cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis-reactive CD8+ T lymphocytes : the relative contribution of classical versus nonclassical HLA restriction

Previous studies in mice and humans models have suggested an important role for CD8+ T cells in host defense to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In humans, CD8+ Mtb-reactive T cells have been described that are HLA-A2-, B52-, as well as CD1-restricted. Recently, we have described Mtb-specific CD8+ T cells that are neither HLA-A-, B-, or C- nor group 1 CD1-restricted. At present, little is known about the relative contribution of each of these restriction specificities to the overall CD8+ response to Mtb. An IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assay was used to determine the frequency of Mtb-reactive CD8+ T cells directly from PBMC. The effector cell frequency among five healthy purified protein derivative-positive subjects was 1/7,600 +/- 4,300 compared with 1/16,000 +/- 7,000 in six purified protein derivative-negative controls. To determine the frequencies of classically, CD1-, and nonclassically restricted cells, a limiting dilution analysis was performed. In one purified protein derivative-positive subject, 192 clones were generated using Mtb-infected dendritic cells (DC). Clones were assessed for reactivity against control autologous DC, Mtb-infected autologous DC, and HLA-mismatched CD1+ targets (DC), as well as HLA-mismatched CD1- targets (macrophages). Of the 96 Mtb-reactive CD8+ T cell clones, four (4%) were classically restricted and 92 (96%) were nonclassically restricted. CD1-restricted cells were not detected. Of the classically restricted cells, two were HLA-B44 restricted and one was HLA-B14 restricted. These results suggest that while classically restricted CD8+ lymphocytes can be detected, they comprise a relatively small component of the overall CD8+ T cell response to Mtb. Further definition of the nonclassical response may aid development of an effective vaccine against tuberculosis.
Joint Spectrum and Power Allocation for Inter-Cell Spectrum Sharing in Cognitive Radio Networks

Cognitive radio (CR) networking achieves high utilization of the scarce spectrum resources without causing any performance degradation to the licensed users. Since the spectrum availability varies over time and space, the infrastructure-based CR networks are required to have a dynamic inter-cell spectrum sharing capability. This allows fair resource allocation as well as capacity maximization and avoids the starvation problems seen in the classical spectrum sharing approaches. In this paper, a joint spectrum and power allocation framework is proposed that addresses these concerns by (i) opportunistically negotiating additional spectrum based on the licensed user activity (exclusive allocation), and (ii) having a share of reserved spectrum for each cell (common use sharing). Our algorithm accounts for the maximum cell capacity, minimizes the interference caused to neighboring cells, and protects the licensed users through a sophisticated power allocation method. Simulation results reveal that the proposed inter-cell spectrum sharing framework achieves better fairness and higher network capacity than the conventional spectrum sharing methods.
Heterogeneous Processing Architecture for Phase-Retrieval Wavefront Sensing

A heterogeneous computing architecture for phase retrieval is discussed. Applications to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) instrument test program are presented.
Strategic Outcomes in Voluntary CSR: Reporting Economic and Reputational Benefits in Principles-Based Initiatives

Although existing research evaluates the growth and motivations behind global corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity, there is little understanding whether these growing commitments generate strategic benefits to their adherents. In this article, we analyze the organizational attributes that underlie the firm’s ability to generate competitive advantage from the adoption of a global CSR framework. We develop hypotheses on economic and reputational benefits and test whether firm performance, organizational resources, and access to business and CSR networks determine these benefits in CSR frameworks. Results from a survey of 213 Spanish global compact business participants strongly support our arguments.
Influenza A Virus Neuraminidase Limits Viral Superinfection

Enveloped viruses use multiple mechanisms to inhibit infection of a target cell by more than one virion. These mechanisms may be of particular importance for the evolution of segmented viruses, because superinfection exclusion may limit the frequency of reassortment of viral genes. Here, we show that cellular expression of influenza A virus neuraminidase (NA), but not hemagglutinin (HA) or the M2 proton pump, inhibits entry of HA-pseudotyped retroviruses. Cells infected with H1N1 or H3N2 influenza A virus were similarly refractory to HA-mediated infection and to superinfection with a second influenza A virus. Both HA-mediated entry and viral superinfection were rescued by the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir carboxylate and zanamivir. These inhibitors also prevented the removal of α-2,3- and α-2,6-linked sialic acid observed in cells expressing NA or infected with influenza A viruses. Our data indicate that NA alone among viral proteins limits influenza A virus superinfection.
The Challenge of Staying Happier: Testing the Hedonic Adaptation Prevention Model

The happiness that comes from a particular success or change in fortune abates with time. The Hedonic Adaptation Prevention (HAP) model specifies two routes by which the well-being gains derived from a positive life change are eroded--the first involving bottom-up processes (i.e., declining positive emotions generated by the positive change) and the second involving top-down processes (i.e., increased aspirations for even more positivity). The model also specifies two moderators that can forestall these processes--continued appreciation of the original life change and continued variety in change-related experiences. The authors formally tested the predictions of the HAP model in a 3-month three-wave longitudinal study of 481 students. Temporal path analyses and moderated regression analyses provided good support for the model. Implications for the stability of well-being, the feasibility of "the pursuit of happiness," and the appeal of overconsumption are discussed.
HOM-C/Hox genes and four interacting loci determine the morphogenetic properties of single cells in the nematode male tail

