cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Smooth Muscle Studies Using Gene-Altered Mouse Models: A Users’ Guide

The coming of age of technology for development of specific gene-ablated or transgenic mice has opened new vistas toward understanding smooth muscle function. In conjunction with rapidly developing miniaturized techniques for physiological measurement of, for example, cardiovascular or respiratory function in mice [1], it is now possible to study the effects of gene modification at the smooth muscle cell, tissue and whole animal levels. Since publication of the first edition of this book, there has been a striking increase in the number of papers examining mouse smooth muscle contractility largely due to the proliferation of gene-altered mouse models. Over 60% of the articles (4500) categorized by the terms “mouse” and “smooth muscle” in the National Library of Medicine were published in the last decade and 40% in the past 5 years. As an organizational strategy, mouse smooth muscle studies may be divided into 3 categories
Abstract 59: 14-3-3zeta overexpressing breast cancer cells promote fibroblast senescence and CAF-like phenotype

14-3-3ζ overexpression in breast cancer is associated with accelerated cancer progression and poor clinical outcome in patients. Our previous study revealed that 14-3-3ζ overexpression promotes epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer cells, which facilitates progression of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). However, the impact of 14-3-3ζ overexpressing breast cancer cells on tumor microenvironment (TME) and the underlying mechanisms have not been explored. We found dramatically increased cancer associated fibroblast (CAF) signatures in patients9 matched IDC lesions compared to their DCIS lesions, suggesting that activated fibroblasts may be involved in DCIS to IDC transition. Global gene expression profiling uncovered increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, including IL6 and IL8, in 14-3-3ζ AND ErbB2 co-overexpressed 10A.ErbB2.1433ζ cells compared to ErbB2 overexpressed 10A.ErbB2 cells. This finding was further confirmed by ELISA and validated in other breast cancer cell lines. We tested whether increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in the conditional medium (CM) from 14-3-3ζ overexpressed cancer cells promotes CAF-like phenotype. Indeed, CM from 14-3-3ζ overexpressed cancer cells significantly increased SMA+ activated fibroblast cells compared to controls. Additionally, up-regulation of β-galactosidase and reduced cell proliferation, hallmarks of senescence cells, were detected in fibroblast cells cultured in CM from 14-3-3ζ overexpressed cancer cells. Next, we explored potential mechanism of how 14-3-3ζ overexpression in cancer cells leads to up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines. Since NF-kappaB is one of the master upstream regulator of IL-6 and IL-8, we next investigated the NF-kappaB signaling activation in 14-3-3ζ overexpressed vs control cancer cells. 14-3-3ζ overexpressing cancer cells had hyperactive canonical NF-kappaB responses, including accelerated IκBα degradation, p65 phosphorylation, as well as nuclear translocation compared to 14-3-3ζ low cancer cells. Prolonged NF-kappaB signaling activation upon pro-inflammatory cytokine stimulation was also detected in 14-3-3ζ overexpressing cancer cells. These results suggest that 14-3-3ζ overexpressing cancer cells may promote fibroblast cell senescence and CAF-like phenotype by creating by a chronic inflammatory microenvironment, which ultimately enhances DCIS to IDC transition. Citation Format: Hongzhong Li, Yi Xiao, Xiangliang Yuan, Wenling Kuo, Ping Li, Dihua Yu. 14-3-3zeta overexpressing breast cancer cells promote fibroblast senescence and CAF-like phenotype [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 59.
Hemostatic characteristics of thawed, pooled cryoprecipitate stored for 35 days at refrigerated and room temperatures.

Background Cryoprecipitate's shelf life is limited due to concerns over decreased clotting factor activity and contamination with extended storage. Hemostatic characteristics of thawed cryoprecipitate stored up to 35 days at refrigerated and room temperatures were assessed. Study design and methods Pooled cryoprecipitate was thawed and aliquoted for storage at 1-6°C or 21-24°C. Samples were tested immediately after thawing and at 4 h, 24 h, 72 h, and weekly for 35 days. At each time point fibrinogen, factor VIII (FVIII), and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were assessed. Thrombin generation and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) were also performed. Further, packed red cells, platelet concentrates, frozen plasma, and stored cryoprecipitate were combined (1:1:1:1) to simulate massive transfusion and analyzed by ROTEM. Day 35 samples were cultured for bacterial contamination. Results Precipitation was observed in refrigerated samples; however, these aggregates were easily resuspended upon warming in a 37°C water bath. No significant changes were observed in fibrinogen concentration or ROTEM at either temperature. FVIII and vWF declined significantly during storage. vWF, clot time, and thrombin generation were significantly better preserved with refrigeration. With simulated massive transfusion, fibrinogen function remained at or above the established range for whole blood at both storage temperatures. Bacterial contamination was not observed in cold stored or room temperature cryoprecipitate. Conclusion The fibrinogen concentration and function of cryoprecipitate at extended storage durations are adequate for fibrinogen replacement in critical bleeding. These results support extension of the shelf life of cryoprecipitate when used for fibrinogen replacement.
Use of the Electronic Health Record to Target Patients for Non-endoscopic Barrett's Esophagus Screening.

