cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lipid peroxidation biomarkers for evaluating oxidative stress in equine neuroaxonal dystrophy.

Author(s): Finno, Carrie J; Estell, Krista E; Winfield, Laramie; Katzman, Scott; Bordbari, Matthew H; Burns, Erin N; Miller, Andrew D; Puschner, Birgit; Tran, Cecilia K; Xu, Libin | Abstract: BackgroundEquine neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting genetically predisposed foals maintained on an α-tocopherol (α-TOH) deficient diet. Currently no antemortem diagnostic test for eNAD/EDM is available.HypothesisBecause α-TOH deficiency is associated with increased lipid peroxidation, it was hypothesized that F2 -isoprostanes (F2 IsoP), F4 -neuroprostanes (F4 NP) and oxysterols derived from free radical oxidation would be increased in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neural tissue of eNAD/EDM affected horses and could serve as potential biomarkers for disease.AnimalsIsoprostane Study A: 14 Quarter horse foals (10 healthy foals and 4 eNAD/EDM affected foals) at 1 and 6 months of age. Isoprostane Study B: 17 eNAD/EDM affected and 10 unaffected horses ≥ 1-4 years of age. Oxysterol study: eNAD/EDM affected (n = 14, serum; n = 11, CSF; n = 10, spinal cord [SC]) and unaffected horses 1-4 years of age (n = 12, serum; n = 10, CSF; n = 7, SC).ProceduresCerebrospinal fluid [F2 IsoP] and [F4 NP] were assessed using gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Serum, CSF, and cervical SC [oxysterols] were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Results were compared with respective α-TOH concentrations.ResultsSpinal cord [7-ketocholesterol], [7-hydroxycholesterol], and [7-keto-27-hydrocholesterol] were higher in eNAD/EDM horses whereas [24-ketocholesterol] was lower. No significant difference was found in CSF [F2 IsoP] and [F4 NP], serum [oxysterols] and CSF [oxysterols] between eNAD/EDM affected and unaffected horses. No correlation was found between [F2 IsoP], [F4 NP], or [oxysterols] and respective [α-TOH].Conclusions and clinical importanceIn the SC, targeted markers of cholesterol oxidation were significantly increased in horses with eNAD/EDM.
A Simplified, Specific HPLC Method of Assaying Thiamine and Riboflavin in Mushrooms.

Mushrooms have been used as part of the average diet and as a nutraceutical for thousands of years due to their immense health benefits. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple, fast, accurate, specific, reproducible, and robust chromatographic method to identify and quantify two water-soluble vitamins: thiamine (B1) and riboflavin (B2) in mushrooms. The method employed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of these vitamins was Reversed Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) equipped with Ultraviolet–Visible (UV-Vis) Detector. The extraction process involved acid hydrolysis followed by enzymatic dephosphorylation with takadiastase enzyme. Chromatographic separation was achieved with a Shimadzu prominence HPLC system using isocratic elution mode on a Waters Xterra® MS C-18 column (4.6mm × 150mm, 5 μm) integrated with a XBridge® BEH C-18 Guard column (2.1mm × 5 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase of this study consisted of buffer and methanol in the ratio of 80:20, where the buffer contained sodium-1-hexanesulfonate, glacial acetic acid, methanol, and pH adjusted to 3.0 with diethylamine. Vitamins were detected simultaneously at their lambda max wavelengths B1: 245nm and B2: 268nm using dual-wavelength UV detection technique to get their highest response. The proposed method was found to be specific, linear R>1.0, accurate, precise (% recovery ± SD; B1:104.45±4.5 and B2: 104.88±2.04), sensitive, (limit of detection for B1 and B2 was 0.043 and 0.029 μg/mL, respectively), and robust for mushrooms analysis. No coeluting peaks were observed at the retention time of the vitamins and all the peaks were spectrally homogenous. The standard and sample solutions were found to remain stable at cold temperature for 72 hours. In summary, our data suggest that the proposed method could be used in food industries to monitor the product quality during routine quality control purposes.
TRENDS IN THE RATE OF CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS IN NEONATES WITH DOWN SYNDROME

International studies demonstrate a phenotypic shift away from complex congenital heart disease (CHD) in neonates with Down syndrome (DS). Screening for DS changed dramatically in 2011 with widespread commercialization of cell-free DNA tests. Trends in the rate of complex CHD in the US DS population
Introduction to Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC)

This chapter provides a broad introduction to Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC). It describes the historical development of concrete material and the motivation behind the development of ECC. Specifically, the need for further concrete material development for enhancing infrastructure resilience, durability, sustainability, and smartness is discussed. These desirable infrastructure characteristics serve as the backdrop for much of the research and development behind ECC over the last decades.
Mixed methods and visibility politics in When States Come Out

Philip Ayoub’s When States Come Out: Europe's Sexual Minorities and the Politics of Visibility (2016) examines the diffusion of LGBT rights norms across Europe from 1990 to 2010. Drawing from exten...
Risk Perception with and Without Workers Present in Hazard Recognition Images.

