cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strain-specific determination of the degree of thyroid cell MHC class II antigen expression: evaluation of established Wistar and Fisher rat thyroid cell lines.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, primarily of the MHC class II region, are linked to increased susceptibility to autoimmune thyroid disease in animals and humans. The quantity of MHC class II antigens that are expressed on the appropriate cell surface, as well as their allotype, are of vital importance to immune function. We have, therefore, compared MHC class II (RTl.D) gene activation in a newly available Wistar rat thyroid (WRT) cell line (a thyroiditissusceptible strain) with a cloned cell (1B-6) derived from the Fisher rat thyroid cell line (FRTL-5) (a thyroiditis-resistant strain) to determine differences in their degree of MHC class II gene activation and antigen expression. There was no detectable constitutive MHC class II antigen or RTl.D α-chain messenger RNA expression in either WRT or 1B-6 cells. Cultures of both cells expressed MHC class II gene induction in response to recombinant rat γ-interferon (γIF). After 72 h of exposure to 25 U/ml γlF, over 80% of WRT cells expressed ...
Computer rendering of lobster neurons

At Carnegie Mellon University, the PDP-10 and PDP-11 computers have been used to trace thin sections of stained neurons in a lobster swimmeret ganglion, and to reconstruct the global structure of the neuron from the sections. This paper will present two sorts of graphic pictures of the final reconstructed neuron; vector drawings with hidden lines, and shaded raster drawings of the neuron inside a transparent shell representing the outer surface of the ganglion. The hidden line program handles curving cylindrical tubes of varying radii, and shows only the visible contours. The raster program is a modification of Sproul's version of the Watkins Algorithm, and applies Phong shading to both opaque and semi-transparent surfaces. The shaded output is rendered on the Carnegie-Mellon video system.
Measurement of rectus femoris muscle velocities during patellar tendon jerk using vector tissue doppler imaging

We have developed a vector tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) system based on a clinical scanner that can be used to measure muscle velocities independent of the direction of motion. This method overcomes the limitations of conventional Doppler ultrasound, which can only measure velocity components along the ultrasound beam. In this study, we utilized this method to investigate the rectus femoris muscle velocities during a patellar tendon jerk test. Our goal was to investigate whether the muscle elongation velocities during a brisk tendon tap fall within the normal range of velocities that are expected due to rapid stretch of limb segments. In a preliminary study, we recruited six healthy volunteers (three men and three women) following informed consent. The stretch reflex response to tendon tap was evaluated by measuring: (1) the tapping force using an accelerometer instrumented to the neurological hammer (2) the angular velocities of the knee extension and flexion using a electrogoniometer (3) reflex activation using electromyography (EMG) and (4) muscle elongation, extension and flexion velocities using vector TDI. The passive joint angular velocity was linearly related to the passive muscle elongation velocity (R2=0.88). The maximum estimated joint angular velocity corresponding to muscle elongation due to tendon tap was less than 8.25 radians/s. This preliminary study demonstrates the feasibility of vector TDI for measuring longitudinal muscle velocities and indicates that the muscle elongation velocities during a clinical tendon tap test are within the normal range of values for rapid limb stretch encountered in daily life. With further refinement, vector TDI could become a powerful method for quantitative evaluation of muscle motion in musculoskeletal disorders.
International trade and food safety in developing countries

The World Bank has been promoting the concept that access to markets is an important part in the development of its clients i.e. third world countries, and is increasingly demanding attention for the removal of restrictions imposed by developed countries on international trade, especially with respect to developing countries. The majority of trade-limiting factors in developing countries relate to economics, poor infrastructure and lagging skills; food safety is still mainly the responsibility of the consumers. Improving food safety along western standards, however, may carry considerable costs and price food out of reach of the poor. Therefore, introduction of new food safety tools and rules need to be affordable and build on local food management customs rather than simply imposing western standards that are expensive to monitor. World Bank experience of investing in food safety indicates a number of issues that frequently surface, including (i) confusion between quality and safety, (ii) over regulation, (iii) selective enforcement, (iv) lack of integration of food laws and regulations in the overall legislative system, (v) multiplicity of responsible agencies, and (vi) the mismatch between the standards required in OECD- and in an developing-countries. It is recommended to improve awareness, simplify rules, improve skills and infrastructure, adapt food safety monitoring to local conditions, and help formulating HACCPs for niche products from developing countries. It is also recommended to ensure stronger voice of the poor in food safety decisions, and a greater participation of the poor and poor countries in international standard setting organizations.
Alternative splicing and structure of the human and mouse SFRS5/HRS/SRp40 genes

