cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanical properties and microstructure of TiC/amorphous hydrocarbon nanocomposite coatings

Using the techniques of reactive magnetron sputter deposition and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) assisted hybrid physical vapor deposition (PVD)/chemical vapor deposition (CVD), we have synthesized a wide variety of metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon (a-C:H) and Ti-containing hydrocarbon (Ti-C:H) coatings. Coating elastic modulus and hardness have been measured by the technique of instrumented nanoindentation and related to Ti and hydrogen compositions. We show that both metal and hydrogen compositions significantly influence the mechanical properties of Ti-C:H coatings. The microstructure of Ti-C:H coatings is further characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. XANES spectroscopy and high-resolution TEM examination of Ti-C:H specimens shows that the dissolution limit of Ti atoms in an a-C:H matrix is between 0.9 and 2.5 at.%. Beyond the Ti dissolution limit, precipitation of nanocrystalline B1-TiC cluster occurs and Ti-C:H coatings are in fact TiC/a-C:H thin film nanocomposites. Measurements of the average Ti bonding environment in TiC/a-C:H nanocomposites by EXAFS spectroscopy are consistent with a microstructure in which bulk-like B1-TiC clusters are embedded in an a-C:H matrix.
A conceptual framework for developing a dietary guidance system

Abstract Dietary guidance is central to nutrition education efforts. Yet little attention has been focused on the process of developing dietary guidance aids. This paper suggests a conceptual model for developing a dietary guidance system that is designed according to the user's needs and as part of a total communication program. The model links development to implementation of a system and is considered as part of a total communication program.
Gas flow dynamics of an inductively coupled plasma discharge

Abstract Temperature and velocity distributions within a low power (0.5–0.75 kW) inductively coupled plasma discharge operating in argon have ben determined for various operating parameters including aerosol gas now rate, plasma gas flow rate, aerosol nozzle diameter, and input power level. All measurements were made without samples. The channel formed in the discharge by the aerosol gas now exhibits temperature and velocity characteristics which distinguishes it from the plasma core and wall regions. Maximum plasma temperature of 8700 ± 300 K and channel gas velocity of 120 m s were found.
Explicit Formulas for the Associated Jacobi Polynomials and Some Applications

In this paper we determine closed-form expressions for the associated Jacobi polynomials, i.e., the polynomials satisfying the recurrence relation for Jacobi polynomials with n replaced by n + c, for arbitrary real c ≧ 0. One expression allows us to give in closed form the [n — 1/n] Pade approximant for what is essentially Gauss' continued fraction, thus completing the theory of explicit representations of main diagonal and off-diagonal Pade approximants to the ratio of two Gaussian hypergeometric functions and their confluent forms, an effort begun in [2] and [19]. (We actually give only the [n — 1/n] Pade element, although other cases are easily constructed, see [19] for details.) We also determine the weight function for the polynomials in certain cases where there are no discrete point masses. Concerning a weight function for these polynomials, so many writers have obtained so many partial results that our formula should be considered an epitome rather than a real discovery, see the discussion in Section 3.
Improvement of nutritional status after initiation of maintenance hemodialysis.

Abstract Background: Recent data suggest that serum albumin concentrations increase during the several month-period that follows the initiation of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) therapy. Some investigators have shown that the rate of increase in serum albumin level is related directly to 24-hour urine protein losses before the initiation of dialysis therapy. However, serum albumin levels increase even in patients starting MHD therapy without significant proteinuria, suggesting that this increase may be one manifestation of improving protein-energy nutritional status associated with commencing MHD therapy. We examined this question by reviewing records of all patients admitted to our outpatient dialysis unit within 30 days of initiation of MHD therapy. Methods: Ninety-seven patients qualified for the study. Their routine laboratory test results beginning with the time of admission to the outpatient unit until month 6 of chronic dialysis therapy were analyzed. Results: Between months 1 and 6, there was a statistically significant increase in values for predialysis serum albumin, iron, transferrin saturation, creatinine, and normalized protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance (nPNA). Many of these values were still increasing by month 6. Body weight declined initially until month 4, then increased. There was a strong curvilinear relationship between mean nPNA and final serum albumin level. Conclusions: Our results suggest that an improvement in nutritional status, including an increase in dietary protein intake and serum albumin level, often occurs with the initiation of MHD therapy. The improvement in nutritional status may be related to the increase in dietary protein intake. © 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
Ultrasound-induced lung hemorrhage: Role of acoustic boundary conditions at the pleural surface

