cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The evolution of environmentally‐cued pupal colour in swallowtail butterflies: natural selection for pupation site and pupal colour

1. Environmentally-cued pupal colour in swallowtail butterflies has been hypothesized to evolve as a consequence of (a) the evolution of a preference for pupation sites above the ground that vary in colour and (b) natural selection for crypsis on such sites. 2. This hypothesis was tested by comparing the field survival of green and brown Papilio polyxenes Fabr. pupae placed on green or brown pupation sites that were either above the ground on near the ground. 3. Green pupae on green sites above the ground had a significantly higher probability of survival than did all other pupal colour and pupation site combinations. 4. Pupae on sites above the ground were more likely to be preyed upon during the day, whereas those on sites near the ground were more likely to be preyed upon during the night, suggesting that variation in nocturnal and diurnal predation influences the evolution of pupation site preference. 5. To the extent that diurnal predators use colour vision to locate prey, diurnal predation should favour environmentally-cued pupal colour.
Differential heat response of normal and transformed human cells in tissue culture.

MUCH interest has been rekindled in the possible use of hyperthermia either alone or as an adjunct to more conventional treatments in the management of malignant disease. There are several reasons for this renewed interest: data indicate that malignant murine cells may be more sensitive to increased temperature than their normal counterparts1,2; temperatures in the range 39–43 °C sensitise cells and particularly radio-resistant hypoxic cells to X rays3–6 and to chemotherapeutic agents7–9; and humans can stand prolonged exposures to temperatures up to 43 °C provided adequate supportive precautions are taken10,11.
HEAT TRANSFER ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION FOR TWO-PHASE FLOW IN POROUS-CHANNEL HEAT SINKS

Presented are the results of a heat transfer analysis of two-phase heat dissipation using a high-conductivity porous-channel heat sink. In the analysis, a consistent set of conservation equations based on phase-averaged properties of the fluid are derived from the conventional ones and solved numerically by the finite volume method. The results indicate that the high conductivity and large solid-fluid contact area of the porous channel result in a high heat transfer performance for two-phase heat dissipation, which may be an alternative to cooling techniques for microelectronics with high heat flux.
First principles calculation of elastic properties of AlMgB14

Abstract We have calculated the electronic structure and elastic properties of AlMgB 14 for which, with small chemical modification, ultra hardness was reported recently. The calculated density of states and elastic constants are presented. Additionally, we have calculated the elastic anisotropy and elastic wave velocity. Together with the measured hardness, the calculated shear modulus is consistent with the empirical proportionality observed between shear moduli and microhardness.
Kinematic and Dynamic Aspects of the Harrah Tornadic Storm Analyzed from Dual-Doppler Radar Data

Abstract The paper deals with a diagnostic study of the three-dimensional kinematic and dynamic structure of the Harrah tornadic storm. Wind fields were computed from data collected over a 28 min interval in four dual-Doppler radar volume scans during a tornado occurrence. Associated with this storm, there was a strong low-level inflow jet supplying warm, moist air to a tilted updraft, a mid-level vortex doublet, and downdrafts on both storm flanks. The left flank downdraft intensified, undercut the tilted updraft, and formed a gust front along the right rear flank. The gust front propagated cyclonically around the mesocyclone. Calculations of divergence and vorticity showed that in the middle troposphere, the updraft nearly coincided with cyclonic vorticity approximately 10−2 s−1. The low-level tornado cyclone was between the horizontally sheared inflow-outflow region. A mechanism for producing and intensifying this vorticity and downdraft structure is presented on the basis of calculations of the tiltin...
Analysis of an Embedded Sensor in a Composite Laminate for Enabling Damage Detection

A study of the influence of embedding sensors to detect damage within a composite laminate is conducted. A variety of sensors are considered along with several encapsulation materials. Encapsulation is required to aid in interfacial adhesion and to provide an electrical isolation from the graphite fiber composite laminate. This study is conducted to down-select the options for the sensor and encapsulant. A parametric global and local finite element models are developed to perform multiple runs corresponding to a design of experiments (DOE). The parameters that are varied are the sensor thickness, sensor length, encapsulant thickness, sensor modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and encapsulant modulus and CTE. Each parameter is varied based on the initial selection of sensors and encapsulants and considered at three levels for a quadratic transfer function. The DOE selected is a face centered CCD resulting in a total of 143 runs. The required output from each run is the effective axial and bending stiffness and the normal and shear stresses at the material interfaces. For each of these outputs from all of the runs, a transfer function is developed to identify the major contributors to the results. The resulting transfer functions indicate that the influence of the sensor and encapsulant parameters do not significantly affect the effective composites stiffness. However, they do contribute significantly to the material interfacial stresses, with the modulus of the sensor and encapsulant contributing the most to the variation of these stresses.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Robust Real-Time Vision for a Personal Service Robot in a Home Visual Sensor Network

