cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bilirubin inhibits iNOS expression and NO production in response to endotoxin in rats

The inducible isoform of heme oxygenase (HO), HO-1, has been shown to play an important role in attenuating tissue injury. Because HO-1 catalyzes the rate-limiting step in bilirubin synthesis, we examined the hypothesis that bilirubin is a key mediator of HO-1 cytoprotection, employing a rat model of endotoxemia. Bilirubin treatment resulted in improved survival and attenuated liver injury in response to lipopolysaccharide infusion. Serum levels of NO and tumor necrosis factor alpha, key mediators of endotoxemia, and hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were significantly lower in bilirubin-treated rodents versus control animals. Both intraperitoneal and local administration of bilirubin also was found to ameliorate hindpaw inflammation induced by the injection of lambda-carrageenan. Consistent with in vivo results, bilirubin significantly inhibited iNOS expression and suppressed NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. In contrast, bilirubin treatment induced a threefold increase in LPS-mediated prostaglandin synthesis in the absence of significant changes in cyclooxygenase expression or activity, suggesting that bilirubin enhances substrate availability for eicosanoid synthesis. Bilirubin had no effect on LPS-mediated activation of nuclear factor kappaB or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, consistent with a nuclear factor kappaB-independent mechanism of action. Taken together, these data support a cytoprotective role for bilirubin that is mediated, at least in part, through the inhibition of iNOS expression and, potentially, through stimulation of local prostaglandin E2 production. In conclusion, our findings suggest a role for bilirubin in mollifying tissue injury in response to inflammatory stimuli and support the possibility that the phenomenon of "jaundice of sepsis" represents an adaptive physiological response to endotoxemia. Supplementary material for this article can be found on the HEPATOLOGY website (http://interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0270-9139/suppmat/index.html).
Interval Computing Method for Analyzing Field-Scale Solute Transport

The stochastic-convective model of solute transport was analyzed using interval arithmetic. An interval distribution function was developed to facilitate the identification of appropriate intervals to be used in the proposed interval computing method. Results obtained from a field-scale tracer experiment were used for a relative comparison of three methods (interval computing method, Monte Carlo simulations, and stochastic theories) for predicting travel time distributions and field-scale mean solute concentrations. Interval computations yielded results that agreed well with stochastic approaches and predicted general trends of the observed data. The field-scale solute breakthrough curves were well reproduced by the interval computing method; however, the standard deviations of the travel times were slightly overestimated. The interval computing technique was shown to be computationally efficient and may be viewed as an alternative to the use of stochastic differential equations and Monte Carlo simulation...
Mapping the Prion Protein Using Recombinant Antibodies

The fundamental event in prion disease is thought to be the posttranslational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into a pathogenic isoform (PrPSc). The occurrence of PrPC on the cell surface and PrPSc in amyloid plaques in situ or in aggregates following purification complicates the study of the molecular events that underlie the disease process. Monoclonal antibodies are highly sensitive probes of protein conformation which can be used under these conditions. Here, we report the rescue of a diverse panel of 19 PrP-specific recombinant monoclonal antibodies from phage display libraries prepared from PrP deficient (Prnp0/0) mice immunized with infectious prions either in the form of rods or PrP 27-30 dispersed into liposomes. The antibodies recognize a number of distinct linear and discontinuous epitopes that are presented to a varying degree on different PrP preparations. The epitope reactivity of the recombinant PrP(90-231) molecule was almost indistinguishable from that of PrPC on the cell surface, validating the importance of detailed structural studies on the recombinant molecule. Only one epitope region at the C terminus of PrP was well presented on both PrPC and PrPSc, while epitopes associated with most of the antibodies in the panel were present on PrPC but absent from PrPSc.
Using principal-components regression to stabilize EMG-muscle force parameter estimates of torso muscles

Models for estimating muscle force from surface electromyographic (EMG) recordings require parameter estimates with low intertrial variability. The inclusion of multiple muscles in multivariate statistical models can lead to multicollinearity, especially when there are significant correlations between synergist muscles. One result of multicollinearity is that parameter estimates are very sensitive to changes in the independent variables. This study compared the parameter variability of multiple regression and principal-components regression techniques when applied to a six muscle EMG analysis of the lumbar region of the torso. Nine subjects participated, Twenty-three percent of the traditional multiple-regression parameters had incorrect signs, but none of the principal-components regression parameters did. The principal components regression technique also produced parameter estimates having an order of magnitude smaller parameter variability. It was concluded that principal-components regression is an effective method of mitigating the effect of multicollinearity in torso EMG models.
The Fourier series implementation of a locally optimum detector

