN 3'→5' exonuclease

Werner’s syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive disorder in humans characterized by the premature development of a partial array of age-associated pathologies. WRN, the gene defective in WS, encodes a 1432 amino acid protein (hWRN) with intrinsic 3′→5′ DNA helicase activity. We recently showed that hWRN is also a 3′→5′ exonuclease. Here, we further characterize the hWRN exonuclease. hWRN efficiently degraded the 3′ recessed strands of double-stranded DNA or a DNA–RNA heteroduplex. It had little or no activity on blunt-ended DNA, DNA with a 3′ protruding strand, or single-stranded DNA. The hWRN exonuclease efficiently removed a mismatched nucleotide at a 3′ recessed terminus, and was capable of initiating DNA degradation from a 12-nt gap, or a nick. We further show that the mouse WRN (mWRN) is also a 3′→5′ exonuclease, with substrate specificity similar to that of hWRN. Finally, we show that hWRN forms a trimer and interacts with the proliferating cell nuclear antigen in vitro. These findings provide new data on the biochemical activities of WRN that may help elucidate its role(s) in DNA metabolism.
Vasospasm in Monkeys Resolves Because of Loss of and Encasement of Subarachnoid Blood Clot

Background and Purpose— We studied in monkeys why vasospasm resolves after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods— Monkeys underwent angiography and right (n=17) or bilateral (n=8) SAH. Animals with bilateral SAH underwent angiography 1, 3, 5, and 7 days later. Animals with right SAH underwent angiography 7 days later. The clot was then not removed (n=5), removed and replaced with fresh clot (n=7), or removed and not replaced (n=5). At the same time on day 7, the removed clot (n=12) or fresh clot (n=5) was placed on the left side. Angiography was repeated every 2 days until day 14. Results— SAH caused significant vasospasm on day 7 that resolved by day 14. Removal of clot on day 7 resulted in more rapid resolution of vasospasm. Placement of fresh clot onto arteries that had already been exposed to clot for 7 days produced vasospasm that persisted without resolving for an additional 7 days. Placement of 7-day-old clot from the right onto previously unexposed left arteries or of clot from blood removed from...
Concise Review: Dissecting a Discrepancy in the Literature: Do Mesenchymal Stem Cells Support or Suppress Tumor Growth?

The discovery that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recruited into tumors has led to a great deal of interest over the past decade in the function of MSCs in tumors. To address this, investigators have used a variety of tumor models in which MSCs are added exogenously to determine their impact on tumor development. Interestingly, many studies have reported contradicting results, with some investigators finding that MSCs promote tumor growth and others reporting that MSCs inhibit tumor growth. Many mechanisms have been reported to account for these observations, such as chemokine signaling, modulation of apoptosis, vascular support, and immune modulation. In this review, we analyzed the differences in the methodology of the studies reported and found that the timing of MSC introduction into tumors may be a critical element. Understanding the conditions in which MSCs enhance tumor growth and metastasis is crucial, both to safely develop MSCs as a therapeutic tool and to advance our understanding of the role of tumor stroma in carcinogenesis.
Performance Analysis of BPSK with Errors and Erasures Decoding to Mitigate the Effects of Pulse-Noise Interference

The performance of a system utilizing an M-ary quadrature-amplitude modulation waveform transmitted over a frequency-selective, slowly fading, Nakagami channel with pulse-niose interference in addition to additive white Gaussian noise is examined. The underlying information bits are assumed to be convolutionally encoded with a binary convolutional code prior to transmission over the channel, and the receiver is assumed to use errors-and-erasures demodulation and Viterbi decoding. The performance obtained with errors-and-erasures demodulation and decoding is compared with the performance obtained with errors-only hard decision Viterbi decoding.
Autoreactive Th1 Cells Activate Monocytes To Support Regional Th17 Responses in Inflammatory Arthritis