In a previous study [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 108, 1290 (2000)] the acoustic impedance difference between intercostal tissue and lung was evaluated as a possible explanation for the enhanced lung damage with increased hydrostatic pressure, but the hydrostatic-pressure-dependent impedance difference alone could not explain the enhanced occurrence of hemorrhage. In that study, it was hypothesized that the animal’s breathing pattern might be altered as a function of hydrostatic pressure, which in turn might affect the volume of air inspired and expired. The acoustic impedance difference between intercostal tissue and lung would be affected with altered lung inflation, thus altering the acoustic boundary conditions. In this study, 12 rats were exposed to 3 volumes of lung inflation (inflated: approximately tidal volume; half-deflated: half-tidal volume; deflated: lung volume at functional residual capacity), 6 rats at 8.6-MPa in situ peak rarefactional pressure (MI of 3.1) and 6 rats at 16-MPa in situ peak rarefac...
The Impact of Packet Fragmentation and Reassembly in Resource Constrained Wireless Networks

Low-power and lossy (LLN) networks, including Wireless Sensor Networks, provide an important building block for Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The resource constraints associated with LLN devices necessitate the redesign of a number of basic Internet protocols. This paper evaluates the effect of packet fragmentation on the performance of protocols redesigned for LLN systems. We focus on the important class of tree-based LLNs that exhibit both one-to-many and many-to-one communication patterns. In particular, we measure the impact of fragmentation on these communication protocols. Our results demonstrate that excessive packet fragmentation has a tremendously negative impact on communication within a tree-based LLN system. This work provides a guideline for IoT engineers in techniques for avoiding these damaging effects.
RELAX: A New Circuit Simulator for Large Scale MOS Integrated Circuits

Algorithms and techniques used in RELAX are described. RELAX is a time domain MOS digital circuit simulator based on a new analysis method called Waveform Relaxation Method [1] which exploits decomposition techniques. Preliminary comparisons between RELAX and the standard circuit simulator SPICE2 have shown that RELAX is a fast and reliable circuit simulator.
The Elasticity of Demand for Lotto Tickets and the Corresponding Welfare Effects

The results of an analysis of lotto demand for the state of Florida during the first 254 weeks of its lotto suggest that the price elasticity of demand is near unity when employing a measure of lotto ticket price that is superior (at least for the state of Florida) to that used by others. The results imply that, relative to other states, Florida's lotto has room for increases in the odds to increase the price elasticity of demand to the revenue-maximizing level. However, revenue maximization is not the goal that the state should seek. Rather, the data indicate that Florida could poten tially improve social welfare through increasing the odds, thereby expanding the consumer surplus of ticket buyers and reducing the excess burden associated with the lottery tax.
Calpain regulation of AMPA receptor channels in cortical pyramidal neurons.

AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are the principal glutamate receptors mediating fast excitatory synaptic transmission in neurons. Aberrant extracellular glutamate has long been recognized as a hallmark phenomenon during neuronal excitotoxicity. Excessive glutamate triggers massive Ca2+ influx through NMDA receptors (NMDARs), which in turn can activate Ca2+-dependent protease, calpain. In the present study, we found that prolonged NMDA treatment (100 μm, 10 min) caused a sustained and irreversible suppression of AMPAR-mediated currents in cortical pyramidal neurons, which was largely blocked by selective calpain inhibitors. Biochemical and immunocytochemical studies demonstrated that in cortical cultures, prolonged glutamate or NMDA treatment reduced the level of surface and total GluR1, but not GluR2, subunits in a calpain-dependent manner. Consistent with the in vitro data, in animals exposed to transient ischaemic insults, calpain was strongly activated, and the AMPAR current density and GluR1 expression level were substantially reduced. Moreover, calpain inhibitors blocked the ischaemia-induced depression of AMPAR currents, and the NMDAR-induced, calpain-mediated depression of AMPA responses was occluded in ischaemic animals. Taken together, our studies show that overstimulation of NMDARs reduces AMPAR functions in cortical pyramidal neurons through activation of endogenous calpain, and calpain mediates the ischaemia-induced synaptic depression. The down-regulation of AMPARs by calpain provides a negative feedback to dampen neuronal excitability in excitotoxic conditions like ischaemia and epilepsy.
Losartan blocks aldosterone and renal vascular responses to angiotensin II in humans