Clinical prediction models targeting patients for Barrett’s esophagus (BE) screening include data obtained by interview, questionnaire, and body measurements. A tool based on electronic health records (EHR) data could reduce cost and enhance usability, particularly if combined with non-endoscopic BE screening methods. To determine whether EHR-based data can identify BE patients. We performed a retrospective review of patients ages 50–75 who underwent a first-time esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Data extracted from the EHR included demographics and BE risk factors. Endoscopy and pathology reports were reviewed for histologically confirmed BE. Screening criteria modified from clinical guidelines were assessed for association with BE. Subsequently, a score based on multivariate logistic regression was developed and assessed for its ability to identify BE subjects. A total of 2931 patients were assessed, and BE was found in 1.9%. Subjects who met screening criteria were more likely to have BE (3.3% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.001), and the criteria predicted BE with an AUROC of 0.65 (95% CI 0.59–0.71). A score based on logistic regression modeling included gastroesophageal reflux disease, sex, body mass index, and ever-smoker status and identified BE subjects with an AUROC of 0.71 (95% CI 0.64–0.77). Both prediction tools produced higher AUROCs in women than in men. EHR-based BE risk prediction tools identify BE patients with fair accuracy. While these tools may improve the efficiency of patient targeting for BE screening in the primary care setting, challenges remain to identify high-risk patients for non-invasive BE screening in clinical practice.
Crab-Like Hexapod Feet for Amphibious Walking in Sand and Waves

Sandy beaches can be smooth access points for future amphibious robots to enter and exit the water, but the terrain is challenging, especially for smaller scale robots. Strong hydrodynamic forces can interrupt navigation by displacing, reorienting, or even inverting the robot. Looking to animals that navigate these conditions, crabs have legs and gaits that are distinctive from land animals and robots. In order to better understand the potential advantages of crab-like legs for surf-zone terrain, our goal is to evaluate these legs on dry, wet, and submerged sandy terrain. With our modified 1.2 kg HEXY robot, we demonstrate two important advantages of crab-like legs. First, crab-like legs can allow the robot to resist vertical forces greater than the body weight (the maximum force required to lift the robot is 120% of the weight). This is important because, in contrast to robots that increase traction by adding weight, using the legs to effectively increase normal forces means that robots can be built lighter and smaller while still traversing the same environments. Secondly, we show distributed inward gripping with the crab-like legs reduce wave-induced displacement in lab tests (with default feet, waves displace the robot 1–4 cm, but with our crab-like feet, this displacement is eliminated). The modified foot designs of the robot are compatible with legged walking gaits (slow, medium, and fast). In the future, these leg designs and grasping strategies can be used to convert other land-based robots for amphibious locomotion.
Closed-loop optimal operational planning of supply chains with fast product quality dynamics

Abstract Product quality is a key concern in supply chain management. For perishable products (e.g., food, biologics), quality evolves on a time scale comparable to the product transition time through the supply chain. Quality (defined using rigorous and/or perceived metrics) is influenced by environmental conditions (e.g., temperature during storage and transportation), which also impact operating cost. Under these circumstances, it becomes critical to, i) model the dynamics of product quality metrics, and ii) include environmental conditions in the supply chain optimization problem. We present a novel closed-loop supply chain planning framework whereby product quality dynamics and environmental conditions are considered explicitly. A moving horizon formulation uses feedback (i.e., product quality degradation measurements) to periodically update decisions regarding production, product transportation and storage, and environmental conditions. A case study is presented to demonstrate the benefits that result from applying this strategy when product demand fluctuates and product quality evolves in time.
Initial assessment and management of trauma encountered in the field

Abstract This article covers the principles of trauma care relating to specific competencies within the military higher training module. The majority of these principles relate to the pre-hospital assessment and management of patients, introducing some of the nuances of military medicine in comparison to civilian practice.
Mepolizumab as a steroid-sparing agent for eosinophilic granulomatosis with poliangiitis: a case series

