cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
KaiC-like ATPases as Signal Transduction Hubs in Archaea

All organisms have to react and adapt to ever changing environmental conditions. To guide this response, diverse signal transduction systems have been emerged in the course of evolution, the most abundant ones being two-component signal transduction system typical of bacteria and serine/threonine/tyrosine protein kinases-centered systems typical for eukaryotes. Archaea possess both types of systems but they are not as common and diversified as their bacterial and eukaryotic counterparts, suggesting the possibility that archaea have evolved other, still uncharacterized signal transduction networks. Here we make the case for a special role of KaiC family ATPases, known to be a key component of circadian clock in cyanobacteria, in archaeal signal transduction. The KaiC family is notably expanded in most archaeal genomes, and although on the whole, these ATPases remain poorly characterized, they are known to be key regulators of the archaellum and a component of the gas vesicle system in Halobacteria. Computational analysis described here suggests that KaiC-like ATPases are involved in many other archaeal signal transduction pathways, forming a complex regulatory network. We also discuss the relationships of this archaeal family to the bona fide KaiC of cyanobacteria and implications for the existence of a KaiC-based circadian clock apparatus in archaea.
A Comparison of Approaches to Computing Betweenness Centrality for Large Graphs

Many algorithms require doing a large number of betweenness centrality calculations quickly, and accommodating this need is an active open research area. Two of the most important ways of addressing this problem are with approximated and distributed algorithms. It is difficult to know which approach will work best in practical situations, because results presented are often compared to similar algorithms, and universally recognized benchmarks do not exist. This paper evaluates one approximation approach and one distributed approach by applying each to the problem of node-based resilience measure clustering. This form of clustering is a good test for the algorithms, because it requires massive numbers of betweenness centrality calculations, as well as results that are accurate enough for the clustering to succeed. We find that with both the approximated and distributed approaches there is a trade-off between speed and accuracy, but each succeeds in reducing computation time by at least an order of magnitude.
Generating High Quality Tetrahedral Meshes of the Human Head and Applications in fNIRS

We report a workflow to efficiently create high-quality tetrahedral meshes of the human brain and head from neuroanatomical scans. We also demonstrate the utility of these accurate brain models for optical brain imaging.
Decompression-Related Disorders: Pressurization Systems, Barotrauma, and Altitude Sickness

The physiological zone from sea level to 3,048 m (10,000 ft) encompasses the pressure to which humans are well adapted, although if appropriately acclimated they can survive the summit of Earth’s highest mountain (Mt. Everest at 4,448 m/29,028 ft) without supplemental oxygen. Continuing to altitudes above this, artificial systems are required to supply needed oxygen and, eventually, sufficient ambient pressure. The most effective means of preventing physiological problems in aircraft and spacecraft is to provide cabin pressurization so that occupants are never exposed to pressures outside the physiological zone. Failure of structures, hardware, or procedures may unfortunately lead to unwanted and hazardous decompression events. This chapter will review cabin pressurization schemes, events that might lead to loss of pressure, and two major medical concerns of decompression: barotrauma and altitude sickness.
A Case For Asymmetric Processing in Memory

By sidestepping the limitations at the memory interface, processing-in-memory (PIM) unlocks internally available memory bandwidth to the compute units on the memory side. This abundant bandwidth is conventionally utilized by highly-parallel throughput-oriented many-core style PIM architectures via offloading bandwidth-bound parallel tasks. However, it can be difficult to fully isolate these PIM-suitable tasks, and an offloaded program may include compute-bound sequential phases. These PIM-averse phases constitute a critical performance bottleneck for conventional many-core style PIM architectures. In this paper, we propose an analytical model for PIM execution that considers a program’s bandwidth demand as well as its parallelism. Based on the proposed model, we make a case for an asymmetric PIM architecture that can mitigate the performance bottlenecks for PIM-averse phases while keeping the performance upside for PIM-suitable phases.
High Biobased Carbon Content Polyurethane Dispersions Synthesized from Fatty Acid-Based Isocyanate

A series of high biobased carbon content polyurethane dispersions (PUD) was successfully synthesized from dimer fatty acid diisocyanate (DDI), castor oil (CO), alkoxysilane-modified castor oil (MCO), and dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA). This work focused on the improvement for the final performance of the renewable DDI-based PUD as well as the discussion of structure/property relationships. The chemical structure of MCO and Si–O–Si cross-link network structure on the dry-film of PUD were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and solid-state 29Si NMR. The effect of alkoxysilane and NCO/OH ratio on DDI-based PUD were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The glass transition temperature, Young’s modulus, and tensile strength increased with the incorporation of alkoxysilane and increasing NCO/OH ratio. In the meanwhile, the initial degradation temperature and elongat...
Inhibition of basolateral transport and cellular accumulation of cDDP and N-acetyl- L-cysteine-cDDP by TEA and PAH in the renal proximal tubule.

