cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of the “tetCD” genes of transposon Tn10

In addition to the genes involved in tetracycline resistance, the loop region of the composite transposon Tn10 contains two other known genes, tetC and tetD, whose functions are unclear. Using primarily a genetic approach, we examined tetCD gene expression and regulation. The tetC gene product, TetC, is a diffusible repressor of both tetC and tetD transcription. Despite an earlier claim by others, we do not detect induction of either tetC or tetD by tetracycline (Tc) or several of its analogs. Although the 5' ends of the tetC and tetD messages overlap due to transcription from convergent promoters, we find no evidence for anti-sense RNA control. The operator for the TetC repressor has been localized. We also demonstrate that transcription from the tetD promoter probably terminates within IS10-Right and does not apparently interfere with Tn10 or IS10-Right transposition or its regulation.
Forecasting hospital laboratory procedures

Improved forecasts of hospital laboratory procedures can provide the basis for better resource planning and enhanced operating efficiency. The research reported here-in describes how multiple regression models can be both a source of insight into causal relationships and a tool for achieving accurate monthly forecasts. Past research in this area may have overstated the statistical significance of findings because of a failure to address the potential effect of serial correlation. The present study uses the Cochrane-Orcutt regression procedure, rather than OLS, to overcome this problem. A model using inpatient admissions, acuity days, length of stay, discharge days and seasonal dummy variables is shown to account for 87% of the variation in the number of billable laboratory procedures. A simpler multiple regression model and a Winters' exponential smoothing model were found to provide excellent forecasts for laboratory procedures. In a one year out of sample evaluation, the annual percent forecast error was 0.7% for the regression model. This compares favorably to a percentage forecast error of 11.6% using subjective forecasting methods.
Mutations in the N-Terminus of VP5 Alter Its Interaction with the Scaffold Proteins of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

Abstract During the assembly process of herpes simplex virus type 1 capsids, there is an essential interaction between the C-terminal tail of the scaffold proteins (22a and 21) and the major capsid protein (VP5). Recent studies of spontaneous revertant viruses that overcome a blocked maturation cleavage site of the scaffold proteins have shown that the N-terminus of VP5 is important for this interaction. One of the revertant viruses, PR7, encodes a second-site mutation at residue 69 of VP5 which unlike wild-type VP5 fails to interact with 22a and thus gives white colonies in the yeast two-hybrid assay. In the present study a small DNA fragment, encoding residues 1 to 85 of wild-type and PR7 VP5, was mutagenized using error-prone PCR. Mutagenized DNA was used in the yeast two-hybrid assay to identify mutations in wild-type VP5 that resulted in loss of 22a binding (white colonies), or in PR7 VP5 that resulted in a gain of function (blue colonies). For the loss of function experiments, using KOS VP5, a row of eight thymidine nucleotides (codons 37–40) resulted in many frameshift mutations, which led us to terminate the study without reaching a statistically significant result. For the PR7 experiment, 30 clones were identified that had single amino acid substitutions, and these mutations were localized to amino acids 27–45 and 63–84 of VP5. The most frequent mutation was a reversion back to wild-type. The next most frequent were E28K and N63S, and these gave the highest β-galactosidase enzyme activities (indicative of PR7VP5-22a interaction), 30 and 20% of wild-type, respectively. When E28K and N63S were transferred into the wild-type VP5 background, that is, in the absence of the PR7 mutation, they gave rise to different phenotypes. The E28K mutation lost its ability to interact with the scaffold proteins as judged by this assay. Therefore, it may be acting as a compensatory mutation whose phenotype is only expressed in the presence of the original PR7 mutation. However, the N63S mutation in the wild-type VP5 background increased the interaction, as judged by the β-galactosidase activity, by a factor of 9 relative to when the PR7 mutation was present. Even more surprising, in the absence of the PR7 mutation the enzyme activity was still greater, by a factor of 2, than that observed for wild-type VP5. This study provides further evidence that the N-terminus of VP5 is in intimate association with the C-terminus of the scaffold proteins.
Effect of brief imagery interventions on craving in college student smokers

This study examined the comparative impact of three types of imagery interventions (olfactory, visual, and olfactory-plus-visual imagery) and a distracting cognitive task (serial sevens) on self-reported craving for cigarettes by 54 university students who had been smoking at least a pack of cigarettes per day for the past 3 to 6 months. Using the 10-item, self-report questionnaire of smoking urges, we assessed participants’ experience of craving prior to cue exposure, following 2 min of lab-based cue-exposure, during a 2 min imagery or distraction intervention, and immediately following the intervention. Reported craving during intervention was significantly lower in all three imagery conditions compared to the distracting cognitive task condition, but there was not a significant difference in craving among the imagery conditions. Despite explicit instructions to focus on the designated form(s) of imagery, a majority of participants in each of the imagery conditions also reported experiencing other forms...
Lymphatic Vessels: Pressure- and Flow-dependent Regulatory Reactions

