cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temperature dependence of an estuarine harmful algal bloom: Resolving interannual variability in bloom dynamics using a degree‐day approach

Observations of harmful algal blooms (HABs) of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense in an estuary over multiple years were used to assess drivers of their spatial and temporal variability. Nauset Estuary on Cape Cod, Massachusetts has a recurrent, self-seeding A. fundyense population that produces paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins and leads to nearly annual closure to shellfishing. Weekly surveys of the entire estuary were made in 3 of 4 consecutive years, with surveys of a subembayment during the intervening year. Major A. fundyense blooms were observed all 4 yr, with maximum concentrations . 106 cells L21. Concentrations were greatest in three salt ponds at the distal edges of the estuary. The bloom timing varied among the salt ponds and among years, although the blooms had similar durations and maximum cell concentrations. Nutrient concentrations did not correlate with the growth of the bloom, but differences in water temperature among years and ponds were significant. Net growth rates inferred from the surveys were similar to those from laboratory experiments, and increased linearly with temperature. A growing degree-day calculation was used to account for effects of interannual variability and spatial gradients in water temperature on population development. The approach collapsed variability in the timing of bloom onset, development, and termination across years and among ponds, suggesting that this relatively simple metric could be used as an early-warning indicator for HABs in Nauset and similar areas with localized, self-seeding blooms.
Robot assisted pyeloplasty in the infant-lessons learned.

Purpose: Robot assisted pyeloplasty is emerging as an effective tool for treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in the pediatric population. However, access needed for the procedure is difficult in the small abdominal cavity of an infant. We present our experience with infant robot assisted pyeloplasty, along with some lessons learned that render this procedure possible in these small patients.Materials and Methods: Nine children 3 to 8 months old (mean 5.6) underwent transperitoneal robot assisted pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction using the da Vinci® Surgical System. All patients underwent Anderson-Hynes dismembered pyeloplasty without renal pelvis tapering. Outcome measures included operative time, length of hospital stay, and resolution of obstruction by ultrasonography and/or diuretic radionuclide imaging.Results: All infants successfully underwent robot assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty without conversion to pure laparoscopy or open procedure. Mean operative time was 122.8 m...
The aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica: structure and mechanism of co-catalytic metal centers involved in peptide hydrolysis

Enzymes containing multi-metal active sites are central to numerous biological processes and, consequently, characterization of their structure and function is a problem of outstanding importance. One of the least-explored groups of enzymes is the hydrolases that contain dinuclear metal centers. These enzymes play key roles in carcinogenesis, tissue repair, and protein degradation processes. In addition, some of these enzymes can catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphorus(V) compounds found in nerve gases and agricultural neurotoxins. The determination of detailed reaction mechanisms for these enzymes is required for the design of highly potent, specific inhibitors that can function as potential pharmaceuticals. Hydrolytic enzymes that contain dinuclear centers can use every first row divalent transition metal ion from manganese to zinc, except copper. In order to understand the role of each metal ion in catalysis and the apparent non-selectivity of these enzymes towards divalent transition metal ions, it is critical that the reaction mechanism of a prototypical system be determined. The aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica (AAP) is one of the best mechanistically characterized hydrolytic enzymes that contains a dinuclear center and is, therefore, the focus of this review.
Prophetic Tautology and the Song of Deborah: Approaching Language in the Wordsworth Circle

William Wordsworth's 1800 Note to “The Thorn” – already a key text for accounts of the theory of poetic feeling at the heart of Lyrical Ballads – offers a defense of repetitions and “apparent tautology” as poetic equivalencies for how “the mind attaches to words, not only as symbols of the passion, but as things.” Building from recent scholarship on the topics of historical poetic affect and repetition, this essay presses specifically for the role of verbal tautology (before exclusively seen as a negative term) in Wordsworth's theory and practice of language. The essay discusses the interrelated concepts of repetition, “apparent” and actual tautology, and the intriguing idea of “tautegory” in Coleridge's thought, before investigating the powerful moment of allusion – The Song of Deborah from the biblical Book of Judges – to which the Note is passionately attached. I evoke historical, and even philological, parallels between the violent transitional world of the biblical Judges and the Lake District at the...
A novel brush feeder for the pneumatic delivery of dispersed small particles at steady feed rates

Abstract A novel particle feeding system capable of pneumatically dispensing dispersed particles at low and consistent feed rates has been developed. The feeder is based on a rotating brush that continually cleans the outlet orifice in a hopper filled with particles. The system was designed specifically for biomass particles that have been milled and sieved to less than 150 μm as a feedstock for laboratory scale aerosol flow reactors. This feedstock often contains a large fraction of high aspect ratio particles that form obstructions in many conventional feeding systems. In addition to biomass, the feeder has successfully fed all particles less than 150 μm that have been tested. Feed rates varying from 4.25 to 2420 mg/min have been obtained with spray dried algae at a constant carrier gas flow of 0.75 slpm, and steady and consistent feeding with milled switchgrass has been demonstrated. The design, construction, and preliminary testing of the feeding system are presented in this paper.
Selective Nitration of Chlorobenzene by NO2 in the Alkali Zeolite NaZSM-5