Abstract Purpose. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of para-aminohippurate (PAH) and tetraethylammonium (TEA) on basolateral cellular accumulation (CPt) and bath-to-lumen transepithelial transport rates (JB → L) of platinum from cisplatin (cDDP) and a conjugate of cDDP, N-acetyl-L-cysteine-cDDP (NAC-cDDP), in S1, S2, and S3 segments of the rabbit proximal tubule. Methods. Cellular accumulations and transport rates were determined using the isolated perfused tubule technique and samples were analyzed by ICP-MS. Results. First, to establish the control data, each tubular segment was bathed in free cDDP (2 mM) which resulted in no observable toxicity. Next, TEA (4 mM) was added to the bathing solution containing cDDP. This resulted in a reduction in platinum JB → L by approximately 75% in the S1 segment and 50% in the S2 and S3 segments. CPt was reduced by 80–90% in relation to control values with no observable changes in toxicity. In the next experiment, exposure of the basolateral membrane to NAC-cDDP (2 mM) elicited pronounced toxicity after 20–30 min of perfusion. The JB → L for NAC-cDDP was similar for each of the three nephron segments. There were no significant differences in the ability of these three segments to accumulate NAC-cDDP, but the conjugate increased uptake of platinum by 200–300% in the S1 and S2 segments, with no significant change in the S3 segments, compared cDDP control values. The presence of PAH (4 mM) in the bathing solution significantly reduced JB → L (by approximately 90%) for NAC-cDDP in all segments and the CPt by approximately 80%. This also abrogated the NAC-cDDP-induced toxicity. Conclusions. There was axial heterogeneity among the basolateral membranes of the S1, S2, and S3 segments of the proximal tubule in accumulating free cDDP and transport of NAC-cDDP. Generally, the NAC-cDDP molecule was transported more avidly than free cDDP across the basolateral membrane, except in the S3 segment, where accumulation was similar to that of free cDDP. It is concluded that a PAH-sensitive organic anion transporter is involved in the accumulation of NAC-cDDP at the basolateral membrane and a TEA-sensitive organic cation transport system is involved in the accumulation of free cDDP.
The relationships among MAOA, COMT Val158Met, and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms, newborn stress reactivity, and infant temperament.

Introduction Variance in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity is considered to be one of the sources of differences in infant temperament. The cortisol enters into interactions with dopamine and serotonin, so it is expected that polymorphisms in genes coding monoamine metabolism influence both HPA axis reactivity and temperament. Methods We therefore explore the relationship among 5-HTTLPR S/L, MAOA H/L, and COMT Val158Met polymorphisms, the stress reaction of newborn infants after a heel stick blood draw (measured by determining salivary cortisol at three time points), and temperament assessed at the age of 3 months using Rothbart's Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (IBQ-R) with a sample of 84 infants. Results The decrease in the salivary cortisol correlated with nine primary scales and all three secondary scales of IBQ-R. Children with a greater cortisol decrease were assessed as less susceptible to negative emotions, more extraverted, and more regulated. The polymorphisms that were observed were related both to the course of the stress reaction and to temperament. The 5-HTTLPR S allele was connected to higher scores for Negative Emotionality and lower scores for Orienting/Regulatory Capacity. The presence of the MAOA L allele predisposed its carriers to higher scores for Negative Emotionality, lower scores for Orienting/Regulatory Capacity, and a lower decrease in cortisol. The Met allele of COMT Val158Met polymorphism was connected to a higher Positive Affectivity/Surgency and Orienting/Regulatory Capacity and a greater cortisol decrease. Conclusions Contrary to previous studies referring mainly basal cortisol and its increase, the results of our study emphasize the importance of cortisol elimination in infant temperament. Another interesting finding was a higher cortisol increase, higher Distress to Limitations, Negative Emotionality, and Approach in MAOA LL homozygotes which are traditionally understood as more vulnerable toward early stress in developing later externalizing behavior.
Preseismic Fault Creep and Elastic Wave Amplitude Precursors Scale With Lab Earthquake Magnitude for the Continuum of Tectonic Failure Modes

Tectonic faults fail in a continuum of modes from slow earthquakes to elastodynamic rupture. Precursory variations in elastic wavespeed and amplitude, interpreted as indicators of imminent failure,...
Intracardiac echocardiographic-guided right-sided cardiac biopsy: Case series and literature review

Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is a common procedure used to aid in the diagnosis of diffuse myocardial diseases and, less commonly, in the diagnosis of cardiac tumors. As cardiac tumors are often found in high-risk locations (ventricular free wall or atria), precision biopsy is paramount, and additional imaging, like transesophageal echocardiography is often required for guidance. The use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) to guide biopsy has been described, but there is no consensus on a standardized approach. We report our institutional approach with three cases of ICE-directed EMB performed with the 2.4 mm Jawz bioptome directed with an 8.5-Fr Agilis NxT steerable introducer. All cases were performed under guidance with the AcuNav ICE probe. There were no procedural complications and a definitive diagnosis was obtained in all three cases. We also review the available published cases of ICE-guided EMB in the literature-noting the different procedural approaches, complication rate, and diagnostic yield. There were only two negative biopsies reported among the published cases and no reported complications. Our review of all these cases suggests that ICE-guidance for EMB is superior to other forms of imaging in its ease of use and high definition of right-sided cardiac structures. We also feel that the use of the Agilis steerable sheath allows for more precise directing of the bioptome and is a critical component in performing a successful targeted biopsy.
Eudicot Nutshells: Cell-Wall Composition and Biofuel Feedstock Potential

Nutshells are the recalcitrant and membranous layers that encompass and provide protection to the seed of a fruit. Rich in lignin, these are often waste products of the food industry and are a pote...
Outcome of Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy in Adults With Rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the outcome of immunoglobulin (IG) replacement therapy in adults with rhinosinusitis and primary humoral immunodeficiency disorders (PID). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. METHODS Retrospective chart review of adult (18 years and older) patients who were diagnosed with PID and had the diagnosis of recurrent acute rhinosinusitis (RARS) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and who are on IG replacement therapy. Demographic data, associated conditions, and duration of treatment were reviewed. Number of yearly sinus infections, sinus CT Lund-Mackay (LM) score, and need for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) were reviewed before and after starting IG therapy. RESULTS Fifty-eight patients were included. Average age was 52 years (18-79 years). About 74% were female. Thirty patients (51.7%) had common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), 18 (31.1%) had hypogammaglobulinemia, and 10 (17.2%) had specific antibody deficiency (SAD). About 79% of patients had allergic rhinitis and 74% had asthma. Pretreatment LM score was 7.6 (±2.2, range of 0-24) compared to posttreatment score of 3.5 (±1.3, range of 0-16) (P = .01). Eleven patients (19%) had FESS pretreatment compared to only two patients (3.4%) requiring ESS after starting treatment on IG therapy (P = .004). Prior to starting IG therapy, five patients (8.6%) had more than 10 sinus infections per year, 33 patients (56.9%) had 5 to 10 infections, and 20 patients (34.5%) had 1 to 5 infections per year. After starting on IG, 34 patients (58.6%) had no infections reported anymore (P < .001), and 24 patients (41.4%) had only 1 to 5 infections reported per year CONCLUSION: IG therapy is a promising treatment option for recurrent rhinosinusitis in patients with PID. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 2021.
The Statutification of Tort Law Involving the Workplace

The phenomenon of the "tortification" of employment law involves the consideration and importation of common-law tort principles when interpreting statutory anti-discrimination law. This Article explores the other side of the coin: the “statutification” of tort law as it applies to the workplace. State courts have only infrequently partaken in this enterprise, even in situations in which the two areas of law involve similar issues. This Article suggests that at least some limited form of statutification of tort law as it pertains to the workplace might be useful.
Public Choice and Two of Its Founders: An Appreciation

The reasons one should appreciate public choice are the same reasons that many people, including many economists, find it deeply unsettling. Public choice would not be where it is today without James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock. Nor would I likely be where I am today without their help. Both men had a large effect on my thinking early in my intellectual life, and both men gave me generous attention when I was only 20 years old. In this chapter, I reminisce about my particular experiences with them. I then propose that the public choice research agenda be extended, more than it has been, to analysis of foreign policy, and then give the results of one such analysis.
Financial Fragility and Recovery Then and Now

The events associated with the financial crisis and recession of 2007-2009 continue to unfold. If the output loss from this recession ends up in the range of the 1982 downturn, it will be because Congress and the Federal Reserve moved more quickly and effectively with immediate remedies than was true in the 1930s. If an even more serious crisis occurs within the next decade it will be because the regulatory response ended up being less effective than what was summoned during the New Deal. NOTE: This is a draft version of chapter 12 from my book The Great Depression and U.S. Economic Growth, forthcoming from Yale University Press.
Recognition of Cerebral Palsy speech: Technical method and a study of vowel consistency

A method for recognition of speech of the nonverbal is presented. Results of the application of the procedure to simple utterances by cerebral palsied individuals and implications for an overall communications device are addressed.
Exploration of C-band /spl sigma//sup 0/ dependence on azimuth angle over Antarctic Sea and glacial ice

In previous studies, the radar backscatter measurements from polar glacial ice have demonstrated modulation in azimuth angle. Azimuthal modulation is a function of the wind induced surface characteristics of the glacial ice. In a continuing evaluation of the ERS1 C-band scatterometer as a tool for studying polar sea ice the authors evaluate the azimuthal modulation characteristics of Antarctic sea ice. Using several study regions dispersed in the Antarctic seasonal sea ice pack, the scatterometer data is evaluated for evidence of azimuthal modulation. The incidence angle dependence is estimated and removed in each study region before determining whether azimuthal modulation is present in the data. The results show that there is negligible azimuthal modulation at the scale of observation of the ERS1 C-band scatterometer.
Chapter 2.1.9 Behavioral and electrophysiological screens for isolating zebra fish mutants with visual system defects