Effective training is a critical component in improving mineworkers’ ability to identify and assess hazards and ultimately reduce accidents and injuries. Previous research has identified the importance of context and cultural relevance as significant factors in the effectiveness of training. Research from adult education, social marketing, and public health education also suggest that the inclusion of a personal connection to training may improve communication. However, there is limited empirical knowledge about the effects of training content composition. Specifically, it is unclear how the inclusion of workers in training materials may affect how mineworkers’ perceive a hazard. The goal of this paper is to examine if the presence of workers in the context of hazards affects how mineworkers’ assess the risks. Researchers collected risk assessments from participants in the laboratory and during mandatory, annual refresher training. The results have implications for training material development and workplace examination timing.
Effect of proton irradiation on anatase TiO2 nanotube anodes for lithium-ion batteries

The role of defects in the charge transfer and transport properties of electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries has recently garnered increased interest. It is widely recognized that ion irradiation promotes the formation of defects within a crystalline solid. Among all ion species used for irradiation, protons are expected to create primarily simple Frenkel pair point defects without significantly changing the stoichiometry of the damaged region of the target material. This work investigates the effect of proton irradiation at varying temperatures on the electrochemical properties of anatase TiO2 nanotube (TiO2-NT) electrode for lithium-ion battery applications. Anatase TiO2-NTs are irradiated at both room temperature (25 °C) and 250 °C and compared with non-irradiated control specimens. Characterization by Raman spectroscopy and XRD suggests that the irradiation at both temperatures does not alter the long-range order of the nanotubes. However, high-resolution TEM reveals that defect clusters are formed upon irradiation and increase in size with increasing temperature. Both irradiated samples exhibit increased capacity and enhanced rate capability compared with the non-irradiated control, which can be explained by increased storage sites as well as improved Li+ diffusivity due to the presence of irradiation-induced defects. This study presents a unique perspective on pathways to engineer functional nanostructured electrode materials by tailoring irradiation conditions.
The aminoalkylindole, BML-190, negatively regulates chitosan synthesis via the cAMP/PKA1 pathway in Cryptococcus neoformans

Abstract Cryptococcus neoformans can cause fatal meningoencephalitis in patients with AIDS or other immune-compromising conditions. Current antifungals are suboptimal to treat this disease, therefore, novel targets and new therapies are needed. Previously, we have shown that chitosan is a critical component of the cryptococcal cell wall, is required for survival in the mammalian host, and that chitosan deficiency results in rapid clearance from the mammalian host. We had also identified several specific proteins that were required for chitosan biosynthesis, and we hypothesize that screening for compounds that inhibit chitosan biosynthesis would identify additional genes/proteins that influence chitosan biosynthesis. To identify these compounds we developed a robust and novel cell-based flow cytometry screening method to identify small molecule inhibitors of chitosan production. We screened the ICCB Known Bioactives library and identified 8 compounds that reduced chitosan in C. neoformans. We used flow cytometry-based counter and confirmatory screens, followed by a biochemical secondary screen to refine our primary screening hits to 2 confirmed hits. One of the confirmed hits that reduced chitosan content was the aminoalkylindole, BML-190, a known inverse agonist of mammalian cannabinoid receptors. We demonstrated that BML-190 likely targets the C. neoformans G-protein coupled receptor, Gpr4, and via the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, contributes to an intracellular accumulation of cAMP that results in decreased chitosan. Our discovery suggests that this approach could be used to identify additional compounds and pathways that reduce chitosan biosynthesis, and could lead to potential novel therapeutics against C. neoformans. Importance Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that kills ∼200,000 people every year. The cell wall is an essential organelle that protects fungus from the environment. Chitosan, the deacetylated form of chitin, has been shown to be an essential component of cryptococcal cells wall during infection of a mammalian host. In this study, we screened a set of 480 compounds, which are known to have defined biological activities, for activity that reduced chitosan production in C. neoformans. Two of these compounds were validated using an alternative method of measuring chitosan, and one of these was demonstrated to impact the cAMP signal transduction pathway. This work demonstrates that the cAMP pathway regulates chitosan in C. neoformans, and validates that this screening approach could be used to find potential antifungal agents.
Barriers and facilitators to cancer treatment adherence for older Rural African Americans: Understanding the experience from the view of patients and their caregivers

The purpose of the present study was to understand the barriers that a particularly vulnerable sub-population of older adults experience in adhering to cancer treatments in rural eastern North Caro...
Incorporating Photovoice in the Marketing Curriculum to Increase Cultural Competence

Images are powerful. They help make the abstract concrete and allow the viewer to share the perspective of the photographer, giving the photographer a platform to communicate what may be difficult ...
Strain and Electronic Nematicity in La 2-x Sr x CuO 4