In vitro and animal studies have demonstrated that the effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) on aldosterone is mediated through the Ang II type 1 receptor. However, it has been difficult to demonstrate an effect of Ang II type 1 receptor blockade on aldosterone levels in human studies. One possible explanation is that subjects have not been studied under salt-controlled conditions. Therefore, we examined the effects of losartan on the aldosterone and renal plasma flow responses to Ang II infusion in six normotensive subjects under low and high salt conditions. Ang II was infused in graded doses (0.3 to 10 ng/kg per minute) in the presence and absence of losartan (a single 50-mg oral dose). Renal plasma flow was assessed by measurement of para-aminohippurate clearance. Blood pressure, plasma aldosterone levels (low salt conditions only), and para-aminohippurate clearance were measured before and after each Ang II dose. Losartan had no effect on baseline systolic pressure but attenuated the systolic pressure response to exogenous Ang II during both low salt (0.7 +/- 1.9 versus 6.7 +/- 1.4 mm Hg, P = .001) and high salt (2.0 +/- 1.9 versus 12.3 +/- 2.1 mm Hg, P = .006) conditions. Under low salt conditions, losartan reduced the baseline plasma aldosterone level from 1135 +/- 204 to 558 +/- 102 pmol/L (P = .015) and blocked the aldosterone response to Ang II (-49 +/- 110 versus +436 +/- 83 pmol/L, P = .019). During high salt conditions, losartan had no effect on baseline renal plasma flow but attenuated the renal plasma flow response to Ang II (-90.1 +/- 15.1 versus -185.1 +/- 2.6 mL/min per 1.73 m2, P = .013). These data confirm that losartan lowers both basal and exogenous Ang II-stimulated aldosterone levels under low salt conditions. Losartan does not significantly affect baseline renal plasma flow but does attenuate the renal plasma flow response to exogenous Ang II under high salt conditions.
A Role for E2F1 in the Induction of ARF, p53, and Apoptosis during Thymic Negative Selection

E2F transcriptional activity controls the expression of many of the genes required for G1 to S phase progression. E2F1, one member of the E2F family, plays an important role in the induction of apoptosis. We have examined the role of the E2F1 transcription factor in apoptosis during T-cell maturation in the thymus. We show that E2F1 is required for the apoptosis of autoimmune immature T cells during thymic negative selection in vivo. This T-cell receptor-mediated apoptosis coincides with the E2F1-dependent increase of p19-ARF mRNA and p53 protein levels. In contrast, E2F1 is not required for the induction of apoptosis by glucocorticoids or DNA damage. These results demonstrate a specific role for E2F1, which triggers a pathway leading to ARF and p53 induction, in a physiological apoptosis pathway that is uncoupled from a normal proliferative event.
Plant nanobionics approach to augment photosynthesis and biochemical sensing

The interface between plant organelles and non-biological nanostructures has the potential to impart organelles with new and enhanced functions. Here, we show that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) passively transport and irreversibly localize within the lipid envelope of extracted plant chloroplasts, promote over three times higher photosynthetic activity than that of controls, and enhance maximum electron transport rates. The SWNT-chloroplast assemblies also enable higher rates of leaf electron transport in vivo through a mechanism consistent with augmented photoabsorption. Concentrations of reactive oxygen species inside extracted chloroplasts are significantly suppressed by delivering poly(acrylic acid)-nanoceria or SWNT-nanoceria complexes. Moreover, we show that SWNTs enable near-infrared fluorescence monitoring of nitric oxide both ex vivo and in vivo, thus demonstrating that a plant can be augmented to function as a photonic chemical sensor. Nanobionics engineering of plant function may contribute to the development of biomimetic materials for light-harvesting and biochemical detection with regenerative properties and enhanced efficiency.
Estimation of local statistics for digital processing of nonstationary images

In this correspondence we report results from our experiments to find useful measures of local image autocovariance parameters from small subblocks of data. Our criterion for the reliability of parameter estimates is that they should correlate with observed signal activity and yield high quality results when used in adaptive processing. We describe a method for estimating the correlation parameters of first-order Markov (nonseparable exponential) autocovariance models, The method assumes that image data are stationary within N × N pixel sub-blocks. Values of the autocovariance parameters may be calculated at every pixel location. A value of N = 16 yields results which fit our criterion, even when the original data are degraded by blur and noise. An application to data compression is suggested.
For-Profit Undergraduate Medical Education: Back to the Future?

Abstract One hundred years ago, Abraham Flexner wrote a report that profoundly influenced U.S. medical education. His conclusion—that medical degree (MD)-granting education programs should occur in not-for-profit universities and include hands-on laboratory and patient care experiences in teaching hospitals and clinics—led to the creation of the current model of U.S. MD education. Although this model has served the United States well, it is lengthy and costly. As the United States struggles to deal with a growing shortage of physicians, other models of medical education, including osteopathic medicine and offshore, MD-granting schools, have increased production of graduates. New private colleges of osteopathic medicine, including one accredited proprietary school, are nimble, cost-effective competitors for MD-granting schools. Do these schools portend the establishment of a U.S. for-profit medical education sector in the same way that proprietary universities have become well established in higher education? How should MD medicine respond? Can and should MD educators shorten the time needed to produce a fully trained MD-holding physician? How can MD educators make the training process shorter and less expensive to respond to the nation's physician shortage while maintaining the appeal of MD careers and without compromising educational quality? Models of shorter, less expensive pathways to earning an MD exist and have proven effective. Now is the time for MD educators to debate whether they should apply these pathways more widely. Six recommendations could help realize the goals of shortening and making less costly the training of MD physicians in the United States.
A Maxwellian Look beyond Opaque Interfaces