Summary Behavioral testing of both larval and adult zebra fish can uncover visual system mutations in animals that morphologically appear perfectly normal. We have succeeded in isolating mutants that appear completely blind as well as mutants that are partially sighted. Electrophysiological recordings from the eyes of the mutant fish localize the defect to the retina and can suggest the nature of the defect. More sophisticated behavioral testing and electrophysiological recordings will undoubtedly enable the isolation of more subtle retinal and visual system mutations and the eventual uncovering of retinal specific genes.
Abstract View Objects for Multiple OODB Integration

The notion of Abstract View Object (AVO) is introduced to support abstract representations of foreign or integrated objects in a multidatabase environment. This approach allows OODBs to be cooperated without physical integration, underlies a consistent universal object identification mechanism, and provides an intuitive settheoretic foundation for linking object identification, object integration and function inheritance semantically over multidatabases.
Alternative splicing of human synexin mRNA in brain, cardiac, and skeletal muscle alters the unique N-terminal domain.

Abstract Several synexin (annexin VII) mRNAs have been identified by screening a human fibroblast cDNA library. One type of message contained an alternatively spliced cassette exon, predicting two isoforms of synexin differing in the N-terminal domain. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of synexin mRNA from various fetal and adult tissues, from human and monkey, revealed that the alternative splicing event is tissue-regulated; synexin mRNA containing the cassette exon is prevalent in brain, heart, and skeletal muscle. This is supported by Western blot analysis showing that muscle synexin (annexin VIIb) is larger than synexin from lung (annexin VIIa). The muscle and lung isoforms have the same molecular mass as the recombinant synexins expressed in Escherichia coli using cDNAs containing or lacking the cassette exon, respectively. The difference in size is consistent with the molecular masses predicted from the proteins encoded by the alternatively spliced synexin mRNAs. Another type of synexin mRNA contained a longer 3'-noncoding region generated by the selection of an alternate poly(A) signal. Northern analysis of human fibroblast RNA showed the presence of two bands (2.0- and 2.4-kilobase) when hybridized to a cDNA fragment of the coding region of synexin, but only the 2.4-kilobase band hybridized to a probe made from the longer 3' end.
Laboratory Experiments With an Optical Instrument For Measuring, Recording And Imaging Washover

Washover is the condition of occasional, partial or complete inundation of the surface of a body floating in water. Washover is typically caused by wave and wind action. A knowledge of the 3-dimensional spatial and temporal parameters of seawater washover of towed bodies, fixed and free drifting buoys, and other maritime powered, tethered and free-floating bodies is extremely helpful in understanding and improving their hydrostatic and hydrodynamic performance under a wide variety of sea states. Here we discuss the theory, implementation and initial testing of a newly developed fiber-optic-based method for 3-D spatial and temporal detection, measurement and visualization of washover (patent pending). This system is intended to provide real-time 3-D spatial and temporal detection, measurement and visualization of washover in freshwater, seawater, and possibly other transparent or translucent fluids. The system permits simultaneous, noninteracting measurements of temporal and spatial washover dynamics, along with measurements of water wave/electromagnetic interaction measurements for near-sea-surface antennas. Data can be acquired and displayed in real time, as well as stored for post-processing and analysis. The principles of the system have been bench tested and show promise for open-ocean washover testing of nearsea-surface buoyant towed bodies. In addition, temporal and spatial optical-based washover measurement is expected to provide an empirically based benchmarking process for computational fluid dynamic assessments of turbulent flow around arbitrarily shaped surface-towed or self-propelled bodies.
Thermogravimetric determination of the oxygen non-stoichiometry in Ni0.563Zn0.188Fe2.25O4+γ and Ni0.375Zn0.375Fe2.25O4+γ

Abstract Ni–Zn ferrite is a magnetic material that is used commercially in high-power devices, such as transformer and inductor cores. The important properties of this material are highly dependent on its oxygen non-stoichiometry. The processing of ferrites having the desired oxygen non-stoichiometry requires knowledge of the relationship between non-stoichiometry and the temperature and the partial pressure of oxygen. Two Ni–Zn ferrites having compositions in the technologically important range were prepared by a spray-drying technique. The initial degree of oxidation was determined by coulometric titration. The PO 2 vs. temperature phase diagrams for these ferrites were then determined by thermogravimetry under atmospheres of varying PO 2 , 2×10 −4 –1 atm, in the 800–1400°C range. Isostoichiometric lines are shown on plots of log PO 2 vs. 1/ T . The heat of oxidation was calculated from the slopes of the isostoichiometric lines.
Initial Transient Response of an Intensifying Baroclinic Wave to Increases in Cloud Droplet Number Concentration