Electronic nematicity has previously been observed in La2-xSrxCuO4 thin films by the angle-resolved transverse resistivity method with a director whose orientation is always pinned to the crystal axes when the film is grown on an orthorhombic substrate but not when the substrate is tetragonal. Here we report on measurements of thin films grown on (tetragonal) LaSrAlO4 and subsequently placed in an apparatus that allows the application of uniaxial compressive strain. The apparatus applied enough force to produce a 1% orthorhombicity in LaSrAlO4 and yet no change in the electronic nematicity was observed in films under strain compared to when they were unstrained. The lattice effects are weak, and the origin of nematicity is primarily electronic.
Pyoderma gangrenosum adverse event with Rituximab use: A postmarketing pharmacovigilance analysis

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody that is used for the treatment of certain malignancies and autoimmune conditions. Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare painful ulcer that can be fatal in some cases and can also reoccur after treatment. The objective of this paper was to analyze whether a statistically significant signal exists between Rituximab and pyoderma gangrenosum in the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). A disproportionality analysis was carried out on cases from January 1, 2004 to March 31, 2019 in the FAERS. Frequentist methods of relative reporting ratio, reporting odds ratio (ROR), and proportional reporting ratio (PRR) and the Bayesian-based IC025 metric were used in order to assess the adverse event signal. Thirty-two cases were found in FAERS in which the drug Rituximab was administered and pyoderma gangrenosum was reported as an adverse event. The lower 95% CI of the information component was 0.97, the lower 95% CI of ROR was 2.18, the PRR was 3.09 and Chi-squared was 42.16, which indicates a statistically significant signal. The signal is supported by six case reports in the literature that describe a total of 14 patients who developed pyoderma gangrenosum after Rituximab administration. When administering Rituximab, clinicians should monitor for the occurrence of symptoms representing pyoderma gangrenosum.
DUAL SPONTANEOUS PAPILLARY MUSCLE RUPTURE - UNIQUE PRESENTATION OF UNUSUAL PATHOLOGY

Papillary Muscle Rupture (PMR) resulting in acute mitral regurgitation (MR) can be caused by ischemic (more commonly) or nonischemic etiologies. Rapid diagnosis with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is critical for management. 65-year-old man presents in acute respiratory failure with tachypnea
The Arab Rationalist Association and the turn to Nahḍah in contemporary Arab thought

The spike in the number of Arabic writings on the nahḍah since the beginning of the 1990 s represents a new and intriguing development in contemporary Arab thought. This relatively recent nahḍah-fr...
Psychosis-Spectrum Screening and Assessment within a College Counseling Center: A Pilot Study Exploring Feasibility and Clinical Need

Evidence supports the use of brief psychosis-spectrum screening tools for identifying individuals at an increased risk of developing a psychotic disorder. Screening has not been well studied in gen...
Calibrating analytical ultracentrifuges

Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is based on the concept of recording and analyzing macroscopic macromolecular redistribution that results from a centrifugal force acting on the mass of suspended macromolecules in solution. Since AUC rests on first principles, it can provide an absolute measurement of macromolecular mass, sedimentation and diffusion coefficients, and many other quantities, provided that the solvent density and viscosity are known, and provided that the instrument is properly calibrated. Unfortunately, a large benchmark study revealed that many instruments exhibit very significant systematic errors. This includes the magnification of the optical detection system used to determine migration distance, the measurement of sedimentation time, and the measurement of the solution temperature governing viscosity. We have previously developed reference materials, tools, and protocols to detect and correct for systematic measurement errors in the AUC by comparison with independently calibrated standards. This 'external calibration' resulted in greatly improved precision and consistency of parameters across laboratories. Here we detail the steps required for calibration of the different data dimensions in the AUC. We demonstrate the calibration of three different instruments with absorbance and interference optical detection, and use measurements of the sedimentation coefficient of NISTmAb monomer as a test of consistency. Whereas the measured uncorrected sedimentation coefficients span a wide range from 6.22 to 6.61 S, proper calibration resulted in a tenfold reduced standard deviation of sedimentation coefficients. The calibrated relative standard deviation and mean error of 0.2% and 0.07%, respectively, is comparable with statistical errors and side-by-side repeatability in a single instrument.
Local Power-Voltage Sensitivity and Thevenin Impedance Estimation from Phasor Measurements

This paper describes how to use voltage phasor measurements to produce a sensitivity matrix that describes how real and reactive power injections at a node on a distribution network affect the local voltage magnitude and angle. Rather than estimating the sensitivity directly, the voltage phasor measurements and power commands/measurements are used to estimate the unbalanced, three-phase Thevenin impedance. The Thevenin impedance estimation is conducted using recursive least squares on temporal difference measurements. The Thevenin impedance and voltage phasor measurement are then used to build the local power-voltage sensitivity matrix with the closed form expression for the Jacobian of the power flow manifold. Hardware-in-the-loop simulations with phasor measurement units providing real phasor measurements are used to evaluate the recursive temporal difference Thevenin impedance estimation and Thevenin-based power-voltage sensitivity methods.
A novel implicit hybrid machine learning model and its application for reinforcement learning

