cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of coastal environments for acoustic models

Accurate modeling of the propagation of acoustic energy in coastal waters is essential to many military and commercial applications, but unique challenges exist. The shallow water depths ensure significant boundary interactions, and the spatial/temporal variability of the water column places further demands on model capabilities. Physics-based acoustic models are evolving to allow for inputs that bring increased fidelity in the representation of the complex physical environments characteristic of littoral areas. Characterizing the environment in 4D must be accomplished as the first essential step in achieving accurate acoustic modeling. Historical databases managed by the Naval Oceanographic Office offer global coverage for parameters required for acoustic model calculations. However, the spatial and temporal resolution cannot dependably represent instantaneous conditions, and modeled acoustic propagation can be very different from actual measurements. Synoptic products generated from remote sensors or assemblages of point observations can represent a significant improvement in the fidelity of the environmental inputs to acoustic models. These products have some shortcomings, as well. The spatial resolution is often considerably lower than the environmental variability, product senescence can be a factor for dynamic characteristics, remote sensors may have observations obscured, and synoptic oceanographic parameters are often derived indirectly from parameters with complex associations. In-situ measurements provide the most accurate, and direct, measurement of environmental parameters for acoustic modeling, but resource costs are high relative to the data gathered, and there may be overwhelming political and physical constraints to on-scene surveys. Climatology, synoptic products, and in-situ measurements represent an increasing fidelity in characterization of the environment, but with a steep collection, management, and distribution cost relative to coverage. Military applications are considered.
Demonstration of a multimode waveguide-cavity biosensor based on fringe visibility detection

Fringe visibility modulation from a two-mode waveguide coupled to a single mode ring resonator exposed to glucose:H 2 O demonstrates a visibility change of 1.57/wt%, compared to a transmission change of 0.19/wt% for single mode waveguide coupling.
Embracing Bias β1-Adrenergic Receptor–Biased Ligands and Nuclear miRNA Processing

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the developed world, despite recent advances in therapeutic interventions, with an estimated annual cost in the United States alone of >$312 billion.1 This emphasizes the demand for a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in cardiovascular pathophysiology and demonstrates the desperate need for innovative strategies for both treatment and prevention.2 Article, see p 833 Recent reports suggest an emerging role for microRNAs (miRs), small noncoding nucleic acid regulators of mRNA, in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. miRs, a large family of highly conserved RNAs 18-25 nucleotides in length, are essential in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Typically, miRs are encoded within the introns of protein-coding genes; they also exist intergenically under the control of their own promoters.2,3 Transcription of these regions by RNA polymerase II generates miR precursors known as primary-miRs (pri-miRs), which are converted to mature miRs through the activities of 2 members of the RNase III family of enzymes. Cleavage of pri-miR by the enzyme Drosha forms a ≈70 nucleotide sequence, termed pre-miR, that is subsequently exported to the cytoplasm. Final processing by Dicer creates the ≈20 nucleotide mature miR that incorporates into the miR-induced silencing complex, forming the active enzyme capable of inducing mRNA translational repression or degradation.2,4 Hundreds of distinct mRNAs can be influenced by an individual miR, allowing a single miR or family of miRs to coordinate substantial alterations in physiology and function collectively. It is increasingly clear that appropriate miR expression is crucial in cardiac development, function, and disease. Numerous cardiac complications, including myocardial infarction, hypertrophy, and remodeling, can be exacerbated by improper miR regulation.2,3 Intriguingly, pharmacological modulation of several miRs has been shown to reduce cardiac pathophysiology …
Filters for the Infrared Region

The infrared transmittance of deposited films of tellurium, bismuth, antimony, and magnesium oxide has been measured. These filters are opaque in the visible region and have short wavelength cutoffs varying from 1 to 3 microns. Reflection filters have also been made, for the region from 10μ to 40μ, by roughening the surface of a mirror with emery powder. These filters are used in removing stray radiation from the KBr and KRS-5 regions of the spectrum.
B7H costimulates clonal expansion of, and cognate destruction of tumor cells by, CD8(+) T lymphocytes in vivo.

