cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Glycoprotein Variant Resistant to Cold Inactivation

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein trimer consists of gp120 and gp41 subunits and undergoes a series of conformational changes upon binding to the receptors, CD4 and CCR5/CXCR4, that promote virus entry. Surprisingly, we found that the envelope glycoproteins of some HIV-1 strains are functionally inactivated by prolonged incubation on ice. Serial exposure of HIV-1 to extremes of temperature, followed by expansion of replication-competent viruses, allowed selection of a temperature-resistant virus. The envelope glycoproteins of this virus resisted cold inactivation due to a single passage-associated change, H66N, in the gp120 exterior envelope glycoprotein. Histidine 66 is located within the gp41-interactive inner domain of gp120 and, in other studies, has been shown to decrease the sampling of the CD4-bound conformation by unliganded gp120. Substituting asparagine or other amino acid residues for histidine 66 in cold-sensitive HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins resulted in cold-stable phenotypes. Cold inactivation of the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins occurred even at high pH, indicating that protonation of histidine 66 is not necessary for this process. Increased exposure of epitopes in the ectodomain of the gp41 transmembrane envelope glycoprotein accompanied cold inactivation, but shedding of gp120 did not. An amino acid change in gp120 (S375W) that promotes the CD4-bound state or treatment with soluble CD4 or a small-molecule CD4 mimic resulted in increased cold sensitivity. These results indicate that the CD4-bound intermediate of the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins is cold labile; avoiding the CD4-bound state increases temperature stability.
Compulsory licensing of intellectual property: A viable policy lever for promoting access to critical technologies?

The chapter discusses the statutory and treaty basis for compulsory patent licensing, briefly reviews instances in which compulsory licenses have been issued, surveys the economic rationale behind compulsory licensing and compares the potential application of compulsory licensing in essential medicines and climate change mitigation technology.
Measurements of ocean surface stress using airborne and spaceborne microwave scatterometers

Results have been obtained that permit comparisons between estimates of the sea surface friction velocity from both the K/sub u/-band Scatterometer and from in-situ, large area estimates of surface wind stress and direction, acquired during the SWADE 1991 experiment. These results address the accuracy of the K/sub u/-band model function for estimating the magnitude of the friction velocity, and the ability of the azimuthal variation of the scatterometer data to estimate the wind direction. They demonstrate an excellent accuracy for estimating friction velocity magnitude. But they show the potential for frequent errors in estimating wind direction because of small upwind/downwind differences in the radar cross section at the lower incidence angles; however accuracy improves at the higher incidence angles. These results provide useful information in the development of NSCAT/ADEOS algorithms.
The Possibility of a Secular First Amendment

In a series of articles and now in their new book, Religious Freedom and the Constitution, Lawrence Sager and Christopher Eisgruber (E&S) defend an interpretation of the religion clauses of the First Amendment which, they write, "denies that religion is a constitutional anomaly, a category of human experience that demands special benefits and/or necessitates special restrictions." While not a book review in the traditional sense, my essay takes E&S's defense of a secular First Amendment as a starting point and asks, how did we get to the point where an interpretation of the First Amendment which denies that religion is "special" came to seem plausible and even desirable? My essay proceeds in three parts. In the first part, I look at contemporary liberal political theory, in order to understand why it might be a desideratum of contemporary constitutional interpretation that the religion clauses of the First Amendment be read as denying any special place to religion. In part two, I describe E&S's project of interpreting the religion clauses in a secular manner as borrowing heavily from liberal political theory. In the third part, I present the beginnings (but only the beginnings) of a theory of religion's value, one that I believe is opposed to the theory I ascribe to E&S. According to Ronald Dworkin's theory of Constitutional interpretation, the best interpretation of a constitutional word or phrase is that it best "fits" with the Constitutional text and best captures the "value" underlying the word or phrase. I suggest that that treating religion as no more special than any other system of belief does not give the best interpretation of religion, neither in terms of fit with the text of the Constitution nor in terms of capturing the unique value of religion.
Direct Measurement of pH in Individual Particles via Raman Microspectroscopy and Variation in Acidity with Relative Humidity

Atmospheric aerosol acidity is an important characteristic of aqueous particles, which has been linked to the formation of secondary organic aerosol by catalyzing reactions of oxidized organic compounds that have partitioned to the particle phase. However, aerosol acidity is difficult to measure and traditionally estimated using indirect methods or assumptions based on composition. Ongoing disagreements between experiments and thermodynamic models of particle acidity necessitate improved fundamental understanding of pH and ion behavior in high ionic strength atmospheric particles. Herein, Raman microspectroscopy was used to determine the pH of individual particles (H2SO4+MgSO4) based on sulfate and bisulfate concentrations determined from νs(SO42–) and νs(HSO4–), the acid dissociation constant, and activity coefficients from extended Debye–Huckel calculations. Shifts in pH and peak positions of νs(SO42–) and νs(HSO4–) were observed as a function of relative humidity. These results indicate the potential f...
Role of Neurotrophins in Spinal Plasticity and Locomotion

