cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of an Abbreviated Protocol for Cytomegalovirus pp65 Antigenemia Testing

The cytomegalovirus antigenemia assay remains a useful tool for monitoring reactivation among transplant recipients. In this study, we compared protocols using direct lysis of small-volume, whole blood (WB) samples vs peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL)-enriched fractions. Of 363 evaluable samples, 51 (14.0%) were positive by one or both methods. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values were similar (76%, 99%, 96%, and 95% vs 71%, 100%, 96%, and 100% for the WB and PBL methods, respectively). Stratification of qualitative results by WBC count revealed comparable detection rates by each method, although the total number of positive results from leukopenic samples was significantly lower than from nonleukopenic samples ( P = .04). Correlation between quantitative results was high, yet the degree of clinical agreement was suboptimal. We conclude that the small-volume, WB lysis method yields results statistically comparable to that of a PBL fractionation method but with fewer technical steps and less complexity.
Modeling ITS data sources for generating realistic traffic operating parameters for project-level conformity analysis

The challenge in characterizing on-road traffic source emissions affected by traffic management or control measures is often the lack of the realistic traffic flow data at the microscopic level for the project-level transportation conformity analysis. With the advancement of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies, more and more ITS devices are deployed for monitoring traffic. Those ITS devices provide promising data sources for inputs to the emission models for the project level analysis. Taking advantage of those data sources, this paper presents an integrated framework to facilitate the on-road transportation emission estimation under various traffic operations which are influenced by the traffic management and control measures. The implementation of the framework is demonstrated by applying the three components of the framework, i.e., traffic flow phase identification module, vehicle classification module and MOVES (Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator) analysis module, in a case study where inductive loop data are utilized. The information provided by the framework can help traffic operation agency improve or develop efficient traffic management or control measures for energy saving and environment protection.
Time.deltaTime: the vicissitudes of presence in visualizing Roman houses with game engine technology

First drafted in 2006 and currently in version 2.1, the London Charter calls for the adoption of international standards for intellectual integrity, transparency, sustainability, and access in 3D modeling for cultural heritage. While the London Charter has been in the process of revision and distribution to the heritage community, game engines have become less expensive and more approachable. Several engines offer the ability to publish easily across operating systems, mobile devices, and the web, causing a rapid expansion in their use for archeological visualization. However, the very power of game engines to create and publish immersive content poses fundamental challenges to the emphasis on data-driven visualization and transparency expressed in the London Charter. These challenges should not be suppressed, since they can prove heuristically fruitful if they are explicitly recognized and explored. This potential is illustrated by a descriptive analysis of the recreation of the House of the Prince of Naples in Pompeii by an undergraduate humanities class, which concludes that the immersive effects of engine-based visualizations are as much to be found in their creation as in their "playing." This suggests the value of democratizing the creation of game engine content for heritage visualization beyond research visualization laboratories, as a part of undergraduate curricula in the humanities.
Using chloride and other ions to trace sewage and road salt in the Illinois Waterway

Chloride concentrations in waterways of northern USA are increasing at alarming rates and road salt is commonly assumed to be the cause. However, there are additional sources of Cl � in metropolitan areas, � loads entering surface waters. In this study, the potential sources of Cl � and Cl � loads in the Illinois River Basin from the Chicago area to the Illinois River’s confluence with the Mississippi River were investigated using halide data in stream samples and published Cl � and river discharge data. The investigation showed that road salt runoff and TWW from the Chicago region dominate Cl � loads in the Illinois Waterway, defined as the navigable sections of the Illinois River and two major tributaries in the Chicago region. Treated wastewater discharges at a relatively constant rate throughout the year and is the primary source of Cl � and other elements such as F � and B. Chloride loads are highest in the winter and early spring as a
Real-time, cine magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of the pediatric airway.

Background Standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomographic (CT) modalities are limited in their ability to image dynamic organs. New real-time, dynamic, cine magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) techniques have the potential to image moving structures. Objective We therefore investigated the feasibility of using CMRI techniques to dynamically image the human airway, to assess laryngeal and tracheal patency and function. Methods A cohort of 10 pediatric patients, 10 adult patients, and 10 normal volunteers underwent routine static MRI, as well as CMRI using a Siemens 1.5 T Vision system (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). Patients also underwent endoscopic evaluation. Cine axial, coronal, and sagittal sequences of the larynx and trachea were obtained during quiet respiration, as well as during a variety of provocative maneuvers. Results CMRI readily demonstrated normal vocal cord mobility and tracheal stability in normal volunteers. Abnormal vocal mobility was easily appreciated using the CMRI imaging system. Similarly, dynamic effects of tracheomalacia were clearly demonstrated using CMRI. Dynamic extrinsic tracheal compression resulting from mass lesions or anomalous vasculature was also visualized using CMRI. Conclusions Cine MRI of the airway has the potential to provide novel data regarding laryngeal and tracheal patency and function. This evolving modality may serve as a valuable adjunct to static MR and CT imaging, as well as endoscopy, in the assessment of the airway.
Associations of age, gender and body mass with 1H MR-observed brain metabolites and tissue distributions