This chapter discusses the current status of knowledge on basic pressure/stretch- and flow/shear-dependent regulatory reactions of contracting lymphangions in lymphatic vessels. The balance of passive and active lymph pumps is discussed; the data on pressure measurements in different lymphatic nets of several species are provided. The characteristics of typical changes in lymphatic contractility to the increases in transmural pressures are described and discussed, as is the role of pre-existing distension in initiation of lymphatic contractions. The up-to-date status of knowledge on flow-dependent adaptive reactions of contracting lymphangions is provided with detailed characterization of the influences of imposed and contraction-generated flows on lymphatic contractility. The interaction between extrinsic and intrinsic flows in regulation of lymphatic contractility is considered.
Correlation between 2 interstitial cystitis symptom instruments.

ABSTRACTPurpose:: Two statistically validated interstitial cystitis (IC) symptom instruments have been used in clinical research. In this study we report what is to our knowledge the first direct comparison of the University of Wisconsin Symptom Instrument (UWI) with the O’Leary-Sant instruments, that is the IC Symptom Index (ICSI) and IC Problem Index (ICPI).Materials and Methods:: A convenience sampling of 107 patients with IC evaluated at the urology clinic at our institution from March through August 2000 were asked to complete ICSI, ICPI and UWI. The scores were analyzed and graphed.Results:: Mean ICSI, ICPI and UWI scores ± SD were 12.6 ± 4.3, 10.5 ± 3.8 and 25.5 ± 10.8, respectively. UWI and ICSI scores correlated at r = 0.80 (p <0.01) and ICSI/ICPI scores correlated at r = 0.83 (p <0.01). ICSI and ICPI contain 4 symptom-problem pairs. There are relevant differences in the correlation of symptom severity (ICSI question) and its associated problem (ICPI question). The symptom of urgency correlated b...
Non-surgical chronic pain treatment outcome: A review

Meta-analyses (MAs) of non-surgical chronic pain treatment studies were systematically reviewed to determine effectiveness. Twenty-four MAs were found relating to non-surgical, non-malignant, non-headache chronic pain treatment. Two natural groupings, pain facility treatment and specific pain treatments, were created. In addition, a number of the MAs examined the same treatments including pain facility treatments, manipulation, capsaicin, acupuncture, antidepressants, back school, physical therapy, and cognitive behavior treatments. MAs addressing the same treatments were reviewed for replicate variability or reliability of results, thereby allowing some conclusions about the consistency of this type of data. The following treatments were consistently effective demonstrating replicate non-variability or reliability: pain facility treatment, capsaicin, anti-depressants, physical therapy, topical NSAIDs, and cognitive behavioral treatments. Only one MA demonstrated the effectiveness of anticonvulsants and p...
Understanding moderating effects of collectivist cultural orientation on the knowledge sharing attitude by email

This paper investigates the moderating effects of collectivist cultural orientation introduced in the information systems and knowledge management (KM) literature to fully understand the important factors and relationships in knowledge sharing in the online learning environment. Social norms and collectivist cultural orientation are hypothesized as direct and moderating factors to the system users' (or learners') attitude toward sharing knowledge by email. An empirical test of large student samples (n=566) with multiple cultural backgrounds in the most diverse university was implemented by PLS. The test confirmed that collectivist cultural orientation moderates the effects of social norms on the attitude toward sharing knowledge by email. Furthermore, the test results show that group norms are stronger than the instructor or classmate norms. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings for online learning and KM are discussed in the paper.
Sparing of the brain in neonatal undernutrition: amino acid transport and incorporation into brain and muscle

Rates of tyrosine and lysine transport and incorporation into protein were measured in control and undernourished weanling rats. Undernutrition was induced by feeding lactating dams a low protein diet (12 percent casein) from birth to day 21. At weaning, body and brain weights of undernourished rats were 50 percent and 88 percent, respectively, of control values. Lysine and tyrosine transport rates into skeletal muscle were reduced by over 75 percent, more than twice the reduction seen in brain. Rates of amino acid incorporation into muscle protein were reduced by approximately 50 percent; the change in rate of incorporation into brain protein was not statistically significant. These data indicate that, in spite of marked retardation of amino acid transport into brain, the brain seems fully capable of maintaining normal rates of protein synthesis.
Effect of storage of blood in ACD-adenine-inorganic phosphate plus nucleosides on metabolic intermediates of human red cells.