Synaptic transmission through descending motor pathways to lumbar motoneurons and then to leg muscles is essential for walking in humans and rats. Spinal cord injury (SCI), even when incomplete, results in diminished transmission to motoneurons and very limited recovery of motor function. Neurotrophins have emerged as essential molecules known to promote cell survival and support ana- tomical reorganization in damaged spinal cord. This review will summarize the evidence implicating the role of neurotrophins in synaptic plasticity in both undamaged and damaged spinal cord, with special emphasis on the potential for neurotrophins to strengthen synaptic connections to motoneurons in support of the application of neurotrophins for recovery of locomotor function after SCI. An important consideration related to therapeutic use of neurotrophins is the successful delivery of these molecules. Prolonged delivery of neurotro- phins to the spinal cord of adult mammals has recently become possible through advances in biotechnology. Fibroblasts engineered to se- crete neurotrophins and gene transfer of neurotrophins via recombinant viral vectors are among the most promising therapeutic transgene delivery systems for safe and effective neurotrophin delivery. Administration of neurotrophins to the spinal cord using these delivery sys- tems was found to enhance both anatomical and synaptic plasticity and improve functional recovery after SCI. The findings summarized here indicate that neurotrophins have translational research potential for SCI repair, most likely as an essential component of combination therapy.
Collective Memory Anchors: Collective Identity and Continuity in Social Movements

Abstract Drawing on ethnographic data from two social movement organizations, this article highlights the way that remembrances of the past are inserted into present interactions to help maintain a sense of movement continuity. Seeing collective identity and collective memory as intertwined dynamic processes, the article argues that the continuity of a social movement is maintained, in part, when movement members insert narrative commemorations that constrain current collective identity development. The process examined is that of “collective memory anchoring,” in which participants instrumentally and/or contextually bring forward the past during interactions in such a way that the formulation of elements in a movement's collective identity appears to mirror past formulations. The common constraints of preexisting networks, participants' shared cultural backgrounds, and a movement's collective action frames are explored.
PATHOGENESIS OF ACUTE INFLAMMATION. VI. INFLUENCE OF OSMOLARITY AND CERTAIN METABOLIC ANTAGONISTS UPON PHAGOCYTOSIS AND ADHESIVENESS BY LEUCOCYTES RECOVERED FROM MAN.

SummaryA detailed analysis of conditions that prevailed within an in vitro system used for the study of the phagocytosis and adhesiveness of human polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes emphasized the critical role exerted by osmolality and hydrogen ion concentration on the test system. It was found that neither proteolytic enzyme antagonists such as epsilon amino caproic acid nor metabolic antagonists such as dinitrophenol interfered with leucocytic function when used in sub toxic concentrations. The membrane alteration responsible for phagocytosis and clumping has yet to be described although evidence suggests it to be enzymatically controlled.
Role of PAR2 in the Development of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction.

Purpose: Lower urinary tract symptoms are a common finding in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. We previously reported that the mast cell-tryptase-PAR2 (protease activated receptor 2) axis has a critical role in the development of chronic pain in experimental autoimmune prostatitis, a mouse model of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Therefore, we examined whether PAR2 activation mediates lower urinary tract dysfunction.Materials and Methods: Functional cystometry was done in male B6 mice along with immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry for the expression of COL1A1 (collagen type I α I) and α-SMA (α-smooth muscle actin). Flow cytometry analysis was performed on single cell suspensions of the prostate, bladder, lymph nodes and spleen.Results: Experimental autoimmune prostatitis resulted in increased urinary voiding frequency and decreased bladder capacity 30 days after initiation. Concurrently, there was increased expression of COL1A1 and α-SMA in the prostate...
Genotype Study on Hepatitis C Virus among Drug Users in Nanjing,China

Objective To investigate the genotype distribution of HCV in drug users in Nanjing,China.Methods 198 anti-HCV positive sera samples from drug users were obtained from Nanjing Compulsory Detoxification Centers.HCV RNA detection was performed and the genotype of HCV was conducted on the positive samples using type specific primers deduced from the 5'NCR region of HCV by RT-PCR.Genotypes distribution was investigated in drug users with different drug-type.Results Of total 198 samples,168 were HCV RNA positive.77.4% samples were single genotype,in which 106 samples were genotype 1b(106/168,63.1%),15 samples were genotype 2(15/168,8.9%),9 samples were genotype 3(9/168,5.4%).20.2% samples were mixture genotype,in which 25 samples were genotype 1b/2(25/168,14.8%),5 samples were genotype 1b/3(5/168,3.0%),4 samples were genotype 2/3(4/168,2.4%),and genotype could not be determined in 4 samples(4/168,2.4%).No significant difference was found in the distribution between intravenous drug users(IVDUs) and Non-IVDUs(χ2=3.614,P0.05).Also there was no statistics difference on the infection distribution between the single genotype and commixture genotype(χ2=0.018,P0.05).Conclusion The predominant genotype of HCV in drug users of Nanjing is 1b,with other genotypes coexisting.The genotype distribution lies between the North and South China.Combining with other similar studies,we suggested that the genotype of HCV has significant relationship with region,but has little relationship with the drug using method.In our study,genotype 1b/3 and indeterminate type were only found in intravenous drug users,but further study is needed for the cases of Non-IVDUs included in the present study is deficient.
Aromatase inhibitor regulates let-7 expression and let-7f–induced cell migration in endometrial cells from women with endometriosis

