cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distribution of spreading viruses during COVID-19 pandemic: Effect of mitigation strategies.

Abstract Background The study aimed to evaluate the distribution of circulating respiratory viral pathogens other than severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the first year of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with especially focusing on the effects of the national-based mitigation strategies. Methods This single-center study was conducted between March 11, 2020-March 11, 2021. All children who were tested by polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 and other common respiratory viral pathogens were included in the study. Results A total of 995 children with suspected COVID-19 admitted to the study center. Of these, 513 patients who were tested by polymerase chain reaction for both SARS-CoV-2 and common respiratory viral pathogens were included in the final analysis. Two hundred ninety-five patients were (57.5%) male. The median age was 3 years of age (27 days-17 years). A total of 321 viral pathogens identified in 310 (n: 310/513, 60.4%) patients, and 11 of them (n: 11/310, 3.5%) had co-detection with more than 1 virus. The most common detected virus was rhinovirus (n: 156/513, 30.4%), and SARS-CoV-2 (n: 122/513, 23.8%) followed by respiratory syncytial virus (n: 18/513, 3.5%). The influenza virus was detected in 2 patients (0.4%). A total of 193 patients were negative for both SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens. Conclusions There is a decline in the frequency of all viral pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 in correlation with the national-based mitigation strategies against COVID-19 during the pandemic.
Diversity and inclusion in mining: An analysis of indicators used in sustainability reporting

Abstract The mining industry is increasingly turning to Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) programs to address a range of challenges including an aging workforce, increased public pressure, and growing demand for innovative technical solutions to mining problems. However, there is a lack of information on D&I initiatives in mining contexts, creating one barrier to adoption and development of these programs. To determine how and to what extent companies are reporting on their D&I programs, we conducted an analysis of twenty-six D&I-related indicators in the public sustainability reports of eight major metals mining companies from 2012–2019. This analysis demonstrates greater attention being paid to D&I over time and a preference for reporting on simple indicators which are relatively easy to obtain, such as demographics and policies. However, reporting on ethnic diversity and established industry goals that do not have corresponding GRI standards was extremely limited, and there was a decline in reporting of several indicators of structural aspects of employee inclusion, presenting a potentially concerning trend. We conclude that while some progress is being made, increasing D&I reporting in the mining industry remains a promising means of boosting the global equity of the industry and aligning with the 2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Immunoradiotherapy goes club(bing)

Combining radiation and immune checkpoint blockade is a promising treatment strategy, yet the mechanisms and optimal dosing strategies are not well known. A new study finds that a specific radiation dose can activate secretory club cells to promote the anti-tumor effects of radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy in NSCLC.
A Hub-and-Spoke approach to Optimizing Energy Wheeling of Renewable Resources

The deployment of zero-carbon renewable energy sources is mandated by the US Department of Energy (US DOE) to increase significantly to support the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This paper proposes a deterministic approach to how networked (interconnected grid) points of receipt to points of delivery can be optimized for wheeling zero- or low-carbon renewable energy resources to high-demand destination load centers while minimizing energy cost with a hub-and-spoke approach. A hub-and-spoke approach routes “traffic” through a central point. The aapproach was set up as a mixed integer approach in which the cost of transporting energy was minimized. This paper leverages the concepts of a hub-and-spoke transportation model with daily energy market clearing prices, available transmission capacity, and firm daily transmission prices in open-access energy markets to define the most cost-effective route to deliver energy to an applicable load center.
Immunohistochemistry of kangaroo rat hindlimb muscles

Kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) use specialized bipedal hopping like that of kangaroos. In contrast to kangaroos that have elastic tendons capable of storing energy, kangaroo rats have inelastic tendons that are unable to store large amounts of energy. Thus, the musculature of the ankle joint provides the greatest power contribution to kangaroo rat hopping. Skeletal muscle can be characterized by several fiber types, including slow twitch (Type I) and fast twitch (Type II) fibers. Fast fibers are found in higher concentration in muscles that perform quick, dynamic movements, whereas slow fibers are found in higher proportion in muscles that perform slow, endurant movements. Using fiber type specific antibodies, we identified four pure (Types I, IIA, IIB, and IIX) and two hybrid (Types I/IIA and IIA/IIX) fiber types in six hindlimb muscles from three kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami) to investigate the relationship between fiber composition and hindlimb muscle function. Hindlimb muscles (except soleus) were dominated by Type IIB fibers, which were largest in cross-sectional area, and are known to be best suited for rapid and explosive movements. Oxidative Type IIA and Type IIX fibers were found at moderate concentrations and likely function in maintaining continual saltatory locomotion. Thus, kangaroo rats can use these two fiber type populations as "gears" for both endurant and explosive behaviors.
Standby Letters of Credit in Bankruptcy