The copulatory structure of the C. elegans male tail includes a set of nine bilaterally symmetrical pairs of sense organs known as rays. Each ray comprises three cells, which are generated by a stereotyped cell sublineage expressed by 18 epidermal ray precursor cells. A pattern formation mechanism in the epidermis guides the specification of morphogenetic differences between the rays necessary for correct organelle assembly at specific positions within the epidermis. Expression of these ray differences was altered in mutations we described previously, resulting in displaced and fused rays. Here we show that two genes of the C. elegans HOM-C/Hox gene complex play a role in the pattern formation mechanism. Increasing or decreasing the gene dosage of mab-5, an Antennapedia homolog, and egl-5, an Abdominal B homolog, results in displacement and fusion of specific rays. These changes are interpreted as anterior or posterior transformations in ray identities. Mutations in the genes previously described are dominant modifiers of these effects. This suggests that these genes act in the same morphogenetic pathway as mab-5 and egl-5. Several lines of evidence, including cell ablation experiments, argue that the identity of each ray is specified cell-autonomously in the terminal cells of the ray lineages. mab-5 and egl-5, therefore, specify the morphogenetic properties of differentiating cells, without change in cell lineage or apparent cell type. Modifier genes may act upstream of mab-5 and egl-5 to regulate their expression. Alternatively, they may act at the same step in the pathway, as cofactors, or they may be target genes. Target genes could include genes specifying cell recognition and adhesion molecules governing ray organelle assembly.
Nocturnal electromyographic evaluation of myofascial pain dysfunction in patients undergoing occlusal splint therapy

The relationship of nocturnal activity of muscles to adiminution of symptoms in patients using occlusal splints is explored. The level of nocturnal muscle activity in 25 patients with myofascial pain dysfunction was monitored before, during, and after therapy with occlusal splints. Correlations were made between the severity of symptoms before treatment and the effectiveness of the splint in reducing nocturnal activity of muscles.
Three-point joint density functions for the intensities of partially and fully developed monochromatic laser speckle patterns

A three-point joint density function for the intensity of a partially developed laser speckle pattern is derived as an infinite summation of products of modified Bessel functions of the first kind. From this summation, a simpler expression for the corresponding density function of a fully developed Gaussian speckle is derived. The results will be useful in obtaining the conditional density functions of intensity for generai optical scattering problems and for estimating the probability of error in the signal-to-noise ratio calculations in optical Systems such as optical radar.
Voice recognition applications for programming environments

An examination of case studies shows that the use of voice recognition technology is appropriate and feasible for programming environments. These can include operating system level commands creating a standard user interface. Also, for a structured language such as Pascal, voice editing or dictation of such programs is feasible. Also noted is the importance of data acquisition using voice input, since the amounts of data seem to keep growing and to arrive in many different formats. A simplified diagram of software design for the use of voice recognition technology for programming environments is presented. >
Dominant negative Hes1 blocks osteosarcoma invasion driven by Notch pathway signaling

9549 Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common bone cancer, with a peak incidence in mid-adolescence. OS outcome is poor for metastatic or recurrent disease (<30% and 10–20% survival respect...
Attempted passive transfer of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Transfusion of 300 ml. of plasma from a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura produced no hematologic change in a healthy recipient; 10 months after the infusion there has been no evidence of transmission of any disease.
An efficient framework for high-quality low-dose ct reconstruction and reference-based image restoration

CT imaging procedures have been shown to considerably increase the medical radiation dose to patients, giving rise to cancer. As a result, low dose imaging modalities have gained much attention recently. However, this renders traditional CT reconstruction processes no longer sufficient. Iterative reconstruction algorithms using numerical optimization paradigms are better suited, but they suffer from (1) expensive computation, (2) problems with the selection of optimal parameters to simultaneously optimize speed and (3) poor reconstruction quality. To cope with these problems, we have made several contributions to low-dose CT. First, we have devised a GPU-accelerated ordered subset iterative CT reconstruction algorithm (OS-SIRT) with regularization and effective parameter learning. We generalized two algebraic algorithms (SIRT, SART) to an ordered subset scheme which balanced the speed of computation and the rate of convergence of these algorithms. Second, we mapped the computation to GPUs, achieving remarkable performance gains. Third, for high-quality reconstruction, we introduced four filters for denoising and streak artifact reduction, i.e., bilateral, trilateral, non-local means (NLM) and optimal adaptive NLM, all of which are popular in computer vision. We have used these filters within an interleaved CT reconstruction regularization pipeline and found that they compare favorably with the traditionally used TVM algorithm. Fourth, to overcome the difficulties with optimal parameter tuning within our algorithm and for any parameter-dependent applications, we devised two parameter-learning approaches—exhaustive benchmark testing and multi-objective optimization—and allow user interaction via an interactive parameter space visualization tool. We then generalized our framework to Electron Tomography. Our fifth contribution is a scheme that broadens the low-dose image restoration capability of traditional NLM filtering to also include high-dose reference images. We developed two variants. The first variant uses a prior scan of the same patient when available. The second variant generalizes this concept to a database of images of other patients to learn the reference images. Our experiments show that this scheme has vast potential to restore the quality of low-dose CT imagery.
Vocal training, levodopa, and environment effects on ultrasonic vocalizations in a rat neurotoxin model of Parkinson disease

