cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Political Social Work Careers and Leadership: From Jane Addams To You!

In the first part of this book, you were exposed to an array of domains in which political social work can be practiced and reflected on your own ideology, political knowledge, skills, efficacy, privilege, and use of power. You learned how to apply theories, assessment skills, and models in political contexts. In the second and third parts of this book, you used these knowledge and skills to design and implement effective strategies for electoral and advocacy campaigns. In the final part of this book, you have reflected on how to monitor and evaluate success within a political context and have considered how social work ethics and values apply to political practice. In this chapter, we encourage you to reflect upon all that you have learned and consider how you will integrate these skills into your own social work practice. Whether you are a student, a practitioner, or a faculty member, we hope you will find suggestions in this chapter for ways to increase your political activity. In Chap. 1 we told you to “consider yourself asked” to get involved. In this chapter, we ask you to bring all that you have learned together to develop your own specific plan for political involvement.
Impact of Using iPad Tablets in a Construction Communication Graphics Class: Evaluation Based on System Usability Scale:

As the construction industry advances technologically, it becomes imperative to introduce the respective information technology tools to present-day curriculum. This research study was conducted to...
Evidence for the Universality of Facial Expressions of Emotion

The face is the most representative channel of nonverbal behaviors, and it is the channel most studied by scientists. Studies on face and facial expression have their roots in Darwin (The expression of emotion in man and animals. Oxford University Press, New York, 1872) seminal work that suggested that emotions are biologically innate and evolutionarily adaptive and that facial expressions evolved as a universal skill in all humans. The face is a channel that can produce both involuntary reactions and voluntary reactions. This chapter will introduce facial expressions as one of the primary nonverbal channels that express universal emotions and present scientific evidence for the universality of facial expressions of emotion, including studies of humans across cultures, blind individuals, twins and families, infants, and nonhuman primates. In addition, cultural display rules that can explain cultural variations in facial expressions of emotions across cultures are introduced.
The Association of Gabapentin Use and Dose With Substance Use Disorders Prior to Inpatient Mental Health Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective To investigate the relationship between gabapentin use and dose with substance use disorders (SUDs) prior to inpatient mental health treatment. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in current gabapentin users admitted to inpatient psychiatry services from December 2015 through January 2017 in a large urban teaching hospital. The primary analysis examined rates and doses of gabapentin use in relation to SUD. A multinomial logistic regression was performed to assess a predictive model for SUD in gabapentin users. The secondary analysis examined trends of off-label gabapentin use. Results Of 1,483 admissions to inpatient psychiatry services, 345 subjects (23.1%) were prescribed gabapentin as an outpatient prior to admission. Current SUD was identified in 88.1% of the sample, with 65.2% identified as polysubstance positive. Mean daily doses of gabapentin were higher in subjects with positive SUD than in those with no history of SUD. Gabapentin doses ≥ 1,800 mg/d were associated with opiate misuse (P < .001), need for detoxification (P = .004), and positive hepatitis C status (P = .001). Multinomial linear regression revealed that use of gabapentin doses ≥ 1,800 mg/d was predictive of opiate misuse and positive hepatitis C status, with 68.7% positive predictive value. Conclusion High-dose gabapentin use can be predictive of opiate misuse disorder. Requests for high-dose gabapentin from patients may signal potential opioid misuse.
Genomic profiling of circulating tumor DNA in small cell lung cancer: comparison of relapsed disease to initial tumor biopsies.

e20017Background: Genomic studies in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are hampered by the small amounts of biopsy tissue typically available. The emergence of ‘liquid biopsy’ to identify tumor DNA mut...
Foreword to Margeret Stout & Jeannine M. Love, A Radically Democratic Response to Global Governance. Dystopian Utopias

Nowadays, it is impossible to ignore the voices blaming the existing systems of governance within the borderless globalization system for being incapable of adequately responding to the problems and needs of the current age. The rage and discontent of a growing portion of the population who feel they have been left aside or who feel more insecure within prosperous Western societies, is demonstrated in the growing support of anti-system parties and candidates. Most recently – last but not least – the majority vote for “Brexit” in the referendum in the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, leaves us confronted with a burning question: What went wrong? The necessity of finding an answer to this question has never been greater than today. The growing concerns regarding progressive climate change, rapid technological development, wars and conflicts affecting different parts of the world, terrorism, migration crisis, unstable and weak job market and the general insecurity of the populous cannot simply be criticized as collective paranoia against globalization. The rising inequality or insecurity even of the middle-class related therewith puts pressure on the existing social order and elites who often fail to keep a pace with these latest developments or to adequately respond to them in a time of crisis.
Optimizing laryngeal sparing with intensity modulated radiotherapy or volumetric modulated arc therapy for unilateral tonsil cancer.