When a bank issues a letter of credit, it makes a binding promise to the party to whom it sends the letter to honor that party's drafts' on it, when those drafts are accompanied by specified documents. Letters of credit traditionally have been used as a method of paying for goods in international sales. For example, if geographical distance or some other factor makes a seller of a piece of equipment uncertain of its buyer's payment, the seller may insist that the buyer's bank issue a letter of credit naming the seller as beneficiary. After it ships the goods, the seller can draw on the letter by presenting the bank with its draft and the documents specified in the letter, which usually include a negotiable document of title such as a bill of lading. The bank is obligated to honor the draft regardless of any defenses to payment the buyer may have.2 In recent years, however, letters of credit have been used primarily in a different way. Known as "guarantee" or "standby" letters of credit, they are drawn upon if the principal means of payment fails.3 For example, a seller might agree to defer payment until the buyer receives the goods, but insist that the buyer provide a standby letter of credit from the bank, in which the bank promises to honor drafts when accompanied by the seller's signed statement that the buyer has received the goods and has failed to
Simulation as an aid in community planning: A case study of a community to be built around a health center in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Abstract One type of model which has a history of application is known as a state-space model. Designed originally to test the impact of market reforms in Latin American communities, the model is of the static, deterministic stimulation family. It enjoys the advantage of employing explicit assumptions which tend to involve the decision maker in its operations. This probably led to the implementation in Northeast Brazil of recommendations that came after sensitivity testing of the model. In order to describe this type of model, a case study is presented which deals with the evaluation of decisions concerning the functions of the planned community near Guadalajara, the capital of the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. The uniqueness of the situation, that it is a private development containing a medical center, offered a difficult problem in parameter estimation. Also, the lack of complete information led to the formulation of approximations similar to those made by executives in incorporating heuristic devices.
Hypothesis Testing and Small Sample Sizes

One of the biggest breakthroughs during the last 40 years has been the derivation of inferential methods that perform well when sample sizes are small. Indeed, some practical problems that seemed insurmountable only a few years ago have been solved. But to appreciate this remarkable achievement, we must first describe the shortcomings of conventional techniques developed during the first half of the 20th century—methods that are routinely used today. At one time it was generally thought that these standard methods are insensitive to violations of assumptions, but a more accurate statement is that they seem to perform reasonably well (in terms of Type I errors) when groups have identical probability curves, or when performing regression with variables that are independent. If, for example, we compare groups that happen to have different probability curves, extremely serious problems can arise. Perhaps the most striking problem is described in Chapter 7, but the problems described here are very serious as well and are certainly relevant to applied work.
Assessing Psychological Functioning in Metabolic Disorders: Validation of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition (ABAS-II), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) for Identification of Individuals at Risk.

Long-term follow-up of neuropsychological functioning in metabolic disorders remains difficult due to limited opportunities for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations. This study examined the validity of using the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition (ABAS-II), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) for assessing developmental status in metabolic disorders and for identifying individuals at risk for cognitive deficits. Results from individuals with urea cycle disorders, phenylketonuria, galactosemia, and fatty acid oxidation disorders were obtained on the ABAS-II and BRIEF and were compared to results obtained from neuropsychological testing performed on the same day. Correlations between scores on the ABAS-II and developmental or IQ tests for individuals with urea cycle disorders ranged from 0.48 to 0.72 and concordance rates for scores greater than a standard deviation below the normative mean ranged from 69 to 89%. Correlations ranged from 0.20 to 0.68 with concordance ranging from 73 to 90% in the other metabolic disorders. For the BRIEF, correlations with other tests of executive functioning were significant for urea cycle disorders, with concordance ranging from 52 to 80%. For the other metabolic disorders, correlations ranged from −0.09 to −0.55. Concordance rates for at-risk status on the BRIEF and executive functioning tests ranged from 55% in adults to 80% in children with other metabolic disorders. These results indicate that the ABAS-II and BRIEF together can confidently be used as an adjunct or supplementary method for clinical follow-up and for research on functional status involving infants, children, and adults with metabolic disorders.
Regulation of transmitter release by synapsin II in mouse motor terminals.

We investigated quantal release and ultrastructure in the neuromuscular junctions of synapsin II knockout (Syn II KO) mice. Synaptic responses were recorded focally from the diaphragm synapses during electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerve. We found that synapsin II affects transmitter release in a Ca2+-dependent manner. At reduced extracellular Ca2+ (0.5 mm), Syn II KO mice demonstrated a significant increase in evoked and spontaneous quantal release, while at the physiological Ca2+ concentration (2 mm), quantal release in Syn II KO synapses was unaffected. Protein kinase inhibitor H7 (100 μm) suppressed quantal release significantly stronger in Syn II KO synapses than in wild type (WT), indicating that Syn II KO synapses may compensate for the lack of synapsin II via a phosphorylation-dependent pathway. Electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that the lack of synapsin II results in an approximately 40% decrease in the density of synaptic vesicles in the reserve pool, while the number of vesicles docked to the presynaptic membrane remained unchanged. Synaptic depression in Syn II KO synapses was slightly increased, which is consistent with the depleted vesicle store in these synapses. At reduced Ca2+ frequency facilitation of synchronous release was significantly increased in Syn II KO, while facilitation of asynchronous release was unaffected. Thus, at the reduced Ca2+ concentration, synapsin II suppressed transmitter release and facilitation. These results demonstrate that synapsin II can regulate vesicle clustering, transmitter release, and facilitation.
Implementation of self-tuning control of a flexible manipulator system