Chlorobenzene was reacted with NO2, in the initially acid-free zeolite NaZSM-5, to yield para-chloronitrobenzene exclusively. The precursors were loaded sequentially into self-supporting pellets of the zeolite, contained within a stainless steel cell, from the gas phase. The reaction proceeds spontaneously at room temperature. It is, however, very temperature dependent and effectively ceases at zero degrees Celsius. The reaction was monitored in situ using FT-IR. The active nitrating agent is formed from the partial electron donation by the NO2 to the Na
Collection of C14O2 for scintillation counting by a modification of the Van Slyke procedure.

Abstract A method for the collection of CO 2 for scintillation counting is described in which a simple absorption unit is used as an accessory to the Van Slyke-Neill blood gas apparatus. Carbon dioxide is absorbed directly in the scintillation vial immediately after the determination of the total CO 2 content of the samples. The procedure was tested for varying sizes of samples and absorbents. Phenethylamine is superior to Hyamine as shown by statistical analyses of the data and the higher counting efficiency. The technique is applicable to standard procedures for blood and blood filtrates where labeled carbon dioxide may be liberated by chemical or enzymic means.
Retrieval of atmospheric ozone and nitrogen dioxide vertical distribution from SAGE III limb scattering measurements

The limb scattering radiances measured by SAGE III are analyzed. After accounting for instrument issues, ozone and nitrogen dioxide vertical density profiles are retrieved from the data and compared with results from other instruments. These initial results are very promising and show the potential of SAGE III to operate in this mode.
MEMS dual-mode electrostatically actuated micromirror

Micromirrors based on MEMS (Micro-electromechanical Systems) technology have been widely used in light display, optical communication and other applications. In this paper, an electrostatically actuated dual-mode micromirror device is proposed. Folded beam structure is used for piston movement and straight beams are used for torsional movement. Two switches connected to bottom aluminum driving electrodes are used to control the working mode of the micromirror. Depending on the need, it can be activated to work in either piston or torsional mode. The working principle of the micromirror is analyzed. Equations are derived to predict the performance of the micromirror in both piston and torsional modes. ANSYS simulation is used to verify the vibrational modes of the dual-mode micromirror. The proposed micromirror integrates both piston and torsional functions in a single device, leading to more flexibility and better efficiency.
Enteral Arginine Does Not Increase Superior Mesenteric Arterial Blood Flow but Induces Mucosal Growth in Neonatal Pigs

Arginine is an essential amino acid in neonates synthesized by gut epithelial cells and a precursor for NO that regulates vasodilatation and blood flow. Arginine supplementation has been shown to improve intestinal integrity in ischemia-reperfusion models and low plasma levels are associated with necrotizing enterocolitis. We hypothesized that enteral arginine is a specific stimulus for neonatal intestinal blood flow and mucosal growth under conditions of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or partial enteral nutrition (PEN). We first tested the dose dependence and specificity of acute (3 h) enteral arginine infusion on superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow in pigs fed TPN or PEN. We then determined whether chronic (4 d) arginine supplementation of PEN increases mucosal growth and if this was affected by treatment with the NO synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Acute enteral arginine infusion increased plasma arginine dose dependently in both TPN and PEN groups, but the plasma response was markedly higher (100-250%) in the PEN group than in the TPN group at the 2 highest arginine doses. Baseline SMA blood flow was 90% higher in the PEN (2.37 ± 0.32 L⋅kg(-1)⋅h(-1)) pigs than in the TPN pigs (1.23 ± 0.17 L⋅kg(-1)⋅h(-1)), but was not affected by acute infusion individually of arginine, citrulline, or other major gut fuels. Chronic dietary arginine supplementation in PEN pigs induced mucosal growth in the intestine, but this effect was not prevented by treatment with L-NAME. Intestinal crypt cell proliferation, protein synthesis, and phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin and p70S6 kinase were not affected by dietary arginine. We conclude that partial enteral feeding, but not acute enteral arginine, increases SMA blood flow in the neonatal pig. Furthermore, supplementing arginine in partial enteral feeding modestly increases intestinal mucosal growth and was NO independent.
A chloroplast pathway for the de novo biosynthesis of triacylglycerol in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Neutral lipid metabolism has been extensively studied in yeast, plants and mammals. In contrast, little information is available regarding the biochemical pathway, enzymes and regulatory factors involved in the biosynthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG) in microalgae. In the conventional TAG biosynthetic pathway widely accepted for yeast, plants and mammals, TAG is assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) from its immediate precursor diacylglycerol (DAG) made by ER-specific acyltransferases, and is deposited exclusively in lipid droplets in the cytosol. Here, we demonstrated that the unicellular microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii employs a distinct pathway that uses DAG derived almost exclusively from the chloroplast to produce TAG. This unique TAG biosynthesis pathway is largely dependent on de novo fatty acid synthesis, and the TAG formed in this pathway is stored in lipid droplets in both the chloroplast and the cytosol. These findings have wide implications for understanding TAG biosynthesis and storage and other areas of lipid metabolism in microalgae and other organisms.
Macrocontingencies and Institutions: A Behaviorological Analysis