We have examined mechanisms underlying the formation of pathologic Th17 cells using a transgenic mouse model in which autoreactive CD4(+) T cells recognize influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) as a ubiquitously expressed self-Ag and induce inflammatory arthritis. The lymph nodes of arthritic mice contain elevated numbers of inflammatory monocytes (iMO) with an enhanced capacity to promote CD4(+) Th17 cell differentiation, and a regional inflammatory response develops in the paw-draining lymph nodes by an IL-17-dependent mechanism. The activation of these Th17-trophic iMO precedes arthritis development and occurs in the context of an autoreactive CD4(+) Th1 cell response. Adoptive transfer of HA-specific CD4(+) T cells into nonarthritic mice expressing HA as a self-Ag similarly led to the formation of Th1 cells and of iMO that could support Th17 cell formation, and, notably, the accumulation of these iMO in the lymph nodes was blocked by IFN-γ neutralization. These studies show that autoreactive CD4(+) Th1 cells directed to a systemically distributed self-Ag can promote the development of a regional Th17 cell inflammatory response by driving the recruitment of Th17-trophic iMO to the lymph nodes.
Parent Training: Implementation Strategies for Adventures in Parenting

Adventures in Parenting, an informational booklet published by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, offers five principles that parents can use to develop a mental model of parenting: Responding, Preventing, Monitoring, Mentoring, and Modeling (RPM3). The current study was designed to assess the differential impact of three intervention conditions utilizing Adventures in Parenting on knowledge of RPM3 principles. Significant intervention effects were found for measures of knowledge of RPM3 principles; the more intensive interventions (i.e., face-to-face groups and web-based sessions) were associated with increased knowledge of RPM3 principles over 3 months. Results are discussed in terms of their contribution to new approaches of parent education, particularly the use of web-based training. Editors’ Strategic Implications: Parent educators should review the promising findings regarding the RPM3 model. Preventionists, more broadly, may be interested in the effect of the program’s delivery mechanism, with a comparison of participants who were randomly assigned to web-based, group-based, and booklet only conditions.
Did the Events of 9/11 Change the Field of Middle East Studies? Pensée 1: Of Course—But How?

The short answer to the question as posed is, Yes, of course, 9/11 changed the field of Middle East studies. However, the next question we need to ask is, In what ways have the events of 9/11 (and all that they set in motion, in the United States and internationally, including the U.S. invasion of Iraq) actually affected our work as scholars, students, teachers, resource specialists, and so forth, whose primary focus is the Middle East and/or the Muslim world, as well as the institutions, networks, and field(s) with which we are engaged? Space limitations allow me to offer only a few brief thoughts.
Necessary and sufficient conditions for gain scheduling subject to full-structured uncertainty

Previous results in the design of controllers for parameter dependent systems are extended to systems with full-structured uncertainty. The solution takes the form of an affine matrix inequality (AMI), which is both a necessary and sufficient condition for the posed problem to have a solution. The results in this paper may be used for the design of gain scheduled controllers for a class of uncertain systems.
Role of IgG and IgM antinuclear antibodies in formation of lupus erythematosus cells and extracellular material.

IgM and IgG antinuclear antibodies (ANA) have been compared for their ability to produce hematoxylin bodies (ECM) and LE cells. At equivalent ANA concentrations (determined by immunofluorescent staining of rabbit liver nuclei), IgM formed ECM indistinguishable from those produced by IgG but, even at very high concentrations, failed to produce LE cells. Inability of IgM ANA to produce LE cells is probably due to lack of complement fixation rather than to a difference in antinuclear specificity.
Life cycle assessment of native plants and marginal lands for bioenergy agriculture in Kentucky as a model for south-eastern USA

The Brookings Institute analysis rate both Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky (USA) as two of the nation’s largest carbon emitters. This high carbon footprint is largely due to the fact that 95% of electricity is produced from coal. Kentucky has limited options for electric power production from low carbon sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric. Other states (TN, IN, OH, WV, and IL) in this region are similarly limited in renewable energy capacity. Bioenergy agriculture could account for a proportion of renewable energy needs, but to what extent is unclear. Herein, we found that abandoned agricultural land, not including land that is in fallow or crop rotation, aquatic ecosystems, nor plant-life that had passed through secondary ecological succession totaled 1.9 Mha and abandoned mine-land totaled 0.3 Mha, which combined accounted for 21% of Kentucky’s land mass. A life cycle assessment was performed based on local yield and agronomic data for native grass bioenergy agriculture. These data showed that utilizing Kentucky’s marginal land to grow native C4 grasses for cellulosic ethanol and bioelectricity may account for up to 13.3% and 17.2% of the states 2 trillion MJ energy consumption and reduce green house gas emissions by 68% relative to gasoline.
Urine albumin as a biomarker in acute kidney injury.

ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY (AKI) is a common clinical condition that is associated with significantly high rates of morbidity and mortality particularly in critically ill patients (1, 2, 10, 18). Despite fundamental advances in understanding the etiology and pathophysiology of AKI the current therapeutic approaches remain limited to supportive measures (e.g., dialysis). Treatment for AKI is confounded by several variables including patient demographics, severity of AKI, and AKI associated with complex medical and surgical interventions. Therefore, there is a growing need to provide timely and accurate diagnosis to allow for the implementation of potentially novel therapeutic interventions to overcome AKI. Studies in animal models of AKI have highlighted the therapeutic potential for a number of interventions. However, translation of these potential therapies to humans has yielded inconclusive and equivocal results (2, 5, 12). One of the proposed reasons for such failure is the lack of early markers for AKI and hence an unacceptable delay in initiating therapy. In current clinical practice, identification and severity of AKI is generally based on elevations in serum creatinine levels. Unfortunately, creatinine is an unreliable indicator of early AKI for multiple reasons. For example, a significant decrease (50%) in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) may be necessary to raise the serum creatinine above the normal laboratory range (2, 9, 11). In sepsis, production of creatinine from the muscle is reduced, and relying on changes in serum creatinine to diagnose AKI in such settings could delay diagnosis of AKI (3). Recent studies have conclusively shown that the morbidity and mortality associated with AKI are correlated with the severity of kidney injury. The data from these studies and animal models indicate that prevention or decrease in the extent of injury could significantly lower negative outcomes
Expression Of Fused In Sarcoma Mutations In Mice Recapitulates The Neuropathology Of FUS Proteinopathies And Provides Insight Into Disease Pathogenesis

Background: Mutations in the gene encoding the RNA-binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) can cause familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and rarely frontotemproal dementia (FTD). FUS accumulates in neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NCIs) in ALS patients with FUS mutations. FUS is also a major pathologic marker for a group of less common forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), which includes atypical FTLD with ubiquitinated inclusions (aFTLD-U), neuronal intermediate filament inclusion disease (NIFID) and basophilic inclusion body disease (BIBD). These diseases are now called FUS proteinopathies, because they share this disease marker. It is unknown how FUS mutations cause disease and the role of FUS in FTD-FUS cases, which do not have FUS mutations. In this paper we report the development of somatic brain transgenic (SBT) mice using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) to investigate how FUS mutations lead to neurodegeneration. Results: We compared SBT mice expressing wild-type human FUS (FUSWT), and two ALS-linked mutations: FUSR521C and FUSΔ14, which lacks the nuclear localization signal. Both FUS mutants accumulated in the cytoplasm relative to FUSWT. The degree of this shift correlated with the severity of the FUS mutation as reflected by disease onset in humans. Mice expressing the most aggressive mutation, FUSΔ14, recapitulated many aspects of FUS proteinopathies, including insoluble FUS, basophilic and eosiniphilic NCIs, and other pathologic markers, including ubiquitin, p62/SQSTM1, α-internexin, and the poly-adenylate(A)-binding protein 1 (PABP-1). However, TDP-43 did not localize to inclusions. Conclusions: Our data supports the hypothesis that ALS or FTD-linked FUS mutations cause neurodegeneration by increasing cyotplasmic FUS. Accumulation of FUS in the cytoplasm may retain RNA targets and recruit additional RNA-binding proteins, such as PABP-1, into stress-granule like aggregates that coalesce into permanent inclusions that could negatively affect RNA metabolism. Identification of mutations in other genes that cause ALS/FTD, such as C9ORF72, sentaxin, and angiogenin, lends support to the idea that defective RNA metabolism is a critical pathogenic pathway. The SBT FUS mice described here will provide a valuable platform for dissecting the pathogenic mechanism of FUS mutations, define the relationship between FTD and ALS-FUS, and help identify therapeutic targets that are desperately needed for these devastating neurodegenerative disorders.
Adenovirus — An Eternal Archetype