Abstract A novel methodology to develop implicit hybrid models is presented. PyTorch is used to integrate physics-based equations with machine learning models. Automatic differentiation of the hybrid model is leveraged to solve the implicit equations. Iterative solving enables gradient based updates to the machine learning model. The novel methodology is compared to an explicit hybrid approach on a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The novel method results in a lower modelling error. Both hybrid models effectively train with noisy data. To test the implicit hybrid model, it is employed as a reinforcement learning (RL) training model. The RL algorithm trained on the hybrid model outperforms real time optimization of the CSTR and performs nearly as well as RL trained directly on the CSTR and a traditional gradient based approach. Training RL directly on the CSTR requires over 60,000 system interactions compared to 6000 historical data points for hybrid model development.
Integrating Praxis Through the Research Process: Caregivers for Older Americans During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

While applied anthropological research is sometimes envisioned as a linear process, we present an alternative view based on our research with frontline workers providing long‐term care (LTC) for older adults during COVID‐19. We completed a rapid qualitative assessment in central North Carolina from May to November 2020. We conducted data analysis as we continued to collect data and implemented activities and interventions along the way. We report emerging findings that included the deleterious effects of isolation on older adults in both congregate and community‐based LTC, the value of creatively using technology as an avenue for communication and engagement, the importance of leadership and flexibility, as well as an abundance of mental health struggles LTC workers faced in caring for older adults during COVID‐19. We present how we were able to address these in a variety of ways during the inductive research process because of iterative analysis that occurred alongside continued data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Annals of Anthropological Practice is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
SAS 109: The Renaissance or the Demise of the Accounting Profession

This paper summarizes the standards and guidance provided by the Statement on Auditing Standard No. 109 (SAS 109), describes the background against which it was drafted, and presents certain issues resulting from the commencement of SAS 109 which are not specific to the review and measure of the financial statements themselves which could ultimately lead to the renaissance of the accounting profession.
Solid-phase synthesis of DNA binding polyamides on oxime resin.

Control of the energetics and specificity of DNA binding polyamides is necessary for inhibition of protein–DNA complex formation and gene regulation studies. Typically, solid-phase methods using Boc monomers for synthesis have depended on Boc-β-Ala-PAM resin which affords a β-alanine-Dp tail at the C-terminus, after cleavage with N,N-dimethylaminopropylamine (Dp). To address the energetic consequences of this tail for DNA minor groove binding, we describe an alternative solid phase method employing the Kaiser oxime resin which allows the synthesis of polyamides with incrementally shortened C-terminal tails. Polyamides without Dp and having methyl amide tails rather than β-alanine show similar affinity relative to the standard β-Dp tail. The truncated tail diminishes the A,T base pair energetic preference of the β-Dp tail which will allow a greater variety of DNA sequences to be targeted by hairpin polyamides.
Chapter 5 Military alliances: Theory and empirics

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of the main theoretical and empirical findings in the economics of military alliances. The pure public and joint product models are presented along with the empirical methods used to test them. Issues concerning burden sharing and strategic doctrine in the NATO alliance are discussed. Comparisons between the Nash and Lindahl allocation processes are made by presenting the empirical work that has attempted to distinguish between them. Attention is also given to the median-voter model and to alternative technologies of public good supply.
The effect of radiation therapy on pelvic lymph node involvement in Stage I carcinoma of the cervix

Abstract A prospective study of pelvic node involvement in 118 patients with Stage I cervical carcinoma was carried out. All patients were treated by full irradiation therapy (cesium or radium and external cobalt) before or after transperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy. Positive nodes were noted in 22.4 per cent of those operated on prior to radiation and 11.7 per cent of those undergoing lymphadenectomy 6 to 16 weeks after full irradiation. Over-all five-year survival was 81.4 per cent but in those with positive nodes survival was only 20 per cent. When nodes were negative, 93.9 per cent of patients survived five years. There were no operative deaths or operative injuries to the urinary tract in the series. Complications were not more frequent or more severe in the group undergoing surgery after radiation. The results suggest that radiation can eradicate metastatic carcinoma from lymph nodes in a portion of the cases and information regarding the presence or absence of nodal metastases is useful in planning therapy and predicting outcome.
A delayed choice quantum eraser experiment