AbstractEnsemble simulations of an idealized baroclinic wave were conducted with the WRF Model to investigate the effects of increased cloud droplet number concentration (DNC) on the development of the wave. Statistically significant differences between experiments where the DNC was doubled and the control experiments were identified for an initial transient period before the cyclone enters the stage of rapid intensification. Doubling of the DNC increases total cloud water in the model, lowers the cloud level, and enhances latent heating to the east of the surface low, which strengthens the midtropospheric ridge. Subsequent changes in dry dynamical processes [e.g., advection of potential vorticity (PV)] as a result of the ridge strengthening lead to the deepening of the trough and ultimately produce a mild yet statistically significant strengthening of the baroclinic wave as a result of the DNC doubling. Piecewise PV inversion further confirms the critical role that latent heating change plays in strength...
Knowing When to Be “Rational”: Flexible Economic Decision Making and Executive Function in Preschool Children

Failure to delay gratification may not indicate poor control or irrationality, but might be an adaptive response. Two studies investigated 3.5- and 4.5-year-old children's ability to adapt their delay and saving behavior when their preference (e.g., to delay or not delay) became nonadaptive. In Study 1 (N = 140), children's delay preference was associated with a risk of losing rewards. In Study 2 (N = 142), children's saving preference was associated with an inability to play an attractive game. Whereas baseline delaying and saving preferences were unrelated to a standardized executive function measure, children who switched to their nonpreferred choice scored higher, suggesting flexibility of decision-making may be a more meaningful dependent variable than baseline performance in developmental research on self-control.
Learning essentials for international education a compendium of summaries

The sound of children's voices reciting in unison could be heard from afar, as our mission approached a school in rural Cambodia. Inside a second-grade classroom, students took turns at the blackboard. One pointed with a stick at a list of words written by the teacher, while the rest recited. A colleague approached, wrote on the blackboard the same words in a different order, and asked the children to read. Suddenly, there was silence. Most kids had merely memorized the sequence of the words and could not even identify single letters. This scene is frequent. In the poorer schools of low-income countries, many students remain illiterate for years, until they finally drop out. With some care, the process is observable. Typically the teacher writes on the board some letters or words and asks students to repeat them. The letters may be scribbled, the children often sit at a distance, textbooks may be insufficient, and children may not have anyone at home to help them read. But they do repeat the words in unison, getting cues from a few knowledgeable classmates. The teachers stand by the blackboard, address students at large, and call on the few who perform well. How come this issue has not attracted attention? One reason is that in the middle-class schools of capitals students perform much better. Soon after our rural observations, we observed second graders in a middleclass school of Pnom Penh fluently handling the extremely complex Khmer script. However, the schools of the poor have less time for their students. There is teacher absenteeism, a lack of textbooks to take home, parental inability to make up for school weaknesses, no specific curricular time for reading. The result has been chronic illiteracy, high dropout and high repetition rates. To reduce repetition and maximize enrollments, some donors advise governments to promote students automatically.
Theoretical predictions of the elastic moduli of polymer‐impregnated hardened cement paste and mortars

Hardened coment pastes with water-to-cement (w/c) ratios of 0.4 and 0.6 and hydration times of one, three, seven, and 28 days were oven dried and subsequently impregnated with an epoxy resin formulation which was then polymerized in situ at 75°C. Portland cement mortars containing Ottawa sand and asbestos fibers as filler were also subjected to this impregnation process. Dynamic elastic moduli (E′) were measured at audio frequencies over a range of temperatures (100–400°K). Experimental values were compared with moduli calculated using various theoretical approaches based on two-phase composite materials theory. Best agreement between experimental and calculated results occurs when Wu's theory for spherical polymer inclusions was applied to a cement-based matrix. In the case of polymer-impregnated mortars, experimental and theoretical results are in closest agreement at low temperatures and at low volume fraction of filler.
A Wiener-Wintner theorem for the Hilbert transform

We prove the following extension of the Wiener–Wintner theorem and the Carleson theorem on pointwise convergence of Fourier series: For all measure-preserving flows (X,μ,T t ) and f∈L p (X,μ), there is a set X f ⊂X of probability one, so that for all x∈X f , $$\lim_{s\downarrow0}\int_{s<|t|<1/s}e^{i\theta t} f(\textup{T}_tx)\,\frac{dt}t\quad\text{exists for all}\ \theta.$$ The proof is by way of establishing an appropriate oscillation inequality which is itself an extension of Carleson’s theorem.
Phosphorylation of HSP27 and synthesis of 14-3-3ε are parallel responses to hyperosmotic stress in the hippocampus

