cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular characterization of KatY (antigen 5), a thermoregulated chromosomally encoded catalase-peroxidase of Yersinia pestis.

The genome of Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of bubonic plague, consists of a ∼4,400-kb chromosome (35) plus three recently sequenced plasmids of ∼10 kb (pPCP) (24), ∼70 kb (pCD) (24, 50), and ∼100 kb (pMT) (24, 30). Y. pestis and closely related enteropathogenic yersiniae (Y. pseudotuberculosis and Y. enterocolitica) are noted for their ability to express temperature-dependent proteins at 37°C, but not 26°C. Many of these activities are encoded by pCD (pYV in the enteropathogenic yersiniae), where they function as regulators, modulators, or effectors of virulence, termed Yops (10, 11, 47). This form of control reflects upregulation of the pCD-encoded transcriptional activator LcrF (VirF in Y. enterocolitica) at host temperature but not room temperature (9, 23, 27). At least one such LcrF-mediated function promotes restriction in vitro (i.e., prevents the occurrence of vegetative growth at 37°C) unless the concentration of Na+ is reduced to ∼10 mM (16). However, addition of the amount of Ca2+ present in mammalian vascular fluid (≥2.5 mM) downregulates LcrF (11, 47), thereby permitting the occurrence of bacterial division regardless of the concentration of Na+ (16). The classical study of Crumpton and Davies (12) defined three major additional temperature-dependent activities, termed antigens 3, 4, and 5. These proteins correspond to the pMT-encoded (51) capsular (fraction 1) antigen of Baker et al. (2), chromosomally encoded pH 6 antigen (29, 46), and chromosomally encoded antigen E (28) or p70 (53), respectively. Fraction 1 and pH 6 antigen are established virulence factors (47). In contrast, little is known about antigen 5 (hereafter termed KatY), except that it was one of two catalases present in Y. pestis (39) and that it exhibited comparably weak enzymatic activity (39). In addition, KatY was detected in Y. pseudotuberculosis, but not Y. enterocolitica (28, 40), identified in cytoplasm and periplasm (48, 53), and produced in great abundance even during restriction of vegetative growth in Ca2+-deficient medium (39, 40). In this report, we provide an improved method capable of yielding essentially homogeneous KatY in an enzymatically active form and demonstrate that the resulting 78.8-kDa product possesses marked homology with known bacterial catalase-peroxidases, especially plasmid-encoded KatP of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (6). In addition, we show that KatY undergoes degradation by pPCP-encoded plasminogen activator (47) in a manner similar to that previously described for hydrolysis of Yops (26, 39, 40, 53, 54, 56). Three LcrF-like binding sites within the promoter region of KatY were identified, as were sequences encoding a putative internal Ca2+-binding site and an evident false translational start site resulting in formation of a minor truncated derivative of 53.6 kDa. Genes neighboring katY were distinct from those known to be linked to either katG or katP in E. coli.
Real-time incremental visualization of dynamic ultrasound volumes using parallel BSP trees

We present a method for producing real-time volume visualizations of continuously captured, arbitrarily-oriented 2D arrays (slices) of data. Our system constructs a 3D representation on-the-fly from incoming 2D ultrasound slices by modeling and rendering the slices as planar polygons with translucent surface textures. We use binary space partition (BSP) tree data structures to provide non-intersecting, visibility-ordered primitives for accurate opacity accumulation images. New in our system is a method of using parallel, time-shifted BSP trees to efficiently manage the continuously captured ultrasound data and to decrease the variability in image generation time between output frames. This technique is employed in a functioning real-time augmented reality system that a physician has used to examine human patients prior to breast biopsy procedures. We expect the technique can be used for real-time visualization of any 2D data being collected from a tracked sensor moving along an arbitrary path.
The morphogenetic regulator Czf1p is a DNA-binding protein that regulates white opaque switching in Candida albicans.

Czf1p has been demonstrated to regulate the switch between the yeast-cell morphology and filamentous morphologies of the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The predicted amino acid sequence of Czf1p contains a zinc-cluster motif similar to the DNA-binding domains of proteins such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae Gal4p, suggesting that Czf1p is a DNA-binding protein. Czf1p also demonstrates genetic interaction and a two-hybrid interaction with a second regulator of C. albicans cellular morphology, Efg1p. During growth in contact with an agar matrix, Efg1p has a negative effect on filamentation and Czf1p antagonizes this effect. In addition to regulating cellular morphology, Efg1p plays a role in regulating the cell-type switch between the commonly observed white phase of C. albicans and the opaque, mating-competent phase. While overexpression of EFG1 stimulates the switch from opaque to white, the results reported here demonstrate that overexpression of CZF1 promotes the reverse switch, from white to opaque. We also demonstrate that Czf1p binds CZF1 promoter DNA in vitro. Therefore, for the regulation of both contact-dependent filamentation and white–opaque switching, Czf1p and Efg1p have opposing functions.
Factors affecting goat meat production and quality