Bloods collected in ACD-adenine-inorganic phosphate (ACD-Ad,P,) preservatives, supplemented with varying amounts of inosine, adenosine and guanosine, were incubated at 37 C for four hours and then stored at 4 C for six weeks. At two-week intervals, phosphorylated intermediates of washed red cells were assayed by ion exchange chromatography. The 0-day 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentrations of the incubated ACD-Ad, P1 bloods were below the normal range and decreased rapidly during storage; in the presence of inosine or adenosine, the initial values were elevated and remained high during the first two weeks before decreasing. Following incubation the 0-day values of ATP were markedly increased in the red cells of bloods supplemented with adenine and P1 and during storage the rate of decrease was dependent on the pH of the blood and the type and amount of supplement. The red cells of blood collected in the ACD-Ad, P1 (pH 6.5) preservative maintained the ATP concentrations within the normal range after six weeks storage as effectively as bloods collected in preservatives supplemented with inosine, adenosine or guanosine. After a small initial increase, the ADP levels remained fairly constant. The AMP values increased as the ATP decreased and in most cases, the total adenylate concentration remained fairly constant throughout the storage period. The changes in other phosphorylated compounds were negligible. The significance of these results is discussed.
Dispersive phonon imaging of InAs

The phonon-focusing patterns of ballistic phonons in InAs are measured in the frequency range 0.1 to 1 THz, in an effort to test the global validity of lattice dynamics models for this semiconductor. Phonon caustic patterns depend sensitively on the shapes of constant frequency surfaces. Several tunnel-junction detectors with sensitivity onsets in this frequency range are used to measure dispersive shifts in the phonon caustics. The measured caustic positions are compared to those predicted by rigid-ion and bond-charge models. Similar to the case of InSb studied by Hebboul and Wolfe, a 6-parameter bond-charge model (BCM)-with force constants determined by neutron, X-ray, and Raman scattering-reproduces the phonon-imaging data both qualitatively and quantitatively. Comparisons of the focusing patterns with an 11-parameter rigid-ion model (RIM) do not show good agreement. New structures are predicted in the phononfocusing patterns at frequencies above about 1.2 THz — presently outside our experimental range-which are highly sensitive to the theoretical modeling.
Depletion of passenger leukocytes from corneal grafts: an effective means of promoting transplant survival?

PURPOSE. To develop and compare effective strategies for depleting graft-derived passenger leukocytes that include antigen-presenting cells from corneal buttons and to assess the effectiveness of this strategy in promoting graft survival using a high-risk (HR) model of corneal transplantation. METHODS. Corneal buttons harvested from C57BL/6 mice were used in three ex vivo strategies of passenger leukocyte depletion. Two strategies involved storage in medium at different temperatures for prolonged periods. A third strategy used complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) by treating the buttons with anti-CD45 mAb plus complement. Wholemount corneal buttons or cells from enzyme-digested corneas were analyzed using confocal microscopy or flow cytometry, respectively, for the pan-leukocyte surface marker CD45. HR host beds were created and used to evaluate the efficacy of passenger leukocyte depletion on transplant survival. RESULTS. Passenger leukocyte numbers in the buttons were significantly reduced by all three treatments. CDC was the most efficient strategy for passenger leukocyte depletion with 39% reduction (P < 0.00005) of CD45 + cells, and negligible damage to the endothelial layer, achievable within 24 hours. However, passenger leukocyte depletion failed to improve HR graft longevity. CONCLUSIONS. Anti-CD45 antibody plus complement-mediated targeting of donor tissue is the most efficient way to deplete corneal passenger leukocytes and can considerably reduce the time required for cell depletion. However, depletion of graft passenger leukocytes does not have a significant effect on promoting graft survival even in the HR setting.
Michael Psellos on rhetoric: A translation and commentary on Psellos’ synopsis of Hermogenes

Abstract Michael Psellos’ heretofore untranslated synopsis of Hermogenean rhetoric, Peri Rhetorikes, composed probably between 1060 and 1067, gives us a window into the state of rhetorical education in late Byzantium. The details of its inclusions, elisions, and amplifications suggest the ways in which Hermogenean rhetoric was understood and taught, at least by one uncommonly talented and influential rhetorician. The text suggests that Psellos may have found the pseudo‐Hennogenic On Invention —rather than On Stases or OnTypes of Style—most useful, most amenable to his efforts to revive an “Aristotelian”; rhetorical philosophy, and most relevant to actual rhetorical practices (including his own).
Bose-Einstein Condensates beyond Mean Field Theory: Quantum Backreaction as Decoherence

We propose an experiment to measure the slow $\mathrm{log}(N)$ convergence to mean field theory (MFT) around a dynamical instability. Using a density matrix formalism instead of the standard macroscopic wave function approach, we derive equations of motion which go beyond MFT and provide accurate predictions for the quantum break time. The leading quantum corrections appear as decoherence of the reduced single-particle quantum state.
An End-to-End Approach to Developing Biological and Chemical Detector Requirements

Effective defense against chemical and biological threats requires an "end-to-end" strategy that encompasses the entire problem space, from threat assessment and target hardening to response planning and recovery. A key element of the strategy is the definition of appropriate system requirements for surveillance and detection of threat agents. Our end-to-end approach to venue chem/bio defense is captured in the Facilities Weapons of Mass Destruction Decision Analysis Capability (FacDAC), an integrated system-of-systems toolset that can be used to generate requirements across all stages of detector development. For example, in the early stage of detector development the approach can be used to develop performance targets (e.g., sensitivity, selectivity, false positive rate) to provide guidance on what technologies to pursue. In the development phase, after a detector technology has been selected, the approach can aid in determining performance trade-offs and down-selection of competing technologies. During the application stage, the approach can be employed to design optimal defensive architectures that make the best use of available technology to maximize system performance. This presentation will discuss the end-to-end approach to defining detector requirements and demonstrate the capabilities of the FacDAC toolset using examples from a number of studies for the Department of Homeland Security.
New light on quantum dot cytotoxicity.