Abstract Background and purpose Minimizing radiation dose exposure to nearby organs is key to limiting clinical toxicities associated with radiotherapy. Several treatment modalities such as split- or whole-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SF-IMRT, WF-IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) are being used to treat tonsillar cancer patients with unilateral neck radiotherapy. Herein, we provide a modern dosimetric comparison of all three techniques. Materials and methods Forty patients with tonsillar cancer treated with definitive, ipsilateral neck SF-IMRT were evaluated. Each patient was re-planned with WF-IMRT and VMAT techniques, and doses to selected organs-at-risk (OARs) including the larynx, esophagus, and brainstem were compared. Results No significant differences in target coverage existed between plans; however, the heterogeneity index improved using WF-IMRT and VMAT relative to SF-IMRT. Compared to SF-IMRT, WF-IMRT and VMAT plans had significantly lower mean doses to the supraglottic larynx (31 Gy, 18.5 Gy, 17 Gy; p Conclusion In the setting of unilateral neck radiotherapy, WF-IMRT and VMAT plans can be optimized to significantly improve dose sparing of critical structures compared to SF-IMRT. VMAT offers additional advantages of shorter treatment times and fewer required monitor units.
Surface sulfonates lock serum albumin into a "hard" corona.

The composition of the layer of proteins adsorbed to macro- or microscopic surfaces of synthetic origin influences the response of living systems to these materials. This adsorbed layer of proteins usually comprises a “soft” coating or corona of labile or exchangeable adsorbed proteins on top of a more tenaciously held “hard” corona in contact with the surface. Here, we link the dependence of cell adhesion on a 20 nm film of polyelectrolyte complex to the “hardness” of the initial corona using albumin, the most prevalent protein in serum. The ease with which albumin can be lost depends on the surface functional group – carboxylate or sulfonate, in particular aromatic sulfonate. Carboxylate permits easier loss of albumin, which presumably allows the subsequent adsorption of proteins such as fibronectin, required for cell adhesion. Sulfonate holds on to albumin more strongly, producing a persistent hard corona likely to remain biocompatible. The mechanism is thought to be related to the higher energy of interaction between sulfonate and amine than between carboxylate and amine, and provides insight on possible reasons why so-called “tissue culture plastic” works so well for in vitro cell culture.
Disruption of peripheral nerve development in a zebrafish model of hyperglycemia.

Zebrafish are emerging as a robust model system for the study of diabetic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and impaired wound healing. We present a novel model of diabetic peripheral...
Inference of Gene Regulatory Network Through Adaptive Dynamic Bayesian Network Modeling

Background: The reconstruction of gene regulatory networks (GRN) using gene expression data can gain new insights into the causality of transcriptional and cellular processes that make a complex living system. Dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) modeling has been increasingly used to reconstruct GRN for the temporal pattern of transcriptional interactions in a time course, but this approach requires expression data measured at even time intervals. In practice, time points at which gene expression is recorded are usually uneven-spaced, determined on the basis of distinct phases of biological processes. We reform DBN modeling to accommodate to any possible irregularity and sparsity of time course microarray data.
Dynamic changes in dissolved organic matter composition in a Mountain Lake under ice cover and relationships to changes in nutrient cycling and phytoplankton community composition

We studied Bear Lake, a subalpine oligotrophic lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado USA, during the winter ice cover period of 2018. Our goal was to understand relationships between biogeochemical and biotic processes and the chemical quality of the dissolved organic matter (DOM), a major pool of organic carbon in all lakes. The lake was stratified with limited light availability and had a consistent oxycline at 7 m. Nutrient concentrations were low and the depletion of nitrogen species was related to increased phytoplankton abundance. The phytoplankton community became progressively dominated by a potentially mixotrophic dinoflagellate species, Gymnodinium sp., and a deep chlorophyll maximum developed above the hypolimnion. Changes in the chemical quality of DOM, as measured through high-resolution mass spectrometry, were associated with these shifts in nutrient and phytoplankton composition. The spectrometry data revealed a pool of organic compounds many of which contained phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfur. This pool evolved through the winter, with phosphorus-containing compounds becoming more predominant in the upper oxic zone and sulfur-containing compounds becoming more predominant in the anoxic bottom waters. Reduced chemo diversity of the DOM pool in the surface waters developed through the winter. In the bottom waters, more unique compounds were produced through the winter, and the favorability of the DOM to support microbial respiration also increased. These observed differences in DOM molecular composition were not reflected in the spectroscopic signature of the DOM pool. Overall, our results show chemical changes in the DOM pool correlate to dynamic redox conditions, biogeochemical cycling, and biotic response to ice cover.
Spinal Arteriovenous Fistula: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) have been categorized on the basis of the Anson and Spetzler classification into 4 types. Type I is the most common type and describes an abnormal connection between a radicular artery at the nerve root sleeve and an intradural draining vein. This communication results in progressive dilatation and mass effect from the draining vein experiencing arterial pressures without intervening arterioles. In this patient, preoperative angiography showed a type I dural AVF. A laminoplasty was performed to provide dural exposure, and a midline durotomy was performed. Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography was used to visualize flow within the fistula. This dorsal dural AVF demonstrated the characteristic slow venous flow. Pressure recordings were obtained and confirmed the elevated venous pressure observed in these lesions. Bipolar coagulation of the fistulous point was performed, and the vessel was removed at the site of the root entry zone to permit pathologic confirmation of the arteriovenous interface. Intraoperative ICG angiography findings confirmed disconnection. The patient gave informed consent for surgery and video recording. Institutional review board approval was deemed unnecessary. Used with permission from Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.
Perspective: Time to Resolve Confusion on Folate Amounts, Units, and Forms in Prenatal Supplements