Recent reports have indicated that a measure of adiposity, the body mass index (BMI), is associated with MR-observed brain metabolite concentrations and tissue volume measures. In addition to indicating possible associations between brain metabolism, BMI and cognitive function, the inclusion of BMI as an additional subject selection criterion could potentially improve the detection of metabolic and structural differences between subjects and study groups. In this study, a retrospective analysis of 140 volumetric MRSI datasets was carried out to investigate the value of including BMI in the subject selection relative to age and gender. The findings replicate earlier reports of strong associations of N-acetylaspartate, creatine, choline and gray matter with age and gender, with additional observations of slightly increased spectral linewidth with age and in female relative to male subjects. Associations of metabolite levels, linewidth and gray matter volume with BMI were also observed, although only in some regions. Using voxel-based analyses, it was also observed that the patterns of the relative changes of metabolites with BMI matched those of linewidth with BMI or weight, and that residual magnetic field inhomogeneity and measures of spectral quality were influenced by body weight. It is concluded that, although associations of metabolite levels and tissue distributions with BMI occur, these may be attributable to issues associated with data acquisition and analysis; however, an organic origin for these findings cannot be specifically excluded. There is, however, sufficient evidence to warrant the inclusion of body weight as a subject selection parameter, secondary to age, and as a factor in data analysis for MRS studies of some brain regions.
An Overview of Chronic Vaginal Atrophy and Options for Symptom Management

During the menopausal transition and after menopause, up to 45 percent of women will develop vaginal atrophy as a consequence of decreased levels of circulating estrogen. Symptoms include vaginal dryness, itching, soreness, bleeding, increased susceptibility to infection and pain with sexual intercourse. Treatments are often underused because of patient and clinician lack of knowledge of available treatments, embarrassment about initiating a discussion of symptoms and reluctance to initiate hormonal therapy. Methods of symptom management include self-care with over-the-counter agents and prescription treatment with various forms of localized estrogen. Clinicians should consider each woman's unique situation and health history before recommending a management strategy.
SinR is a mutational target for fine-tuning biofilm formation in laboratory-evolved strains of Bacillus subtilis

Bacteria often form multicellular, organized communities known as biofilms, which protect cells from a variety of environmental stresses. During biofilm formation, bacteria secrete a species-specific matrix; in Bacillus subtilis biofilms, the matrix consists of protein polymers and exopolysaccharide. Many domesticated strains of B. subtilis have a reduced ability to form biofilms, and we conducted a two-month evolution experiment to test whether laboratory culturing provides selective pressure against biofilm formation in B. subtilis. Bacteria grown in two-month-long batch culture rapidly diversified their biofilm-forming characteristics, exhibiting highly diverse colony morphologies on LB plates in the initial ten days of culture. Generally, this diversity decreased over time; however, multiple types of colony morphology remained in our final two-month-old populations, both under shaking and static conditions. Notably, while our final populations featured cells that produce less biofilm matrix than did the ancestor, cells overproducing biofilm matrix were present as well. We took a candidate-gene approach to identify mutations in the strains that overproduced matrix and found point mutations in the biofilm-regulatory gene sinR. Introducing these mutations into the ancestral strain phenocopied or partially phenocopied the evolved biofilm phenotypes. Our data suggest that standard laboratory culturing conditions do not rapidly select against biofilm formation. Although biofilm matrix production is often reduced in domesticated bacterial strains, we found that matrix production may still have a fitness benefit in the laboratory. We suggest that adaptive specialization of biofilm-forming species can occur through mutations that modulate biofilm formation as in B. subtilis.
Is ''smart charging'' policy for electric vehicles worthwhile? $

Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) offer the potential for both reducing reliance on oil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, they may also increase the demand for electricity during peak periods, thereby requiring the construction of new generating units and increasing total costs to electricity consumers. We evaluate the economic costs and benefits of policies that shift charging demand from daytime to off-peak nighttime hours, using data for two different independent system operators and considering a number of sensitivity analyses. We find that the total savings from demand-shifting run into the billions of dollars, though as a percentage of total electricity costs they are quite small. The value of smart charging policy varies significantly across electric grids. Time-of-use pricing is worthwhile under all of the cases we study, but the economic benefits of optimal charging of electric vehicles do not appear to justify investing in the smart grid infrastructure required to implement real-time pricing.
Invasive plants and their ecological strategies: prediction and explanation of woody plant invasion in New England