As quantum dots are beginning to be used for in vivo imaging, the question of their long-term effect on cell viability is becoming critical. In this issue of Chemistry & Biology, Lovric and colleagues examine the likely role of reactive oxygen species in quantum dot cytotoxicity [1].
Magnetoelectric studies of critical behavior in the Ising-like antiferromagnet DyPO4

Abstract A magnetoelectric method for measuring the temperature dependence of the sublattice magnetization is proposed and applied to the Ising-like antiferromagnet DyPO4. Comparison of the experimental results with predictions based on the Ising model involves no adjustable parameters and shows excellent agreement in the critical region and at lower temperatures.
Bi-ionic potentials across liquid cation exchanger membranes

The bi-ionic potentials, B. I. P.'s, arising in cells of the type: A+L−c1| liquid anion exchanger membrane of extreme anionic selectivity| A+M−c1, are surveyed briefly but systematically. The membranes consisted of trioctyl-propyl ammonium salts dissolved ino-dichlorobenzene. As anticipated on the basis of previous theoretical and experimental work on porous membranes, the following regularities were observed. The B.I.P. arising with any pair of critical ions is essentially independent of the activity of the aqueous electrolytic solutions used, and is essentially independent of the degree of loading of the membrane with ion-exchanger compound. The B.I.P.'s are higher the farther apart the two critical anions under consideration, L− and M−, are in the Hofmeister The B.I.P.'s, as shown in a series of 21 cells with seven different univalent critical ions are algebraically additive, in the sense that within the limits of the experimental error $$B.I.P._{L^ - /M^ - } + B.I.P._{M^ - /N^ - } = B.I.P._{L^ - /N^ - } ,$$ where L−, M−, and N− represent any arbitrary combination of the anions used.
Serological and electron microscopic characterization of a new group of blue-green algal viruses (LPP-2)

Abstract We describe a new LPP class of blue-green algal viruses distinguishable from LPP-1 viruses in its failure to cross react serologically. The average edge-to-edge distance of head capsids of the LPP-1 viruses measured 586 ± 21 A, whereas that of the LPP-2 viruses measured 573 ± 27 A. The general morphology of the two classes was indistinguishable.
A Phase Field Model of Surface-Energy-Driven Abnormal Grain Growth in Thin Films

A phase field model is established to investigate the surface-energy-driven abnormal grain growth in thin films. It is consistent with sharp interface model and its parameters are connected to material properties. Numerical simulations show that surface energy anisotropy and drag effect are required to motivate the abnormal grain growth. The size of a single abnormal grain increases linearly as a function of time, and it exhibits power-law scaling with film thickness and Arrhenius relationship with temperature. For multiple abnormal grains, their area fraction can be characterized by the Avrami equation with exponent around 2 at large times. These features agree well with the theoretical and experimental results. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.M2011227]
Expressive Responses to News Stories About Extremist Groups: A Framing Experiment

With the tension between national security and civil liberties as a backdrop, this study examines responses to news coverage of activist groups. This 2 3 2e xperiment presented participants with news stories about government efforts to restrict the civil liberties of an ‘‘extremist’’ individual or group (news frame) advocating for a cause supported or opposed by the respondent (cause predisposition). Willingness to take expressive action was greatest for individual-framed stories about a cause opposed by the respondent and for groupframed stories about a cause supported by the respondent. We contend that when reporters frame stories about extremist groups around individuals, fewer people will speak out in favor of causes they agree with and more will rally against causes they oppose.
Dynamic Ramping in Unit Commitment

This paper provides the modeling of dynamic ramping in unit commitment. Ramping up/down limits could be a constant, stepwise, or piecewise linear function of generation dispatch. The dynamic ramping limit is modeled as mixed integer linear constraints, and unit commitment is solved by a mixed integer programming (MIP) solver. Test results show the impact of dynamic ramping on unit commitment and the importance of modeling dynamic ramping in the minimization of system costs while taking into consideration physical and financial constraints of power systems.
On the Bandwidth of Monocone Antennas