Reception of signals in the presence of jammers is of paramount importance in military spread spectrum(SS) communications systems. Locally optimum (LO) detection is a method which is particularly suited to noisy environments characterised by large jammer-to-signal ratios (J/S). Interest has focused on robust techniques, in which the required nonlinearity is formed from an estimate of the noise probability density function (PDF). This paper presents a novel method of implementing a robust LO detector which does not require an intermediate estimate of the interference PDF. Instead, an algorithm based on the Fourier series is used to approximate the nonlinearity directly. Furthermore, an analytical expression for the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain at the output of the detector is derived. Finally, the detection of a direct sequence (DS) SS signal in Cauchy noise is presented as an example of the performance gains provided by this method. >
Stress and High Sodium Effects on Blood Pressure and Brain Catecholamines in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

The following experiments were designed to determine if territorial stress, dietary sodium (Na), or the combination of stress and Na effect the rate of development of hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR 4-18 wks) and if central catecholamines (C) were altered by these treatments. BP was significantly elevated from 2-8 weeks of stress treatment as compared to SHR controls. Norepinephrine (NE) levels in the nucleus tractus solitarius and amygdala (A), and dopamine (D) levels in the hippocampus and A showed significant elevations in the stressed group. High Na (3%) treatment combined with stress treatment produced an even further BP increase and elevated D levels in the amygdala, and elevated NE levels in the area postrema as compared to control SHR's. Selected brain C variables were able to correctly classify animals into high and low BP groups with 90-100% accuracy. Our data support the concept that there are important stress and Na effects upon brain neurochemistry which influence the development of hypertension in the SHR.
Prototype of a rapid assay for cellular mechanotransduction

Many key cellular interactions involve mechanotransduction (MT), whereby forces applied by other cells or by the matrix lead to biochemical and morphological sequellae. Since MT may be a useful target of molecular therapies, I have developed a rapid assay for it: the flow cytomechanical assay (FCMA). The assay exposes suspended cells to graded hydrostatic challenges prior to their entry into a standard flow cytometer. Preliminary results on 7 cell types have shown that FCMA can measure key aspects of MT at a rate of 10,000 cells per minute. FCMA could be a useful screening tool for agents and materials that involve MT.
Local degradation of magnetic properties in magnetic thin films irradiated by Ga/sup +/ focused-ion-beams

The magnetic properties of NiFe and FeCoN thin films were examined using Kerr microscopy after Ga/sup +/ focused-ion-beam (FIB) irradiation. Magneto-optic characterizations of 30 /spl mu/m /spl times/ 30 /spl mu/m irradiated surface areas showed that the magnetization was reduced in approximately linear proportion to the Ga/sup +/ ion dose. Above an ion dose of approximately 0.6 nC//spl mu/m/sup 2/ (3.8 /spl times/ 10/sup 17/ ions/cm/sup 2/), little sign of the Kerr rotation could be found. The effect of the irradiation on the coercive force was also examined. Little effect of the beam on the coercivity of NiFe was seen, but an increase of coercivity was seen in FeCoN. The reduction of the Kerr rotation is attributed to magnetic moment loss caused by Ga implantation into the magnetic thin films. This loss has been quantified and is relevant to pole trimming for high-density magnetic recording heads.
White Dialectics: A New Framework for Theory, Research, and Practice With White Students 1Ψ7

This article presents White dialectics, or the tensions that White students experience as dominant group members in the United States, as a new framework to understand and intervene with White students and counselor trainees. Developed from and supported by our qualitative analysis, the authors present the six dialectics of (a) Whiteness and self, (b) connection in multiracial relationships, (c) color blindness, (d) minimization of racism, (e) structural inequality, and (f) White privilege. They demonstrate that White students exhibited dialectical movement, shifting along these dialectics as they reflected on their race. Moreover, they identified their dialectical tensions as investigators that may parallel tensions experienced by those working with White students. They conclude by discussing White authenticity, or the continual struggle with the White dialectics as an educational goal, with suggestions for intervention. A focus on White dialectics holds promise for the field of counseling psychology and...
Computation of vocal tract area functions

This paper describes a noniterative algorithm for synthesizing vocal tract area functions. The vocal tract is parameterized in terms of a few of the low-frequency poles and zeros of the driving point impedance at the lips and the length of the tract. Using an asymptotic relation, ship for a Sturm-Liouville system, additional critical frequencies are supplied on the basis of the length parameter only. The algorithm, which is due basically to Richards, yields a structure which is a cascade of equal length uniform tubes of differing cross sectional areas. The number of such tubes depends upon the number of critical frequencies specified. Vowel data of Fant is used to test the algorithm. It is found that the synthesized area functions are good approximations to the actual ones. Because of the noniterative nature of the algorithm, execution time is very small.
Multinuclear copper complexes of pyridylmethylamide ligands

Copper complexes of a family of pyridylmethylamide ligands HLPh, HLMe3 and HLPh3 were synthesized and characterized [HLPh = 2-phenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide; HLMe3 = 2,2-dimethyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)propionamide; HLPh3 = 2,2,2-triphenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide]. The reaction of copper(II) salts with the HL family and triethylamine in methanol yields copper(II) complexes [Cu4(LPh)4(OH)2](ClO4)2 (1), [Cu2(HLMe3)2(OMe)2(MeOH)2](OTf)2 (2) and [Cu2(HLPh3)2(OMe)2(MeOH)2](OTf)2 (3). The complexes have different nuclearity owing to varying steric properties of the ligands used. Complex 1 self-assembles in the presence of excess base to form a tetranuclear complex. Complexes 2 and 3 are binuclear and are bridged by a pair of methoxide ligands. Steric encumbrance of the ligands in 2 and 3 prevent cluster formation.
Metadata Professionals: Roles and Competencies as Reflected in Job Announcements, 2003–2006