Effective management of introduced species requires the early identification of species that pose a significant threat of becoming invasive. To better understand the invasive ecology of species in New England, USA, we compiled a character data set with which to compare non-native species that are known invaders to non-native species that are not currently known to be invasive. In contrast to previous biological trait-based models, we employed a Bayesian hierarchical analysis to identify sets of plant traits associated with invasiveness for each of three growth forms (vines, shrubs, and trees). The resulting models identify a suite of ‘invasive traits’ highlighting the ecology associated with invasiveness for each of three growth forms. The most effective predictors of invasiveness that emerged from our model were ‘invasive elsewhere’, ‘fast growth rate’, ‘native latitudinal range’, and ‘growth form’. The contrast among growth forms was pronounced. For example, ‘wind dispersal’ was positively correlated with invasiveness in trees, but negatively correlated in shrubs and vines. The predictive model was able to correctly classify invasive plants 67% of the time (22/33), and non-invasive plants 95% of the time (204/215). A number of potential future invasive species in New England that deserve management consideration were identified.
Code-to-Code Comparison of CFD/CSD Simulation for a Helicopter Rotor in Forward Flight

Two unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solvers are used to compute the rotor airloads on the UH-60A rotorcraft at several flight conditions across the flight envelope. One code, OVERFLOW, solves the flow equations using either structured grids, or a combination of structured and Cartesian grids. The other solver, FUN3D, uses unstructured grids. Both flow solvers are coupled to the same rotorcraft comprehensive code (CAMRAD II) in order to account for trim and aeroelastic deflections, and both utilize the same loose coupling scheme to transfer data between the flow solver and the comprehensive code. In the process of performing the code-to-code comparison, several small but important details are examined that may sometimes be overlooked when comparing results from rotorcraft simulations using different codes. Computed normal force, pitching moment, and chord force are compared between codes, and also with flight data.
Changes in the Frequency and Return Level of High Ozone Pollution Events Over the Eastern United States Following Emission Controls

In order to quantify the impact of recent efforts to abate surface ozone (O3) pollution, we analyze changes in the frequency and return level of summertime (JJA) high surface O3 events over the eastern United States (US) from 1988‐1998 to 1999‐2009. We apply methods from extreme value theory (EVT) to maximum daily 8-hour average ozone (MDA8 O3) observed by the Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNet) and define O3 extremes as days on which MDA8 O3 exceeds a threshold of 75 ppb (MDA8 O3 > 75). Over the eastern US, we find that the number of summer days with MDA8 O3 > 75 declined on average by about a factor of two from 1988‐1998 to 1999‐2009. The applied generalized Pareto distribution (GPD) fits the high tail of MDA8 O3 much better than a Gaussian distribution and enables the derivation of probabilistic return levels (describing the probability of exceeding a value x within a time window T) for high O3 pollution events. This new approach confirms the significant decline in both frequency and magnitude of high O3 pollution events over the eastern US during recent years reported in prior studies. Our analysis of 1-yr and 5-yr return levels at each station demonstrates the strong impact of changes in air quality regulations and subsequent control measures (e.g., the ‘NOx SIP Call’), as the 5-yr return levels of the period 1999‐2009 correspond roughly to the 1-yr return levels of the earlier time period (1988‐1998). Regionally, the return levels dropped between 1988‐1998 and 1999‐2009 by about 8 ppb in the Mid-Atlantic (MA) and Great Lakes (GL) regions, while the strongest decline, about 13 ppb, is observed in the Northeast (NE) region. Nearly all stations (21 out of 23) have 1-yr return levels well below 100 ppb and 5-yr return levels well below 110 ppb in 1999‐2009. Decreases in eastern US O3 pollution are largest after full implementation of the nitrogen oxide (NOx) reductions under the ‘NOx SIP Call’. We conclude that the application of EVT methods provides a useful approach for quantifying return levels of high O3 pollution in probabilistic terms, which may help to guide long-term air quality planning.
Experimental Investigations of Radially Rotating Miniature High-Temperature Heat Pipes

A radially rotating miniature high-temperature heat pipe employs centrifugal force to return the condensate in the condenser section to the evaporator section. The heat pipe has a simple structure, very high effective thermal conductance and heat transfer capacity, and can work in hostile high-temperature environments. In this research, a high-speed rotating test apparatus and data acquisition system for radially rotating miniature high-temperature heat pipes are established. Extensive experimental tests on two heat pipes with different dimensions are performed, and various effects of influential parameters on the performance characteristics of the heat pipes are investigated. The ranges of the important parameters covered in the current experiments are: 470≤ ω 2 Za/g≤1881; 47 W≤Q≤325 W; d i =1.5 and 2 mm; and 1.05×10 -3 m 3 /s≤W≤13.4×10 -3 m 3 /s. The experimental data prove that the radially rotating miniature high-temperature heat pipe has a high effective thermal conductance, which is 60-100 times higher than the thermal conductivity of copper, and a large heat transfer capacity that is more than 300 W. Therefore, the heat pipe appears to he feasible for cooling high-temperature gas turbine components.
Regulation of α‐synuclein by bFGF in cultured ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons

α-Synuclein is a neuronal protein that is implicated in the control of synaptic vesicle function and in Parkinson's disease (PD). Consequently, alterations of α-synuclein levels may play a role in neurotransmission and in PD pathogenesis. However, the factors that regulate α-synuclein levels are unknown. Growth factors mediate neurotrophic and plasticity effects in CNS neurons, and may play a role in disease states. Here we examine the regulation of α-synuclein levels in primary CNS neurons, with particular emphasis on dopaminergic neurons. E18 rat cortical neurons and dopaminergic neurons of E14 rat ventral midbrain showed an induction of α-synuclein protein levels with maturation in culture. Application of basic Fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) promoted α-synuclein expression selectively within dopaminergic, and not GABAergic or cortical neurons. This induction was blocked by actinomycin D, but not by inhibition of bFGF-induced glial proliferation. α-Synuclein levels were not altered by glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), or by apoptotic stimuli. We conclude that bFGF promotes α-synuclein expression in cultured ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons through a direct transcriptional effect. These results suggest that distinct growth factors may thus mediate plasticity responses or influence disease states in ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons.
The impact of pioglitazone on ADMA and oxidative stress markers in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract Aims To determine whether pioglitazone 30mg daily reduces levels of ADMA in adult patients with diabetes, and whether there is improvement in markers of oxidative stress. Methods Prospective randomized cross-over placebo-controlled study of 36 adults age 40–75 years with type 2 diabetes recruited from a single academic health center. Intervention was for 12 weeks, followed by a 4-week wash-out period, followed by a second 12-week cross-over treatment period. The main outcome was comparison of the change in ADMA levels in the two treatment periods. Secondary outcomes included change in NOx and F2-isoprostanes. Results Thirty-six patients were enrolled in the study, 31 completed the protocol; the study enrollment met the sample size required to detect a change of 18% in levels. There were no differences in ADMA, NOx and F2-isoprostanes levels in the two treatment periods. Non-study medication changes or changes in dose were infrequent, and a statin was added during the study period in only one patient. Conclusions Despite previous animal data that showed an effect of pioglitazone on ADMA, the current study in human patients did not demonstrate any differences in ADMA, NOx, or F2-isoprostane levels. The results do not favor that pioglitazone has a significant impact on ADMA levels in human patients with diabetes.
Individual Versus Family Psychotherapy in Managed Care: Comparing the Costs of Treatment by the Mental Health Professions

In an effort to understand how psychotherapy is practiced in the ‘‘real world,’’ outpatient claims data were examined to determine the cost of individual and family therapy provided by marital and family therapists, master’s nurses, master’s social workers, medical doctors, psychologists, or professional counselors. Claims for 490,000 unique persons over 4 years were obtained from CIGNA. Family therapy proved to be substantially more cost-effective than individual or ‘‘mixed’’ psychotherapy. Physicians provided care in the fewest sessions, marital and family therapists had the highest success (86.6%) and lowest recidivism rates (13.4%), and professional counselors were the least costly. Outcomes were overwhelmingly successful, with 85% of patients requiring only one episode of care. There is scant research comparing the mental health disciplines, either by cost or treatment modality. No large-scale studies could be found that distinguished among the mental health professions, and those that exist fail to take a comprehensive look at payment and treatment patterns. The most relevant studies have either examined a small data set pertaining to one region of the United States or have focused on one particular type of therapy or disorder, such as studies on schizophrenia (Busch, Frank, & Lehman, 2004; Dixon et al., 2001).
Pulse propagation in a linear and nonlinear diatomic periodic chain: effects of acoustic frequency band-gap

One-dimensional nonlinear phononic crystals have been assembled from periodic diatomic chains of stainless steel cylinders alternated with Polytetrafluoroethylene spheres. This system allows dramatic changes of behavior (from linear to strongly nonlinear) by application of compressive forces practically without changes of geometry of the system. The relevance of classical acoustic band-gap, characteristic for chain with linear interaction forces and derived from the dispersion relation of the linearized system, on the transformation of single and multiple pulses in linear, nonlinear and strongly nonlinear regimes are investigated with numerical calculations and experiments. The limiting frequencies of the acoustic band-gap for investigated system with given precompression force are within the audible frequency range (20–20,000 Hz) and can be tuned by varying the particle’s material properties, mass and initial compression. In the linear elastic chain the presence of the acoustic band-gap was apparent through fast transformation of incoming pulses within very short distances from the chain entrance. It is interesting that pulses with relatively large amplitude (nonlinear elastic chain) exhibit qualitatively similar behavior indicating relevance of the acoustic band gap also for transformation of nonlinear signals. The effects of an in situ band-gap created by a mean dynamic compression are observed in the strongly nonlinear wave regime.
An online bioengineering learning module: gene regulation