A method for computing an antenna bandwidth that takes into account the radiation pattern stability over a specified field of view and impedance matching is proposed in this paper. The radiation pattern of a resonant quarter-wave thin monopole is used as a benchmark with respect to which the bandwidth of various monocone antennas are computed and optimized. A simple modification of a classical monocone antenna is proposed and its bandwidth is optimized. It is shown that a modified monocone maintains stable radiation patterns with system gain greater than 0 dBi for 51deg les thetas les 90deg over a 20:1 bandwidth, which is a 94% increase in bandwidth compared to the classical monocone. It is also demonstrated that a 4.6:1 bandwidth with a consistent radiation pattern and system gain greater than 2 dBi is achievable. Theoretical results are supported by measurements and the effects of the finite sized ground plane are also discussed.
Prevention of Cytomegalovirus Infection and Disease After Lung Transplantation: Results Using a Unique Regimen Employing Delayed Ganciclovir

Background Many lung transplant programs employ lengthy regimens of IV ganciclovir therapy to prevent disease due to cytomegalovirus (CMV). In 1994, we introduced a regimen of delayed ganciclovir prophylaxis for CMV infection. This consisted of 2 weeks of IV ganciclovir therapy, initiated 3 to 4 weeks after transplantation, with subsequent viral monitoring and preemptive therapy as needed. When not receiving ganciclovir, patients received oral acyclovir, 800 mg tid, for 6 months. CMV-seronegative patients with seropositive donors also received four doses of CMV hyperimmune globulin. This study analyzes the CMV outcomes of 54 patients who received the delayed regimen compared to 33 historical control subjects who received only acyclovir prophylaxis (n = 28) or oral acyclovir and 2 to 4 weeks of ganciclovir early after transplantation (n = 5). Methods CMV detection was by shell vial culture or IgG seroconversion; after 1996, CMV detection was by blood antigenemia. The diagnosis of CMV disease also required a typical clinical syndrome or pathologic evidence of CMV. The main outcome was the actuarial incidence of CMV infection and disease. In order to account for the effect of other important risk factors for CMV infection, the time to CMV infection and disease was also studied as dependant variables in a Cox proportional-hazard analysis, with the delayed regimen and other important risk factors as independent variables. Results The delayed regimen reduced the actuarial incidence of CMV infection from 80 to 48% (p Conclusion A regimen of CMV prophylaxis employing 2 weeks of IV ganciclovir initiated 3 to 4 weeks after lung transplantation followed by virologic monitoring and preemptive therapy as needed provides good protection against CMV disease.
SAGEmap: A Public Gene Expression Resource

Gene expression quantifying techniques promise to shape our understanding of the distribution and regulation of the products of transcription in normal and abnormal cell types. cDNA microarray (DeRisi 1997), high-density oligo DNA array (Wodicka 1997) and serial analysis of gene expression (Velculescu 1995) techniques have all been developed to quickly and efficiently survey genome-wide transcript expression. However, each of these techniques has the potential to produce, in a single experiment, vast amounts of data which must be sifted and ordered for useful information to become apparent. Additional challenges are met when attempts are made to compare, merge and contrast data from experiments conducted under differing conditions and locales. As a prototype for the handling, analysis and exchange of gene expression data in the public forum, we have undertaken the production of a public repository and resource for a particular set of gene expression data, i.e., serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) data. This repository was designed initially to archive SAGE data produced through the Cancer Genome Anatomy Project (CGAP) (Strausberg 1997; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/cgap) but is now capable of accepting submissions of SAGE sequence data from any source, without fee or restriction on dissemination or use. It is our goal to provide free and open access to raw SAGE sequence data, precomputed tag extractions, and several modest analysis tools. This resource currently contains over two million tags from 47 SAGE libraries. We call this resource SAGEmap. Its two online components are available via the World Wide Web (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sage) and anonymous FTP (ftp://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/sage).
Introduction to Special Issue of Community College Review: Skills and Trajectories of Developmental Education Learners.

The four articles in this special issue focus on developmental education students and the research needed for an enhanced understanding of the instructional and institutional approaches that promote their success. This introduction summarizes the purpose and key findings of each article, noting implications for future research and practice.
On-line Policy Improvement using Monte-Carlo Search

We present a Monte-Carlo simulation algorithm for real-time policy improvement of an adaptive controller. In the Monte-Carlo simulation, the long-term expected reward of each possible action is statistically measured, using the initial policy to make decisions in each step of the simulation. The action maximizing the measured expected reward is then taken, resulting in an improved policy. Our algorithm is easily parallelizable and has been implemented on the IBM SP1 and SP2 parallel-RISC supercomputers. We have obtained promising initial results in applying this algorithm to the domain of backgammon. Results are reported for a wide variety of initial policies, ranging from a random policy to TD-Gammon, an extremely strong multi-layer neural network. In each case, the Monte-Carlo algorithm gives a substantial reduction, by as much as a factor of 5 or more, in the error rate of the base players. The algorithm is also potentially useful in many other adaptive control applications in which it is possible to simulate the environment.
An artificial immune system approach to mobile sensor networks and mine detection