A single-link, flexible manipulator system was set up in the laboratory. The recursive least square (RLS) parameter estimation method in time domain and empirical transfer function estimate (ETFE) in frequency domain were used to identify the autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model of the flexible manipulator system. An online time domain RLS identification algorithm combined with an optimization algorithm formed the self-tuning routine. Only endpoint acceleration measurements and motor shaft angle measurements were utilized in the control schemes. Simulation and experimental results show that proportional constant tuning alone was effective in controlling the system.
Vaccine-Induced CD8+ T Cell-Dependent Suppression of Airway Hyperresponsiveness and Inflammation

Suppressing the abnormalities associated with asthma has been difficult to accomplish using immunotherapy or vaccination once the disease is established. The effector cells necessary for effective immunization/vaccination and immunotherapy of asthma are also not well understood. Therefore, we vaccinated allergen (OVA)-sensitized mice to determine whether therapeutic immunization could suppress airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation and to identify key immune effector cells and cytokines. Mice were immunized with a vaccine comprised of Ag and cationic liposome-DNA complexes (CLDC), a vaccine which has previously been shown to elicit strong CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses and activation of Th1 immunity. We showed that immunization with the OVA-CLDC vaccine significantly suppressed AHR, eosinophilia, goblet cell metaplasia, and Th2 cytokine production. In contrast, immunization with CLDC alone suppressed eosinophilia and Th2 cytokine production, but failed to suppress AHR and goblet cell changes. Using adoptive transfer experiments, we found that suppression of AHR was mediated by Ag-specific CD8 + T cells and was dependent on IFN-γ production by the transferred T cells. Thus, we conclude that generation of strong, allergen-specific CD8 + T cell responses by immunization may be capable of suppressing AHR and allergic airway inflammation, even in previously sensitized and challenged mice.
Glucose catabolism in strains of acidophilic, heterotrophic bacteria.

Pathways of glucose catabolism, potentially operational in six strains of obligately aerobic, acidophilic bacteria, including Acidiphilium cryptum strain Lhet2, were investigated by short-term radiorespirometry and enzyme assays. Short-term radiorespirometry was conducted at pH 3.0 with specifically labeled [14C]glucose. The high rate and yield of C-1 oxidized to CO2 indicated that the Entner-Doudoroff, pentose phosphate, or both pathways were operational in all strains. Apparent nonequivalent yields of CO2 from C-1 and estimated CO2 from C-4 (C-1 > C-4) were suggestive of simultaneous glucose catabolism by both pathways in all strains tested. Variation in the relative contribution of the two pathways of glucose catabolism appears to account for observed strain differences. Calculation of the actual percent pathway participation was not feasible. Enzyme assays were completed with crude extracts of glucose-grown cells to substantiate the results obtained by radiorespirometry. The key enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway (6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase) and the Entner-Doudoroff pathway (2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrase) were present in all strains examined (PW2, Lhet2, KLB, OP, and QBP). However, none of the strains exhibited detectable levels of the key enzyme of the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway, 6-phosphofructokinase. All strains contained glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fructose bisphosphate aldolase. The results of the enzyme study supported the contention that the pentose phosphate and Entner-Doudoroff pathways are operational for glucose catabolism in the acidophilic heterotrophs, and that the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway is apparently absent.
A Cyber Expert System for Auto-Tuning Powered Prosthesis Impedance Control Parameters

Typically impedance control parameters (e.g., stiffness and damping) in powered lower limb prostheses are fine-tuned by human experts (HMEs), which is time and resource intensive. Automated tuning procedures would make powered prostheses more practical for clinical use. In this study, we developed a novel cyber expert system (CES) that encoded HME tuning decisions as computer rules to auto-tune control parameters for a powered knee (passive ankle) prosthesis. The tuning performance of CES was preliminarily quantified on two able-bodied subjects and two transfemoral amputees. After CES and HME tuning, we observed normative prosthetic knee kinematics and improved or slightly improved gait symmetry and step width within each subject. Compared to HME, the CES tuning procedure required less time and no human intervention. Hence, using CES for auto-tuning prosthesis control was a sound concept, promising to enhance the practical value of powered prosthetic legs. However, the tuning goals of CES might not fully capture those of the HME. This was because we observed that HME tuning reduced trunk sway, while CES sometimes led to slightly increased trunk motion. Additional research is still needed to identify more appropriate tuning objectives for powered prosthetic legs to improve amputees' walking function.
Ceruloplasmin and Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes

Premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), defined as rupture of the chorioamniotic membranes before the onset of labor, is a very common clinical problem in human pregnancy. In clinical obstetric terminology, PROM is defined as rupture of the membranes at term (within 3 weeks of the Estimated Date of Confinement, or due date). The reported incidence of PROM in term pregnancy is 8–10%. Approximately one-fourth of PROM cases occur remote from term (i.e., at less than 37 completed gestational weeks) and are termed preterm PROM (often called PPROM). Term pregnancies complicated by PROM are at increased risk for several complications for mother and fetus. The likelihood of ascending maternal infection, or chorioamnionitis, is directly related to the duration of membrane rupture, increasing from an overall rate of 0.5% to 3–15% with progressive duration of PROM (1). The risk of neonatal sepsis (0.2% for all term newborns) also increases both with the presence of PROM (1%) and with the duration of PROM (3–5% with …
Opening a Performance Dialogue With Employees: Facework, Voice, and Silence

This study examines how a supervisor’s delivery of negative feedback affects employees’ tendency to respond by either voicing their ideas or remaining silent. The results show that approbation, or ...
Heme Regulatory Motifs in Heme Oxygenase-2 Form a Thiol/Disulfide Redox Switch That Responds to the Cellular Redox State

Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in heme catabolism to generate CO, biliverdin, and free iron. Two isoforms of HO have been identified in mammals: inducible HO-1 and constitutively expressed HO-2. HO-1 and HO-2 share similar physical and kinetic properties but have different physiological roles and tissue distributions. Unlike HO-1, which lacks cysteine residues, HO-2 contains three Cys-Pro signatures, known as heme regulatory motifs (HRMs), which are known to control processes related to iron and oxidative metabolism in organisms from bacteria to humans. In HO-2, the C-terminal HRMs constitute a thiol/disulfide redox switch that regulates affinity of the enzyme for heme (Yi, L., and Ragsdale, S. W. (2007) J. Biol. Chem. 282, 20156–21067). Here, we demonstrate that the thiol/disulfide switch in human HO-2 is physiologically relevant. Its redox potential was measured to be −200 mV, which is near the ambient intracellular redox potential. We expressed HO-2 in bacterial and human cells and measured the redox state of the C-terminal HRMs in growing cells by thiol-trapping experiments using the isotope-coded affinity tag technique. Under normal growth conditions, the HRMs are 60–70% reduced, whereas oxidative stress conditions convert most (86–89%) of the HRMs to the disulfide state. Treatment with reductants converts the HRMs largely (81–87%) to the reduced dithiol state. Thus, the thiol/disulfide switch in HO-2 responds to cellular oxidative stress and reductive conditions, representing a paradigm for how HRMs can integrate heme homeostasis with CO signaling and redox regulation of cellular metabolism.
The computed tomography of normal long bone anatomy and its simulation of disease

Abstract Normal bony anatomy as depicted by computed tomography (CT) may, in the region of the knee, hip and shoulder, incorrectly suggest the presence of pathology. Cortical destruction and new bone formation may be simulated at these sites. The normality of the medullary cavity and of the soft tissues are important in differentiation from genuine pathological lesions, with which comparisons are made.
Rib fracture repair: indications, technical issues, and future directions

Rib fracture repair has been performed at selected centers around the world for more than 50 years; however, the operative indications have not been established and are considered controversial. The outcome of a strictly nonoperative approach may not be optimal. Potential indications for rib fracture repair include flail chest, painful, movable rib fractures refractory to conventional pain management, chest wall deformity/defect, rib fracture nonunion, and during thoracotomy for other traumatic indication. Rib fracture repair is technically challenging secondary to the human rib’s relatively thin cortex and its tendency to fracture obliquely. Nonetheless, several effective repair systems have been developed. Future directions for progress on this important surgical problem include the development of minimally invasive techniques and the conduct of multicenter, randomized trials.
New directions for studying cognitive decline in old monkeys

Abstract A cognitive neuroscience perspective provides a valuable framework for organizing data on the behavioral consequences of aging in nonhuman primates. Growing evidence suggests that working memory processes known to depend on the functional integrity of the prefrontal cortex are particularly susceptible to aging in the monkey. By comparison, the status of memory supported by the hippocampus and related medial temporal lobe structures appears more variable across aged individuals. Combined with recent conceptual advances in the broader field of learning and memory research, these findings provide a solid foundation for developing new strategies to establish a complete neuropsychological account of cognitive aging in the monkey.
FDG-PET/CT: New horizons in anal cancer

Anal cancer is an uncommon tumor with an incidence of about one case per 100,000 in most countries. Its incidence seems to be increasing because of exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus (HPV). Traditional pretreatment evaluations include physical examination and CT imaging of the pelvis. Current treatment guidelines include fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography integrated with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) as part of the standard pretreatment workup of patients diagnosed with anal cancer. At diagnosis, FDG-PET/CT is used to evaluate primary tumor size, lymph node status and to evaluate for distant metastases. FDG-PET/CT can also be used for radiation therapy treatment planning by clearly defining sites of metabolically active tumor. Posttherapy FDG-PET/CT to determine response to therapy is highly predictive of long-term clinical outcomes. This imaging modality can also be used to evaluate sites of recurrent disease. FDG-PET/CT is an imaging modality which greatly affects the management of patients with anal cancer.
Effect of postoperative atrial fibrillation on length of stay after cardiac surgery (the postoperative atrial fibrillation in cardiac surgery study [PACS2])

Atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery is thought to increase length of stay (LOS). A clinical pathway focused on the management of postoperative AF, including prophylaxis with beta blockers, was implemented to assess the effect of AF on LOS after cardiac surgery. Data were obtained on consecutive cardiac surgery patients in preoperative normal sinus rhythm, no prior history of AF, and no chronic antiarrhythmic therapy from January to May 1995 (control) and November 1996 to June 1997 (pathway). Statistical analysis was performed to assess the effect of postoperative AF on the LOS, clinical outcomes, and cost after cardiac surgery. Despite the clinical pathway, the LOS (7 days for both periods; p = 0.12) and incidence of AF (28.9% vs 28.4%; p = 0.92) remained unchanged. Unadjusted direct costs were 15% higher in the pathway period (p <0.001). Increased rates of beta-blocker therapy had a marginal effect on the incidence of postoperative AF, except in the group who only underwent primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery (31.2% vs 25.3%; p = 0.31). Multivariate analysis revealed that AF contributed only 1 to 1.5 days to the LOS. Thus, this investigation represents the most recent analysis of the effects of postoperative AF on LOS, clinical outcomes, and cost after cardiac surgery. Unlike prior studies, the impact of postoperative AF is less prominent in the current era of cardiac surgical care regardless of the presence of a clinical pathway addressing AF.
Understanding Rock: Essays in Musical Analysis . Edited by John Covach and Graeme M. Boone. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997. Expression in Pop-Rock Music: A Collection of Critical and Analytical Essays . Edited by Walter Everett. New York and London: Garland Publishing, Inc., 2000.

In the intense disciplinary upheavals of the last fifteen years or so within music scholarship, music analysis has been one of the most contentious areas of debate The sense of conflict arises from a confluence of factors: all music scholars who wish to describe the details of musical style must employ some form of music analysis, yet the very strengths of music-analytical practice Ð its ability to describe musical events with precision, its ability to explain details of musical style and demonstrate structural interrelationships Ð are couched in a technical meta-language that seems resistant to socio-cultural analysis, an area of particular interest for those involved in the self-critique of the field. Concurrent with the apearance of what are probably the best-known denouncements of analysis as formalist and tautological by Joseph Kerman in the early to mid-1980s, musicologists who were sympathetic to aspects of KermanOs critique explored ways to harmonise the description and analysis of musical details with methods of analysis derived from different aspects of cultural theory. Many of the scholars seeking new applications for music analysis also pursued the related project of understanding the socio-historical context for music analysis itself and of unpacking the aesthetic values couched within the apparently neutral practice of analysis.
Development of Long‐Term Cell Lines from Homozygous Clones of Rainbow Trout

Abstract The objective of this work was to develop syngeneic embryonic cell lines from several homozygous clones of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, which had been previously derived by androgenesis, a chromosome manipulation technique. The nine embryonic cell lines were cultured in RPMI-1640 with 10% fetal bovine serum. Seven of the lines exhibited epithelial morphology, and the remaining two were fibroblast-like cell lines. Modal diploid chromosome numbers of each of the lines ranged from 58 to 71, which is near the known chromosome number for rainbow trout (2n = 58–64). Chromosome counts obtained from the leukocytes of the parental fish indicated that 2 parental lines (OSU 142 and Hot Creek 71) were composed of 60 chromosomes, whereas the third parental line (Arlee 12) was composed of 64 chromosomes. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms revealed that the patterns associated with DNA from the cell lines resembled that of the parents. Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus replicated in all of th...
Effect of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate on the replication of Epstein-Barr virus. I. Characterization of viral DNA.

The tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), induces replication of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in a virus-producing human lymphoblastoid cell line, P3HR-1, but not in a nonproducer cell line, Raji. A 6-fold increase in EBV genome copies per P3HR-1 cell parallels the increase in percentage of cells synthesizing viral capsid antigen. In situ cytohybridization with EBV-specific cRNA shows that most of the TPA-treated population participates in the virus-productive cycle. In Raji cells there is abortive induction with an increase in cells showing early antigen from <0.01% to approximately 10%, but there is no increase in EBV genome copies per cell. The optimal TPA concentration for induction of viral DNA replication is 10 ng/ml. EBV DNA synthesized in Raji cells superinfected by virus prepared from TPA-induced P3HR-1 cells is increased approximately 15-fold above that of Raji cells superinfected with control virus. The buoyant density of EBV DNA isolated from virus from TPA-induced cells or of DNA from Raji cells superinfected with TPA-induced and control virus is identical; viral DNA from all sources had the same S value. The XhoI restriction endonuclease digestion patterns of TPA-induced viral DNA and control viral DNA were the same as the viral DNA recovered from Raji cells superinfected with TPA-induced and control virus. Some differences were noted in the molar ratios of some of the fragments.
Simulation of Fuzzy Auto-Tuning PID Control Based on MATLAB