We address issues dealing with visual perception for a personal service robot in the intelligent home environment. We identify key visual functionalities necessary for the robot to perform its activities. They include people detection and identification, gesture recognition, and self-localization. We propose an efficient and reliable framework to organize and coordinate the vision sensor nodes: fixed cameras mounted on walls, and earnera(s) on the mobile robot. We propose solutions to the different vision tasks, and present our implementation within this framework, validated with experimental results.
Analysis of the Curtis-Godson Approximation and Radiation Transmission through Inhomogeneous Atmospheres

Abstract An analysis is carried out of the Curtis-Godson approximation to the pressure integral which occurs in the expression for the optical depth for an inhomogeneous atmosphere. This approximation is shown to result from a certain optimization of the integrated Taylor series for the line shape function. In the case of a line strength which is independent of pressure it is also shown to be equivalent to first-order Gaussian quadrature. The Taylor series optimization gives rise to other useful approximations as well as to correction terms for the Curtis-Godson approximation. Calculations are carried out for the various approximations for the case of constant line strength in order to illustrate the magnitude of the errors involved. A discussion is also presented of the application of second-order Gaussian quadrature, which turns out to be the most accurate two-term approximation considered.
dbNSFP: a lightweight database of human nonsynonymous SNPs and their functional predictions.

With the advance of sequencing technologies, whole exome sequencing has increasingly been used to identify mutations that cause human diseases, especially rare Mendelian diseases. Among the analysis steps, functional prediction (of being deleterious) plays an important role in filtering or prioritizing nonsynonymous SNP (NS) for further analysis. Unfortunately, different prediction algorithms use different information and each has its own strength and weakness. It has been suggested that investigators should use predictions from multiple algorithms instead of relying on a single one. However, querying predictions from different databases/Web-servers for different algorithms is both tedious and time consuming, especially when dealing with a huge number of NSs identified by exome sequencing. To facilitate the process, we developed dbNSFP (database for nonsynonymous SNPs' functional predictions). It compiles prediction scores from four new and popular algorithms (SIFT, Polyphen2, LRT, and MutationTaster), along with a conservation score (PhyloP) and other related information, for every potential NS in the human genome (a total of 75,931,005). It is the first integrated database of functional predictions from multiple algorithms for the comprehensive collection of human NSs. dbNSFP is freely available for download at http://sites.google.com/site/jpopgen/dbNSFP. Hum Mutat 32:894–899, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Transdermal Fentanylfor Postoperative Pain Management in Patients Recovering from Abdominal Gynecologic Surgery

The current placebo-controlled double-blinded study was undertaken to assess the safety and efficacy, as well as the potential clinical role, of the transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) of fentanyl delivery in the postoperative setting. TTS patches releasing 25 micrograms.h-1 or 50 micrograms.h-1 or placebo were applied to 95 women 1 h before abdominal gynecologic surgery during general anesthesia. Postoperatively, patients self-administered intravenous morphine as required using patient-controlled analgesia with a 1-mg incremental dose and a 6-min lockout interval. Each was assessed upon admission to the postanesthesia care unit and at intervals over the following 72 h with respect to vital signs, visual analogue scale pain and satisfaction scores, side effects, and cumulative morphine use. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis, and chi-square. P less than 0.05 was considered significant. There were no demographic differences among groups. Beginning 32 h after TTS application, a statistically significant morphine-sparing effect was seen with the 50 micrograms.h-1 patch. There were no significant differences among groups with regard to visual analogue scale pain scores at rest, patient satisfaction, or the incidence of side effects; a significant reduction in pain upon movement was noted at 24 h in patients treated with TTS 50 micrograms.h-1. This finding constituted the only benefit noted with this form of analgesic therapy in the present investigation.
Pigmented villonodular synovitis: MRI characteristics

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 26 patients with histopathologically proven pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS), involving joints but excluding tendon sheaths, were reviewed retrospectively. The purpose of this study is to define the spectrum and frequency of MRI characteristics for PVNS using conventional spin echo (in two cases before and after intravenous administration of gadopentate dimeglumine) and also gradient echo techniques. A cystic variety is presented, the MRI appearances of which have not been found in a review of the literature.
PKCδ Acts Upstream of SPAK in the Activation of NKCC1 by Hyperosmotic Stress in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