Levodopa does not improve dysarthria in patients with Parkinson Disease (PD), although vocal exercise therapy, such as “LSVT/LOUD®”, does improve vocal communication. Most patients receive vocal exercise therapy while concurrently being treated with levodopa, although the interaction between levodopa and vocal exercise therapy on communication in PD is relatively unknown. Further, carryover of vocal exercise therapy to novel situations is critical for successful outcomes, but the influence of novel situations on rehabilitated vocal communication is not well understood. To address the influence of exercise, medications, and environment on vocal communication with precise experimental control, we employed the widely used 6-OHDA rat neurotoxin model of PD (infusion to the medial forebrain bundle), and assessed ultrasonic vocalizations after: vocal exercise, vocal exercise with levodopa, levodopa alone, and control conditions. We tested USVs in the familiar training environment of the home cage and a novel cage. We hypothesized that parkinsonian rats that undergo vocal exercise would demonstrate significant improvement of ultrasonic vocalization (USV) acoustic parameters as compared to the control exercise and levodopa-only treatment groups. We further hypothesized that vocal exercise in combination with levodopa administration, similar to what is common in humans, would lead to improvement in USV outcomes, particularly when tested in a familiar versus a novel environment. We found that the combination of exercise and levodopa lead to some improvement in USV acoustic parameters and these effects were stronger in a familiar vs. a novel environment. Our results suggest that although treatment can improve aspects of communication, environment can influence the benefits of these effects.
Comments on “A Physics Based Green's Function for Analysis of Vertical Electrical Dipole Radiation Over an Imperfect Ground Plane” $ $

In [1], the integral representations with respect to the vertical wavenumber given in (14) and (15) of that paper for the potentials of a vertical Hertzian dipole above an arbitrary ground plane are incomplete and, consequently, incorrect. The errors made in [1] are of fundamental nature and the representations provided therein cannot be obtained from first principles for a material half-space. The purpose of the present comment is to derive correct representations adopting the same notation as in [1]. Here, we focus on the z-component of the secondary field only in region-1 above the horizontal interface. The corresponding expression for the field below the interface is obtained in a similar manner.
Existing Tools to Facilitate International Research

Barchi, Singleton, and Merz (2014) raise valid observations about the challenges that review of international research presents. In order to frame their solution, the authors concentrate on five ke...
Wind Stress on a Coastal Water Surface

Simultaneous measurements of horizontal wind velocity above the water surface, air and water temperature difference, and water level were made during the summer of 1971 at an exposed field site off the northwest coast of Florida. Three identical vertical arrays of six-cup anemometers were used; they were located in the surf zone, in the area between the inner and the outer bars, and on the outer slope of the outer bar. The distances of these three stations from the mean shoreline were approximately 30, 130, and 230 m. Mean water depths were 1.5, 4.3, and 5.0 m. Analysis of the profile data under adiabatic and onshore wind conditions indicates that better than 90 percent of the valid wind profile measurements are logarithmic. It was found from the nearly fifteen hundred 15-minute logarithmic wind profiles that the shear velocity U* was not a linear function of wind speed, as is usually assumed in coastal applications, but had a functional relationship with velocity at 10 m or U±Qm (from 0.5 to 8,5 m/sec), such that U* =0.37 U10m2/3. Comparison with similar investigations in deeper water and oceanic regions was also made.
Fatal Chlorine Poisoning: Report of Two Cases with Clinicopathologic Correlation

Two healthy adults died 25 and 76 hours, respectively, after being exposed to gaseous chlorine. Clinically, each had severe hypoxemia and metabolic acidosis. At autopsy, both patients had severe pulmonary edema with superimposed pneumonia, prominent hyaline membrane formation, multiple recent pulmonary thromboses, and ulcerative tracheobronchitis. The kidneys of the longer-surviving victim were the seat of glomerular capillary thromboses, and the white matter of her brain was studded with focal and confluent destructive hemorrhages. The pulmonary and airway damage in chlorine poisoning are produced by the strong oxidizing action created by the interaction of the toxic gas with water, which results in the liberation of nascent oxygen, a potent protoplasmic poison. Because lungs traumatized by the irritant effect of chlorine may be abnormally vulnerable to the toxic effect of oxygen, it is probable that at least some of the pulmonary damage observed in both victims was created by the deleterious effects of high pressure therapy with this gas.
Chemical Vapor Deposition of Copper Alloys

