cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of fiber types in skeletal muscles from ten animal species based on sensitivity of the myofibrillar actomyosin ATPase to acid or copper.

Comparisons were made of the histochemical characteristics of skeletal muscle from 10 animal species. The basic comparison was made from the staining patterns for the myofibrillar actomyosin ATPase produced by preincubation of fresh frozen cross-sections of muscle at alkaline pH (10.30) or acid pH (4.60) with those produced by preincubation in media containing Cu2+ at alkaline pH (10.30), near neutral pH (7.40), or acid pH (4.60). Muscle sections were also stained for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase to provide an indication of the relative oxidative and glycolytic capacity of the different fiber types. Type II fibers in mixed fibered muscles were either very sensitive, moderately sensitive, or relatively insensitive to inactivation of the myofibrillar actomyosin ATPase after acid preincubation. These fibers were identified as type IIA1, IIA2, and IIA3, respectively. The myofibrillar actomyosin ATPase of the type I fibers of these muscles, with the exception of those in mouse muscle, was activated by pretreatment with acid. A separation of animal species was possible based on the stability of the IIA1 fibers to inclusion of Cu2+ in the preincubation medium. For one group of animals (rat, mouse, monkey, man, dog, rabbit, and cow), a reciprocal relationship existed between lability to acid and stability to Cu2+ for type IIA1 and IIA3 fibers, respectively. For the second group of animals (horse, ass, and cat) there was a parallel relationship between lability or stability of the type IIA1 and IIA3 fibers to pretreatment with either acid or Cu2+
The conundrum of the effect of β-blockade on myocardial oxygen consumption

Abstract The effect of propranolol on myocardial oxygen consumption was studied in in situ canine hearts. In 12 afterload independent isovolumic hearts propranolol increased M V O 2 an average of 19 ± 3% ( P P V O 2 is indexed for heart rate, heart weight, and stroke work. Therefore, propranolol does not decrease M V O 2 for individual contractions and does not affect the energy requirements for basal metabolism, excitation-contraction coupling, and heat generation, in contrast to results obtained with β agonists.
Fields excited by beam currents circular accelarators

Abstract Formulas are given for the electric and magnetic fields in a circular accelerator of arbitrary cross section, excited by a non-scalloping beam of particles. Both steady-state and step-function transients are considered.
A Class of Occupancy Problems

(1968). A Class of Occupancy Problems. The American Statistician: Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 23-24.
Microcomputer-based experiment management system : I. Randomization, label printing, and experiment support

An experiment management system is described that will aid in the execution of many types of biological experimentation. Menu driven software written for the IBM/compatible microcomputer will aid in pseudo-random assignment of a number of treatment and experimental designs. The software will print labels and data collection sheets and facilitate asynchronous data transfer from the portable computers to the IBM/compatible computer. Data may be transformed and interline and intraline data field checking done. Data fields of different data files may be merged by experimental unit number and the experimental descriptor information, stored in a reference file during randomization, may be merged with the corresponding data of each experimental unit (...)
A DSS user interface model to provide consistency and adaptability

Abstract The cost of a DSS user interface can run as high as 60 to 70 percent of the total cost of building a DSS. It is important that the interface be adaptable to different users' needs and also communicate consistent commands to the internal components of the DSS. Many DSS interfaces have been developed to be either consistent or adaptable, but not both. A review of literature reveals that prior models of the DSS user interface are oriented largely toward programmers and systems designers rather than end-users. The focus has been on providing consistent, recognizable commands to the internal DSS components. However, another objective of a DSS is to respond to the unique requests of individual end-users and prior models are generally deficient in meeting this objective. We propose a DSS user interface model that provides an interface adaptable to the various styles and needs of different users yet consistent to internal DSS components. A precisioning procedure is suggested as the basis for implementing the proposed model. This procedure articulates user-adaptive terms and system-consistent terms to provide an interface with both adaptable and consistent characteristics. Two examples from a telecommunications DSS illustrate the utility of the proposed procedure.
Even an ocean away: developing Skype‐based reference for students studying abroad

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline the development of a Skype‐based, study abroad reference service.Design/methodology/approach – The paper discusses the criteria used for technology and situates the project in the literature on study abroad reference services.Findings – Using Skype, a free video‐conferencing software, allows librarians to offer reference services to study abroad students effectively, easily, and without new technologies or significant cost.Originality/value – The paper offers other librarians strategies for developing and launching similar programs and shares challenges encountered to prepare librarians for success in their own projects.
The 1.85 Å Structure of Vaccinia Protein VP39: A Bifunctional Enzyme That Participates in the Modification of Both mRNA Ends