Abstract Deposition of relatively less subcutaneous fat by goats than sheep adversely affects storage properties of meat, most importantly dehydration and cold-shortening. High concentrate diets increase internal and carcass fat in goats, including intramuscular fat though levels are less than in cattle or sheep. Levels of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids are greater in goats consuming concentrate in confinement compared with rangeland grazing. Because the botanical composition of the diet selected by goats is more reflective of plant species available compared with cattle and sheep, changes in the botanical and chemical composition with high vs. low stocking rate or as forage mass declines with increasing stocking rate should be smaller compared with cattle and sheep, with greatest differences when browse plant species are available. The magnitude of effect of castration on carcass fatness varies considerably with plane of nutrition, although some gender comparisons have not considered stage of maturity. Limited nutrient intake maximizes lean tissue accretion and minimizes fat deposition regardless of gender. Pre-weaning growth rate is greater for single-kid litters compared with kids of multiple births depending on factors influencing milk production. Concentrate supplementation should increase pre-weaning growth when milk yield is low regardless of litter size but not with moderate-high milk yield when concentrate substitutes for milk. Genetic variability in performance traits is considerable and has been the target of various breed improvement and crossbreeding programs. Breed and genotype differences in carcass traits also exist; however, few improvement programs have included these traits in selection objectives.
3D tumor tissue analogs and their orthotopic implants for understanding tumor-targeting of microenvironment-responsive nanosized chemotherapy and radiation.

Abstract An appropriate representation of the tumor microenvironment in tumor models can have a pronounced impact on directing combinatorial treatment strategies and cancer nanotherapeutics. The present study develops a novel 3D co-culture spheroid model (3D TNBC) incorporating tumor cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts as color-coded murine tumor tissue analogs (TTA) to better represent the tumor milieu of triple negative breast cancer in vitro . Implantation of TTA orthotopically in nude mice, resulted in enhanced growth and aggressive metastasis to ectopic sites. Subsequently, the utility of the model is demonstrated for preferential targeting of irradiated tumor endothelial cells via radiation-induced stromal enrichment of galectin-1 using anginex conjugated nanoparticles (nanobins) carrying arsenic trioxide and cisplatin. Demonstration of a multimodal nanotherapeutic system and inclusion of the biological response to radiation using an in vitro / in vivo tumor model incorporating characteristics of tumor microenvironment presents an advance in preclinical evaluation of existing and novel cancer nanotherapies. From the Clinical Editor Existing in-vivo tumor models are established by implanting tumor cells into nude mice. Here, the authors described their approach 3D spheres containing tumor cells, enodothelial cells and fibroblasts. This would mimic tumor micro-environment more realistically. This interesting 3D model should reflect more accurately tumor response to various drugs and would enable the design of new treatment modalities.
Satellite observations of calcium carbonate precipitations in the Great Lakes1

Reflectance patterns apparently from calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation have been mapped in the Great Lakes using satellite multispectral imagery. The milky water phenomenon (“whiting”) occurred regularly in summer and fall during the period studied, 1972–1975, in Lakes Ontario, Erie, and Michigan but not in Superior and Huron. In situ data provide nearly irrefutable evidence that these whitings are calcareous. They are attributed to supersaturation of CaCO3 during periods of thermal stratification and are most intense in the warmer areas of the lakes. The whitings are maximal several meters below the surface and are undoubtedly significant with respect to light transmission, affecting the euphotic zone and thereby photosynthetic production. They may serve as lakewide markers in synoptic analysis of large-scale epilimnial horizontal motions.
Standardized Tests: Bellwether of Achievement?

This article constitutes the culmination in a review of 53 sources by a group of first year master’s degree students in a problems and issues in secondary education course to determine “Standardized Tests: Bellwether of Achievement?” Standardized tests are used for deciding whether or not students are achieving academically in American schools. Is this the right mechanism? Are they fair for all students? Is there a better way? There are pros and cons to standardized testing, and these will be discussed in the paper.
Human bactericidal antibody response to outer membrane protein P2 of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae.

Abstract The human bactericidal antibody response to the major outer membrane protein, P2, of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae was studied. P2 was isolated from two strains of nontypeable H. influenzae and coupled to affinity columns. Pooled normal human serum was subjected to affinity chromatography with the P2 columns and a control column. Reducing the titer of antibody to P2 resulted in reduced bactericidal activity of that serum for the organism. Immunopurified antibody to P2 from human serum was bactericidal for the homologous strain. The extent to which these bactericidal determinants on P2 are conserved among strains was investigated. Immunopurified antibodies to P2 of two epidemiologically unrelated isolates were bactericidal for four of six strains tested. We conclude that P2 is a target for human bactericidal antibody and that some of these determinants that are recognized by human bactericidal antibody are conserved among strains of nontypeable H. influenzae.
Information Systems Concepts across Two Decades: An Empirical Analysis of Trends in Theory, Methods, Process, and Research Domains