We have realized a quantum eraser experiment in which the results demonstrate the possibility of observing both particle-like and wave-like behavior of a light quantum via quantum entanglement. The which-path or both-path information of a quantum can be erased or marked by its entangled twin even after the registration of the quantum.
Outcomes of ovulation induction-intrauterine insemination in lean, overweight, and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: To compare pregnancy rates between lean, overweight, and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing ovulation induction-intrauterine insemination (OI-IUI). Design: Retrospective cohort study Setting: Academic training program Patient(s): All women with PCOS undergoing OI-IUI from January 2000 to November 2013. Interventions: Ovulation induction-intrauterine insemination with oral (oral OI-IUI) or combined oral and injectable (combined OI-IUI) agents. Main Outcome Measures: Clinical pregnancy rates (CPR) per IUI were compared in 198 women undergoing oral OI-IUI and combined OI-IUI. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate the odds of clinical pregnancy while adjusting for potential confounders. Results were expressed as adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), using lean women as the referent population. Results: In lean PCOS patients undergoing combined OI-IUI, the unadjusted CPR was 52%; CPR was comparatively lower in overweight (22%), obese (27%) and morbidly obese (21%) women for all cycles. Adjusting for age and duration of infertility, the odds of clinical pregnancy after combined OI-IUI was significantly diminished in overweight (OR=0.27 CI=0.12-0.63), obese (OR=0.41, CI=0.20-0.83) and morbidly obese women (OR=0.33 CI=0.14-0.78) as compared to the lean PCOS referent. A similar but non-significant trend was identified in women undergoing oral OI-IUI. Conclusion: Lean women with PCOS have a higher CPR after combined OI-IUI as compared to their overweight, obese, and morbidly obese counterparts. Patients with a lean PCOS phenotype may preferentially benefit from this treatment approach.
Structure of isocitrate lyase, a persistence factor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Isocitrate lyase (ICL) plays a pivotal role in the persistence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice by sustaining intracellular infection in inflammatory macrophages. The enzyme allows net carbon gain by diverting acetyl-CoA from beta-oxidation of fatty acids into the glyoxylate shunt pathway. Given its potential as a drug target against persistent infections, we solved its structure without ligand and in complex with two inhibitors. Covalent modification of an active site residue, Cys 191, by the inhibitor 3-bromopyruvate traps the enzyme in a catalytic conformation with the active site completely inaccessible to solvent. The structure of a C191S mutant of the enzyme with the inhibitor 3-nitropropionate provides further insight into the reaction mechanism.
Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Receptor Overexpression Mediates Cellular Radioresistance and Local Breast Cancer Recurrence after Lumpectomy and Radiation

The insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) plays a critical role in cell growth regulation and transformation. The radiosensitivity of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts overexpressing either wild-type or mutant IGF-IR was examined. High levels of wild-type IGF-IR conferred radioresistance, and mutational analysis revealed that this effect correlated with the transforming capacity but not the mitogenic activity of the receptor. The radioresistant phenotype was reversed when the cells were incubated with antisense oligonucleotides targeted to IGF-IR mRNA, demonstrating that IGF-IR directly influences radioresistance. The clinical significance of these findings was examined in an immunohistochemical analysis of primary breast tumors, revealing that high levels of IGF-IR in tumor samples were highly correlated with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) following lumpectomy and radiation therapy (P = 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that, for early breast tumor relapses (within 4 years of initial breast tumor diagnosis), elevated levels of IGF-IR were strongly associated with IBTR (P = 0.004) but IGF-IR expression was not prognostic for IBTR from breast cancer patients with late relapses (P was not significant). These studies provide evidence for the influence of IGF-IR on cellular radioresistance and response to therapy and raise the possibility that the radiocurability of selected tumors may be improved by pharmaceutical strategies directed toward the IGF-IR.
THE MORAL BASIS OF PROSPERITY AND OPPRESSION: ALTRUISM, OTHER-REGARDING BEHAVIOUR AND IDENTITY

Much of economics is built on the assumption that individuals are driven by self-interest and economic development is an outcome of the free play of such individuals. On the few occasions that the existence of altruism is recognized in economics, the tendency is to build this from the axiom of individual selfishness. The aim of this paper is to break from this tradition and to treat as a primitive that individuals are endowed with the ‘cooperative spirit’, which allows them to work in their collective interest, even when that may not be in their self-interest. The paper tracks the interface between altruism and group identity. By using the basic structure of a Prisoner's Dilemma game among randomly picked individuals and building into it assumptions of general or in-group altruism, the paper demonstrates how our selfish rationality interacts with our innate sense of cooperation. The model is used to outline circumstances under which cooperation will occur and circumstances where it will break down. The paper also studies how sub-groups of a society can form cooperative blocks, whether to simply do better for themselves or exploit others.
Experimental Production of Hepatitis by Feeding Icterogenic Materials.

SummaryAn experiment on the transmission of infectious hepatitis has been carried out among 19 volunteers at 2 institutions. At one of the institutions 3 different samples of serum containing the icterogenic agent were inoculated intracutaneously into 5 human subjects, and the disease was produced in 3 after incubation periods of 56 to 70 (avg 64) days.At another institution other samples of serum and also specimens of feces (and urine) were fed to 9 human subjects, and the disease was produced in 5 after an incubation period of 20 to 84 (avg 37) days by both of these materials.One case of “naturally acquired” hepatitis has appeared among the institutional personnel 51 days after the beginning of the experiment and 31 days after the appearance of the first experimental case.
Measurement of TTP Curves of 7050 Aluminum Alloy by Conductivity