Background: Treatments for eosinophilic granulomatosis with poliangiitis (EGPA) were limited to systemic corticosteroid and immunomodulatory agent, which have serious adverse effects. In EGPA patients a reduction of corticosteroid often induces relapses. Aims: The MIRRA trial demonstrated that mepolizumab (MEPO) is a steroid-sparing agent for patients with relapsing or refractory EGPA (NEJM 2017). However, the number of enrolled patients was limited. We report 5 EGPA patients treated with MEPO to confirm the finding. Methods: This is retrospective review of five patients with EGPA treated with MEPO. Results: Case 1-4 were 3 men and 1 female and age of onset were 28-70 yo. Treatment was started with PSL 30-60 mg/day with a gradual tapering. All the cases suffered relapses with PSL tapering, and then PSL were increased. In Case 1-3, MEPO 300 mg/day were added at the time of PSL 9-10 mg/day. In Case 4, MEPO 100 mg/day was added at the time of PSL 7 mg/day and, followed by the increase of MEPO (300 mg/day) after tapering of PSL. Currently, in Case 1, 2 and 4, dose of PSL was tapering to 0.5-4 mg/day and these cases maintain remission. In Case 3, a relapse was observed after reduction of PSL even with MEPO. Case 5 was a male and onset age was 75 yo. Treatment was started with PSL 60 mg/day and MEPO 100 mg/day. A relapse was observed during the reduction of PSL. Both PSL and MEPO (300 mg/day) were increased. After that PSL was reduced to 5 mg/day without any replace. No apparent adverse events of MEPO were found in any cases. Conclusions: Remission was obtained in 5 of 3 cases. Consistent with prior published paper, MEPO is an effective steroid-sparing agent for patients with EGPA.
Public Records Officers' Perspectives on Transparency and Journalism

Public records officers are often the first point of contact for citizens and journalists requesting public records through state and federal sunshine laws. Very little research has explored the opinions of public records officers about the process of open records requests, particularly in the context of journalism. Adopting a theoretical framework synthesizing the sociology of law with journalistic discursive institutionalism, this study applies an exploratory survey to better understand this aspect of the open government process. Findings suggest that public records officers exhibit a high level of paternalism, challenging journalists’ foundational discursive role as government watchdogs. These findings offer guidance for journalists and public records officers on how to better cooperate with each other in the transparency process.
From hanging out to figuring it out: Socializing online as a pathway to computational thinking:

Although socializing is a powerful driver of youth engagement online, platforms struggle to (leverage) social (engagement) to promote learning. We seek to understand this dynamic using a multi-stag...
Post-discharge Opioid Consumption After Minimally Invasive and Open Colectomy: Does Operative Approach Matter?

Objective To determine if patients consume less opioid after minimally invasive colectomy compared to open colectomy. Background Opioids are overprescribed after surgery, and surgeons are under increasing pressure to reduce postoperative opioid prescribing. In colorectal surgery, minimally invasive approaches are partly justified by reduced inpatient opioid use, but there are no studies comparing post-discharge opioid consumption between minimally invasive and open colectomy. Methods This was a retrospective observational study of adult patients undergoing colectomy from January 2017 to May 2018 in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative database. After postoperative day 30, patients were contacted by phone or email and asked to report post-discharge opioid consumption. The main outcome measure was post-discharge opioid consumption, and the primary predictor was surgical approach (minimally invasive vs open). Zero-inflated negative binomial regression analysis was used to test for an association between surgical approach and opioid consumption. Results We identified 562 patients who underwent minimally invasive or open colectomy from 43 hospitals. After multivariable adjustment, no significant difference was demonstrated in opioid consumption (P = 0.54) or the likelihood of using no opioids (P = 0.39) between patients undergoing minimally versus open colectomy. Larger prescriptions were associated with more opioid use and a lower likelihood of using no opioids. Age greater than 65 and diagnosis of cancer/adenoma were associated with less opioid use. Conclusions Patients undergoing minimally invasive and open colectomy consume similar amounts of opioid after discharge. The size of the postoperative prescription, patient age, and diagnosis are more important in determining opioid use. Understanding factors influencing postoperative opioid requirements may allow surgeons to better tailor prescriptions to patient needs.
Are Volunteers Competent in Positive Youth Development? Perceptions From Three Stakeholder Groups

Some youth organizations entrust adult volunteers with delivering programs and forging relationships with youth clientele. As a result, volunteers should be competent in certain knowledge, skills, and abilities that catalyze positive youth development processes to occur. This research expands upon the results of an initial study designed to address shortcomings of a volunteer competency framework. Our objective for this study was to assess and compare the discrepancies between importance and ability-to-perform ratings of adult volunteers across 6 competency areas from the Volunteer Research Knowledge Competency Taxonomy. Over 10,000 youth professionals, adult volunteers, and families of youth members responded to an online survey. Respondents rated the importance of, and volunteers’ performance in the 6 competency areas; they also provided input about the modalities they preferred for delivering training and resources. Performance means varied across the 3 groups: Volunteers’ overall performance means were the highest, followed by families, and then professionals. Mean weighted discrepancy scores were calculated to compare the importance and performance rankings across respondent groups. Based on the scores, future volunteer trainings and resources should be prioritized around the competency areas of organization, positive youth development, program management, and communication. Volunteers also preferred more self-directed approaches for future trainings. Results from this study suggest that the volunteer competency taxonomy is still a valid framework and affirms other youth worker competency frameworks. The results also help establish a baseline of data that can be used to see if future training interventions and resources are perceived as effective.
Detecting impersonation attacks in cloud computing environments using a centric user profiling approach

