cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anatomy and systematics of the minute syrnolopsine gastropods from Lake Tanganyika (Caenogastropoda, Cerithioidea, Paludomidae)

The minute syrnolopsine gastropods endemic to Lake Tanganyika have been allied to a number of freshwater, marine and terrestrial groups as a consequence of superficial conchological similarity. Although early anatomical studies confirmed the cerithioid organization of this clade, their close relationship to other lake species was not consistently recognized. In several recent cladistic analyses based on molecular data, the higher taxonomic placement and sister group relationships of syrnolopsines have been unstable. The present analysis confirms that syrnolopsines possess a spermatophore-forming organ – a synapomorphy of the Paludomidae – corroborating their placement in this family. Consistent with the molecular data, syrnolopsine monophyly is supported by two characters that occur exclusively in this group (salivary gland ducts that bypass the nerve ring and a linear albumen gland). Several characters in Martelia tanganyicensis– the most diminutive syrnolopsine – are only evident in the smallest lake species thus far investigated (Bridouxia, Stormsia) namely reduction of ctenidial leaflets, sorting area, intestine length and number of statoconia. These features are interpreted as being correlated with reduction in size. Nevertheless, close examination reveals differences in detail that allow more refined hypotheses of homology and are consistent with their independent origin.
The effects of time varying intravascular signal intensity and k‐space acquisition order on three‐dimensional MR angiography image quality

The optimum infusion timing and k-space ordering for obtaining gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiograms was determined through computer modeling using temporal contrast characteristics obtained from patient gadolinium infusion data. The effects of bolus timing were evaluated by varying the relationship between peak intravascular gadolinium concentration and the time at which the center of k space was acquired (tck) for sequential and centric acquisition techniques. Flow phantom experiments were performed to validate the theoretical computations. Gadolinium concentration at the time of central k-space acquisition determines intravascular signal intensity. Artifacts, including vessel broadening and edge ringing, depend on the order in which k space is collected and on how rapidly the gadolinium concentration changes. Artifacts are greatest when the center of k space is acquired before the intravascular gadolinium peak. Application of the optimal infusion timing results in preferential arterial enhancement with a minimum of artifacts in patients undergoing MR angiography.
The sounds of social life: A psychometric analysis of students' daily social environments and natural conversations.

The natural conversations and social environments of 52 undergraduates were tracked across two 2-day periods separated by 4 weeks using a computerized tape recorder (the Electronically Activated Recorder [EAR]). The EAR was programmed to record 30-s snippets of ambient sounds approximately every 12 min during participants' waking hours. Students' social environments and use of language in their natural conversations were mapped in terms of base rates and temporal stability. The degree of cross-context consistency and between-speaker synchrony in language use was assessed. Students' social worlds as well as their everyday language were highly consistent across time and context. The study sheds light on a methodological blind spot--the sampling of naturalistic social information from an unobtrusive observer's perspective.
Non-arithmetic carry chains for reconfigurable fabrics

Reconfigurable fabrics cater to a wide variety of applications, but have adopted specialized components to allow efficient implementation of performance-critical arithmetic operations. Carry chains have been integrated into the fabric typically as an optimized ripple-carry chain. However, in non-arithmetic operations the carry chain goes unused, when it could be a valuable adjacent-cell interconnect resource. This paper presents a cell architecture facilitating reuse, as well as an analysis of the potential benefits of reuse for an sampling of common of algorithms using commercial FPGAs. Technology map experiments indicate that a variety of applications can benefit from reuse, with utilized routing resources reduced by up to 13% and maximum clock frequency increased by up to 47%.
Simulations of energy funneling and time- and frequency-gated fluorescence in dendrimers

Exciton transport and relaxation in optically excited phenylacetylene dendrimers is simulated using the Redfield equations. The interplay of entropic (periphery-bound) and energetic (center-bound) driving forces is explored. The fluorescence signal computed using the Doorway–Window representation provides a direct probe for exciton dynamics. The propagated exciton density matrix is analyzed and several measures of the time-dependent excitonic coherence sizes are proposed and calculated.
Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry temperature effects on metal ion:protein stoichiometries and metal-induced conformational changes in calmodulin

The calcium ion (Ca2+) binding stoichiometry required to induce a complete, tertiary conformational change of calmodulin is still disputed. Several studies have indicated that this occurs upon the ...
A high performance communications and memory caching scheme for molecular dynamics on the CM-5

Presents several techniques that we have used to optimize the performance of a message-passing C code for molecular dynamics on the CM-5. We describe our use of the CM-5 vector units and a parallel memory caching scheme that we have developed to speed up the code by more than 50%. A modification that decreases communication time by 35% is also presented, along with a discussion of how we have been able to take advantage of the CM-5 hardware without significantly compromising code portability. We have been able to speed up our original code by a factor of ten and we feel that our modifications may be useful in optimizing the performance of other message-passing C applications on the CM-5. >
Dissecting endonuclease and exonuclease activities in endonuclease V from Thermotoga maritima