Macrocontingency is defined as the conjoint actions of two or more individuals under common contingency control. This unit of analysis addresses the effects of contingency relations controlling the actions of any number of individuals, concurrently or sequentially. A macrocontingency analysis at the institutional level begins by identifying the motivating condition and functional components of an institution. The components are occasional but interrelated behavioral situations (e.g., meetings) incorporating the physical settings, conjoint actions of the participants, and macrocontingencies controlling those actions. What is denoted or inferred in a macrocontingency analysis must be capable of being directly observable. An institutional macrocontingency analysis is illustrated with a report of a protest march issuing from the struggle in Brazil to reverse an unequal distribution of land.
Site-Isolated Pt-SBA15 Materials from Tris(tert-butoxy)siloxy Complexes of Pt(II) and Pt(IV)

Two novel tris(tert-butoxy)siloxy complexes of Pt(II) and Pt(IV) were prepared in high yields, (cod)Pt[OSi(OtBu)3]2 (1; 87%; cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) and Me3Pt(tmeda)[OSi(OtBu)3] (2; 81%; tmeda = N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine). The structures of these compounds were determined by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The thermolytic chemistry of 1 and 2 in the solid state was studied by thermogravimetric analysis. The thermal decomposition of these complexes resulted in the formation of Pt metal, with the elimination of HOSi(OtBu)3. Precursors 1 and 2 react with the surface Si−OH groups of mesoporous SBA15 silica to generate surface-supported Pt centers. The coordination environments of the supported Pt centers in these new materials, termed Pt(II)SBA15 and Pt(IV)SBA15, were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. These materials were also characterized ...
“What I wanted to do was…” Discrepancies Between College Women’s Desired and Reported Responses to Gender Prejudice

When experiencing gender prejudice, college women engage in a dynamic decision making process about whether and how to respond. We examined the discrepancy between how college women wanted to respond and how they actually responded to gender prejudice events and explored their reasons for not using a desired response. In this study, 81 college women from the Western United States responded to a qualitative online daily diary about gender prejudice. In 34% (N = 265) of the events, the women reported there was a discrepancy between what they wanted to do and how they actually reacted, with the most common discrepancy being a desire to utilize a confrontational response (91%, N = 242). Over the two week period, women reported significantly more events during which they considered the use of a confrontational response (N = 242) than they actually used one (N = 199). Women’s reported reasons for not using their desired response included: not being cost effective (25%), concern about social norms (37%), setting limitations (19%), personality characteristics (9%) and not being bothered enough by the event (10%). We also found that when women considered using a confrontational response but decided not to, they reported using all other response types instead. In these cases, women who did nothing during the event reported lower levels of distress during the event than women who used a psychological response or a different confrontational response. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
Pulmonary Arterial Coil Embolization for the Management of Persistent Type I Hepatopulmonary Syndrome after Liver Transplantation

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a common complication of chronic liver disease. The definitive therapy is liver transplantation. Medical management, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation, and pulmonary arterial coil embolization have been described as temporizing measures until liver transplantation is performed. In earlier studies, the degree of right-to-left shunting in HPS has been shown to be an indicator of posttransplantation morbidity and mortality. The present article describes a case of type I HPS managed by liver transplantation and augmented by posttransplantation pulmonary arterial coil embolization to reduce the patient's posttransplantation morbidity.
Pittsburgh Pneumonia Agent: Direct Isolation from Human Lung Tissue

Pittsburgh pneumonia agent (PPA) was recently cultivated from infected egg yold on charcoal yeast extract agar. PPA has now been isolated both from infected egg yolk and human lung tissue on charcoal yeast extract agar and on a new medium, buffered charcoal yeast extract agar. PPA resembles Legionella pneumophila and other Legionella-like organisms in requirements for growth and composition of fatty acids. It differs in genetic relatedness, antigenic composition, and colonial morphology and has distinctive characteristics that allow it to be identified. The name Legionella pittsburgensis species nova is proposed for this organism.
Bedload transport and bed resistance associated with density and turbidity currents