Folate-containing prenatal supplements are commonly consumed in the United States, but inconsistencies in units of measure and chemical forms pose challenges for providing authoritative advice on recommended amounts. New regulations require folate to be declared as micrograms of dietary folate equivalents (DFE) on product labels, whereas intake recommendations for reducing the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) and the Tolerable Upper Intake Level are expressed as micrograms of folic acid. Today, >25% of prenatal supplements contain folate as synthetic salts of L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-5-MTHF), but recommendations do not include this form of the vitamin. Harmonizing units of measure and addressing newer forms of folate salts in intake recommendations and in the prevention of NTDs would resolve the confusion.
Diagnostic yield of EUS-guided through-the-needle microforceps biopsy versus EUS-FNA of pancreatic cystic lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and study aims Accurate diagnosis and risk stratification of pancreatic cysts (PCs) is challenging. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the feasibility, safety, and diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound-guided through-the-needle biopsy (TTNB) versus fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in PCs. Methods Comprehensive search of databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science) for relevant studies on TTNB of PCs (from inception to June 2019). The primary outcome was to compare the pooled diagnostic yield and concordance rate with surgical pathology of TTNB histology and FNA cytology of PCs. The secondary outcome was to estimate the safety profile of TTNB. Results: Eight studies (426 patients) were included. The diagnostic yield was significantly higher with TTNB over FNA for a specific cyst type (OR: 9.4; 95 % CI: [5.7–15.4]; I2 = 48) or a mucinous cyst (MC) (OR: 3.9; 95 % CI: [2.0–7.4], I2 = 72 %). The concordance rate with surgical pathology was significantly higher with TTNB over FNA for a specific cyst type (OR: 13.5; 95 % CI: [3.5–52.3]; I2 = 48), for a MC (OR: 8.9; 95 % [CI: 1.9–40.8]; I2 = 29), and for MC histologic severity (OR: 10.4; 95 % CI: [2.9–36.9]; I2 = 0). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of TTNB for MCs were 90.1 % (95 % CI: [78.4–97.6]; I2 = 36.5 %) and 94 % (95 % CI: [81.5–99.7]; I2 = 0), respectively. The pooled adverse event rate was 7.0 % (95 % CI: [2.3–14.1]; I2 = 82.9). Conclusions TTNB is safe, has a high sensitivity and specificity for MCs and may be superior to FNA cytology in risk-stratifying MCs and providing a specific cyst diagnosis.
Non-Local Graph Neural Networks

Modern graph neural networks (GNNs) learn node embeddings through multilayer local aggregation and achieve great success in applications on assortative graphs. However, tasks on disassortative graphs usually require non-local aggregation. In addition, we find that local aggregation is even harmful for some disassortative graphs. In this work, we propose a simple yet effective non-local aggregation framework with an efficient attention-guided sorting for GNNs. Based on it, we develop various non-local GNNs. We perform thorough experiments to analyze disassortative graph datasets and evaluate our non-local GNNs. Experimental results demonstrate that our non-local GNNs significantly outperform previous state-of-the-art methods on six benchmark datasets of disassortative graphs, in terms of both model performance and efficiency.
Primordial scalar power spectrum from the hybrid approach in loop cosmologies