Chemical vapor deposition of metals is becoming a desirable alternative to physical deposition techniques (e.g. sputtering, evaporation) for applications in chip wiring. This is due to the possibility of achieving highly conformal coverage and low processing temperatures. Additionally, it is convenient to be able to enhance the physical properties (e.g. corrosion resistance, adhesion, electromigration resistance) of metal films used for chip interconnection by incorporation of an alloying agent. We have investigated the possibility of extending our current copper deposition process to allow for the deposition of copper alloys. By careful selection of the precursors and reactor conditions, simultaneous decomposition of the two compounds to give clean alloy films is effected. Using this co-deposition method, Cu-Co and Cu-Te alloy films were prepared. Precursor and reaction chemistry are discussed as well as some properties of the resulting films.
Analyzing Changes of Near 8-year's Community Preventive Health Care Human Resource in Shanghai Songjiang District

OBJECTIVE To understand 8 years' changing situation of human resources of community prevention and health care In Shanghai Songjiang District.METHOD 15 district community health service center for preventive health care investigators,compared to the 2004 and 2009 surveys.RESULTS community preventive health care workers under 45 years of age,83.17%education to undergraduates and Junior College 73.60%;intermediate engineers,30.36%,rofessional public health,nursing and health-oriented,and 77.56%of the three in Songjiang.Preventive health care staffing ratio per million population,community prevention and health care staff increases.
Measurement of surface velocity field in mountainous river channel based on image processing

Obtaining of surface velocity field data of flood is very significant for the research of flood and debris flow. The surface velocity field in Longxi River,Sichuan Province was measured by using image processing method and the results were compared with those of impellor flow meter. The results achieved by two methods agree with each other. The results have validated the accuracy of image processing method in the mountain channel,and the equipment has advantages of portable and non-invasively. Under turbid water condition,the method also shows its robust effectiveness,and the method of velocity-area is available for discharge calculation.
Assessment of valproic acid serum-cerebrospinal fluid transport by microdialysis.

The systemic disposition and serum–cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) translocation of valproic acid (VPA) were examined in rats after administration of VPA as a bolus, as a continuous infusion, or with probenecid. VPA in CSF was monitored continuously by in vivo microdialysis. Both prolonged VPA infusion and probenecid pre-treatment increased the Km for saturable VPA elimination and decreased intrinsic hepatic clearance, perhaps due to competition of probenecid or accumulated VPA metabolites for glucuronidation or depletion of hepatic UDP-glucuronic acid. The CSF/serum VPA ratio increased rapidly initially, then decreased with time throughout the remainder of the experiment in all three groups. This time- and/ or concentration-dependent behavior suggested that the rate of CSF penetration increased disproportionately with increasing serum VPA and could be described by a kinetic model incorporating a concentration-dependent first-order rate constant for VPA influx into CSF. Under all experimental conditions, the VPA efflux from CSF appeared to be saturable; an increase in the Michaelis constant for efflux was observed following probenecid pretreatment and during VPA infusion, suggesting competitive inhibition of transport by probenecid and derived metabolites of VPA, respectively. The mechanisms responsible for asymmetric VPA transport between serum and CSF, in particular the apparent concentration-dependent change in the rate constant governing CSF penetration, remain to be elucidated.
Am I obligated to give therapy against my better judgment

The family of a young woman with a brainstem glioma has been haranguing her physician to continue bevacizumab treatment despite a significant decline in her functional status. How to respond?
The origins of EE education: A matter of degree: Although MIT and Cornell contend for the honor of being `first,¿ the seeds of electrical engineering as a formal course of study were planted widely

The early historical development of electrical engineering education is examined, beginning with the initial activities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Cornell up until 1900.
Population genetics of Triatominae

Abstract This chapter on Population Genetics of Triatominae highlights current knowledge and open questions in this field. Population genetic analyses help design evidence-based vector control strategies by identifying and quantifying barriers to gene flow among nearby populations, inferring sources of reinfestation after insecticide treatment, distinguishing epidemiologically relevant subpopulations, and examining the evolution and spread of insecticide resistance. We highlight the importance of population genetics in epidemiology and vector control and explain how empirical estimation methods can infer evolutionary and ecological processes of drift, migration, mutation, and selection. Valuable contributions from population genetic studies to vector control efforts are highlighted and the potential of genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms data from high throughput sequencing technologies are discussed. Population genetic studies are an important tool to help us better understand disease epidemiology, and thus design evidence-based control and surveillance strategies to interrupt parasite transmission.
Frequency-specific electrophysiologic correlates of resting state fMRI networks