Abstract VP39 is a bifunctional vaccinia virus protein that acts as both an mRNA cap–specific RNA 2′-O-methyltransferase and a poly(A) polymerase processivity factor. Here, we report the 1.85 A crystal structure of a VP39 variant complexed with its AdoMet cofactor. VP39 comprises a single core domain with structural similarity to the catalytic domains of other methyltransferases. Surface features and mutagenesis data suggest two possible RNA-binding sites with novel underlying architecture, one of which forms a cleft spanning the region adjacent to the methyltransferase active site. This report provides a prototypic structure for an RNA methyltransferase, a protein that interacts with the mRNA 5′ cap, and an intact poxvirus protein.
LCR-initiated rearrangements at the IDS locus, completed with Alu -mediated recombination or non-homologous end joining

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) is caused by mutations in the IDS gene, which encodes the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase. In ∼20% of MPS II patients the disorder is caused by gross IDS structural rearrangements. We identified two male cases harboring complex rearrangements involving the IDS gene and the nearby pseudogene, IDSP1, which has been annotated as a low-copy repeat (LCR). In both cases the rearrangement included a partial deletion of IDS and an inverted insertion of the neighboring region. In silico analyses revealed the presence of repetitive elements as well as LCRs at the junctions of rearrangements. Our models illustrate two alternative consequences of rearrangements initiated by non-allelic homologous recombination of LCRs: resolution by a second recombination event (that is, Alu-mediated recombination), or resolution by non-homologous end joining repair. These complex rearrangements have the potential to be recurrent and may be present among those MSP II cases with previously uncharacterized aberrations involving IDS.
Plasma glutamine concentration: a guide in the management of urea cycle disorders.

Because increases in plasma glutamine concentrations are almost always associated with hyperammonemia in patients with urea cycle disorders, we determined the correlation between these two variables for 2 years in a child with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. A correlation coefficient of 0.77 ( p
An elaborated model of social search

Search engine researchers typically depict search as the solitary activity of an individual searcher. In contrast, results from our critical-incident survey of 150 users on Amazon's Mechanical Turk service suggest that social interactions play an important role throughout the search process. A second survey of also 150 users, focused instead on difficulties encountered during searches, suggests similar conclusions. These social interactions range from highly coordinated collaborations with shared goals to loosely coordinated collaborations in which only advice is sought. Our main contribution is that we have integrated models from previous work in sensemaking and information-seeking behavior to present a canonical social model of user activities before, during, and after a search episode, suggesting where in the search process both explicitly and implicitly shared information may be valuable to individual searchers. We seek to situate collaboration in these search episodes in the context of our developed model for social search. We discuss factors that influence social interactions and content sharing during search activities. We also explore the relationship between social interactions, motivations, and query needs. Finally, we introduce preliminary findings from the second survey on difficult and failed search efforts, discussing how query needs and social interactions may differ in cases of search failures.
Primary Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection in Clinical Stage A Non-seminomatous Germ Cell Testis Cancer Review of the Indiana University Experience 1965–1989

Summary— The results of primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) in 464 patients with clinical stage A non-seminomatous germ cell (NSGC) testis cancer treated over 25 years (1965–1989) were reviewed. The results were analysed in clinical terms and subdivided into early (1965–1978) and contemporary (1979–1989) groups in order to be comparable with series using radiotherapy or surveillance. Between 1965 and 1978 (86 clinical stage A patients) the overall relapse rate of 15% (n = 13) was similar to that of radiotherapy series but survival (97.7% after RPLND) was superior to that achieved with irradiation (87%). From 1979 to 1989, 378 clinical stage A patients had primary RPLND and 30% of them (n = 112) had cancerous nodes. The relapse rate for pathological stage A (n = 266) was 12% and 2 patients died. The relapse rate in pathological stage B patients without adjuvant chemotherapy was 34%. No relapse was seen among 48 pathological stage B patients who received post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy. The death rate was 0.8% among 378 clinical stage A RPLND patients. While not statistically significantly different from death rates reported in current surveillance series, these consistent results spanning 2 eras (before and after cisplatin) over 25 years suggest a sound basis for the surgical approach. The anatomical and medical principles in oncology, which have supported this approach, still remain cogent today. Now that nerve-sparing techniques have been developed, the only long-term morbidity of RPLND (anejaculation) has been avoided. It would seem appropriate to include nerve-sparing RPLND techniques in the management of clinical stage A disease.
Visualization package for 3D laser-scanned geometry

A computer software package named LEGO was designed and implemented to enable medical personnel to explore and manipulate laser scanned 3D geometry obtained from a Cyberware 4020PS scanner. This type of scanner reconstructs a real world object into a mathematical computer model by collecting thousands of depth measurement using a low powered laser. LEGO consists of a collection of tools that can be interactively combined to accomplish complex tasks. Tools fall into five major categories: viewing, simple, quantitative, manipulative, and miscellaneous. This paper is based on a masters thesis obtained from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Towering Figures in American Mathematics, 1890–1950

