cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Separation of porcine parvovirus from bovine serum albumin using PEG-salt aqueous two-phase system.

Abstract Vaccine production faces a challenge in adopting conventional downstream processing steps that can efficiently purify large viral particles. Some major issues that plague vaccine purification are purity, potency, and quality. The industry currently considers 30% as an acceptable virus recovery for a vaccine purification process, including all downstream processes, whereas antibody recovery from CHO cell culture is generally around 80–85%. A platform technology with an improved virus recovery would revolutionize vaccine production. In a quest to fulfill this goal, we have been exploring aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) as an optional mechanism to purify virus. ATPS has been unable to gain wide implementation mainly due to loss of virus infectivity, co-purification of proteins, and difficulty of polymer recycling. Non-enveloped viruses are chemically resistant enough to withstand the high polymer and salt concentrations that are required for effective ATPS separations. We used infectious porcine parvovirus (PPV), a non-enveloped, DNA virus as a model virus to test and develop an ATPS separation method. We successfully tackled two of the three main disadvantages of ATPS previously stated; we achieved a high infectious yield of 64% in a PEG–citrate ATPS process while separating out the main contaminate protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA). The most dominant forces in the separation were biomolecule charge, virus surface hydrophobicity, and the ATPS surface tension. Highly hydrophobic viruses are likely to benefit from the discovered ATPS for high-purity vaccine production and ease of implementation.
Relation of Single‐Crystal Elastic Constants to Polycrystalline Isotropic Elastic Moduli of MgO: II, Temperature Dependence

The technical adiabatic elastic moduli E[hkl] and Ghkl of single crystals of magnesium oxide were measured over the temperature range 298° to about 1600°K by a Forster-type resonance method. These data were compared with the low-temperature values (80° to 560°K) of the principal elastic constants cij and coefficients Sy reported by Durand. Combining Durand's data and the present data, the elastic moduli for single-crystal magnesium oxide were evaluated for the temperature range 80° to 1600°K. Young's modulus and the shear modulus of densely formed isotropic polycrystalline magnesium oxide were measured over the temperature range 298° to 1600°K. The data on the elastic constants of the single crystals were compared with the measured elastic moduli of the isotropic polycrystalline magnesium oxide on the basis of the Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximation. The temperature dependence of the elastic moduli was fitted into the expression M = Mc— BT exp (—Tc/T) suggested by Wachtman et al.; mean deviations were less than 0.4% for the temperature range considered. The significance of the present data is discussed with particular emphasis on the following points: (1) the temperature variation of the elastic modulus is a function of thermal expansion, (2) the temperature dependence of the elastic modulus can be well described by the foregoing expression for a wide range of temperature, (3) the expression gives a value of the elastic modulus at 0°K, and (4) it may be possible to make use of measurements on the elastic properties of a densely sintered polycrystalline material to obtain information heretofore obtainable only from the corresponding single-crystal data.
Lack of subjective tendency to bleed as clinical marker for aspirin resistance.

The anti-platelet effect of aspirin (ASA) is widely proven to be effective in the prevention of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events in high risk patients. However, despite being on aspirin th...
Pride, Purdah, or Paychecks: What Maintains the Gender Division of Labor in Rural Egypt?

Traveling from al-Minya, Egypt, north to Cairo by train in the mid-1980s, an observer could not help but notice the large numbers of women and children working in the lush agricultural plots adjacent to the railroad tracks. In fact, throughout the northern Sa⊂id and the Delta, too, women seemed to have taken over the fields. Furthermore, upon arriving at the Agriculture Ministry in Giza, a listener frequently overheard remarks referring to the “alarming” rise in the feminization of Egyptian agriculture. Yet Egyptian farm women have always lent a hand to agricultural production. So what, in recent years, has generated such a large-scale “invasion” of women into men's jobs? Particularly in light of the strict segregation of women from men, and their seclusion in the privacy of the home, what has brought about this public display of women?
Soft constraint iterative reconstruction from noisy projections

Soft constraints are introduced in an iterative projection approach, in order to make the set of constraints compatible for the case of noisy measurements. The degrees of freedom in the design are then used to arrive at a computationally simple form of the soft constraint algorithm. Simulation shows that the true solution is still feasible under noisy conditions, a property lost with the use of hard constraint algorithms.
On the Uncertainty Principle for Proper Time and Mass

In [J. Math. Phys. {\bf 40}, 1237 (1999)] Kudaka and Matsumoto derive the uncertainty relation $c^2 \Delta m \Delta \tau \geq \hbar/2$ between the rest mass $m$ and the proper time $\tau$, by considering the Lagrangian $M(\dot \tau - c^{-1} \sqrt{-g_{\mu \nu} \dot x^\mu \dot x^\nu}) + e A_\mu (x) \dot x^\mu$. In this note we give an alternative derivation based on a special case of the time-like geodesic equation obtained using the general relativistic Lagrangian $g_{\mu \nu} \frac{dx^\mu}{d \tau}\frac{dx^\nu}{d \tau}$.
Insulin-stimulated receptor phosphorylation appears normal in cultured Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocyte cell lines derived from patients with extreme insulin resistance

Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the insulin receptor was studied in cultured B-lymphocytes transformed by Epstein-Barr virus. In studies with cell lines derived from six normal subjects, insulin (10‒7 M) caused an average increase of approximately 200‰ in 32P incorporation into the 95K subunit of the insulin receptor. Phosphorylation was rapid (detectable within 1–2 min) and reached a maximum level by 15 min. Doseresponse curves for receptor occupancy and phosphorylation were nearly superimposable, indicating few or absent spare receptors for this response to insulin. These data suggest that insulin receptor phosphorylation is an early response to insulin in cultured lymphocytes transformed with Epstein-Barr virus. We studied insulin receptor phosphorylation in cell lines derived from nine patients with clinical syndromes associated with extreme insulin resistance, all of whom had normal [126I] insulin binding. While the magnitude of insulin’s stimulation varied widely among the individual cell line...
Delimited control and computational effects

We give a framework for delimited control with multiple prompts, in the style of Parigot's λμ-calculus, through a series of incremental extensions by starting with the pure λ-calculus. Each language inherits the semantics and reduction theory of its parent, giving a systematic way to describe each level of control. For each language of interest, we fully characterize its semantics in terms of a reduction semantics, operational semantics, continuation-passing style transform, and abstract machine. Furthermore, the control operations are expressed in terms of fine-grained primitives that can be used to build well-known, higher-level control operators. In order to illustrate the expressive power provided by various languages, we show how other computational effects can be encoded in terms of these control operators.
Efficient Synthesis of Optically Active Carbohydrates and Other Oxygenated Compounds Through Bio-Oxidation of Chlorinated Aromatics

Certain strains of Pseudomonas putida, most notably the mutant 39D, are known to oxidize aromatic compounds with the accumulation of the intermediate metabolites, arene cis-diols, in the fermentation broth. These diols serve as excellent chiral pool synthons and can be easily manipulated through simple synthetic procedures to a variety of oxygenated natural products. Further stereoselective manipulations of the enantiomerically pure arene cis-diols permit efficient and brief syntheses of simple sugars containing four, five, and six carbons. When symmetry rules are incorporated into the synthetic design the preparation of any stereoisomer in either enantiomeric series becomes possible. The fully stereocontrolled and enantiodivergent syntheses of carbohydrates, oxygenated terpenes or alkaloids, or any of their unnatural derivatives are summarized in this manuscript in the context of efficiency in synthetic planning. The presentation illustrates the advantages of the emerging field of biocatalysis and the combination of enzymatic methods with traditional organic synthesis as applied to the practical preparation of complex molecules of medicinal significance.
CALCIFICATION OF HUMAN ARTICULAR KNEE CARTILAGE IS PRIMARILY AN EFFECT OF AGING RATHER THAN OSTEOARTHRITIS

Summary Objective Pathologic calcification of articular cartilage in human knees is often associated with advanced age and conditions of osteoarthritis (OA). Coincidently, most studies that have characterized calcification in joint cartilage have examined populations that are aged and presenting with clinical symptoms. Generally, these studies rely upon relatively insensitive plain radiographs or synovial fluid crystal analyses to quantify calcium levels. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between cartilage calcification and aging in an unselected donor population of diverse age using highly sensitive calcification imaging. Methods A group of 106 knee blocks were obtained from 56 individual donors (25 females and 31 males, aged 12–74, avg. 50.3 years). Condylar surfaces were graded on a 4-point OA grading scale for cartilage degeneration. The condyles were cut into ∼7–10mm thick slabs. Using a Faxitron radiography system, high-resolution images were taken of the slabs to specifically image calcification in cartilage. The quantified calcification areas were then analyzed and correlations with both OA grade and age were assessed. Results Every knee presented some measurable calcification. The relative calcium deposition had a significant positive correlation with age. This same positive correlation was seen between condyles showing grade 1 and 2 changes. OA grades higher than 2 did not present any further significant increase in calcium levels. Conclusion These observations indicate that age rather than OA is the predominant factor driving progressive pathologic calcification in articular cartilage.
An application of Shockley's recombination and generation theory to biological ion channels

We have applied the Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) model for the generation and recombination of charge carriers to biological ion channels. We show how to include this important effect in the traditional PNP model and how to provide a bridge between the microscopic particle methods (such as MD, Monte Carlo) and the macroscopic continuum models such as PNP that always need to be part of a multi-scale approach. We refer to our method by the acronym TR-PNP where "TR" indicates the inclusion of the trapping and releasing processes of ions at certain trapping or binding sites.
Visual Evoked Potentials Change as Heart Rate and Carotid Pressure Change