I wonder if James Clerk Maxwell, Scottish mathematical physicist and father of the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, could have imagined being included on the cover of a book dealing with a sensing technology used to locate the position of buried pipes, to analyze the integrity of buildings, and to uncover ancient archaeological sites [...]
Determination of Urinary Testosterone by Chromatography and Colorimetry: Findings in Normal Subjects and in Patients with Endocrine Diseases1

In this method for measuring conjugated urinary testosterone, testosterone-4-14C is added to an aliquot of urine to correct for subsequent losses and an ethyl ether extract is then chromatographed in 2 Zaffaroni systems prior to chromic oxide oxidation of testosterone to Δ4-androstene-3,17-dione. A third Zaffaroni system confirms the completion of oxidation and purifies the steroid before a final fourth chromatography in a Bush system. Quantitation is carried out by a modified micro Zimmermann reaction. Values of testosterone glucuronide in 24-hr specimens (mean ±se) were found to be 19 ±3 μg in 20 normal women aged 20–40; 88±7 μg in 20 normal men aged 30–40; 151± 22 μg in 5 young normal men aged 17–24; and 6 ±3 μg in 5 boys aged 7–12. A satisfactory correlation between the level of testosterone glucuronide and the degree of androgenicity in various pathologic states studied was observed.
Development of International Conversion Equations Using Robust Regression Methodology

International comparisons of dairy sires for production, type, health, and management traits often rely on regression-based conversion equations. Conversion equations are generally calculated using least squares regression, a procedure that is highly susceptible to outlier data points. Outliers can correspond to sires with unusually high or low estimated breeding values in the importing country, but they can also result from errors (e.g., in data collection or data entry) or biases (e.g., from preferential treatment) in the data. Because conversion equations are often calculated using data from a small number of sires, a single outlier can have a large influence on the resulting regression equation. Robust regression procedures can provide protection against outliers and high leverage points by decreasing the weight given to specific data values that are in disagreement with the majority of the sample. In this study, robust regression techniques were used to develop conversion equations for production, type, and health traits with data from the US, Great Britain, Italy, and South Africa. Relative accuracy of the least squares and robust estimators was measured as the standard deviation of converted breeding values across repeated samples of the data; this measure was of the ability of each method to provide consistent estimates in small data sets that might or might not have contained outliers. Performance of the least median squares and least trimmed squares estimators was consistently poorer than least squares. Conversions calculated using M-type estimators were similar to conversions calculated using least squares, perhaps because of a lack of gross errors in the data. Based on this study, it appeared that robust regression estimators did not provide a significant increase in accuracy of international conversion equations relative to least squares regression.
Assessment of current nonlinear static procedures for seismic evaluation of buildings

An essential and critical component of evolving performance-based design methodologies is the accurate estimation of seismic demand parameters. Nonlinear static procedures (NSPs) are now widely used in engineering practice to predict seismic demands in building structures. While seismic demands using NSPs can be computed directly from a site-specific hazard spectrum, nonlinear time-history (NTH) analyses require an ensemble of ground motions and an associated probabilistic assessment to account for aleatoric variability in earthquake recordings. Despite this advantage, simplified versions of NSP based on invariant load patterns such as those recommended in ATC-40 and FEMA-356 have well-documented limitations in terms of their inability to account for higher mode effects and the modal variations resulting from inelastic behavior. Consequently, a number of enhanced pushover procedures that overcome many of these drawbacks have also been proposed. This paper investigates the effectiveness of several NSPs in predicting the salient response characteristics of typical steel and reinforced concrete (RC) buildings through comparison with benchmark responses obtained from a comprehensive set of NTH analyses. More importantly, to consider diverse ground motion characteristics, an array of time-series from ordinary far-fault records to near-fault motions having fling and forward directivity effects was employed. Results from the analytical study indicate that the Adaptive Modal Combination procedure predicted peak response measures such as inter-story drift and component plastic rotations more consistently than the other NSPs investigated in the study. c 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Improving the ESD failure threshold of silicided n-MOS output transistors by ensuring uniform current flow

The authors describe and extend the present understanding of the high-current behavior of the simple single-poly finger n-MOS transistor. They present a model for the failure of the ladder structure n-MOS output device based on both the structure of the device and the behavior of its constituent n-MOS transistors. This model is able to show why the failure threshold of the output n-MOS device behaves as it does. Solutions that have been shown to improve the electrostatic discharge (ESD) failure threshold are described. The test environment and the process technology used for fabrication are described. >
Value of Noninvasive Hemodynamics to Achieve Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Subjects