The state of American mathematics in the year 1890 was quite bleak. Only two schools offered true graduate education, The Johns Hopkins University and Clark University. Both were new, Hopkins having been founded in 1876 and Clark in 1889. When compared to their counterparts in Europe, the courses taught at the vast majority of American universities were paltry, the spirit of research almost nonexistent, and the quality of the faculty vastly inferior. Most established universities and colleges in America emphasized a classical education that featured rhetoric and classical languages to the exclusion of the sciences. By 1950, just 60 years later, a dramatic revolution had completely altered the mathematical landscape. American students could now obtain an excellent grounding at dozens of first-rate institutions before pursuing doctoral degrees at several world-class departments led by an international cast of outstanding researchers. A who's who list from 1890 might feature Thomas Craig and Fabian Franklin (both then at Johns Hopkins), William Story (at Clark), William Byerly (Harvard), G. B. Halsted (Texas), and Hubert Newton (Yale)-hardly a sextet of household names today even among historians of mathematics. The hypothetical list would surely include J. Willard Gibbs and George Hill, two individuals who had ascended to high ranks in the scientific community but who were peripheral players on the American mathematical scene. By 1950 a snapshot of one department alone might capture Andre Weil, Antoni Zygmund, S. S. Chern, and Saunders Mac Lane centered on Marshall Stone. This photo might be captioned "the fab five", whereas the list from 60 years earlier could be dubbed "the sad six". Although few other names could be added to the "sad six" list, 3 x 5 shots of A. A. Albert, Paul Halmos, Magnus Hestenes, Irving Kaplansky, John Kelley, and Irving Segal could accompany the 8 x 12 photo of the "fab five". The revolution from 1890 to 1950 occurred in several evolutionary stages. It began with a few isolated individuals and ended with a mature community. We recount here the main features of this development using the lives of six mathematicians to illustrate some of the major changes that occurred. These six figures-E. H. Moore, 0. Veblen, G. D. Birkhoff, R. L. Moore, N. Wiener, and M. Stone-towered over the mathematical landscape and ushered in a completely new generation of American mathematicians. This account describes their achievements in an attempt to provide us with a clearer picture of our heritage.
Role of Somatomedin-C (Sm-C) and Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in Fibroblast Growth

Addition of serum to quiescent, density arrested Balb/c 3T3 mouse fibroblasts (MF) results in renewed DNA synthesis after a lag of 12 hours. Similar responses to platelet poor plasma (PPP) occur only if the cells are first rendered "competent" by brief exposure to platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). When PDGF treated MF are incubated in hypopituitary PPP, they become arrested 6 hours prior to the G1/S boundary; completion of transit through G1 occurs only after the addition of SM-C (1×10-9 M). A combination of EGF and Sm-C can fully replace normal PPP in permitting competent cells to progress through G1. EGF (1×10-9M) plus Sm-C (1×10-10M) are required during the first 6 hours, whereas Sm-C alone (1×10-9M) is sufficient for completion of G1. PDGF treated human fibroblasts (HF) differ from MF by their ability to initiate DNA synthesis in response to hypopituitary PPP, although the rate of entry into S is slower than in normal PPP. This difference is attributable to the capability of HF (but not MF) to synthesize Sm-C. Sm-C production is increased additively in response to PDGF and hGH. Conclusions: 1) Sm-C is an obligate requirement for both MF and HF to progress through the G1 phase of the cell cycle; 2) the apparent independence of HF from the Sm-C requirement can be attributed to their ability to synthesize this peptide, 3) preincubation with hGH normalizes the rate of entry of HF into S in the presence of hypopituitary PPP.
An evidence-based causative classification system for acute ischemic stroke

Regular, evidence-based assignment of patients to etiologic stroke categories is essential to enable valid comparison among studies. We designed an algorithm (SSS-TOAST) that incorporated recent advances in stroke imaging and epidemiology to identify the most probable TOAST category in the presence of evidence for multiple mechanisms. Based on the weight of evidence, each TOAST subtype was subdivided into 3 subcategories as "evident", "probable", or "possible". Classification into the subcategories was determined via predefined specific clinical and imaging criteria. These criteria included published risks of ischemic stroke from various mechanisms and published reports of the strength of associations between clinical and imaging features and particular stroke mechanisms. Two neurologists independently assessed 50 consecutively admitted patients with acute ischemic stroke through reviews of abstracted data from medical records. The number of patients classified as "undetermined-unclassified" per the original TOAST system decreased from 38-40% to 4% using the SSS-TOAST system. The kappa value for inter-examiner reliability was 0.78 and 0.90 for the original TOAST and SSS-TOAST respectively. The SSS-TOAST system successfully classifies patients with acute ischemic stroke into determined etiologic categories without sacrificing reliability. The SSS-TOAST is a dynamic algorithm that can accommodate modifications as new epidemiological data accumulate and diagnostic techniques advance.
Identifying Subsurface Stratigraphy And Source Vents With AIRSAR And Ground Penetrating Radar In Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR) data allow detection of lava flows with different backscatter characteristics and dielectric properties. The backscattering and penetration depth of the GPR and AIRSAR signals depend on the frequency of the instrument, the surface roughness, moisture content and dielectric properties of surface and near surface materials. Preliminary GPR surveys in Craters of the Moon (COM) National Monument with a 100-MHz, bi-static antenna obtained penetration depths up to 50 meters in a section of the Great Rift and allowed the identification of lava flows of different ages. Lava flow ages and the location of source vents for older eruptive periods (~15,000 yrs) are either speculative or unknown, due to the changing orientation of the rift and burial of older flows.
The clinical utility of the Dementia Rating Scale for assessing Alzheimer patients