This study used information-processing theory as a framework for understanding trends in conceptual development of research presented to the International Communication Association's Information Systems Division. Concepts in titles of papers presented to the Division were analyzed for trends over a 21-year period. Cluster analysis was used to classify concepts on the basis of their linear trend, variability in trend, and annual frequency. Six clusters of trends emerged from the analysis. The content of the increasing clusters, contrasted with decreasing clusters, suggests movement toward the study of cognitive concepts and away from behavioral studies. The analysis also indicates a trend toward theory-driven research that examines the general processes of communication and away from more media-focused examinations that concentrate on specific systems, media, or technologies.
Trends in precipitation extremes and return levels in the Hawaiian Islands under a changing climate

Trends of annual maximum 1-day precipitation in three major Hawaiian Islands are investigated using a nonparametric Mann-Kendall method and Sen's test (MKS). The records are from 24 stations on Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii, and the period of analysis ranges from 1960 to 2009. To complement the MKS method, a non-stationary three- parameter generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution is also used to detect trends in precipitation extremes. Both methods demonstrate that negative trends prevail for Oahu and Maui but positive trends dominate the Island of Hawaii. The influence of the location and the scale parameter in the GEV model on different return levels (2-year, 20-year, and 100-year) are explicitly described. The return-level threshold values are found to change with time considerably. As a result, a rare storm with daily precipitation of 300 mm (20-year return period) in 1960 has become a rather common storm event (3-5-year return period) in 2009 on the Island of Hawaii. The opposite trend behavior in extreme events is observed on Oahu and Maui, where rainfall extremes have become less frequent in the last five decades. A positive relationship is found between the precipitation extremes and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), implying greater extreme events during La Ni˜ na years and the opposite for El Niyears.
Strabismus after Deep Lateral Wall Orbital Decompression in Thyroid-Related Orbitopathy Patients Using Automated Hess Screen

Purpose To evaluate the effect of deep lateral wall orbital decompression with intraconal fat debulking on strabismus in thyroid-related orbitopathy (TRO) patients using automated Hess screen (AHS). Design Prospective nonrandomized clinical study. Participants Eleven TRO patients (19 surgeries) operated on at the Jules Stein Eye Institute from January, 2004, through December, 2004. Methods Automated Hess screen testing was performed in all patients before surgery and 3 months after surgery; all patients received surgery in the nonactive phase of the disease. Main Outcome Measures Amplitude of horizontal and vertical deviations (prism diopters) in all standard positions of gaze. Results Eleven TRO patients (7 females; mean age, 47 years) were included in the study; 8 patients underwent bilateral surgery. After surgery, exophthalmos decreased an average (±standard deviation) of 2.7 mm (±2.5 mm; P = 0.003). Before surgery, 7 patients (63%) reported primary gaze diplopia, whereas only 2 patients (18%) showed diplopia in primary gaze after surgery ( P = 0.03, chi-square analysis). Orbital decompression had no statistically significant effect on horizontal and vertical ocular deviations measured by AHS. Mean amplitude of deviation in primary gaze was 1.2 prism diopters (PD) esotropia and 0.07 PD hypotropia before surgery, and 2.5 PD exotropia with 0.6 PD hypertropia after surgery (δ = 3.7 PD for horizontal deviation and −0.7 for vertical deviation; P = 0.051, paired samples t test for horizontal difference and P not significant for vertical difference). Nonsignificant P values were obtained in all 9 positions of gaze. Most patients had periocular numbness that resolved spontaneously 2 to 6 months after surgery. Conclusions Deep lateral wall orbital decompression with intraconal fat debulking had no statistically significant effect on horizontal and vertical deviations measured by the AHS. Patients may demonstrate small angle exotropia shift, but this finding was not clinically significant.
International and Comparative Politics: Toward a Synthesis?

The traditional distinction between domestic and foreign politics, made by both decision-makers and analysts, is increasingly called into question by contemporary historical developments. The cold-war conflict and the attending mobilization of military, socioeconomic, and psychological resources by the superpowers and their allies; ventures of regional economic integration; the changing nature of the nation-state; the close connection between the conditions prevailing in the international system and the attempts made by the new states to modernize and to coalesce into viable societies—these are just a few examples of how foreign and domestic policy projects have become overlapping and perhaps entirely inseparable.
Hypertension in the haemodialysis population: any relationship to 2-years survival?