Endonuclease V is an enzyme that initiates a conserved DNA repair pathway by making an endonucleolytic incision at the 3'-side 1 nt from a deaminated base lesion. DNA cleavage analysis using mutants defective in DNA binding and Mn(2+) as a metal cofactor reveals a novel 3'-exonuclease activity in endonuclease V [Feng,H., Dong,L., Klutz,A.M., Aghaebrahim,N. and Cao,W. (2005) Defining amino acid residues involved in DNA-protein interactions and revelation of 3'-exonuclease activity in endonuclease V. Biochemistry, 44, 11486-11495.]. This study defines the enzymatic nature of the endonuclease and exonuclease activity in endonuclease V from Thermotoga maritima. In addition to its well-known inosine-dependent endonuclease, Tma endonuclease V also exhibits inosine-dependent 3'-exonuclease activity. The dependence on an inosine site and the exonuclease nature of the 3'-exonuclease activity was demonstrated using 5'-labeled and internally-labeled inosine-containing DNA and a H214D mutant that is defective in non-specific nuclease activity. Detailed kinetic analysis using 3'-labeled DNA indicates that Tma endonuclease V also possesses non-specific 5'-exonuclease activity. The multiplicity of the endonuclease and exonuclease activity is discussed with respect to deaminated base repair.
Turbo Coded Modulation for Unequal Error Protection

A major concern in designing communication systems is to maintain quality of service for a wide range of channel conditions. This is an important issue particularly for the applications where precise characterization of the channel is impossible. For such applications, the source data can be classified into several classes and Unequal Error Protection (UEP) can be used to effectively protect the more important classes even in poor receiving conditions. This paper is focused on the study, design, and performance evaluation of unequal error protecting turbo coded modulation schemes. We first propose several schemes for unequal error protecting using turbo coded modulation. All these schemes provide high performance gains for more important classes that can hardly be achieved using conventional coded modulation schemes. We then study unequal error protecting turbo coded modulation schemes by deriving channel capacity and cutoff rates for different protection levels. We show that for more important classes more room is available for improvement.
The Image of Daniel: An Ancient Graphic Organizer

Teachers who use graphic organizers find that students' memory of important material is strengthened. Graphic organizers also lend themselves to the presentation of material in an interdisciplinary fashion. An example of a successful graphic organizer from religion and ancient history is the image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream that was interpreted by Daniel. Controversies and ambiguities surrounding interpretation of this image have not lessened its durability over time.
Achieving precise coordinated cluster time in a cluster environment

A time-keeping mechanism is proposed for providing microsecond-level consistent time across a cluster of computers. The proposed mechanism is based on a new clock steering algorithm that uses piecewise linear mapping to align a local clock to an external reference clock in a smooth manner. We present two realizations of the algorithm: one is based on pulse-per-second (PPS) and the other is based on low-latency timing message exchange. The time derived by the proposed mechanism is called CCT (coordinated cluster time). It has a well-defined interface such that it can be used by applications with little overhead. Moreover, the interface deals completely with leap second issues. We implemented CCT on IBM BladeCenters and compared it to NTP. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed mechanism achieves one microsecond precision.
PHOTOOXIDATION OF MAGNESIUM TETRAPHENYLPORPHYRIN IN THE PRESENCE OF METHYL VIOLOGEN

— A study of the photooxidation of magnesium tetraphenylporphyrin by oxygen in methanol with methyl viologen present has been carried out. The reaction was normally followed by the decrease of Soret band absorbance with time. The influences of air, methyl viologen, light wavelength and intensity, presence of s-carotene, pH, and MgTPP concentration were investigated. From bulk photolysis experiments, three products have been separated and partially characterized. A mechanism based on superoxide as the dominant oxidant is proposed.
A quantitative method to evaluate microbial electrolysis cell effectiveness for energy recovery and wastewater treatment

Abstract Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) are potential candidates for sustainable wastewater treatment as they allow for recovery of the energy input by producing valuable chemicals such as hydrogen gas. Evaluating the effectiveness of MEC treatment for different wastewaters requires new approaches to quantify performance, and the establishment of specific procedures and parameters to characterize the outcome of fed-batch treatability tests. It is shown here that Coulombic efficiency can be used to directly calculate energy consumption relative to wastewater treatment in terms of COD removal, and that the average current, not maximum current, is a better metric to evaluate the rate of the bioelectrochemical reactions. The utility of these methods was demonstrated using simulated current profiles and actual wastewater tests. Industrial and domestic wastewaters were evaluated using small volume MECs, and different inoculation strategies. The energy needed for treatment was 2.17 kW h kg COD − 1 for industrial wastewater and 2.59 kW h kg COD − 1 for domestic wastewater. When these wastewaters were combined in equal amounts, the energy required was reduced to 0.63 kW h kg COD − 1 . Acclimation of the MEC to domestic wastewater, prior to tests with industrial wastewaters, was the easiest and most direct method to optimize MEC performance for industrial wastewater treatment. A pre-acclimated MEC accomplished the same removal (1847 ± 53 mg L −1 ) as reactor acclimated to only the industrial wastewater (1839 ± 57 mg L −1 ), but treatment was achieved in significantly less time (70 h versus 238 h).
Aortocaval Fistula: Is Endovascular Repair the Preferred Solution?