The human immune system and its ability to continually develop and learn has been studied for many years. Its capacity to recognize its own cells (self), as well as those that pose a threat to the body's homeostasis (non-self) has lead to the creation of many algorithms that try to mimic this behavior. One of these algorithms is the artificial immune system (AIS). The foundation of AIS depends on the existence of both sensor and communication ranges (assumed circles) with which a single agent can collect and convey information to other agents within the range. It is the purpose of this paper to present a solution to the mine detection problem using cooperative mobile robots equipped with sensory and communication capabilities which allow the AIS approach to be utilized
A note on energy demand estimation

This study is concerned with the assessing the impact that inaccuracy in the measurement of the dependent variable and one or more of the independent variables has on the estimate of the price elasticity of demand for diesel fuel by farmers in the United States. Two diagnostics – the regression coefficient bounds and the bias correction factor — are introduced to assess the effect that such measurement errors have on the estimated coefficients of the diesel fuel demand relationship.
Immunomodulation of vascular endothelium: effects of ultraviolet B irradiation on vein allograft rejection.

Abstract Prosthetic grafts of vein allografts are inadequate as small-diameter vessel substitutes. We have applied ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation to modulate the immunogenicity of vein allografts to avoid immunologic injury. The veins of male ACI rats were irradiated with UVB (60 mJ/cm 2 ) in situ and transplanted to male ACI rats (autografts) and female Lewis rats (allografts). Nonirradiated veins served as controls. At 4, 7, 14, and 28 days, all grafts were patent and were studied for morphologic changes by scanning electron microscopy and for immunogold labeling of major histocompatibility complex class II antigen expression. In autografts, scanning electron microscopy demonstrated minimal endothelial loss after grafting, regardless of UVB irradiation. Untreated allografts showed severe endothelial injury 4, 7, and 14 days after transplantation. UVB irradiation of veins protected allografts from injury to the endothelium and basement membrane. Major histocompatibility complex class II—positive endothelial cells were not seen in autografts but were seen in 40% of cells 4 days after transplantation in untreated allografts. UVB- treated allografts showed MHC class II antigen expression labeling of 20% of the endothelial cells. Barr body analysis demonstrated the donor origin of these endothelial cells. UVB irradiation of rat vein allografts prolongs endothelial survival while decreasing endothelial surface expression of class II antigens. These data suggest that modification of vein immunogenicity with UVB irradiation may permit functional survival of small-vessel allografts without chronic immunosuppression. (J VASC SURG 1990;11:103-11.)
Catheter ablation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy as first- or second-line therapy in the management of atrial fibrillation: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background— The optimal management of atrial fibrillation remains unclear. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to examine the safety and the efficacy of catheter ablation (CA) when compared with antiarrhythmic drug therapy both as first- and second-line therapy for the maintenance of sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation. Methods and Results— Several databases were searched from inception to March 2014, which yielded 11 studies with 1481 patients with atrial fibrillation. The outcomes measured were recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia and the incidence of adverse events. A subgroup analysis was done to evaluate the efficacy of CA as first- or second-line therapy. There was recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia in 222 of 785 (28%) patients who underwent CA and in 451 of 696 (65%) patients who were on antiarrhythmic drug therapy (relative risk, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.31−0.52; P =0.00001). Subgroup analysis revealed a beneficial effect of CA both as a first-line (relative risk, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.30−0.91; P =0.02) and as a second-line (relative risk, 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.29−0.48; P <0.00001) therapeutic modality. There was a significantly higher incidence of major adverse events in the CA group when compared with those in the antiarrhythmic drug therapy group (relative risk, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–3.77; P =0.02, I 2=0%). Conclusions— CA seems to be superior to antiarrhythmic drug therapy in drug naive, resistant, and intolerant patients with atrial fibrillation. However, it should be performed in carefully selected patients after weighing the risks and benefits of the procedure.
Comparative outcome analysis of laparoscopic colposuspension, abdominal colposuspension and vaginal needle suspension for female urinary incontinence

AbstractPurpose: The long-term surgical outcome of abdominal colposuspension, laparoscopic colposuspension and vaginal needle suspension for managing anatomical stress urinary incontinence in women was evaluated.Materials and Methods: Three nonrandomized contemporaneous groups of 10 women each with anatomical stress urinary incontinence were treated with abdominal colposuspension, laparoscopic colposuspension or vaginal needle suspension. Immediate postoperative and subsequent outcomes were evaluated using a 10-point questionnaire annually up to 36 months.Results: Immediately after surgery the laparoscopic colposuspension group required less analgesia as well as briefer catheterization and hospital stay. Continence rates 10 months postoperatively were 100% for the abdominal colposuspension group, 90% for the laparoscopic colposuspension group and 100% for the vaginal needle suspension group. At 36 months postoperatively these results had declined to 50, 40 and 20%, and satisfaction with surgical outcome w...
Reliability of a Measurement of Neck Flexor Muscle Endurance