Resting state functional MRI (R-fMRI) studies have shown that slow (<0.1Hz), intrinsic fluctuations of the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal are temporally correlated within hierarchically organized functional systems known as resting state networks (RSNs) (Doucet et al., 2011). Most broadly, this hierarchy exhibits a dichotomy between two opposed systems (Fox et al., 2005). One system engages with the environment and includes the visual, auditory, and sensorimotor (SMN) networks as well as the dorsal attention network (DAN), which controls spatial attention. The other system includes the default mode network (DMN) and the fronto-parietal control system (FPC), RSNs that instantiate episodic memory and executive control, respectively. Here, we test the hypothesis, based on the spectral specificity of electrophysiologic responses to perceptual vs. memory tasks (Klimesch, 1999; Pfurtscheller and Lopes da Silva, 1999), that these two large-scale neural systems also manifest frequency specificity in the resting state. We measured the spatial correspondence between electrocorticographic (ECoG) band-limited power (BLP) and R-fMRI correlation patterns in awake, resting, human subjects. Our results show that, while gamma BLP correspondence was common throughout the brain, theta (4-8Hz) BLP correspondence was stronger in the DMN and FPC, whereas alpha (8-12Hz) correspondence was stronger in the SMN and DAN. Thus, the human brain, at rest, exhibits frequency specific electrophysiology, respecting both the spectral structure of task responses and the hierarchical organization of RSNs.
Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Elderly Patients with Multiple Myeloma.

Abstract Background: Several trials have shown that autologous stem cell transplantation is superior to conventional therapy in terms of complete response (CR) rate, event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). This treatment, however, is generally limited to patients younger than 65 due to concerns about excessive toxicity and treatment-related mortality (TRM) in older patients. Previous reports have shown that age alone should not exclude patients from high-dose therapy, as long as they fulfill other eligibility criteria. In this report we analyzed the safety and efficacy of high-dose chemotherapy (HDT) and autologous transplant in patients with MM who were ≥ 70 years at the time of autotransplant. Methods: Twenty-six patients (16 males, 10 females) with a median age of 72 (range 70–79) underwent HDT and an autograft between July 1999 and October 2005. The preparative regimen was melphalan 200 mg/m2 in 19 patients (73%), melphalan 180 mg/m2 in 6 and melphalan140 mg/m2 in 1 patient. Of the 26 patients, 12 were receiving first remission consolidation, 7 had primary refractory disease and 7 had relapsed disease. Clonal cytogenetic abnormalities were present in 5 patients (19%). Results: Twenty-two of the 26 patients were alive after a median follow up of 15 months (range 2–63). Responses (complete + partial response) were seen in 20 patients (77%), five (19%) of which were complete responses. Median EFS and OS were 19 and 31.6 months, respectively. 100-day TRM was 0%. Median times to absolute neutrophil count of ≥0.5 × 109/l and platelets ≥20 × 109/l were 10 and 10 days, respectively. Three-year EFS and OS were 37% and 49%, respectively. A low serum albumin ( Conclusions: HDT and autologous transplant is safe and feasible in selected patients ≥70 years of age. The outcome is comparable to younger patients undergoing an autograft, and older patients receiving conventional therapy.
Walton’s Secular City, A Tour

Thank you, President Healy and my thanks also to Ronald Duska for inviting me to speak at this gathering that honors a gifted and wise man, Clarence Walton, an old friend and a grand warrior in the good fight. I am especially grateful for being assigned the last spot in this Symposium when everyone is dazed and groggy, eager to get at the drinks and ready to burst into applause to end it all, so I won’t keep us long—a mere 2 hours should suffice to put forth my remarks and develop them carefully. Did I say 2 hours? I meant 30 minutes or so, a time limit imposed by Ronald Duska, an archon one ignores at great peril. Along the way I shall touch here and there upon the commentary of Professor Werhane, always stimulating, occasionally right.
Reproducible, Component‐based Modeling with TopoFlow, A Spatial Hydrologic Modeling Toolkit

Modern geoscientists have online access to an abundance of different data sets and models, but these resources differ from each other in myriad ways and this heterogeneity works against interoperability as well as reproducibility. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the main issues and some best practices for addressing the challenge of reproducible science in the context of a relatively simple hydrologic modeling study for a small Arctic watershed near Fairbanks, Alaska. This study requires several different types of input data in addition to several, coupled model components. All data sets, model components and processing scripts (e.g. for preparation of data and figures, and for analysis of model output) are fully documented and made available online at persistent URLs. Similarly, all source code for the models and scripts is open-source, version controlled and made available online via GitHub. Each model component has a Basic Model Interface (BMI) to simplify coupling and its own HTML help page that includes a list of all equations and variables used. The set of all model components (TopoFlow) has also been made available as a Python package for easy installation. Three different graphical user interfaces for setting up TopoFlow runs are described, including one that allows model components to run and be coupled as web services.
Dietary Phytochemicals in Neurodegenerative Disease