Turbidity currents in the ocean are driven by suspended sediment. Yet results from surveys of the modern sea floor and turbidite outcrops indicate that they are capable of transporting as bedload and depositing particles as coarse as cobble sizes. While bedload cannot drive turbidity currents, it can strongly influence the nature of the deposits they emplace. This paper reports on the first set of experiments which focus on bedload transport of granular material by density underflows. These underflows include saline density flows, hybrid saline/turbidity currents and a pure turbidity current. The use of dissolved salt is a surrogate for suspended mud which is so fine that it does not settle out readily. Thus, all the currents can be considered to be model turbidity currents. The data cover four bed conditions: plane bed, dunes, upstream-migrating antidunes and downstream-migrating antidunes. The bedload transport relation obtained from the data is very similar to those obtained for open-channel flows and, in fact, is fitted well by an existing relation determined for open-channel flows. In the case of dunes and downstream-migrating antidunes, for which flow separation on the lee sides was observed, form drag falls in a range that is similar to that due to dunes in sand-bed rivers. This form drag can be removed from the total bed shear stress using an existing relation developed for rivers. Once this form drag is subtracted, the bedload data for these cases collapse to follow the same relation as for plane beds and upstream-migrating antidunes, for which no flow separation was observed. A relation for flow resistance developed for open-channel flows agrees well with the data when adapted to density underflows. Comparison of the data with a regime diagram for field-scale sand-bed rivers at bankfull flow and field-scale measurements of turbidity currents at Monterey Submarine Canyon, together with Shields number and densimetric Froude number similarity analyses, provide strong evidence that the experimental relations apply at field scale as well.
Implications for Neoarchaean ocean chemistry from primary carbonate mineralogy of the Campbellrand-Malmani Platform, South Africa

The precipitation of calcite and aragonite as encrustations directly on the seafloor was an important platform-building process during deposition of the 2560-2520 Ma Campbellrand-Malmani carbonate platform, South Africa. Aragonite fans and fibrous coatings are common in unrestricted, shallow subtidal to intertidal facies. They are also present in restricted facies, but are absent from deep subtidal facies. Decimetre-thick fibrous calcite encrustations are present to abundant in all depositional environments except the deepest slope and basinal facies. The proportion of the rock composed of carbonate that precipitated as encrustations or in primary voids ranges from 0% to > 65% depending on the facies. Subtidal facies commonly contain 20-35%in situ precipitated carbonate, demonstrating that Neoarchaean sea water was supersaturated with respect to aragonite, carbonate crystal growth rates were rapid compared with sediment influx rates, and the dynamics of carbonate precipitation were different from those in younger carbonate platforms. The abundance of aragonite pseudomorphs suggests that sea-water pH was neutral to alkaline, whereas the paucity of micrite suggests the presence of inhibitors to calcite and aragonite nucleation in the mixed zone of the oceans.
Low-dimensional Embeddings for Interpretable Anchor-based Topic Inference

The anchor words algorithm performs provably efficient topic model inference by finding an approximate convex hull in a high-dimensional word co-occurrence space. However, the existing greedy algorithm often selects poor anchor words, reducing topic quality and interpretability. Rather than finding an approximate convex hull in a high-dimensional space, we propose to find an exact convex hull in a visualizable 2- or 3-dimensional space. Such low-dimensional embeddings both improve topics and clearly show users why the algorithm selects certain words.
Why are some proteins allergenic? Implications for biotechnology

In recent years, a number of agricultural crops have been developed with recombinant DNA technology. Because the transferred genes code for proteins that are ordinarily not present in these particular foods, there is concern about the potential allergenicity of these new crop varieties. Foods contain many proteins; however, only a small fraction are allergens. Although the structural properties of proteins that cause allergic reactions have not been characterized completely, known food allergens in general have molecular weights between 10 and 70 kDa, stimulate the immune response (induce the production of allergen-specific IgE), and are stable molecules that are resistant to processing, cooking, and digestion. Although any type of food is potentially allergenic, the majority of food allergies are caused by a small group of foods (cows' milk, nuts, legumes, eggs, seafood). Cross-reactivities occur within a given food group and between foods and seemingly unrelated proteins. Even though most transgenic foods are considered safe, biotechnological manipulation can affect crop allergenicity. The safety evaluation of transgenic foods is relatively easy when the allergenicity of the gene sources are known. The recombinant food can be assayed using traditional in vitro inhibition assays. Recently, reduced allergen content of biotechnologically altered rice was shown. In contrast, increased allergenicity was demonstrated in transgenic soybeans after a methionine- and cystine-rich protein from Brazil nuts, identified as a major Brazil nut allergen, was expressed in soybean to increase its content of sulfur-rich amino acids. The most difficult issue regarding transgenic food allergenicity is the effect of transfer of proteins of unknown allergenicity. The challenge is to determine whether these proteins are allergenic as there is no generally accepted, established, definitive procedure to define or predict a protein's allergenicity. Comparing the structures of the transferred protein with known allergens and allergen epitopes could be one approach. Additionally, Th-2 cell stimulation, the production of IL-4, and IgE antibody induction in animal models may help to evaluate the potential allergenicity of a protein. In conclusion, there is no evidence that recombinant proteins in newly developed foods are more allergenic than traditional proteins. The evidence suggests that the vast majority of these proteins will be completely safe for the consumer. The concern is that if a few transgenic foods cause serious allergic reactions, this could undermine the public's confidence in such products. It is essential that proper guidelines are established and tests are developed to assure that this will not occur.
Atomic pattern formation at the onset of stress-induced elastic instability: Fracture versus phase change