Background To compare outcomes of open and endovascular repair of aortocaval fistulas (ACFs) in the setting of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Methods A literature review was undertaken on Pubmed from 1999 to 2014 to identify reported cases of both endovascular and open repair of ACF, including the index case, presented here. Primary outcomes for endovascular repair were: complications, presence of endoleak, and death. Primary outcomes for open repair were: complications and death. Results Forty articles were reviewed with a total of 67 patients, including the index case. Endovascular approach was used in 26 patients (39%). Endoleaks were present in 50%, whereas similarly 46% of patients had a reported complication. Five deaths (19%) occurred in the endovascular group. Open repair was performed in 41 cases (61%). The rate of complication and the death in open repair were 36% and 12%, respectively ( P = 0.327 and P = 0.910, respectively) compared with endovascular. Mean follow-up was 7.7 months for the endovascular group and 8.5 months in the open group. Conclusions Previous demonstrations of high morbidity and mortality with open repair of ACF in the setting of AAA have motivated endovascular approaches. However, endoleaks are a significant problem and were present in 50% of ACF cases. The continued presence of an endoleak in the setting of an ACF may result in persistence of the ACF, unlikely thrombosis of the endoleak, and continued sac enlargement. Endovascular repair presents theoretical benefit, yet is not associated with a reduced rate of complication or death versus open repair in this contemporary review.
Maintaining Relationships: The Role of Implicit Relationship Theories and Partner Fit

Implicit relationship beliefs provide the basis for how people understand, predict, and sustain their relationships, and such beliefs may help explain why some individuals are more motivated to engage in relationship maintenance than others. Extending past research on relationship maintenance, we investigated the role of growth and destiny relationship beliefs and partner fit in predicting the use of maintenance behaviors. Data collected from 187 romantically involved individuals revealed that a growth belief was positively associated with the use of positivity, assurances, and tasks but a destiny belief was only associated with the use of networks. The perceived degree to which one’s partner was seen as an ideal fit moderated the effects on the use of positivity, assurances, and tasks.
Low Expectations: How Changing Expectations of Privacy Can Erode Fourth Amendment Protection and a Proposed Solution

Technology has changed the lives of every American, but it has revolutionized the way that young people socialize and become socialized. The increasing use of technology to interact with their peers and shape their identities has led to a change in the way personal information is shared and the privacy expectations that are held with respect to that information. Various studies have found that, in general, younger generations have lower privacy expectations than their older counterparts. This Article considers how these changing attitudes towards privacy among youth have the potential to erode Fourth Amendment protection for everyone. The Article then proposes changes to the current test for Fourth Amendment protection that take into consideration the changes in society brought about by rapidly developing technology. Specifically, the Article proposes a test that asks: (1) whether a person has taken steps to reasonably limit access to the information or place targeted for search or seizure; and (2) if so, whether society prepared to protect the information or space from government intrusion.
ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)-FREE TIME AFTER HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1 (HIV-1) SEROCONVERSION IN HOMOSEXUAL MEN

To estimate the time interval between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) seroconversion and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diagnosis in homosexual men, prospective incident cohorts are difficult to obtain and, if assembled, provide few events owing to the long incubation time. Although seroprevalent cohorts are numerous in size and events, the information is limited due to the unknown times since seroconversion. To combine the information provided by 1,628 seroprevalent men (304 AIDS cases) and 233 seroconverters (12 AIDS cases) being followed in a multicenter study since 1984, the postseroconversion changes in hematologic variables occurring in the incident cohort were used to develop a model that allowed for the imputation of the unknown times since seroconversion for the seroprevalent cohort. Nonparametric life table methods incorporating truncation and censoring were applied for the estimation of the probability distribution of the AIDS-free time after seroconversion. The precision of the estimates was evaluated using bootstrap methods. The analysis suggested that AIDS is unlikely (less than 0.5%) in the first year; 78% of seropositive homosexual men remain AIDS-free 60 months after seroconversion; and the AIDS incidence increases for months 12-36 and levels off at 38 per 1,000 person-semesters for months 42-60. The nonparametric estimate of the incidence rate suggests a median AIDS-free time of 11 years, which is longer than previous estimates based on parametric models.
Maximum likelihood estimation of the heterogeneity of substitution rate among nucleotide sites.