The conductivity of 7050 alloy after isothermal quenched and isothermal quenched then T6 aged was measured by a simple and efficient method of measuring conductivity, its TTP curves fitted by conductivity data and also the isothermal treated microstructure of this alloy studied by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At the same time, the TTP curves fitted respectively by hardness and conductivity data of isothermal quenched then T6 aged samples were compared. The results show that it is feasible to fit TTP curves of 7xxx series high strength aluminum alloy by the method of conductivity measurement which can obtain its TTP curves by measuring transient properties of alloy. The nose temperature of the TTP curves of 7050 alloy fitted by conductivity method is about 330°C and at this temperature the incubation period for decomposition and precipitation of supersaturated solid solution is 1.25 s. By isothermal treating at 330°C for 2 s the precipitates in 7050 alloy form mainly by heterogeneous nucleation. It is indicated that for current TTP curves of aluminum alloy fitted by the method of measuring properties, the precipitates corresponding with the TTP curve which represents properties of alloy variations about 0.5% of the target properties are heterogeneous nucleation precipitation.
Role of Fe in new luminescence lines in Si:T1 and Si:In

We report on the experimental results which indicate that complexes of Fe with T1 are likely to be the origin of the recently observed $A$,$B$,$C$ lines. We have also confirmed that diffusion of Fe produces substantial increase in similar lines, labeled $P$,$Q$,$R$, observed in Si:In.
The three eras of cosmic evolution

Abstract The time‐honored concept of change seems capable of accounting for the appearance of matter from the primal energy of the Universe, and in turn for the emergence of life from that matter. As sentient beings, we, perhaps along with other advanced life forms in the cosmos, have become the collective consciousness of the Universe. Our raison d'etre is our ability to appreciate the cosmos—to wonder, to introspect, to abstract, to explain—for technological intelligence is a preeminently evolved agent of the Universe.
An NBS Physical Standard For The Calibration Of Photomask Linewidth Measuring Systems

In the final stages of development at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) is a photo-mask-like physical standard for the evaluation and calibration of linewidth-measuring optical microscopes, including those of the automatic, closed-circuit TV types. The standard bears clear and opaque lines in the 1 to 10 micrometer (40 to 400 microinch) range and is applicable to microscopes used to measure the opaque-type, as opposed to "see-through", photomasks in trans-mitted light. Primary calibrations of the standard are done on an electron microscope/laser interferometer system with secondary calibrations done on a high-performance photometric optical microscope. The NBS linewidth standard, having linewidths and linespacings distributed in a special way over the range where serious problems in industrial linewidth measurements occur, can be used to detect systematic errors and the biases within measuring systems which cause them. Given in this paper is a constructed numerical example, based on observed effects, of how use of the standard can reveal a number of different types of systematic errors within a single system and can point to likely sources of biases which cause these errors.
Bottom-up assembly of large-area nanowire resonator arrays

Directed-assembly of nanowire-based devices1 will enable the development of integrated circuits with new functions that extend well beyond mainstream digital logic. For example, nanoelectromechanical resonators are very attractive for chip-based sensor arrays2 because of their potential for ultrasensitive mass detection3,4,5,6. In this letter, we introduce a new bottom-up assembly method to fabricate large-area nanoelectromechanical arrays each having over 2,000 single-nanowire resonators. The nanowires are synthesized and chemically functionalized before they are integrated onto a silicon chip at predetermined locations. Peptide nucleic acid probe molecules attached to the nanowires before assembly maintain their binding selectivity and recognize complementary oligonucleotide targets once the resonator array is assembled. The two types of cantilevered resonators we integrated here using silicon and rhodium nanowires had Q-factors of ∼4,500 and ∼1,150, respectively, in vacuum. Taken together, these results show that bottom-up nanowire assembly can offer a practical alternative to top-down fabrication for sensitive chip-based detection.
Risk-aware day-ahead scheduling and real-time dispatch for plug-in electric vehicles

This paper studies risk-aware day-ahead scheduling and real-time dispatch for plug-in electric vehicles (EVs), aiming to jointly optimize the EV charging cost and the risk of the load mismatch between the forecasted and the actual EV loads, due to the random driving activities of EVs. It turns out that the inclusion of the load mismatch risk in the objective function complicates the risk-aware day-ahead scheduling and indeed the optimization problem is nonconvex. A key step is to utilize the hidden convexity structure to recast it as a two-stage stochastic linear program, which can be solved by using the L-shaped method. Further, we develop a distributed risk-aware real-time dispatch algorithm, where the aggregator only needs to compute the shadow prices for each EV to optimize its own charging strategy in a distributed manner. We show, based on real data, that the proposed risk-aware day-ahead scheduling algorithm can reduce not only the overall charging cost, but also the peak demand of EV charging.
Developing computer based laboratory exercises for an MEP course in a construction science and management program

Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in buildings are becoming a greater proportion of construction costs and building operating expenses. As such, MEP systems are required content in the curricula of construction programs. The current paper describes the implementation of computer-based laboratory exercises covering plan reading, material quantity take-offs, and basic material and labor estimating for MEP building systems using a commercially available take-off software package. Students were surveyed to assess their understanding of the course subjects at the beginning and the end of the term, and the survey results were used as an indicator of the effectiveness of the laboratory exercises in supporting the learning objectives of the courses. Finally, the paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of performing the computer-based exercises as opposed to traditional paper-based exercises, and discusses future opportunities to incorporate other software packages, such as Building Information Modeling, into the practical exercises of the MEP courses.
Culturing Borrelia burgdorferi from spleen and kidney tissues of wild-caught white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus.