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are debilitating, incurable neurodegenerative disorders. Intensive research efforts have been focused on characterizing a role for the diet in AD and PD, with a view toward identifying dietary components that could reduce the risk of disease or slow neurodegeneration in the brains of patients. Various plant constituents, including isothiocyanates, sulfur compounds, and polyphenols, have been examined in terms of their ability to alleviate neurotoxicity in cellular and animal models of AD or PD. Mechanisms by which these phytochemicals carry out their neuroprotective effects include activation of cellular antioxidant responses mediated by the transcription factors Nrf2 and PGC-1α, stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, and attenuation of glial activation. A number of dietary plant constituents have been linked epidemiologically to reduced AD or PD risk and are known to penetrate the blood–brain barrier, suggesting that they could be of therapeutic benefit to patients.
Toxoplasma gondii is capable of exogenous folate transport: A likely expansion of the BT1 family of transmembrane proteins

Folates are key elements in eukaryotic biosynthetic processes. The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii possesses the enzymes necessary for de novo folate synthesis and has been suggested to lack alternative mechanisms for folate acquisition. In this paper, we present a different view by providing evidence that Toxoplasma is capable of salvaging exogenous folates. By monitoring uptake of radiolabeled folates by parasites in axenic conditions, our studies revealed a common folate transporter that has a high affinity for folic acid. Transport of this compound across the parasite plasma membrane is rapid, biphasic, temperature dependent, bi-directional, concentration dependent and specific. In addition, morphological evidence demonstrates that fluorescent methotrexate, a folate analog, is internalized by Toxoplasma and shows localization reminiscent to the mitochondrion. The presence of putative folate transporter genes in the Toxoplasma genome, which are homologous to the BT1 family of proteins, suggests that Toxoplasma may encode proteins involved in folate transport. Interestingly, genome analysis suggests that the BT1 family of proteins exists not only in Toxoplasma, but in other Apicomplexan parasites as well. Altogether, our results not only have implications for current therapeutic regimens against T. gondii, but they also allude that the folate transport mechanism may represent a novel Apicomplexan target for the development of new drugs.
Mandibles of the sea lion Proterozetes ulysses from the middle Pleistocene Port Orford Formation of Oregon

ABSTRACT The Pleistocene sea lion Proterozetes ulysses belongs to a monophyletic group of North Pacific otariids that includes the living genera Eumetopias and Zalophus. Mandibles of Proterozetes from the Port Orford Formation of Oregon are described and found to be intermediate in morphology and size to the other North Pacific otariids, most resembling Eumetopias. Among other characters, the presence of an oblong lingual prominence on the anterior lingual surface of the mandible links the taxon to Eumetopias, which commonly expresses the same feature. Uniquely among North Pacific otariids, Proterozetes possesses a p1 alveolus distinctly smaller than that of the p2. The presence of a distinct but morphologically intermediate taxon in the eastern North Pacific during the Pleistocene establishes it as a time of increased otariid diversity, in contrast to a suggested decline in other marine mammal clades. The timing of sea lion diversification along the west coast of North America appears to follow diversifi...
Atypical PWM for maximizing 2L-VSI DC-bus utilization in inverter-based microgrids with ancillary services

Three-phase microgrid-interactive inverters are expected to provide a range of ancillary services, with negative-sequence current compensation being particularly prominent. However, unbalanced pulse width modulation (PWM) references may be generated when providing these services. Since references used by carrier-based PWM techniques cannot exceed the dc-bus voltage defined limits without causing over-modulation, the maximum positive-sequence voltage microgrid-interactive inverters can generate may therefore be diminished. This will in turn reduce the maximum active-and reactive-power that the inverter could otherwise provide, unless PWM references are adjusted. In this paper, an atypical PWM method is proposed for maximizing dc-bus utilization of microgrid-interactive two-level voltage source inverters (2L-VSI) operating under unbalanced conditions. Through the injection of a common-mode component computed based on instantaneous reference magnitudes, the proposed method increases the maximum active-and reactive-power that a 2L-VSI can deliver when providing negative-sequence current compensation. The validity of the proposed technique is verified through simulation, as well as experimental data obtained using a 208V three phase grid-connected 2L-VSI.
Feasibility Assessment of Aerocapture for Future Titan Orbiter Missions

Numerical simulation is used to perform parametric analysis to assess the feasibility of aerocapture at Titan over arrival V∞ of 0–16 km/s, vehicle lift-to-drag ratio of 0–1, and vehicle ballistic...
Effects of lesions of the histaminergic tuberomammillary nucleus on spontaneous sleep in rats.