This study presents the current state of the roles and competencies sought from metadata professionals. We conducted a comprehensive content analysis of 107 job descriptions posted on the AUTOCAT listserv from January 2003 through December 2006. Multivariate techniques of cluster and multidimensional scaling analysis were applied to the content analysis. Results show that the principal responsibility expected of metadata professionals concerns metadata creation (73.8%). In addition to metadata creation, electronic resource management, awareness of trends, and digital library development constitute the core areas of demand in the metadata profession. The findings of the study also show that knowledge and skills centering on traditional cataloging and classification standards (60.7%) remain highly relevant in the digital environment and accordingly to metadata professionals.
Conducting sphere in alternating magnetic fields

The field disturbance produced by a conducting metallic body in an alternating magnetic field is of interest from several points of view, for instance in connection with eddy-current losses, induction heating, and in high-speed rotation of a sphere induced by a revolving field. Again, the location of a hidden metallic body, a problem met in a number of industries, is often carried out by producing an alternating magnetic field and detecting the presence of the body from the field distrubance produced by it.
What makes good research in software engineering

Physics, biology, and medicine have well-refined public explanations of their research processes. Even in simplified form, these provide guidance about what counts as “good research” both inside and outside the field. Software engineering has not yet explicitly identified and explained either our research processes or the ways we recognize excellent work. Science and engineering research fields can be characterized in terms of the kinds of questions they find worth investigating, the research methods they adopt, and the criteria by which they evaluate their results. I will present such a characterization for software engineering, showing the diversity of research strategies and the way they shift as ideas mature. Understanding these strategies should help software engineers design research plans and report the results clearly; it should also help explain the character of software engineering research to computer science at large and to other scientists.
Enhancing vocoder performance for music signals

Low bit rate standards involving the code excited linear predictive coder (CELP) are typically optimized for telephone speech. The performance of CELP with non-speech signals, and particularly with music, degrades considerably. It is of interest these days to improve the robustness of these coders by adding pre- and post-processing stages to the core compression algorithm. In this paper, we propose a frequency-domain technique involving time-varying filters to enhance the audio quality with a small number of overhead information bits. Preliminary results have shown both qualitative and quantitative improvements in the sound quality.
INBREEDING AND PREREPRODUCTIVE MORTALITY IN THE OLD ORDER AMISH. I. GENEALOGIC EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INBREEDING

Epidemiologic patterns of inbreeding in the Old Order Amish were investigated using a unique genealogic registry of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Amish that contains information on 8,163 marriages, dating back to the time of the pioneer migrants in the 1700s and spanning more than 10 generations. The kinship coefficient for each marriage was computed using the path method of tracing common ancestors in the multigenerational pedigrees. Because of extensive genealogic connections, mean kinship coefficients and the proportion of related marriages have increased significantly over time, from 0.004 and 37%, respectively, for marriages before 1850 to 0.012 and 98%, respectively, for marriages after 1950. Demographic factors related to higher kinship levels include young age at marriage, large sibship size for both husband and wife, husband being a farmer, and marriages occurring in the marriage season (November or December). The rise in inbreeding levels in the Amish over time can be uniquely contrasted with the decline in inbreeding in most areas of the world. Furthermore, because some of the demographic factors related to high inbreeding levels may be associated with levels of mortality, such factors have to be taken into account when studying the effects of inbreeding on mortality in the Amish. This study uses an epidemiologic approach to the evaluation of inbreeding patterns in a population over time.
A reappraisal of large, heterolithic channel fills in the upper Permian Rangal Coal Measures of the Bowen Basin, Queensland, Australia: The case for tidal influence