Community residing patients with mild (n = 18) or moderately severe (n = 16) Alzheimer's disease and controls (n = 23) were given Mattis' Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) and a brief measure of confrontation naming selected from the Boston Naming Test (BNT). The DRS was shown to be a reliable and clinically useful measure of mental status in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The DRS subscales and the BNT had excellent internal consistency reliabilities and the total DRS score (TDRS) was shown to be generally unrelated to gender and education. Among the dementia patients, performance on the TDRS was significantly associated with functional competence. The two dementia samples had similar profiles on the DRS and BNT, with the mild subjects performing significantly better than the moderately severe subjects on each measure. Extending the range of DRS subscales would improve this measure's utility as an evaluation instrument.
The Feud in Early Modern Germany. By Hillay Zmora. (New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Pp. 211. $99.00.)

In the late 1930s German historian Otto Brunner established the importance of the medieval feud. Caught up in the political passions of his own period (his sympathy for the Nazis would later render...
Dispersion relations for electron and hole transfer in donor—bridge—acceptor systems

Abstract Simple dispersion relations are derived which allow for the separation of the contribution of direct electron transfer and hole transfer to the total matrix element between donor and acceptor states in donor—bridge—acceptor charge transfer systems. The proposed relations are based on the calculation of the total matrix element for complex tunneling energies and do not assume diagonalization of the bridge orbitals. A numerical procedure to perform such calculations for proteins and other large electron transfer systems is described.
Feasibility Study of Low Grade Heat Recovery Rankine Cycle Using Ozone-Neutral Refrigerant

The paper addresses the feasibility of ozone-neutral low grade heat recovery to produce power. The low grade heat source can either be industrial exhaust or solar radiation. Using a scroll expander as a basis for testing, theoretical models yielded a thermal efficiency of 11%, utilizing a non-toxic and non-hazardous working fluid. This project spanned research and development of a system from the comparison of several working fluids, modeling of a theoretical 10 kW unit, the sizing and selection of appropriate system components, and the development of project management tools, in support of its real world development. A cost benefit analysis of the theoretical system shows that solar heat recovery with ozone-neutral refrigerant is a viable option for power generation, at about 1/3 the cost of a comparable photovoltaic system.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Assessing head and neck cancer patient outcome domains.

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the relative importance on patients' lives of multiple outcomes resulting from the management of head and neck cancer (HNC). Methods HNC patients filled out a disease-specific quality of life (QOL) survey covering 5 domains (speech, eating, aesthetics, pain/discomfort, and social/role functioning). Logistic regression was used to determine which of these domains best predicted the patients' response to a single, overall QOL assessment. Results In univariate analyses, all 5 domains were significantly correlated to QOL (p< .0001), with correlation coefficients ranging from .48 for eating to .64 for social/role functioning. Logistic regression indicated that speech and eating best predicted QOL (R2 = .4647), with odds-ratios of 2.96 for speech and 2.49 for eating. Conclusions These data demonstrated that, for this group of patients, speech has the most impact on well-being, whereas eating has a substantial, unrelated influence. This is important information in counseling patients about treatment plans that have different levels of impairment. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 22: 6–11, 2000.
Thermal performance evaluation of precast concrete three-wythe sandwich wall panels

Abstract Precast concrete sandwich wall panels are commonly constructed of two wythes of concrete separated by a layer of thermal insulation. In these two-wythe panels, solid concrete regions are often provided for embedded hardware for lifting, handling, and connections, or to provide composite action. These solid concrete regions can have a significant adverse impact on the thermal performance of the panels. This research was directed towards the development of precast concrete three-wythe sandwich wall panels with potential improved thermal and structural performance. A three-wythe panel has three concrete wythes and two insulation layers, and all three concrete wythes are connected by solid concrete regions. However, the connections between successive concrete wythes are staggered in location so that the total thermal path length through the concrete is extended. Practical panel configurations of the three-wythe panels were developed to reduce thermal bridge effects caused by regions of solid concrete. The thermal performance of the three-wythe panel was evaluated by estimating its thermal resistance (R-value) using the finite element method. It was found that, in general, the thermal performance of three-wythe panels is better than that of two-wythe panels due to the increased thermal path length through the panel.
Challenges of studying drugs in pregnancy for off-label indications: Pravastatin for preeclampsia prevention