Study Objectives— Extensive evidence suggests that histaminergic neurons promote wakefulness. Histaminergic neurons are found exclusively in the tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN), and electrolytic lesions of the posterior hypothalamus, where the TMN resides, produce intense hypersomnolence. However, electrolytic lesions disrupt fibers of passage, and the effects of fibersparing, cell-specific TMN lesions on sleep and wakefulness are unknown. Hence, we placed cellspecific lesions in the TMN to determine its role in spontaneous wakefulness. Design— TMN neurons in rats are relatively resistant to excitotoxins. Hence, we ablated them using saporin conjugated to hypocretin 2, which ablates hypocretin receptor-bearing neurons such as TMN neurons. One to 2 weeks after bilateral injections of Hcrt2-SAP into Sprague-Dawley rats, we correlated loss of TMN neurons with changes in sleep. Setting—N/A Participants—N/A Interventions—N/A Measurements and Results—Four days after injections with hypocretin-2–saporin, the number of TMN neurons was markedly decreased, and most were lost after 12 days, as determined by immunohistochemistry for adenosine deaminase, a marker of TMN neurons. Nearby nonhistaminergic neurons were similarly ablated. Rats with an average 82.5% loss of TMN cells (determined 2 weeks after injection) did not have marked changes in total sleep amounts compared to saline-treated rats 1 or 2 weeks following the injection, except for a slight decrease in rapid eye movement sleep during the lights-on period for the first week only. The percentage of remaining TMN neurons positively correlated with the average duration of wake bouts during the lights-off period. Conclusion—The absence of gross changes in sleep after extensive loss of histaminergic neurons suggests that this system is not critical for spontaneous wakefulness.
Scaling the Wall: Factors Influencing the Conditions for Market Entry in the Mobile Data Market

Advances in mobile technology have created a fertile ground for the development of new and innovative information and entertainment services. However, the road from development to commercialization of these services is one that is currently under construction. In this research, we seek to understand the relationships between developers of information services and the powerful mobile network operators that dominate the industry, which in turn shed light on the forces shaping the diversity of information sources on the mobile Internet. To understand these relationships, we have undertaken a research project in which we follow the attempts of a small firm to commercialize their information service in the United States. The project combines knowledge of industry structures with the first-hand market entry experience of a small firm. Results derived from the application of an institutional economics theoretical lens indicate that informal institutions, technology, and market power have combined to create the context for mobile services provision, which can be characterized as a highly fragmented market. This market fragmentation, together with technology, market power, and informal institutions, defines the choices application developers must make and indirectly determines the developers who will and will not be able to enter the market.
The Mouse Hepatitis Virus A59 Spike Protein is not Cleaved in Primary Hepatocyte and Glial Cell Cultures

Mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV-A59) produces mild meningoencephalitis and severe hepatitis during acute infection. To determine whether an in vitro system could be established which would mimic in vivo replication of the virus, we examined the ability of MHV-A59 to replicate in primary cultures of hepatocytes derived from C57BL/6 mice. Infection of hepatocytes with MHV-A59 resulted in low levels of replication, with virus remaining cell associated. Maximum viral yield was observed at 24 hours postinfection, while occasional syncytia were observed at 48 hours postinfection. Primary glial cell culture represents a potential in vitro system representing the second main target of MHV-A59, namely the brain. It is known that MHV-A59 produces a productive, but nonlytic infection in these cultures. Since cell-to-cell fusion is associated with the cleavage of S, the observation of little or no syncytia following MHV-A59 infection of both hepatocytes and glial cells prompted us to examine the cleavage of the spike protein (S) by Western blot analysis. The cleavage of S is inefficient in MHV-A59 infected hepatocytes and in glial cells. Furthermore, no cleavage of this protein was detected in liver homogenates from C57BL/6 mice infected with MHV-A59. These data suggest that cleavage of the MHV-A59 S protein, and by inference cell-to-cell fusion, does not seem to be essential for entry and spread of the virus in vivo and in vitro.
POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES

This chapter focuses on positive and negative numbers. The negative numbers are the numbers less than zero.. The expression - 3 is read negative three. The minus sign indicates a negative number. When the minus sign indicates subtraction, there is a space on either side of the sign. When the symbol is used for a negative sign, as in - 3, there is no space to the right of the sign. The positive numbers are the numbers greater than zero. Zero is neither positive nor negative. The signed numbers consist of all the positive numbers and all the negative numbers. The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line. Vertical bars beside the number indicate its absolute value. For example, |- 3| = 3, |3| = 3, and |0| = 0. Two numbers are opposites if they have the same absolute value but different signs. Zero is the only number that is its own opposite.
An Approximately Optimal Bot for Non-Submodular Social Reconnaissance

The explosive growth of Online Social Networks in recent years has led to many individuals relying on them to keep up with friends & family. This, in turn, makes them prime targets for malicious actors seeking to collect sensitive, personal data. Prior work has studied the ability of socialbots, i.e. bots which pretend to be humans on OSNs, to collect personal data by befriending real users. However, this prior work has been hampered by the assumption that the likelihood of users accepting friend requests from a bot is non-increasing -- a useful constraint for theoretical purposes but one contradicted by observational data. We address this limitation with a novel curvature based technique, showing that an adaptive greedy bot is approximately optimal within a factor of 1 - 1/e1/δ ~0.165. This theoretical contribution is supported by simulating the infiltration of the bot on OSN topologies. Counter-intuitively, we observe that when the bot is incentivized to befriend friends-of-friends of target users it out-performs a bot that focuses on befriending targets.
Telematics and the Early History of International Digital Information Flows

The origins of telematics and the early history of international information flows is recounted. As a result of post-World War II efforts to encourage the free flow of data in the service of peacemaking and economic growth, the computer utility, distributed data processing services, and the post-industrial information society were born. Hand in hand with these developments emerged political and technical difficulties of data protection, network and national sovereignty, and identity. Interconnection and high-velocity information sharing encouraged culturally ingrained expectations of flow at work and in life. It also destabilized the national security, international relationships, and global commerce.
Mortality in status 2 patients listed for heart transplantation in the United States: Will understanding cause of death help justify implantation of left ventricular assist devices into less sick patients?