Abstract HRS/SRp40/SFRS5 (HRS) is an SR (serine–arginine-rich) protein which regulates both alternative splicing and basal splicing. HRS mRNA contains several transcripts, including HRS-SF and HRS-LF which have different temporal patterns of expression in proliferating liver. As previously reported, HRS-SF mRNA encodes the SR splicing factor. However, the identity of HRS-LF remained unknown. Here, we cloned and characterized the mouse HRS gene, partial human HRS gene, and several cDNAs derived from HRS-LF mRNA. The mouse HRS gene spans 5050 bp and contains eight exons and seven introns. HRS-LF mRNA contains a 1.2 kb insert within the SF mRNA with stop codons in all three reading frames. A comparison of HRS-LF and the HRS gene revealed that HRS-LF mRNA is an intron-retaining product which contains intron 5. At most, HRS-LF encodes a truncated HRS protein with one RNA binding domain. Interestingly, intron 5 demonstrates 90% identity between the mouse and human HRS genes, implying that intron 5 might play an important role in regulating HRS gene splicing or expression.
Development and implementation of a loosely coupled, multi-site, networked and replicated electronic medical record in Haiti

Since 2005, we have been developing and implementing an electronic medical record (EMR) that supports both individual and population health care for HIV-infected patients in Haiti. The need to support countrywide monitoring and evaluation drove early architectural decisions to support linking systems under conditions of network uncertainty. Despite numerous challenges including frequent power outages and inadequate Internet access and support, the system (iSante) is currently implemented in 55 clinic sites nationwide, tracks over 41,000 patients, and synchronizes patient data between in-country sites and the central site databases on a daily basis.
HIPAA for cancer educators: are you correctly using PHI?

Privacy and confidentiality policies and practices, including Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) policies, may vary from institution to institution because they are developed to be institution-specific. HIPAA privacy and security regulations represent the minimum standards, and the expectation is that institutions will develop policies and practices that are reasonable and appropriate for their institution. These privacy and information security safeguards impact the use of sensitive and protected data often used by cancer educators. Therefore, it is important for cancer educators to be familiar with the policies, rules, and guidelines their institution has developed to comply with HIPAA. However, despite institutional differences, certain principles related to the confidentiality, protection, and uses of a patient’s health information remain consistent. HIPAA provides two sets of regulations that directly impact the work of many cancer educators: privacy and information security. The HIPAA Privacy Rule includes some security requirements, and HIPAA Security Regulations were designed to ensure privacy of the patient’s protected health information (PHI). This paper focuses primarily on the privacy factors.
Vegetation change along gradients from water sources in three grazed Mongolian ecosystems

Foliar cover of plant species; grass, forb and total herbaceous biomass; soil P, K, N and C; and percent coarse fraction of soils were sampled over two years along grazing gradients from livestock water sources in three grazed Mongolian steppe ecosystems of varying productivity. Samples within each of the three systems (mountain-steppe, and desert-steppe) were classified into plant communities using TWINSPAN and species-environment relationships in each system were examined using CCA. Community classifications were driven by the presence/absence of ruderal species and highly palatable grasses in the steppe and mountain-steppe and by the presence/absence of salt-shrub or Caragana shrub species and associated Iris species in the desert-steppe. Ordinations were largely driven by soil nutrient concentrations, particularly P and K, in all three zones. Bulk density and percent coarse fraction to 10 cm were also important in the desert-steppe. Distance from water, which we assumed to be inversely related to grazing pressure, was a significant driving factor in steppe and mountain-steppe ordinations, and was negatively correlated with P and K. We speculate that elevated nutrient concentrations near water sources result from livestock redistributing nutrients in the landscape by voiding urine and feces in the areas where they congregate. Livestock may thus influence species composition in these systems both through the direct effects of defoliation and trampling, and the indirect effects of nutrient enrichment and depletion over the broader landscape. This hypothesis deserves further testing under controlled conditions.
Three Arabidopsis AIL/PLT genes act in combination to regulate shoot apical meristem function.

SUMMARY The shoot apical meristem, a small dome-shaped structure at the shoot apex, is responsible for the initiation of all post-embryonic shoot organs. Pluripotent stem cells within the meristem replenish themselves and provide daughter cells that become incorporated into lateral organ primordia around the meristem periphery. We have identified three novel regulators of shoot apical meristem activity in Arabidopsis thaliana that encode related AIL/PLT transcription factors: AINTEGUMENTA (ANT), AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE6 (AIL6)/PLETHORA3 (PLT3) and AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE7 (AIL7)/PLETHORA7 (PLT7). Loss of these genes results in plants that initiate only a few leaves prior to termination of shoot apical meristem activity. In 7-day-old ant ail6 ail7 seedlings, we observed reduced cell division in the meristem region, differentiation of meristematic cells and altered expression of the meristem regulators WUSCHEL (WUS), CLAVATA3 (CLV3) and SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM). Genetic experiments suggest that these three AIL genes do not act specifically in either the WUS/CLV or STM pathway regulating meristem function. Furthermore, these studies indicate that ANT, AIL6 and AIL7 have distinct functions within the meristem rather than acting in a strictly redundant manner. Our study thus identifies three new genes whose distinct functions are together required for continuous shoot apical meristem function.
Partisan Dealignment in the Postwar South