Abstract Statins (3-hydroxy-3 methyl-glutaryl coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors) are the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications due to their efficacy in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidities, tolerability, and safety profiles. Based on pathophysiologic similarities between cardiovascular disease and preeclampsia, a common and dangerous complication of pregnancy, there is an increasing interest in studying this class of medications during pregnancy to prevent and/or treat preeclampsia. Undergoing such a study, which entails the use of a pregnancy class X medication for an off-label indication in pregnancy, requires intensive multidisciplinary involvement of a group of experts in basic and clinical pharmacology, research methods, pregnancy physiology and maternal–fetal medicine, as well as U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory guidelines and practice. Issues of potential fetal risk, altered maternal–fetal pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and regulatory challenges are real, and must be carefully considered in the process of research in this arena.
Graduate ethics education: A content analysis of syllabi.

Ethical practice of psychology is emphasized by American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation requirements. The current study is a content analysis of 53 ethics course syllabi from all APA accredited programs listed in the American Psychologist 2011 annual report. This article is a companion to Domenech Rodriguez et al. (2014, pp. 241–247) and contributes knowledge on the current state of graduate ethics education. Of the parent project respondents (n 364), 14% returned syllabi for the present study. General information (e.g., objectives, honor code, academic honesty, common policy, and classroom expectations), assignments, APA format, and teaching sources were coded. Coding of objectives were developed from McKeachie and Svinicki’s (2011) definition and de las Fuentes, Willmuth, and Yarrow’s (2005) conceptualization of specific objectives (awareness, skill, and knowledge). A little more than half (56.6%) of syllabi stated clear objectives, only 52.8% covered academic honesty, and 16 (30.2%) did not include a section to address accommodations for students with disabilities. Most syllabi used APA format to cite sources, however most sources used were 5 years or older. Overall, syllabi were quite varied in the information they included. Greater consistency in syllabus content would make future evaluations on the state of graduate ethics education more accurate. Recommendations for observational and self-report alternatives are also presented.
Transitions into Idleness among White, Black, and Hispanic Youth: Some Determinants and Policy Implications of Weak Labor Force Attachment:

Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth are used to assess the determinants of entering inactivity for 1,731 initially active young men. The results indicate that social context variables play a key role in explaining weak labor force attachment among young nonwhite men, but are relatively less important for white youth. Local opportunity structure and individual human capital characteristics are the most important determinants of inactivity for youth as a whole. These findings encourage a social policy solution centered around job creation and training programs which smooth the transition between school and work.
Fabrication and test of prototype ring magnets for the ALS

Prototype models for the Advanced Light Source (ALS) booster dipole, quadrupole, and sextupole and the storage ring gradient magnet, quadrupole, and sextupole have been constructed. The booster magnet prototypes have been tested. The storage ring magnets are undergoing tests and magnetic measurements. The authors review the designs and parameters for these magnet designs which respond to the special constraints imposed by the requirements for both accelerator rings, and they review some of the results of magnet measurements for the prototype. >
A Review of Models for Water Droplet Detachment From the Gas Diffusion Layer-Gas Flow Channel Interface in PEMFCs

Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of water transport in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is necessary for effective management of product water. Among the transport mechanisms affecting the performance of PEMFCs are droplet formation, growth, and detachment at the gas diffusion layer (GDL)-gas flow channel interface. The presence of water droplets on the GDL blocks the access of gases to the reaction sites, increases channel pressure drop, and creates inconsistencies in the gas velocity fields down the channel length, all resulting in performance deterioration. In order to gain an insight into controlling droplets, an in-depth review of PEMFC water droplet detachment models published in the literature is presented here. Summaries of supporting data, modeling techniques, and conclusions are also presented.
Virus-encoded b7-2 costimulation molecules enhance the protective capacity of a replication-defective herpes simplex virus type 2 vaccine in immunocompetent mice.

Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) and, to a lesser extent, HSV-1 cause the majority of sexually transmitted genital ulcerative disease. No effective prophylactic vaccine is currently available. Replication-defective HSV stimulates immune responses in animals but produces no progeny virus, making it potentially useful as a safe form of live vaccine against HSV. Because it does not replicate and spread in the host, however, replication-defective virus may have relatively limited capacity to solicit professional antigen presentation. We previously demonstrated that in mice devoid of B7-1 and B7-2 costimulation molecules, replication-defective HSV-2 encoding B7-1 or B7-2 induces stronger immune responses and protection against HSV-2 challenge than immunization with replication-defective virus alone. Here, we vaccinated wild-type mice fully competent to express endogenous B7 costimulation molecules with replication-defective HSV-2 or replication-defective virus encoding B7-2 and compared their capacities to protect against vaginal HSV-2 infection and disease. Replication-defective virus encoding B7-2 induced more IFN-γ-producing CD4 T cells than did replication-defective virus alone. Immunization with B7-2-expressing virus decreased challenge virus replication in the vaginal mucosa, genital and neurological disease, and mortality more effectively than did immunization with the parental replication-defective virus. Prior immunization with B7-expressing, replication-defective virus also effectively suppressed infection of the nervous system compared to immunization with the parental virus. Thus, B7 costimulation molecules expressed at the site of HSV infection can enhance vaccine efficacy even in a fully immunocompetent host.
Explicit Syllable and Phoneme Segmentation in the Young Child

Abstract To write a language, one must first abstract the unit to be used from the acoustic stream of speech. Writing systems based on the meaningless units, syllables and phonemes, were late developments in the history of written language. The alphabetic system, which requires abstraction of the phonemic unit of speech, was the last to appear, evolved from a syllabary and, unlike the other systems, was apparently invented only once. It might therefore be supposed that phoneme segmentation is particularly difficult and more difficult, indeed, than syllable segmentation. Speech research suggests reasons why this may be so. The present study provides direct evidence of a similar developmental ordering of syllable and phoneme segmentation abilities in the young child. By means of a task which required preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade children to tap out the number of segments in spoken utterances, it was found that, though ability in both syllable and phoneme segmentation increased with grade level, analysis into phonemes was significantly harder and perfected later than analysis into syllables. The relative difficulties of the different units of segmentation are discussed in relation to reading acquisition.
Neutralization of Enterovirus D68 isolated from the 2014 US outbreak by commercial intravenous immune globulin products.

Abstract Background In 2014, an outbreak of Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) was recorded as the largest in the US with cases confirmed in 49 states. Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) has been used to treat enterovirus infections in neonates and is an accepted replacement therapy for immunodeficient patients. Objectives This study aimed to detect the presence of neutralizing antibodies to EV-D68 viruses from the 2014 outbreak in commercially available IVIG products. Study design Commercially available lots of IVIG preparations were obtained from five different manufacturers (2–10 preparations per manufacturer) and tested for neutralizing antibodies against the prototype EV-D68 virus and three EV-D68 isolates representing strains circulating during the 2014 outbreak. Results All lots of IVIG tested were positive for EV-D68 neutralizing antibodies, with high titers ranging from 9.5log 2 to 17.5log 2 , and with comparable median titers to all four EV-D68 viruses. Conclusions and discussion Amino acid sequence differences in the regions of the predicted antigenic sites on the viral capsid may explain some of the differences in neutralization among the different strains. The neutralization titers suggests that the 2014 outbreak EV-D68 viruses share some antigenic sites with the prototype virus and also present some unique antigenic sites distinct from the prototype. However, the commercial IVIG lots tested all contained high levels of neutralizing antibodies against EV-D68.
Unraveling the Wheat Stem Rust Infection Process on Barley Genotypes Through Relative qPCR and Fluorescence Microscopy.

The infection process of wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) on barley (Hordeum vulgare) is often observed as a mesothetic infection type at the seedling stages, and cultivars containing the same major resistance genes often show variation in the level of resistance provided against the same pathogen race or isolate. Thus, robust phenotyping data based on quantification of fungal DNA can improve the ability to elucidate host–pathogen interaction, especially at early time points of infection when disease symptoms are not yet evident. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to determine the amount of fungal DNA relative to host DNA in infected tissue, providing new insights about fungal development and host resistance during the infection process in this pathosystem. The stem rust susceptible ‘Steptoe’, resistant cultivars containing only Rpg1 (‘Beacon’, ‘Morex’, and ‘Chevron’), and the resistant line Q21861 containing Rpg1 and the rpg4/Rpg5 complex were evaluated usi...
Delineating the Requirement for the Borrelia burgdorferi Virulence Factor OspC in the Mammalian Host