Abstract This chapter documents a reappraisal of an Upper Permian coal-bearing succession (Rangal Coal Measures (RCM) and equivalents) that forms part of the fill of the retroarc foreland Bowen Basin of northeast Australia. Previous research concluded that the unit was the product of entirely continental, alluvial environments, but in this chapter, the case is made for a tidal influence in the middle part of the formation. The RCM have been divided into seven lithofacies, interpreted to record channel, floodbasin, and mire environments of deposition. The middle part of the formation is dominated by heterolithic channel fills with macroform inclined bedding (Inclined Heterolithic Stratification, IHS) that are interpreted to be the product of deposition in moderately sinuous rivers in which construction of point bars was a widespread process. Several lines of evidence collectively argue for a tidal influence on sediment deposition: (1) the stratigraphic context of the central part of the RCM, which appears to represent the transgressive (TST) and early Highstand Systems Tract (HST) of a depositional sequence; (2) the character of IHS sets, in which fine-grained partings extend from the brinkpoint of cross-sets down to their toesets, and in many exposures displays a rhythmicity to the bedding style; (3) the abundance of small-scale sedimentary structures associated with tidal activity, such as flaser and wavy bedding, rhythmic interlamination of sandstone and mudstone, synaeresis cracks, and fluid-mud deposits, as well as a distinctive, low diversity and sporadically distributed trace fossil suite; (4) bipolarity to palaeocurrent distributions; and (5) preservation within the channel fills of fossil fish that elsewhere are associated with marine or coastal deposits. Accordingly, the middle part of the RCM is reinterpreted as the deposits of a southward-draining, tidally influenced fluvial system. Palaeogeographic considerations suggest that this system likely occupied a north–south elongate, southward-opening tidal embayment, or gulf, that extended for 1000 km from central Queensland to central New South Wales before exiting to the Panthalassan Sea. Several of the more enigmatic elements of the stratal architecture evident from mine exposures are difficult to reconcile purely in terms of extant models for point bar formation and evolution. Some of these features may owe their origin to modifications of estuarine geomorphology evident from modern systems that are oversupplied with sediment, but which are not extensively documented in the literature. The details of IHS bedding structure summarized herein can assist in the description of heterolithic channel fill reservoirs in hydrocarbon provinces such as the Athabasca oil sands of western Canada where correlation between wells over short distances (100–300 m) is problematic.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis.

Summary Diverticulosis without inflammatory changes is a benign condition requiring no particular treatment of itself. It is best managed by medical measures directed at preventing diverticulitis, of which it is the necessary precursor. Diverticulitis per se almost always should be treated conservatively. Nearly three quarters of all the patients will respond to medical treatment. Surgical intervention is reserved for the management of complications. Complicated diverticulitis, however, of either the acute or the recurrent type, remains a difficult therapeutic problem.
Palliative Radiation Oncology: Moving Beyond the Single Fraction.

The use of single-fraction radiation therapy (SFRT) for uncomplicated bone metastases continues to dominate conversation regarding palliative care within radiation oncologydcare that certainly includes but is far more complex than appropriate dose fractionation. However, despite multiple randomized trials (1, 2), meta-analyses (3), and support by the American Society for Radiation Oncology “Choosing Wisely” campaign (4), the use of SFRT (8 Gy) for palliation of uncomplicated bone metastases remains low. Although SFRT rates in Canada and Europe are 40% to 50%, rates in the United States are less than 10% (5-8). Quality improvement (QI) measures in the care of patients with advanced cancer are needed to resolve this deficiency in evidence-based care as part of a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to patientcentered palliative care within radiation oncology. Reported in this issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics are 2 Canadian studies aiming to improve the quality of palliative care within radiation oncology by promoting SFRT utilization in the management of bone metastases. Ashworth et al (7) evaluated the impact of provincial practice guidelines, published in 2004, endorsing SFRT for uncomplicated bone metastases on fractionation patterns. Although an initial increase in the rate of SFRT was seen after guideline publicationdfrom 42.3% in years 1999-2003 to 52.6% in
Inhibition of Sonic Hedgehog and Notch Pathways Enhances Sensitivity of CD133 + Glioma Stem Cells to Temozolomide Therapy

Malignant gliomas are currently treated with temozolomide (TMZ), but often exhibit resistance to this agent. CD133+ cancer stem cells, a population believed to contribute to the tumor’s chemoresistance, bear the activation of Notch and Sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathways. In this study, we examined whether inhibition of both pathways enhances the efficacy of TMZ monotherapy in the context of glioma stem cells. Transcriptional analysis of Notch and SHH pathways in CD133+-enriched glioma cell populations showed the activity of these pathways. CD133+ cells were less susceptible to TMZ treatment than the unsorted glioma counterparts. Interestingly, Notch and SHH pathway transcriptional activity in CD133+ glioma cells was further enhanced by TMZ exposure, which led to NOTCH 1, NCOR2, and GLI1 upregulation (6.64-, 3.73-, and 2.79-fold, respectively) and CFLAR downregulation (4.22-fold). The therapeutic effect of TMZ was enhanced by Notch and SHH pathway pharmacological antagonism with GSI-1 and cyclopamine. More importantly, simultaneous treatment involving TMZ with both of these compounds led to a significant increase in CD133+ glioma cytotoxicity than treatment with any of these agents alone (P < 0.05). In conclusion, CD133+ glioma cells overexpress genes involved in Notch and SHH pathways. These pathways contribute to the chemoresistant phenotype of CD133+ glioma cells, as their antagonism leads to an additive effect when used in combination with TMZ.
Is Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction More Difficult to Treat