This study attempts to explain post-World War II southern electoral politics by examining the party identifications of southerners between 1952 and 1972. Pronounced decreases in Democratic loyalties and increases in Independent leanings appear during this period and constitute a dealignment of the southern electorate. While interregional population exchanges have diluted Democratic strength, their effects are almost counterbalanced by the mobilization of blacks into politics. Instead, the principal source of dealignment is the generational replacement of the native white electorate. Its youngest members, who entered the electorate after World War II, have come to favor political independence increasingly in recent years. This behavior seems partially attributable to a tendency for young native whites in particular to bring their partisan loyalties into line with their attitudes and party images on racial issues. Even so, there are clear signs that the racial question is losing its place as the major determinant of the region's politics. For the future, one can expect a continuation of dealignment politics and little chance of a partisan realignment.
A compact, high-speed, wearable sensor network for biomotion capture and interactive media

In this paper, we present a wireless sensor platform designed for processing multipoint human motion with low latency and high resolution. One application considered here is interactive dance, in which a choreographer wishes to translate the movements of multiple dancers into real-time audio or video content to accompany the performance. This can only be accomplished using a distributed measurement system capable of responding quickly with enough information to describe the expressive movements of multiple people. Similar requirements exist for biomechanical analysis, especially in the context of athletic training, where high resolution is demanded, and instant feedback is also desirable. Our approach to addressing such aggressive requirements involves a high-speed wireless network of compact inertial measurement units (IMUs) that can be worn at various locations on the body. Each device is equipped with its own 1 Mbps radio link and a full six-axis IMU, as well as a capacitive node-to-node proximity sensor. Currently, the system supports real-time data collection and processing for up to 25 nodes with 100 Hz full state updates, thereby handling much higher data rates than its predecessors. With locally buffered data, sample rates of up to 1 kHz have been achieved successfully. Early results discussed here demonstrate the feasibility of our design through testing with both dancers and professional athletes.
Family-Centered Practice with Foster-Parent Families

Foster parents face many stresses in their family life, whether they provide kinship care, general foster care, specialized foster care, or treatment family care. Critical issues include maintaining open boundaries while sustaining cohesion and integrity of the core family structure. Pressures from the agency, the community, the foster child, and his or her parents affect the way in which this family style functions. Focusing on the work done by family-centered practitioners with foster parents facing various types of developmental and situational crises, the author examines the responses of foster families to the multiple and chronic experiences of loss that they face. Guidelines for practitioners include placement issues, therapeutic issues, and knowledge of systems that clinicians need to work effectively with foster-parent families. Case materials illustrate the crises of dismemberment and demoralization as well as the crisis of accession.
The Problem With Dr Bob's Alternative Vaccine Schedule

In October 2007, Dr Robert Sears, in response to growing parental concerns about the safety of vaccines, published The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child. Sears’ book is enormously popular, having sold 40 000 copies. At the back of the book, Sears includes “Dr Bob’s Alternative Vaccine Schedule,” a formula by which parents can delay, withhold, separate, or space out vaccines. Pediatricians now confront many parents who insist that their children receive vaccines according to Sears’ schedule, rather than that recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. This article examines the reasons for the popularity of Sears’ book, deconstructs the logic and rationale behind its recommendations, and describes how Sears’ misrepresentation of vaccine science misinforms parents trying to make the right decisions for their children. Pediatrics 2009;123:e164–e169
Cellular and temporal expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX) isotypes after brain injury

Background Brain injury results in an increase in the activity of the reactive oxygen species generating NADPH oxidase (NOX) enzymes. Preliminary studies have shown that NOX2, NOX3, and NOX4 are the most prominently expressed NOX isotypes in the brain. However, the cellular and temporal expression profile of these isotypes in the injured and non-injured brain is currently unclear.
Plastics Derived Endocrine Disruptors (BPA, DEHP and DBP) Induce Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Obesity, Reproductive Disease and Sperm Epimutations

Environmental compounds are known to promote epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult onset disease in subsequent generations (F1-F3) following ancestral exposure during fetal gonadal sex determination. The current study was designed to determine if a mixture of plastic derived endocrine disruptor compounds bisphenol-A (BPA), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) at two different doses promoted epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult onset disease and associated DNA methylation epimutations in sperm. Gestating F0 generation females were exposed to either the "plastics" or "lower dose plastics" mixture during embryonic days 8 to 14 of gonadal sex determination and the incidence of adult onset disease was evaluated in F1 and F3 generation rats. There were significant increases in the incidence of total disease/abnormalities in F1 and F3 generation male and female animals from plastics lineages. Pubertal abnormalities, testis disease, obesity, and ovarian disease (primary ovarian insufficiency and polycystic ovaries) were increased in the F3 generation animals. Kidney and prostate disease were only observed in the direct fetally exposed F1 generation plastic lineage animals. Analysis of the plastics lineage F3 generation sperm epigenome previously identified 197 differential DNA methylation regions (DMR) in gene promoters, termed epimutations. A number of these transgenerational DMR form a unique direct connection gene network and have previously been shown to correlate with the pathologies identified. Observations demonstrate that a mixture of plastic derived compounds, BPA and phthalates, can promote epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult onset disease. The sperm DMR provide potential epigenetic biomarkers for transgenerational disease and/or ancestral environmental exposures.
Masticatory muscles and the skull: A comparative perspective