B7H/B7RP (hereby called B7H) is a new member of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules and interacts with inducible costimulatory molecule (ICOS). Its function for CD8 T cells has not been reported. We report here that expression of B7H on the tumor cells reduced tumorigenicity and induced immunity to subsequent challenge with parental tumor cells. The immune protection correlates with an enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against P1A, the major tumor antigen expressed in the J558 tumor. To understand the mechanism of immune protection, we adoptively transferred transgenic T cells specific for tumor antigen P1A into mice that bore P1A-expressing tumors. We found that while the transgenic T cells divided faster in mice bearing the B7H+ tumors, optimal B7H-induced clonal expansion of P1CTL required costimulation by B7–1 and B7–2 on the endogenous host antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Interestingly, when B7H+ and B7H− tumors were coinjected, P1CTL selectively eliminated the B7H+ tumor cells. Moreover, B7H expressed on the tumor cells made them highly susceptible to destruction by CTL in vivo, even if the CTL was administrated into mice with large tumor burdens. Tumors that recurred in the P1CTL-treated mice lost transfected B7H and/or H-2Ld, the class I molecule that presents the P1A peptide. Taken together, our results reveal that B7H costimulates clonal expansion of, and cognate destruction by CD8+ T lymphocytes in vivo.
Improving ANN generalization using a priori knowledge to pre-structure ANNs

This is a continuation of work reported by Lendaris at el. (1994) whose objective has been to develop a method that uses certain a priori information about a problem domain to pre-structure artificial neural networks (ANNs) into modules before training. The method is based on a general systems theory methodology, based on information-theoretic ideas, that generates structural information of the problem domain by analyzing I/O pairs from that domain. The notion of performance subset of an ANN structure is described. Extensive experiments on 5-input/1-output and 7-input/1-output Boolean mappings show that significantly improved generalization follows from successful pre-structuring. As the previous work already showed, such pre-structuring also yields improved training speed.
Concrete-concrete pressure contacts under dynamic loading, studied by contact electrical resistance measurement

Abstract A mortar–mortar contact was studied under dynamic loading at different compressive stress amplitudes by measuring the contact electrical resistance. Irreversible decrease in the contact resistance upon unloading was observed at a low stress amplitude (5 MPa) due to local plastic deformation at the asperities at the interface. Irreversible increase in the contact resistance at the maximum stress was observed, probably due to debris generation; it was more significant at a higher stress amplitude (15 MPa). At a stress amplitude of 15 MPa, irreversible increase in the contact resistance upon unloading was observed in the first four loading cycles, probably due to severe debris generation.
Multi-length scale modeling and analysis of microstructure evolution and mechanical properties in polyurea

A number of experimental investigations reported in the open literature have indicated that polyurea possesses a very complex nanometer-scale material microstructure consisting of hydrogen-bonded discrete hard (high glass-transition temperature, T g) domains and a soft (low T g) matrix and that the mechanical properties of this type of elastomer are highly dependent on the details of this microstructure. To help elucidate the internal processes/mechanisms associated with the microstructure evolution and to improve the understanding of microstructure/properties in this material, a multi-length scale approach is developed and utilized in the present work. This approach combines well-established and validated atomic, meso, and continuum length-scale techniques and spans around six orders of magnitude of length (from nanometers to millimeters). While within the atomic-scale approach, the material is modeled as a collection of constituent atom-size particles, within the meso-scale approach this atomistic description of the material is replaced with a collection of coarser particles/beads which account for the collective degrees of freedom of the constituent atoms. One of the main efforts in the present work was the derivation of accurate input parameters for meso-scale simulations from the associated atomic-scale material model and results. The meso-scale analysis provided critical information regarding the material microstructure and its evolution (from an initially fully blended homogeneous state). To obtain quantitative relationships between material microstructure and its mechanical properties, the computed meso-scale material microstructures are combined with a finite element approach. The predictions of the present multi-scale computational approach are found to be in good overall agreement with their experimental counterparts.
Diagnostic Criteria and Differential Diagnosis of the Fibromyalgia Syndrome

SUMMARYObjectives: The goals of this presentation are to review the American College of Rheumatology [ACR] research classification criteria for the fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] and to show how they facilitate the differential diagnosis of pain in a variety of clinical presentations.Findings: The ACR criteria were developed directly from a research validation study and apply best to that setting. In lieu of a better resource, these criteria have been applied to community clinical practice as well. The design of the ACR Criteria study is outlined. The results show how the ACR Criteria directly follow the study findings. In patients with chronic widespread pain, the presence of 11 of 18 anatomically defined tender points [TePs] sufficiently sensitized to be painful when stimulated by four kilograms of digital pressure identified FMS irrespective of concomitant conditions, including conditions with the potential to cause pain. The ACR criteria depend only on pain, so they do not take into consideration other c...
Performance of a JTIDS-type waveform with noise-normalization combining in pulsed-noise interference

The Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) is the communication terminal of Link-16. When the double-pulse structure is chosen to transmit the Link-16 data, JTIDS is a hybrid direct sequence/fast frequency-hopping spread spectrum system with a sequential diversity of two. To minimize the effect of pulsed-noise interference (PNI), a noise-normalized diversity combining MSK chip demodulator is assumed in the JTIDS receiver. The symbol error rate (SER) performance of a coherently detected JTIDS-type waveform for the double-pulse structure with noise-normalization combining (NNC) in PNI is investigated in this paper. To facilitate the evaluation, perfect frequency de-hopping, sequence synchronization, chip synchronization, and 32-chip sequence descrambling are assumed. Furthermore, maximum-likelihood chip detection is assumed rather than maximum-likelihood chip-sequence detection since the former represents a more practical assumption for a JTIDS signal. The results obtained with NNC are compared to those without NNC, as well as to those with perfect side information. The results show that for a coherently detected JTIDS-type waveform with the double-pulse structure, NNC effectively mitigates the system degradation caused by PNI.
Aggregate modeling of dynamic networks with sparse connections

This paper develops a time scale approach to the aggregation and decomposition of dynamic networks with dense and sparse connections. Two density parameters are used to characterize time scale and weak coupling properties. Bounds in terms of these parameters determine when there are two time scales in sparse networks. Simplified models of the slow and fast subsystems are proposed and physical interpretations are provided.
Unplanned hospital readmission following total joint arthroplasty.

Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is a reliable and effective means to treat degenerative conditions of the hip and knee. It has been shown to improve physical function, overall health and quality of life. The utilization of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) is predicted to increase exponentially in the United States through 2030 so that the number of the number of TKA increases by 673% for TKA to 3.48 million annually and the number of THA increases by 174% to 572,000 (1). The total gross cost to the American health care system for THA has risen more than 4 fold since 2005, to $13.43 billion, and the gross cost of TKA has risen more than 5 fold, to $40.8 billion (1,2). The Affordable Healthcare Act of 2010 includes pay-for-performance measures enforced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that are intended to incentivize providers and hospitals to minimize costly complications, reoperations and readmissions (3). As part of these measures, outcomes and complications are used as surrogates for performance and have become publically available leading to an overall increased scrutiny of outcomes following TJA.
γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Stimulates the Release of Endogenous Ascorbic Acid from Rat Striatal Tissue

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was found to induce the release of ascorbic acid from rat striatal homogenates and minces. This release was studied with the use of a rapid superfusion system with an on-line amperometric detector that monitors for the presence of easily oxidized substances (i.e., ascorbate, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine). The release was found to be calcium-independent and depolarization-dependent. This releasable pool of ascorbate could be replenished through nonstereospecific uptake. The releasing action of GABA was mimicked by the GABA agonist, muscimol, and was completely inhibited by the GABA antagonist, picrotoxin. The structural analogues of GABA, beta-alanine and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, had no effect. These data indicate that ascorbate release is GABA-receptor mediated and synaptically localized.
Determination of Total Iodine in Infant Formula and Adult/ Pediatric Nutritional Formula by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Collaborative Study, Final Action 2012.15

A collaborative study was conducted to determine total iodine in infant formula and adult/pediatric nutritional formula by inductively coupled plasma-MS (ICP-MS) using AOAC First Action Official Method(SM) 2012.15. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the method's intralaboratory and interlaboratory performance and submit the results to AOAC INTERNATIONAL for adoption as a Final Action Official Method for the determination of total iodine in infant formula and adult/pediatric nutritional formula. Upon providing acceptable results for practice samples National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1849a and a low-fat adult nutritional powder, 13 laboratories analyzed seven various infant and adult nutritional products including a blind duplicate of each. Products were chosen with varying levels of iodine and included low-fat, soy-based, and milk-based formulas and NIST SRM 1849a. Random identification numbers were assigned to each of the seven fortified test materials. Digestion of the test samples occurred using a potassium hydroxide solution in an oven or open-vessel microwave system. Iodine was stabilized with ammonium hydroxide and sodium thiosulfate after digestion. The solutions were brought to volume followed by filtration. The filtrates were then analyzed by ICP-MS after dilution. Results for all seven test samples met all the AOAC Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR(®) 2012.008) guidelines. The RSDr ranged from 0.77 to 4.78% and the RSDR from 5.42 to 11.5%. The Horwitz ratio (HorRat) for each result was excellent, ranging from 0.35 to 1.31%. The results demonstrate that the method is fit-for-purpose to determine iodine in infant formula and adult/pediatric nutritional formula.
Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction After an Electric Shock: A Rare Presentation

Electrical shock affects the cardiovascular system in nearly one third of patients. The pathway of the electrical current through the body determines the effects on the cardiovascular system. We discuss a rare case of a 40 year old male admitted with ECG changes suggestive of inferior wall myocardial infarction following accidental contact with a high voltage electricity power line. CPK-MB and Troponin was positive. Echocardiography demonstrated mild inferior wall hypokinesia. The optimal management of myocardial injury after electrical shock may be debated, because there is no consensus as to the best management of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction after electrical shock as myocardial injury might occur due to a nonocclusive mechanism, as in the present case revealed by normal coronary angiography. So there may be no need for either medical or mechanical reperfusion.
A method of creating aversion to alcohol by reflex conditioning in a group setting.