Abstract A stress-responsive, mitogen-activated protein kinase, p38, is activated by phosphorylation in response to adverse environmental insults. In the present study, the effects of hyperosmolarity on p38 activation and protein synthesis in the brain were examined. Hyperosmotic stress of rat brain slices, produced by addition of sorbitol to the incubation buffer, produced prolonged phosphorylation and activation of p38, most prominently in the hippocampus as compared to the cortex or cerebellum. In comparison, the prototypic mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, was transiently phosphorylated and another stress-activated protein kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, was not phosphorylated above basal levels. Examination of downstream p38 signaling events revealed phosphorylation of the small heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) that was abolished by incubation with SB202190 [4-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)1H-imidazole], a p38 inhibitor. Concomitantly, hyperosmolarity diminished total levels of protein synthesis within hippocampal slices, as determined by incorporation of 35S-labeled methionine/cysteine into protein during tissue incubation. However, synthesis of a 30-kDa protein, identified as 14-3-3e with mass spectrometry, increased in response to hyperosmolarity. The synthesis of 14-3-3e was dose-dependently induced by increasingly hyperosmotic conditions in a p38-independent manner. We conclude from these results that 14-3-3e synthesis and p38-mediated HSP27 phosphorylation in the hippocampus are parallel responses to the hyperosmotic environment.
Neuroendocrine actions of endothelins

Abstract Endothelins are produced in neuronal, pituitary and peripheral endocrine cells, and act through specific endothelin receptors (predominantly the ET A subtype) that are widely distributed in the neuroendocrine system. Endothelin receptors share a common signal transduction pathway with other Ca 2+ -mobilizing receptors, and endothelins induce IP 3 and diacylglycerol production, and elevation of [Ca 2+ ] i in many cell types, with kinetics similar to the cognate agonists. As reviewed here by Stanko Stojilkovic and Kevin Catt, the physiological consequences of endothelin-mediated cell signalling are relevant to the control of several neuroendocrine and endocrine activities including neuropeptide release, pituitary hormone secretion, gonadal and placental function, fluid and electrolyte homeostasis and glycogenolysis.
Gender differences in sexual abuse history and HIV prevention outcomes among treatment-seeking substance abusers

s / Drug and Alcohol Dependence 140 (2014) e169–e251 e211 longitudinal model; however, MJM were not significant predictors of use status at this time point. Conclusions: We replicated previous research demonstrating that endorsement of MJM correlates with current use status and suggests that positive reinforcement motives for marijuana can predict future use of marijuana for emerging adults above and beyond previous use status. Financial support:DA/AA03395 toPandina, Labouvie,W R01 AA 019511 to Mun & White. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.02.585 Gender differences in sexual abuse history and HIV prevention outcomes among treatment-seeking substance abusers Linda Skalski1, N. Gottfredson1, Donald A. Calsyn2, Aimee Campbell3, Mary Hatch-Maillette2, S. Tross3, Christina S. Meade1 1 Duke University, Durham, NC, United States 2 Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States 3 Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY,
Latino Adolescents' Perceived Discrimination in Online and Offline Settings: An Examination of Cultural Risk and Protective Factors.

Latinos represent the largest ethnic minority group in the United States (U.S. Census, 2008), and the potential impact of the Latino population on U.S. society was most recently evident in the 2012 presidential election, when Latinos were considered by many media outlets to be the driving force behind the reelection of President Barack Obama (e.g., Rodriguez, 2012; Gonzalez & Nowicki, 2012). The Latino population is relatively young (i.e., Latino median age is 27.5 vs. 37.3 for the total U.S. population; U.S. Census, 2011), and Latino children will make up 39% of U.S. children in 2050 (U.S. Census, 2008); thus, it is imperative to understand paths to positive youth development among this segment of society. One factor that can threaten the positive development of Latino youth is ethnic discrimination (Romero, Martinez, & Carvajal, 2007). In a recent survey, 70% of foreign-born Latinos and 49% of U.S.-born Latinos indicated that ethnic discrimination was a major problem that prevented Latinos’ success in the United States (Lopez, Morin, & Taylor, 2010). A resilience framework, however, suggests that assets in a child’s life can reduce or eliminate the negative impact of risk (Masten & Coatsworth, 1998). Thus, the current study examined the associations between Latino adolescents’ perceived ethnic discrimination in multiple settings (e.g., online, school) and several domains of adjustment (e.g., mental health, academic), and tested whether a developmentally salient cultural asset (i.e., ethnic identity) directly promoted youth adjustment or buffered the impact of discrimination on adjustment.
Direct fabrication of single-walled carbon nanotube macro-films on flexible substrates

We employed a floating chemical vapor deposition technique and applied a liquid (solution)-free precursor system for the fabrication of single-walled carbon nanotube macro-films on various flexible substrates from metallic foils to polymer films.
Quiet Casualties: An Analysis of U Non-Immigrant Status of Undocumented Immigrant Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