Background. Few studies have quantified the effect of hypertension on survival in the haemodialysis (HD) population. We have previously reported lack of adverse effect of hypertension on 1-year mortality in a cohort of 649 haemodialysis patients (Am J Kidney Dis 1996; 28: 737-744). We report here the effect of hypertension on 2-year survival in the same cohort of patients. Methods. We reviewed the complete computerized files on 649 HD patients enrolled in 10 haemodialysis centres in the state of Mississippi, USA. One-month dialysis records for each patient from mid-October 1994 to mid-November 1994 were reviewed. Predialysis mean arterial pressure was calculated as immediate predialysis diastolic pressure plus one-third the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure. Patients were classified as hypertensive if their average pre-MAP was more than 114 mmHg or they were receiving antihypertensive drugs during the study period. Normotensives had a pre-MAP <114 and were not receiving any antihypertensives. We followed these patients for years to determine their survival and the effect of their BP status, as determined in October 1994, on 2-year mortality. Results. In univariate analysis, hypertension was associated with improved 2-years survival (relative risk 0.64, P=008 compared to normotensives). Furthermore, among the hypertensives, good blood pressure control (less than 140/90) was associated with increased relative risk of death at 2 years (RR 1.86, P=0.004). In multivariate analysis, taking age, race, serum albumin, and diabetic status into consideration, there was a 27% reduction in mortality among hypertensives compared to normtensives (RR 0.73, P = 0.06). Other factors of significance in multivariate analysis were age (RR 1.03/year, P=0.02), serum albumin (RR 0.36/g, P<0.0001). diabetes mellitus (RR 1.35, P=0.07). and race (RR 0.64, P=0.05). Conclusions. Our study suggests that hypertension has no adverse effect on survival at 2 years in the haemodialysis population.
A Tutorial on Linear Function Approximators for Dynamic Programming and Reinforcement Learning

A Markov Decision Process (MDP) is a natural framework for formulating sequential decision-making problems under uncertainty. In recent years, researchers have greatly advanced algorithms for learning and acting in MDPs. This article reviews such algorithms, beginning with well-known dynamic programming methods for solving MDPs such as policy iteration and value iteration, then describes approximate dynamic programming methods such as trajectory based value iteration, and finally moves to reinforcement learning methods such as Q-Learning, SARSA, and least-squares policy iteration. We describe algorithms in a unified framework, giving pseudocode together with memory and iteration complexity analysis for each. Empirical evaluations of these techniques with four representations across four domains, provide insight into how these algorithms perform with various feature sets in terms of running time and performance.
De novo-derived cationic antimicrobial peptide activity in a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia.

Methods: For this study, an intravenous (iv) model of P. aeruginosa infection was established. The minimum lethal murine dose of P. aeruginosa strain PA01 was determined to be 3 3 10 7 cfu when bacteria were administered iv. Increasing concentrations of WLBU2 were instilled either prior to or following PA01 septic exposure. Results: For the mice given peptide post-bacterial infection, in the 1 mg/kg group, nine of nine animals died because of Pseudomonas sepsis; in the 3 mg/kg group, only one of nine succumbed to infection and in the 4 mg/kg group, all mice were protected (P < 0.0001). Similar results were obtained when WLBU2 was given 1 h prior to Pseudomonas infection. Conclusions: Although the therapeutic window in this model is narrow, the results nonetheless provide encouraging evidence for WLBU2 as a potential prophylactic or treatment of bacterial infection.
Behavior Settings and Objective Social Indicators

Chapter 2 defined many behavior setting concepts and used them to describe a wide range of human activities in the town of Midwest. In doing so, it presented eight tables of empirical results from an actual survey of the behavior settings of Midwest during a twelve-month period in 1963–64.
Cell Proliferation in the Developing Mammalian Brain

layer of cells that lines the lumen of the tube. The lumen is the developing ventricular system of the brain, and the layer of cells is the ventricular zone (VZ). The proliferating cells of the VZ will either directly or indirectly give rise to all of the cells of the developing central nervous system (CNS). There are four major proliferative populations in the developing brain. The first of these to appear is the ventricular zone, which is the name agreed upon by the Boulder Committee (1970) as part of an effort to standardize and clarify a nomenclature that sometimes did not reflect accurately the known functions of the layers of the developing CNS. At the same time, the Boulder Committee recognized a second proliferative zone, the subventricular zone (SVZ) that develops later in much of the CNS. Two other proliferative populations arise in specific locations and give rise to specific populations of cells. These are the external granule cell layer of the cerebellum and the subhilar proliferative zone in the dentate gyrus. By the end of the developmental period, these four proliferative populations will give rise to all of the cells of the adult brain (with the exception of a small number that migrate into the brain from the periphery, and two of them, the SVZ and the subhilar zone in the dentate gyrus will continue to proliferate and produce neurons destined for limited areas of the nervous system into adulthood. The regulation of proliferation in these four proliferative zones is responsible for producing the right number of cells of the appropriate classes for all of the subdivisions of the CNS.
Fine-structural changes in relation to ion and water transport in the rectal papillae of the blowfly, Calliphora.