Airway epithelial Na-K-2Cl (NKCC1) cotransport is activated through hormonal stimulation and hyperosmotic stress via a protein kinase C (PKC) δ-mediated intracellular signaling pathway. Down-regulation of PKCδ prevents activation of NKCC1 expressed in Calu-3 cells. Previous studies of this signaling pathway identified coimmunoprecipitation of PKCδ with SPAK (Ste20-related proline alanine-rich kinase). We hypothesize that endogenous PKCδ activates SPAK, which subsequently activates NKCC1 through phosphorylation. Double-stranded silencing RNA directed against SPAK reduced SPAK protein expression by 65.8% and prevented increased phosphorylation of NKCC1 and functional activation of NKCC1 during hyperosmotic stress, measured as bumetanide-sensitive basolateral to apical 86Rb flux. Using recombinant proteins, we demonstrate direct binding of PKCδ to SPAK, PKCδ-mediated activation of SPAK, binding of SPAK to the amino terminus of NKCC1 (NT-NKCC1, amino acids 1–286), and competitive inhibition of SPAK-NKCC1 binding by a peptide encoding a SPAK binding site on NT-NKCC1. The carboxyl terminus of SPAK (amino acids 316–548) pulls down endogenous NKCC1 from Calu-3 total cell lysates and glutathione S-transferase-tagged NT-NKCC1 pulls down endogenous SPAK. In intact cells, hyperosmotic stress increased phosphorylated PKCδ, indicating activation of PKCδ, and activity of endogenous SPAK kinase. Inhibition of PKCδ activity with rottlerin blocked the increase in SPAK kinase activity. The results indicate that PKCδ acts upstream of SPAK to increase activity of NKCC1 during hyperosmotic stress.
Active coherent combination of >200 semiconductor amplifiers using a SPGD algorithm

We have demonstrated active coherent beam combination of 218 individually-addressable semiconductor amplifiers with 38.5W CW output. Phase actuation was achieved by adjusting the drive current and controlled using a stochastic-parallel-gradient-descent algorithm.
Further Studies on the Mechanism of the Effect of Enzymes on Erythrocyte Serology with Special Reference to Pronase

The mechanism by which pronase treatment of red cells leads to agglutination with “incomplete” antibodies has been investigated. Like other serologically active enzymes, pronase hydrolyzes arginine and lysine derivatives (the former about 100 times as readily as the latter) and releases NANA from erythrocytes in a manner which correlates with development of serologic titer. In attempting to define the minimum quantity of NANA liberation consistent with appearance of agglutination, the following quantities (μmole NANA/1010RBC) were sufficient and insufficient, respectively: for pronase, 0.28 and 0.16; for papain, 0.21 and 0.19; and for trypsin, 0.16 and 0.09. These differences may reflect differences among the enzymes with regard to producing new ionogenic groups on erythrocytes. Pronase further differed from papain and trypsin in that a minimal amount of enzyme gave no progressive NANA liberation over a six-hour period, all of its effect being exerted by the end of 15 minutes. The utility of pronase in detection of “incomplete” Rh antibodies is excellent.
Computing platform architectures for robust operation in the presence of lightning and other electromagnetic threats

The electromagnetic environment (EME) produces (is a form of) electrical energy of the same type that is used by electrical/electronic equipment to process and transfer information. As such, this environment represents a fundamental threat to the proper operation of systems that depend on such equipment. For electrical/electronic systems providing functions that can affect the safe flight and landing of an aircraft (level A systems), the EME threat translates to a threat to the airplane itself. When protection against EME effects is being developed, architectural techniques should be applied, particularly to achieve the high margin of safety needed for level A electrical/electronic systems. The computing platform for the aircraft Information Management System (AIMS) used on the Boeing 777 aircraft and Versatile Integrated Avionics (VIA) technology is an example of the application of an architectural philosophy in the design of the digital engine for such aircraft systems. Another is a prototype computing platform for rapid recovery from "soft faults" (upset, momentary interference, etc.).
Balance Performance on the Postural Stress Test: Comparison of Young Adults, Healthy Elderly, and Fallers

The purpose of this study was to compare the postural responses of three groups of individuals--healthy young adults (n = 42; age, 20-40 years); healthy, community-dwelling, elderly individuals (n = 66; age, 60-102 years), and elderly individuals with a history of frequent falls (n = 10; age, 66-95 years)--using the postural stress test (PST). The PST is a simple, clinically applicable, quantitative measure of an individual's ability to withstand a series of graded destabilizing forces applied at the level of the subject's waist. Elderly fallers tend to score lower on the PST than elderly nonfallers, but age-related differences in postural responses during the PST have not been established. Each subject underwent the PST using a method and scoring procedure described previously. Results of this study confirm previous findings that elderly fallers score significantly lower on the PST than either young adult or nonfalling elderly individuals. This study also showed that there was no difference in balance strategy scores between the young adults and the healthy elderly subjects. Therefore, it appears that poor performance on the PST cannot be attributed to age alone, but may be predictive of pathological processes that predispose an individual to frequent falls.
Target orientation estimation using Fourier energy spectrum

Orientation estimation is an essential step in autonomous navigation, automatic target recognition, part handling, and many other machine vision applications. A procedure is presented to estimate the orientation of the target using spectral energy distribution in the Fourier domain. The performance of this technique is determined by conducting simulation experiments on a set of infrared images containing military targets.
Ephaptic initiation, a possible mechanism for electrical transmission in beds of membranous cells