In CNC machine tools servo feed system, there are many uncertain parameters, it is difficult to establish accurate mathematical model of the Servo feed system. The parameters of conventional PID controller can’t adjust immediately to the controlled object. Fuzzy PID controller [1], which has the advantages of conventional PID control and fuzzy control, can solve these problems. We apply it in numerical control machine servo feed system. The simulation in MATLAB shows that the fuzzy auto-tuning PID controller improve the dynamic performance of the servo feed system and has better robustness.
Contraceptive method selection by women with inflammatory bowel diseases: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract Objective Women with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) utilize contraception at a lower rate than the general population. We sought to identify factors associated with contraceptive use and selection of more effective methods in IBD patients at risk for unintended pregnancy. Study Design An online survey was distributed to women with IBD in January 2013. Contraceptive methods were categorized by effectiveness and associations with use explored by demographics, disease characteristics and reproductive goals. Results A total of 162 respondents were analyzed: 62% had Crohn’s disease and 38% ulcerative colitis. Mean age was 31 (range 20–45), 97% identified as White, and 53% were nulliparas. Seventy-four percent were currently using IBD medications. A quarter of participants (23%) used no contraception, 17% used highly effective methods, 41% used short-term hormonal methods, and 19% chose barrier/behavioral methods. Prior IBD-related surgery, biologic therapy use and low education attainment were associated with no contraception use. Of contraceptive users, age, parity, insurance status, IBD surgery and prior immunomodulator use were associated with highly effective method selection. Conclusions A quarter of women with IBD at risk for pregnancy in this study population reported no contraceptive method use. Higher levels of IBD activity influence contraceptive use and method selection, which could guide future patient and provider educational interventions. Implications Pregnancy planning is important for women with inflammatory bowel diseases to avoid adverse outcomes in a disease-poor state. Use of contraception assists in avoidance of unintended pregnancy. IBD characteristics are targets for educational interventions to improve uptake of highly effective contraceptive methods.
Formation of soluble organo-chromium(III) complexes after chromate reduction in the presence of cellular organics.

Microbial reduction of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] to trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] has been investigated as a method for bioremediation of Cr(VI) contaminated environments. The produced Cr(III) is thought to be insoluble Cr(OH)3; however, recent reports suggested a more complex fate of Cr(III). A bacterial enzyme system, using NADH as the reductant, converts Cr(VI) to a soluble NAD+−Cr(III) complex, and cytochrome c-mediated Cr(VI) reduction produces cytochrome c−Cr(III) adducts. In this study, Cr(VI) reduction in the presence of cellular organic metabolites formed both soluble and insoluble organo−Cr(III) end-products. Several soluble end-products were characterized by absorbance spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry as organo−Cr(III) complexes, similar to the known ascorbate−Cr(III) complex. The complexes remained soluble and stable upon dialysis against distilled H2O and over a broad pH range. The ready formation of stable organo−Cr(III) complexes suggests that organo−Cr(III) c...
Fluorescence probe studies on the structure of the adsorbed layer of dodecyl sulfate at the alumina—water interface

Abstract Pyrene and dinaphthylpropane (DNP) fluorescence probes were used to investigate the structure of the adsorbed layer of sodium dodecyl sulfate at the alumina-water interface. The fluorescence fine structure of pyrene yielded information on the polarity of the microenvironment in the adsorbed layer. Intramolecular excimer formation of DNP was used to measure the microviscosity of this environment. The results indicate the presence of highly organized surfactant aggregates at the solid—liquid interface, formed by the association of hydrocarbon chains. Fluorescence decay methods enabled the determination of the size of these aggregates and their evolution as a function of surface coverage. The overall spectroscopic investigation reveals a molecular model that is in agreement with the concept of hemimicellization.
Radiative Heating of the Solar Corona

We investigate the effect of solar visible and infrared radiation on electrons in the Sun's atmosphere using a Monte Carlo simulation of the wave-particle interaction and conclude that sunlight provides at least 40% and possibly all of the power required to heat the corona, with the exception of dense magnetic flux loops. The simulation uses a radiation waveform comprising 100 frequency components spanning the solar blackbody spectrum. Coronal electrons are heated in a stochastic manner by low coherence solar electromagnetic radiation. The wave "coherence time" and "coherence volume" for each component is determined from optical theory. The low coherence of solar radiation allows moving electrons to gain energy from the chaotic wave field which imparts multiple random velocity "kicks" to these particles causing their velocity distribution to broaden or heat. Monte Carlo simulations of broadband solar radiative heating on ensembles of 1000 electrons show heating at per particle levels of 4.0 × 10–21 to 4.0 × 10–20 W, as compared with non-loop radiative loss rates of ≈1 × 10–20 W per electron. Since radiative losses comprise nearly all of the power losses in the corona, sunlight alone can explain the elevated temperatures in this region. The volume electron heating rate is proportional to density, and protons are assumed to be heated either by plasma waves or through collisions with electrons.
Update on TORCH infections in the newborn infant