Abstract Cloud computing has become the most needed technology for the IT industry. Impersonation attacks are among the most dangerous threats that Clouds face. In this paper, we present an approach to detect masquerade attacks in Clouds. The efficient detection of these attacks should correlate user behaviors in distinct environments and also should apply to several deployment models. We present and evaluate three approaches to detect Impersonation and masquerade attacks. The first approach analyzes sequences of correlated system calls from the VMs operating systems, while the second analyzes the NetFlow data from the network environment. The third approach integrates these two approaches by using a neural network that will produce better detections than any of the first two approaches. To simplify the testing and the evaluation of the three methods, the Cloud Intrusion Detection Dataset (CIDD) is used as a source for cloud audits data. The evaluation has considered alternative deployment models through our two intrusion detection frameworks, CIDS and CIDS-VIRT. The paper also shows that the proposed detection approaches are more accurate and outperform the SWAD-MMD, a recent masquerade detection framework that works in the cloud computing systems. Furthermore, the paper details our experimental results and evaluates the computational performance and the detection accuracy of these approaches.
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 in breast cancer (and, what happened to medullary carcinoma?)

Abstract Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and PD-L1 have emerged as important immune biomarkers in breast cancer, particularly triple negative breast carcinomas (TNBC) and human epidermal growth factor-2 positive (HER-2+) breast carcinomas. These components of the tumor immune microenvironment can be harnessed or targeted with immunotherapy, which represents a significant advancement in the management of TNBC. TILs are a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer, and this recognition has led to reclassification of medullary carcinoma (which were TILs rich by definition) as a pattern of invasive ductal carcinoma (no special type) rather than a distinct histologic type. PD-L1 is a predictive biomarker in TNBC, and two different PD-L1 assays have been approved as companion diagnostics for immune checkpoint inhibition in TNBC. This review will cover the roles of TILs and PD-L1 testing in breast cancer, both of which provide important clinical information to guide patient prognosis and therapy. This is a rapidly evolving and exciting field with significant implications for patient care.
An overview of bipolar plates in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Bipolar plates are a crucial component of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. They are responsible for transporting reactant gases, carrying the current from the membrane electrode assembly to the end plates, providing heat and water management, and separating the individual cells. However, these plates also contribute to 80% of the fuel cell's weight, 50% of its volume, and 40% of its cost, posing a barrier to the commercialization of fuel cells. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the materials and manufacturing processes used in the fabrication of bipolar plates as well as recent research conducted on the improvement of bipolar plate weight, volume, and cost through material selection and manufacturing methods. Additive manufacturing is highlighted in this work as an innovative manufacturing method to produce bipolar plates. Novel contributions in this paper include a detailed explanation of traditional manufacturing processes for metallic and graphitic-polymer bipolar plates as well as a cost comparison between additive and traditional manufacturing processes.
From managing nurses to serving nurses: The case for transfusing nursing management with servant leadership during the global COVID-19 pandemic

(2021) that endeavoring to conceptualize “a novel ‘COVID-19 pandemic crisis leadership behavior’ construct” (p. 35) would be a waste of resources. [...]from an I-O psychology perspective, we focus on applying servant leadership—which is naturally aligned with the values, roles, and responsibilities of healthcare professionals—to nursing management so that nurses can receive the support they need during the COVID-19 pandemic and future health crises. According to some scholars, focusing on individual servant leadership dimensions does not adequately capture the leadership construct’s complexity (e.g., Liden etal., 2015). [...]we discuss the application of seven core servant leadership dimensions to improve nursing management effectiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1. Effective training is especially important for preparing nurses and other healthcare professionals to successfully navigate emergency scenarios (e.g., see Fung etal., 2015). [...]servant leader nurse managers should ensure that trainers and trainees are receiving effective training to improve patient care during COVID-19 and to better prepare nurses for future health crises. 5. Despite various personal and family needs and vulnerabilities, and limited access to essential resources such as PPE, nurses have been called on to put themselves at increased risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. [...]it is critical for nurse managers to clarify employer and employee expectations during the pandemic and effectively communicate with and support followers without threat of retaliation for raising concerns (American Nurses Association, n.d.).
Sparsity Promoting $\mathscr{H}_{2}$-Conic Control