Abstract The feasibility of a long-suspected mechanism for the electrical coupling of the activities of closely packed cells in a bed of membranous cells is investigated numerically. The mechanism utilizes simply the usual ionic current traveling in a common bath of fluid and explains why low-resistance pathways between cells seem to be unnecessary in order to achieve a transmission of signals through a bed of cells. The study is based on a lumped-parameter mathematical model that incorporates the observations of the electrical behavior of the giant axon of the squid Loligo as reported by Hodgkin and Huxley. However, it treats the fluid exterior to two long cells as though it were contained in a third tubule. Each cell elicits an opposite response from its neighbor and a signal would presumably pass through a bed of cells by what is described as an obverse-inverse-obverse (OIO) process. If cells are stacked in a layer like bricks, transmissions are possible forward and to the rear as well as to the two sides, although one cell initiates activities in other cells to its two sides only.
Managing the horn fly (Diptera: Muscidae) using an electric walk-through fly trap.

An electric walk-through fly trap was evaluated for the management of the horn fly, Hematobia irritans (L.), on dairy cattle in North Carolina over 2 yr. The trap relies on black lights and electrocution grids to attract and kill flies that are brushed from the cattle passing through. During the first season, horn fly densities were reduced from >1,400 to <200 flies per animal. Horn fly density averaged 269.2 ± 25.8 on cattle using the walk-through fly trap twice daily, and 400.2 ± 43.5 on the control group during the first year. The second year, seasonal mean horn fly density was 177.3 ± 10.8 on cattle using the walk-through fly trap compared with 321.1 ± 15.8 on the control group. No insecticides were used to control horn flies during this 2-yr study.
Psychosocial and Economic Impact of Cancer

This article explores the psychosocial and economic implications of cancer and their relevance to the clinician. After a general overview of the topic, the authors focus on aspects of particular importance to the dental professional, including the psychosocial and economic implications of the oral complications of cancer and its therapy, head and neck cancers, and special issues among children with cancer and cancer survivors.
Substrate metabolism when subjects are fed carbohydrate during exercise

This study determined the effect of carbohydrate ingestion during exercise on the lipolytic rate, glucose disappearance from plasma (Rd Glc), and fat oxidation. Six moderately trained men cycled fo...
Application of ICT in the problem-based learning model

The advantages of the problem-based learning mode which was used in the personnel training of information technology was introduced. And its' specific process was described in details. The influence factors of PBL teaching effect were analyzed. The solutions which were based on information and communication technology (ICT) were raised to improve the effect. In practice, according to a variety of conditions, the ICT application methods were described in the problem-based learning.
The Effect of Fluvoxamine, Cognitive Therapy, and Placebo on Abnormal Personality Traits in 44 Patients with Panic Disorder

The authors report findings from 44 outpatients with panic disorder who completed an 8 week randomized trial of fluvox-amine (n = 17), cognitive therapy (n = 13), or placebo (n = 14). Subjects were given the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-Revised (PDQ-R) before and after the trial. Patients in the three treatment cells were well matched. Nearly 32% met criteria for a personality disorder at the baseline assessment, and there were no significant differences among the treatment groups. For the 3 groups combined, the total PDQ-R score had declined significantly by week 8 (p = .03). Of the 17 PDQ-R traits present in at least? of the sample, 82% showed a decline in the cognitive therapy cell, whereas 53% did not change in the fluvoxamine cell and 41% increased in the placebo cell. “Personality profiles” were created and showed that cognitive therapy was associated with the greatest reduction in abnormal traits, specifically those in the schizotypal, narcissistic, borderline, and compulsive categories. Ax...
Detection of radiation pressure acting on 2009 BD

Abstract We report the direct detection of radiation pressure on the asteroid 2009 BD, one of the smallest multi-opposition near-Earth objects currently known, with H ∼ 28.4. Under the purely gravitational model of NEODyS the object is currently considered a possible future impactor, with impact solutions starting in 2071. The detection of a radiation-related acceleration allows us to estimate an Area to Mass Ratio (AMR) for the object, that can be converted (under some assumptions) into a range of possible values for its average density. Our result AMR = (2.97 ± 0.33) × 10−4 m2 kg−1 is compatible with the object being of natural origin, and it is narrow enough to exclude a man-made nature. The possible origin of this object, its future observability, and the importance of radiation pressure in the impact monitoring process are also discussed.
Heavy chain immunoglobulin gene rearrangement in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia

Samples of leukemic cell DNA from 14 children with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and 4 human myeloid leukemia cell lines were analyzed for rearrangement in the heavy chain region of the immunoglobulin gene. The diagnosis of ANLL was confirmed in all patients by morphological, cytochemical, and immunologic studies. By restriction endonuclease digestion and hybridization with cloned heavy chain immunoglobulin gene probes for the constant (Cmu) and joining (JH) regions, the DNA of 2 patients and 1 cell line (ML-1) was found to contain rearrangements. The DNA from the remaining 12 patients and 3 cell lines was not rearranged (germline configuration). Both patients with apparent immunoglobulin gene rearrangement achieved complete remission on therapy for ANLL. Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement in phenotypically defined ANLL suggests (1) that such changes may not be limited to lymphoid leukemia of B cell lineage, or (2) that, in some patients, the leukemic transforming event may involve stem cells capable of both B cell and myeloid differentiation.
Incorporation and release of85Sr and14C-proline-hydroxyproline in mineral and collagen of bone and incisor teeth of growing rats

The extent to which exchange and reutilization processes of mineral tracers affect skeletal mineral accretion and resorption measurements was evaluated by comparing the rates of appearance and disappearance of85Sr and14C-proline-hydroxyproline in bones and teeth in growing rats for 12 days following simultaneous parenteral injection of these tracers. Expressions for the relative rates of collagen synthesis and breakdown, which unlike mineral metabolism are considered not to be complicated by exchange phenomena, were based on14C-proline conversion to14C-hydroxyproline; the specific activity of the latter was determined. Both the mineral and the collagen specific activities reflected the rates and patterns of growth of the samples assayed; rapid growth and a short interval of time between formation and resorption of tissue in themetaphyseal bone which contains the cartilagineous growth plate, slow growth and an interval of time between formation and resorption of tissue indiaphyseal bone and incisor teeth which is longer than the 12 days of the experiment. However, in metaphyseal bone the specific activity collagen/mineral ratio dropped by one half during the 4–12 day interval in contrast to diaphyseal bone and incisor teeth in which no change in this ratio was observed during this period of time. The data indicate that collagen in the metaphyseal growth zone is removed by resorption before it has become fully mineralized, and that exchange is a relatively unimportant factor in the long term kinetics of bone mineral.
Development of automated high throughput single molecular microfluidic detection platform for signal transduction analysis

Signal transductions including multiple protein post-translational modifications (PTM), protein-protein interactions (PPI), and protein-nucleic acid interaction (PNI) play critical roles for cell proliferation and differentiation that are directly related to the cancer biology. Traditional methods, like mass spectrometry, immunoprecipitation, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy require a large amount of sample and long processing time. “microchannel for multiple-parameter analysis of proteins in single-complex (mMAPS)”we proposed can reduce the process time and sample volume because this system is composed by microfluidic channels, fluorescence microscopy, and computerized data analysis. In this paper, we will present an automated mMAPS including integrated microfluidic device, automated stage and electrical relay for high-throughput clinical screening. Based on this result, we estimated that this automated detection system will be able to screen approximately 150 patient samples in a 24-hour period, providing a practical application to analyze tissue samples in a clinical setting.
Influence of prolonged electrolyte deprivation and final restoration on fluid intake, balance and distribution.

SummaryDogs partially depleted of extracellular electrolytes by intraperitoneal glucose injections and then maintained on a salt-free diet showed absence of fluid intake and a negative water balance while the intracellular volumes were above normal. When these volumes had been reduced to stable minimal levels, water was taken by mouth and the negative water balance corrected. Although the intakes now rose to polydipsic levels, a positive balance was not established despite the fact that the extracellular volumes were still reduced. Intracellular volumes were not restored to the preexperi-mental level. When NaCl was given, extracellular electrolytes and volumes were restored toward normal. The initial response was an increased intake which, however, was not sustained. The intracellular compartment, originally decreased, showed a delayed rehydration to normal levels. Hence the voluntary water intake showed more positive correlation with changes in intracellular volume than with extracellular volume change. ...
Lattice QCD at nonzero isospin chemical potential

Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) at non-zero isospin chemical potential is studied in a canonical approach by analyzing systems of xed isospin number density. To construct these systems, we develop a range of new algorithms for performing the factorially large numbers of Wick contractions required in multi-hadron systems. We then use these methods to study systems with the quantum numbers of up to 72 + ’s on three ensembles of gauge congurations with spatial extents L 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 fm, and light quark masses corresponding to a pion mass of 390 MeV. The ground state energies of these systems are extracted and the volume dependence of these energies is utilized to determine the two- and three- body interactions amongst + ’s. The systems studied correspond to isospin densities of up to I 9 fm 3 and probe isospin chemical potentials, I, in the range m m .
Brief Analysis on Measures Ensuring Stable and Reliable Operation of Continuous Emission Monitoring System

The Continuous Emission Monitoring System(CEMS) of flue gas is broadly used on coal-fired unit in Power Plant,but the stability and reliability of operation are not perfection.Relevant treatments are introduced based on type selection,design,installation,operation,management and so on in order to guarantee the stable and reliable operation of CEMS.
CD301b(+) Mononuclear Phagocytes Maintain Positive Energy Balance Through Secretion of Resistin-like Molecule Alpha