Approximately 35 to 75% of men with diabetes mellitus (DM) have erectile dysfunction (ED). ED occurs about 5 to 10 yr earlier in men with diabetes than in age-matched controls (1). In a cross-sectional survey of 541 men with diabetes at a community-based clinic, the prevalence of ED increased progressively with age, from 6% in men aged 20 to 24 yr to 52% in those aged 55 to 59 yr (2). After the age of 60, 55 to 95% of men with diabetes are affected by ED, compared with approx 50% in an unselected population in the Massachusetts Aging Male Survey (3,4). In another cohort of patients who had type 1 diabetes for at least 10 yr, ED was reported in 1.1% of men aged 21 to 30 yr, 55% of men aged 50 to 60 yr, and 75% of men older than 60 yr (5).
Sources of Moral Obligation to Non-Muslims in the Fiqh Al-Aqalliyyat (Jurisprudence of Muslim Minorities) Discourse

This article surveys four approaches to moral obligation to non-Muslims found in Islamic legal thought. The first three approaches I refer to in this article as the "revelatory-deontological," the "contractualist-constructivist" and the "consequentialist-utilitarian." The main argument of this article is that present in many of the contemporary works on the "jurisprudence of Muslim minorities" (fiqh al-aqalliyyat) is an attempt to provide an Islamic foundation for a relatively thick and rich relationship of moral obligation and solidarity with non-Muslims. This attempt takes the form of a fourth "comprehensive-qualitative" approach to political ethics in that it appeals not to juridical reasoning of the type "is x permissible and in which conditions?" but rather to Islamic ideals of what it means to live a good life, of what believing, normatively-committed Muslims want to pursue in this world, not only what they may pursue without fear of punishment. This meta-ethical approach builds on and goes beyond the first three. The force of this argument is that this fourth "comprehensive-qualitative" approach to moral obligation to non-Muslims is novel, emergent and not found not in the writings of outright reformers but in those of conservative, "neo-classical," shari'a-minded - even Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated - Islamic scholars. What also adds to the force of this argument is that the other meta-ethical discourses, particularly of contract and utility (maslaha), already get these scholars quite far towards a doctrine of "loyal resident alienage" in non-Muslim societies. That even orthodox Islamic scholars go further shows that they have some interest in giving a theological or principled foundation to a much thicker and richer form of moral obligation to non-Muslims, a relationship which involves recognizing non-Muslims qua non-Muslims and contributing to their well-being.
Analysis of Executive Succession Planning in 12 Construction Companies

The most vital resource in a construction company is the executive leadership. Therefore, executive succession can significantly affect a company, with the potential to cause both visible and invis...
The Taxonomy and Bionomics of some Panamanian Trombidiid Mites (Acarina).

The principal purpose of this paper is to present information concerning the life histories of some species of mites from Panama. Incidentally, several species are described as new. The need for knowledge of life histories, particularly for correlations of larvae and adults, is great in the Trombidiidae, because the great majority of the species and even of the genera are known from larvae only or adults only. Thus there are two nearly separate classifications, one for adults, the other for larvae.
Vertical Movement of Commercially Formulated Beauveria bassiana Conidia through Four Georgia Soil Types

Vertical movement of commercially formulated conidia of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillimen in four soil types was measured in 30.6-cm columns of soil. Tifton and Greenville series soils were more restrictive to vertical movement of the conidia than either Cecil or Townley series soils. When applied as an aqueous suspension to the soil surface, >90% of the viable colony-forming units (CFU's) were recovered in the upper 15.2 cm of columns containing Tifton or Greenville soils. Approximately 12.5% of the CFU's moved through the 30.6-cm columns of Cecil and Townley series soils and were collected in the effluent. Formulated conidia are not restricted only to the surfaces of these soils.
Improve effluent water quality at Abu-Rawash wastewater treatment plant with the application of coagulants

This research investigated a process to improve the Abu-Rawash WWTP effluent water quality with the application of aluminum chloride (AlCl3); in turn, this improvement will lead to improve water quality at the El-Rahawy drain and in the Rosetta branch of the Nile River. Sewage samples were collected from the effluent of the grit removal chamber. Jar tests were performed to estimate the coagulant dosage required to obtain acceptable treatment. To prove the efficiency of the AlCl3 in wastewater treatment, a comparison was conducted between AlCl3 and other common coagulants used in wastewater treatment which include ferrous sulfate (FeSO4), ferric sulfate (Fe2(SO4)3) and ferric chloride (FeCl3). Results showed AlCl3 was more cost-effective and efficient in wastewater treatment than these three iron-based coagulants. A paired-sample t-test was also performed to rank the performance of the various coagulants tested. The t-test has also confirmed that the AlCl3 has the highest performance over those coagulants.
Study on Loop-mediated isothermal amplification PCR technology in detecting Staphylococcal enterotoxigenic genes