We compare the primordial scalar power spectra in the loop cosmological models using the effective dynamics of the hybrid approach to cosmological perturbations in which the background is loop quantized, but the perturbations are Fock quantized. The three loop cosmological models under consideration are the standard loop quantum cosmology (LQC), the modified LQC-I (mLQC-I) and the modified LQC-II (mLQC-II) in the spatially flat Friedmann-Lema\^{\i}tre-Robertson-Walker universe with a Starobinsky potential. These models arise from different regularizations of the classical Hamiltonian constraint in the symmetry reduced spacetimes and aim to capture certain features of quantization in loop quantum gravity. When applying the techniques in the hybrid approach to mLQC-I/II, we find the effective Mukhanov-Sasaki equations take the same form as in LQC. The difference among the three models is encoded in the unique expressions of the effective masses in each model. We find that the relative difference in the amplitude of power spectrum between LQC and mLQC-II is approximately 50% in the infrared and the oscillatory regimes, whereas this difference can be as large as 100% between mLQC-I and LQC/mLQC-II. Interestingly, in the infrared and the oscillatory regimes of mLQC-I, we obtain a suppressed power spectrum from the hybrid approach which is far below the Planck scale. This result is in a striking contrast to the one obtained from the dressed metric approach to perturbations where the corresponding amplitude in this regime is extremely large. Our analysis shows that while the phenomenological predictions are in agreement between the two approaches for LQC and mLQC-II, for mLQC-I the differences between the dressed and hybrid approaches can be quite significant. Our result provides the first robust evidence of difference in predictions between the dressed and hybrid approaches due to respective underlying constructions.
Rapid Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Spine in Neonates with Spinal Dysraphism

Background The use of nonsedated T2-weighted Half-Fourier Acquisition Single-shot Turbo spin Echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences in screening for spinal cord syrinx in neonates with spinal dysraphism has not been reported in the literature. We sought to review our experience using T2-weighted Half-Fourier Acquisition Single-shot Turbo spin Echo imaging of the spine (i.e., rapid spine MRI) in nonsedated neonates for detecting spinal cord syrinx in neonates with spinal dysraphism. Methods We performed a retrospective search of our radiology database for neonates with spinal dysraphism who had rapid spine MRI between May 2017 and February 2020. The images were reviewed in conjunction with clinical findings and standard spine imaging, when available. Results Thirty studies (in 29 neonates) fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Of the 26 neonates with myelomeningocele, 5 of them (19%) had spinal cord syrinx identified on neonatal rapid spine MRI. An additional 2 patients developed syrinx by 2 years of age. Potential pitfalls identified in interpreting rapid spine MRI include motion artifacts and distinguishing a severe holocord syrinx from a truncated spinal cord. Conclusions Rapid spine MRI acquired without sedation or anesthesia may be used as a screening technique to detect spinal cord syrinx in neonates with spinal dysraphism.
Environmental Contexts Shaping Disability and Health

The relationship between the environment and health is well appreciated by the field of public health. Less understood is that the impact of the environment on health is often more significant for people with disabilities compared to those without. The reason for this stronger relationship is the numerous environmental barriers experienced by people with disabilities across multiple aspects of community living, including health care, housing, fitness and recreation, and transportation. Barriers restrict access and mobility in communities and limit participation in health-promoting activities. In contrast, environmental facilitators enable greater access and participation, providing a better person-environment fit for individuals with disabilities. Public health practitioners can play a key role in promoting environmental facilitators in their community by adopting universal design principles. Incorporating universal design principles can increase the reach of public health efforts to impact all residents, including those with a disability. In this chapter, we provide a background on the barriers experienced by people with disabilities in various types of environments and explain how this mismatch affects health. We introduce universal design principles and explain how they can be used across the three public health core functions of assessments, policy development, and assurance. Real-world case studies for each core function provide greater depth.
Identification and analysis of miRNAs in IR56 rice in response to BPH infestations of different virulence levels.

Rice production and sustainability are challenged by its most dreadful pest, the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stal, BPH). Therefore, the studies on rice-BPH interactions and their underlying mechanisms are of high interest. The rice ontogenetic defense, such as the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) has mostly been investigated against the pathogens, with only a few reports existing against the insect infestations. Thus, revealing the involvement of rice miRNAs in response to BPH infestations will be beneficial in understanding these complex interactions. In this study, the small RNA profiling of the IR56 rice in response to separate BPH infestations of varied virulence levels identified the BPH-responsive miRNAs and revealed the differential transcript abundance of several miRNAs during a compatible and incompatible rice-BPH interaction. The miRNA sequence analysis identified 218 known and 28 novel miRNAs distributed in 54 miRNA families. Additionally, 138 and 140 numbers of differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified during the compatible and incompatible interaction, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed the target gene candidates of DE miRNAs (including osa-miR2871a-3p, osa-miR172a, osa-miR166a-5p, osa-miR2120, and osa-miR1859) that might be involved in the IR56 rice defense responses against BPH infestation. Conversely, osa-miR530-5p, osa-miR812s, osa-miR2118g, osa-miR156l-5p, osa-miR435 and two of the novel miRNAs, including novel_16 and novel_52 might negatively modulate the IR56 rice defense. The expressional validation of the selected miRNAs and their targets further supported the IR56 rice defense regulatory network. Based on our results, we have proposed a conceptual model depicting the miRNA defense regulatory network in the IR56 rice against BPH infestation. The findings from the study add further insights into the molecular mechanisms of rice-BPH interactions and will be helpful for the future researches.
Abstract P374: Associations Of Renin-angiotensin System Blockade Discontinuation With End-stage Kidney Disease, Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events, And Death Among People With Chronic Kidney Disease