Adenovirus constitutes a large group of DNA viruses that infect humans, animals, and birds (Pereira et al. 1963). The adenovirus genome containing 36 kb of DNA is organized in early and late transcription units (Ginsberg 1984; Horwitz 1990). Transcription of the latter is activated at the onset of viral DNA replication. From each of the six early transcription units, numerous messenger RNA are generated, and the encoded polypeptides are required to establish productive viral replication, transformation, and viral latency in infected cells. The first transcription units to be activated shortly after infection, regions E1A and E1B, encode proteins involved in cellular transformation and transactivation of viral and cellular transcription units (Flint and Shenk 1989). Regions E2A and E2B encode proteins involved in adenovirus DNA replication, including the viral polymerase terminal protein and the DNA-binding protein (Horwitz 1990). Finally, regions E3 and E4 are involved in other early viral functions leading to suppression of host defense mechanisms (Wold and Gooding 1991 ), to transcriptional activation of other promoters (Hardy et al. 1989), and to preferential transport of viral mRNA (Babiss and Ginsberg 1984; Halbert et al. 1985).
Reflectance spectroscopy of clotting blood: a description of the time-dependent behavior.

Context Research into whether cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors affect thrombosis has been hampered by the lack of a specific assay. Erythrocytes modulate the effect of aspirin on platelets, which suggests that tests of whole blood clotting may be more sensitive. Objectives To determine whether reflectance spectroscopy of clotting blood generates useful information about coagulation and whether it shows an effect of COX-2 inhibitors. Design A survey of 14 adults examined the range of phenomena demonstrated by reflectance spectroscopy. These phenomena were compared before and after treatment with a COX-2 inhibitor in 4 subjects. Setting Out-patient clinic. Main outcome measure Reflected light intensity was measured from blood as it clotted in a cuvette thermostated at 37 degrees C. Results The survey of healthy adults showed that the time course of reflected light intensity is similar at all wavelengths and may be divided into 4 stages: a monotonic decrease, a sigmoidal increase, a linear region, and a terminal phase. Clot formation as determined by tube inversion occurs at the transition between the first and second phases; the sigmoidal increase cannot be due to fibrin polymerization. The terminal phase coincides with clot retraction. Similar results are obtained in native whole blood and in recalcified citrated blood. Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors have an intrinsic effect on the sigmoidal increase ex vivo (P Conclusions Reflectance spectroscopy generates unique information about clotting blood. It is feasible to use anticoagulated blood to elucidate the events underlying the time course and to investigate the effects of COX-2 inhibitors.
High speed routing in a parallel processing environment: a simulation study

This paper examines techniques to achieve high speed routing in a distributed memory parallel computer environment. This paper develops a model to analyze the intra-node routing latency, and demonstrates that it may be the dominant factor of the overall system performance. This paper introduces three approaches, with varying levels of relative complexity, to improve intra-node routing capability. A simulation study has been developed to compare the behavior of each technique with three different topologies. The approach presented in this paper applies the advantages of dynamic interconnection networks to the problem of static interconnection network routing. >
Mid-Infrared GaN/AlxGa1-xN Quantum Cascade Detectors Grown by MOCVD

A III-nitride-based Quantum Cascade detector grown by MOCVD is designed, fabricated and tested. Peak responsivity of 100 mA/W with detectivity of up to 10^8 Jones at ~ 4 mm is measured.
Evaluation of a reconstituted dried serum as a clinical chemistry standard in the abnormal range.

A lyophilized serum chemistry reference standard containing constituents in the "abnormal" range has been evaluated for use as a proficiency standard. The findings indicate that it is a satisfactory material for such use and as a reference standard, provided that it is used in accordance with the manufacturer's directions. Interferences contributing to inaccurate results in the analysis of bilirubin, cholesterol, and uric acid are indicated and discussed. It is recommended that the standard be used for the preparation of calibration curves for bilirubin and uric acid.
The nature and fate of natural resins in the geosphere. Part X. † Structural characteristics of the macromolecular constituents of modern Dammar resin and Class II ambers

As part of a larger study of the structure and behavior of polyterpenoids in sedimentary systems, the structural characteristics of the macromolecular constituents of Dammar resin and a related Class II amber have been reinvestigated. The conclusions drawn from these analyses are inconsistent with the current widely held "polycadinene" model for the macromolecular structure of these materials. Double bond characteristics observed by one and two dimensional NMR spectroscopy do not match those in the proposed "polycadinene" structure. Based on these observations it is suggested that the proposed "polycadinene" structure for these materials is inadequate and requires revision. Elemental and NMR data also suggest a significant contribution from functionalized monomers.
Fourier-based reconstruction for fully 3-D PET: optimization of interpolation parameters