The relationship between cardiovascular activity and the brain was explored by recording visual evoked potentials from the occipital regions of the scalp during systolic and diastolic pressure (Experiment I) and during fast and slow heartbeats at systolic and diastolic pressure (Experiment II). Visual evoked potentials changed significantly as heart rate and carotid pressure fluctuated normally, and these changes were markedly different in the right and left cerebral hemispheres. Evoked potentials recorded from the right hemisphere during various cardiac events differed significantly, whereas those recorded from the left did not. In both experiments, differences in the right hemisphere were due primarily to the PI component, which was larger at diastolic than at systolic pressure. The present findings are consistent with formulations from behavioral studies suggesting that baroreceptor activity can influence sensory intake, and suggest that hemispheric specialization may play an important role in the relationship between cardiac events, the brain and behavior. DESCRIPTORS: Carotid pressure. Evoked potentials. Heart rate, Baroreceptors. The early conception that sensory impulses are simply relayed from receptor to cortex was shaken when Granit and Kaada (1952) discovered that the central nervous systetn could control afferent fibers from muscle spindles. Since then, numerous studies have established that the brain can modulate its own sensory input by inhibiting or facilitating sensory transmission anywhere from the peripheral sense organs to the cortical level. In fact, it has been estimated that 10% of all afferent fibers contribute to centrifugal control mechanisms (Livingston, 1976), blurring the classical distinction between "sensory" and "motor" mechanisms. The brainstem reticular formation plays an important role in the centrifugal control of sensory processes. Both electrical stimulation and lesions (Livingston, 1959; Hernandez-Peon, 1961) of the reticuiar formation can facilitate or block interac
Macro Data Load: An Efficient Mechanism for Enhancing Loaded Data Reuse

This paper presents a study on macro data load, a novel mechanism to increase the amount of loaded data reuse within a processor. A macro data load brings into the processor a maximum-width data the cache port allows. In a 64-bit processor, for example, a byte load will bring a full 64-bit data from cache and save it in an internal hardware structure, while using for itself only the specified byte out of the 64-bit data. The saved data can be opportunistically reused by later loads internally, reducing relatively more expensive cache accesses. We present a comprehensive availability study using a generalized memory data reuse table (MDRT) to quantify available memory data reuse opportunities in a set of benchmark programs drawn from the SPEC2k and MiBench suites, and to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed scheme. The macro data load mechanism is shown to open up significantly more loaded data reuse opportunities than previous schemes with no support for spatial locality. We observe 15.1 percent (SPEC2k integer), 20.9 percent (SPEC2k floating-point), and 45.8 percent (MiBench) more load-to-load forwarding instances when a 256-entry MDRT is used. We also describe a modified load store queue design as a possible implementation of the proposed concept. Our quantitative study using a realistic processor model shows that 21.3 percent, 14.8 percent, and 23.6 percent of L1 cache accesses in the SPEC2k integer, floating-point, and MiBench programs can be eliminated, resulting in a related energy reduction of 11.4 percent, 9.0 percent, and 14.3 percent on average, respectively.
Variational Bhattacharyya divergence for hidden Markov models

Many applications require the use of divergence measures between probability distributions. Several of these, such as the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence and the Bhattacharyya divergence, are tractable for simple distributions such as Gaussians, but are intractable for more complex distributions such as hidden Markov models (HMMs) used in speech recognizers. For tasks related to classification error, the Bhattacharyya divergence is of special importance, due to its relationship with the Bayes error. Here we derive novel variational approximations to the Bhattacharyya divergence for HMMs. Remarkably the variational Bhattacharyya divergence can be computed in a simple closed-form expression for a given sequence length. One of the approximations can even be integrated over all possible sequence lengths in a closed-form expression. We apply the variational Bhattacharyya divergence for HMMs to word confusability, the problem of estimating the probability of mistaking one spoken word for another.
A 3-tier, 3-D FD-SOI SRAM macro

Three dimensional memory systems has been argued as a potential pathway in solving the ever growing difference between comparative speeds of CPU and memory systems. In this paper, we describe a three-tier, three-dimensional SRAM macro that has been designed and fabricated in a 0.18 um FD-SOI CMOS technology. 3D stacking is found to improve wire latency as compared to planar memory structure although the reduction is not enough to have a significant effect on access time of the memory. It is argued that the major performance benefit obtained by 3D integration is in term of very wide data bus that can be realized much more easily with 3D structures as compared to 2D memories.
Analysis of Free and Total Sulfites in Food by Ion Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection

A sensitive and selective analytical technique for the determination of free and total sulfites in food was developed using ion chromatography with electrochemical detection. Free and total sulfites in three dehydrated foods were analyzed by extraction of the sulfites at pH 2.0 and 8.9, respectively, and separation on an anion exclusion column with 5 mM H2SO4, pH 2, solution as eluant. Using an electrochemical detector set at + 0.40 volts vs Ag/AgCl electrode, sulfites equivalent to 0.1 ppm SO2 in the extract could be detected with detector response linear up to 6 ppm SO2.
Racial Differences in Unemployment in the United States, 1890–1990