The fine structure of the epithelial cells of the rectal papillae in the blowfly, Calliphora erythrocephala Meig., has been investigated to elucidate the possible mechanism of reabsorption of water and ions from the rectal lumen. To observe the variations in the structure of the epithelium in response to the absorptive processes the material was taken ( a ) from flies at the various stages of their first oviposition cycle, and ( b ) from freshly emerged imagoes starved for 2 days and injected into the rectum with solutions of various tonicities. It has been found that the complex system of intercellular spaces, formed by a prolific infolding of the lateral plasma membrane of the cells, shows a direct response to the conditions of supposedly maximal and minimal transport of fluid. These spaces are ( a ) grossly distended in the flies injected with hypotonic media, ( b ) highly dilated under normal conditions, and ( c ) completely collapsed in fasting and starved flies. These observations have been discussed in the light of the available theories to explain the mechanism of water transport in biological tissues. It is proposed that the structural design of the rectal papillae favours the application of double-membrane theory to explain the reabsorption of water against osmotic gradients as a consequence of an active transport of solutes into enclosed spaces.
Abstract A24: Strategies to combat hypoxia-driven PDAC invasion after antiangiogenic therapy.

Evidence that antiangiogenic therapy can enhance local invasion of primary tumors and metastasis is mounting. However, the molecular mediators responsible for these events are unclear. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of different therapies on hypoxia-induced changes in the tumor microenvironment after targeting VEGF in murine models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We report that VEGF-blockade controlled primary PDAC growth similar to chemotherapy. Unlike chemotherapy, VEGF-blockade induced tumor hypoxia, resulted in a mesenchymal primary tumor phenotype, and did not control liver dissemination. Further, VEGF-blockade enhanced collagen deposition and collagen signaling in primary PDAC. In vitro, collagen promoted PDAC epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and protected PDAC cells from TGFβ1-induced apoptosis. The matricellular protein SPARC orchestrates collagen deposition and reduces collagen-cell interaction. We show that SPARC inhibits collagen binding to discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) and that collagen itself can drive EMT in the absence of SPARC in vitro. To model the effect of enhanced collagen signaling in the absence of other alterations in vivo we assessed tumor growth in SPARC- deficient mice. Tumor growth was accelerated and more aggressive in the absence of SPARC in implant and genetic models of PDAC. Additionally, inhibition of collagen signaling reduced pancreatic tumor growth selectively in SPARC-deficient animals. These findings implicate that collagen signaling through DDRs participates in PDAC progression. To perturb tumor progression upstream of collagen signaling we evaluated HIF inhibition with metronomic doxorubicin and Cox-2 inhibition with apricoxib. These strategies blunted tumor growth and hypoxia induced EMT. Together, our findings suggest that multiple control points are plausible to combat hypoxia driven tumor progression and enhance the efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapy. This work was supported by NIH RO1 CA118240 and the Effie Marie Cain Scholarship in Angiogenesis Research. Citation Format: Lee B. Rivera, Juliet G. Carbon, Kristina Aguilera, Jason E. Toombs, Amanda Kirane, Michael T. Dellinger, Gaurab Chakrabarti, Jordan Braunfeld, Rolf A. Brekken. Strategies to combat hypoxia-driven PDAC invasion after antiangiogenic therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges; Jun 18-21, 2012; Lake Tahoe, NV. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A24.
Very Low Deep Level AlxGa1−xAs (x=0.22) Layer Grown by Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition

We have achieved deep-level-free Al0.22Ga0.78As epitaxial layers using low selenium (Se)-doping (8.4 × l016 cm−3) grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Deep levels in various Al0.22Ga0.78As layers grown on GaAs substrates were measured by deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). We have found that the commonly observed oxygen contamination-related deep levels at EC-0.53 and 0.70 eV and germanium-related level at EC-0.30 eV in MOCVD-grown Al0.22Ga0.78 As can be eliminated by low Se-doping. In addition, a deep hole level located at Ev+0.65 eV was found for the first time in highly Se-doped Al0.22Ga0.78 As epilayers. We suggest that low Se-doping (<2 × 1017 cm−3) produces a passivation effect and then deactivates other deep levels in Al0.22Ga0.78As.
Analysis on epidemiological characteristics of reported HIV/AIDS infected people in Nanjing City,2008-2012

Objective To examine epidemiological characteristics of people who were reported as HIV infection from 2008 to 2012 in Nanjing,and to analyse the prevalence and correlation of delayed diagnosis. Methods All reported HIV infected people were analyzed during 2008 to 2012 in Nanjing City were collected through the National Information System for Comprehensive AIDS Prevention and Control,including their general demographic characteristics,their conditions of venereal disease,routes of intection and sources of sample. Results Of 1 833 reported HIV infected people,88. 0% were male. The average age was 35. 6 ± 12. 0 years old and 59. 8% were the residents in Nanjing. 12. 5% were above 50 years old. The sexual transmission accounted for 83. 9%. Students accounted for 5. 5%. The cases were mainly found from medical institutions,VCT and investigation of MSM. Of 1 833 reported HIV cases,562( 30. 7%) developed into the stage of AIDS patients in the reported year,which were belong to delayed diagnosis. The multiple Logistic regression analysis indicated that people over 50 years,via heterosexual transmission,and found from medical institutions were the independent correlated with delayed diagnosis. Conclusions It is necessary to devote greater efforts to control transmission of HIV among MSM,old people and students. The current measures on VCT,investigation of MSM and testing at detention centers should be kept. Moreover,all medical institutions should carry out PITC in order to strengthen the ability of earlier finding of HIV infections.
The Structural Presumption and the Safe Harbor in Merger Review: False Positives, or Unwarranted Concerns?