Fourier-based approaches for three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction are based on the relationship between the 3-D Fourier transform (FT) of the volume and the two-dimensional (2-D) FT of a parallel-ray projection of the volume. The critical step in the Fourier-based methods is the estimation of the samples of the 3-D transform of the image from the samples of the 2-D transforms of the projections on the planes through the origin of Fourier space, and vice versa for forward-projection (reprojection). The Fourier-based approaches have the potential for very fast reconstruction, but their straightforward implementation might lead to unsatisfactory results if careful attention is not paid to interpolation and weighting functions. In our previous work, we have investigated optimal interpolation parameters for the Fourier-based forward and back-projectors for iterative image reconstruction. The optimized interpolation kernels were shown to provide excellent quality comparable to the ideal sinc interpolator. This work presents an optimization of interpolation parameters of the 3-D direct Fourier method with Fourier reprojection (3D-FRP) for fully 3-D positron emission tomography (PET) data with incomplete oblique projections. The reprojection step is needed for the estimation (from an initial image) of the missing portions of the oblique data. In the 3D-FRP implementation, we use the gridding interpolation strategy, combined with proper weighting approaches in the transform and image domains. We have found that while the 3-D reprojection step requires similar optimal interpolation parameters as found in our previous studies on Fourier-based iterative approaches, the optimal interpolation parameters for the main 3D-FRP reconstruction stage are quite different. Our experimental results confirm that for the optimal interpolation parameters a very good image accuracy can be achieved even without any extra spectral oversampling, which is a common practice to decrease errors caused by interpolation in Fourier reconstruction
Impact of routine and long-term follow-up on weight loss after laparoscopic gastric bypass

Abstract Background Weight loss after gastric bypass varies among patients. It is difficult to maintain contact with patients who have undergone surgery several years previously. Continued and long-term follow-up care at a bariatric surgery clinic might be a factor affecting long-term excess weight loss (EWL). Methods Patients with 3–4 years of follow-up data after laparoscopic gastric bypass were included in this retrospective analysis. The patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1 patients had attended every scheduled postoperative appointment, group 2 patients had attended every appointment for 1 year before being lost to follow-up, and group 3 patients had been lost to follow-up before 1 year. Comparisons were made to determine the relationship between the length of follow-up and EWL. Results We identified 34 group 1 patients and 51 group 2 or 3 patients of 130 patients eligible to be included as determined by their date of surgery. The interval since surgery was similar at approximately 3 years. Although the EWL did not differ at 1 year of follow-up (mean EWL 70% for group 1 versus 65% for group 2, P >.05), a significant difference in the EWL was observed at 3–4 years (74% for group 1 versus 61% for group 2 versus 56% for group 3; P Conclusion Laparoscopic gastric bypass patients who attended all scheduled follow-up appointments experienced greater long-term weight loss than those who did not. On-going, multidisciplinary care is likely a critical component in maintaining the benefit after surgery. Patients must be encouraged to continue to attend their bariatric medical appointments, and payors should provide coverage for these visits.
Visualizing Hyporheic Flow Through Bedforms Using Dye Experiments and Simulation

Advective exchange between the pore space of sediments and the overlying water column, called hyporheic exchange in fluvial environments, drives solute transport in rivers and many important biogeochemical processes. To improve understanding of these processes through visual demonstration, we created a hyporheic flow simulation in the multi-agent computer modeling platform NetLogo. The simulation shows virtual tracer flowing through a streambed covered with two-dimensional bedforms. Sediment, flow, and bedform characteristics are used as input variables for the model. We illustrate how these simulations match experimental observations from laboratory flume experiments based on measured input parameters. Dye is injected into the flume sediments to visualize the porewater flow. For comparison virtual tracer particles are placed at the same locations in the simulation. This coupled simulation and lab experiment has been used successfully in undergraduate and graduate laboratories to directly visualize river-porewater interactions and show how physically-based flow simulations can reproduce environmental phenomena. Students took photographs of the bed through the transparent flume walls and compared them to shapes of the dye at the same times in the simulation. This resulted in very similar trends, which allowed the students to better understand both the flow patterns and the mathematical model. The simulations also allow the user to quickly visualize the impact of each input parameter by running multiple simulations. This process can also be used in research applications to illustrate basic processes, relate interfacial fluxes and porewater transport, and support quantitative process-based modeling.
Arthropod Fallout and Nutrient Transport: A Quantitative Study of Alaskan Snowpatches