Introduction: Among individuals with impaired kidney function, whether and when angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) should be discontinued is...
Sentinel lymph node biopsy guideline concordance in melanoma: Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This study investigated the impact of treating facility type on guideline-concordant sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) management in T1a* (defined as a Breslow depth <0.76 mm without ulceration or mitoses) and T2/T3 melanoma. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study utilizing the National Cancer Database from 2012 to 2016. RESULTS Our cohort included 109,432 patients. For T1a* melanomas, 85% of patients received guideline-concordant SLNB management at community and academic facilities versus 75% of patients at integrated network facilities (p < .001). Over 83% of patients with T2/T3 melanoma treated at an academic facility received guideline-concordant SLNB management versus 77% treated at a community facility (p < .001). Adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, integrated (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 0.54), and comprehensive community (aOR = 0.74) facilities were less likely to provide guideline-concordant SLNB management in patients with T1a* melanoma compared to academic facilities. Community facilities (aOR = 0.72) were less likely to provide guideline-concordant SLNB management in patients with T2/T3 melanoma compared to academic facilities. CONCLUSION Academic facilities provide the highest rate of guideline-concordant sentinel lymph node management. Comparatively, community programs may underutilize SLNB in T2/T3 disease, while integrated and comprehensive community facilities may over-utilize SLNB in T1a* disease.
Macrocalcifications Do Not Alter Malignancy Risk Within the American Thyroid Association Sonographic Pattern System When Present in Non-High Suspicion Thyroid Nodules.

Background: The American Thyroid Association Sonographic Pattern System (ATASPS) depicts five levels of suspicion for malignancy based on the sonographic appearance of a thyroid nodule. However, 3–...
Genetic structure in Louisiana Iris species reveals patterns of recent and historical admixture.

PREMISE When divergent lineages come into secondary contact, reproductive isolation may be incomplete, thus providing an opportunity to investigate how speciation is manifested in the genome. The Louisiana Irises (Iris, series Hexagonae) comprise a group of three or more ecologically and reproductively divergent lineages that can produce hybrids where they come into contact. We estimated standing genetic variation to understand the current distribution of population structure in the Louisiana Irises. METHODS We used genotyping-by-sequencing techniques to sample the genomes of Louisiana Iris species across their ranges. We sampled 20 populations (n = 632 individuals) across 11,249 loci and used Entropy and PCA models to assess population genetic data. RESULTS We discovered evidence for interspecific gene flow in parts of the range. Our analysis revealed patterns of population structure at odds with widely accepted nominal taxonomy. We discovered undescribed hybrid populations, designated as belonging to the I. brevicaulis lineage. Iris nelsonii shared significant ancestry with only one of the purported parent species, I. fulva, evidence inconsistent with a hybrid origin. CONCLUSIONS This study provides several key findings important to the investigation of standing genetic variation in the Louisiana Iris species complex. Compared to the other nominal species, I. brevicaulis contains a large amount of genetic diversity. In addition, we discovered a previously unknown hybrid zone between I. brevicaulis and I. hexagona along the Texas coast. Finally, our results do not support the long-standing hypothesis that I. nelsonii has mixed ancestry from three parental taxa.
Supply chain friends: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Abstract The importance of firms developing close relationships with suppliers has been well recognized by supply chain managers. However, business relationships ultimately progress due to individuals within firms interacting over time. Our results from in-depth interviews with supply chain managers revealed that decisions made by managers within the supply chain can’t be accurately explained or fully understood without accounting for the important influence of the friendships managers across firms develop with each other. This is of significant importance for senior managers since supply chain costs typically account for 60% to 90% of a company's total costs. In this article, we seek to shed some light on the implications of developing personal relationships with counterparts within the supply chain. We conclude by providing guidelines that upper management can follow to enhance the potential positive benefits associated with the inherent development of personal relationships/friendships and, equally important, mitigate the potential negative impact of such relationships.
How Fungi Sense Sugars, Alcohols, and Amino Acids

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are an important receptor gene family and play important roles in sensing sugars in eukaryotic organisms, including fungi. Recent studies on the interactions between Cryptococcus and plants, a major environmental niche, reveal that myo-inositol, produced and secreted by plants, is sensed by the fungus and promotes fungal sexual reproduction, providing a potential explanation for how this organism completes its life cycle in nature. Several fusel alcohols, such as 1-butanol and isoamyl alcohol, stimulate filamentous growth of haploid cells. A recent study showed that aromatic alcohols (such as tryptophol and phenylethanol) secreted by yeast cells function as quorum-sensing molecules and stimulate filamentous growth through a Flo11-dependent mechanism. Amino acids are important nutrients for fungi and are detected by specialized sensor systems, which include the general amino acid permease Gap1, the Ssy1-Ptr3-Ssy5 (SPS) system, GPCRs, and the target of rapamycin (TOR). In Neurospora crassa, three transport systems have been described based on the analysis of the kinetics of amino acid uptake and the patterns of competitive inhibition between amino acids. The Gap1 homolog in Neurospora crassa is encoded by the PMG locus, which can transport all L-amino acids except proline. Besides this system, two other transport systems have also been identified. One is encoded by the MTR gene and transports neutral and aromatic amino acids. The other is encoded by the PMB gene and transports basic amino acids, such as arginine and lysine.
Generality and the Importance of the Particular Case