The structural presumption against mergers in highly concentrated markets has had a controversial history. The debate has centered on the error rates – and especially, the rate of false positives – from reliance on a simple structural standard for presuming a merger to be anticompetitive. This article introduces the first systematic evidence into that debate. It also uses that evidence to examine the empirical validity of the so-called “safe harbor”–the range of concentration where mergers are presumed unlikely to harm competition. The evidence is based on a substantial compilation of carefully studied mergers whose competitive outcomes are matched to data on concentration, the change in concentration due to the merger, and the number of remaining significant competitors after each merger. Statistical tests confirm that the current threshold in the Horizontal Merger Guidelines correctly identifies anticompetitive mergers with a high degree of accuracy, as indeed would somewhat tighter standards. Corollary findings include indications that a count of remaining significant competitors produces a slightly higher rate of correct predictions, and that the concentration-based safe harbor is at best rough guidance since there are any number of anticompetitive mergers in that zone. Data on recent merger enforcement practice are contrasted with these findings.
Benchmarking real-time RGBD odometry for light-duty UAVs

This article describes the theoretical and implementation challenges associated with generating 3D odometry estimates (delta-pose) from RGBD sensor data in real-time to facilitate navigation in cluttered indoor environments. The underlying odometry algorithm applies to general 6DoF motion; however, the computational platforms, trajectories, and scene content are motivated by their intended use on indoor, light-duty UAVs. Discussion outlines the overall software pipeline for sensor processing and details how algorithm choices for the underlying feature detection and correspondence computation impact the real-time performance and accuracy of the estimated odometry and associated covariance. This article also explores the consistency of odometry covariance estimates and the correlation between successive odometry estimates. The analysis is intended to provide users information needed to better leverage RGBD odometry within the constraints of their systems.
Problems and complications in the management of upper limb anomalies.

SUMMARY Nonsurgical problems and complications of orthotist–prosthetist techniques are not addressed in this article. There are a number of complications, such as decubiti, joint contracture or damage, tendon injury, wound healing, etc., which are not discussed because they are similar in cause, identification, and treatment to the same adult problems. Though it is possible to list the more common complications seen for each congenital anomaly, the tedious repetitiveness of such an approach dissuaded the author. General principles can always be specifically applied when the occasion requires. It is also possible to detail painstakingly the techniques of coping with each complication, but such would require book rather than chapter exegesis, and those who need these details are referred to the bibliography. The theme of this article is that there is no longer much distinction in the mind of the consumer clientele between the problem of the congenital anomaly, the results of treatment, and the complications of those treatments. The provider must therefore be wary, extensively informed, and exceedingly communicative, to the point of suggesting secondary consultation as warranted or desired. Despite this almost adversarial approach, the rewards are still great, for more can be accomplished than ever before, the child will seldom show motivational problems in using what is provided, and gratitude is not lost coinage.
Desulfurization for Fuel Cells

Publisher Summary Fuel cells can efficiently produce electricity using hydrogen and syngas obtained by reforming/gasification of conventional gaseous, liquid, and solid fuels. However, these fuels contain sulfur as impurity that must be nearly completely removed to prevent poisoning of the fuel cell anode catalyst with H2S. Depending on the sulfur content of the fuel, deep desulfurization of gaseous and liquid fuels can be carried out either upstream of the catalytic reformer or syngas desulfurization can be carried out downstream of the reformer. This chapter deals with desulfurization for fuel cells. A number of promising sorbents continue to be developed for desulfurization of natural gas and LPG at room temperature and low pressure. Desulfurization of gasoline can also be carried out in the gas phase by reactive adsorption or passive adsorption. The concept of removal of sulfur compounds from gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel using sorbents in the liquid phase, especially at room temperature, is attractive because of its simplicity. Although there is significant research activity to develop such sorbents, it is not clear if a viable liquid-phase desulfurization process can be developed for compact fuel processors. Further research and development are needed to measure and validate liquid phase sorbent capacities with fuels meeting current sulfur regulations and to develop liquid phase sorbents that can be simply prepared and scaled up, easily regenerated offsite or onsite, and safely disposed of.
Highlights of X-Stack ExM Deliverable Swift/T