Objective To evaluate associations between aromatase inhibitor (AI) treatment and let-7 –family microRNA expression in endometriosis. Design In vitro study with the use of Ishikawa cells and human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) obtained from patients with endometriosis. Setting University research center. Patient(s) Women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. Intervention(s) HESCs and Ishikawa cells treated with various letrozole concentrations and transfected with a mimic of let-7 subtypes of interest. Main Outcome Measure(s) MicroRNAs let-7a–f and aromatase expression were evaluated. Migration potential after transfection with a let-7f mimic were analyzed. Result(s) After letrozole treatment for 48 hours, all let-7 subtypes showed a trend toward increased expression in a dose-dependent manner in Ishikawa cells, and significant differences were found in let-7b and let-7f between the control and 20 μmol/L treatment groups. Furthermore, let-7f showed significant differences between the control group and 1.0 μmol/L treatment group, a typical therapeutic level, in HESCs. Transfection of a let-7f mimic decreased aromatase expression in both Ishikawa cells and HESCs and led to a significant decrease in number of migrating cells in both cell types. Conclusion(s) AI treatment significantly increased expression of let-7f in Ishikawa cells and HESCs from patients with endometriosis; increased let-7f expression effectively reduced the migration of endometrial cells. Modulation of microRNAs involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis may have therapeutic potential for endometriosis.
Orientation to the Caregiver Role Among Latinas of Mexican Origin

Author(s): Mendez-Luck, Carolyn A; John Geldhof, G; Anthony, Katherine P; Neil Steers, W; Mangione, Carol M; Hays, Ron D | Abstract: Purpose of the studyTo develop the Caregiver Orientation Scale for Mexican-Origin Women and evaluate its psychometric properties.Design and methodsWe developed a questionnaire to measure domains of cultural orientation to the caregiver role based on formative research and on the Cultural Justifications for Caregiving Scale. We conducted a series of exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) on data collected from 163 caregivers. We estimated internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's coefficient alpha) and assessed construct validity by estimating correlations between all latent factors and self-rated health, interview language, and weekly hours of care.ResultsEFAs suggested four factors representing familism, obligation, burden, and caregiving intensity that displayed good fit (χ2 (df = 63) = 70.52, p = .24; RMSEA = .03 [90% CI: 0.00, 0.06]; comparative fit index = .99). Multi-item scales representing the four domains had coefficient alphas ranging from .68 to .86. Obligation was positively associated with burden (.46, p l .001) and intensity (.34, p l .01), which were themselves positively correlated (.63, p l .001). Familism was positively associated with obligation (.25, p l .05) yet negatively associated with burden (-.35, p l .01) and intensity (-.22, p l .05). Weekly hours of care were positively associated with burden (.26, p l .01) and intensity (.18, p l .05), whereas self-rated health and burden (-.21, p l .05) and Spanish language and intensity (-.31, p l .001) were negatively correlated.ImplicationsThe study shows that Mexican-origin caregiver orientation is multidimensional and that caregivers may have conflicting motivations for caregiving.
Bedeutung und Aufgabe der Kalkulation

Richtige Selbstkostenberechnung, verbunden mit wirtschaftlicher Betriebsfuhrung, ist einer der Grundpfeiler jedes Fabrikationsunternehmens. Sie ist der Spiegel, welcher das Kostenbild des Produktionsprozesses wiedergibt und sowohl Veranderungen in den einzelnen Faktoren als auch in der Selbstkostensumme aufzeigt.
Control of Pain in Dogs and Cats

The perception of pain is an extremely complex physiological phenomenon, the reaction possibly involving many systems of the body (14). Just how one particular species may respond to a noxious stimulus can be exhibited in different ways. There can also be a great deal of interspecies and individual variability so that one animal may respond quite differently than another. This variability among animals is decreased in some of the common laboratory animals, such as rats and mice, where generations of breeding for laboratory use have tended to produce animals that respond quite uniformly. Variability, however, is often accentuated in highly outbred populations such as dogs and cats. Some breeds of dogs, such as hounds, are noted for their hardiness and may be less likely to exhibit overt signs of pain to the same stimuli, whereas other breeds, such as poodles or pomeranians, may be more sensitive. Cats may only show visible signs of pain when the stress becomes more pronounced. Apparently, therefore, it is the tolerance to pain that is highly variable, even though pain thresholds are remarkably similar among animal species (12).
Synthesis of N-aryl and N-heteroaryl hydroxylamines via partial reduction of nitroarenes with soluble nanoparticle catalysts