Background and Purpose. Neck flexor muscle endurance has been negatively correlated with cervical pain and dysfunction. The purposes of this study were to determine rater reliability in subjects both with and without neck pain and to determine whether there was a difference in neck flexor muscle endurance between the 2 groups. Subjects. Forty-one subjects with and without neck pain were enrolled in this repeated-measures reliability study. Methods. Two raters used an isometric neck retraction test to assess neck flexor muscle endurance for all subjects during an initial session, and subjects without neck pain returned for testing 1 week later. Results. For the group without neck pain, intrarater reliability was good to excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC(3,1)]=.82–.91), and interrater reliability was moderate to good (ICC[2,1]=.67–.78). The associated standard error of measurement (SEM) ranged from 8.0 to 11.0 seconds and from 12.6 to 15.3 seconds, respectively. For the group with neck pain, interrater reliability was moderate (ICC[2,1]=.67, SEM=11.5). Neck flexor muscle endurance test results for the group without neck pain (X=38.95 seconds, SD=26.4) and the group with neck pain (X=24.1 seconds, SD=12.8) were significantly different. Discussion and Conclusion. Reliability coefficients differed between the 2 groups and ranged from moderate to excellent and improved after the first test session. The interrater reliability of data obtained with the neck flexor muscle endurance test in people with neck pain must be improved in order for clinicians to distinguish a clinically meaningful change from measurement error. Neck flexor muscle endurance was both statistically and clinically greater for subjects without neck pain than for those with neck pain.
Leveraging semi-formal and sequential equivalence techniques for multimedia SOC performance validation

For multimedia SOCs supporting real time, high throughput and data intensive applications, performance validation of memory subsystems is needed to uncover the bottlenecks in the RTL implementation. Traditional validation techniques are either too slow, non-exhaustive (like performance simulations or running pseudo applications on FPGA platforms), or are not accurate enough to guarantee conformance (like abstract interpretation and analysis). In this paper we present an approach for performance validation which uses (a) semi-formal techniques rather than pure simulation for providing a wider coverage, (b) actual RTL implementations wherever available for more accurate analysis, and (c) sequential equivalence checking for validating the abstract models for IP's whose RTL is either not present or from which datapath has been abstracted out. We illustrate this approach using two case studies from video signal processing platforms. In the first study, performance issues found in silicon were detected using the proposed approach, and in the second study a number of performance bottlenecks were detected much before the RTL was frozen.
Habitat use by forest bats in South Carolina in relation to local, stand, and landscape characteristics

Knowledge and understanding of bat habitat associations and the responses of bats to forest management are critical for effective bat conservation and management. Few studies have been conducted on bat habitat use in the southeast, despite the high number of endangered and sensitive species in the region. Our objective was to identify important local, stand, and landscape factors influencing bat habitat use in northwestern South Carolina, USA. We hypothesized that use would be greatest 1) at points with relatively sparse vegetation, 2) in early successional and mature stands, and 3) at points close to streams. We also predicted that species would exhibit different patterns of habitat use based on morphology. We placed Anabat II bat detectors at points located in 3 forest types and 3 age classes to record bats from May–August 2004 and 2005. We used an information theoretic approach to determine the variables that best predicted use by bats. Vegetation density at the sample point was the best predictor of overall bat presence in 2004. In 2005 vegetation density and distance to the closest road were the best predictors of overall bat use; the model containing age class also had good support. Bats were more likely to be recorded at points with sparse vegetation, farther from roads, and in early successional stands. Vegetation density was also the best predictor of habitat use by big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and red bats (Lasiurus borealis); both species were far more likely to be recorded at points with sparse vegetation at the sample point. Eastern pipistrelles (Pipistrellus subflavus) were also more likely to be recorded at points with sparse vegetation and in early successional stands. The best predictors of northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) habitat use were vegetation density and age class. Northern long-eared bats were more likely to be recorded at points with sparse vegetation and in mature stands. Our results suggest that early successional habitats and small openings and gaps within forest stands provide suitable commuting and foraging bat habitat in northwestern South Carolina. However, mature forests are also important for some species. Forest management practices that provide a variety of age classes across the landscape and that create gaps and openings within mid- and late-successional stands will likely provide suitable habitat for bats in the mountains of South Carolina.
SLO BK Potassium Channels Couple Gap Junctions to Inhibition of Calcium Signaling in Olfactory Neuron Diversification