Abstract TORCH infections are unique in their pathogenesis and have potentially devastating clinical manifestations. Congenital toxoplasmosis remains an important cause of blindness, although avoiding exposure to cats and uncooked meat can prevent it. Congenital syphilis has declined in incidence due to mandatory prenatal testing and effective therapy. The incidence of congenital and neonatal varicella and of congenital rubella has been lowered due to vaccination. Perinatally acquired HIV infection continues to increase at a frightening pace in the developing world. The use of antiretroviral therapy in mothers and the newborn, however, has resulted in a decrease in incidence in the United States. While cytomegalovirus remains the most common cause of congenital infection in the United States, the possibility of effective treatment with Ganciclovir (Hoffman-LaRoche, Basel, Switzerland) has emerged from recent studies. In neonatal herpes, selective use of cesarean delivery and antiviral therapy can decrease incidence and improve outcomes.
Flooding in vertical tubes—I. Experimental studies of the entry region

Abstract An experimental study of the liquid entry region during flooding is reported for a 50.8 mm i.d. vertical tube. The liquid entry device was a porous plastic tube into which film thickness measurement probes were mounted. Simultaneous measurements of the time-varying film thickness were made at locations below, inside and above the porous inlet. The weight of the evidence from cross-covariance analysis of these data does not appear to support models which assume upward propagation of waves above the feed point as the mechanism by which steady-state flooding takes place. Neither was there evidence that waves grow large enough to bridge the tube. Instead, the liquid film appears to undergo a transition from countercurrent to cocurrent flow inside the liquid feed. The pressure drop across the length of the porous tube was also measured and found to be significantly higher than that previously reported at locations above the liquid inlet. In part II [ Int. J. Multiphase Flow 20 , 235–247 (1994)] a film model based on these data is explored.
Idaho benefits survey: Implied compliance with the Pregnancy Discrimination Act

Abstract Pregnancy has been used as an excuse by employers to disqualify pregnancy as a “compensable disability” and/or dismiss female employees. Following the 1976 Supreme Court decision in General Electric Co. vs. Gilbert , the Congress of the United States amended Title VII of the Civil Rights Act with the Pregnancy Discrimination Amendment of 1978. This article examines the implementation of this federal legislation in a sparsely populated, northwestern state. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (PDA), intended to protect women workers, excluded employers with fewer than 15 workers. 1 Based on the employer exemptions, the PDA, would have excluded about 80 percent of Idaho employers. However, the PDA as executed under Idaho's law banning sex discrimination, mandates that employers with five (5) or more employees comply with the intent of the PDA. In essence, more than half of all Idaho employers are required to treat pregnancy, child birth and related medical conditions equally with other nonoccupational medical conditions that may affect continuing employment. The survey data suggest that many Idaho employers do partially comply by providing some of the fundamental benefits. In fact, a surprising number of very small employers, not bound by state or federal law, were found to offer some of the fundamental benefits.
Protein Disulfide Isomerase-associated 6 is an ATF6-inducible ER Stress Response Protein that Protects Cardiac Myocytes from Ischemia/Reperfusion-mediated Cell Death

Proper folding of secreted and transmembrane proteins made in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) requires oxygen for disulfide bond formation. Accordingly, ischemia can impair ER protein folding and initiate the ER stress response, which we previously showed is activated in the ischemic heart and in culture cardiac myocytes subjected to simulated ischemia. ER stress and ischemia activate the transcription factor, activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), which induces numerous genes, many of which have not been identified, or examined in the heart. Using an ATF6 transgenic mouse model, we previously showed that ATF6 protected the heart from ischemic damage; however, the mechanism of this protection remains to be determined. In this study, we showed that, in the mouse heart, and in cultured cardiac myocytes, ATF6 induced the protein disulfide isomerase associated 6 (PDIA6) gene, which encodes an ER enzyme that catalyzes protein disulfide bond formation. Moreover, in cultured cardiac myocytes, ER stress-mediated PDIA6 promoter activation was ATF6-dependent, and required an ER stress response element (ERSE) and a nearby CCAAT box element. Electromobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that ATF6 bound to the ERSE in the PDIA6 promoter, in vitro, and in the mouse heart, in vivo. Gain- and loss-of-function studies showed that PDIA6 protected cardiac myocytes against simulated ischemia/reperfusion-induced death in a manner that was dependent on the catalytic activity of PDIA6. Thus, by facilitating disulfide bond formation, and enhanced ER protein folding, PDIA6 may contribute to the protective effects of ATF6 in the ischemic mouse heart.
Facultative Anaerobiosis in the Invertebrates: Pathways and Control Systems