Abstract Polystyrene-supported ruthenium nanoparticles enable the selective hydrazine-mediated reduction of nitroarenes to hydroxylamine products in high yield and selectivity. Key to obtaining the hydroxylamine product in good yield was the use of organic solvents capable of solubilizing the polystyrene-supported nanoparticle catalyst. N -aryl and N -heteroaryl hydroxylamines are generated under exceptionally mild conditions and in the presence of a various easily reduced functional groups.
New Directions in Information Matrix Testing: Eigenspectrum Tests

Model specification tests are essential tools for evaluating the appropriateness of probability models for estimation and inference. White (Econometrica, 50: 1–25, 1982) proposed that model misspecification could be detected by testing the null hypothesis that the Fisher information matrix (IM) Equality holds by comparing linear functions of the Hessian to outer product gradient (OPG) inverse covariance matrix estimators. Unfortunately, a number of researchers have reported difficulties in obtaining reliable inferences using White’s (Econometrica, 50: 1–25, 1982) original information matrix test (IMT). In this chapter, we extend White (Econometrica, 50: 1–25, 1982) to present a new generalized information matrix test (GIMT) theory and develop a new Adjusted Classical GIMT and five new Eigenspectrum GIMTs that compare nonlinear functions of the Hessian and OPG covariance matrix estimators. We then evaluate the level and power of these new GIMTs using simulation studies on realistic epidemiological data and find that they exhibit appealing performance on sample sizes typically encountered in practice. Our results suggest that these new GIMTs are important tools for detecting and assessing model misspecification, and thus will have broad applications for model-based decision making in the social, behavioral, engineering, financial, medical, and public health sciences.
Family fairness and cohesion in marital dyads: Mediating processes between work–family conflict and couple psychological distress

The well-being of employed adults is linked to demands and resources in both work and family domains. This study takes a family systems approach to understand how an employee's work–family conflict and their spouse's observed work–family conflict can create stress within a family unit by negatively impacting employee and spousal perceptions of fairness in the division of household labour. This decreased fairness is related to reduced family cohesion, which we argue is a key resource in the family domain. These variables were assessed by data collected from military personnel and their spouses in a sample of 78 marital dyads. Analyses using the actor–partner interdependence model and maximum likelihood bootstrapping supported our contention that work–family conflict is related to family cohesion through perceived fairness in the division of household labour. However, after accounting for the strong direct effect employee's reported work-to-family conflict has on employee's psychological distress, reduced family cohesion was only directly related to the psychological distress of employee's spouses, and not employees themselves. We suggest that these findings support the importance of taking a family systems approach to more fully contextualize the impact of dual-domain challenges on employee well-being. Practitioner points Organizations need to take the family into consideration when assessing employee well-being. Work–family conflict directly impacts an employee's psychological well-being and has the potential to create distress within the employee's family. Employers should provide employees with more family-supportive resources to reduce the strain created by work–family conflict.
Physical Mechanisms Affecting the Reliability of GaN-based High Electron Mobility Transistors

The physical mechanisms responsible for electrically-induced parametric degradation in GaN-based high electron mobility transistors are examined using a combination of experiments, device simulation, and first-principles defect analysis. A relatively simple formulation is developed under the assumption that the hot-electron scattering cross-section is independent of the electron energy. In this case, one can relate the change in defect concentration to the operational characteristics of a device, such as the spatial and energy distribution of electrons (electron temperature), electric field distribution, and electron energy loss to the lattice.
Rotavirus vaccines: why continued investment in research is necessary.

Rotavirus vaccines were first introduced more than a decade ago and have had a tremendous impact on reducing the number of hospitalizations and deaths due to rotavirus-associated diarrhea. This review will discuss current rotavirus vaccines, post-licensure surveillance, progress in non-replicating vaccine development, and why continued research is important for understanding a virus that remains a globally leading cause of death due to diarrhea. Research advances have enhanced our understanding of how vaccines induce protection against subsequent severe disease, how the virus replicates and spreads in the face of the host immune system, and basic mechanisms governing the viral life cycle. Much remains to be learned about how to improve vaccine success, what the molecular determinants of host range and virulence are, and what the interactions of the virus with the host are that drive its replicative success, among many other important questions.
De-multiplexing vortex modes in optical communications using transport-based pattern recognition

Free space optical communications utilizing orbital angular momentum beams have recently emerged as a new technique for communications with potential for increased channel capacity. Turbulence due to changes in the index of refraction emanating from temperature, humidity, and air flow patterns, however, add nonlinear effects to the received patterns, thus making the demultiplexing task more difficult. Deep learning techniques have been previously been applied to solve the demultiplexing problem as an image classification task. Here we make use of a newly developed theory suggesting a link between image turbulence and photon transport through the continuity equation to describe a method that utilizes a "shallow" learning method instead. The decoding technique is tested and compared against previous approaches using deep convolutional neural networks. Results show that the new method can obtain similar classification accuracies (bit error ratio) at a small fraction (1/90) of the computational cost, thus enabling higher bit rates.
A simple, inexpensive method for subcortical stereotactic targeting in nonhuman primates.