A systematic theoretical study is presented of the stress-induced structural response of initially cubic single crystals to uniaxial [100] loading based on elastic stability analysis and isostress molecular-dynamics simulations through a classical description of interatomic interactions in model metallic crystals. Special emphasis is placed on the study of the atomic pattern formation characteristics in the crystal's structural response to loading at and beyond the onset of elastic instability. The instability is reached at a rigorously defined critical stress level that occurs in association with the vanishing of a shear modulus, i.e., when ${C}_{22}∕{C}_{23}\ensuremath{-}1=0$, where ${C}_{rs}$ are stress-dependent elastic moduli. Although the atomic mechanism for the onset of instability is invariant, two divergent atomic processes are found to occur beyond the onset of instability, depending on subtle differences in the elastic properties of the crystals. Our analyses and simulations of a crystal model with the relatively small initial value of ${C}_{22}∕{C}_{23}\ensuremath{-}1=0.41$ (based on the elastic moduli of copper) reveal an inhomogeneous structural transformation mechanism, through the creation of individual rotating domains that lead to formation of a new hexagonal single crystal without loss of strength. This theoretical result is consistent with what is known experimentally for metals with relatively small values of $({C}_{22}∕{C}_{23}\ensuremath{-}1)$, e.g., certain copper alloys and the alkali metals, which can undergo various cubic-to-hexagonal structural transformations. However, a crystal model based on the elastic moduli of nickel, with the larger initial value of ${C}_{22}∕{C}_{23}\ensuremath{-}1=0.73$, fails to exhibit domain rotation beyond the onset of elastic instability and, as a result, the initial destabilization of the crystal structure then leads to fracture.
The interaction of small domains between the subunits of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase determines enzyme activity.

Abstract Previous studies have suggested that the two subunits of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase, p85 and p110, function as localizing and catalytic subunits, respectively. Using recombinant p85 and p110 molecules, we have reconstituted the specific interaction between the two subunits of mouse PI 3-kinase in cells and in vitro. We have previously shown that the region between the two Src homology 2 (SH2) domains of p85 is able to form a functional complex with the 110-kDa subunit in vivo. In this report, we identify the corresponding domain in p110 which directs the binding to p85. We demonstrate that the interactive domains in p85 and p110 are less than 103 and 124 amino acids, respectively, in size. We also show that the association of p85 and p110 mediated by these domains is critical for PI 3-kinase activity. Surprisingly, a complex between a 102-amino-acid segment of p85 and the full-length p110 molecule is catalytically active, whereas p110 alone has no activity. In addition to the catalytic domain in the carboxy-terminal region, 123 amino acids at the amino terminus of p110 were required for catalytic activity and were sufficient for the interaction with p85. These results indicate that the 85-kDa subunit, previously thought to have only a linking role in localizing the p110 catalytic subunit, is an important component of the catalytic complex.
One-class Machine Learning for Brain Activation Detection

Machine learning methods, such as support vector machine (SVM), have been applied to fMRI data analysis, where most studies focus on supervised detection and classification of cognitive states. In this work, we study the general fMRI activation detection using SVM in an unsupervised way instead of the classification of cognitive states. Specifically, activation detection is formulated as an outlier (activated voxels) detection problem of the one-class support vector machine (OCSVM). An OCSVM implementation, v-SVM, is used where parameter v controls the outlier ratio, and is usually unknown. We propose a detection method that is not sensitive to v randomly set within a range known a priori. In cases that this range is also unknown, we consider v estimation using geometry and texture features. Results from both synthetic and experimental data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Wavelet denoising of vaginal pulse amplitude

Vaginal pulse amplitude (VPA) has been the most commonly analyzed signal of the vaginal photoplethysmograph. Frequent, large, and variable-morphology artifacts typically have crowded this signal. These artifacts usually were corrected by hand, which may have introduced large differences in outcomes across laboratories. VPA signals were collected from 22 women who viewed a neutral film and a sexual film. An automated, wavelet-based, denoising algorithm was compared against the uncorrected signal and the signal corrected in the typical manner (by hand). The automated wavelet denoising resulted in the same pattern of results as the hand-corrected signal. The wavelet procedure automated artifact reduction in the VPA, and this mathematical instantiation permits the comparison of competing methods to improve signal:noise in the future.
Secretion of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines during Amphotericin B Exposure Is Mediated by Coactivation of Toll-Like Receptors 1 and 2