Objective:To understand enterotoxigenic genes(SEA,SEB,SEC,SED) in Staphylococcus aureus(SA) isolates from different sources in Xiaoshan District of Hangzhou City.Methods:34 SA isolates were isolated from hospital disinfection monitoring samples,food monitoring samples and the vomit and faecal matter from food poisoning patients,and then the SE genes(SEA,SEB,SEC,SED) were detected by Loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP).Results:The detection rate of SE genes was 58.82%,and that of SEA and SED 26.47% and 32.35%,respectively.SE genes from different sources had different detection rates.SE genes were positive in 12 of 20 SA from hospital disinfection monitoring samples(60%).SE genes were positive in 3 of 9 SA from food monitoring samples(33.33%).SE genes were positive in 5 of 5 SA from food poisoning samples(100%).Conclusion:The positive rate of SE genes is high in 34 strain SA,10 of 34 strains can be detected for two kinds of SE in the same strain.LAMP can be applied to detect SE in SA simply,rapidly and conveniently and used in grassroots laboratory.
Glyphosate, neurological diseases - and the scientific method.

We must be careful not to rush to label glyphosate as excessively toxic to humans because when used properly and in proper quantities it is probably no more dangerous and toxic than other effective herbicides on the market. Unfortunately, most effective herbicides and insecticides could be classified as neurotoxic and carcinogenic because in high enough concentrations they can be toxic to biological systems. In their lengthy treatise, “Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases III: Manganese (Mn), neurological diseases, and associated pathologies” recently published in Surgical Neurology International, Drs. Samsel and Seneff blame the widely used herbicide glyphosate for a number of ecological as well as medical disorders via Mn metabolism and a myriad of other pathophysiological mechanisms.[9] The linking of this effective herbicide to the alphabet soup list of conditions enumerated by the authors seems to be “shotgun science” — namely, multiple associations based on population-based statistics, disconnected correlations, and manipulation of numbers and conditions that create an epidemiological recipe for errors and nonvalid associations. The authors link every kind of disorder imaginable to a widely used chemical that has not been specifically linked clinically to any of those disorders.[9]
Sound Transmission Validation and Sensitivity Studies in Numerical Models.

In 1974, Norris and Harvey published an experimental study of sound transmission into the head of the bottlenose dolphin. We used this rare source of data to validate our Vibroacoustic Toolkit, an array of numerical modeling simulation tools. Norris and Harvey provided measurements of received sound pressure in various locations within the dolphin’s head from a sound source that was moved around the outside of the head. Our toolkit was used to predict the curves of pressure with the best-guess input data (material properties, transducer and hydrophone locations, and geometry of the animal’s head). In addition, we performed a series of sensitivity analyses (SAs). SA is concerned with understanding how input changes to the model influence the outputs. SA can enhance understanding of a complex model by finding and analyzing unexpected model behavior, discriminating which inputs have a dominant effect on particular outputs, exploring how inputs combine to affect outputs, and gaining insight as to what additional information improves the model’s ability to predict. Even when a computational model does not adequately reproduce the behavior of a physical system, its sensitivities may be useful for developing inferences about key features of the physical system. Our findings may become a valuable source of information for modeling the interactions between sound and anatomy.
Thermodynamic Driving Force of the γ → ε Transformation and Resulting M S Temperature in High-Mn Steels

Two-stage transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) behavior characterized by the martensitic transformations, γ → e → α′, has produced exceptional tensile strengths and work hardening rates in Fe-14 wt pct Mn alloys containing Al and Si. A regular solution model has been developed to accurately calculate ΔG γ → e for a given TRIP alloy and the calculated driving force is used to determine the M S e temperature. The regular solution model developed here predicted driving forces that corresponded well with reported microstructures and behavior of seven FeMnAlSiC steels from literature when considered in conjunction with nucleating defect critical size and material process history. The role of available nucleating defects of critical size, n*, has been linked to the stacking fault energy necessary to observe the γ → e transformation and the M S e temperature. The regular solution model provided excellent correlation between calculated M S e temperatures and those measured experimentally in 89 alloys from literature and suggested n* = 4 is the critical size of a nucleating defect in annealed microstructures. Factors affecting the γ → e transformation and the M S e temperature have been identified as prior austenite grain size, dislocation substructure due to prior deformation, and solute segregation.
The Chinese-nomad synthesis and the reunification of the empire (485 to 755)