In commenting on Wittgenstein ’s technique Professor Wisdom wrote: Others before Wittgenstein had warned of ‘abstract’ thought. But Wittgenstein showed the danger of it in instance after instance. Kant said that examples are the go-cart of human understanding. But this is not enough. Principles and laws may serve well. They can help us to bring to bear on what is now in question. They help us to connect one thing with another and another. But at the bar of reason, always the final appeal is to cases.1
Towards Multimodal Driver’s Stress Detection

Non-driving-related cognitive load and variations of emotional state may impact the drivers’ capability to control a vehicle and introduce driving errors. The availability of stress detection in drivers would benefit the design of active safety systems and other intelligent in-vehicle interfaces. In this chapter, we propose initial steps towards multimodal driver stress (distraction) detection in urban driving scenarios involving multitasking, dialog system conversation, and medium-level cognitive tasks. The goal is to obtain a continuous operation-mode detection employing driver’s speech and CAN-Bus signals, with a direct application for an intelligent human–vehicle interface which will adapt to the actual state of the driver. First, the impact of various driving scenarios on speech production features is analyzed, followed by a design of a speech-based stress detector. In the driver-/maneuver-independent open test set task, the system reaches 88.2% accuracy in neutral/stress classification. Second, distraction detection exploiting CAN-Bus signals is introduced and evaluated in a driver-/maneuver-dependent closed test set task, reaching 98% and 84% distraction detection accuracy in lane keeping segments and curve negotiation segments, respectively. Performance of the autonomous classifiers suggests that future fusion of speech and CAN-Bus signal domains will yield an overall robust stress assessment framework.
Nonlinear elasticity of an α -helical polypeptide: Monte Carlo studies

We report on Monte Carlo studies of the elastic properties of the helix-coil wormlike chain model of alpha-helical polypeptides. In this model the secondary structure enters as a scalar (Ising-like) variable that controls the local chain bending modulus. We characterize the nonlinear elastic properties of these molecules including their response to applied tensile forces and bending torques both individually and in combination. We find a pronounced effect of applied torque on the extensional compliance of the molecule and a similar effect of tension on the bending compliance. Finally we speculate that the strongly nonlinear response of alpha-helical polypeptides to combinations of torque and force plays a role in allosteric transitions in proteins.
Automatic classification of impulsive-source active sonar echoes using perceptual signal features from musical acoustics

The possibility of using human auditory systems as signal features in an automatic classification of impulsive-source active sonar echoes recorded on a towed-array is discussed. It can be demonstrated that active sonar echoes can be successfully classified using perceptual signal features. The perceptual signal features include duration, sub-band attack and decay time, sub-band synchronicity, spectral character of the pre-attack noise, peak value, and the loudness spectrum. The data were collected during a sea trial on the Malta Plateau using signals underwater sound (SUS) charges and a towed array. The towed array data were beamformed to obtain a total of 81 horizontal beams, each of which were spectrally whitened by using a Butterworth filter, and normalized to eliminate reverberation. Results demonstrate that perceptual features with a Gaussian classifier can be used to successfully classify impulsive-source active sonar echoes, and can achieve an error rate less than 10%.
Estrogen Synthesis by Immature Rat Sertoli CellsIn Vitro

Past research has implicated both the Leydig and Sertoli cells as sources of testicular estrogens. To study this issue further, we investigated the ability of Sertoli cells isolated from the testes of immature (10-day-old) rats to synthesize estrogens in response to FSH in vitro. The aromatase activity of Sertoli cells was examined by comparing simultaneously two different methods: 1. the conversion of 19-(6,7-3H)-hydroxyandrostenedione to (3H)estrone and (3H)estradiol, measured by silica gel thin layer chromatography; and 2. the conversion of unlabeled 19-hydroxyandrostenedione to total estrogen (El + E2), measured by RIA. Sertoli cells, cultured in the presence of substrate, exhibited aromatase activity in response to FSH. Values obtained for total estrogen synthesis, measured by direct tracer methodology, at FSH dosages of 0.5 μg/ml and 1.0 μg/ml, during a 24-hour period of incubation, were 620 pg/mg and 580 pg/mg, respectively; and after a 48-hour incubation, values obtained were 570 pg/ml and 560 pg/mg, respectively. When measured by RIA, similar results were obtained for estrogen synthesis at identical FSH dosages and times of incubation. A dose response of FSH-stimulated aromatization was also obtained by RIA. Neither control nor LH-treated cells, however, in the presence of substrate, produced detectable levels of labeled or immunoassayable estrogens. Aromatase activity was also studied in the presence of a cold estrogen trap and measured by direct tracer methodology. In this case, estrogen synthesis was more than doubled. These data may suggest the further metabolism of estrogen by Sertoli cells. Finally, our results are discussed with respect to the role of the immature Sertoli cell in the synthesis of testicular estrogens.
The onion model, a simple neutral model for the evolution of diversity in bacterial biofilms.