The C. elegans AWC olfactory neuron pair communicates to specify asymmetric subtypes AWCOFF and AWCON in a stochastic manner. Intercellular communication between AWC and other neurons in a transient NSY-5 gap junction network antagonizes voltage-activated calcium channels, UNC-2 (CaV2) and EGL-19 (CaV1), in the AWCON cell, but how calcium signaling is downregulated by NSY-5 is only partly understood. Here, we show that voltage- and calcium-activated SLO BK potassium channels mediate gap junction signaling to inhibit calcium pathways for asymmetric AWC differentiation. Activation of vertebrate SLO-1 channels causes transient membrane hyperpolarization, which makes it an important negative feedback system for calcium entry through voltage-activated calcium channels. Consistent with the physiological roles of SLO-1, our genetic results suggest that slo-1 BK channels act downstream of NSY-5 gap junctions to inhibit calcium channel-mediated signaling in the specification of AWCON. We also show for the first time that slo-2 BK channels are important for AWC asymmetry and act redundantly with slo-1 to inhibit calcium signaling. In addition, nsy-5-dependent asymmetric expression of slo-1 and slo-2 in the AWCON neuron is necessary and sufficient for AWC asymmetry. SLO-1 and SLO-2 localize close to UNC-2 and EGL-19 in AWC, suggesting a role of possible functional coupling between SLO BK channels and voltage-activated calcium channels in AWC asymmetry. Furthermore, slo-1 and slo-2 regulate the localization of synaptic markers, UNC-2 and RAB-3, in AWC neurons to control AWC asymmetry. We also identify the requirement of bkip-1, which encodes a previously identified auxiliary subunit of SLO-1, for slo-1 and slo-2 function in AWC asymmetry. Together, these results provide an unprecedented molecular link between gap junctions and calcium pathways for terminal differentiation of olfactory neurons.
Relationship of systemic immune dysregulation in advanced tumors to vascular growth factor overproduction

e22124 Background: Therapeutic anti-cancer vaccine strategies have been effective in a broad range of preclinical tumor models, but clinical trials of vaccines in metastatic cancer patients have fa...
Walking Access to Transit Stations: Evaluating Barriers with Stated Preference

The last-mile problem refers to challenges that travelers experience in accessing transit stations from their activity locations. The objective of this study was to find the contributing factors that reduced people’s propensity to walk and take transit. A stated preference study was conducted in the Chicago, Illinois, area with an online survey composed of questions based on the actual travel experience of the respondents. The data were used to estimate a logit choice model. The findings showed that access time, safety from crime, and sidewalk availability were important factors that influenced people’s choice to walk to transit. The model was used to estimate time-based values associated with reduction in crime and sidewalk availability. The study also estimated the propensity to walk and use transit for a representative resident in each tract of the Chicago metropolitan area. These values were then used to identify census tracts where acute to minimal barriers to walking to transit existed. In addition ...
Prophylactic Antibiotics for Prevention of Cholangitis in Patients With Biliary Atresia Status Post-Kasai Portoenterostomy A Systematic Review

Purpose. To determine effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics in preventing cholangitis, we conducted a systematic review comparing cholangitis occurrence in biliary atresia patients after Kasai portoenterostomy (KP) with and without antibiotics. Methods. We searched online bibliographic databases from April 1, 2013, using search terms “biliary atresia” OR “cholangitis” AND “antibiotics,” selecting studies with control group data. Results. Four of 509 titles met inclusion criteria, yielding a total of 319 patients from 3 countries. Three studies were retrospective cohorts and one was a randomized clinical trial. Two cohort studies concluded that prophylactic antibiotics reduced incidence of cholangitis and one did not. The randomized clinical trial supported prophylaxis after comparing the prospective randomized groups to a historical control group. Conclusion. Few published studies measure the effect of prophylactic antibiotics after Kasai portoenterostomy. We identified 4 studies and they presented co...
Automated white-list learning technique for detection of malicious attack on web application

Web application security has become crucially vital these days. Earlier "default allow" model was used to secure web applications but it was unable to secure web applications against plethora of attacks [1]. In contrast, more restricted security to the web applications is provided by default deny model which at first, builds a model for the particular application and then permits merely those requests that conform to that model while ignoring everything else. Besides this, a novel and effective methodology is followed that allows to analyze the validity of application requests and further results in the generation of semi structured XML cases for the web applications. Furthermore, mature and resilient XML cases are generated by employing learning techniques. This system will further be gauged by examining that XML file containing cases are in correct accordance with the XML format or not. Moreover, the distinction between malicious and non-malicious traffic is carried out carefully. Results have proved its efficacy of rule generation employing access traffic log of cross site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, HTTP Request Splitting, HTTP response splitting and Buffer overflow attacks.
ON-LINE DAMAGE DETECTION, ASSESSMENT AND ISOLATION IN MECHANICAL AND STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

Abstract This paper is concerned with the on-line health monitoring and damage assessment for structural and mechanical systems which are often used to model the dynamics of flexible space structures and civil infrastructure systems. It is assumed that damages result in the reduction of structural stiffness and it is desired to identify these damages on-line. An adaptive detection/diagnostic observer is proposed in order to detect the occurrence of failures and diagnose their nature and magnitude. Fault isolation estimators are then activated in order to provide information on the failure status and allow the controller to switch to a new signal that is appropriate for the system with a given failure mode. Both the full state and partial state cases are considered for the design of first a fault tolerant controller and then of a fault accommodating controller using LMI's.