Arthropod fallout was sampled during the summers of 1971 and 1972 on snowpatches at the IBP Tundra Biome site at Eagle Summit Alaska (65028'N, 45023'W) at an altitude of about 1100 m. Diptera dominated the fallout numerically (61%), followed by Hymenoptera (28%), Coleoptera (4.4%), and Heteroptera (1.2%). Peak fallout occurred in early June, and diminished to zero in early September. Greatest fallout biomass, which occurred in midJune and in early July, was composed largely of alate ants. The mean rate of arrival on the snow surface mid-June through mid-July was 1.5 mg dry wt m-2 * day-l. Eight species of bird which breed in the vicinity of Eagle Summit utilized the snowfield insect fallout as a food source. On the basis of elemental analyses made on snowpatch insects it is estimated that rates of deposition during mid-June to mid-July are carbon, 0.7 mg * m-2 * day-1; nitrogen, 0.15 mg m-2 - day-1; phosphorus, 0.008 mg ? m-2 . day-1. Assuming imported insects from lower altitudes comprised 70% of the total fallout, at least 21.3 mg carbon m-2, 4.3 mg nitrogen m-2, and 0.25 mg phosphorus m-2 were imported during the period mid-June to late August 1972. The significance of arthropod fallout on snowfields as a source of nutrient is discussed.
The effects of using a radial artery in patients already receiving bilateral internal mammary arteries during coronary bypass grafting: 30-day outcomes and 14-year survival in a propensity-matched cohort

OBJECTIVES Recent studies have demonstrated the superiority of bilateral internal mammary arteries (BIMAs) as conduit material for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. However, there is limited research on the effects of other graft conduits used in patients who require additional bypasses. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of the radial artery (RA) when used in conjunction with the BIMAs. METHODS From the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2013, 4370 patients underwent CABG for three or more vessels at our institution. There were 568 and 183 patients who received BIMA + saphenous vein graft (SVG) and BIMA + radial ± SVG, respectively. Propensity matching was used to create a balanced cohort from these patients, which resulted in two groups of 183 patients. Thirty-day outcomes and long-term survival were compared between the two groups. Long-term follow-up was generated using the Social Security Death Index. RESULTS There were no significant differences in preoperative characteristics. For 30-day outcomes, the BIMA + radial ± SVG group had more postoperative atrial fibrillation (24.6 vs 12.0%; P = 0.001) and a longer median postoperative length of stay (6 vs 5 days; interquartile range = 2; P = 0.016) than BIMA + SVG patients. There was no significant difference in long-term survival between the two groups over the 14-year period. However, before year 10, the BIMA + SVG group had a trend towards higher survival, whereas on follow-up after 10 years, there was a trend that favoured the BIMA + radial ± SVG patients. Cox regression analysis using a time-dependent covariate demonstrated that when the groups were split at 10 years, there was a statistically significant improvement in survival of the BIMA + radial ± SVG group [adjusted hazard ratio 0.254 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.062-0.977; P = 0.048] over BIMA + SVG patients between 10 and 14 years. CONCLUSIONS Overall, there were no statistically significant differences in survival between the BIMA + SVG and BIMA + radial ± SVG groups over the 14 years. However, further analysis demonstrated that while the BIMA + radial ± SVG group had a trend towards decreased survival before 10 years, use of the RA in conjunction with BIMAs was associated with significantly increased survival in the later years. A larger cohort of patients with longer follow-up is needed to assess the outcomes of CABG using BIMA + radial ± SVG.
Kinetic mechanism and fidelity of nick sealing by Escherichia coli NAD+-dependent DNA ligase (LigA)