This paper presents a maximum likelihood approach to estimating the variation of substitution rate among nucleotide sites. We assume that the rate varies among sites according to an invariant+gamma distribution, which has two parameters: the gamma parameter alpha and the proportion of invariable sites theta. Theoretical treatments on three, four, and five sequences have been conducted, and computer program have been developed. It is shown that rho = (1 + theta alpha)/(1 + alpha) is a good measure for the rate heterogeneity among sites. Extensive simulations show that (1) if the proportion of invariable sites is negligible, i.e., theta = 0, the gamma parameter alpha can be satisfactorily estimated, even with three sequences; (2) if the proportion of invariable sites is not negligible, the heterogeneity rho can still be suitably estimated with four or more sequences; and (3) the distances estimated by the proposed method are almost unbiased and are robust against violation of the assumption of the invariant + gamma distribution.
Simulation Analysis of Impacts of Flow Characteristics on Power Oscillation

In order to analyze the impact mechanism of the valve flow characteristic on power oscillation, flow characteristics deviation of the steam turbine control valve is firstly analyzed and a coefficient for the deviation assessment is proposed; then, the model of generating unit coupled with dynamic system and electrical system is established according to the characteristics of deviation coefficient, with which the valve flow characteristics deviation is considered. Effect of flow deviation on power oscillation is analyzed by time-domain simulation. The simulation results show that the poor partial flow characteristics of the turbine valves are likely to cause power fluctuations and both the amplitude and the speed of oscillations are positively related to the extent of flow characteristics deviation. The conclusion can provide reference to research on the causes of power oscillations.
Abstract 1546: CD44 cleavage promotes anoikis resistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: CD44, a cell surface proteoglycan receptor, plays an important role in modulating oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell functions. The recent identification of CD44 as a cancer stem cell marker led us to hypothesize that cleavage of CD44 may alter OSCC cell-matrix interactions and anoikis resistance, and thereby promote a metastatic phenotype in OSCC. Methods: Anoikis-resistant cells were developed by maintaining human OSCC (UM-SCC 14A) cells under suspension culture conditions in polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate (poly-HEMA) coated plates. Anoikis sensitive control cells were maintained in adherent culture conditions. CD44 cleavage was blocked by the use of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) chemical inhibitors, including ADAM-17 and ADAM-10. Western blot analysis was used to examine the relative levels of CD44 among the adherent and anoikis-resistant cells. Results: This study showed that anoikis resistant OSCC cells exhibit higher levels of CD44 cleavage than their adherent counterparts. The study also showed that ADAM-10 and ADAM-17 chemical inhibitors blocked CD44 cleavage and the formation of anoikis-resistant multicellular aggregates in OSCC cells. Conclusions: CD44 cleavage plays a crucial role in promoting the anoikis resistant phenotype in OSCC cells, suggesting that CD44 may significantly contribute to OSCC tumor initiation and metastasis. (Supported by NIH RO1 DE014429 to YLK) Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1546. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1546
The relationship between parental yolk cholesterol and yolk fat concentration to abdominal fat content and feed conversion ratio of their respective offspring

Abstract The correlation of yolk cholesterol and yolk fat concentrations of egg from the pedigreed Athens-Canadian Randombred control population with the percentage of abdominal fat (AF) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of their progeny were studied. The average yolk cholesterol, yolk fat, and AF were 20.3 mg/g yolk, 244 mg/g yolk, and 1.64%, respectively. The phenotypic correlation of both yolk cholesterol and yolk fat content of eggs from the parental population with AF or FCR of their progeny were low and nonsignificant.
Immigrant Generations and Delinquency: Assessing the Relative Effects of Family, School, and Delinquent Friends

Recent research has demonstrated an “immigrant paradox”: a parallel between assimilation and increased engagement in adolescent delinquency. Although evidence has suggested that social control and ...
Microglia-specific targeting by novel capsid-modified AAV6 vectors

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV) have been widely used in gene therapy applications for central nervous system diseases. Though rAAV can efficiently target neurons and astrocytes in mouse brains, microglia, the immune cells of the brain, are refractile to rAAV. To identify AAV capsids with microglia-specific transduction properties, we initially screened the most commonly used serotypes, AAV1–9 and rh10, on primary mouse microglia cultures. While these capsids were not permissive, we then tested the microglial targeting properties of a newly characterized set of modified rAAV6 capsid variants with high tropism for monocytes. Indeed, these newly characterized rAAV6 capsid variants, specially a triply mutated Y731F/Y705F/T492V form, carrying a self-complementary genome and microglia-specific promoters (F4/80 or CD68) could efficiently and selectively transduce microglia in vitro. Delivery of these constructs in mice brains resulted in microglia-specific expression of green fluorescent protein, albeit at modest levels. We further show that CD68 promoter–driven expression of the inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6, using this capsid variant leads to increased astrogliosis in the brains of wild-type mice. Our study describes the first instance of AAV-targeted microglial gene expression leading to functional modulation of the innate immune system in mice brains. This provides the rationale for utilizing these unique capsid/promoter combinations for microglia-specific gene targeting for modeling or functional studies.
Optimization of indica/japonica rice cross breeding strategy and breeding practice