Although the ratio of nonwhite to white unemployment rates in the United States has approximated two to one for most of the postwar era, such large racial differences did not exist 60 to 100 years ago. In the era from 1890 to 1930, the nonwhite unemployment rate seemed not to be materially different than the white rate. Though writers such as Edna Bonacich, Robert Higgs, and Gerald Jaynes have made perceptive observations about race-specific differences in job opportunities over time, they did not have all the evidence they needed. In this note, we present a consistent time series on the magnitude of the differential in unemployment rates.'
New functionalized porphyrins for dye-sensitized solar cells

One asymmetric porphyrin 2-(1-acetyl-2-oxopropyl)-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin and its Cu2+, Zn2+ complexes for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSCs) are synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Dye-sensitized solar cells are fabricated with these porphyrins as dyes and the results show low energy conversion efficiency, which can be attributed to the steric hinderance of neighboring phenyl groups for anchoring group (1-acetyl-2-oxopropyl group) to nanocrystalline TiO 2 particles.
Highly compliant shape memory polymer gels for tunable damping and reversible adhesion

Materials that can dynamically change their properties to better adapt to the local environment have potential utility in robotics, aerospace, and coatings. For some of these applications, most notably robotics, it is advantageous for these responsive materials to be highly compliant in an effort to provide dynamic changes in adhesion and mechanical damping within a broad temperature operational environment. In this report, non-aqueous, highly compliant shape-memory polymer gels are developed by incorporating a low density of chemical cross-links into a physically cross-linked thermoplastic elastomer gel. Chemical cross-linkers were evaluated by varying there size and degree of functionality to determine the impact on the mechanical and adhesive properties. As a result of the chemical cross-linking, the gels exhibit modulus plateaus around room temperature and at elevated temperatures above 100 °C, where the thermoplastic elastomer gel typically melts. The materials were designed so that moduli in the plateaued regions were above and below the Dahlquist criteria of 4 × 104 Pa, respectively, where materials with a modulus below this value typically exhibit an increase in adhesion. The shape memory polymer gels were also integrated into fiber-reinforced composites to determine the temperature-dependent changes in mechanical damping. It is anticipated that this work will provide insight into materials design to provide dynamic changes in adhesion and damping to improve robotic appendage manipulation and platform mobility.
Exercise-driven metabolic pathways in healthy cartilage

Summary Objective Exercise is vital for maintaining cartilage integrity in healthy joints. Here we examined the exercise-driven transcriptional regulation of genes in healthy rat articular cartilage to dissect the metabolic pathways responsible for the potential benefits of exercise. Methods Transcriptome-wide gene expression in the articular cartilage of healthy Sprague–Dawley female rats exercised daily (low intensity treadmill walking) for 2, 5, or 15 days was compared to that of non-exercised rats, using Affymetrix GeneChip arrays. Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) was used for Gene Ontology (GO)-term enrichment and Functional Annotation analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) pathway mapper was used to identify the metabolic pathways regulated by exercise. Results Microarray analysis revealed that exercise-induced 644 DEGs in healthy articular cartilage. The DAVID bioinformatics tool demonstrated high prevalence of functional annotation clusters with greater enrichment scores and GO-terms associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) biosynthesis/remodeling and inflammation/immune response. The KEGG database revealed that exercise regulates 147 metabolic pathways representing molecular interaction networks for Metabolism, Genetic Information Processing, Environmental Information Processing, Cellular Processes, Organismal Systems, and Diseases. These pathways collectively supported the complex regulation of the beneficial effects of exercise on the cartilage. Conclusions Overall, the findings highlight that exercise is a robust transcriptional regulator of a wide array of metabolic pathways in healthy cartilage. The major actions of exercise involve ECM biosynthesis/cartilage strengthening and attenuation of inflammatory pathways to provide prophylaxis against onset of arthritic diseases in healthy cartilage.
Limited Hiatal Dissection Without Fundoplication Results in Comparable Symptomatic Outcomes to Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy with Anterior Fundoplication

Abstract Background: Previous randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that partial fundoplication following Heller myotomy results in less pathologic acid exposure to the esophagus when compared to myotomy without fundoplication. Recent studies have questioned the necessity of a fundoplication, especially when a limited hiatal dissection (LHD) is performed and the angle of His is preserved. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of prospectively maintained data. All patients underwent primary Heller myotomy for achalasia over a 30-month period. In select patients, an LHD was performed anteriorly. Symptomatic outcomes were assessed up to 2 years postoperation using the Achalasia Severity Questionnaire (ASQ), Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease–Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL). Results: A total of 31 patients underwent Heller myotomy during the study interval. The majority of patients underwent Heller myotomy with full hiatal di...
Abstract 5409: Ron silencing by shRNA inhibits growth, induces apoptosis and sensitizes tumor response to c-Met inhibitor treatment through down-regulating MAPK signaling in B-Raf mutant colon carcinomas