A controller is designed through an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm to maximize sparsity while providing similar closed-loop $\mathscr{H}_{2}$ performance to an optimal “target” controller and imposing conic bounds that ensure robust input-output stability for the nonlinear closed-loop system. The invoked sparsity improves implementation feasibility for large scale systems. The optimal target controller problem is reformulated and solved in terms of structured static output feedback. Feasibility and convergence are proved and the design is applied to a chain of mass-spring-dampers.
Wentworth: The Beautiful Game and the Making of Place: By Ashwin Desai, Scottsville, University of Kwazulu-Natal Press, 2019, Xix + 256 pp., ZAR340 (Paperback), ISBN 978 1 86914 446 3

As scholars of sport, whether historians, sociologists, or anthropologists, we use sport as a lens through which we try and make sense of societal conditions beyond the confines of the neighbourhoo...
Clinical factors associated with lack of serological response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine in liver transplant recipients.

Recent preliminary data report lower serological response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients (1, 2). There are no data on factors associated with lack of serological response in SOT recipients - information that could guide recommendations regarding booster dose and closer follow up. We evaluated the serological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in liver transplant (LT) recipients.
Initial experience from a multidisciplinary pediatric salivary gland disorder clinic.

Abstract Objective This study is the first in the literature to characterize and detail the clinical and surgical experience of one of the few multidisciplinary salivary gland disorder clinics in North America. Methods This is a retrospective chart review of a descriptive nature, including patient information from February 2013 to August 2014. The Salivary Gland Disorder Clinic (SGDC) is located at Nationwide Children's Hospital, a public academic hospital. All patients seen at the SGDC were included in this study, 54 in total. Patients were seen for any salivary gland disorder presentation, ranging from sialorrhea to glandular masses. Results A total of 70.4% of patients presented to the SGDC with a chief complaint of sialorrhea. Nearly 28% had previously experienced documented aspiration, and drooling severity and frequency was 4.06 and 3.3 on the Thomas-Stonell and Greenberg Drooling Rating Scales. 50% of patients presented with neurologic comorbidities and 25.9% with aerodigestive tract anatomic defects. Over 35% of patients had previously attempted medical treatment and 31.5% had no prior treatment attempts. 87% of all patients were offered further treatment options, including interventional, surgical, medical, and conservative measures. Conclusions Pediatric salivary gland disorders, especially sialorrhea, can profoundly impact overall health and quality of life. Appropriate management of this symptom requires expert training and knowledge of the upper aerodigestive tract anatomy and appropriate treatment modalities. Our study demonstrates that there is community need for a centralized salivary gland disorder clinic given the complex comorbidities and social challenges that face this population. Many patients present with great risk for aspiration-related complications and the vast majority are offered new treatment options.
It's Strong, It's Stable, It's Streptavidin

Many proteins bind to substrates, so what makes streptavidin binding biotin so amazing? Perhaps, the fact that its dissociation constant (Kd = 10-15 M) is the lowest in nature. The bacterium Streptomyces avidinii has taken advantage of this incredibly low Kd to develop a defense mechanism with which it can withhold valuable biotin (vitamin B7) from competing bacteria. This high affinity binding is facilitated by the structure of tetrameric streptavidin, consisting of a dimer of dimers each formed by the interaction between monomers that involves a single amino acid, Trp120. Each subunit consists of an 8 antiparallel beta strand barrel forming the biotin binding site which is capped by a flexible loop between strands 3 and 4 which essentially acts as a lid over the binding site on the end of the barrel. Tight biotin binding results from multiple hydrogen bonding interactions, and a hydrophobic Trp-lined binding site that allows for extensive van der Waal interactions. The strong streptavidin-biotin interac...
The Challenge of Pregnancy among Homeless Youth: Reclaiming a Lost Opportunity

Young, homeless women often become pregnant, but little is known about how street youth experience their pregnancies. We documented 26 pregnancy outcomes among 13 homeless women (ages 18-26) and eight homeless men through interviews and participant-observation. Eight pregnancies were voluntarily terminated, three were miscarried, and fifteen were carried to term. Regardless of pregnancy outcome, street youths' narratives focused on ambivalence about parenting, traumatic childhood experiences, and current challenges. Despite significant obstacles, almost all were convinced of their personal capacity to change their lives. While most wanted to be parents, the majority lost custody of their newborns and consequently associated contact with medical and social services with punitive outcomes. Most of the youth who chose to terminate successfully sought safe medical care. We offer recommendations for changing the approach of services to take full advantage of pregnancy as a potential catalyst event for change in this highly vulnerable and underserved population.
Protein kinase G-dependent mechanisms modulate hypoglossal motoneuronal excitability and long-term facilitation.