Amphotericin B (AmB) is a ligand of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). Here, we demonstrate the participation of TLR1 in AmB-induced cell activation that led to the secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-8. Hence, TLR2-TLR1 coactivation serves as the underlying mechanism for the proinflammatory toxicities associated with AmB.
Therapeutic Perspectives of Enzyme Reactors

The interest in employing enzymes in various types of practical applications has existed for many years. It is only within the last decade, however, that biochemists, chemical and biochemical engineers, food scientists, microbiologists, organic chemists, medical researchers, and others have cooperated in a significant interdisciplinary effort to solve the complex problems associated with the actual utilization of these superior catalysts. This effort has resulted in the development of techniques for binding enzymes to insoluble supports, methods for the design, construction, and optimization of various types of immobilized enzyme reactors and other advances that have provided a basis for a new field called enzyme engineering. Although enzyme engineering has been primarily aimed at establishing industrial applications, the technology that has been developed in this field has much to offer in the area of therapeutic medicine.
Cost-effectiveness of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring in middle ear or mastoid surgery.

Objectives: Despite the utility of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring in reducing the risk of iatrogenic facial nerve injury during neurotologic surgery, its routine use during primary or revision surgery remains controversial. One of the major barriers to its acceptance is cost. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring during middle ear or mastoid surgery. Research Design/Methods: A simple decision analytic cost-effectiveness model and a societal approach were used to evaluate three cohorts of individuals who received (1) intraoperative facial nerve monitoring for both primary and revision middle ear or mastoid surgeries, or (2) facial nerve monitoring for revision surgeries only, or (3) no monitoring for any middle ear or mastoid surgeries. Results: Our results strongly favored the use of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring in all patients undergoing middle ear or mastoid surgery, adding about $222.73 to $528.00 to the total cost. The strategy to monitor primary and revision surgeries had the greatest effectiveness and lowest cost, with an average quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of 45.68 at an average cost of $238. Facial nerve monitoring in revision patients only had similar QALYs (45.67) and higher costs ($292.1). Finally, the strategy not to monitor had the lowest QALY (45.65) and highest cost ($449.8). The analysis was robust across a wide range of changes in both costs and probabilities. Conclusions: Facial nerve monitoring is cost-effective, and its routine use should be adopted to reduce the risk of iatrogenic facial nerve injury during otologic surgery.
Nuclear medicine studies of the prostate, testes, and bladder.

During the last decade, there has been a significant advancement in imaging of urologic diseases. Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and positron emission tomography (PET) are still experiencing new developments in urology. Despite these many technological advances, the initial diagnostic procedure for a patient with suspected prostate cancer (PC) is multiple site blind prostate biopsies. There is a need for a noninvasive metabolic imaging modality to direct the site of biopsy to decrease the sampling error. MRS seems promising but as it is a costly and more time-consuming test, further studies are needed to evaluate its clinical utility. Currently, PET does not play any role to direct biopsy. Acetate and choline appear to be better tracers than FDG for the detection of a prostate lesion, however, further well-organized studies are needed before any of these agents can be used clinically. Incidental detection of intense focal uptake in the prostate during whole body PET scanning should be evaluated with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and TRUS-guided biopsy. Although FDG is inferior to other tracers for primary staging, it may be useful in selected patients with suspected high-grade cancer. The role of ProstaScint scan is still controversial for detection of recurrent PC. This study may be helpful for evaluating nodal metastases when PSA is elevated and bone scan is negative. Bone scan remains the study of choice when bone metastases are suspected (PSA > 15-20 ng/mL ± bone pain). Acetate and choline provide better accuracy than FDG in the detection of local soft tissue disease, nodal involvement, and distant metastases. High FDG uptake may be indicative of more aggressive and possibly androgen-independent disease. PET/CT with any of the above PET tracers will most likely be preferred to the PET scan alone due to better localization of a hot lesion in PET/CT. Nuclear medicine studies also have been used to evaluate acute scrotum and testicular neoplasms. Scrotal scintigraphy has lost its popularity to Doppler ultrasound in the evaluation of the acute scrotum. In testicular tumors, FDG-PET appears to be superior to conventional imaging modalities in initial staging, detection of residual/recurrence, and monitoring treatment response. Tumor markers after treatment occasionally are elevated and cannot locate the site of recurrence, FDG-PET can play a very important role in this regard. Nuclear medicine studies also have been used to evaluate diseases of the urinary bladder. Radionuclide cystography is more sensitive and has less than 1/20 the radiation exposure of the conventional contrast enhanced micturating cystourethrogram (MCU). However, the utility of FDG-PET in the evaluation of bladder cancer seems to be limited to the evaluation of distant metastases. 11 C-Methionine and choline may be a better option for local and nodal disease due to their negligible excretion in the urine.
Sources, fates, and impacts of nitrogen inputs to terrestrial ecosystems: review and synthesis