Summary Borrelia burgdorferi was isolated most frequently from tissue of spleen (n = 13) and kidney (n = 10) and less often from blood (n = 5) of wild-caught Peromyscus leucopus. Prevalence of infection tended to be highest at sites where Lyme disease was most common (e.g., 5 of 6 mice were positive in East Haddam, Connecticut). Spirochetes were not isolated in Danbury or New Hartford, areas where this malady is rare. However, in Fairfield, where the disease is also uncommon, 4 of 9 mice were infected. Larval and nymphal I. dammini, containing borreliae, parasitized P. leucopus at all sites where B. burgdorferi was cultured from mice. Borreliae were also detected in D. variabilis feeding on hosts at two of the sites. P. leucopus appears to be an excellent animal to identify focal areas of B. burgdorferi.
On aggregating multiple indicators into a single metric for sustainability

In sustainability analysis of multidimensional states of a system, it is required to establish the relative superiority of one of the states. Particularly when a finite number of quantitative metrics is used to characterize the system, the values of the metrics among the states can exhibit increasing and decreasing trends at the same time, creating difficulty in clearly preferring one to the other. Sometimes, unequal weighting factors are ascribed to metrics to show the relative importance of the metrics, further complicating the comparison. It has been deemed desirable to consolidate all the usable metrics into one aggregate metric to make this comparison easier. Such an attempt is provided here by expressing the aggregate metric as the geometric mean of the ratios of the individual metrics for pair-wise comparisons. This computation was applied to previously reported evaluations of processes with a finite number of metrics. The method also reveals the sensitivity of the aggregate metric to the individual metrics and to the weighting factors.
Effect of cytochalasin B on conventional drainage of aqueous humor in the cynomolgus monkey.

The effect of intracameral infusion of cytochalasin B (25μg/ml) on gross outflow facility, true facility, uveoscleral flow, and aqueous humor formation was determined in cynomolgus monkeys. The results indicate that cytochalasin B causes a marked decrease in resistance to flow through the tissues between the anterior chamber and the canal of Schlemm. The effect was present in normal eyes and in an eye in which the ciliary muscle had been disinserted from the scleral spur.
Application of a modified drop-collapse technique for surfactant quantitation and screening of biosurfactant-producing microorganisms

Abstract A drop-collapse method has been refined for use as both a qualitative assay to screen for surfactant-producing microbes, and as a quantitative assay to determine surfactant concentration. The assay is rapid, easy to perform, reproducible and requires little specialized equipment. The assay is performed in a 96-microwell plate, where each well is thinly coated with oil. A 5 μL sample droplet is added to the center of a well and observed after 1 min. The droplet will either bead up, spread out slightly or collapse, depending on the amount of surfactant in the sample. The basis for this method is the type of oil used to coat each well. In the qualitative method, each well is coated with 1.8 μL of Pennzoil® and either the drop collapses, indicating the presence of surfactant (a positive result), or the drop remains beaded, indicating the absence of surfactant (a negative response). In the quantitative method, each well is coated with 2 μL of mineral oil, and a dissecting microscope is used to measure the diameter of the droplet at 1 min. Results with both a test biosurfactant (rhamnolipid) and a test synthetic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) indicate a direct linear correlation between droplet diameter and surfactant concentration. The drop-collapse method has several advantages over commonly used methods that measure surface tension, such as the du Nouy ring method; a smaller volume is required (5 μL vs. 20 mL), the effective range of measurement is greater and it does not require specialized equipment.
Effects of TheraMax on Influenza Virus Infections in Cell Culture and in Mice

Background:Limited in vivo studies in the scientific literature suggest that components of green tea and elderberry may be beneficial in treating influenza virus infections. They are thought to act...
The effect of camphorquinone (CQ) and CQ-related photosensitizers on the generation of reactive oxygen species and the production of oxidative DNA damage