Summary Mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) are a highly heterogeneous group of cells that play important roles in maintaining the body's homeostasis. Here, we found CD301b (also known as MGL2), a lectin commonly used as a marker for alternatively activated macrophages, was selectively expressed by a subset of CD11b + CD11c + MHCII + MNPs in multiple organs including adipose tissues. Depleting CD301b + MNPs in vivo led to a significant weight loss with increased insulin sensitivity and a marked reduction in serum Resistin-like molecule (RELM) α, a multifunctional cytokine produced by MNPs. Reconstituting RELMα in CD301b + MNP-depleted animals restored body weight and normoglycemia. Thus, CD301b + MNPs play crucial roles in maintaining glucose metabolism and net energy balance.
Gastric endoscopic remodeling techniques

Abstract The stomach has been an obvious target for endoscopic remodeling to facilitate weight loss. Success is shaped by many challenges that must be addressed. The key challenges include mimicking or improving upon existing (permanent) surgical therapies, recognizing the body's response to foreign objects and materials, and understanding the neurenteric pathway as it relates to meals, hunger, satiation, and satiety. Early remodeling efforts failed because of technical limitations and limited understanding of the physiology of weight loss applied to the stomach. Current methods, especially the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, use improved technology and continue to be modeled on ongoing research into the physiology of changes made within the stomach.
Energetics of 2D and 3D Gold Nanoparticles on MgO(100): Influence of Particle Size and Defects on Gold Adsorption and Adhesion Energies

The adsorption of gold vapor onto MgO(100) films grown on Mo(100) was studied at 300 and 100 K using single crystal adsorption calorimetry (SCAC). The Au particle morphology was investigated using He+ low-energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEIS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The LEIS data combined with particle shape measurements from the literature (Benedetti, S.; Myrach, P.; di Bona, A.; Valeri, S.; Nilius, N.; Freund, H.-J. Phys. Rev. B 2011, 83 (12), 125423) reveal that, at both 300 and 100 K, Au grows as 2D islands with bilayer thickness (∼0.41 nm) up to a diameter of ∼7 nm. At higher coverage, the islands thicken with little increase in diameter. The island densities are 3.0 × 1011 and 5.4 × 1011 per cm2 at 300 and 100 K, respectively. The initial sticking probability of Au is 0.90 at 300 K and 0.95 at 100 K. The surface residence time of the Au atoms that do not stick is <10 ms, implying that gold monomers bind to MgO(100) weakly (<69 kJ/mol). The adsorption energies indicate that Au...
A single mutation in the envelope protein modulates flavivirus antigenicity, stability, and pathogenesis

The structural flexibility or ‘breathing’ of the envelope (E) protein of flaviviruses allows virions to sample an ensemble of conformations at equilibrium. The molecular basis and functional consequences of virus conformational dynamics are poorly understood. Here, we identified a single mutation at residue 198 (T198F) of the West Nile virus (WNV) E protein domain I-II hinge that regulates virus breathing. The T198F mutation resulted in a ~70-fold increase in sensitivity to neutralization by a monoclonal antibody targeting a cryptic epitope in the fusion loop. Increased exposure of this otherwise poorly accessible fusion loop epitope was accompanied by reduced virus stability in solution at physiological temperatures. Introduction of a mutation at the analogous residue of dengue virus (DENV), but not Zika virus (ZIKV), E protein also increased accessibility of the cryptic fusion loop epitope and decreased virus stability in solution, suggesting that this residue modulates the structural ensembles sampled by distinct flaviviruses at equilibrium in a context dependent manner. Although the T198F mutation did not substantially impair WNV growth kinetics in vitro, studies in mice revealed attenuation of WNV T198F infection. Overall, our study provides insight into the molecular basis and the in vitro and in vivo consequences of flavivirus breathing.
Virtualization and Private Cloud with VMware Cloud Suite

To help readers understand virtualization and cloud computing, this book is designed to cover the theories and concepts enough to understand the cutting-edge technology. Meanwhile, in this book, the reader can gain hands-on skills on VMware Cloud Suite to create a private cloud. With the academic support from VMware, readers can use the VMware supported software to create various virtualized IT infrastructures sophisticated enough for various sized enterprises. Then, the virtualized IT infrastructure can be made available to an enterprise through the private cloud services.
RUNX2-I is an early regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal cell transition in the chick embryo