Indica/japonica rice cross breeding is a basic approach to achieve breakthrough in rice breeding.As the subject to develop indica rice introgression by japonica rice,various breeding strategies of indica/japonica rice cross were analyzed.The use of typical japonica rice and adoption of three-way cross(backcross) were preferential method with labor-consumed.To solve the problem,"Indica CMS line/typical japonica rice with maintaining ability//indica rice with restoring ability",a strategy which can shorten the duration of breeding with little workload,was put forward.The course of the breeding and the achievements were reviewed and prospect of breeding was viewed.
Response analysis of microstrip lines in the shielding cavity based on topological network

A semi-analytical combined method based on the topology network is presented to solve the problems of terminal responses of the microstrip line.First, electromagnetic topology model of apertures,cavity and microstrip is built.Then, the apertures can be converted to the equivalent magnetic currents,and the coupling electromagnetic field is expressed by using these magnetic currents and the Greens functions.Finally,the Baum-Liu-Tesche(BLT)equation is used to calculate the voltage and current,that is,the microstrip line coupling terminal response.The validity of the method is proved by comparing with measured results and other methods.Numerical results show that the response of microstrip line reaches its peak value near the slot and cavity resonance.Moreover,the microstrip line is nearer apertures while the pulse width is narrower and the coupling voltage of the microstrip is bigger.
Minimum Cost Network Flow Algorithms

The minimal cost network flow model is defined along with optimality criteria and three efficient procedures for obtaining an optimal solution. Primal and dual network simplex methods are specializations of well-known algorithms for linear programs. The primal procedure maintains primal feasibility at each iteration and seeks to simultaneously achieve dual feasibility, The dual procedure maintains dual feasibility and moves toward primal feasibility. All operations for both algorithms can be performed on a graphical structure called a tree. The scaling push-relabel method is designed exclusively for optimization problems on a network. Neither primal nor dual feasibility is achieved until the final iteration.
Helicobacter and Arcobacter Species: Risks for Foods and Beverages.

Taxonomically, the RNA Superfamily VI includes the genera Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and Arcobacter. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the major causes of acute enteritis in humans. Helicobacter pylori causes human ulcers and has been linked to cancer. Helieobacter pylori has been detected in water, but in no other food. Although antibody titers were elevated in abattoir workers exposed to hog carcasses, there have been no recoveries of H. pylori from swine or other livestock. The genus Arcobacter was proposed in 1991 to include aerotolerant campylobacter-like organisms recovered from cases of livestock abortion and human enteritis. Arcobacter spp. have been cultured from water, cattle, swine, poultry, and from ground pork products. The evidence for considering Helicobacter spp. and Arcobacter spp., especially A. butzleri, as emerging foodborne pathogens and their risk of transmission in foods and beverages is reviewed. The risk of transmission to humans of H. pylori and A. butzleri via pr...
Model-free robust optimal feedback mechanisms of biological motor control

This paper studies human sensorimotor learning and control using the stochastic robust adaptive dynamic programming (RADP) theory. The obtained result provides a unified framework that can take into account several recently discovered phenomena, including the active regulation of motor variability, the presence of suboptimal inference, and the model-free learning, and explains how these factors may promote the sensorimotor learning. We apply our learning framework to a model of sensorimotor system, and discover remarkable consistency with different experimental observations. Moreover, a novel feature of the RADP algorithm in our learning framework is that the knowledge of a stabilizing initial control policy is not needed. All these observations further confirm our hypothesis that RADP is a sound computational principle for sensorimotor control.
Adaptive MAP error concealment for dispersively packetized images

In this paper we present an adaptive maximum a posteriori (MAP) error concealment algorithm for dispersively packetized wavelet-coded images. We model the subbands of a wavelet-coded image as Markov random fields, and use the characteristics of subband/wavelet samples to adapt the potential functions locally. The resulting MAP estimation gives PSNR advantages of up to 0.7 dB compared to the competing algorithms. Visual quality of the reconstructed images is also improved.
Judge, Lest Ye Not Be Judged

The plaintiff allegedly suffered emotional and physical injuries while playing soccer during a physical education class which was being instructed and supervised by a substitute physical education ...
Innovative LibGuides Applications: Real-World Examples

While most librarians are familiar with SpringShare's LibGuides product, it is often in the context of subject guides. In Innovative LibGuides Applications: Real-World Examples, the editors have co...
Tubercle bacillary extracts immunogenic for mice. 2. Water-soluble proteinaceous extracts.