We previously demonstrated that outer surface protein C (OspC) of Borrelia burgdorferi is essential for establishing mammalian infection. However, the role of OspC in mammalian infection is unknown. Here, we report experiments designed to distinguish between two models of OspC function in the mammalian host: (i) OspC fulfills an essential physiological role for growth and host adaptation or (ii) OspC provides a protective role for evasion of components of the innate immune response. We found that a B. burgdorferi ospC mutant, previously demonstrated to be noninfectious in both immunocompetent and SCID mice, could survive in the relatively immune-privileged environment of dialysis membrane chambers implanted within the peritoneum of a rat. The ospC mutant also adapts to the mammalian environment, as determined by the protein profiles of the chamber-cultivated spirochetes. Therefore, OspC does not appear to provide a physiological function for the survival of B. burgdorferi within the mammalian host. The second model, evasion of the innate immune system, was tested by assessing the infectivity of the ospC mutant in mice deficient for myeloid differentiation protein 88 (MyD88). Recent studies have shown that B. burgdorferi is prevented from reaching high cell numbers in the mammalian host by MyD88-dependent signaling pathways. The ospC mutant was incapable of infecting MyD88-deficient mice, suggesting that the role of OspC cannot be related solely to evasion of MyD88-mediated innate immunity. These results reiterate the importance of OspC in mammalian infection and eliminate simple models of function for this enigmatic protein.
Complications, Adverse Events, and Additional Intraocular Surgery 1 Year After Cataract Surgery in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study

Purpose To compare rates and severity of complications between infants undergoing cataract surgery with and without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Design Prospective, randomized clinical trial. Participants The Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS) is a randomized, multicenter (n = 12) clinical trial comparing treatment of aphakia with a primary IOL or contact lens in 114 infants with unilateral congenital cataract. Intervention Infants underwent cataract surgery with or without placement of an IOL. Main Outcome Measures The rate, character, and severity of intraoperative complications (ICs), adverse events (AEs), and additional intraocular surgeries (AISs) during the first postoperative year in the 2 groups were analyzed. Results There were more patients with ICs (28% vs. 11%; P = 0.031), AEs (77% vs. 25%; P P Conclusions The rates of ICs, AEs, and AISs 1 year after surgery were numerically higher in the IOL group, but their functional impact does not clearly favor either treatment group. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Equatorial influence of QuikSCAT winds in an isopycnal ocean model compared to NCEP2 winds

Abstract An ocean model was used to examine whether the scatterometer winds can improve the model performance both dynamically and thermodynamically. Comparisons were done using QuikSCAT and NCEP2 winds for both the mean and variability from 2000 to 2004. The comparisons showed that the model forced by QuikSCAT winds gives more realistic mean SST, 20 °C isotherm depth (Z20), and latent heat flux than NCEP2 winds do. Sensitivity experiments indicated that QuikSCAT mean wind stress is important for the improved mean SST, Z20, and latent heat release to the atmosphere in the eastern Pacific. QuikSCAT wind speed, through its effect on the turbulent heat fluxes, is most important for the mean SST in the western Pacific. Finally, there were comparable correlations with observations of both SST and Z20 on the intra-seasonal time scale between the model forced with QuikSCAT winds and the model forced with NCEP2 winds.
Overcoming Asynchrony: An Analysis of the Effects of Asynchronous Noise on Nearest Neighbor Synchronizations

A simple model of noise with an adjustable level of asynchrony is presented. The model is used to generate synthetic noise traces in the presence of a representative bulk synchronous, nearest neighbor time stepping algorithm. The resulting performance of the algorithm is measured and compared to the performance of the algorithm in the presence of Gaussian distributed noise. The results empirically illustrate that asynchrony is a dominant mechanism by which many types of computational noise degrade the performance of bulk-synchronous algorithms, whether or not their macroscopic noise distributions are constant or random.
Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Panel (ThyroSeq) for Detection of Mutations in Thyroid Cancer

Objectives: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows for high-throughput sequencing analysis of large regions of the human genome. We explored the use of targeted NGS for simultaneous testing for multiple mutations in thyroid cancer. Design: A custom panel (ThyroSeq) was designed to target 12 cancer genes with 284 mutational hot spots. Sequencing was performed to analyze DNA from 228 thyroid neoplastic and nonneoplastic samples including 105 frozen, 72 formalin-fixed, and 51 fine-needle aspiration samples representing all major types of thyroid cancer. Results: Only 5–10 ng of input DNA was sufficient for successful analysis of 99.6% of samples. The analytical accuracy for mutation detection was 100% with the sensitivity of 3%–5% of mutant allele. ThyroSeq DNA assay identified mutations in 19 of 27 of classic papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) (70%), 25 of 30 follicular variant PTCs (83%), 14 of 18 conventional (78%) and 7 of 18 oncocytic follicular carcinomas (39%), 3 of 10 poorly differentiated carcinom...
PGC-1β regulates angiogenesis in skeletal muscle