Masticatory muscles are anatomically and functionally complex in all mammals, but relative sizes, orientation of action lines, and fascial subdivisions vary greatly among different species in association with their particular patterns of occlusion and jaw movement. The most common contraction pattern for moving the jaw laterally involves a force couple of protrusor muscles on one side and retrusors on the other. Such asymmetrical muscle usage sets up torques on the skull and combines with occlusal loads to produce bony deformations not only in the tooth-bearing jaw bones, but also in more distant elements such as the braincase. Maintenance of bone in the jaw joint, and probably elsewhere in the skull, is dependent on these loads.
How Nurse Practitioners Make Decisions Regarding Coronary Heart Disease Risk: A Social Judgment Analysis

PURPOSE: Understanding how nurse practitioners use clinical decision skills in practice has the potential to guide education programs to ensure safe, competent, and high quality advanced nursing practice. This study used the lens of social judgment theory to examine the clinical decision making of 60 nurse practitioners. METHODS: A three-group pretest–posttest comparison design was used to evaluate how much insight nurse practitioners had into their clinical decision-making process. FINDINGS: Nurse practitioners had modest insight into their clinical decision-making process. CONCLUSION: Self-insight has implications for enhancing nurses' decision making, improving education, and fostering agreement among advanced practice nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Self-insight has implications for developing professional decision making and promoting appropriate educational opportunities for advanced practice nurses.
Z-disc genes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: stretching the cardiomyopathies?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease characterized by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy. Occurring in about 1 in 500 individuals, HCM is the most common heritable cardiovascular disease, most often following an autosomal-dominant inheritance pattern with incomplete penetrance and
Controlled-Release Organotin Pesticides Biochemistry : Toxicology : Environmental Factors

Organotin compounds have long been used as pesticidal agents in antifouling preparations, agricultural fungicides and miticides, mildewcides, and bactericides. Trialkyl organotins were incorporated in elastomers as early as 1964 and long-term (over ten years) protection against marine fouling observed in commercial applications.1,2 Evaluation of such compounds showed considerable merit as molluscicides.3 Small-scale field evaluations of bis tri-n-butyltin oxide, “TBTO”, and tributyltin fluoride, “TBTF” slowly released from natural rubber and other elastomers demonstrated successful long-term snail controls.1,4,5
Incumbency Disadvantages in African Politics? Regression Discontinuity Evidence from Zambian Elections

Are incumbents disproportionately advantaged at the polls relative to non-incumbents in Africa’s emerging democracies? The prevailing wisdom characterizes African politics as predominantly ‘neopatrimonial’ and ‘semi-authoritarian’, whereby incumbents systematically manipulate the electoral process to their own advantage. In stark contrast to this perspective, this regression discontinuity study finds significant incumbency disadvantages in Zambia’s local government elections and no discernible incumbency advantages at the parliamentary level over the period 1991-2011. Furthermore, the strength of these disadvantages appears to be closely associated with higher levels of voter information, poorer economic conditions, and a structural shift in party competition. These results effectively expand the incumbency effects literature into the African context and offer an important contrast to the conventional wisdom on African politics.
RESPONSE OF THE INTERVERTEBRAL JOINT TO TORSIONAL STRESS

ABSTRACT The torsional creep response of the intervertebral joint was obtained for lumbar segments of Rhesus monkey spines submitted to two levels of axial compression. The viscoelastic response of the joint are well represented by a Kelvin unit model of the same form developed for the creep response of the joint in shear.
Internal investigations and the evolving fate of privilege

In 1981, the United States Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in Upjohn Co. v. United States. The decision made clear that the protections afforded by the attorney-client privilege apply to internal corporate investigations. This piece examines the fundamental tenets of Upjohn, discusses some recent challenges to the applicability of privilege to materials gathered during internal investigations, and considers the manner in which the international nature of modern internal investigations adds complexity and uncertainty to the field.
Enzymatic transformation of PSP toxins in the littleneck clam (Protothacastaminea)