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC RON, the receptor for macrophage-stimulating protein, belongs to the MET receptor tyrosine kinase family and shares many common features with MET. Inappropriate activation of RON signaling plays an important roll in colon carcinoma cell proliferation, survival, migration and invasive growth. Ron and Met are overexpressed in patient colon tumors, where co-overexpression of both Ron and Met correlates with the worst patient survival compared to the overexpression of Ron or Met alone. BRaf-activating mutations occur in about 10% of colorectal carcinomas. Mutant BRaf has constitutive kinase activity and causes hyperactivation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, and BRaf mutant cancers are generally resistant to standard therapies. Here we report that knockdown of the Ron gene by Ron shRNA in BRafV600E mutant HT29 colon carcinoma cells induced HT29 tumor apoptosis and resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition (TGI) by 59%, which is comparable to that observed with the selective EGFR inhibitor-Erlotinib treatment (57% TGI), but more potent than that of the selective Met inhibitor-PF-04217903 treatment (38% TGI). When Ron shRNA knockdown and treatment with the selective Met inhibitor were combined, enhanced tumor growth inhibition (76%) was observed. Comparable experiments using the BRaf mutant Colo205 model yielded similar results. Western Blot analysis showed that combination of Ron shRNA and Met inhibition in HT29 cells decreased phosho-ERK, elevated cleaved caspase-3 and, surprisingly, increased total Ras protein levels. No significant changes in total and phospho-AKT levels were observed. In vitro, the stable HT29-shRon cells initially grew more slowly compared to HT29-vector cells, but the growth rate gradually increased, approaching that observed in normal cell culture conditions. Interestingly, when co-culturing stable HT29-shRon or HT29-vector cells with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells, the selective Met inhibitor-PF-04217903 induced significant cell death only in the HT29-shRon cells under hypoxic conditions (1% oxygen). No cell death was observed with either HT29-shRon cells under normoxia or HT29-vector cells under hypoxia or normoxia conditions, indicating the collaborative roll of Ron and Met in colon cancer cell survival during hypoxia. In summary, inhibiting both Ron and Met pathways in BRaf mutant colon cancer cells down- regulated ERK activity, induced apoptosis and led to enhanced antitumor efficacy in vivo. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5409.
Experimental Investigation of Kerosene Spray Flames in Inert Porous Media near Lean Extinction

This paper presents a study of kerosene spray flames in inert porous media near lean extinction to understand stable operating regimes. The porous media are composed of silicon-carbide-coated carbon–carbon foam type with 8–25 pores per centimeter and 87% porosity. Two porous media, one in the evaporation section and the other in the combustion section located downstream, are used in the experiments. Aviation-grade kerosene was injected upstream of the evaporation porous medium with an air-blast atomizer. Stable flames were established both inside and on the downstream surface of the combustion porous medium. Results show that, in interior combustion mode, the flame was completely contained within the porous medium until extinction. In the surface combustion mode, a decrease of the fuel flow rate resulted in partial flame lift and subsequent extinction. The equivalence ratio near lean extinction in each mode was determined. A Damkohler number (tres/tchem)-based analysis was developed to study the combustio...
First results from HAWC: monitoring the TeV gamma-ray sky

The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory is a wide-field gamma-ray detector sensitive to primary energies between 100 GeV and 100 TeV. The array is being built at an altitude of 4100 m a.s.l. on the Sierra Negra volcano near Puebla, Mexico. Data taking has already started while construction continues, with the completion projected for early 2015. The design is optimized to detect extended air showers induced by gamma rays that pass through the array and to reconstruct the directions and energies of the primary photons. With a duty cycle close to 100% and a daily coverage of ~8 sr of the sky, HAWC will perform a survey of TeV emissions from many different sources. The northern active galactic nuclei will be monitored for up to 6 hours each day, providing unprecedented light curve coverage at energies comparable to those of imaging air Cherenkov telescopes. HAWC has been in scientific operation with more than 100 detector modules since August 2013. Here we present a preliminary look at the first results and discuss the efforts to integrate HAWC in multi-wavelength studies of extragalactic jets.
Diffraction patterns in the ionization of the heteronuclear HeH 2 + ion by attosecond x-ray radiation

Single-photon ionization of the HeH${}^{2+}$ molecular ion exposed to an attosecond x-ray laser pulse is investigated for photon energies of 200 and 300 eV. In the fixed-nuclei approximation, the temporal response of the system is obtained by solving the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation through an ab initio time-dependent grid-based discrete-variable representation formulated in two-center prolate spheroidal coordinates. The two-center interference effect is clearly observable in the excited $2p\ensuremath{\sigma}$ state, whereas interference patterns almost disappear, in both the parallel and perpendicular geometries, when the system is started from the $1s\ensuremath{\sigma}$ ground state. The angular distributions are asymmetric with respect to the center between the helium and hydrogen nuclei. For the $2p\ensuremath{\sigma}$ state in the parallel geometry, a dynamically forbidden mode of photoionization is observed only on one side of the two nuclei, with the details depending on the laser parameters and the internuclear separation. We also address the similarities and differences between a plane-wave model for the ejected electron with a linear combination of atomic orbitals for the molecular bound states and the classical double-slit-like interference pattern.
Isospin Violation in Low-energy Hadronic Physics