Although immigration policy is a key component of public administration scholarship in the United States, research into Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) for both documented and particularly undocumented immigrants has been tangential in focus. This exploratory study questions 1. the effect of immigration reform on U.S. undocumented immigrant women of IPV and 2. how changes in the number of undocumented immigrants affect IPV victimization rates and the regulations concerning U non-immigrant status. A least-square trend line suggests that the 10,000 U visa applications permitted annually will not cover the undocumented female population of IPV let alone the victims qualified under the U non-immigrant status. Based on a review of the laws and policies regarding the U-Visa we provide several recommendations to reform immigration laws directed toward immigrant victims of IPV. This study adds to the growing, but still weak body of knowledge on abused immigrant female populations in the United States and how fede...
Morphological effects on the hygroscopic properties of sodium chloride–sodium sulfate aerosols

Abstract The hygroscopic properties of sodium sulfate, Na2SO4; sodium chloride, NaCl; and their mixed aerosols are monitored using a flow-cell apparatus and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. While Na2SO4 exhibits the typical water uptake for an inorganic salt, spectra of NaCl and mixed NaCl–Na2SO4 aerosols reveal water content below the deliquescence relative humidity. This is explained on the basis of two different morphologies for NaCl and Na2SO4. While Na2SO4 can be described by a simple crystalline solid, NaCl contains pockets that trap water. The NaCl–Na2SO4 mixtures contain a combination of these two structural motifs, weighted by the relative amounts of the NaCl and Na2SO4 components. This makes NaCl–Na2SO4 mixtures an interesting candidate for exploring the effects of morphology on atmospherically relevant properties in a systematic fashion. Additionally, the formation of metastable Na2SO4 (III) is confirmed using Raman spectroscopy, though its effects on the hygroscopicity of NaCl–Na2SO4 mixtures are believed to be minimal.
Hoverfly oviposition response to aphids in broccoli fields

The oviposition response of predacious hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) to Brevicoryne brassicae L. and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) in commercial broccoli, Brassica oleracea var. italica L., Plenck (Brassicaceae), fields was investigated at two sites over the course of a growing season. The hoverfly oviposition responses to these aphid species on different parts of the broccoli plant canopy were also examined. There were no hoverfly eggs on broccoli plants without aphids, egg numbers were very low on plants with fewer than 50 aphids, and no peak in oviposition relative to aphid numbers was observed. Within individual plants that were colonized by aphids, there was some oviposition on individual leaves without aphids, and no hoverfly eggs were seen on leaves that had more than 400 aphids. Leaves in the broccoli plant canopy, and the datasets associated with them, were divided into three sections vertically, ‘upper’, ‘middle’, and ‘lower’. Brevicoryne brassicae was more abundant in the upper and middle canopy sections, while M. persicae was found mostly in the lower section. The rate of hoverfly oviposition per aphid was higher in the upper section than in the two other sections. Modeling of the oviposition response using logistic regression showed that the presence of hoverfly eggs was positively correlated with numbers of each aphid species and sampling date.
Effects of Interfacial Phenomena and Conduction on an Evaporating Meniscus

An overview of some of the theoretical models describing the effects of chemical potential, excess free energy, free energy gradient, film thickness profile, temperature profile, superheat, thermal conduction, concentration gradient, velocity profile, slip velocity, apparent contact angle, and kinetic theory on the phase change heat transfer processes in an evaporating meniscus are presented. The relative importance of the parameters is demonstrated. Experimental techniques and confirming experimental data are also presented. In essence, the microscopic thickness profile of the evaporating meniscus is measured optically to obtain the details of the liquid pressure field and modeled to give the fluid flow rate and the evaporative heat flux. The macroscopic temperature field of the substrate is measured and numerically modeled to give the microscopic temperature field and a complementary calculation of the evaporative heat flux. For closure, the values of the slip velocity and concentration change on evaporation need to be correctly assumed. The interfacial transport processes are very sensitive to small interfacial temperature and concentration changes, which are difficult, if not impossible, to measure directly. However, the liquid pressure gradients can be directly measured. The effects of the interacting phenomena on the phase change processes are demonstrated using these complementary experimental-modeling procedures. The processes are found to be very complex and simple modeling/experiments can only confirm the general phenomena and give insight.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Nonmetropolitan Status and Kindergarteners' Early Literacy Skills: Is There a Rural Disadvantage?.