Among the many specialized procedures which have been employed in the treatment of alcoholism is the conditioned aversion method of Kantorovich (1). A modified form of this, as popularized in the United States by Voegtlin (2) in the 1930’s, consisted of a Pavlovian conditioned reflex technique with the use of emetine as an unconditioned stimulus and alcoholic beverages as a conditioned stimulus.
Mindfulness-Based Approaches for Children and Youth.

Mindfulness meditation is a useful adjunct to behavioral and medical interventions to manage a range of symptoms, including psychological and physical responses to stress, anxiety, depression, and disruptive behavior. Mindfulness approaches can be taught to children, adolescents, and their parents to improve self-regulation, particularly in response to stress. Mindfulness may be particularly relevant for youth and families who have an increased risk for exposure to chronic stress and unique stressors associated with medical and/or social-contextual considerations. Moreover, mindfulness parenting techniques can augment traditional behavioral approaches to improve children׳s behavior through specific parent–child interactions. A growing body of empirical studies and clinical experience suggest that incorporating mindfulness practices will enable clinicians to more effectively treat youth and their families in coping optimally with a range of challenging symptoms.
RADIAL EXOSTOSIS COMPLICATING ANTERIOR DISLOCATION OF THE ELBOW

1. Anterior dislocation of the elbow is rare and may be accompanied by fracture of the ulna. [SEE THE FIG. 3 AND 4 IN SOURCE PDF] 2. Anterior or posterior ossification in the soft parts may be a complication of anterior or posterior dislocation of the elbow. 3. Such ossification may cause serious interference with supination and pronation or with flexion of the elbow, and often should be removed surgically.
Effect of protein deficiency on the inducibility of the hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzyme system—I: Effect on substrate interaction with cytochrome P-450

Abstract Male, weanling rats divided into three groups were maintained for 15 days on a semipurified diet containing either 5% casein fed ad lib. (group 1), 20% casein pair-fed to group 1 (group 2), or 20% casein fed ad lib. (group 3). After each group was further subdivided, animals were injected i.p. on days 11, 12, 13 and 14 with either 0.9% saline or phenobarbital (80 mg/kg) in 0.9% saline. Twenty-four hr after the last injection, animals were decapitated and liver microsomes were prepared. Contents of microsomal protein, phosphatidylcholine and cytochrome P-450 were measured and used as bases of expression for spectral dissociation constants ( K s ) and maximal spectral changes ( ΔA max ) associated with the binding of ethylmorphine and aniline to the cytochrome P-450 hemoprotein of microsomes. Phenobarbital administration increased microsomal protein, cytochrome P-450, and phosphatidylcholine in all three dietary groups; however, in all groups, the increase in P-450 was relatively greater than that for phosphatidylcholine. Protein deficiency (group 1 vs 2) decreased P-450 and microsomal protein, but had no effect on phosphatidylcholine contents. The effect of total food restriction (group 2 vs 3) on each of these parameters was not significant. These data suggest that a portion of the induced cytochrome P-450 binding sites may be dependent on an association with phosphatidylcholine. The fraction of such phosphatidylcholine-associated sites relative to the total sites was greater during protein deficiency and was in agreement with a greater ΔA max per nanomole P-450 for ethylmorphine. Phenobarbital induction decreases the proposed fraction of phosphatidylcholine-associated P-450 sites relative to the total P-450 sites and results in a decrease in the ΔA max per nanomole P-450 for ethylmorphine. Phenobarbital increased the ΔA max per milligram of microsomal protein for aniline, which paralleled the increase in total P-450, thus indicating that the type II site may be independent of any association of cytochrome P-450 with phosphatidylcholine. These results indicate that phosphatidylcholine may play an important role in distinguishing the effects of dietary deficiency on type I substrate binding and the corresponding capacity for induction of the rat liver microsomal enzyme system.
Designing High-Capacity, Lithium-Ion Cathodes Using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

We have taken advantage of the element specific nature of X-ray absorption spectroscopy to elucidate the chemical and structural details of a surface treatment intended for the protection of high-capacity cathode materials. Electrochemical data have shown that surface treatments of 0.5Li2MnO3•0.5LiCoO2 (Li1.2Mn0.4Co0.4O2) with an acidic solution of lithium–nickel-phosphate significantly improves electrode capacity, rate, and cycling stability. XAS data reveal that the surface treatment results in a modification of the composite structure itself, where Ni2+ cations, intended to be present in a lithium–nickel-phosphate coating, have instead displaced lithium in the transition metal layers of Li2MnO3-like domains within the 0.5Li2MnO3•0.5LiCoO2 structure. X-ray diffraction data show the presence of Li3PO4, suggesting that phosphate ions from the acidic solution are responsible for lithium extraction and nickel insertion with the formation of vacancies and/or manganese reduction for charge compensation. Furth...
Biological Properties of Pregneninolone (17-Ethinyl Testosterone) in Women:

Summary and ConclusionsPregneninolone, though chemically very closely related to both testosterone and progesterone, does not manifest in women the same multiplicity of biological properties that it does in experimental animals. In women, its most striking property is its progestomimetic effect on the estrogen-primed endo-metrium, when administered orally.In contrast to its action in rats, in women pregneninolone appears to have: (a) no estromimetic effect on the endometrium and only a very slight effect on the vaginal epithelium if given in very large doses; and (b) no arrhenomimetic effects.Two interesting observations emerge from this study that are worthy of note. First, the profound change in biologic activity that resulted from the introduction of the ethinyl group at the 17th carbon atom of the testosterone molecule, which is the only manner in which pregneninolone differs from testosterone. Second, the striking difference in the biological properties displayed by the same compound when administere...
Total knee arthroplasty for posttraumatic osteoarthritis in military personnel under age 50

United States military personnel frequently suffer knee injuries. The resulting progressive posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) causes significant disability in these young high-demand patients for which total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the only effective treatment of their pain and impairment. Yet the use of this option for treatment of PTOA has not been studied. This retrospective review identified 74 knees in 64 U.S. military personnel who underwent TKA at ≤50 years of age during an 8-year period at a tertiary-care, academic, military medical center. Fifty-five knees (74.3%) experienced one or more prior ligamentous, meniscal, or chondral injuries prior to arthroplasty. Only one subject had a history of osteochondral intra-articular fracture. The average at injury was 29.2 years (95%CI of ±2.50) with an average age at arthroplasty of 44.3 years (±1.11). The most common injury was anterior cruciate ligament rupture (n = 19) with a mean time to TKA of 23.1 (±10.54) and 18.8 years (±7.01) when concomitant meniscal pathology was noted. Nineteen patients were noted to have radiographic and symptomatic end-stage osteoarthritis without a specified etiology at 41.4 years (±1.47) and underwent subsequent TKA. This is the first study to evaluate treatment of end-stage PT OA in young people treated with TKA, finding that the incidence of PTOA as an indication for arthroplasty is significantly higher than among civilians. In this otherwise healthy, high-demand patient population, the rate of OA progression following knee injury is accelerated and the long term implications can be career and life altering. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:677-681, 2017.
New Recorded Species of Pterophoridae from China(Lepidoptera:Pterophoridae)

16 species of Pterophoridae are reported for the first time from China.They are Asiaephorus narada,Bipunctiphorus etiennei,Capperia taurica,Nippoptilia issikii,Paraplatyptilia sahlbergi,Platyptilia albifimbriata,Platyptilia dschambija,Platyptilia gandaki,Platyptilia isodactyla,Platyptilia molopias,Stenoptilia nolckeni,Stenoptilia poculi,Stenoptilia pterodactyla,Xyroptila siami,Merrifieldia tridactyla and Pterophorus elaeopus.Distribution and hostplants of these species are given.All the studied specimens are deposited in the Insects Collection,Nankai University,Tianjin,China.
Microarray approach to identify the signaling network responsible for self-renewal of human embryonic stem cells.

Here we introduce the representative method to culture HESCs under the feeder and feeder-free conditions, the former of which is used to maintain or expand undifferentiated HESCs, and the latter can be used for the preparation of pure HESCs RNA samples, or for screening factors influential on self-renewal of HESCs. We also describe a protocol and tips for conducting gene chip analysis focusing on widely used Affymetrix Microarrays. These techniques will provide us unprecedented scale of biological information that would illuminate a key to decipher complex signaling networks controlling pluripotency.
Centering Family Knowledge to Develop Children’s Empowered Mathematics Identities

Researchers and educational leaders have long debated the appropriate roles and forms of family engagement in education. Although, in recent years, scholars have sought to understand how racially and linguistically diverse communities should participate in their children’s education, the field has struggled to recognize and engage families’ expertise and disrupt the dynamics of inequity that shape dis engagement. In this article, we highlight recent understandings regarding the development of disciplinary identities and cultural practices in learning to offer new approaches to the field of family engagement for conceptualizing the untapped potential of nondominant family knowledge and cultural practices in learning settings. By highlighting examples from mathematics learning that center families as legitimate sources of knowledge, we suggest avenues for engaging diverse family leadership in co-designing equitable learning environments that foster students’ empowering disciplinary identities and learning.
Low-Lying Collective States of Sm 152 and Sm 154