Stemming from investigations into the relationship between toxins produced by Gonyaulax sp. and accumulated in shellfish, we wish to report enzymatic transformations of the PSP toxins to decarbamoyl derivatives in the littleneck clam (Protothaca staminea). No toxin transformations were observed in either mussels (Mytilus edulis) or in butter clams (Saxidomus giganteus). In addition, littleneck clam samples from the natural environment contained predominantly the decarbamoyl derivatives, while other shellfish species collected from the same vicinity contained the previously reported PSP toxins.
3D segmentation of lung CT data with graph-cuts: analysis of parameter sensitivities

Lung boundary image segmentation is important for many tasks including for example in development of radiation treatment plans for subjects with thoracic malignancies. In this paper, we describe a method and parameter settings for accurate 3D lung boundary segmentation based on graph-cuts from X-ray CT data1. Even though previously several researchers have used graph-cuts for image segmentation, to date, no systematic studies have been performed regarding the range of parameter that give accurate results. The energy function in the graph-cuts algorithm requires 3 suitable parameter settings: K, a large constant for assigning seed points, c, the similarity coefficient for n-links, and λ, the terminal coefficient for t-links. We analyzed the parameter sensitivity with four lung data sets from subjects with lung cancer using error metrics. Large values of K created artifacts on segmented images, and relatively much larger value of c than the value of λ influenced the balance between the boundary term and the data term in the energy function, leading to unacceptable segmentation results. For a range of parameter settings, we performed 3D image segmentation, and in each case compared the results with the expert-delineated lung boundaries. We used simple 6-neighborhood systems for n-link in 3D. The 3D image segmentation took 10 minutes for a 512x512x118 ~ 512x512x190 lung CT image volume. Our results indicate that the graph-cuts algorithm was more sensitive to the K and λ parameter settings than to the C parameter and furthermore that amongst the range of parameters tested, K=5 and λ=0.5 yielded good results.
Phase-space measurements of partially coherent modulation instability

We present experimental measurements of the phase-space spectrogram of a beam that is undergoing partially coherent modulation instability in a self-focusing photorefractive crystal. All elements of phase space contribute to the propagation dynamics.
High-Contrast 3D Surface Topographic Imaging With Near Wavelength-Limited Resolution Using Ptychography

We achieve high-contrast, 3D surface topographic imaging with a lateral resolution of 1.3λ and with 6A axial precision using ptychographic coherent diffraction imaging and a high-harmonic source at 30nm.
Fast Power Flow for the Weakly Meshed Distribution Network with the Distributed Generation

Introduction of the distributed power in distribution network makes the traditional flow algorithm no longer suitable for the new type of network. On the basis of analyzing the operation mechanism and control characteristics,distributed power generation is classified and then various models are established accordingly for the flow calculation. According to the forward/backward sweep algorithm which is widely used in distribution network's flow algorithm, the injection current model of the equivalent node is introduced to simplify the flow calculation. The result shows that the presented method is feasible and effective in calculating the flow of the weakly distribution system with multi-type DGs.
Testing of the ASIC System of Intelligent AC Contactor

The testing of self-developed ASIC system for intelligent AC contactor was introduced.The control theory of intelligent AC contactor,basic framework and applications of the ASIC was described in brief.The testing flow of the ASIC system,the flow of testing software and the testing of the entire system energy-saving were expounded.It was tested and studied roundly that the CJ20-400 contactor was controlled by using the ASIC system.
To sea and to see: That is the answer

Abstract In this article Dr. Jules S. Jaffe chronicles his development as a scientist and engineer. The story starts during his middle school years and continues up until the present day. Dr. Jaffe, as an inventor of technology for ocean exploration has played a role in a number of advances in ocean engineering. These range from the development of a planar laser imaging system for sensing fluorescent microstructure to swarms of underwater autonomous floats, to a current generation of underwater microscopes. The emphasis of the article is on career development and the process rather than the exact, and detailed, documentation of technology. Dr. Jaffe is also the Editor in Chief of Methods in Oceanography and he instituted these autobiographies for exactly this purpose: To give younger, aspiring, professionals an example of a career that has not been “straight through”, but rather a meandering path through a multitude of projects, proposals, and relationships with colleagues, students, and funding agencies.
Post-traumatic intracardiac shunts: Report of two cases and review of the literature

Intracardiac shunts consequent to penetrating thoracic injury have been reported in 94 patients. Two additional cases are reported emphasizing the frequently complex anatomic abnormalities, the variability in clinical course, and the favorable outcome of repair. From a review of the literature, it is apparent that most such lesions should be corrected, since patients are at a continual risk of symptomatic cardiac dysfunction and repair offers an excellent prognosis with minimal morbidity.
Dahonggou Creek virus, a divergent lineage of hantavirus harbored by the long-tailed mole (Scaptonyx fusicaudus)