Background Although normally linked to bone and cartilage development, the Runt-related transcription factor, RUNX2, was reported in the mouse heart during development of the valves. We examined RUNX2 expression and function in the developing avian heart as it related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the atrioventricular canal. EMT can be separated into an activation stage involving hypertrophy and cell separation and an invasion stage where cells invade the extracellular matrix. The localization and activity of RUNX2 was explored in relation to these steps in the heart. As RUNX2 was also reported in cancer tissues, we examined its expression in the progression of esophageal cancer in staged tissues. Results A specific isoform, RUNX2-I, is present and required for EMT by endothelia of the atrioventricular canal. Knockdown of RUNX2-I inhibits the cell-cell separation that is characteristic of initial activation of EMT. Loss of RUNX2-I altered expression of EMT markers to a greater extent during activation than during subsequent cell invasion. Transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGFβ2) mediates activation during cardiac endothelial EMT. Consistent with a role in activation, RUNX2-I is regulated by TGFβ2 and its activity is independent of similarly expressed Snai2 in regulation of EMT. Examination of RUNX2 expression in esophageal cancer showed its upregulation concomitant with the development of dysplasia and continued expression in adenocarcinoma. Conclusions These data introduce the RUNX2-I isoform as a critical early transcription factor mediating EMT in the developing heart after induction by TGFβ2. Its expression in tumor tissue suggests a similar role for RUNX2 in the EMT of metastasis. Developmental Dynamics 247:542-554, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Primer on the "Bell Case Synthesis Method" and a Lesson on Adult Child's Play

The ability to successfully discern and communicate the relevant aspects of a judicial opinion is a fundamental skill that legal professionals must have. Despite its importance, many in the legal arena lack the ability to effectively demonstrate this skill. Needless to say, law students suffer from this same shortcoming. After years of reading inadequate briefs submitted by lawyers and reviewing deficient submissions by law students, I developed an original case synthesis method. This method, titled the “Bell Case Synthesis Method,” teaches one how to select supporting cases and how to adequately explain the relevant aspects of selected cases. This original method has been tested for years and has proven to be quite valuable for memo and brief writing, as well as for the higher level thinking that is needed for success in law school and the practice of law. This article will benefit a broad audience, including lawyers, law students, paralegals, law clerks, inmate counsel and legal educators. In addition, it is timely, given the recent emphasis on producing practice-ready law school graduates.
Cyclic Nucleotide and Protein Phosphorylation Mechanisms in the Central Nervous System

In the past few years, a beginning has been made in understanding the molecular basis by which the activity of nerve cells is regulated. As in the case with hormones acting on non-neuronal tissues (1), there is now evidence that cyclic AMP may act as an intracellular mediator for the actions of certain neurotransmitters on nerve cells (for recent reviews, see 2–8). There is also evidence that certain of the effects of some other neurotransmitters on their target cells may be mediated by cyclic GMP (2–8). In addition, there is now evidence that receptor-second messenger systems can be utilized for two types of modulation of synaptic transmission (Figure 1). Thus, the postsynaptic cell of the receptor-second messenger modulatory synapse can be either the presynaptic or the postsynaptic cell of the synapse being modulated. In other words, the receptor-second messenger system can be utilized for either presynaptic (Figure 1A) or postsynaptic (Figure 1B) modulation of synaptic transmission. In addition to mediating the effects of modulator neurons on the permeability properties of input and output neurons, cyclic nucleotides appear to have many other roles in neuronal function (4,5,8).
Difference and Disease: Medicine, Race, and the Eighteenth-Century British Empire

Before the nineteenth century, travellers who left Britain for the Americas, West Africa, India and elsewhere encountered a medical conundrum: why did they fall ill when they arrived, and why - if they recovered - did they never become so ill again? The widely accepted answer was that the newcomers needed to become 'seasoned to the climate'. Suman Seth explores forms of eighteenth-century medical knowledge, including conceptions of seasoning, showing how geographical location was essential to this knowledge and helped to define relationships between Britain and her far-flung colonies. In this period, debates raged between medical practitioners over whether diseases changed in different climes. Different diseases were deemed characteristic of different races and genders, and medical practitioners were thus deeply involved in contestations over race and the legitimacy of the abolitionist cause. In this innovative and engaging history, Seth offers dramatically new ways to understand the mutual shaping of medicine, race, and empire.
The Geochemistry of Rubidium and Strontium

Most igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks contain rubidium (Rb) and strontium (Sr) in detectable amounts. However, the concentrations of these elements are almost always less than 1 percent, and they are therefore rarely determined in routine chemical analyses. Neither rubidium nor strontium is a major constituent in the common rock-forming silicate minerals, although strontium does form a carbonate (strontianite) and a sulfate (celestite) which are found in some hydrothermal deposits and certain sedimentary rocks, particularly carbonates.
Approaches to Workflow Analysis in Healthcare Settings

Attention to workflow is an important component of a comprehensive approach to designing usable information systems. In healthcare, inattention to workflow is associated with poorly accepted systems and unforeseen effects of use. How best to examine workflow for the purpose of system design is in itself the subject of scientific inquiry. Several disciplines offer approaches to the study of workflow that can be tailored to meet the needs of systems designers in healthcare settings. This paper will describe several methodologies for workflow analysis according to the major schools of thought from which they have been developed. The level of workflow they examine and their theoretical underpinnings will also be described.
The Effects of Hearing Aids on Localization of White Noise by Blind Subjects.