Since protein kinase-dependent modulation of motoneuronal excitability contributes to adaptive changes in breathing, we hypothesized that cGMP-dependent pathways activating protein kinase G (PKG) modulate motoneuronal inspiratory drive currents and long-term plasticity. In a medullary slice preparation from neonatal rat (postnatal days 0–4) generating spontaneous respiratory-related rhythm, hypoglossal (XII) motoneuronal inspiratory drive currents and respiratory-related XII nerve activity were recorded. Focal application of a PKG activator, 8-bromoguanosine-3′,5′-cyclomonophosphate (8-Br-cGMP), to voltage-clamped XII motoneurones decreased inspiratory drive currents. In the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), 8-Br-cGMP decreased the exogenous postsynaptic inward currents induced by focal application of AMPA. Intracellular dialysis of XII motoneurones with an inhibitory peptide to PKG (PKGI) increased endogenous inspiratory-drive currents and exogenous AMPA-induced currents. Application of 8-Br-cGMP with PKGI had no further effect on spontaneous or evoked currents, confirming that the observed effects were induced by PKG. However, PKG differentially increased longer-term plasticity. Three 3 min applications (separated by 5 min) of the α1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (PE) in combination with 8-Br-cGMP yielded greater in vitro long-term facilitation than PE alone. These data indicate the presence of a cGMP/PKG-dependent signalling pathway in XII motoneurones that modulates inspiratory drive currents and plasticity of XII motoneurones, possibly contributing to their adaptation during physiological challenges, such as sleep and exercise.
Infant Brain Development And The Impact Of Breast Feeding: A Review Of Literature

Research in the area of infant development has endless facets of investigation. No one facet of research is more important than another, and all of the findings work in a synchronous fashion to facilitate our understanding of child development. Research on child development has proliferated across the centuries. Infant characteristics like attention, digestion, and behavior are among the areas studied. The research findings in these and many other areas have deepened our understanding of how infants respond to their environments, and to the people who care for them. The findings from past research have also led to changes in strategies for interacting with infants in the medical, educational, and parenting realms.
Three-dimensional two-fluid Braginskii simulations of the large plasma device

The Large Plasma Device (LAPD) is modeled using the 3D Global Braginskii Solver code. Comparisons to experimental measurements are made in the low-bias regime in which there is an intrinsic E × B rotation of the plasma. In the simulations, this rotation is caused primarily by sheath effects and may be a likely mechanism for the intrinsic rotation seen in LAPD. Simulations show strong qualitative agreement with the data, particularly the radial dependence of the density fluctuations, cross-correlation lengths, radial flux dependence outside of the cathode edge, and camera imagery. Kelvin Helmholtz (KH) turbulence at relatively large scales is the dominant driver of cross-field transport in these simulations with smaller-scale drift waves and sheath modes playing a secondary role. Plasma holes and blobs arising from KH vortices in the simulations are consistent with the scale sizes and overall appearance of those in LAPD camera images. The addition of ion-neutral collisions in the simulations at previously ...
New Mass-Loss Measurements from Astrospheric Lyα Absorption

Measurements of stellar mass-loss rates are used to assess how wind strength varies with coronal activity and age for solar-like stars. Mass loss generally increases with activity, but we find evidence that winds suddenly weaken at a certain activity threshold. Very active stars are often observed to have polar starspots, and we speculate that the magnetic field geometry associated with these spots may be inhibiting the winds. Our inferred mass-loss/age relation represents an empirical estimate of the history of the solar wind. This result is important for planetary studies as well as solar/stellar astronomy, since solar wind erosion may have played an important role in the evolution of planetary atmospheres.
Frequency estimation of sinusoids in colored noise

A maximum a posteriori estimator of complex sinusoids in colored Gaussian noise is proposed. The unknown noise covariance matrix and the complex amplitudes of the sinusoids are of no interest, and therefore are not estimated. The observed data vectors are decomposed into signal and noise components. From the probability density functions of these components, using Bayes' rule, the marginal a posteriori density of the frequencies, and the proposed estimator are found. Computer simulations show excellent results. >
Anaerobic Bacteria on the Mucosal Epithelium of the Murine Large Bowel

Abstract Anaerobic bacteria can be detected at population levels of 1011 organisms per g of cecum or colon in adult mice from four different colonies widely spaced in the United States. Most of these microorganisms are oxygen-intolerant fusiform-shaped bacteria. At least one type of these tapered, rod-shaped bacteria can be seen in layers in the epithelial mucin in frozen-section histological preparations of the large bowels of mice. In addition, such microorganisms can be seen within 0.5 μm of the epithelium in ultrathin sections of colon or cecum examined in an electron microscope. These fusiform-shaped bacteria predominate in the mucin layers. However, spiral-shaped microorganisms can be found as well near the mucosal epithelia in ultrathin sections of colon. Also, such organisms can be seen in negatively-stained preparations of washings of the colonic mucosal epithelia examined in an electron microscope. At least three types of spiral-shaped organisms, including both spiral-shaped bacteria and spirochetes, can be found in preparations from mice from three of the four colonies. Such spiral-shaped microorganisms can be detected at population levels as great as 109 organisms per g of cecum or colon in anaerobic cultures of the large bowels of mice from all four colonies. One anaerobic spiral bacterium was isolated in pure culture. This particular organism was found by immunofluorescence to be intermingled with the fusiform-shaped bacteria in the mucin on the mucosal epithelium in the mouse large bowel.
Intersecting communities, interwoven identities: questioning boundaries, testing bridges, and forging a queer latinidad in the US Southwest