Isospin violation in pionic and nuclear systems is studied at energies comparable to the pion mass using the general effective chiral Lagrangian. It is shown that the smallness of observed isospin breaking arises naturally from QCD (with electromagnetic interactions included). Except for process that involve two neutral pions where one expects an O \(\left( \frac{{{m}_{d}}-{{m}_{u}}}{{{m}_{d}}+{{m}_{u}}} \right)\) effect, isospin in violation from the quark mass difference is further suppressed by powers of the pion mass over the characteristic scale of QCD. As a result, the pion mass difference tends to be the dominant effect. Pion-pion, pion-nucleon scattering and the nucleon-nucleon interaction are considered. The implications for the latter case are: i) charge dependent forces due to the pion mass difference in one pion exchange are the largest; ii) charge asymmetric forces arise from sub-leading operators, which are related to meson mixing.
feasibility study of sequential immunization of different kinds of hepatitis B vaccines

[Objective]To study the effect of sequential immunization of different kinds of hepatitis B vaccines. [Methods]A total of 107 neonates were randomly divided into 3 groups,according to 0,1,6-month immunization procedures,10 μ g CHO hepatitis B vaccine,5 μ g yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine and vaccine of two alternatives were inoculated,1 years after full immunization,Ai-HBs was detected quantitatively. [Results]For vaccination of hepatitis B vaccine of 10 μ g CHO,5 μ g yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine and 2 vaccines sequential immunization,Anti-HBs positive rate was 94.29%,85.71%,81.08%,respectively,with an average of 86.92%.Anti-HBs geometric mean concentrations were 117 mIU/ml,116 mIU/ml,106 mIU/ml.The difference of Anti-HBs positive rate was not significantly between vaccines(P). [Conclusion]10 μg CHO hepatitis vaccine and 5 μg yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine inoculation can substitute for each other,the positive rate of Anti-HBs is up to 81.08%.
Complete Rupture of the Posterior Urethra without Fractured Pelvis

AbstractA rare case of posterior urethral disruption without associated injury to the bony pelvis is presented. The mechanism of such an injury is discussed.
Tumors of the pons.

Advances in imaging have made possible confident diagnosis of infiltrative pontine gliomas without biopsy. When the diagnosis is in doubt, stereotactic biopsy is the procedure of choice. Surgical intervention is restricted to tumors with a dor sally exophytic component and other rare circumstances.
Radionuclide observables for the Platte underground nuclear explosive test on 14 April 1962

Past nuclear weapon explosive tests provide invaluable information for understanding the radionuclide observables expected during an On-site Inspection (OSI) for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). These radioactive signatures are complex and subject to spatial and temporal variability. The Platte underground nuclear explosive test on 14 April 1962 provides extensive environmental monitoring data that can be modelled and used to calculate the maximum time available for detection of the OSI-relevant radionuclides. The 1.6 kT test is especially useful as it released the highest amounts of recorded activity during Operation Nougat at the Nevada Test Site - now known as the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). It has been estimated that 0.36% of the activity was released, and dispersed in a northerly direction. The deposition ranged from 1 × 10-11 to 1 × 10-9 of the atmospheric release (per m2), and has been used in this paper to evaluate an OSI and the OSI-relevant radionuclides at 1 week to 2 years post-detonation. Radioactive decay reduces the activity of the OSI-relevant radionuclides by 99.7% within 2 years of detonation, such that detection throughout the hypothesized inspection is only achievable close to the explosion where deposition was highest.
Dynamic Penetration and Bifurcation of a Crack at an Interface in a Transparent Bi-Layer: Effect of Impact Velocity

Dynamic fracture behavior of layered PMMA sheets is studied using transmission-mode Digital Gradient Sensing (DGS) technique. DGS is a relatively new optical method that exploits elasto-optic effects exhibited by transparent solids allowing a direct quantification of two orthogonal in-plane stress gradients simultaneously and hence crack tip parameters when used to study fracture mechanics problems. The current work builds on authors’ previous two reports on this topic. Interfacial trapping, bifurcation and mixed-mode penetration into the second layer of a dynamically growing mode-I crack in the first layer encountering a normally oriented interface in a bi-layered configuration was reported in the first report [1]. In the second, the role of the location of a weak interface relative to the initial crack tip within the given geometry of the specimen was studied and interfacial penetration vs. bifurcation mechanisms was demonstrated and analyzed [2]. The current work focuses on the effect of impact velocity and the resulting loading rate on crack branching/penetration phenomenon when the mode-I crack encounters a normally oriented interface. In this ongoing work, a select location of interface relative to the initial crack tip is re-examined by varying the impact velocity. Using DGS for visualization and quantification, fracture mechanisms associated with crack growth are explained for the bi-layered system.
Quality of life in patients receiving herbal therapy for biochemically recurrent prostate cancer.