An investigation was conducted to observe the effect of hearing aids on the ability of blind subjects to localize white noise. It was found that there was a significant difference between the subje...
Deep CNN-Based Methods to Evaluate Neighborhood-Scale Urban Valuation Through Street Scenes Perception

Social data from city level provides unprecedented opportunities to identify urban attributes from various angles. Citizens are likely to evaluate the quality of the neighborhood and make important decisions by their perceptions and the feedback from the environment. In this paper, we studied the correlation between the neighborhood's environment with their properties values and land values. It is profitable to train the algorithm by parallel deep convolutional neural networks on the visual urban scenes data associated with quantitative non-visual urban characteristics in the same views. The result of our approach defines a scenarized profile from building-level details to city-level traits. The main contribution of this work is providing a unique and more accurate perspective to urban valuation estimations, by integrating the scattered sources of pieces of information and implanting into the available images. This urban evaluation approach will be more human-centered, which can be extended to help urban planners and citizens to explore the significant impacts on city decision optimization or spatial economics-related issues like decreasing the cost of properties assessment.
Origin of Many-Body Vibrational Frequency Shifts in Water Clusters

We have demonstrated the application of many-body expansions to calculations of the anharmonic, local-mode, OH-stretching vibrational frequencies of water clusters. We focused on five low-lying isomers of the water hexamer and the DD*(20,1) isomer of (H2O)21. Our approach provides accurate OH-stretching vibrational frequencies when treating one- and two-body interactions with the CCSD(T)-F12 level of theory and the three- and four-body interactions with the DF-MP2-F12 level. Additionally, we have investigated the physical origin of the large contribution that two- and three-body interactions make to the shifts of vibrational frequencies using symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT). We conclude that while two-body vibrational frequency shifts can be correlated linearly with electrostatic energies, all strongly shifted three-body interactions can be correlated to the induction energy with a single regression coefficient of approximately 70 cm–1 (kcal·mol–1)−1.
Positioning Theory in Applied Linguistics

This chapter focuses on the link between positioning theory and applied linguistics research. The chapter explains how various social and poststructural concepts in applied linguistics scholarship can be better examined and understood in light of positioning theory. More specifically, the chapter provides guidelines for investigating speaker rights, learning opportunities, identities, language socialization, and culture and moral values in bilingual and multilingual contexts, using positioning theory as a theoretical framework or analytic approach.
Alcoholism as a predictor for pseudarthrosis in primary spine fusion: An analysis of risk factors and 30-day outcomes for 52,402 patients from 2005 to 2013.

Abstract Introduction This study assessed the incidence and risk factors for pseudarthrosis among primary spine fusion patients. Methods Retrospective review of ACS-NSQIP (2005–2013). Differences in comorbidities between spine fusion patients with and without pseudarthrosis (Pseud, N-Pseud) were assessed using chi-squared tests and Independent Samples t-tests. Binary logistic regression assessed patient-related and procedure-related predictors for pseudarthrosis. Results 52,402 patients (57yrs, 53%F, 0.4% w/pseudarthrosis). Alcohol consumption (OR:2.6[1.2–5.7]) and prior history of surgical revision (OR:1.6[1.4–1.8]) were risk factors for pseudarthrosis operation. Pseud patients at higher risk for deep incisional SSI (at 30-days:OR:6.6[2.0–21.8]). Pseud patients had more perioperative complications (avg:0.24 ± 0.43v0.18 ± 0.39,p=0.026). Conclusions Alcoholism and surgical revision are major risk factors for pseudarthrosis in patients undergoing spine fusion.
The Generation and Applications of Biological Variation Data in Laboratory Medicine

In recent years, increasing consideration has been given to the study of biological variation on laboratory analytes. Data on biological variation have a number of applications in the laboratory, including setting the quality specifications for analytical performance, assessing the usefulness of population-based reference ranges, assessing variation in serial results from an individual, and determining the optimal sample for analyzing a specific constituent. Thus, it is essential to generate accurate and reliable data on biological variation using a standardized study protocol. Currently, there are guidelines available to enable the standardized production of biological variation data. Here, we aim to provide recommendations on preferred experimental procedures and statistical methods for producing correct biological variation data in accordance with published guidelines.
A Left-Hand Advantage: Motor Asymmetry in Touchless Input

Touchless gesture is a common input type when interacting with large displays or virtual and augmented reality applications. In touchless input, users may alternate between hands or use bimanual gestures. But touchless performance in nondominant hands is little explored---even though cognitive science and neuroscience studies show cerebral hemispheric specialization causes performance differences between dominant and nondominant hands in lateralized individuals. Drawing on theories that account for between-hand differences in rapid-aimed movements, we characterize motor asymmetry in touchless input. Results from a controlled study (n = 20, right-handed) show freehand touchless input produces significantly smaller between-hand performance differences than a mouse in pointing and dragging. We briefly discuss the HCI implications of motor asymmetry in an input type.