Novel hantaviruses, recently detected in moles (order Eulipotyphla, family Talpidae) from Europe, Asia, and North America would predict a broader host range and wider ecological diversity. Employing RT-PCR, archival frozen tissues from the Chinese shrew mole (Uropsilus soricipes), broad-footed mole (Scapanus latimanus), coast mole (Scapanus orarius), Townsend’s mole (Scapanus townsendii), and long-tailed mole (Scaptonyx fusicaudus) were analyzed for hantavirus RNA. Following multiple attempts, a previously unrecognized hantavirus, designated Dahonggou Creek virus (DHCV), was detected in a long-tailed mole, captured in Shimian County, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China, in August 1989. Analyses of a 1058-nucleotide region of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase-encoding L segment indicated that DHCV was genetically distinct from other rodent-, shrew-, mole-, and bat-borne hantaviruses. Phylogenetic trees, using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, showed that DHCV represented a divergent lineage comprising crocidurine and myosoricine shrew-borne hantaviruses. Although efforts to obtain the S- and M-genomic segments failed, the L-segment sequence analysis, reported here, expands the genetic database of non-rodent-borne hantaviruses. Also, by further mining natural history collections of archival specimens, the genetic diversity of hantaviruses will elucidate their evolutionary origins.
A Sketch of Pieter Geyl

The career of Pieter Catharinus Arie Geyl (1887–1966), one of the most outstanding Dutch historians of the twentieth century, embodied a deep paradox. When in 1940 he was interned as a hostage by the Germans, he had already transformed the understanding of the history of the Low Countries, yet he was virtually unknown outside the Netherlands except to a handful of specialists. Only his activity as a Dutch supporter of the Flemish movement in Belgium during the 1920s and 1930s had brought him local notoriety, especially when he was expelled by the Belgian government. After World War II, he quickly gained international recognition as a historical critic and essayist, while at home his innovative ideas, which a few decades before had been attacked by traditional historians, became part of the generally accepted historical picture.
Generation and fate of glacial sediments in the central Transantarctic Mountains based on radiogenic isotopes and implications for reconstructing past ice dynamics

Abstract The Nd, Sr and Pb isotopic compositions of glacial tills from the Byrd and Nimrod Glaciers in the central Transantarctic Mountains (TAM) in East Antarctica were obtained to assess the sources of detritus transported by these ice masses. Tills from lateral moraines along the entire extent of both glaciers have isotopic compositions consistent with their derivation predominately from erosion of adjacent bedrock. Fine- ( Nd (0) values (
Avoiding trapping sets in SC-LDPC codes under windowed decoding

Spatially coupled low-density parity-check (SC-LDPC) codes are sparse graph codes that have recently become of interest due to their capacity-approaching performance on memoryless binary input channels. Moreover, protograph SC-LDPC codes have been shown to be asymptotically good under certain conditions. SC-LDPC codes are amenable to a windowed decoder that allows decoding of blocks of bits to be done serially, making them good candidates for applications such as streaming. Depending on how they are constructed, however, the codes may still be prone to error floors. One key element in protograph SC-LDPC code design is the edge-spreading method used to couple copies of the base protograph in the construction of the SC-protograph. In this paper, we present an edge-spreading algorithm that is designed to remove trapping sets from the resulting SC-protograph that are harmful with respect to the windowed decoder, and we examine how to determine which trapping sets should be removed in the construction.
Fundamentals of Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging: a Review of Concepts and Strategies

In this review, we will discuss the basic fundamentals of how to perform molecular imaging to better understand the underlying mechanisms contributing to cardiovascular disease. Molecular imaging combines molecular biology with in vivo imaging. Molecular probes are used to target discrete biological processes such as cell death, inflammation, and angiogenesis. These probes emit signals that are detected by traditional imaging systems. Because the same disease processes can manifest in individuals in different ways, molecular imaging may emerge as an important strategy for delivering precision medicine. Molecular imaging is a powerful tool that may help physicians provide more personalized care in the near future.
Home-Country Networks and Foreign Expansion