An online learning module on gene regulation was designed and implemented in BIOL 295F - Introductory Quantitative Cellular Biology, a new undergraduate course for engineering students at Purdue University. The overarching design goal was to create an online module to help students develop a dynamic mental model of the cause and effect relationship between gene expression and protein function using circadian rhythms as an example. By taking advantage of advances in technology, an online module was developed that provides both visual representations that help engineering students best learn as well as interactive components that engage students in higher-level critical thinking. This paper overviewed the design, implementation, and assessment of the online learning module. Student learning gains were assessed using pre-post quiz questions focused on concepts presented in the online learning module. In addition, students' actual use of the tool and their perceptions of the interactive online learning modules versus other modes of instruction were evaluated
Calculation of the Error in the Zero-Crossing Method of Computing the Magnetic Thermal Fluctuation

The concept of the fluctuation field has been widely used to characterize thermal properties of magnetic materials; in particular, the characterization of aftereffect. The Preisach-Arrhenius method has been used successfully to determine the fluctuation field based on aftereffect curves from different holding fields. An approximate method used to determine the fluctuation field, the zero-crossing method, has led to erroneous and misleading results. In this paper, the accuracy of the zero-crossing method is tested, when applied to sets of preconditioned artificial data with a predetermined fluctuation field. The Preisach-Arrhenius method accurately calculates the correct fluctuation field for all various assumed parameters, while the zero-crossing method produces significant errors especially when the holding field approaches near the coercivity and fails when beyond the coercivity. The error of the zero-crossing method is a result of not properly accounting for the anhysteretic curve variation with holding field.
The Birth of an African Private Epistolography, Echo Island 1862–1901

This study examines the surviving private correspondence from Echo Island (Jazīrat Abū Ranāt, formerly Abranarti), a small nineteenth-century agricultural community in the Shāīquiyya country of the northern Sudan. The central question addressed is a discordance between the preoccupations of the letters and the concerns manifested in the considerably larger literature of contemporary legal records surviving from the same community, a clash that finds resonance in the familiar historiographical rivalry between advocates of culturally autonomous consciousness and partisans of material or socioeconomic determinisms. It is suggested that the private correspondence from Echo Island may best be interpreted as a new technique of bond management in the microsociological sense that arose and flourished in an age when the community found itself compelled to respond to a colonial setting vastly larger in scale than what had previously prevailed. The world of subjective ideas evidenced in the correspondence ignored, probably deliberately, most of the pressing immediate concerns of the community revealed in the contemporary legal documents; however, it opened a new ‘mode of communication,’ a conceptual terrain across which members of the elite exercised their virtuosity in mutual manipulations of status.
Bridging Bilingual and Special Education: Opportunities for Transformative Change in Teacher Preparation Programs

This article reports on the design and performance of ALAS (Acquisition of Language Skills and Academic Literacy) Teacher Education Project designed to bridge Biliteracy and Special Education teacher preparation. ALAS was designed by faculty in two higher education departments engaged in teacher preparation to respond to California’s need for bilingual special education teachers, where less than 2% of special education teachers in California are credentialed in both bilingual and special education disciplines (CBEDS, 2013). In California about 1 in 4 students are identified as English Language Learners (ELLs). The ALAS project actively addresses the lack of academic programming to develop qualified bilingual special education teachers to meet the needs of K-12 ELLs via teacher education courses, specialized conferences, teaching practicum in the two disciplines of bilingual/biliteracy and Special Education Mild-Moderate emphasis. The article reports on five years of data (2008-2013) that examines the conceptual design of the ALAS two-year teacher preparation program, the use of seven standards to evaluate the program, and participants’ perceptions on the strengths and needs of their training. The evolving results have implications for teacher preparation curriculum change and reform in addressing ELLs to match the needs of the client school communities.
A pilot study: the role of the autonomic nervous system in cardiorespiratory regulation in infant feeding.