Escherichia coli DNA ligase (EcoLigA) repairs 3'-OH/5'-PO4 nicks in duplex DNA via reaction of LigA with NAD(+) to form a covalent LigA-(lysyl-Nζ)-AMP intermediate (step 1); transfer of AMP to the nick 5'-PO4 to form an AppDNA intermediate (step 2); and attack of the nick 3'-OH on AppDNA to form a 3'-5' phosphodiester (step 3). A distinctive feature of EcoLigA is its stimulation by ammonium ion. Here we used rapid mix-quench methods to analyze the kinetic mechanism of single-turnover nick sealing by EcoLigA-AMP. For substrates with correctly base-paired 3'-OH/5'-PO4 nicks, kstep2 was fast (6.8-27 s(-1)) and similar to kstep3 (8.3-42 s(-1)). Absent ammonium, kstep2 and kstep3 were 48-fold and 16-fold slower, respectively. EcoLigA was exquisitely sensitive to 3'-OH base mispairs and 3' N:abasic lesions, which elicited 1000- to >20000-fold decrements in kstep2. The exception was the non-canonical 3' A:oxoG configuration, which EcoLigA accepted as correctly paired for rapid sealing. These results underscore: (i) how EcoLigA requires proper positioning of the nick 3' nucleoside for catalysis of 5' adenylylation; and (ii) EcoLigA's potential to embed mutations during the repair of oxidative damage. EcoLigA was relatively tolerant of 5'-phosphate base mispairs and 5' N:abasic lesions.
Rethinking the South African Crisis: Nationalism, Populism, Hegemony

In this excellent work, Gillian Hart picks up her account of the political economy of post-apartheid South Africa where her earlier Disabling Globalization (Berkeley: University of California Press...
Secondary kaolins from the Oboznovsk deposits

Composition chimique et mineralogique de ces kaolins, proprietes physiques et ceramiques, cuisson et proprietes des produits cuits. Ces kaolins, purs ou additionnes de 0 a 30% d'argile frittable a basse temperature, peuvent etre utilises pour la fabrication de produits de chamotte
Defining the issues: returning patients with tuberculosis to institutional settings.

Institutions that care for patients with tuberculosis or house populations with a high prevalence of tuberculosis have three responsibilities. Their first obligation is to those served by the institution. The services provided by the institution should not place the recipients at undo risk of developing a tuberculous infection. Their second obligation is to protect the staffof the institution from preventable infection. The third responsibility is for the institution to ensure its own survival and existence. If an institution fails to meet its first
Mapping transverse capillary flow speed using time-varying OCT speckle signals(Conference Presentation)

We present an optical coherence tomography (OCT) based method for mapping transverse red blood cell (RBC) flow speed at capillary. This OCT velocimetry utilizes a quantitative laser speckle temporal contrast analysis that estimates reliable speckle decorrelation time from the observed speckle contrast, which is related to microcirculatory flow velocity. For capillary speed measurement, we employ a home-built 1.3 µm MHz swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) system that can acquire OCT B-frames at a rate of 1.7 kHz. From the multiple B-frames obtained at the same location, intensity profiles with time-varying OCT speckle contrast are extracted at single capillaries using a capillary binary mask and then the transverse flow speed is calculated by adapting the profiles to the speckle contrast analytic model. Finally, a 3D speed map can be achieved for OCT volume imaging. To validate this method, we perform a systematic study using both phantom and in vivo rodent models. Result shows that our method is effective to measure transverse capillary flow speed.
Pinpointing the vesper bat transposon revolution using the Miniopterus natalensis genome

Around 40 million years ago DNA transposons began accumulating in an ancestor of bats in the family Vespertilionidae. Since that time, Class II transposons have been continuously reinvading and accumulating in vespertilionid genomes at a rate that is unprecedented in mammals. Miniopterus (Miniopteridae), a genus of long-fingered bats that was recently elevated from Vespertilionidae, is the sister taxon to the vespertilionids and is often used as an outgroup when studying transposable elements in vesper bats. Previous wet-lab techniques failed to identify Helitrons, TcMariners, or hAT transposons in Miniopterus. Limitations of those methods and ambiguous results regarding the distribution of piggyBac transposons left some questions as to the distribution of Class II elements in this group. The recent release of the Miniopterus natalensis genome allows for transposable element discovery with a higher degree of precision. Here we analyze the transposable element content of M. natalensis to pinpoint with greater accuracy the taxonomic distribution of Class II transposable elements in bats. These efforts demonstrate that, compared to the vespertilionids, Class II TEs are highly mutated and comprise only a small portion of the M. natalensis genome. Despite the limited Class II content, M. natalensis possesses a limited number of lineage-specific, low copy number piggyBacs and shares several TcMariner families with vespertilionid bats. Multiple efforts to identify Helitrons, one of the major TE components of vesper bat genomes, using de novo repeat identification and structural based searches failed. These observations combined with previous results inform our understanding of the events leading to the unique Class II element acquisition that characterizes vespertilionids. While it appears that a small number of TcMariner and piggyBac elements were deposited in the ancestral Miniopterus + vespertilionid genome, these elements are not present in M. natalensis genome at high copy number. Instead, this work indicates that the vesper bats alone experienced the expansion of TEs ranging from Helitrons to piggyBacs to hATs.
Assessing the “Local” 87 Sr/ 86 Sr Ratio for Humans