The excited states up to 2 MeV in ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{152}$ and ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{154}$ have been studied by magnetic analysis of the inelastic protons from thin targets bombarded by a 12-MeV proton beam from the Florida State University tandem Van de Graaff accelerator. The results are compared with previous studies and with the predictions of collective nuclear models. The ground-state band levels up to spin 6 are excited in these experiments. The 2+, 3+, and 4+ states in the gamma vibrational band, the 0+ and 2+ states in the beta vibrational band, and the 1-, 3-, and 5- states in the octupole band have been observed in ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{152}$. In ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{154}$ the gamma band head is observed at 1443 keV and the octupole band head is observed at 927 keV. Additional levels in these bands and the beta band are suggested. Several other levels are observed above 1100 keV in these nuclei.
Identification of Inhibitors of Fatty Acid Synthesis Enzymes in Mycobacterium Smegmatis

Antibiotic-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have rendered some of the current treatments for tuberculosis ineffective, creating a need for new treatments. Today, the most efficient way to find new drugs to treat tuberculosis and other diseases is to use virtual screening to quickly consider millions of potential drug candidates and filter out all but the ones most likely to inhibit the disease. These top hits can then be tested in a traditional wet lab to determine their potential effectiveness. Using supercomputers, we screened over 4 million potential drug molecules against each of two enzymes that are critical to the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. During this process, we determined the top candidate molecules to test in the wet lab.
The evolution of sensorimotor functionality

One can study the the evolution of sensorimotor functionality by synthesizing this process in an abstract artificial life model, specifically, a population of agenda that interact with each other and with their environment in a way that allows natural selection implicitly to shape their sensorimotor couplings. The paper defines very general measures of environmental and sensory uncertainty, and of action's direct and indirect effects on perception, and reports a series of observations of these quantities in the context of the model.
Practical High-Frequency Sonar for Intruder Detection in Very Shallow Environments

An active high-frequency sonar system has been identified that is appropriate for detection and classification of human-sized targets in very shallow littoral environments. The system uses technology that is currently in use in fisheries acoustics. This technology has been optimized over the last few decades to provide a robust, cost-effective solution for detection of biological targets in cluttered environments. These systems have been proven over many years of use in fish detection applications, and as such are potentially suitable for deployment in security applications in the near future. In this presentation we will discuss important characteristics of the technology, as well as steps that are being taken towards its adaptation for security use.
2008 Report of the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer

Let me begin this report by extending my personal gratitude to our Board of Directors and to ASHP’s staff for a terrific year. I’m happy to be here and to be talking to you today about some of our future plans. ASHP thinks strategically and acts deliberately in planning for the future of
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: Recognizing and Treating Complications

The overall rate of serious morbidity from the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is 3.8 %, and 30-day mortality rate is 0.1 % [1]. Complications unique to LSG include staple line leaks and stricture or obstruction of the gastric lumen. The bedside nurse must also be vigilant for complications that can present in all surgical patients including bleeding, DVT/PE, and infectious processes.
Effectiveness of standards consortia: Social network perspectives

With the rapid assimilation of e-business capabilities into generally accepted business practices, there has been a rush to ensure standards exist to allow for seamless integration and interfaces between all the concerned parties. While standards consortia have grown in number and importance in the private sector over the past decade, little is known about how effective standards consortia are in addressing the needs for developing e-business standards. The current study examines the relationships between task characteristics of e-business standards and group effectiveness of standards consortia in terms of group centralization, group cohesiveness, and group diversity. We took a case study approach and analyze email archives from the ebXML standards efforts using social network analysis techniques. The findings of the study indicate that the expanding nature of e-business standards and a broader participation of IT vendor and users must be considered in order to improve group effectiveness of standards consortia. Managerial implications of the findings are discussed.
IL-10 Can Enhance FcγR-mediated Mast Cell Activation

Mast cells are involved in many inflammatory diseases, partly by their production of cytokines that promote inflammation. IgG signaling through FcγRIII/IIb in mast cells is linked to autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, but factors controlling this signaling remain unclear. Our group, as well as others, has previously shown that IL-10 suppresses mast cell IgE signaling, consistent with known anti-inflammatory effects of IL-10. However, we recently found that in IL-10 has unexpected pro-inflammatory effects on IgE-mediated mast cell functions. Therefore, we designed a study to determine the effects of IL-10 on FcγR signaling. Our data show that IL-10 enhances IgG-mediated IL-6 and MCP-1 production in bone marrow derived mast cells. Interestingly, we also found that IgG-induced cytokine production is suppressed by IL-10 in bone marrow derived macrophages under the same conditions. Current work is examining this different response to IL-10 to have a better understanding of the overall affect of IL-10 in the inflamed microenvironment. These studies suggest that mast cell and macrophage responses are altered by cytokines in their microenvironment, with distinct and opposite effects.
Making Public Consultations in Health Work, A Contextual Approach

Public health consultations are a fundamental part of public health policy design and implementation. However, one cannot assume that these consultations will automatically be inclusive, that their inputs will indeed influence policy makers, and that this will lead to progress towards UHC. Assessing how public consultations can be more inclusive and influential for stronger results needs to be part of the consultation design. This commentary offers some suggestions on how to do so.
Purification of functional reprogramming factors in mammalian cell using FLAG -Tag.