Aim: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the interplay between the parasympathetic (PNS) and sympathetic nervous systems’ (SNS) contributions to prefeeding, feeding and satiation in young, healthy infants. Method: This prospective study was completed on eleven full-term infants, less than 6 months old. Respiratory rate, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), electrodermal activity and low-frequency/high-frequency heart rate variability ratio were sampled from the infant during prefeeding, feeding and satiation periods. Results: A repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant difference in respiratory patterning during the three feeding phases (p = .049); however, none of the other physiological measures reached significance. An emerging trend across physiological measures suggests that the feeding phase was influenced by the SNS with increasing respiratory rate, heart rate, low-frequency HRV, electrodermal activity and decreasing highfrequency HRV compared to the prefeeding and satiation phases, which were influenced predominantly by the PNS. Conclusion: Respiration rate increased significantly during the feeding phase compared to prefeeding and postfeeding phases. Emerging trends indicate a pattern of alternating relative tone in PNS versus SNS across feeding phases – with SNS predominating the feeding phase. More clinical research examining the SNS and PNS contributions to feeding should be completed across patient populations.
N-Glycosylation of Cholera Toxin B Subunit: Serendipity for Novel Plant-Made Vaccines?

The non-toxic B subunit of cholera toxin (CTB) has attracted considerable interests from vaccinologists due to strong mucosal immunomodulatory effects and potential utility as a vaccine scaffold for heterologous antigens. Along with other conventional protein expression systems, various plant species have been used as recombinant production hosts for CTB and its fusion proteins. However, it has recently become clear that the protein is N-glycosylated within the endoplasmic reticulum of plant cells – a eukaryotic post-translational modification that is not present in native CTB. While functionally active aglycosylated variants have been successfully engineered to circumvent potential safety and regulatory issues related to glycosylation, this modification may actually provide advantageous characteristics to the protein as a vaccine platform. Based on data from our recent studies, I discuss the unique features of N-glycosylated CTB produced in plants for the development of novel vaccines.
Obesity and rhinitis in a nationwide study of children and adults in the United States.

Background Obesity has been associated with higher risk of asthma and asthma severity both in children and adults. However, studies evaluating the relation between obesity and rhinitis have yielded conflicting results. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study of obesity indicators and rhinitis using data from 8165 participants in the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Allergic rhinitis was defined as physician-diagnosed hay fever or allergy, the presence of symptoms in the past 12 months, and at least 1 positive allergen-specific IgE level. Nonallergic rhinitis was defined as a physician's diagnosis and symptoms but no positive allergen-specific IgE levels. Multivariate regression was used to assess the relationship between obesity and rhinitis in children and adults. Results In adults, overweight or obesity was associated with increased odds of nonallergic rhinitis (adjusted odds ratio, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.06-1.93; P = .02). Similarly, central obesity was associated with increased odds of nonallergic rhinitis in adults (adjusted odds ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.20-2.16; P P Conclusions In adults, obesity is associated with increased odds of nonallergic rhinitis, particularly in male subjects. In children, central obesity is associated with reduced odds of allergic rhinitis, regardless of sex.
The Influence of Juridical Cant on Edificatory Approaches in 21st-Century America

This essay reframes the debate over the "growing disjunction" between legal scholarship and legal practice. Law review articles continue to make the world a better place, the essay stipulates. But are judicial opinions becoming less useful to students and scholars? A rigorous analysis and concrete prescriptions follow.
Groin Pain Etiology: The Inguinal Hernia, the Occult Inguinal Hernia, and the Lipoma

The differential diagnosis for groin pain is quite long, and among the many etiologies can include such diagnoses as chronic appendicitis, diverticulitis, urologic diseases, and gynecological processes. One must not forget, however, the importance of the inguinal hernia in the workup for groin pain, as it is the cause of 4.7 million visits each year. Many of these hernias are evident on clinical exam, though an occult hernia may be suspected in absence of a palpable bulge.
Iodoacetamide induced gastric ulcers in rats.

SummaryIodoacetamide when fed in drinking water at concentrations of SO or 100 mg per 100 ml is capable of producing chronic gastric ulcers in the secretory portion of the rat's stomach. This method may prove useful in studies of pathogenesis because the gastric ulcers did not perforate or cause a serious nutritional disturbance.
Polymerization of affinity ligands on a surface for enhanced ligand display and cell binding.

Surfaces functionalized with affinity ligands have been widely studied for applications such as biological separations and cell regulation. While individual ligands can be directly conjugated onto a surface, it is often important to conjugate polyvalent ligands onto the surface to enhance ligand display. This study was aimed at exploring a method for surface functionalization via polymerization of affinity ligands, which was achieved through ligand hybridization with DNA polymers protruding from the surface. The surface with polyvalent ligands was evaluated via aptamer-mediated cell binding. The results show that this surface bound target cells more effectively than a surface directly functionalized with individual ligands in situations with either equal amounts of ligand display or equal amounts of surface reaction sites. Therefore, this study has demonstrated a new strategy for surface functionalization to enhance ligand display and cell binding. This strategy may find broad applications in settings whe...
Support of the Biological Sciences by the Office of Naval Research