Swift/T is a key success from the ExM: System support for extreme-scale, many-task applications1 X-Stack project, which proposed to use concurrent dataflow as an innovative programming model to exploit extreme parallelism in exascale computers. The Swift/T component of the project reimplemented the Swift language from scratch to allow applications that compose scientific modules together to be build and run on available petascale computers (Blue Gene, Cray). Swift/T does this via a new compiler and runtime that generates and executes the application as an MPI program. We assume that mission-critical emerging exascale applications will be composed as scalable applications using existing software components, connected by data dependencies. Developers wrap native code fragments using a higherlevel language, then build composite applications to form a computational experiment. This exemplifies hierarchical concurrency: lower-level messaging libraries are used for fine-grained parallelism; highlevel control is used for inter-task coordination. These patterns are best expressed with dataflow, but static DAGs (i.e., other workflow languages) limit the applications that can be built; they do not provide the expressiveness of Swift, such as conditional execution, iteration, and recursive functions.
Achieving the Anchor Promise: Improving Outcomes for Children, Families and Communities ~ A Resource Review

Achieving the Anchor Promise offers insight into ways anchor community institutions such as hospitals or universities can measure the impact or key areas where they can play an effective role in bettering the welfare of their communities. Funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this research report highlights more than 75 in-depth interviews with individuals from a broad range of institutions including non-profit leaders, community activists, hospital and university administrators and federal officials. “Best Practices” as well as challenges are reviewed with the goal aimed at helping Anchor Institutions to move from programs to impact and ultimately to delivering benefits to low-income families and communities
Evaluation and utilization of the Josephson array

A system using a Josephson series array capable of developing voltages of up to 1.3 V is described. The array system has been compared to the volt of the NRC (National Research Council of Canada), or V/sub NRC/ with good agreement. At 1.018 V, the difference between the array system and V/sub NRC/, which is referenced to an existing single junction system, is 0.008+or-0.035 mu V. >
Performance Evaluation of High Speed Survey Boat "Rodolf"

The surveyboat Rodolf is the result of the Portland District’s efforts to improve the efficiency of hydrographic surveys and use the full capabilities of electronic equipment. The Rodolf is an example of surface-effect-ship (SES) technology, the concept of an air-cushion supported vessel with rigid side hulls combined with the latest survey technology. With air-cushion assist, up to 80 percent of the vessel weight is supported by air pressure. Approximately one year of operating experience has been accumulated with the Rodolf in the Portland District. The air-cushion assist principle has proven itself to be a valid concept for use as a high speed surveyboat. Supporting most of the vessel weight with an air-cushion is a fuel efficient method of attaining high performance with reduced propulsion power requirements. Survey speeds of 22 knots are attainable with the Rodolf . Handling and maneuvering characteristics are similar to regular planing hulls in many ways.
Broader Dimensions of Economic Resilience

Overall, there are more commonalities than differences in the various definitions of resilience. All definitions relate to reducing losses from disasters. All emanate from a survival motivation. Nearly all emphasize the importance of adaptive behavior. Most view resilience as a process and emphasize the need to expand resilience capacity at multiple levels. Most emphasize interactions within a broader community. Most stress the importance of natural, societal and/or produced resources and their wise utilization in a crisis. Moreover, there are few inconsistencies between the definitions. They differ mainly in terms of some unique terrain they stake out from their own discipline. This is one of the reasons we have chosen a broad definition of resilience at the outset. It is better to consider the union of the various sets of definitions, as opposed to just their intersection, in order to capture all of the potential benefits of his important concept when made operational as a strategy to reduce losses. Cutter (Nat Hazards 80:741–758, 2016) has noted that the integration of the various disciplines in resilience analysis that is deficient. She suggests that it is the spatial sciences that hold the most promise in this regard.
Pediatric Sciatic Neuropathies

Prospective review of the incidence, cause, and prognosis of pediatric sciatic neuropathy (SN) in a 30-year experience of 53 patients is reported from the Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Boston, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA, and Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Muscular Control of Human Posture and Locomotion

Abstract Recent advances in fields of anatomy, physiology, orthopedics and physical education made it necessary to seek better techniques for mathematical modeling and analysis of the musculoskeletal structure. Innumerable investigators [see Bibliography of Ref. (1)] have attempted in the past years to analyze the human body mechanics with simplified models in order to obtain quantitative information on the forces in the different bones, muscles and joints. This study deals with the development of a rigorous computer simulation of the lower extremities of the musculoskeletal system with the objective of obtaining a generalized procedure for quantifying the participation of the individual muscles and groups of muscles in maintaining different postures or producing particular motions according to preselected criteria.
Stimulation strategies for selective activation of retinal ganglion cells

Retinal prosthetic implants have shown potential to restore partial vision to patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa or dry age-related macular degeneration, via a camera-driven multielectrode array that electrically stimulates surviving retinal neurons. Commercial epi-retinal prostheses mostly use charge-balanced symmetric cathodic-first biphasic pulses to depolarize retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and bipolar cells (BCs), resulting in the perception of light in blind patients. However, previous clinical study for patients with Argus II epiretinal implants reported most percepts evoked by single electrode stimulation were elongated and aligned with estimated axon path of retinal ganglion cells, suggesting the activation of axon bundles. In this project, using an established genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI), we performed in vitro calcium imaging for different stimulation paradigms, focusing primarily on short duration pulse that can avoid axonal stimulation and selective activate targeted RGC soma. The findings support the possibility to manipulate the responses of RGCs through varying the stimulation waveform, thus potentially forming more ideal shape perception with higher spatial resolution in future retinal prosthesis design.
Effects of polyol type and particle size on flavor release in chewing gum