Abstract Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology is a method for generating pluripotent stem cells in vitro from fully differentiated cells such as fibroblast cells. The potential applications of iPSC technology in cell therapy and disease modeling could influence current medical practices. Despite current advances in iPSC technology, many patient-derived reprogrammed cells are not suitable for clinical trial because most protocols rely on virus-based techniques, which pose the risk of integration of the viral genome into the chromosomes. Therefore, non-viral methods such as mRNA and protein-based reprogramming are promising alternatives when generating clinically safe iPSCs. In a previous study, we generated human iPSCs using cell extracts with cell penetration peptide (CPP) for the delivery of reprogramming proteins [Kim et al. Cell Stem Cells, 2009]. In here, we show that the expression of reprogramming factors in mammalian cells and subsequent purification of these factors by FLAG-Tag could reprogram fibroblasts into iPSCs.
How do investors react when corporate social responsibility initiatives end

Although corporate social responsibility (CSR) has significant benefits for firms, firms also regularly make decisions about scaling back or discontinuing CSR initiatives. We conduct a series of experiments to examine whether investors react differently to stopping socially responsible initiatives compared to stopping other business activities. In our first experiment, we find investors react more negatively to stopping a CSR initiative than to stopping a general business initiative, even though reactions to starting the initiatives do not differ. In our second experiment, we find investors react more negatively to stopping a CSR initiative with a higher degree of ethicality than to stopping a CSR initiative with a lower degree of ethicality, supporting our theory that investors’ more negative reactions result from the ethical nature of CSR. Additional experiments provide further evidence of theory and rule out alternative explanations. Although prior research suggests benefits of engaging in CSR, our results suggest such benefits may be undone when initiatives end.
Camping the “post-” on Scream Queens

ABSTRACTIn September 2015, Scream Queens premiered on FOX. In the show, mass murderers at the fictional Wallace University brutalize and torture college students. At first glance, Scream Queens shows promise to disrupt heteronormativity, as the show’s lead characters include an overtly feminist university Dean, an acerbic and bright sorority president, and a gay scholar athlete. I argue that when the camp aesthetic enters the show’s post-(feminism and sexuality) context what emerges is “pop-camp”—an affected form of camp bereft of resistive promise. This analysis extends previous explorations of pop-camp to ask how camp may restore sexism and homophobia through discourses of the post- infused with an impulse toward nostalgia. The post- presents a distorted view of past inequality. When combined with humor, satire, and irony, this camping of the post- can be outright dangerous in restoring sexism and homophobia. This analysis of Scream Queens explores how camp responds to the post- rhetoric that has come t...
Differentiation of Solid Renal Tumors with Multiparametric MR Imaging

Characterization of renal tumors is critical to determine the best therapeutic approach and improve overall patient survival. Because of increased use of high-resolution cross-sectional imaging in clinical practice, renal masses are being discovered with increased frequency. As a result, accurate imaging characterization of these lesions is more important than ever. However, because of the wide array of imaging features encountered as well as overlapping characteristics, identifying reliable imaging criteria for differentiating malignant from benign renal masses remains a challenge. Multiparametric magnetic resonance (MR) imaging based on various anatomic and functional parameters has an important role and adds diagnostic value in detection and characterization of renal masses. MR imaging may allow distinction of benign solid renal masses from several renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes, potentially suggest the histologic grade of a neoplasm, and play an important role in ensuring appropriate patient management to avoid unnecessary surgery or other interventions. It is also a useful noninvasive imaging tool for patients who undergo active surveillance of renal masses and for follow-up after treatment of a renal mass. The purpose of this article is to review the characteristic MR imaging features of RCC and common benign renal masses and propose a diagnostic imaging approach to evaluation of solid renal masses using multiparametric MR imaging. ©RSNA, 2017.
Deca-B-fluorination of diammonioboranes. Structures and NMR characterization of 1,2-, 1,7-, and 1,12-B12H10(NH3)2 and 1,2-, 1,7-, and 1,12-B12F10(NH3)2