N recognition of the paramount importance of scientific research in the maintenance of future naval power and national security, and for the purpose of providing one office within the Department of the Navy specifically to conduct specialized and imaginative research in government facilities and under contract with private individuals, corporations, and educational or scientific institutions, the 79th Congress established the Office of Naval Research, Act of 1 August 1946, Public Law 588. The Congressional Act which established the Office of Naval Research patterned it largely after its predecessor, the Office of Research and Inventions, and transferred to it the several component organizations of that Office.1 The newly established Office of Naval Research realized the urgency of several immediate obligations. (1) Recognizing the fact that applied research and development in military fields had exploited most of our understanding of basic mechanisms in the physical as well as in the biological sciences, the Navy must contribute to the development of new concepts of the behavior of matter, both living and non-living, lest the development of practical devices cease altogether. (2) A number of activities of great importance, initiated by the war-time OSRD, should be maintained in order to protect the investments already made in facilities and in teams of investigators. (3) Close liaison should be developed and maintained with the scientific community in order that confident co-operation might be insured in the event of another emergency. Several longer-range objectives were also recognized, and these were beautifully documented in "Science, the Endless Frontier," in which Dr. Bush described the potential effectiveness of a National Science Foundation as the governmental source of guidance in the development of science.2 When the proposed National Science Foundation encountered legislative difficulties, the Office of Naval Research accepted the temporary responsibility for some of these long-range objectives. An example of this type of objective was the formation of a Source File of Scientific Personnel which was the basis of the most recent edition of "American Men of Science" and the investigation of ancillary problems. Having known that the Office of Naval Research was "carrying the ball" prior to the establishment of the National Science Foundation, some scientists have expressed concern that the recent establishment of the Foundation might cause the Office of Naval Research to decrease its support of basic research. We wish to reassure these scientists as to the intentions of the Office of Naval Research with respect to its support of biological science and to acquaint them with what changes may be expected in its program as a result of the establishment of the National Science Foundation. The basis for these intentions is found in a series of statements 3 made in Congressional hearings by various authorities on the relationship of the Foundation to other organizations which support scientific research.
Protective effects and mechanism of hypoxia preconditioning and praeruptorin con ischemical reperfusion injury in cardiomyocytes

Objective TO explore the effect of hypoxia preconditioning and praeruptorin C on the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ and the apoptotic index of cadiomyocytes in rats suffering from hypoxi-reoxygenation injury at the cellular level,so as to elucidate the mechanism of protective effect.Methods The neonatal rat cadiomyocytes were randomly divided into 5 groups: hypoxia-rereoxygenation injury(HR);hypoxia preconditioning(HP),different medicines including Adenosine(AP),Praeruptorin C(PP) and Verapamil(VP).The value of LDH of the tran-sudate was detected by automaticbiochemistry analyzer after the two models were established.The fluorescence intensity of intracelluLar Ca2+ and rate of apoptosis in rat cadiomyocytes were detected with FLUO-3/AM and Annexin-V FITC loading with flow cytometer,and then apoptotic indexes were calculated.Results Compared with the HR group,the value of LDH,the fluorescence intensity of intracellular Ca2+,and the index of apoptosis were significantly low in groups of HP,PP and VP(P0.05),but there was no significant difference in the parameteres between the group PP and the groups of HP,AP and PP.Conclusion Hypoxia preconditioning and pharmacal preconditioning including AP and PP can produce the protective effects on cadiomyocytes suffering from hypoxi-reoxygena-tion injury,which may be related with lessening the intracellular calcium overload and reducing the apoptotic index of cadiomyocytes.In addition,praeruptorin C also plays the role of blocking Ca2+ influxing into plasma membrane intracell in preconditioning.
Effects of leptin on hepatic fibrosis

Leptin and its functional receptors play a crucial role in hepatic fibrogenesis.However,the precise mechanisms underlying the profibrogenic action of leptin in the liver has not been well elucidated.There are two different mechanisms at present.Immunity system and some cytokines may act on it.The reseach on the mechanism of leptin offer a new way for the clinical treatment of hepatic fibrosis.
The Wisdom Group: a psychotherapeutic model for elderly persons.

This article describes the “Wisdom Group,” a therapy devised for the psychotherapeutic treatment of elderly persons. Preliminary work was done with five men of advanced age who were psychiatric in-...
Intranasal corticosteroids for acute bacterial sinusitis.

Compared with patients not treated with intranasal corticosteroids, those who receive them have greater improvement or resolution of symptoms at two to three weeks, regardless of whether antibiotics are used. In a single head-to-head study, patients taking intranasal corticosteroids alone fared slightly better than those taking antibiotics alone. Higher doses of intranasal corticosteroids work better than lower doses.
Interior Landmarks Preservation and Public Access

While the success of New York's groundbreaking landmarks preservation law — 50 years old as of last year — may be debated, the impact it has had on the city's physical, cultural, and historical fabric over its half-century in existence is beyond question. More important than its effects on the city itself is the immeasurable influence the law has had on the millions of people that have experienced and seen, first-hand, the landmarks that without the law's protections might otherwise have been altered or destroyed. Yet today, some of New York's most celebrated interior landmarks are closed off to the public, the very group for whose benefit the spaces have been protected. While there may be several avenues available for ensuring that the public has access to landmark interiors, this Note argues that the most promising are those that depend on the cooperation of government, the public, and most importantly, owners of landmarks, rather than those that seek to prevent restricted access over owners' objections.
Comparison of Newer IOL Power Calculation Methods for Eyes With Previous Radial Keratotomy.