Abnormal hemodynamics play a central role in the development and perpetuation of high blood pressure. We hypothesized that hypertension therapy guided by noninvasive hemodynamics with impedance cardiography could aid primary care physicians in reducing blood pressure more effectively. Uncontrolled hypertensive patients on 1 to 3 medications were randomized by 3:2 ratio to either a standard arm or hemodynamic arm that used impedance cardiography (BioZ, CardioDynamics). Each patient completed 5 study visits with a 2-week washout period followed by 3 months of treatment. A total of 164 patients from 11 centers completed the study, 95 in the standard arm and 69 in the hemodynamic arm. At baseline and after washout, there were no differences between arms in number of medications or demographic, blood pressure, or hemodynamic characteristics. Systolic blood pressure reductions in the hemodynamic arm were greater from baseline (19 mm Hg versus 11 mm Hg; P <0.01) and after washout (25 mm Hg versus 19 mm Hg; P <0.05). Diastolic blood pressure reductions were also greater in the hemodynamic arm from baseline (12 mm Hg versus 5 mm Hg; P <0.001) and after washout (17 mm Hg versus 10 mm Hg; P <0.001). The hemodynamic arm achieved goal blood pressure (<140/90 mm Hg) more frequently (77% versus 57%; P <0.01) and a more aggressive blood pressure level (<130/85 mm Hg) more frequently (55% versus 27%; P <0.0001). These study results indicate that antihypertensive therapy guided by impedance cardiography in uncontrolled hypertensive patients on ≥1 medications is more effective than standard care.
Underplating of the Hawaiian Swell: evidence from teleseismic receiver functions

SUMMARY The Hawaiian Islands are the canonical example of an age-progressive island chain, formed by volcanism long thought to be fed from a hotspot source that is more or less fixed in the mantle. Geophysical data, however, have so far yielded contradictory evidence on subsurface structure. The substantial bathymetric swell is supportive of an anomalously hot upper mantle, yet seafloor heat flow in the region does not appear to be enhanced. The accumulation of magma beneath pre-existing crust (magmatic underplating) has been suggested to add chemical buoyancy to the swell, but to date the presence of underplating has been constrained only by local active-source experiments. In this study, teleseismic receiver functions derived from seismic events recorded during the PLUME project were analysed to obtain a regional map of crustal structure for the Hawaiian Swell. This method yields results that compare favourably with those from previous studies, but permits a much broader view than possible with activesource seismic experiments. Our results indicate that the crustal structure of the Hawaiian Islands is quite complicated and does not conform to the standard model of sills fed from a central source. We find that a shallowP-to-s conversion, previously hypothesized to result from the volcano-sediment interface, corresponds more closely to the boundary between subaerial and subaqueous extrusive material. Correlation between uplifted bathymetry at ocean-bottomseismometer locations and presence of underplating suggests that much of the Hawaiian Swell is underplated, whereas a lack of underplating beneath the moat surrounding the island of Hawaii suggests that underplated crust outward of the moat has been fed from below by dykes through the lithosphere rather than by sills spreading from the island centre. Local differences in underplating may reflect focusing of magma-filled dykes in response to stress from volcanic loading. Finally, widespread underplating adds chemical buoyancy to the swell, reducing the amplitude of a mantle thermal anomaly needed to match bathymetry and supporting observations of normal heat flow.
Counterfactuals in science and engineering

The notion of mutation is applicable to the generation of novel designs and solutions in engineering and science. This suggests that engineers and scientists have to work against the biases identified in counterfactual thinking. Therefore, imagination appears a lot less rational than claimed in the target article.
Academic medical centers write their own rules

The interaction between pharmaceutical and device companies and hospitals and physicians has undergone significant transformation in the past few years due to the public's perception that bias may result when such relationships are not disclosed and monitored. Policies need to be written by medical centers and hospitals to preserve and retain the trust of the public. The policy written by Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions is outlined and its implications discussed in this article. The importance of such policies in guiding young faculty and staff as they begin their careers cannot be overemphasized.
Simvastatin increases the in vivo activity of the first-line tuberculosis regimen

Background The need to develop new, improved treatments for tuberculosis (TB) remains urgent, and the repurposing of existing drugs represents a possible shortcut to market. Recently, there has been significant interest in host-directed adjuvant therapy to enhance bacillary killing. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), which are among the most commonly prescribed drugs, have immunomodulatory properties and improve the clinical outcomes of bacterial infections.
The real root-cause analysis: Optimizing surgical options in the current era

With the advent of modern cardiovascular imaging, pathologic conditions of the aortic root increasingly are being recognized, diagnosed, and ultimately treated with operative intervention. The spectrum of aortic root pathology is broad, and ranges from simple aneurysmal diseasewith preserved leaflet integrity, to valve endocarditis with annular abscess formation and substantial tissue destruction. Within these 2 extreme conditions lies a spectrum of disease processes, necessitating complete reconstruction of the aortic root, and depending on the clinical scenario, surrounding structures as well. Such conditions include acute aortic dissection, connective tissue disorders, and aneurysmal disease associated with substantial aortic valve dysfunction. In the current era of cardiovascular surgery, numerous options are available for repair and reconstruction of the aortic root. As the number of aortic root procedures increases, however, matching the pathology and preoperative patient characteristics to the procedure and experience level of the surgeon remains of utmost importance to achieve an optimal, durable outcome. The decision regarding the specific type of repair among the various treatment options should be based on not only pre-existing comorbid conditions, but also patient preference.
The inhibition in beef of chlortetracycline-resistant bacteria by sub-bacteriostatic concentrations of the antibiotic.