Abstract Background Many current neuroscience studies in large animal models have focused on recordings from cortical structures. While sufficient for analyzing sensorimotor systems, many processes are modulated by subcortical nuclei. Large animal models, such as nonhuman primates (NHP), provide an optimal model for studying these circuits, but the ability to target subcortical structures has been hampered by lack of a straightforward approach to targeting. New Method Here we present a method of subcortical targeting in NHP that uses MRI-compatible titanium screws as fiducials. The in vivo study used a cellular marker for histologic confirmation of accuracy. Results Histologic results are presented showing a cellular stem cell marker within targeted structures, with mean errors ± standard deviations (SD) of 1.40 ± 1.19 mm in the X-axis and 0.9 ± 0.97 mm in the Z-axis. The Y-axis errors ± SD ranged from 1.5 ± 0.43 to 4.2 ± 1.72 mm. Comparison with existing methods This method is easy and inexpensive, and requires no fabrication of equipment, keeping in mind the goal of optimizing a technique for implantation or injection into multiple interconnected areas. Conclusion This procedure will enable primate researchers to target deep, subcortical structures more precisely in animals of varying ages and weights.
CD38 Targeted Therapy in Glioblastoma: A Step Forward. (P4.160)

Objective: Gliomas are primary malignant tumors of the brain with dismal prognosis. With the current standard of care treatment, the relapse of Glioblastoma (GBM) is inevitable with significant paucity of subsequent therapeutic options. Given the recent resurgence in immunotherapeutic in oncology, we wish to harness immunomodulatory agents in GBM. Background: GBM tumor mass contains Microglia/Macrophages and CD38 is expressed on microglia cells. The survival of CD38 deficient mice and use of K-rhein, a small CD38 inhibitor molecule is associated with delayed glioma progression and moderately prolonged survival. Daratumumab(DARA) is an immunoglobulin G1 kappa human monoclonal antibody that binds to CD38 epitope with high affinity. Based on the available pre-clinical data, we performed in vitro assessment of DARA on GBM cells. Design/Methods: Human GBM cells were cultured in full media in optimal conditions. We performed flow cytometry analysis (FCA) to evaluate CD38 expression on GBM. In order to assess cell viability, GBM cells (2.5×104) were incubated in a 96-well-plate with TMZ (700μM) and DARA (0–300μg/ml) for 72 h at 37°C. PI and Annexin-V FITC was performed by incubating GBM cells (5×105/well) with TMZ (700μM) or DARA(75μg/ml) alone or in combination. Mechanism of cell death was determined by using spectro-flurimeter with calcein-AM (1μM), followed by treatment with TMZ (700μM), DARA (75μg/mL) and their combination. Results: FCA revealed 9% expression of CD38 on GBM cells with high Mean fluorescence intensity. The maximum cell death was found to be at 75μg/ml of DARA. Our results revealed enhanced apoptosis with DARA alone and in combination with TMZ. Antibody-dependent cell-mediated toxicity was demonstrated with D. Conclusions: CD38 expression on GBM have an implication in tumor growth and invasion. Our data has shown that targeting CD38 in in vitro environment with DARA alone/combination with TMZ causes enhanced cell death. Hence, DARA can be a potential treatment option for the patients with GBM. Disclosure: Dr. Sonikpreet has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schiapparelli has nothing to disclose. Dr. Manna has nothing to disclose. Dr. Paulus has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rosenfeld has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chanan-Khan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Quinones-Hinojosa has nothing to disclose.
PAC optimal planning for invasive species management: improved exploration for reinforcement learning from simulator-defined MDPs

Often the most practical way to define a Markov Decision Process (MDP) is as a simulator that, given a state and an action, produces a resulting state and immediate reward sampled from the corresponding distributions. Simulators in natural resource management can be very expensive to execute, so that the time required to solve such MDPs is dominated by the number of calls to the simulator. This paper presents an algorithm, DDV, that combines improved confidence intervals on the Q values (as in interval estimation) with a novel upper bound on the discounted state occupancy probabilities to intelligently choose state-action pairs to explore. We prove that this algorithm terminates with a policy whose value is within e of the optimal policy (with probability 1-δ) after making only polynomially-many calls to the simulator. Experiments on one benchmark MDP and on an MDP for invasive species management show very large reductions in the number of simulator calls required.
Active echo: a new paradigm for ultrasound calibration.