PURPOSE To evaluate the accuracy of the optical coherence tomography-based (OCT formula) and Barrett True K (True K) intraocular lens (IOL) calculation formulas in eyes with previous radial keratotomy (RK). METHODS In 95 eyes of 65 patients, using the actual refraction following cataract surgery as target refraction, the predicted IOL power for each method was calculated. The IOL prediction error (PE) was obtained by subtracting the predicted IOL power from the implanted IOL power. The arithmetic IOL PE and median refractive PE were calculated and compared. RESULTS All formulas except the True K produced hyperopic IOL PEs at 1 month, which decreased at ≥4 months (all P < 0.05). For the double-K Holladay 1, OCT formula, True K, and average of these three formulas (Average), the median absolute refractive PEs were, respectively, 0.78 diopters (D), 0.74 D, 0.60 D, and 0.59 D at 1 month; 0.69 D, 0.77 D, 0.77 D, and 0.61 D at 2 to 3 months; and 0.34 D, 0.65 D, 0.69 D, and 0.46 D at ≥4 months. The Average produced significantly smaller refractive PE than did the double-K Holladay 1 at 1 month (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in refractive PEs among formulas at 4 months. CONCLUSIONS The OCT formula and True K were comparable to the double-K Holladay 1 method on the ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) calculator. The Average IOL power on the ASCRS calculator may be considered when selecting the IOL power. Further improvements in the accuracy of IOL power calculation in RK eyes are desirable.
A Free-Form Medium for Curating the Digital

We present a free-form medium of curation for digital arts catalogues, which connects an infinite zoomable canvas, sketching, and spatial arrangement of rich catalogue elements. We draw on an architectural theory that integrally joins the properties of building materials, construction techniques, and sites to develop a tectonic theory of media of digital curation. The theory addresses media of curation on two levels: the materials of elements that can be collected and the medium of assemblage, which prescribes how those elements can be joined together in a spatial matrix. The elements of prior digital arts catalogues are joined together in linear lists or grids. These assemblages do not scale well, making them agonizing to wade through when collections are large. Assemblage in our new, free-form medium supports curating across multiple scales, easing demands on visual attention, while opening conceptual horizons. We created an artifact, The Digital Curated, as an example of a digital arts catalogue represented in our new medium.
Experimental overview on flow observables in heavy ion collisions

Abstract This paper summarizes the experimental results on flow phenomena that were presented at Quark matter 2015, with a focus on new flow observables and correlations in small systems. The results presented include event-shape selected p T spectra and v n measurements, correlations between flow harmonics of different orders, study of factorization breakdown in two-particle correlations, and principal component analysis of two-particle correlations. Recent developments in investigation of collective effects in small collisions systems, namely, p +A, d +A and 3 He + A as well as in pp collisions are also presented.
Object tracking with dynamic feature graph

Two major problems for model-based object tracking are: 1) how to represent an object so that it can effectively be discriminated with background and other objects; 2) how to dynamically update the model to accommodate the object appearance and structure changes. Traditional appearance based representations (like color histogram) fails when the object has rich texture. In this paper, we present a novel feature based object representation attributed relational graph (ARG) for reliable object tracking. The object is modeled with invariant features (SIFT) and their relationship is encoded in the form of an ARG that can effectively distinguish itself from background and other objects. We adopt a competitive and efficient dynamic model to adoptively update the object model by adding new stable features as well as deleting inactive features. A relaxation labeling method is used to match the model graph with the observation to gel the best object position. Experiments show that our method can get reliable track even under dramatic appearance changes, occlusions, etc.
Gap junction gene and protein families: Connexins, innexins, and pannexins

Gap junction channels facilitate the intercellular exchange of ions and small molecules. While this process is critical to all multicellular organisms, the proteins that form gap junction channels are not conserved. Vertebrate gap junctions are formed by connexins, while invertebrate gap junctions are formed by innexins. Interestingly, vertebrates and lower chordates contain innexin homologs, the pannexins, which also form channels, but rarely (if ever) make intercellular channels. While the connexin and the innexin/pannexin polypeptides do not share significant sequence similarity, all three of these protein families share a similar membrane topology and some similarities in quaternary structure. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Gap Junction Proteins edited by Jean Claude Herve.