Previous work has shown that chlortetracycline is effective against resistant strains of Proteus and Pseudomonas in beef whereas the antibiotic is ineffective at the same concentration against these same organisms in complete nutrient media (Jay et al., 1956). The inhibition of these organisms by this antibiotic has also been demonstrated in 0.5 per cent proteose-peptone broth incubated at 30 C (Jay et al., 1957a). In addition to chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline and tetracycline have been shown to act in a similar manner whereas chloramphenicol, penicillin G, and streptomycin lacked this property (Jay et al., 1957b). In explanation of this phenomenon, the hypothesis was advanced that the tetracycline antibiotics were able to compete with the organisms for essential ions or other nutrients in beef and in the proteose-peptone medium, since it has been shown that the tetracyclines can act as chelating agents and disturb the ionic balance (Albert, 1953; Weinberg, 1957). This hypothesis is supported by the observations that the inhibition of a resistant strain of Proteus vulgaris in beef was reversed by the addition of Mn++ (Jay et al., 1956), W03=, MoO4=, Mg++, Ca++, borate, silicate, Sr++, and Ba++ (Jay et al., 1957a). This report deals with further studies on this phenomenon. The effectiveness of chlortetracycline in cooked beef and in water extracts of beef was investigated. A comparison has been made between its effectiveness and that of certain other antibiotics against antibiotic-resistant Proteus in beef extracts.
Redundancy in Disaster Response Systems: A Pathway to Resilience or a Recipe for Disaster?

Redundancy in organizational systems is often discussed as an absolute ‘truth’ as something that is always beneficial or always detrimental. Further, while it has been identified as a critical comp...
Effects of HIV-1 Tat on expression of HLA class I molecules

Tat protein of HIV-1 is a potent transactivator of transcription and essential for HIV-1 replication. In addition, Tat has been proposed to possess immunosuppressive functions, suggesting that Tat may play a direct role in the immune dysfunction associated with AIDS. Recently, it has been reported that Tat represses activity of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene promoter. Because HIV infection downmodulates expression of class I molecules, this data strongly suggests that Tat downregulates class I expression and leads to loss of CTL activity. Here, we report effects of Tat on class I expression using a human cell line, T0, expressing Tat (TO-Tat). Northern blot analysis shows that levels of MHC class I transcripts are normal in T0-Tat. Flow cytometry analyses indicate that expression of HLA class I molecules is not substantially downregulated to any great extent by Tat in T0-Tat. Further, pulse-chase experiments followed by Endoglycosidase-H treatment show that the rate of maturation and processing of class I molecules in T0-Tat is indistinguishable from that in the original cell line, T0. Taken together, these data suggest that Tat expression does not necessarily result in downregulation of class I expression.
Simulations of time-resolved autofluorescence decays in epithelial tissue for differing probe geometries

A Monte Carlo code was employed to simulate the remitted time-resolved fluorescence from bi-layered tissue models. The influence of endoscopy compatible source-detector geometries for detecting variations in epithelial layer thickness and fluorophore properties were quantified.
Molecular Mechanism of Mutant CALR–Mediated Transformation

Elf and colleagues used an elegant series of functional and biochemical assays to investigate the molecular mechanism of mutant calreticulin (CALR)-driven cellular transformation in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Mutant CALR is sufficient to induce MPN in mouse transplantation experiments, and transformation is dependent upon physical interaction mediated by the positive electrostatic charge of the mutant CALR C-terminal domain and the thrombopoietin receptor MPL.
Constraining Executive Action: The Role of Legislator Professionalization in Latin America

What explains the failure of legislatures with strong constitutionally endowed powers to exert themselves over the executive in practice? We examine the role of legislator professionalization in strengthening the legislature's ability to constrain executive action, conceptualizing legislator professionalization as prior legislative experience and prior professional work experience. We argue that more professionalized legislators, through the skill and knowledge they bring to the policymaking process from prior experience, will be better equipped to challenge executive authority. In a sample of four Latin American countries from 1990 through 2010, we find that legislatures are more likely to curb executive decree issuance when individual legislators are strongly professionalized, controlling for constitutional powers and several other partisan and political factors. Our findings suggest that legislatures composed of more professionalized legislators can constrain executive action, especially in the context of a unified political opposition in the legislature.
Sikshasandhan: Funding Challenges and Mission Drift