The relative importance of nitrogen inputs from atmospheric deposition and biological fixation is reviewed in a number of diverse, non-agricultural terrestrial ecosystems. Bulk precipitation inputs of N (l–l2 kg N ha−1 yr−1) are the same order of magnitude as, or frequently larger than, the usual range of inputs from nonsymbiotic fixation (< 1 – 5 kg N ha−1 yr−1), especially in areas influenced by industrial activity. Bulk precipitation measurements may underestimate total atmospheric deposition by 30–40% because they generally do not include all forms of wet and dry deposition. Symbiotic fixation generally ranges from ≅ 10–160 kg N ha−1 yr−1) in ecosystems where N-fixing species are present during early successional stages, and may exceed the range under unusual conditions.
Truncations of the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain of MG160, a medial Golgi sialoglycoprotein, result in its partial transport to the plasma membrane and filopodia

MG160, a type I cysteine-rich membrane sialoglycoprotein residing in the medial cisternae of the rat Golgi apparatus, is highly homologous to CFR, a fibroblast growth factor receptor, and ESL-1, an E-selectin ligand located at the cell surface of mouse myeloid cells and recently detected in the Golgi apparatus as well. The mechanism for the transport of MG160 from the Golgi apparatus to the cell surface is unknown. In this study we found that differential processing of the carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic domain (CD), consisting of amino acids Arg1159 Ile Thr Lys Arg Val Thr Arg Glu Leu Lys Asp Arg1171, resulted in the partial transport of the protein to the plasma membrane and filopodia. In Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), stably transfected with the entire cDNA encoding MG160, the protein was localized in the Golgi apparatus. However, when the terminal Arg1171 or up to nine distal amino acids were deleted, the protein was distributed to the plasma membrane and filopodia as well as the Golgi apparatus. This report shows that the CD of an endogenous type I Golgi protein is important for its efficient retention and identifies a unique residue preference in this process. Cleavage within the CD of MG160 may constitute a regulatory mechanism for the partial export of the protein from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane and filopodia.
Allergy and asthma

Initiation and regulation of allergic inflammation is influenced by many factors, including cell type, membrane receptors, and mediators generated. Furthermore, the altered response of targeted tissues (ie, airway smooth muscle) becomes important to the eventual expression of asthma. Finally, the genetic regulation and association of genetic polymorphisms has enhanced our understanding of host susceptibility. In this review key findings published in 2004 issues of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology are highlighted to demonstrate recent advances in these areas.
Parallel Computation of Nash Equilibria in N-Player Games

We propose a parallel algorithm for finding Nash equilibria in n-player noncooperative games. The algorithm is based on enumerating the supports of mixed strategies in parallel and solving for each support the corresponding multilinear equations giving the candidate equilibria.We implemented the proposed algorithm using MPI on a cluster of computers.We performed extensive experiments on random games to show the performance of theparallel algorithm.
Singlet particle extension of the minimal Higgs sector

A scalar singlet particle, named U, is coupled to the Higgs sector of the standard model for the purpose of parametrizing the large Higgs mass behaviour of the theory. The radiative corrections to the low-energy parameters (ϱ parameter, W mass shift) are computed at one- and two-loop levels. The new contributions demonstrate the arbitrariness of the heavy-Higgs theory, i.e., the dependence on the way of taking the large-Higgs-mass limit, but they fail to restore its uniqueness. The U particle effects at high energies are examined in accordance with partial wave analysis methods developed in the study of ππ scattering. The corrections to the β parameter are derived from the longitudinal vector boson scattering amplitude calculated below the 1 TeV threshold. Assuming a small, of the order of 10%, difference between the masses of the scalars, we find a small but positive enhancement to the standard model contributions. The overall result indicates that no resonance will appear in the isospin I=1 channel at any energy above the threshold.
“Is That A Method of Birth Control?” A Qualitative Exploration of Young Women’s Use of Withdrawal

Despite its ubiquity, withdrawal is understudied as a family planning method. We investigated the context of and decision making around withdrawal use, drawing on in-depth, qualitative interviews with 38 Black and Latina women (ages 18 to 24). We examined contraceptive use histories to understand when and why participants used withdrawal. The majority of participants (n = 29; 76%) had used withdrawal in their lifetimes, though two-thirds of users mentioned withdrawal in their contraceptive histories only after interviewer prompts. Withdrawal was primarily used during transitions between contraceptive methods and when other methods were not desired. Relationship context was also an important factor, as many used withdrawal to increase intimacy with their partners; because they felt condoms were no longer necessary due to monogamy; or to fulfill their partners' preferences to increase sexual pleasure. Our findings indicate that decision making around withdrawal is embedded in situational and relational contexts. Future research should explore how health care providers and sex educators can engage young women in discussions of withdrawal's benefits and constraints. A harm reduction framework, which recognizes that optimal use of withdrawal is preferable to not using a pregnancy prevention method at all, may inform the ways that withdrawal can be addressed in clinical and educational settings.
U(1) problem: Current algebra and the Θ vacuum.