We propose that home-country network advantages shape the pattern of foreign expansion of firms. We argue that social status advantage is transferable from one market to another as a signal of quality, while brokerage advantage is more context-specific and difficult to transfer. Furthermore, the value of network advantages changes as networks evolve. Using data on the foreign market entries of 1,010 U.S. venture capital firms, we find robust support for the effects on foreign market entry of social status. We also find that brokerage reduces foreign entry in the absence of partners in the new market, and increases it when partners are already operating in the new market.
FACING UP TO MULTINATIONALCOMPLEX LITIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Uma Corte Federal deve buscar a presenca de estrangeiros em uma global class action, com vistas a obter uma reparacao monetaria, com a mente aberta. Deve mante-los consigo enquanto concluem, mediante a analise profunda do direito comparado, o que o Judiciario da nacao de origem daquele individuo decidiria ao final. Por exemplo, os membros da America Latina deveriam permanecer na medida em que fosse deferido a um juiz norte-americano o dever de chegar aquela conclusao. E, como consequencia da res iudicata, eles nao conseguiram obter o rejulgamento da causa em seus paises apos serem derrotados no merito nos Estados Unidos. Particularmente, um Tribunal de qualquer um dos outros sete paises representantes da regiao (Mexico, Brasil, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Peru e Equador) provavelmente entenderia que o julgamento proferido nos Estados Unidos respeitou o devido processo legal, assim como os demais requisitos para a sua homologacao. Ou seja, sustentaria aqueles que nao se submeteram a jurisdicao nacional nao poderiam, legitimamente, se queixar do efeito preclusivo da coisa julgada, eis que tiveram a possibilidade de lancar os esforcos possiveis, sobre a acao de seus representantes, para obter uma compensacao, teriam se beneficiado de numerosos controles da justica da decisao, e teriam obtido semelhante resultado em sua tera natal baseado em um processo conduzido por alguem sem sua autorizacao. Os juizes dos Estados Unidos deverao deliberar, de maneira aprofundada, sobre se querem receber cidadaos de qualquer outro lugar do mundo para litigar. DOI: 10.12957/redp.2017.28488
Evaluating Stocking Efficacy in an Ecosystem Undergoing Oligotrophication

Oligotrophication has negatively affected fisheries production in many freshwater ecosystems and could conceivably reduce the efficacy of stockings used to enhance fisheries. In Lake Michigan, offshore oligotrophication has occurred since the 1970s, owing to reductions in total phosphorus (TP) inputs and nearshore sequestration of TP by nonindigenous dreissenid mussels. We evaluated simultaneous effects of stock enhancement and oligotrophication on salmonine species (Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, lake trout Salvelinus namaycush, and steelhead O. mykiss) that support valuable recreational fisheries. We employed a novel application of an Ecopath with Ecosim model by conducting a full factorial simulation experiment. Our design included multiple levels of salmonine stocking, consumption by invasive quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis), and TP that were informed by manager interests. Under all levels of TP and quagga mussel consumption, our results showed that stock enhancement could still increase salmonine biomass, but positive responses were stronger for lake trout and steelhead than Chinook salmon. Simulations showed that quagga mussel consumption has deleterious effects on pelagic-oriented prey fishes and Chinook salmon, which feed almost exclusively on the pelagic-oriented alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus). In summary, results from our simulation experiment suggested that lake trout and steelhead are better suited to the current ecosystem than Chinook salmon, and therefore, stock enhancement provides the highest gains for these two species. Furthermore, simulated biomass of all recreational salmonine species increased with increasing TP, indicating the need for managers to consider how potential future oligotrophication will limit the carrying capacity of salmonine biomass in Lake Michigan.
Genes, Environments, and Sex Differences in Alcohol Research.

Objective:The study of sex differences has been identified as one way to enhance scientific reproducibility, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have implemented a new policy to encourage the explicit examination of sex differences. Our goal here is to address sex differences in behavioral genetic research on alcohol outcomes.Method:We review sex differences for alcohol outcomes and whether the source and magnitude of genetic influences on alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are the same across sexes; describe common research designs for studying sex-specific gene-by-environment interaction (G × E) effects; and discuss the role of statistical power and theory when testing sex-specific genetic effects.Results:There are robust sex differences for many alcohol outcomes. The weight of evidence suggests that the source and magnitude of genetic influences on alcohol consumption and AUD are the same across sexes. Whether there are sex-specific G × E effects has received less attention to d...
Effect of tuberculosis on immune restoration among HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy

In this article, time to immune recovery during antiretroviral therapy was estimated and compared between HIV-infected children with and without tuberculosis (TB). CD4 T-cell restoration was used a...
Secondary Structure and Protein-binding Activities of the 5' Nontranslated Region of the Hepatitis C Virus Genome

A model of the secondary structure of the 5′ nontranslated region (5′NTR) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been constructed based on the results of a phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the pestiviral and HCV 5′NTRs, and experiments which determined the sites of cleavage of synthetic RNA by single- and double-strand-specific RNases. A uniformly labeled RNA probe representing the 5′ 331 nucleotides (nts) of the 5′NTR (nts 1–331) specifically bound and transferred label to cellular proteins of 39 and 74kDa following UV cross-linking. Competition experiments demonstrated that the domain spanning nts 88–131, which contains a short oligopyrimidine track located at the 5′ end of the putative internal ribosomal entry site (IRES), was required for the binding of these proteins. An unlabeled RNA representing part of the IRES of hepatitis A virus efficiently competed for the binding of these proteins, suggesting that the nontranslated RNAs of these two viruses may share common structures and functions.
CScale : a programming model for scalable and reliable distributed applications