Aerobic metabolism requires oxygen and carbon sources brought to tissues via the vasculature. Metabolically active tissues such as skeletal muscle can regulate blood vessel density to match metabolic needs; however, the molecular cues that coordinate these processes remain poorly understood. Here we report that the transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1β (PGC-1β), a potent regulator of mitochondrial biology, induces angiogenesis in skeletal muscle. PGC-1β induces the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cell culture and in vivo. The induction of VEGF by PGC-1β requires coactivation of the orphan nuclear receptor estrogen-related receptor-α (ERRα) and is independent of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway. In coculture experiments, overexpression of PGC-1β in skeletal myotubes increases the migration of adjacent endothelial cells, and this depends on VEGF signaling. Transgenic expression of PGC-1β in skeletal myocytes dramatically increases muscular vessel density. Taken together, these data indicate that PGC-1β is a potent regulator of angiogenesis, thus providing a novel link between the regulations of oxidative metabolism and vascular density.
Sub-nanosecond switching of a tantalum oxide memristor

We report sub-nanosecond switching of a metal?oxide?metal memristor utilizing a broadband 20?GHz experimental setup developed to observe fast switching dynamics. Set and reset operations were successfully performed in the tantalum oxide memristor using pulses with durations of 105 and 120?ps, respectively. Reproducibility of the sub-nanosecond switching was also confirmed as the device switched over consecutive cycles.
FRAND commitment and EC competition law : A reply to Philippe Chappatte

(2010). Frand Commitments and EC Competition Law: A Reply to Philippe Chappatte. European Competition Journal: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 129-174.
Passive SPICE-compatible models of dispersive interconnects

In this paper, the modal network theory of the skin effect is used for the development of discrete models for dispersive, multiconductor interconnects compatible with passive model order reduction algorithms. With the introduction of properly defined auxiliary variables, a passive discrete form of Telegrapher's equations is obtained. The resulting discrete model is then used in conjunction with the passive reduced-order interconnect modeling algorithm (PRIMA) for the generation of low-order, multi-port macromodels for interconnection networks. Numerical examples are used to demonstrate the proposed methodology and the associated computer implementation.
Component based design of multitolerant systems

The concept of multitolerance abstracts problems in system dependability and provides a basis for improved design of dependable systems. In the abstraction, each source of undependability in the system is represented as a class of faults, and the corresponding ability of the system to deal with that undependability source is represented as a type of tolerance. Multitolerance thus refers to the ability of the system to tolerate multiple fault classes, each in a possibly different way. We present a component based method for designing multitolerance. Two types of components are employed by the method, namely detectors and correctors. A theory of detectors, correctors, and their interference free composition with intolerant programs is developed, which enables stepwise addition of components to provide tolerance to a new fault class while preserving the tolerances to the previously added fault classes. We illustrate the method by designing a fully distributed multitolerant program for a token ring.
Through silicone vias: Multilayer interconnects for stretchable electronics

We show how stretchable Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) electrically conductive composites (ECC) can be fabricated to form flexible, stretchable multilayer interconnects. Multilayer integration through via-like structures enables increased component interconnection and reduced form factor. We show a unique process for forming stretchable multilayer interconnects in PDMS via a bench-top layer-by-layer assembly technique. The SCC is reliable under bending, tensile (e=0.3) and compressive strains. Furthermore, we show how the processes and package designs developed can be applied to the fabrication of stretchable devices. The techniques presented to fabricate ultra-low cost, stretchable, 3D packages hold the potential serve as a package for future stretchable electronic and radio frequency devices.
Effects of Channel Scale on Slip Length of Flow in Micro/Nano-Channels

The concept of slip length, related to surface velocity and shear rate, is often used to analyze the slip surface property for flow in micro or nanochannels. In this study, a hybrid scheme that couples Molecular dynamics simulation (used near the solid boundary to include the surface effect) and a continuum solution (to study the fluid mechanics) is validated and used for the study of slip length behavior in the Couette flow problem. By varying the height of the channel across multiple length scales, we investigate the effect of channel scale on surface slip length. In addition, by changing the velocity of the moving-solid wall, the influence of shear rate on the slip length in a certain range of the channel height is studied. The results show that within a certain range of the channel heights, the slip length is size-dependant. This upper bound of the channel height can vary with the shear rate.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The Generics Pathway in the USA: The American Experience, a Model for the World?

The paper describes the legal and regulatory mechanism in the United States pursuant to which generic versions of patented medicines may be approved for marketing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The paper makes two basic points: (1) the system works reasonably well for the United States, but it involves a complex regulatory framework the reasonably smooth functioning of which depends on characteristics of the US legal system operating in a commercial market environment where there are potentially significant financial rewards for generic producers achieving market entry, and; (2) the legal and regulatory systems of many low and middle income countries are not as robust as the US system, and markets may not offer the same level of financial reward so as to justify for generic producers comparably high expenditures on market entry. The United States through its trade negotiating apparatus is attempting to embed an approach similar to its own in its trading partners, such as in the proposed TransPacific Partnership agreement. Countries in negotiation with the United States should carefully assess whether the US model is likely to be appropriate for their national healthcare frameworks, and what alternatives or adjustments may be preferable. The paper offers a few suggestions in that regard.