Summary Two proteinaceous antigens obtained from tubercle bacilli have been shown to immunize mice against experimental challenge infection with human strain virulent tubercle bacilli. One of these, a protein, can be obtained from heated or unheated culture medium which has supported the growth of virulent or avirulent human strain tubercle bacilli by precipitation with either ammonium sulphate or trichloracetic acid. The other has usually been extracted from acetone-washed trypsin-digested virulent or avirulent human strain tubercle bacilli, whether these have been steam-killed before acetone treatment or not; but a similar active preparation can also be derived from culture medium tuberculo-protein by trypsin degradation. Bacillary trypsin extract can induce an immunity in mice qualitatively equivalent to that induced by acetone-killed entire tubercle bacilli and which lasts just as long. The immuno-genicity of trypsin extract or the cruder tuberculoprotein is not enhanced by their injection along with bacillary lipids extracted with a mixture of ether and alcohol, which previously have been reported necessary for immunity induction by these antigens in guinea pigs; exhaustive extraction from each of fatty and waxy lipids soluble in mixtures of ether and ethanol, and of chloroform and methanol, fails to decrease their immunogenicity. The trypsin extract seems to be a particularly apt subject for future experiments on the nature and function of tuberculoimmunogenic substances, for it is a relatively simple water-soluble proteose which is free of bacillary contamination and immunogenically very stable.
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics of Bupropion in Three Different Formulations with Different Release Kinetics in Healthy Human Volunteers.

The purpose of this pharmacokinetics (PK) study was to investigate whether different release kinetics from bupropion hydrochloride (HCl) immediate release (IR), sustained release (SR), and extended release (ER) formulations alter its metabolism and to test the hypothesis that the unsuccessful bioequivalence (BE) study of the higher strength (300 mg) of bupropion HCl ER tablets based on the successful BE study of the lower strength (150 mg) was due to metabolic saturation in the gastrointestinal (GI) lumen. A randomized six-way crossover study was conducted in healthy volunteers. During each period, subjects took a single dose of IR (75/100 mg), SR (100/150 mg), or ER (150/300 mg) formulations of bupropion HCl; plasma samples for PK analysis were collected from 0–96 h for all formulations. In addition, each subject’s whole blood was collected for the genotyping of various single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of bupropion’s major metabolic enzymes. The data indicates that the relative bioavailability of the ER formulations was 72.3–78.8% compared with IR 75 mg. No differences were observed for ratio of the area under the curve (AUC) of metabolite to AUC of parent for the three major metabolites. The pharmacogenomics analysis suggested no statistically significant correlation between polymorphisms and PK parameters of the various formulations. Altogether, these data suggested that the different release kinetics of the formulations did not change metabolites-to-parent ratio. Therefore, the differing BE result between the 150 and 300 mg bupropion HCl ER tablets was unlikely due to the metabolic saturation in the GI lumen caused by different release patterns.
Management of Financial Performance Measures: Evidence from Private Colleges and Universities

ABSTRACT: This study examines the incentives for private colleges and universities (PCUs) related to financial reporting choices for net appreciation on endowments. Under current accounting standar...
A low-power APUF-based environmental abnormality detection framework

Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) take advantage of the effect of process variation on hardware to obtain their unclonability. Traditional PUF design only focuses on the analog signals of circuits. An arbiter PUF, for example, generates responses by racing delay signals. Implementations of such PUFs usually employ large area and power consumption while providing very low throughput. To address this problem, we propose an energy efficient PUF design in such a way that it races analog signals and computes digital logic simultaneously. More importantly, the analog portion of the circuit (racing) shares a large amount of hardware resources with the digital portion of the circuit (computing) by introducing only small overhead in terms of area and power. Our test results on Spartan-6 field-programmable gate array (FPGA) platforms indicate that by combining the two outputs, our design enables much larger PUF output throughput, better randomness and less power consumption compared to traditional PUFs.
The physical postures of yoga practices may protect against depressive symptoms, even as life stressors increase: a moderation analysis

Yoga contains sub-components related to its physical postures (asana), breathing methods (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana). To test the hypothesis that specific yoga practices are associated wit...
Potential contributions of market-systems development initiatives for building climate resilience

Abstract Market systems interventions are an increasingly common approach to agricultural development. While the impacts of these interventions on poverty reduction and market participation by smallholders has been studied, little is known about their contributions to building climate resilience. This paper analyzes the compatibility of market systems and climate resilience approaches to agricultural development, using the United States government’s Feed the Future program as an empirical case study. Drawing on case studies in Ethiopia and Honduras, the paper examines the synergies and tensions between market systems and climate resilience approaches. The study finds that the market systems interventions have contributed to climate resilience, but also evidence of significant limitations due to fundamental tensions between market system and resilience approaches in terms of what their goals are, who they target, and how they approach their objectives. This study has important implications for the design and implementation of climate resilience programs and policies, as well as the expectations that agricultural development programs will be able to build climate resilience. Recognizing the inherent tensions that exist between market systems approaches and resilience approaches and explicitly discussing the trade-offs between the goals, target audiences, and primary mechanisms of each approach would represent an important step forward if market systems programs are going to contribute to climate resilience.
Validation of a Simple Overlay Device to Assess Radial Head Implant Length.