Abstract This study seeks to discover whether beginning kindergarteners vary in early literacy readiness according to their county's metro/non-metropolitan status, county-level economic and social characteristics, individual demographic characteristics, family social capital resources, and preschool childcare. Using student-level data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort and county-level data from various secondary sources, we estimate a two-level hierarchical linear model to test the relationship between early literacy ability and individual and county demographic and structural factors. Results show that there is a direct association between living in a nonmetropolitan county and early literacy ability at the beginning of kindergarten, but that the direction and strength of these relationships depends on individual ethnicity and socioeconomic status, as well as the social and economic characteristics of the county.
Titan - Suspected near-infrared variability

Observations were made of Titan with InSb photometers using standard J (1.25 micron), H (1.6 micron), and K (2.2 micron) filters over a 70 day interval with 0.61 m, 2.2 m, and 4 m telescopes. A beam-switching, sky-subtract mode was used with all telescopes, and evidence appears for variation at approximately the 3 sigma level of confidence. There is some indication that, if periodic, the variation may have a period twice that of the satellite's orbital period.
Syntheses and biological activities of novel 2-methoxyestradiol analogs, 2-fluoroethoxyestradiol and 2-fluoropropanoxyestradiol, and a radiosynthesis of 2-[18F]fluoroethoxyestradiol for positron emission tomography

Introduction 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2) is an endogenous metabolite of the human hormone, estrogen, which has been shown to possess anti-tumor activity. 2-Fluoroethoxyestradiol (2FEE2) and 2-fluoropropanoxyestradiol (2FPE2), novel analogs of 2-methoxyestradiol, were designed and synthesized to be utilized as F-18 radiotracers for positron emission tomography (PET), with which the bio-distribution and intratumoral accumulations of 2ME2 could be measured in vivo for potential translation to human use.
Results of the VEGA 1 balloon nephelometer experiment

Backscatter nephelometer measurements obtained during the Vega 1 balloon flight are reported. During periods of minor convective activity and initial balloon ascent, the data generally agree with those obtained from other Venus mission descent probes. However, during the period of greatest convective activity experienced by the Vega 1 balloon, the signals were about a factor of two greater than any previously obtained. Although the clouds appear to be unbroken, deviations in the behavior of the detailed backscatter signals with time from those of the ambient pressure or temperature signals, especially during periods of minor convective activity, indicate much small-scale variability in cloud structure.
Costs and efficacy of public health interventions to reduce aflatoxin–induced human disease

This study reviews available information on the economics and efficacy of aflatoxin risk-reduction interventions, and it provides an approach for analysis of the cost-effectiveness of public health interventions to reduce aflatoxin-induced human disease. Many strategies have been developed to reduce aflatoxin or its adverse effects in the body. However, a question that has been under-addressed is how likely these strategies will be adopted in the countries that need them most to improve public health. This study evaluates two aspects crucial to the adoption of new technologies and methods: the costs and the efficacy of different strategies. First, different aflatoxin risk-reduction strategies are described and categorized into pre-harvest, post-harvest, dietary, and clinical settings. Relevant data on the costs and efficacy of each strategy, in reducing either aflatoxin in food or its metabolites in the body are then compiled and discussed. In addition, we describe which crops are affected by each intervention, who is likely to pay for the control strategy, and who is likely to benefit. A framework is described for how to evaluate cost-effectiveness of strategies according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Finally, it is discussed which strategies are likely to be cost-effective and helpful under different conditions worldwide of regulations, local produce and soil ecology, and potential health emergencies.
Hologram Information Capacity

This paper presents an analysis of the number of diffraction-limited resolvable elements and the spatial extent of object space when a hologram of a specific number of independent elements is used. The analysis includes a study of both plane and spherical reference waves, and both plane and solid objects. A generalized spatial offset of the reference wave is used to separate the desired hologram terms. The spatial extent and number of elements that can be defined in the object are reduced by spatial offset. A system is mentioned in which separation is accomplished without spatial offset, by temporal offset of the frequency of the reference beam. Without spatial offset, in the optimum configuration, the number of resolvable elements of a plane object, using the Rayleigh criterion, is equal to the number of independent elements in the hologram. For solid objects, a hologram with n × n independent samples can resolve n3/3 elements in object space, if the optimum configuration is used.
The white house conference on food, nutrition and health twenty years later: Where are we now?

A twentieth anniversary symposium was held in November 1989 in Washington, D.C., commemorating the December 1969 White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health. The 1989 meeting was co-chaired by Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Robert J. Dole, and sponsored by a number of Senators and Representatives. The Society for Nutrition Education was incorporated in 1968 and has been active during the last twenty years in helping to implement the original White House Conference recommendations on nutrition education. Several of SNE's founders took part in the intensive sixmonth's preparation for the twentieth anniversary celebrations. The November anniversary meeting looked not only at the past, but also at the present status and desirable future directions of national nutrition policies and programs. The 1969 White House Conference was called by President Richard M. Nixon "to put an end to hunger in American for all time," and to improve the nutritional well-being of all Americans. Both parties represented by a Democratic Congress and a Republican Administration agreed on that goal. The Conference recommendations, voted on by 5,000 representatives of the diverse interest groups who attended, were written for bipartisan implementation. By the time a small followup conference was held in December 1971, some 1,650 of the 1,800 original recommendations had been put into effect. Of the three areas addressed by the 1969 Conference (hunger and poverty, consumer issues, and diet and health), hunger programs were implemented most rapidly.