e16073 Background: Men who experience biochemical recurrence after curative therapy for prostate cancer are often treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), though there is no proven survival...
Infection Following Total Joint Replacement

Ever since orthopedic total joint replacement (TJR) was introduced by Sir John Charnley [1], orthopedic joint replacement has gained popularity given the considerable improvement in biocompatibility, functionality, and durability of these devices [2, 3]. Many of these alloplastic joints can function properly for decades [4–6]. However, one of the potential drawbacks to this technological and clinical advancement in the management of end-stage joint disease is the susceptibility of these devices to infection. Management of these infections involves elimination of the infection and returning the joint to function. In order to achieve these goals, early diagnosis and a rational management plan that includes surgical intervention, combined with appropriate antibiotic therapy, are essential [7, 8].
Complementary Hypotheses on Contributors to the Obesity Epidemic

Increased rates of obesity have occurred within virtually every race, age, sex, ethnicity, and economic group. Despite substantial punditry on the issue, the exact reasons are incompletely known. The two most common factors cited as contributing to the obesity epidemic, and those whose causal influence on increasing obesity levels in the population are often presumed unequivocally, are food marketing practices and institutionally driven reductions in physical activity. These have been called "the big two." This Perspective builds on previous writings in this area to introduce additional factors that may contribute to the obesity epidemic. It is emphasized that there may be other factors working in combination with the big two, influencing body fatness through effects on energy intake, energy expenditure, and/or nutrient partitioning.
The Black Yeasts: an Update on Species Identification and Diagnosis

Black yeast-like fungi are capable of causing a wide range of infections, including invasive disease. The diagnosis of infections caused by these species can be problematic. We review the changes in the nomenclature and taxonomy of these fungi, and methods used for detection and species identification that aid in diagnosis. Molecular assays, including DNA barcode analysis and rolling circle amplification, have improved our ability to correctly identify these species. A proteomic approach using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has also shown promising results. While progress has been made with molecular techniques using direct specimens, data are currently limited. Molecular and proteomic assays have improved the identification of black yeast-like fungi. However, improved molecular and proteomic databases and better assays for the detection and identification in direct specimens are needed to improve the diagnosis of disease caused by black yeast-like fungi.
A Novel Approach to Resin-based Cysteine Alkylation

Introduction Cysteine S-alkylation with structurally diverse alkylating agents has been used for the purpose of protein identification, assessment of protein folding, and localization of ligand binding sites. It also provides a rapid means to optimization of side chain structure within a biologically active peptide. This approach minimizes individual total syntheses with the corresponding amino acids. Direct alkylation of a free thiol in the presence of more nucleophilic amino acid side chains is typically achieved through pH control, or orthogonal protection [1]. We report here a novel on-resin cysteine alkylation method for unprotected peptides in aqueous methanol or DMF in the presence of Tris base. S-alkylation was obtained in yields as high as 90% with a variety of commonly used and a few novel reagents.
Peripheral Nerve Amyloidosis

Provided is an overview of the pathology, clinically defining features, and subcategorization of peripheral nerve amyloidosis. This condition is pathologically hallmarked by infiltrative amyloid deposition in varied peripheral neural tissue localizations with associated clinical manifestations. Peripheral nerve involvement is a frequent presenting feature of systemic amyloidosis (Kyle et al., Peripheral Neuropathies, Saunders, Philadelphia, PA, 2,427–2,451, 2005). As with other organ systems, the diagnosis of amyloid involvement of peripheral nerve is often delayed because the clinical features may mimic many varieties of peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, pathologic discovery of unsuspected amyloidosis is common. The particular amyloid protein can determine the clinical course and preferred treatment modality, as well as potentially alert patients to familial predisposition. Advances in laboratory technology, including most notably mass spectrophotometric evaluation of nerve, continue to improve the accuracy and sensitivity of amyloid subtyping (Adams, J Neurol 248(8), 2001; Benson and Kincaid, Muscle Nerve 36(4), 2007; Klein et al. Arch Neurol 68(2), 2011). Appropriate directed peripheral neural biopsy can therefore be instrumental in identifying the diagnosis providing the specific amyloid type, informing prognosis, and directing care in each case.
Characterization of Surface Contaminants by Luminescence Using Ultraviolet Excitation