For a few decades archaeologists have been measuring 87Sr/86Sr in human teeth to explore human mobility, mostly by inferring that 87Sr/86Sr outliers represent individuals who immigrated into archaeological sites. Although the utility of the method is incontestable, the applications are beginning to outrun their theoretical foundations. Enormous efforts are currently being made to match specific isotope ratios with broad geographic regions, or “isoscapes,” connecting the underlying geology with the ratios in human teeth. However, a close examination of the distribution of 87Sr/86Sr reveals that there is enormous local variation in the geosphere, that biological ratios can differ significantly from those expected from the geology, that human ratios can vary according to diet, and that diet can include isotope inputs from beyond the place of birth. Thus a direct, empirical assessment of the human data can yield a more accurate “local” human value than can isoscape models. An appreciation of such details can help avoid erroneous inferences of mobility and yield more anthropologically nuanced results.
Situating teachers’ developmental engineering experiences in an inquiry-based, laboratory learning environment

Many secondary math and science teachers don’t understand the nature and application of engineering adequately to transfer that understanding to their students. Research is needed that investigates and illuminates the process and characteristics of development that addresses this gap. This mixed-method study examines the developmental experiences of 16 public math and science teachers in a yearlong engineering experience. Teachers partnered with university engineering professor-mentors for six weeks on campus followed by ongoing support for transfer to their secondary classes (grades 9–12). Teachers gained engineering knowledge and skills, and an understanding of engineering’s diversity and interdisciplinary nature, plus integrative applied strategies for math and science instruction. They developed productive perceptions (of value, utility, benefits, feasibility and fit) of engineering for their grade 9–12 students, along with efficacy and intent to use what they had learned. Teachers identified positive...
Fundoplication with gastrostomy vs gastrostomy alone: a systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes and complications

We compare the outcomes of fundoplication with gastrostomy vs gastrostomy alone and review the need for subsequent fundoplication after the initial gastrostomy alone. We searched studies published from 1969 to 2016 for comparative outcomes of concomitant fundoplication with gastrostomy (FGT) vs gastrostomy insertion alone (GT) in children. Gastrostomy methods included open, laparoscopic, and endoscopic procedures. Primary aims were minor and major complications. Secondary aims included post-operative reflux-related complications, fundoplication specific complications, and need for subsequent fundoplication after GT. We reviewed 447 studies; 6 observational studies were included for meta-analysis, encompassing 2730 children undergoing GT (n = 1745) or FGT (n = 985). FGT was associated with more minor complications [19.9 vs 11.4%, OR 2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43–2.87, p ≤ 0.0001, I 2 = 0%], minor complications requiring revision (6.8 vs 3.0%, OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.28–4.05, p = 0.005, I 2 = 0%), and more overall complications (21.3 vs 12.0%, OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.43–2.78, p < 0.0001, I 2 = 0%). Incidence of major complications (1.8 vs 2.0%, OR 1.39, 95% CI 0.62–3.11, p = 0.42, I 2 = 5%) and reflux-related complications (8.8 vs 10.3%, OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.35–1.68, p = 0.46, I 2 = 0%) in both groups was similar. Incidence of subsequent fundoplication in GT patients was 8.6% (mean). Gastrostomy alone is associated with fewer minor and overall complications. Concomitant fundoplication does not significantly reduce reflux-related complications. As few patients require fundoplication after gastrostomy, current evidence does not support concomitant fundoplication.