During the Period of Disunion the economies of North and South China diverged in crucial ways. The devastation inflicted by repeated nomad invasions gravely disrupted agricultural production and commerce in North China. This anarchic warfare finally came to a halt after Tuoba Gui, a chief of the Xianbei steppe nomads, conquered much of the Central Plain in 398 and laid the foundations for the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534). Under Northern Wei dominion North China enjoyed a degree of political stability that eluded the more transitory Chinese-ruled dynasties in the south. Eventually the Northern Wei leaders turned away from the political and cultural traditions of the steppe and sought to refashion their state in the image of a Chinese empire. In so doing the Northern Wei promoted a synthesis of Chinese and nomadic institutions based on bureaucratic rule and a caste-like social order of hereditary occupational statuses that succeeded, at least in the short run, in reviving agricultural production. The political economy of the Northern Wei in its mature phase (after 485) recapitulated the military-physiocratic principles of the first empires: like the Qin–early Han rulers, the Northern Wei leaders sought to magnify the state's military might through equitable allocation of lands, uniform taxation in goods and labor, and universal military conscription. In contrast to the south, however, commercial development was muted and monetary circulation remained feeble. The Northern Wei also fostered the formation of a hybrid Xianbei-Chinese ruling class through intermarriage between the Xianbei nobility and the leading Chinese aristocratic clans. Although a few favored Chinese clans were admitted to this ruling elite, in general the social power of Chinese local magnates in the north atrophied over the course of the Northern Wei dynasty. Xianbei military domination and the equal-field landholding system inaugurated by the Northern Wei did not deprive local magnates of their privileges or wealth, but they bolstered the state's control over the common people. The institutional infrastructure erected by the Northern Wei state survived the fall of the dynasty in 534 and its division into rival regimes. The success of Yang Jian, founder of the Sui dynasty (581–618), in reinstating unified imperial rule over both North and South China in 589 can be attributed in no small degree to the political and institutional achievements of the Northern Wei.
LATE-BREAKING ABSTRACT: Corticosteroid responsiveness in COPD

Introduction: The mechanism of bronchodilator nonresponsiveness to corticosteroids in COPD is unclear; the levels of histone deacytylase (HDAC) and oxidative stress have been implicated (New Engl J Med, 2005;352:1967). Phosphodiesterase (PDE4) inhibition of glucocorticoid resistance in human alveolar macrophages has also been shown to reverse corticosteroid resistance (Clin Exp Allergy. 2011;41:535) Aims and objectives: We therefore studied the effects of theophylline which is believed to increase HDAC levels, as well as roflumilast, a PDE inhibitor, on steroid responsiveness in COPD. Methods: Eight COPD patients (4 Males, Mean age 67.4±8.2yrs) with spirometrically documented nonresponsiveness to bronchodilators received treatment with oral theophylline for one week, followed by the addition of oral roflumilast 500 µg daily for a further one week. At the end of the first week, after baseline spirometry before and after inhaled albuterol, subjects received 40 mg oral prednisone and spirometry was repeated before and after inhaled albuterol. The studies were repeated at the end of the second week. Results: HDAC2 activity in circulating mononuclear WBCs did not change significantly from baseline at weeks 1 and 2 (baseline 2.96±0.73; week 1: 2.58±0.91; week 2: 2.81±0.40 µM/µg protein; p>0.05). Similarly there were no differences in baseline spirometric values at baseline, week 1 and week 2. Baseline Week 1 Week 2 Bronchodilator: Pre Post p Pre Post p Pre Post FVC, L 2.72 2.86 ns 2.72 2.80 ns 2.81 2.98 FEV1, L 1.18 1.33
Maternal transfer of trace elements in the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus)

The maternal transfer of trace elements is a process by which offspring may accumulate trace elements from their maternal parent. Although maternal transfer has been assessed in many vertebrates, there is little understanding of this process in invertebrate species. This study investigated the maternal transfer of 13 trace elements (Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) in Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) eggs and compared concentrations to those in adult leg and gill tissue. For the majority of individuals, all trace elements were transferred, with the exception of Cr, from the female to the eggs. The greatest concentrations on average transferred to egg tissue were Zn (140 µg/g), Cu (47.8 µg/g), and Fe (38.6 µg/g) for essential elements and As (10.9 µg/g) and Ag (1.23 µg/g) for nonessential elements. For elements that were maternally transferred, correlation analyses were run to assess if the concentration in the eggs were similar to that of adult tissue that is completely internalized (leg) or a boundary to the external environment (gill). Positive correlations between egg and leg tissue were found for As, Hg, Se, Mn, Pb, and Ni. Mercury, Mn, Ni, and Se were the only elements correlated between egg and gill tissue. Although, many trace elements were in low concentration in the eggs, we speculate that the higher transfer of essential elements is related to their potential benefit during early development versus nonessential trace elements, which are known to be toxic. We conclude that maternal transfer as a source of trace elements to horseshoe crabs should not be overlooked and warrants further investigation.
Sparse Phase Retrieval: Uniqueness Guarantees and Recovery Algorithms

The problem of signal recovery from its Fourier transform magnitude is of paramount importance in various fields of engineering and has been around for more than 100 years. Due to the absence of phase information, some form of additional information is required in order to be able to uniquely identify the signal of interest. In this paper, we focus our attention on discrete-time sparse signals (of length $n$ ). We first show that if the discrete Fourier transform dimension is greater than or equal to $2n$, then almost all signals with aperiodic support can be uniquely identified by their Fourier transform magnitude (up to time shift, conjugate flip, and global phase). Then, we develop an efficient two-stage sparse-phase retrieval algorithm (TSPR), which involves: identifying the support, i.e., the locations of the nonzero components, of the signal using a combinatorial algorithm; and identifying the signal values in the support using a convex algorithm. We show that TSPR can provably recover most $O(n^{1/2-{\epsilon }})$ -sparse signals (up to a time shift, conjugate flip, and global phase). We also show that, for most $O(n^{1/4-{\epsilon }})$-sparse signals, the recovery is robust in the presence of measurement noise. These recovery guarantees are asymptotic in nature. Numerical experiments complement our theoretical analysis and verify the effectiveness of TSPR.
Anomalous nanoclusters, anisotropy, and electronic nematicity in the doped manganite L a 1 /3 C a 2 /3 Mn O 3