Surface detection and characterization of organic contaminants have recently received considerable interest.(1) This is due to the increasing awareness that contamination of skin and other surfaces by organic pollutants is a serious problem in many industries.(2) Organic compounds on surfaces can be monitored by a variety of analytical techniques such as photoacoustic, Raman, multi-reflection infrared, and luminescence spectroscopies. Among these spectroscopic tools, luminescence spectroscopy, which generally uses ultraviolet (UV) radiation for excitation, is the most sensitive method of detection for most organic compounds, especially for materials containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Many PAH compounds are present in various chemicals, environmental samples, and coal tar materials, as well as in many oils and greases used in industry. These PAH compounds are also produced by incomplete combustion of organic substances in many industrial and residential activities. Since most PAH compounds absorb UV radiation and many of them are strongly luminescent, the luminescence technique provides an extremely useful tool for detecting surface contamination by these materials.(3) This chapter reviews the basic methodology, instrumentation, and applications of the luminescence technique using UV-radiation excitation to detect surface contaminants.
Numerical modeling of ultrasound propagation in heterogeneous media using a mixed domain method

A mixed domain method (MDM) is presented in this paper for modeling one-way linear/nonlinear wave propagation in biological tissue with arbitrary heterogeneities, in which sound speed, density, attenuation coefficients, and nonlinear coefficients are all spatial varying functions. The MDM is based on solving a Westervelt-like equation. We validated the algorithm by studying a number of one-dimensional and two-dimensional problems. Overall, this study demonstrates that the MDM is a computationally efficient and accurate method when used to model wave propagation in biological tissue with relatively weak heterogeneities. We also proposed methods to improve the algorithm for moderately heterogeneous media.
Emerging trends in the prenatal diagnosis of complex CHD and its influence on infant mortality in this cohort.

Background Fetal echocardiography is the main modality of prenatal diagnosis of CHD. This study was done to describe the trends and benefits associated with prenatal diagnosis of complex CHD at a tertiary care centre. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients with complex CHD over an 18-year period was performed. Rates of prenatal detection along with early and late infant mortality outcomes were studied. Results Of 381 complex CHD patients born during the study period, 68.8% were diagnosed prenatally. Prenatal detection rate increased during the study period from low-50s in the first quarter to mid-80s in the last quarter (p=0.001). Rate of detection of conotruncal anomalies increased over the study period. No infant mortality benefit was noted with prenatal detection. Conclusions Improved obstetrical screening indications and techniques have contributed to higher proportions of prenatal diagnosis of complex CHD. However, prenatal diagnosis did not confer survival benefits in infancy in our study.
Climate and synchrony with conspecifics determine the effects of flowering phenology on reproductive success in Silene acaulis

Changes in flowering phenology resulting from climate change could impact individual plant fitness and population viability. Flowering phenology can mediate plant reproductive success in several wa...
An analytical model for estimation of land surface net water flux from near-surface soil moisture observations

Abstract The accurate determination of land surface water fluxes at various spatiotemporal scales remains a challenge in hydrological sciences. It is intuitive that land surface net water flux (i.e., infiltration minus evapotranspiration) directly affects near-surface soil moisture. However, there exists no hydrological model suitable to calculate net water flux based on measured near-surface soil moisture data. This is a consequence of the mathematical structure of existing models that use ‘boundary conditions’ to determine ‘internal conditions’, whereas what is needed is a model amenable to use near-surface soil moisture data (an internal condition) to determine the surface water flux (a boundary condition). To pursue the idea of utilizing remotely-sensed or in situ (i.e., sensor networks) near surface soil moisture data for estimation of net water flux, we derived an analytical model via inversion of Warrick’s 1975 analytical solution to the linearized Richards’ equation for arbitrary time-varying surface flux boundary conditions. The applicability of the new analytical solution was evaluated based on actual water flux observations as well as HYDRUS-1D simulations for four vastly different sites in Arizona, California, Idaho, and Indiana. Our results demonstrate that the proposed model reasonably captures net water flux variations in natural settings, including layered and vegetated soils, especially at larger time scales (e.g., monthly). While the model works for a wide range of climatic conditions, the prediction accuracy is somewhat lower for extreme dry or wet conditions. A major advantage of the new model is that it does not require calibration, which provides an unprecedented opportunity for large scale estimation of land surface net water flux using remotely sensed near-surface soil moisture observations.
Are They Still Worth It? The Long-Run Earnings Benefits of an Associate Degree, Vocational Diploma or Certificate, and Some College

Sub-baccalaureate education accounts for most of the expansion in higher education over the last century. Nevertheless, relatively few studies have examined the related long-term financial benefits. Exploiting a rich dataset linking the Survey of Income and Program Participation and administrative earnings records, this study investigates these benefits over a person’s early and mid-career and the heterogeneity of these patterns by field of study. We find substantial payoffs, net of an extensive set of demographic covariates and variables indicating high school courses taken. At the same time, we find considerable variation across degree types and fields of study. Several vocational diplomas, certificates, and associate degrees are associated with higher earnings than bachelor’s degrees in social science, liberal arts, and education. Implications of these findings are discussed.