The effective Lagrangian which gives a full solution of the U(1) problem is obtained from the 1/N expansion of quantum chromodynamics. This Lagrangian satisfies all the anomalous n-point Ward identities for arbitrary q/sup 2/, and includes chiral and SU(3) breaking. The relationship between the eta' mass and the theta dependence of the vacuum energy in the absence of quarks and the form of the strong CP violation in the effective-Lagrangian framework are deduced.
Abstract 136: Treatment of Basilar Artery Occlusion Without Time Constraints: Clinical outcomes, safety and predictors of favorable results

Background: Because acute stroke due to basilar artery occlusion (BAO) without recanalization (spontaneous or treated) carries a poor prognosis, recanalization treatment is increasingly initiated beyond conventional time windows. We report our experience with endovascular treatment for this condition when patients are selected without regards to time window considerations. Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively acquired database comprising 667 patients treated with endovascular therapy for acute stroke due to large vessel intracranial occlusions from 2000 to date. All patients presenting with BAO were included. Selection of patients occurred at the discretion of the treating stroke neurologist not necessarily based on time but based on clinical and imaging characteristics that led to the belief in a reasonable chance of a good outcome. Successful recanalization was expressed as Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score ≥ 2. Favorable outcomes were considered 3 month modified Rankin Score (mRS) ≤ 2. Any parenchymal hematoma (PH) was considered symptomatic. Results: We identified 85 patients. Median age: 63. Median admission NIHSS: 18 (IQR 11-29). Male sex: 57.6%. Median time from last seen well (TLSW) to groin puncture: 774 min (12.9 hrs) (IQR 324min-2262min). Median procedure duration: 105.5 min (IQR 67min-145min). 18% of patients received IV tPA. TIMI 2-3 recanalization occurred in 87% of patients treated. Favorable outcomes were noted in 34% of patients. mRS of 3 was achieved in 9.4%. Mortality was 46%. PH was noted in 8.2% of patients. Treatment modalities included IA lytics (56.4%), MERCI device (39%), Penumbra (6%), Manual Aspiratoin Thrombectomy (27%), Stenting (42%), Angioplasty (46%). In 76.4% of patients the procedure was carried out in intubated state. In multivariate analysis, age (OR 0.94, P=0.007, 95% CI 0.89-0.98), successful recanalization (OR 16, P=0.027, 95% CI 1.38-197.56) and admission glucose (OR 0.98, P=0.033, 95%CI 0.97-0.99) were found to be significantly associated with favorable outcomes. Of note TLSW to treatment initiation was not found in univariate or multivariate analyses to be significantly associated with favorable outcomes. Conclusions: This single center experience indicates that endovascular treatment in selected patients with BAO without time window considerations is associated with similar rates of symptomatic hemorrhage (SICH) and rates of favorable outcomes compared to available literature data where selection is based on strict time windows. The role of time as selection criteria for treatment of BAO should be clarified by future prospective trials.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and 15-Year Cognitive Decline: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Abstract Prospective data evaluating abnormal sleep quality and quantity with cognitive decline are limited because most studies used subjective data and/or had short follow-up. We hypothesized that, over 15 y of follow-up, participants with objectively measured obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other indices of poor sleep quantity and quality would experience greater decline in cognitive functioning than participants with normal sleep patterns. Prospective observational cohort. Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) participants (N = 966; mean age 61 y, 55% women) with in-home polysomnography (1996-1998) and repeated cognitive testing. N/A. Three cognitive tests (Delayed Word Recall, Word Fluency, and Digit Symbol Substitution) were administered at two time points (1996-1998 and 2011-2013). Ten additional cognitive tests were administered at the 2011-2013 neurocognitive examination. OSA was modeled using established clinical OSA severity categories. Multivariable linear regression was used to explore associations of OSA and other sleep indices with change in cognitive tests between the two assessments. A median of 14.9 y (max: 17.3) passed between the two cognitive assessments. OSA category and additional indices of sleep (other measures of hypoxemia and disordered breathing, sleep fragmentation, sleep duration) were not associated with change in any cognitive test. Analyses of OSA severity categories and 10 cognitive tests administered only in 2011-2013 also showed little evidence of an association. Overall, abnormal sleep quality and quantity at midlife was not related to cognitive decline and later-life cognition. The effect of adverse sleep quality and quantity on cognitive decline among the elderly remains to be determined.
Analysis of Landing Phase of Rocket-Based Combined Cycle Model in Subsonic Conditions

Analysis of a Rocket-Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) concept vehicle was performed at the United States Air Force Academy Subsonic Wind tunnel to determine the aerodynamic properties at Mach 0.15, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 while simulating the landing stage of flight. Aerodynamic forces acting on the model were determined for different rudder and elevon deflections. Testing occurred at different beta angles and angles of attack. Results show a