In doped manganites, a superlattice (SL) modulation associated with charge/orbital ordering is accepted as a key component in understanding many intriguing properties. It has been reported that the SL modulation always appears on the $a$ axis of the crystals. Here, by using multiple transmission electron microscopic techniques, we observe a type of anomalous nanocluster in which the SL modulation appears on the $c$ axis of $\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{a}}_{1/3}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{a}}_{2/3}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. By correlating the thermal evolution of the anomalous nanoclusters to other property measurements, we suggest that strain is responsible for the formation of the anomalous nanoclusters. The phase separation and phase transition scenario in $\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{a}}_{1/3}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{a}}_{2/3}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ are also described using electronic-liquid-crystal (ELC) phases. An ELC phase diagram in $\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{a}}_{1/3}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{a}}_{2/3}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ is constructed as a function of temperature based on our observations.
Polymeric nanomedicines for poorly soluble drugs in oral delivery systems: an update

The field of nanomedicine offers promising new drug delivery systems with enhanced properties. The literature has reported on the development of various nanomedicines that are more beneficial than conventional drug delivery systems. These increased benefits are due to their size, morphology, and surface properties. Nanomedicines include different forms of drug-containing polymeric nanoparticles. These nanoparticles have been investigated to improve the bioavailability, solubility, permeability, stability, and therapeutic efficacy of drugs. The oral route of administration has gained interest because of its ease of delivery and its convenience, which results in higher compliance. However, the low solubility of many drugs hinders their successful development into dosage forms for oral administration. In addition, biological barriers hinder the absorption of drugs into systematic circulation, resulting in low therapeutic efficacy. Polymeric nanoparticle drug delivery systems have been reported as a method for overcoming low drug solubility and overcoming biological barriers to absorption. This review discusses the biological barriers to oral delivery as well as the challenges and benefits of oral delivery. This review also examines the characteristics of drug-containing polymeric nanomedicines as drug delivery systems and the various applications of these systems.
Mitochondrial disruption in cardiovascular diseases

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a critical factor in the initiation and progression of heart failure. Impairment of mitochondrial metabolism decreases energy production and leads to enhanced oxidative and calcium mediated injury to the myocardium. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to progressive contractile dysfunction, ultimately to cardiomyocyte death. Myocardial ischemia and infarction, as well as pressure overload, are external causes of heart failure associated with impaired mitochondrial function. Genetic defects in both nuclear-encoded and mitochondrial DNA-encoded mitochondrial proteins lead to cardiomyopathy and eventual heart failure, highlighting those mitochondrial functions required to support normal cardiac physiology. Maladaptive neurohumoral response(s) to decreased cardiac contractile function activates cardiomyocyte signaling that results in impaired cardiac metabolism. For these reasons, cardiac metabolism in general and mitochondrial function remain novel therapeutic targets. Future treatment approaches include modulation of cardiac substrate selection, biochemical bypass of metabolic defects in mitochondria, and ultimately the manipulation of mitochondrial dynamics to foster the repair or removal of dysfunctional mitochondria, with accompanying biogenesis of fully-functioning mitochondria.
The role of phototaxis in the initial swim bladder inflation of larval yellow perch ( Perca flavescens )

The yellow perch (Perca flavescens) is a high priority species for aquaculture, with strong demand in the USA. Unfortunately, numerous developmental problems during larval rearing prevent its commercial viability. Failed swim bladder inflation (SBI) has been reported in the culture of numerous physoclistous fish species and is a prominent problem in the culture of yellow perch. Initial SBI occurs within a short period of ontogeny, and missing this opportunity results in permanent malformation of the organ. Lighting cues appear to play a role in triggering the response of rising to the surface to swallow the air required for initial SBI in several fishes including yellow perch. Larval yellow perch are photopositive, and this phototactic response seems to co-occur with the window of opportunity for SBI. Thus, we examined the role of phototactic behavior and low-intensity, moonlight-like illumination in initial SBI in yellow perch. Lights were positioned below and above the water surface in larval culture tanks to see if the presence of nighttime illumination impacted SBI success, and if the phototactic behavior of yellow perch helps them find the water surface when inflating at night. The results of this study reveal that even very low-intensity nighttime light reduces the proportion of yellow perch larvae to initially inflate regardless of the direction of the light source. Also, on treatment with no nighttime illumination, higher than expected SBI was observed, and the culture conditions that produced this success should be examined when focusing on improving SBI in the future. This research suggests that the photopositive response of yellow perch is not involved in SBI success, and lighting could play a role in hindering the process.