In ultrasound-guided medical procedures, accurate tracking of interventional tools with respect to the US probe is crucial to patient safety and clinical outcome. US probe tracking requires an unavoidable calibration procedure to recover the rigid body transformation between the US image and the tracking coordinate system. In literature, almost all calibration methods have been performed on passive phantoms. There are several challenges to these calibration methods including dependency on ultrasound image quality and parameters such as frequency, depth, and beam-thickness. In this work, for the first time we introduce an active echo (AE) phantom for US calibration. The phantom actively detects and responds to the US beams from the imaging probe. This active approach allows reliable and accurate identification of the ultrasound image mid-plane independent of the image quality. It also enables automatic point segmentations. Both the target localization and segmentation can be done automatically, so the user dependency is minimized. The AE phantom is compared with a gold standard crosswire (CW) phantom in a robotic US experimental setup. The result indicates that AE calibration phantom provides a localization precision of 223 μm, and an overall reconstruction error of 850 μm. Auto-segmentation is also tested and proved to have the similar performance as the manual segmentation.
Schottky’s Invariant and Quadratic Forms

In his classical paper on the moduli of 4 dimensional principally polarized abelian varieties Schottky introduced a homogeneous polynomial J of degree 16 in the Thetanullwerte which vanishes at every jacobian point. On the other hand, the analytic class invariants of even quadratic forms in 16 variables with determinant 1 can be written as f 4 2 and f 8, and they are Siegel modular forms of weight 8 and of an arbitrary degree g. In this paper explicit expressions of J by f 4 2 , f 8 and also by f 4 2 , the Eisenstein series E 8 for g=4 are proved. Also an outline of the proof of the fact that f 4 is the only Siegel modular form of weight 4 and of any given degree g which can be expressed as a polynomial in the Thetanullwerte is given.
Colonoscopy Versus Barium Enema in the Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancers and Polyps

There is controversy over the relative merits of colonscopy and barium enema in the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasms. Most published studies are flawed. A small number of prospective controlled trials reveal strengths and weaknesses for both barium enema and colonscopy, and preference for one or the other depends on the weighing of dissimilar factors. Selection of colonscopy or barium enema as the initial study depends on the clinical problem.
The Future of Neuropalliative Care

As remarkable advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of neurological illness continue to revolutionize our field, we will also face an increasing need to support and guide patients and families through complex choices involving immense uncertainty and intensely important outcomes of mind, body and spirit. To improve the lives for all patients with neurological illness and their families will require a broad range of clinical, educational and investigative efforts in this nascent field of neuropalliative care.
SNARE-dependent membrane fusion initiates α-granule matrix decondensation in mouse platelets.

Platelet α-granule cargo release is fundamental to both hemostasis and thrombosis. Granule matrix hydration is a key regulated step in this process, yet its mechanism is poorly understood. In endothelial cells, there is evidence for 2 modes of cargo release: a jack-in-the-box mechanism of hydration-dependent protein phase transitions and an actin-driven granule constriction/extrusion mechanism. The third alternative considered is a prefusion, channel-mediated granule swelling, analogous to the membrane “ballooning” seen in procoagulant platelets. Using thrombin-stimulated platelets from a set of secretion-deficient, soluble N-ethylmaleimide factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) mutant mice and various ultrastructural approaches, we tested predictions of these mechanisms to distinguish which best explains the α-granule release process. We found that the granule decondensation/hydration required for cargo expulsion was (1) blocked in fusion-protein-deficient platelets; (2) characterized by a fusion-dependent transition in granule size in contrast to a preswollen intermediate; (3) determined spatially with α-granules located close to the plasma membrane (PM) decondensing more readily; (4) propagated from the site of granule fusion; and (5) traced, in 3-dimensional space, to individual granule fusion events at the PM or less commonly at the canalicular system. In sum, the properties of α-granule decondensation/matrix hydration strongly indicate that α-granule cargo expulsion is likely by a jack-in-the-box mechanism rather than by gradual channel-regulated water influx or by a granule-constriction mechanism. These experiments, in providing a structural and mechanistic basis for cargo expulsion, should be informative in understanding the α-granule release reaction in the context of hemostasis and thrombosis.
Dangerous, depraved, and death-worthy: A meta-analysis of the correlates of perceived psychopathy in jury simulation studies.

Objectives Experimental research suggests that legal defendants described as psychopathic are generally, although not uniformly, judged more negatively and punitively. Understanding the correlates of perceived psychopathy, regardless of exposure to mental health evidence, is an important step towards clarifying divergent findings. Method We conducted a quantitative synthesis of ten juror simulation studies (combined N = 2,980) examining the meta-analytic association between perceived defendant psychopathy and various psychologically important and legally relevant outcomes. Results Perceiving someone as being more psychopathic was associated with viewing that defendant as more dangerous (r W = 0.31) and evil ( r W = 0.44). Moreover, perceptions of defendant psychopathy predicted greater support for more adverse consequences in terms of capital sentencing ( r W = 0.22) and sentence length ( r W = 0.27), although not perceived treatment amenability ( r W = 0.09). Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of including ratings of perceived psychopathy in experimental designs to identify the circumstances under which psychopathy evidence might prejudicially impact case outcomes.
Mass, charge, and radius of droplets in a linear quadrupole electrodynamic balance

Single particle levitation is a key tool in the analysis of the physicochemical properties of aerosol particles. Central to these techniques is the ability to determine the size of the confined par...
Landscape variables influence Phytophthora cinnamomi distribution within a forested Kentucky watershed