Sikshasandhan is a not-for-profit organisation working in the field of education for the last 16 years. The organisation is headquartered in Bhubaneswar and it has been operating in some tribal areas of Odisha. In 1995, the organisation started its operations as a resource centre to cater to the needs of elementary education particularly of the tribal people in the state. At present Sikshasandhan has 36 full time employees and 29 volunteers. Its main activities include running alternative education centres, making right to education effective at grassroot level, advocacy with the state government on issues related to elementary education, and running a resource centre — including a library and publishing various books and periodicals. For a decade, a committed long-term funding partner supported the organisation’s activities. Recently the agency has indicated withdrawal of a significant part of its grant support. Under these circumstances, Mr. A. Pradhan, the Member-Secretary of the organisation, has to look for alternative sources of funding. As he consulted various stakeholders, he received a number of suggestions like expanding into other sectors such as health, livelihoods, women development, and climate change; going into full implementation mode rather than operating as a resource centre; and starting a full-fledged model school. So far the organisation has focused on elementary education for tribal people. Looking at the existing pattern of funding in the development sector, it was no surprise for Mr. Pradhan that the suggestions for diversification have come from various stakeholders. Also, government and various other donors have good amount of funds for implementing schemes at grassroot level, which is not available for a resource agency. Hence full-fledged implementation was a lucrative idea. Given the success of private educational institutions in Odisha, the rationale for a model school was also understandable. But would such actions not create a ‘mission drift’? The organisation was not set up to cater to issues like climate change and women development. Such issues are important but delving into other fields would dilute the institutional expertise. Going into full implementation mode would also not make much difference to the education sector as there are already a number of players at that level — it also may turn the organisation into a service contractor. With these concerns in mind, Mr. Pradhan prepared a note for the upcoming meetings of governing board. He has to present an action plan on how to manage the finances in the next ten years.
On Teaching the Undergraduate Statistics

This paper resulted from a conference presentation by the author on the pedagogy for a first course in undergraduate statistics. We identified the major obstacle for students to learn this subject to have been being the perpetually cumbersome and incoherent presentations of the course materials permeating in just about all textbooks. Here we streamline the logical structure by clearly separating population/probability descriptive parameters from sampling statistics; in addition, we use binary variables to eliminate the need of studying inferences about population proportions, testing between two population means, and ANOVA. Otherwise we present some of our insight into the subject matter, such as the geometric invariances of the mean, the standard deviation, and the standardized z scores, and we also share our classroom experiences, such as the necessity of doing drills on certain foundational concepts. Mathematics Subject Classification: 97K10, 97K40, 62-01
Effects of Restricted Time in Bed on Antidepressant Treatment Response: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE Antidepressant response onset is delayed in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study compared remission rates and time to remission onset for antidepressant medication delivered adjunctively to nightly time in bed (TIB) restriction of 6 hours or 8 hours for the initial 2 weeks. METHODS Sixty-eight adults with DSM-IV-diagnosed MDD (mean ± SD age = 25.4 ± 6.6 years, 34 women) were recruited from September 2009 to December 2012 in an academic medical center. Participants received 8 weeks of open-label fluoxetine 20-40 mg and were randomized to 1 of 3 TIB conditions for the first 2 weeks: 8-hour TIB (n = 19); 6-hour TIB with a 2-hour bedtime delay (late bedtime, n = 24); or 6-hour TIB with a 2-hour rise time advance (early rise time, n = 25). Clinicians blinded to TIB condition rated symptom severity weekly. Symptom severity, remission rates, and remission onset as rated by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were the primary outcomes. RESULTS Mixed effects models indicated lower depression severity for the 8-hour TIB compared to the 6-hour TIB group overall (F₈, ₂₂₆.₉ = 2.1, P < .05), with 63.2% of 8-hour TIB compared to 32.6% of 6-hour TIB subjects remitting by week 8 (χ²₁ = 4.9, P < .05). Remission onset occurred earlier for the 8-hour TIB group (hazard ratio = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.91; P < .03), with no differences between 6-hour TIB conditions. CONCLUSIONS Two consecutive weeks of nightly 6-hour TIB does not accelerate or improve antidepressant response. Further research is needed to determine whether adequate sleep opportunity is important to antidepressant treatment response. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01545843.
Interrogation of juveniles: An empirical study of procedures, safeguards, and rights waiver.

Little information has been available on the frequency of police interrogation and rights waiver in juvenile cases. Research in developmental psychology suggests that the cognitive and emotional characteristics of juveniles, coupled with the circumstances inherent in police interrogations might render very infrequent the assertion of the right to silence by juveniles. Furthermore, both legal and social science commentators have suggested that an increase in certain due process protections (e.g., presence of parents at questioning) might not mitigate the forementioned effect. To test these assumptions, the study examined juvenile court records for a random sample of felony referrals over a three-year period (491 juveniles, 707 referrals). Police questioning occurred in 65–75% of felony referrals, and juveniles in about 90% of these referrals provided police with information (more than personal identification). These results were examined in relation to demographic and offense variables. Due process protections were significantly more frequent during one year than during a previous year, but there was no difference between years in the frequency of rights waiver. The implications of these findings are discussed.
An 11-mer Amyloid Beta Peptide Fragment Provokes Chemical Mutations and Parkinsonian Biomarker Aggregation in Dopaminergic Cells: A Novel Road Map for "Transfected" Parkinson's.

Amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation is generally associated with Alzheimer’s onset. Here, we demonstrate that incubation of dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells with an Aβ peptide fragment (an 11-mer composed of residues 25–35; Aβ (25–35)) results in elevated intracellular nitrosative stress and induces chemical mutation of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), an endoplasmic reticulum-resident oxidoreductase chaperone. Furthermore, Aβ (25–35) provokes aggregation of both the minor and major biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease, namely, synphilin-1 and α-synuclein, respectively. Importantly, fluorescence studies demonstrate that Aβ (25–35) triggers colocalization of these Parkinsonian biomarkers to form Lewy-body-like aggregates, a key and irreversible milestone in the neurometabolic cascade leading to Parkinson’s disease. In addition, fluorescence assays also reveal direct, aggregation-seeding interactions between Aβ (25–35), PDI and α-synuclein, suggesting neuronal pathogenesis occurs via prion-type cross-transfectivity. The...
Relevance of meniscal cell regional phenotype to tissue engineering.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Meniscus contains heterogeneous populations of cells that have not been fully characterized. Cell phenotype is often lost during culture; however, culture expansion is typically required for tissue engineering. We examined and compared cell-surface molecule expression levels on human meniscus cells from the vascular and avascular regions and articular chondrocytes while documenting changes during culture-induced dedifferentiation. Materials and Methods: Expressions of 16 different surface molecules were examined by flow cytometry after monolayer culture for 24 h, 1 week, and 2 weeks. Menisci were also immunostained to document the spatial distributions of selected surface molecules. Results: Meniscus cells and chondrocytes exhibited several similarities in surface molecule profiles with dynamic changes during culture. A greater percentage of meniscal cells were positive for CD14, CD26, CD49c, and CD49f compared to articular chondrocytes. Initially, more meniscal cells from the vascular re...
A Remarkable New Genus and Species of Ghost Moth from Peru (Lepidoptera: Exoporia: Hepialidae)

ABSTRACT A new genus and species of a large ghost moth (Lepidoptera, Exoporia, Hepialidae) is described from south—central Peru based on a single pair of adults, male and female. Viridigigas ciseskii, new genus, new species, is recorded from two locations along the eastern versant of the Amazonian Andes. Its phylogenetic position within the Hepialidae is currently inconclusive with some features suggestive of affinity with two other genera, Puermytrans Viette, 1951 (Chile), and Phassodes Bethune-Baker, 1905 (Fiji). The forewing pattern is distinct from all other Hepialidae, consisting of green with numerous sub-circular dark brown to yellowish—brown spots of irregular shape enclosed by up to three concentric dark brown lines. In the male a prominent scent gland is present at the base of the fore wing and the metatibia support well-developed, elongate androconia.
A brain-penetrant RAF dimer antagonist for the noncanonical BRAF oncoprotein of pediatric low-grade astrocytomas.

Background Activating mutations or structural rearrangements in BRAF are identified in roughly 75% of all pediatric low-grade astrocytomas (PLGAs). However, first-generation RAF inhibitors approved for adult melanoma have poor blood-brain penetrance and are only effective on tumors that express the canonical BRAFV600E oncoprotein, which functions as a monomer. These drugs (type I antagonists that target the "DFG-in" conformation of the kinase) fail to block signaling via KIAA1549:BRAF, a truncation/fusion BRAF oncoprotein which functions as a dimer and is found in the most common form of PLGA. Methods A panel of small molecule RAF inhibitors (including type II inhibitors, targeting the "DFG-out" conformation of the kinase) was screened for drugs showing efficacy on murine models of PLGA and on authentic human PLGA cells expressing KIAA1549:BRAF. Results We identify a type II RAF inhibitor that serves as an equipotent antagonist of BRAFV600E, KIAA1549:BRAF, and other noncanonical BRAF oncoproteins that function as dimers. This drug (MLN2480, also known as TAK-580) has good brain penetrance and is active on authentic human PLGA cells in brain organotypic cultures. Conclusion MLN2480 may be an effective therapeutic for BRAF mutant pediatric astrocytomas.
On the non-standard distribution of empirical likelihood estimators with spatial data

Abstract This note highlights some unusual and unexpected behavior in point estimation using empirical likelihood (EL). In particular, frequency domain formulations of EL, based on the periodogram and estimating functions, have been proposed in the literature for time and spatial processes. However, in contrast to the time series case and most applications of EL, the maximum EL parameter estimator exhibits surprisingly non-standard asymptotic properties for irregularly located spatial data. In fact, a consistent normal limit cannot be guaranteed, as is typical for EL. Despite this, log-ratio EL statistics maintain standard chi-square limits with such spatial data.