Purpose A simple overlay device (SOD) was developed to measure radial head implant length. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy and reliability of this device for measuring experimental radial head implant length. Methods Five fresh frozen cadavers were implanted with sequentially longer implants, adjusted by neck length (0, 2, 4, and 8 mm). Fluoroscopic images were obtained in 4 forearm positions: anteroposterior in supination in full extension, anteroposterior in pronation in full extension, supinated in 45° of flexion, and neutral in 45° of flexion. The SOD measurements (made by 2 observers) were compared with the native original radial head (control) to assess implant length. In addition, gapping of the ulnohumeral joint space was measured for comparison purposes. Results The measured radial head and neck lengths for the specimens were 33, 39, 31, 34, and 42 mm. The difference between the actual radial head and neck lengths and those measured with the SOD template averaged less than 2 mm for all 4 collar sizes, except in 1 measurement in which the bicipital tuberosity could not be visualized. The median intraclass correlation coefficients for observer 1 compared with the SOD were 0.94 to 0.99. The median intraclass correlation coefficients between observers were 0.88 to 0.95. For both observers, elbow position, collar height, and the 2 variables combined did not significantly affect the SOD values. The other method that was evaluated, that of measurement of the ulnohumeral joint space, had higher interobserver variability versus the SOD, and allowed detection of lengthening of over 4 mm. Conclusions The SOD is a reliable method for simply assessing radial head length with radiographs and can accurately detect 2 mm or more of proximal radial lengthening. Clinical relevance The SOD is a simple and accurate method that can help to optimize radial head sizing.
T- and B-Cell Populations in Gut and Gut-Associated Lymphoid Organs: Arrangement, Migration, and Function

The need to clarify the interface between gastrointestinal malignancy and the arrangement of lymphoid cell populations in the gut is well illustrated by the frequent finding of GI tumors in immunodeficient patients (reviewed in Chapter 3). Ironically, however, most of the experimental studies on the definition of the lymphatic system in the gut have focused on small intestine, Peyer’s patches, and appendix (Parrott, 1976), whereas most of the tumours associated with immunodeficiency are located in the stomach (Chapter 3).
Formation of Heart and Great Vessels

The fully-developed human heart is a four-chambered muscular pump. Its chambers are lined with a single row of flat (endothelial) cells, the endocardium, in contact with blood. Next to it is cardiac muscle, or myocardium, the thickest part of the heart wall. The external layer is the epicardium; or, equally correct, the visceral pericardium which, beyond the heart wall, is continuous with parietal pericardium in the same way that visceral pleura covering the lungs is continuous with parietal pleura at the root of the lung (see Fig. 9.1, p. 5.9). The pericardial cavity between visceral and parietal layers of serous pericardium is a closed sac containing a small amount of lowviscocity fluid. The parietal pericardium is fused externally with the fibrous pericardium, a protective rather than a serous membrane.
Integrating IoT into operational workflows for real-time and automated decision-making in repetitive construction operations

Abstract Construction operations are typically spread across large areas and require remote collaboration between multiple disparate resources—characteristics that create logistical challenges for making and automating decisions on the worksite. This paper provides a framework for leveraging the growing ubiquity of devices that can be considered part of the internet of things (IoT) to inform real-time decision-making on the construction site. Specifically, systems and control theory concepts are implemented by first synthesizing sensor information at their point of origin into resource state, and then using this state as feedback into a process model of the operation. Decisions that are programed into the process model are then made automatically based on real-time status of the operation and relayed back to the entities on the construction site through the IoT infrastructure. The real-time decision-making capabilities enabled by the presented methodology and its associated benefits to construction performance are demonstrated through the use of a virtual experimental platform that simulates a potential implementation of IoT-enabled control on the construction worksite for an earthmoving operation. This research provides a practical and sensor-agnostic implementation of operation-level decision-making by utilizing IoT networks along with advancements in modeling and simulation tools. This paper illustrates the types of insights that can be synthesized from an operations-level IoT network that gathers and transmits information in real time from various locations of the worksite. Currently and without the use of the prescribed methodology, such actionable insight would be impractical, cost-prohibitive, and even impossible to obtain.
Chloroplasts at the Crossroad of Photosynthesis, Pathogen Infection and Plant Defense