Abstract Invasive pests and pathogens have contributed to widescale forest change around the world, but especially in the eastern US. Phytophthora cinnamomi, one such introduced pathogen, causes root rot in American chestnut (Castanea dentata) and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata), among other eastern forest species of interest, and has inhibited chestnut restoration efforts in some cases. Traditionally, P. cinnamomi has been associated with low landscape positions and moister soils; however, its distribution patterns in the eastern US are poorly understood. Improved understanding of P. cinnamomi distribution may enable forest managers to prioritize sites with low risk of P. cinnamomi presence for chestnut restoration. To elucidate landscape factors associated with P. cinnamomi distribution, two sets of soil samples from an eastern Kentucky forest (representing two levels of sampling intensity) were screened for P. cinnamomi incidence, and data were analyzed for spatial distribution patterns. In general, sites in which P. cinnamomi was detected tended to be warmer (higher annual solar radiation) and drier (lower moisture indices), than sites in which P. cinnamomi were not detected. P. cinnamomi incidence was also found to be associated with oak (Quercus spp.) abundance and (weakly) negatively associated with soil microbial activity under certain conditions. Overall, P. cinnamomi was found to be distributed across a wide range of landscape variables, including both drier ridge-top sites and moister streamside sites, contrary to traditional associations. In addition, the association with oak abundance suggests that the drier upland sites preferred by oak species in eastern Kentucky are not “safe” from P. cinnamomi. Given that P. cinnamomi was found distributed across a range of environmental conditions, forest managers cannot assume that any landscape position is phytophthora-free, and soil screening should be used for site selection to inform restoration of chestnut and other susceptible species.
Lust on Trial: Censorship and the Rise of American Obscenity in the Age of Anthony Comstock by Amy Beth Werbel

In her work, Lust on Trial: Censorship and the Rise of American Obscenity in the Age of Anthony Comstock , author Amy Werbel explores the unintended consequences of the forty-year vice suppression campaign of America’s first professional censor, Anthony Comstock. Equal parts a history of lust in art and a legal history of the cultural importance of the First Amendment, this work offers an inspiring tale of artist-, activist-, and attorney-led revolts against censorship, and underlines how the pursuit of moral and sexual control through prosecution is futile in the face of interminable cultural and technological change. Werbel points to the proliferation of lust and freedom of expression as evidence of Comstock’s ultimate failure to “purify” the nation of those materials that he deemed obscene. However, the most salient, underlying current of the story of Comstock is not perhaps the question of the efficacy of his mission, but instead the ways in which such efforts disproportionately silence the most vulnerable.
Divergent roads: A cross-national intercohort analysis of affluence and environmental concern.

Abstract In this research, we combine insights from two lines of research on environmental attitudes. One tradition emphasizes heterogeneity in the relationship between environmental concern and affluence, at both the individual- and country-levels. Another examines the mechanisms that lead to change in environmental concern among affluent countries from one birth cohort to the next. We argue that a reconciliation of these two lines of research leads to new theoretical understandings of environmental concern. We assess environmental concern in an intercohort analysis using World Values Survey data from 1990 to 2009, using a sample of 164,664 individuals and 80 countries. Examining the data in two forms, in a multilevel regression framework of individuals nested in countries and a pseudo-panel design of birth cohorts across time, we draw two main conclusions. First, while environmental concern in younger cohorts has stagnated and declined among high-income countries, it has steadily grown among middle-income countries. This process is largely driven by divergent trends among respondents with lower levels of education. Second, we find significant change in environmental concern among birth cohorts over time, as well as heterogeneity in this change. Birth cohorts in middle-income countries tend to become more concerned with rising affluence, regardless of educational attainment. In contrast, we find an x-shaped pattern in high income countries. Those with higher educational attainment tend to become more concerned, and those with lower educational attainment less concerned, in response to affluence change. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.
Prospects for the Death of Europe: Islam, Christianity, the Future Identity of Europe

A recent theme recurs in the writing of cultural critics, like journalist, Douglas Murray and the speculative novelists, such as Michel Houellebecq, author of Submission, and Jean Raspail, creator ...
A New Species of Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida) Infecting Skeletal Muscle of Blacktail Shiner, Cyprinella venusta Girard, 1856 (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) in the Chattahoochee River Basin, Georgia

Thelohanellus magnacysta n. sp. (Bivalvulida: Myxobolidae) infects the skeletal muscle of blacktail shiner, Cyprinella venusta Girard, 1856 (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) in Bull Creek, Chattahoochee River Basin, eastern Georgia. Although numerous members of ThelohanellusKudo, 1933 have overlapping myxospore dimensions with the new species, it differs from all nominal congeners by polar filament coil number and polar capsule width as well as by lacking a mucous envelope, iodinophilic vacuole, and sutural markings. With the use of novel primers for Myxozoa, a phylogenetic analysis of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) suggests that the new species shares a recent common ancestor with a clade of cyprinid-infecting species of Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 (Bivalvulida: Myxobolidae) and Thelohanellus. Consistent with other published research concerning the systematics of Thelohanellus, this result suggested that Thelohanellus and Myxobolus are polyphyletic and need revision. Histological sections of infected blacktail shiners confirmed that myxospores were only found within a plasmodium and only infected skeletal muscle and that plasmodia were encapsulated by a granuloma comprising varying degrees of acute granulomatous inflammation. The new species is the fourth of Thelohanellus reported from North America and the first reported from Cyprinella, as well as the first myxozoan described from the blacktail shiner.
Topological Compensation of Rayleigh Scattering Induced Reflection in a Single Mode Waveguide