Abstract Objective It remains unclear whether left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation in non-inotrope dependent patients is of clinical benefit. This study sought to evaluate cause of death in patients listed for heart transplant (HT) to determine the relative risks and benefits of implanting LVAD into patients who are less sick than those included in the original clinical trials. Methods We examined death as the primary outcome in 23,098 patients listed for HT from 2006 to 2014 using proportional subdistribution hazards modeling. Cause of death was examined as a secondary outcome using χ2 tests. Results 1859 (8.1%) patients were removed from the wait list for death, including 229 (2.7%) status 1A, 349 (4.6%) status 1B, 246 (13.2%) status 2, and 1035 (26.0%) status 7 patients (P Conclusions LVAD implantation in status 2 patients listed for HT is associated with a higher risk of death. More research is needed to determine the impact LVAD implantation will have on mortality in patients with ambulatory, non-inotrope dependent HF.
Would you use new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for thromboprophylaxis in patients with an underlying hypercoagulable state? A literature review through a case report. (P6.231)

Objective: To present a case of a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome (APLs) on a NOAC for secondary thromboprophylaxis who developed a subsequent stroke, and to discuss the current evidence regarding the use of NOACs in patients with hypercoagulable state. Background: APLs is an autoimmune condition leading to a hypercoagulable state and predisposing to venous and arterial thrombosis. Warfarin is the recommended anticoagulation in APLs patients for thromboprophylaxis. However, warfarin requires frequent INR monitoring, has a prolonged onset of action, and numerous drug interactions. Currently, there is mixed evidence for and against the use of NOACs for thromboprophylaxis in APLs and it remains a controversial topic. Design/Methods: A case report and review of literature. Results: A 48 year-old woman with history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, beta 2 glycoprotein-positive APLs, and pulmonary embolism (PE) on Apixaban who presented with left homonymous hemianopia. Brain magnetic resonance images showed an acute right occipital lobe ischemic stroke. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed noninfectious bacterial endocarditis without evidence of cardiac thrombus or shunt. Angiography of head and neck, and studies for systemic lupus erythematous were unremarkable. The suspected etiology of the stroke was NBTE associated with APLs, and given that the patient had a history of PE and experienced an ischemic stroke while on Apixaban, anticoagulation therapy was switched to warfarin with an INR goal of 2 to 3. Conclusions: There is a lack of evidence to support the use of NOACs for anticoagulation in patients with APLs. A recent Cochrane review did not find sufficient evidence to determine the benefit or harm of NOACs versus warfarin use in preventing thrombosis in these patients. There is lack of data suggesting use of NOACs in APLs, hence, the standard of care remains to be warfarin. Randomized controlled trials are warranted in order to prove efficacy for NOAC use. Disclosure: Dr. Kakadia has nothing to disclose. Dr. Daci has nothing to disclose. Dr. Suero-Abreu, MD, PhD has nothing to disclose. Dr. Then has nothing to disclose.
Early season losses of fertilizer nitrogen during corn production

52 Introduction 53 Materials and Methods 55 Results 58 Data from test areas 58 Data from whole-field analyses 59 Discussion 60 Conclusions 62 Literature Cited 63 GENERAL CONCLUSION 76
Thermally-Responsive Loading and Release of Elastin-Like Polypeptides from Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are widely prescribed for vision correction, and as such they are an attractive platform for drug delivery to the anterior segment of the eye. This manuscript explores a novel strategy to drive the reversible adsorption of peptide-based therapeutics using commercially available contact lenses. To accomplish this, thermo-sensitive elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) alone or tagged with a candidate ocular therapeutic were characterized. For the first time, this manuscript demonstrates that Proclear CompatiblesTM contact lenses are a suitable platform for ELP adsorption. Two rhodamine-labelled ELPs, V96 (thermo-sensitive) and S96 (thermo-insensitive), were employed to test temperature-dependent association to the contact lenses. During long-term release into solution, ELP coacervation significantly modulated the release profile whereby more than 80% of loaded V96 retained with a terminal half-life of ~4 months, which was only 1-4 days under solubilizing conditions. A selected ocular therapeutic candidate lacritin-V96 fusion (LV96), either free or lens-bound LV96, was successfully transferred to HCE-T cells. These data suggest that ELPs may be useful to control loading or release from certain formulations of contact lenses and present a potential for this platform to deliver a biologically active peptide to the ocular surface via contact lenses.