Recent evidence suggests that following visible-light (VL) irradiation, CQ and the CQ-related photosensitizers benzil (BZ), benzophenone (BP), and 9-fluorenone (9-F) generate initiating radicals that may indiscriminately react with molecular oxygen forming reactive oxygen species (ROS). The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether VL-irradiated CQ, BZ, BP, and 9-F cause DNA damage due to the generation of ROS in vitro. ROS formation by CQ and CQ-related photosensitizers±dimethyl-p-toluidine (DMT) was investigated in a cell-free system with VL irradiation. DNA damage was determined using ΦX-174 RF I supercoiled double-stranded plasmid DNA and ROS quantified with 4-((9-acridinecarbonyl)amino)-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl (TEMPO-9-AC), a fluorogenic ROS-sensitive probe. VL-irradiated CQ, BZ, BP, and 9-F (±DMT) produced significant DNA damage at 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mM and in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05). TEMPO-9-AC revealed that all investigated VL-irradiated photosensitizers produced significant amounts of ROS with BZ in the presence of DMT generating the most ROS after 30, 60, and 90 min. VL-irradiated CQ, BZ, BP, and 9-F ±DMT continued to generate significant amounts of ROS 90 min after VL irradiation. As a result, future investigations should evaluate the effect of VL-irradiated photosensitizers in cells and possible protective effects provided by antioxidants.
In vitro testing for immunoglobulin E-mediated food allergies

Abstract The role of immunoglobulin E – mediated food allergy in subjects with allergic disorders, especially in patients with rhinitis and sinusitis, is underestimated by clinicians because of the initial attribution of these disorders to immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions. The difficulties of diagnosing food-related reactions have caused further delay in their recognition and incorporation into the daily practice of diagnosing food allergy. Two of the diagnostic methods for food allergy are the in vitro assay of total immunoglobulin E and the measurement of food-specific immunoglobulin E levels in serum with the radioallergosorbent test. Measurement of specific immunoglobulin E level is the most commonly used but also one of the most controversial techniques. We examined 123 patients with rhinitis who were referred to our otolaryngology/allergy clinic between January and April 1995. All patients received an initial radioallergosorbent test screen, which included milk. We determined the positive predictive value of this positive screen and, in particular, of a positive test for milk in the diagnosis of immunoglobulin E – mediated food allergies in these patients. Conclusions were based on comparison with the result of an additional radioallergosorbent test food panel consisting of eight common and two investigational food allergens. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1996;115:312-8.)
Representations and Corresponding Operators Induced by Hecke Algebras

In this paper, by establishing free-probabilistic models on the Hecke algebras $$\mathcal {H}(G_{p})$$ , we construct canonical free probability spaces $$(\mathcal {H}(G_{p}), \psi _{p})$$ , where $$G_{p} = GL_{2}(\mathbb {Q} _{p})$$ , for primes $$p$$ . Dependent upon such free-probabilistic structures, we study corresponding representations of $$\mathcal {H}(G_{p})$$ , and consider spectral properties of operators realized under representations.
Models of Dominance Hierarchy Formation: Effects of Prior Experience and Intrinsic Traits

Results of experimental research are used to develop theoretical models of dominance hierarchy formation that incorporate effects of prior aggressive experience and body size. A combination of analytical models and computer simulations confirm previous theoretical treatments showing that intrinsic attributes such as body size fail to account for the degree of hierarchy linearity observed in nature for typical within-group variance of such attributes. Moreover, these models explain the mathematical dynamics of the operation of winner/loser effects during hierarchy formation. Additionally, I present an analysis of these models which shows that the degree to which relationships of component triads (all combinations of three individuals in a group) within a hierarchy develop sequentially can have a significant effect on linearity and is an emergent feature of prior experience effects that previously has not been examined. I explain how this feature can operate through physical and behavioral features of social groups that increase physical proximity of subgroups within a larger group, thus increasing the probability of sequential relationship development in component triads, which in turn provides the conditions for winner/loser effects to significantly increase the probability of component triad transitivity and hierarchy linearity.
Application of a software reliability model to decide software release time

Abstract In this paper, using a Binomial reliability model, we formulate the optimal software release time problem as a probabilistic dynamic programming. Using some properties of the cost functions associated with this problem, we develop an efficient algorithm to obtain the optimal release time decision.
Effects of Benzene Metabolites on DNA Cleavage Mediated by Human Topoisomerase IIα: 1,4-Hydroquinone Is a Topoisomerase II Poison

Although benzene induces leukemias in humans, the compound is not believed to generate chromosomal damage directly. Rather, benzene is thought to act through a series of phenolic- and quinone-based...
IMMUNOFLUORESCENT STUDIES OF THE HISTOPATHOGENESIS OF LYMPHOCYTIC CHORIOMENINGITIS VIRUS INFECTION

LCM virus antigen was visualized in infected tissue cultures and mouse tissues by the direct immunofluorescent procedure. In all instances, antigen was localized to the cytoplasm. In intracerebrally infected mice, antigen was almost completely restricted to meninges, choroid plexus, and ependyma; at no time were neurons involved. Mice infected by intraperitoneal inoculation of a viscerotropic strain demonstrated antigen chiefly in liver parenchyma, splenic reticulum, bronchi, and alveolar cells. Congenitally infected mice showed antigen in almost all cell types observed, but generally in only a minority of cells; infection was often focal in distribution. Liver, kidney, pregnant uterus, and trophoblast were most extensively involved. No antigen was observable in ova of a pregnant mouse.