Intrinsic backscattering generated from waveguide sidewall roughness is suppressed by a designed dielectric scatter. Merging mode-splitting in a micro-ring resonator confirms the exceptional point.
Observation of Molecular Hydrogen Produced from Bridging Hydroxyls on Anatase TiO2(101).

Anatase TiO2 is used extensively in a wide range of catalytic and photocatalytic processes and is a promising catalyst for hydrogen production. Here, we show that molecular hydrogen was produced fr...
Spray-coating as a novel strategy to supplement broiler feed pellets with probiotic Lactobacillus salivarius NRRL B-30514

Abstract Probiotics are potential alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production. In this work, supplementing probiotics on broiler feed pellets (BFPs) was studied for the first time by directly spraying a Lactobacillus salivarius NRRL B-30514 suspension with 10% w/v milk powder and 0, 1, and 5% w/v sucrose, followed by drying at 60 °C for 0–30 min. For suspensions without sucrose, no visual change of BFPs was noticed after spraying the cell suspension for up to 30 s; the coated BFPs dried for a longer time had a lower water activity and lower bacterial viability after preparation; and the coated BFPs dried for 30 min had about 5 log colony-forming unit per gram (CFU/g) viable L. salivarius after 30-day storage at room temperature. Under the optimized conditions (spraying for 30 s and drying at 60 °C for 30 min), supplementing 1% (w/v) sucrose in coating suspension further improved bacterial viability to 6.71 ± 0.14, 5.53 ± 0.24, and 4.28 ± 0.12 log CFU/g after 0, 30, and 730 days, respectively. Coatings slightly increased the diameter but showed no negative influence on the hardness, moisture sorption properties, and surface morphology of BFPs. This approach preventing thermal deactivation of probiotics during pelleting may be significant to supplementing probiotics to animals.
Placental finding among extremely preterm infants with moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Background: Fetal exposure to maternal inflammation has been reported with various adverse outcomes in preterm infants. Histological chorioamnionitis has been variably reported to be associated with the development of lung disease including bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD). Most investigators have reported the association of acute inflammatory lesions and maternal vascular under perfusion on placental histopathology with BPD in preterm neonates. Objective: To determine if pre-specified placental abnormalities among preterm infants with moderate to severe BPD differ compared to infants with No/Mild BPD. Methods: Preterm infants, …
Sulfur Poisoning and Performance Recovery of SOFC Air Electrodes

The sulfur poisoning and performance recovery of the state-of-the-art SOFC cathodes, (La0.80Sr0.20)0.95MnO3±δ (LSM) and (La0.60Sr0.40)0.95Co0.20Fe0.80O3-δ (LSCF), have been studied. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements of LSCF|GDC and LSM|YSZ half-cells are carried out in alternating atmospheres of air and SO2–air at 700 °C for hundreds of hours. In the presence of SO2, the electrochemical performance of both the cells decays with ohmic and non-ohmic losses, owing to the absorption and chemical interaction of SO2 with the electrodes. In LSCF, the SrO segregated on the surface tends to absorb and react with SO2, forming SrSO4 followed by exsolution of Co-Fe. As for LSM, SO2 is absorbed onto Sr-rich areas of LSM, including the active reaction sites near the TPBs, leading to Sr exsolution and SrSO4 formation, leaving Sr-deficient LSM. During subsequent exposure to air, the performance of the sulfur-contaminated LSM is almost restored. The LSM particles, exposed to alternating atmospheres of air and SO2-air during the electrochemical tests, show a relatively clean surface with sparsely distributed SrSO4 particles, indicating high stability against sulfur poisoning. It is suggested that loosely adsorbed SO2 at the TPBs is readily swept away by the SO2-free air flow, recovering its ORR activity, whereas the Sr-deficient LSM due to Sr-exsolution stays modified, contributing to the incomplete performance restoration. Unlike the case of LSM, the performance of the sulfur-poisoned LSCF only partially recovers during the subsequent exposure to air. Correspondingly, the LSCF particles have a modified morphology covered with numerous nanoparticles, mostly SrSO4, showing the irreversible aspect of the sulfur poisoning. The morphology modification is not concentrated near the electrode/electrolyte interface but over the entire cathode, indicating that the degree of recovery from sulfur poisoning is closely related to the presence of SrO and chemical activity of Sr in the electrodes at the solid-gas interface. Our results also show the potential application of LSM for a sulfur sensor available in high-temperature harsh conditions.