Bacterial biofilms are particularly resistant to a wide variety of antimicrobial compounds. Their persistence in the face of antibiotic therapies causes significant problems in the treatment of infectious diseases. Seldom have evolutionary processes like genetic drift and mutation been invoked to explain how resistance to antibiotics emerges in biofilms, and we lack a simple and tractable model for the genetic and phenotypic diversification that occurs in bacterial biofilms. Here, we introduce the ‘onion model’, a simple neutral evolutionary model for phenotypic diversification in biofilms. We explore its properties and show that the model produces patterns of diversity that are qualitatively similar to observed patterns of phenotypic diversity in biofilms. We suggest that models like our onion model, which explicitly invoke evolutionary process, are key to understanding biofilm resistance to bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents. Elevated phenotypic variance provides an insurance effect that increases the likelihood that some proportion of the population will be resistant to imposed selective agents and may thus enhance persistence of the biofilm. Accounting for evolutionary change in biofilms will improve our ability to understand and counter diseases that are caused by biofilm persistence.
A Localization Algorithm for Sparse-Anchored WSN in Agriculture

The location information is very crucial for the sensing data in modern agriculture. However, positioning errors and sparse anchors are two key problems that should first be solved for the localization of the sensor nodes. We proposed a novel algorithm to tackle with these challenges. When the system of adjacent anchor distance equations is ill, a minimized-stress search algorithm (MSS) can decrease positioning error greatly. A collaborative sparse-anchored scheme (CSA) has an excellent positioning effect on low density of anchor, specifically on marginal sensor nodes. Our experimental result verified validity and accuracy of the algorithm. It improved feasibility and cost of WSN positioning technique, significantly.
Pricing the hidden options in power contracts: a case with tolling agreements

Customized electric power contracts catering to specific business and risk management needs prevail among large energy firms. A tolling agreement is one such example in which the purchasing party (buyer) has the right to operate a power plant by paying a predetermined rent to the owner of the power plant. In addition, the buyer receives either the physical electricity by running self-supplied generating fuel through the plant or the financial settlement equalling the spread between the electricity price and the heat rate adjusted fuel price by simultaneously selling electricity and purchasing fuel in the market. An option pricing approach is proposed to value the tolling contracts incorporating major operating characteristics and contractual constraints. Dynamic programming (DP) and the Monte Carlo based least square approximation of the DP value function are employed in solving the problem. The effects of different power price models on the valuation of tolling contracts are examined as well.
Predicting σ28 promoters in eleven Shewanella genomes

An iterative position-specific score matrix (PSSM)-based approach was used to predict σ28 promoters in 11 Shewanella genomes. The Shewanella Correlation Browser was used to distinguish true-positive predictions from false-positive predictions in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 by generating a σ28-regulated transcriptional network from transcriptional profiling data. This dual-pronged approach identified several genes that have σ28 promoters and that may be involved with motility or chemotaxis in Shewanella .
Characterization of Degradable Polymers for Orthopedic Application

As tissue engineering comes to the forefront as a cutting-edge discipline, one of the principle challenges is the need for new materials that are fully bioresorbable and biocompatible. To this extent, pseudo-poly(amino acid)s such as tyrosine-derived polycarbonates present themselves as a promising new class of degradable polymers. These materials offer a high degree of bone biocompatibility. Variations in pendent chain structure allow the generation of a series of materials with variations in key mechanical and cellular response properties. In addition, their chemical structure provides convenient attachment points for the covalent linkage of bioactive molecules to the polymer backbone. Tyrosine-derived polycarbonates can be shaped by commonly used processing and fabrication methods — another advantage over conventional poly(amino acid)s which are often non-processible .
The calcium-activated slow AHP: cutting through the Gordian knot