This contribution to the special issue on ‘Languages in Contact, Cultures in Conflict: English and Spanish in the USA’ aims to investigate the concept of queer latinidad in Phoenix, Arizona in an attempt to understand how queer Latin@s in Phoenix see themselves in relation to Latino communities, queer communities, and a queer Latino community. While questioning received notions of ‘community,’ we look at how queer latinidad is constructed or rejected by queer Latinas/os in Phoenix at the dawn of the twenty-first century precisely as national attention has been focused on the state of Arizona, and how this negotiation might blur traditional notions of community and question boundaries between communities by highlighting the racial and ethnic diversity of the (presumed Anglo) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, as well as the gender and sexual diversities of the (presumed heterosexual) Latino community.
Benzamide prevention of ultraviolet radiation-induced transformation as measured by anchorage-independent growth and the absence of correlation with thymidine dimer formation and DNA repair.

Synchronized human fibroblasts were exposed in early S phase to increasing doses of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in the presence and absence of an antitransforming drug, benzamide. Cellular survival, initial thymidine dimer formation and its repair, and cellular phenotypic transformation were simultaneously monitored in the presence and absence of 1 mM externally added benzamide that reaches 8 to 15 microns intracellular levels. Cellular transformation as measured by an expression of anchorage-independent growth was inhibited by nontoxic doses of benzamide. Antitransforming action of benzamide is confined to low intracellular drug concentrations, which in the case of benzamide is in the 4-9 micons range. Because of the lack of effect of benzamide of the formation of UV-induced thymidine dimers and the specific repair of these dimers, these results suggest that the processes of thymidine dimer formation and its repair are not involved in the mode of action of benzamide that influences the expression of a transformed phenotype with low malignant vigor.
Solution Luminescence of Metal Complexes

An overall view of the solution luminescence of metal complexes is given. The three major classes of emission are examined in moderate detail including brief discussions of theoretical considerations. These are attuned to the problem of predicting which metal ion–ligand combinations should form luminescent compounds. Finally, the elements are covered group by group and as many examples of emitting compounds are given as possible.
The Relationship Between Typical and Maximum Performance: A Meta-Analytic Examination

This study's purpose was to meta-analytically estimate the magnitude of the relationship between typical and maximum job performance to determine if this distinction deserves greater attention. We also tested several moderators including three associated with the temporal boundaries of this relationship and examined theoretical antecedents of typical and maximum performance (ability, motivation, and personality). This meta-analysis revealed a moderate typical–maximum performance association (ρ = .42), suggesting that a meaningful distinction does exist. Although the examined temporal moderators did not meaningfully affect the typical–maximum performance relationship, task complexity, type of performance measure, and study setting were significant moderators. Antecedent analyses confirmed that both ability and Openness to Experience are more strongly related to maximum than typical performance. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Moral Values in German Literature

Author's Summary— A consideration of German literature from the Classical Age on, based upon the rich moral and ethical values which it offers American students.)
Four-color multiplex 5′ nuclease assay for the simultaneous detection of the factor V Leiden and the prothrombin G20210A mutations

We developed a real-time multiplex four-color assay for the simultaneous detection of the factor V Leiden (FVL) and prothrombin (PT) G20210A mutations in one closed tube using a single thermocycling protocol. The assay combines the power of multiplex PCR with the specificity provided by allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) hybridization using the 5' nuclease assay format. Human genomic DNA is prepared from whole blood with standard procedures. A 97-bp DNA sequence of the coagulation factor V gene is co-amplified with a 111-bp DNA sequence of the coagulation factor II (PT) gene using four PCR primers. In addition, the reactions included four differentially labeled ASO probes for the specific detection of the different FVL/PT G20210A genotypes. To evaluate the assay's performance characteristics, we performed a comparison of two methods. We analyzed DNA samples from 52 individuals with known FVL/PT G20210A genotypes that were previously genotyped with an assay that combined PCR with the use of restriction fragment length polymorphisms. We found a 100% concordance between the results generated by both methodologies. We conclude that the four-color multiplex assay is specific and reproducible for the detection of the FVL/PT G20210A mutations, and it can be easily adapted for the detection of other SNPs.
Centring in regression analyses: a strategy to prevent errors in statistical inference.