The influence of polyol type and particle size on the flavor release profile of chewing gum was investigated in vivo. Four chewing gum samples with an average particle size of 62 or 246 μm for sorbitol and 57 or 184 μm for mannitol were analyzed. Chewing gum formulated with mannitol, in general, had a higher aroma release than chewing gum formulated with sorbitol. Polyol type did not influence the release profile of the high intensity sweeteners (HIS) aspartame and acesulfame K. However, a smaller particle size resulted in a significantly higher release of HIS. The release rate of polyol was not significantly changed by particle size. Sensory analysis was also in agreement with the HIS delivery; the smaller particle size polyol gum was significantly higher in perceived sweetness intensity. In summary, two physical attributes of polyols (solubility and surface area) were reported to uniquely alter the delivery of aroma and taste stimuli.
Targeting insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) in metastatic melanoma to increase efficacy of BRAFV600E inhibitors

Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. Although BRAF inhibitors significantly enhance survival of metastatic melanoma patients, most patients relapse after less than a year of treatment. We previously reported that mRNA binding protein Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) is overexpressed in metastatic melanoma and that expression of IGF2BP1 confers resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Here we demonstrate that IGF2BP1 plays an important role in the sensitivity of melanoma to targeted therapy. Inhibition of IGF2BP1 enhances the effects of BRAF-inhibitor and BRAF-MEK inhibitors in BRAFV600E melanoma. Also, knockdown of IGF2BP1 alone is sufficient to reduce tumorigenic characteristics in vemurafenib-resistant melanoma. These findings suggest that IGF2BP1 can be a novel therapeutic target for melanoma.
Food Insecurity and Family Well-Being Outcomes among Households with Young Children.

Objectives To investigate associations between household food insecurity and multiple family well-being variables in an effort to illuminate previously understudied, policy-amenable mechanisms through which food insecurity threatens healthy development. Study design Data are drawn from the nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Birth Cohort. The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Birth Cohort contains longitudinal data on household food insecurity and several family well-being factors including maternal physical and mental health, positive parenting practices and disciplinary strategies, and frequency and severity of spousal conflict. We use regression models with lagged dependent variables to estimate associations between food insecurity and family well-being outcomes, on a subsample of low-income families (N ≈ 2100-4700). Results Household food insecurity was significantly associated with poorer maternal physical health; increased depressive symptoms and use of harsh discipline strategies; and greater frequency and negativity of conflict between parents. Associations were strongest and most consistent when children were preschool aged. Transitions into food insecurity between toddlerhood and preschool were also associated with significantly worse parental physical and mental health outcomes, and more family conflict, with similar though slightly weaker and less consistent associations for transitioning into food insecurity between infancy and toddlerhood. Conclusions Food insecurity is associated with significant decreases in family health and well-being. Clinicians and other public health officials play a critical role in assessing risk for children and families, and linking families with supportive services. Screening families experiencing or at risk for food insecurity and connecting them with resources is an avenue through which public health practitioners can support family health.
Julia Uceda and the Work of Invisible Grace

Catholic theology defines grace in general as a gift of God to human beings, and sanctifying grace as the kind that remains in the soul. The operation of invisible grace is not, strictly speaking, ...
Cell-Cycle Regulation

Abstract Cell cycle is an evolutionarily conserved process that ensures high-fidelity distribution of DNA to daughter cells. The cycle includes an interphase, consisting of cell growth/DNA repair phases, and DNA replication, as well as a short M phase in which DNA and cytoplasmic division occur. Entry into the cycle is stimulated mitogenically and progression through the phases is driven by the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). CDKs are highly regulated through transcription, the availability of cofactors, direct inhibition, phosphorylation, and protein degradation. Several checkpoints in the process ensure the maintenance of genomic integrity. G1/S and G2/M checkpoints are critically regulated by tumor suppressors Rb and p53. Cell-cycle dysregulation is a hallmark of cancer cells, and malignant glioma cells proliferate rapidly, having overcome the molecular “brakes” that hold normal glial cells in a quiescent state. Genetic analyses have identified a relatively small number of significant mutations in glioblastoma, including several critical cell-cycle molecules. These alterations functionally drive progression through the Rb-dependent G1/S checkpoint and disrupt the p53 checkpoint signaling. Deletion of Rb, p53, and the CDK4/6 inhibitors p16INK4A and ARF and the amplification of CDK4, CDK6, and the MDM family of p53-targeting ubiquitin ligases are common. Traditional chemotherapeutic agents trigger cell-cycle arrest leading to apoptosis through either the overwhelming of DNA damage repair systems, or by direct interference with the mitotic spindle. Targeting therapies have been developed against cell-cycle kinases; however, most of these agents have shown limited clinical efficacy so far.