SYNOPSIS. An increasing number of the invertebrates studied have been found to rely on an anaerobic energy metabolism during at least one stage in their development. Some of the bivalve mollusks, and particularly a relatively large number of parasitic nematodes, cestodes, trematodes and acanthocephala may be classified in this category. Regardless of the aerobic or anaerobic requirements of the parasitic helminths, two features appear to be common to all members of this group which have been examined. First, they are all capable of taking up oxygen. Second, none can oxidize substrates completely to CO2 and H2O; end-products of fermentation invariably accumulate, indicating either the complete absence or the presence of only a limited terminal respiratory pathway. The intes inal nematode, Ascaris lumbricoides , has served as a model system for the elucidation of an anaerobic energy-yielding pathway of carbohydrate dissimilation which appears to beoperative in the anaerobic stages of a number of other invertebrates. This pathway differs in several major respects from those previously described for mammalian and other aerobic tissues. The Ascaris system is discussed in detail and is compared with other invertebrate and vertebrate metabolisms.
On measures of association as measures of positive dependence

Abstract We show that Spearman's rho is a measure of average positive (and negative) quadrant dependence, and that Kendall's tau is a measure of average total positivity (and reverse regularity) of order two.
Phenomenological models of hydrologic processes in south Florida

Summary The objectives of this study were to use existing hydrologic data to identify phenomenological models appropriate for describing key hydrologic processes in south Florida, and collect field data to develop improved process equations. Analyses of 3300 storm events within a 250-km 2 study area in south Florida indicate that rainfall amounts and durations are typically correlated over distances on the order of 2 km. For 1-h duration storms, significant correlation exists for length scales on the order of 1 km, and for 24-h duration storms, significant correlation exists for length scales on the order of 10 km. Double-ring infiltrometer tests indicate that asymptotic infiltration capacities can be reasonably estimated from soil texture. Infiltration capacities are characterized by relatively rapid decay rates and typically approach a constant value within 10 minutes of ponding. Rainfall-recharge data indicate a linear relation between rainfall and recharge characterized by a specific yield of 0.26 and a threshold rainfall of 1 cm. Evaporation from the saturated zone during persistent dry periods can be described by a linear model in which the saturated-zone evaporation rate is equal to the potential evaporation rate for a depth of 1.4 m and decreases to zero at a depth of 2.5 m.
Centroid-moment tensor solutions for January–March 1988

Abstract Centroid-moment tensor solutions are presented for 201 earthquakes that occurred during the first quarter of 1988. The solutions are obtained using corrections for aspherical Earth structure.
The ion pairing and hydration structure of Ni2+ in supercritical water at 425 °C determined by x-ray absorption fine structure and molecular dynamics studies

The ion pairing structure of Ni(Br)2 solutions (0.2 and 0.4 molal) under supercritical conditions was determined using x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. These first measurements of the average bulk structure show that approximately one Br− counterion is associated with each Ni2+. The Ni2+-to-Br− distance of 2.40 A is very accurately determined and the strength of this interaction, as indicated by the Debye–Waller factor (σ2=0.009 A2), shows that the bromine anion is very tightly bound to the nickel cation under these supercritical conditions. In addition to the onset of ion pairing interactions, there is also a dramatic transition in the hydration structure. Results show a loss of about 50% of the waters in the first shell upon going from ambient to a hydrothermal condition of 425 °C and 690 bar. Finally, we use molecular dynamics simulations with refined intermolecular potentials to directly calculate XAFS spectra that are shown to quantitatively reproduce the experimental results for ...
Responses of fetal rat bone cells and bone organ cultures to the ionophore, A23187.

The ionophore A23187 produced a rapid transient increase in the rate of calcium uptake by isolated fetal rat bone cells. There was no effect on calcium efflux or total cellular calcium. The magnitude of the effect on influx was amplified when the cell were incubated at 4°C. Cellular metabolic functions and resorption of cultured fetal rat bones (release of45Ca from pre-labeled long bone) were affected by A23187 in a biphasic manner: cell cyclic AMP (cAMP) was increased by 0.1 and 0.3 μg/ml of the ionophore, whereas 10 μg/ml was either ineffective or lowered the cAMP levels. The high A23187 concentration abolished the stimulatory effects of parathyroid hormone and methylisobutylxanthine. Concentrations of 0.1 and 0.3 μg/ml A23187 stimulated bone resorption. The effect was abolished by calcitonin. Ionophore concentrations above 1 μg/ml produced less bone resorption. These higher concentrations antagonized the bone-resorbing effect of parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. A23187 at 5 and 10 μg/ml decreased bone cell lactate and ATP. Thus at low concentrations, A23187 produced effects on bone similar to those of parathyroid hormone, suggesting that calcium is the primary initiator of PTH-induced bone resorption. At the higher concentrations A23187 may have a general inhibitory effect on cell metabolism.