Abstract Multiple variations of the reaction conditions reported in 1964 for the diamination of K2B12H12 (potassium dodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate(2−)) with hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid were studied to improve the isolated yields of the three isomers of B12H10(NH3)2. Screening the sets of reaction conditions without completely working up each of the reaction mixtures, and therefore without the lengthy separation and isolation of the individual B12H10(NH3)2 isomers for each reaction mixture, was possible by recording 1H-15N HSQC NMR spectra of the crude reaction mixtures. The 1H-dimension of these spectra exhibited narrow, baseline separated resonances for 1,2-, 1,7- and 1,12-B12H10(NH3)2 and for the B12H11(NH3)− intermediate, allowing their relative concentrations to be determined to the nearest percent. The best synthetic conditions resulted in 9, 25, and 6% isolated yields of 1,2-, 1,7- and 1,12-B12H10(NH3)2, respectively. The decafluoro derivatives 1,2-, 1,7-, and 1,12-B12F10(NH3)2 were prepared for the first time by direct fluorination of the B12H10(NH3)2 isomers, either individually or as a mixture subsequently separated by column chromatography similar to the separation and purification of the B12H10(NH3)2 isomers. The structures of 1,7-B12F10(NH2)2·4CH3CONH2, 1,12-B12F10(NH2)2·6CH3CONH2, 1,2-B12H10(NH2)2·1.5CH3CO2CH2CH3, 1,7-B12H10(NH2)2·1.23H2O, 1,12-B12H10(NH2)2·2CH3CN, and solvent-free 1,12-B12H10(NH2)2 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.
A fourier method for sidelobe reduction in equally spaced linear arrays

Uniformly excited, equally spaced linear arrays have a sidelobe level larger than −13.3 dB, which is too high for many applications. This limitation can be remedied by nonuniform excitation of array elements. We present an efficient method for sidelobe reduction in equally spaced linear arrays with low penalty on the directivity. The method involves the following steps: construction of a periodic function containing only the sidelobes of the uniformly excited array, calculation of the Fourier series of this periodic function, subtracting the series from the array factor of the original uniformly excited array after it is truncated, and finally mitigating the truncation effects which yields significant increase in sidelobe level reduction. A sidelobe reduction factor is incorporated into element currents that makes much larger sidelobe reductions possible and also allows varying the sidelobe level incrementally. It is shown that such newly formed arrays can provide sidelobe levels that are at least 22.7 dB below those of the uniformly excited arrays with the same size and number of elements. Analytical expressions for element currents are presented. Radiation characteristics of the sidelobe-reduced arrays introduced here are examined, and numerical results for directivity, sidelobe level, and half-power beam width are presented for example cases. Performance improvements over popular conventional array synthesis methods, such as Chebyshev and linear current tapered arrays, are obtained with the new method.
Evidence for enhanced neuro-inflammatory processes in neurodegenerative diseases and the action of nitrones as potential therapeutics.

Our attempts to explain the serendipitous observations made on the neuroprotective action of a-phenyl-tert-butyl-nitrone (PBN) several years ago provided a challenge, which lead us to postulate the occurrence of neuroinflammatory processes in the stroked and the aging brain to help explain the results. Surprising observations made earlier by other investigators also forced them to conclude that enhanced neuro-inflammatory processes occur in the Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) brain. Observations we made recently, combined with the early seminal findings and the many others made since, overwhelmingly support the notion that neuro-inflammatory processes occur in the AD brain. Results obtained in our attempts to explain the mechanistic basis of the neuroprotective action of PBN provide strong support for the notion that this compound acts, not by trapping free radicals in a mass-action
Herbicide and conservative tracer movement through the soil profile and to subsurface drains under no-till and chisel plow systems

vi GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 Dissertation Organization 6 HERBICIDE AND TRACER MOVEMENT TO SUBSURFACE DRAIN WATER UNDER SIMULATED RAINFALL CONDITIONS 8 Abstract 8 Introduction 9 Materials and Methods 13 Results and Discussion 16 Movement of herbicides and conservative tracers through the soil profile 16 Lysimeter study results 21 Herbicide concentrations in subsurface drain water 23 Movement of conservative tracers in subsurface drain water 258 Introduction 9 Materials and Methods 13 Results and Discussion 16 Movement of herbicides and conservative tracers through the soil profile 16 Lysimeter study results 21 Herbicide concentrations in subsurface drain water 23 Movement of conservative tracers in subsurface drain water 25 Conclusions 28 References 29 TRANSPORT OF HERBICIDES AND TRACERS TO SUBSURFACE DRAIN WATER IN NO-TILL SOIL UNDER SIMULATED RAINFALL CONDITIONS 44 Abstract 44 Introduction 46 Materials and Methods 51 Results and Discussion 54 Transport of herbicides and conservative tracers in the soil profile 54 Lysimeter and well data results 57 Herbicide transport with subsurface drain flow 61