The phenomenon known as the slow afterhyperpolarization (sAHP) was originally described more than 30 years ago in pyramidal cells as a slow, Ca2+-dependent afterpotential controlling spike frequency adaptation. Subsequent work showed that similar sAHPs were widely expressed in the brain and were mediated by a Ca2+-activated potassium current that was voltage independent, insensitive to most potassium channel blockers, and strongly modulated by neurotransmitters. However the molecular basis for this current has remained poorly understood. The sAHP was initially imagined to reflect the activation of a potassium channel directly gated by Ca2+ but recent studies have begun to question this idea. The sAHP is distinct from the Ca2+-dependent fast and medium AHPs in that it appears to sense cytoplasmic [Ca2+]i and recent evidence implicates proteins of the neuronal calcium sensor family as diffusible cytoplasmic Ca2+ sensors for the sAHP. Translocation of Ca2+-bound sensor to the plasma membrane would then be an intermediate step between Ca2+ and the sAHP channels. Parallel studies strongly suggest that the sAHP current is carried by different potassium channel types depending on the cell type. Finally, the sAHP current is dependent on membrane PtdIns(4,5)P2 and Ca2+ appears to gate this current by increasing PtdIns(4,5)P2 levels. Because membrane PtdIns(4,5)P2 is essential for the activity of many potassium channels, these finding have led us to hypothesize that the sAHP reflects a transient Ca2+-induced increase in the local availability of PtdIns(4,5)P2 which then activates a variety of potassium channels. If this view is correct, the sAHP current would not represent a unitary ionic current but the embodiment of a generalized potassium channel gating mechanism. This model can potentially explain the cardinal features of the sAHP, including its cellular heterogeneity, slow kinetics, dependence on cytoplasmic [Ca2+], high temperature-dependence, and modulation.
A Framework for Affordable Telemedicine Service

Paraplegic patients require periodic assessments that often need to be performed by paraplegia specialists, but these specialists may not always be available at the patient location. In this paper, we propose a framework that enables medical institutions to provide a high quality of service to a large number of patients at their homes or nearest medical institutions. This framework allows patients in remote locations to access specific medical specialists from anywhere. Our proposed framework focuses on providing a robust high resolution video stream that allows for the physician to establish live communication with the patient and medical assistant at the remote location using smartphones. Medical assistants will collect vital signs such as temperature, pulse rate and blood pressure. High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC/h.265 codec) used in this framework improves data compression over the popular h.264. HEVC enables specialists to reach patients at remote locations and to provide quality medical service. Through this scheme, physicians can exchange expertise with colleagues, patients can have access to remote specialists, and medical experts can treat more patients by reducing travel. Our solution provides a cost effective and time efficient approach in extending the reach of specialists.
Sensitivities of statistical distribution model and diffusion kurtosis model in varying microstructural environments: a Monte Carlo study.

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the microstructural sensitivity of the statistical distribution and diffusion kurtosis (DKI) models of non-monoexponential signal attenuation in the brain using diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI). We first developed a simulation of 2-D water diffusion inside simulated tissue consisting of semi-permeable cells and a variable cell size. We simulated a DWI acquisition of the signal in a volume using a pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) pulse sequence, and fitted the models to the simulated DWI signals using b-values up to 2500 s/mm2. For comparison, we calculated the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the monoexponential model (b-value = 1000 s/mm2). In separate experiments, we varied the cell size (5–10–15 μm), cell volume fraction (0.50–0.65–0.80), and membrane permeability (0.001–0.01–0.1 mm/s) to study how the fitted parameters tracked simulated microstructural changes. The ADC was sensitive to all the simulated microstructural changes except the decrease in membrane permeability. The ADC increased with larger cell size, smaller cell volume fraction, and larger membrane permeability. The σstat of the statistical distribution model increased exclusively with a decrease in cell volume fraction. The Kapp of the DKI model was exclusively increased with decreased cell size and decreased with increasing membrane permeability. These results suggest that the non-monoexponential models of water diffusion have different, specific microstructural sensitivity, and a combination of the models may give insights into the microstructural underpinning of tissue pathology.
Airway extravasation induced by increasing airway temperature in ovalbumin-sensitized rats.

Abstract This study was carried out to determine whether hyperventilation of humidified warm air (HWA) induced airway extravasation in ovalbumin (Ova)-sensitized rats. Our results showed: (1) After isocapnic hyperventilation with HWA for 2 min, tracheal temperature (Ttr) was increased to 40.3 °C, and the Evans blue contents in major airways and lung tissue were elevated to 651% and 707%, respectively, of that after hyperventilation with humidified room air in Ova-sensitized rats; this striking effect of HWA was absent in control rats. (2) The HWA-induced increase in Evans blue content in sensitized rats was completely prevented by a pretreatment with either L-732138, a selective antagonist of neurokinin type 1 (NK-1) receptor, or formoterol, a selective agonist of β2 adrenoceptor. This study demonstrated that an increase in airway temperature induced protein extravasation in the major airways and lung tissue of sensitized rats, and an activation of the NK-1 receptor by tachykinins released from bronchopulmonary C-fiber nerve endings was primarily responsible.