Today's connected world demands applications that are responsive, always available, and can service a large number of users. However, the task of writing such applications is daunting, even for experienced developers. We propose CScale, a programming model that attempts to simplify this task. The objective of CScale is to let programmers specify their application's core logic declaratively without explicitly managing distribution. CScale applications have simple semantics that simplify reasoning about correctness and enable testing and debugging on the single machine. In turn, the CScale runtime manages all aspects of execution of a CScale application on large clusters, including deployment, state management (replication and data partitioning) and fault tolerance. CScale ensures high availability by using distributed wait-free data structures to manage state. CScale does impose some constraints on the kind of operations clients can perform. However, we find that many real-world web applications can be naturally expressed using CScale.
Digital Subtraction Arteriography (DSA)

Digital subtraction arteriography (DSA) has recently generated considerable interest in clinical radiology. The reasons for this are multifacetted; however, two considerations have been paramount: The ease and safety of the intravenous injection of contrast agent and the reduced amount of contrast agent necessary for satisfactory study, and the additional information which can be derived when the contrast agent is injected on the arterial side have been major factors.
A measurement of the rate of muon capture in hydrogen gas and determination of the proton's induced pseudoscalar coupling gP

This dissertation describes a measurement of the rate ofnuclear muon capture by the proton, performed by the MuCap Collaborationusing a new technique based on a time projection chamber operating inultraclean, deuterium-depleted hydrogen gas at room temperature and 1 MPapressure. The hydrogen target's low gas density of 1 percent compared toliquid hydrogen is key to avoiding uncertainties that arise from theformation of muonic molecules. The capture rate was obtained from thedifference between the mu- disappearance rate in hydrogen--as determinedfrom data collected in the experiment's first physics run in fall2004--and the world averagefor the mu+ decay rate. After combining theresults of my analysis with the results from another independent analysisof the 2004 data, the muon capture rate from the hyperfine singlet groundstate of the mu-p atom is found to be Lambda_S = 725.0 +- 17.4 1/s, fromwhich the induced pseudoscalar coupling of the nucleon, gP(q2 = -0.88m2mu)= 7.3 +- 1.1, is extracted. This result for gP is consistent withtheoretical predictions that are based on the approximate chiral symmetryof QCD.
Plasma levels of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (DDE) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and survival following breast cancer in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study.

Abstract Objectives To examine plasma levels of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (DDE) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in association with survival among women with breast cancer who participated in a population-based case-control study. Methods Participants included 456 white and 292 black women from the Carolina Breast Cancer Study Phase I who were diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer from 1993 to 1996, and who had available DDE/DDT and lipid measurements from blood samples obtained on average 4.1 months after diagnosis. Using the National Death Index, we identified 392 deaths (210 from breast cancer) over a median follow-up of 20.6 years. We used Cox regression to estimate covariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause and breast cancer-specific 5-year mortality, and 20-year mortality conditional on 5-year survival, for lipid-standardized DDE and DDT levels. Associations stratified by race and estrogen receptor (ER) status were also examined. Results The highest versus lowest DDE tertile and the highest vs non-detectable DDT quantile were associated with HRs of 1.95 (95% CI = 1.31–2.92) and 1.64 (95% CI = 1.10–2.44), respectively, for 20-year conditional all-cause mortality. DDE levels above versus below the median were associated with a HR of 1.69 (95% CI = 1.06–2.68) for 20-year conditional breast cancer-specific mortality among women overall, and HRs were 2.36 (95% CI = 1.03–5.42) among black women and 1.57 (95% CI = 0.86–2.89) among white women ( P Interaction = 0.42), and 3.24 (95% CI = 1.38–7.58) among women with ER − tumors and 1.29 (95% CI = 0.73–2.28) among women with ER + tumors ( P Interaction = 0.03). Conclusion Exposure to DDE/DDT may adversely impact overall and breast cancer-specific survival. DDE exposure may contribute to the racial disparities in breast cancer survival.
Dynamic reconfiguration of terminal airspace during convective weather: Robust optimization and conditional value-at-risk approaches

Abstract This paper presents robust optimization and Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) approaches to mitigate the effect of weather forecast uncertainty by dynamically reconfiguring the terminal airspace. For busy airports, a terminal area is highly affected by a large volume of aircraft flying through narrow portion of space in a short period of time, and thus the terminal area is very sensitive to disruptions especially from convective weather. The inherent uncertainty of the weather forecast may create more delays and widespread disruptions in the capacity-limited airspace system. Accordingly, the objective of this research is to identify new and robust airspace structures that can cope with different levels of weather forecast uncertainty. In this research, robust optimization and CVaR approaches are proposed to find new terminal airspace routes that have a high average probability to be open and, at the same time, are robust to uncertainty during convective weather. A numerical study is conducted and the results show that the proposed approaches effectively identify robust airspace configurations, as the trade-off between optimality and conservatism is controllable.
Effect of the Electrolyte Solvent on Redox Processes in Mg-S Batteries.

Mg–S batteries are attractive for next-generation energy storage because of their high theoretical capacity and low cost. The foremost challenge in Mg–S batteries is designing electrolytes that sup...