Regression analyses are perhaps the most widely used statistical tools in medical research. Centring in regression analyses seldom appears to be covered in training and is not commonly reported in research papers. Centring is the process of selecting a reference value for each predictor and coding the data based on that reference value so that each regression coefficient that is estimated and tested is relevant to the research question. Using non-centred data in regression analysis, which refers to the common practice of entering predictors in their original score format, often leads to inconsistent and misleading results. There is very little cost to unnecessary centring, but the costs of not centring when it is necessary can be major. Thus, it would be better always to centre in regression analyses. We propose a simple default centring strategy: (1) code all binary independent variables +1/2; (2) code all ordinal independent variables as deviations from their median; (3) code all ‘dummy variables’ for categorical independent variables having m possible responses as 1−1/m and −1/m instead of 1 and 0; (4) compute interaction terms from centred predictors. Using this default strategy when there is no compelling evidence to centre protects against most errors in statistical inference and its routine use sensitizes users to centring issues. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Characterizing collagen-based materials modified by glycation: a multiphoton optical image guided spectroscopy method

In spite of the adverse ageing effects of glycation in vivo, in vitro this process is widely employed to increase stiffness and strength of tissues' and artificial scaffolds'. In-situ optical characterization methods that report on the structures within these materials could clarify the effects of glycation. We employed one-photon fluorescence and multiphoton microscopy method that combined two-photon fluorescence and second harmonic generation signals to characterize collagen hydrogels modified with glyceraldehyde, ribose and glucose. We observed an increase in the in situ fluorescence as well as structural alterations within the materials during the course of glycation.
Decoupling graphene from SiC(0001) via oxidation

When epitaxial graphene layers are formed on SiC(0001), the first carbon layer (known as the ``buffer layer''), while relatively easy to synthesize, does not have the desirable electrical properties of graphene. The conductivity is poor due to a disruption of the graphene $\ensuremath{\pi}$ bands by covalent bonding to the SiC substrate. Here we show that it is possible to restore the graphene $\ensuremath{\pi}$ bands by inserting a thin oxide layer between the buffer layer and SiC substrate using a low temperature, complementary metal-oxide semiconductor-compatible process that does not damage the graphene layer.
Tecuamburro Volcano, Guatemala: exploration geothermal gradient drilling and results

Results of geological, volcanological, hydrogeochemical, and geophysical field studies conducted in 1988 and 1989 at the Tecuamburro geothermal site, Guatemala, indicate that there is a substantial shallow heat source beneath the area of youngest volcanism. Gases from acid-sulfate springs near Laguna Ixpaco consistently yield maximum estimated subsurface temperatures of 300°C. To obtain information on subsurface temperatures and temperature gradients, stratigraphy, fracturing, hydrothermal alteration, and hydrothermal fluids, a geothermal gradient core hole (TCB-1) was drilled to 808 m low on the northern flank of the Tecuamburro Volcano complex. The hole is located 300 m south of a 300m-diameter phreatic crater. Laguna Ixpaco, dated at 2910 years. TCB-1 temperature logs do not indicate isothermal conditions at depth and the calculated thermal gradient from 500–800 m is 230°C/km. Bottom hole temperature is close to 240°C. Calculated heat flow values are around 350–400 mW/m2. Fluid-inclusion and secondary-alteration studies indicate that veins and secondary minerals were formed at temperatures equal to or slightly less than present temperatures; thus, the Tecuamburro geothermal system may still be heating up. The integration of results from the TCB-1 gradient core hole with results from field studies provides strong evidence that the Tecuamburro area holds great promise for geothermal resource development.
Interaction of laser pulse with confined plasma during exit surface nanosecond laser damage

Interpretation of spatial and time resolved images of rear surface ns laser damage in dielectrics requires understanding of the dynamic interaction of the incoming laser beam with the confined expanding plasma in the material. The detailed kinetics of the plasma, involving both expansion and retraction, depends on details of reflection and absorption in the hot material. The growth of the hot region is treated using a model previously developed to understand laser peening. The pressure is found to scale as the square root of laser intensity and drops off slowly after energy deposition is complete. For the conditions of our experimental observations in fused silica, our model predicts a pressure of about 9 GPa and a surface expansion velocity of about 1.5 km/sec, in good agreement with experimental observation.
Distribution of ultrastable UHF signals via fiber optic lines

The use of fiber optics to distribute UHF signals has been the topic in several studies. Some advantages of this approach are weight and volume savings compared with the use of waveguides and coaxial lines. We have developed a prototype fiber-optic system that modulates ultrastable time and frequency signals over fiber-optic lines. Some performance limitations of this technique are single sideband phase noise and signal-to-noise degradation. This paper will present experimental results including single sideband noise measurements and a discussion on the system's limitations.