Photosynthesis, pathogen infection, and plant defense are three important biological processes that have been investigated separately for decades. Photosynthesis generates ATP, NADPH, and carbohydrates. These resources are utilized for the synthesis of many important compounds, such as primary metabolites, defense-related hormones abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid, and antimicrobial compounds. In plants and algae, photosynthesis and key steps in the synthesis of defense-related hormones occur in chloroplasts. In addition, chloroplasts are major generators of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, and a site for calcium signaling. These signaling molecules are essential to plant defense as well. All plants grown naturally are attacked by pathogens. Bacterial pathogens enter host tissues through natural openings or wounds. Upon invasion, bacterial pathogens utilize a combination of different virulence factors to suppress host defense and promote pathogenicity. On the other hand, plants have developed elaborate defense mechanisms to protect themselves from pathogen infections. This review summarizes recent discoveries on defensive roles of signaling molecules made by plants (primarily in their chloroplasts), counteracting roles of chloroplast-targeted effectors and phytotoxins elicited by bacterial pathogens, and how all these molecules crosstalk and regulate photosynthesis, pathogen infection, and plant defense, using chloroplasts as a major battlefield.
Dietary exposure to mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEA) during post-implantation adversely affects placental development in mice.

Abstract Zearalenone (ZEA) is a common food contaminant (ppb-ppm) derived from Fusarium fungi. With its estrogenicity and potential chronic exposure, ZEA poses a risk to pregnancy. Our previous studies implied post-implantational lethality by ZEA. Since a functional placenta is essential for fetal development and survival, it was hypothesized that ZEA may have adverse effects on placental development leading to post-implantational lethality. Exposure of young mice to 0, 0.8, 4, 10, and 40 ppm ZEA diets from gestation day 5.5 (D5.5) to D13.5 led to increased resorption of implantation sites, increased placental hemorrhage, decreased placental and fetal weights, proportionally reduced placental layers, and disorganized placental labyrinth vascular spaces in the 40 ppm ZEA group, as well as lipid accumulation in the labyrinth layer of all four ZEA treatment groups examined on D13.5. These data demonstrate adverse effects of ZEA on placental development.
TH-B-BRB-02: HDR Brachytherapy Commissioning and Quality Assurance for HDR Remote Afterloader, Source Exchange, Applicators

Brachytherapy is the first conformal radiation therapy. A sealed source is placed in or in contact with the tumor providing dose to the tumor with small volumes of normal tissue irradiated. It became more sophisticated with the usage of remote afterloader. With this, our responsibility as physicists increased and became critical in ensuring an accurate and precise treatment planning and delivery. The ability to deliver a correct treatment is conditioned by the precision of the source placement at the dwell point/points predicted by the treatment planning system (TPS). The introducing of the CT based planning gave the possibility of reconstructing not only the correct shape of a treated volume but the correct reconstruction of the applicators, the catheters, and localizing the first dwell position (the stopping point) of the radioactive source that will deliver the treatment. The first condition of delivering a good and accurate treatment is correct catheter and applicators reconstruction, correct distance evaluation to each dwell position, and extremely good and well organized quality control program before the applicators and connectors are used and before the treatment plan is sent to the treatment console. This lecture will provide an introduction into the understanding of High DoseRadiation Therapy QA and commissioning of the applicators. It will provide detailed descriptions of the remote afterloader, applicators, and all the quality assurance tools necessary for organizing and running a safe and secure High doseradiation therapy program (HDR) in a cancer center. Learning Objective: 1. Understanding the HDR process: technical and practical 2. Understanding the importance of a well implemented quality assurance program 3. Understanding the different aspects of commissioning and calibrating of the radioactive source and the applicators used in HDR. 4. Challenges and solutions of running a HDR program in a cancer center
C-Terminal End of Aquaporin 0 Regulates Lens Gap Junction Channel Function.

Purpose We reported previously that aquaporin 0 (AQP0) modulates lens fiber cell gap junction (GJ) channel function. The present study was conducted to find out whether the C-terminal end of AQP0 is involved in this regulation. Methods A mouse model, AQP0ΔC/ΔC, was genetically engineered to express AQP0 with 1-246 amino acids, without the normal intact AQP0 (1-263 amino acids) in the lens. Transparency and focusing of the lens were assessed. Intracellular impedance was measured to determine GJ coupling resistance. Intracellular hydrostatic pressure (HP) was also determined. Western blotting was performed to determine connexin (Cx46 and Cx50) expression levels. Results At postnatal day 10, AQP0ΔC/ΔC mouse lenses relative to age-matched wild-type lenses showed loss of transparency and abnormal optical distortion; GJ coupling resistance increased in the differentiating (1.6-fold) and mature (8-fold) fiber cells; lens HP increased approximately 1.5-fold at the junction between the differentiating and mature fiber cells and approximately 2.0-fold in the center; there was no significant change (P > 0.05) in expression levels of Cx46 or Cx50. Conclusions The increase in GJ coupling resistance was not associated with reduced connexin expression, suggesting either a reduction in the open probability or some physical change in plaque location. The increase in resistance was significantly greater than the increase in HP, suggesting less pressure-driven water flow through each open GJ channel. These changes may lead to a loss of transparency and abnormal optical distortion. Overall, our data demonstrate the C-terminal end of AQP0 is involved in modulating GJ coupling to maintain lens transparency and homeostasis.