cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sweet relief for pollinators

During the first half of Earth's history, oxygen supplies were scant. Photosynthesis probably evolved soon after the appearance of life, but it was not until 2.4 to 2.1 billion years ago that photosynthetic organisms invented the ability to use water as an electron donor and began to produce molecular oxygen (O2) as a waste product. The production of O2 and its accumulation in the atmosphere facilitated the evolution of complex multicellular organisms; there are no exclusively anaerobic multicellular organisms. But although much of life depends on it, O2 is dangerous to handle: Using O2 in metabolism produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause oxidative damage. On page 733 of this issue, Levin et al. ( 1 ) show how a group of relatively recently evolved animals—pollinators with high metabolic rates—use an ancient pathway to defeat oxidative stress.
Interactive simulation of the human hand

This paper presents techniques for simulating the motion of a human hand on a computer graphics display. This simulation is based on a generic 3D model of the human hand in which the bone structure is described as an articulated linkage. Soft tissue around the bones is represented using mass-spring meshes. A predictor-corrector method, including the treatment of incompressibility and collision constraints, is used to compute soft-tissue deformation while bones are moving. Tendons responsible for the movement of the fingers are not explicitly represented as distinct objects, but their mechanical effect on the bone structure (application of forces) is included in our model. The implemented software simulates a human hand, including bone movement, soft-tissue deformation, and collision handling, at interactive rates on a PC. This software may be used as a tool to teach anatomy or simulate surgical operations.
Experimental Heart Failure Models of Cytokine Overexpression

Heart failure secondary to systolic dysfunction is a progressive cardiovascular disease that affects over 5 million people in the U.S. While the initial cause of heart failure in most patients is myocardial damage, the heart usually accommodates to the damage. However, over time, the heart remodels with the development of cardiac dilatation, cellular hypertrophy, cell slippage, diminished adrenergic responsiveness, apoptosis and extracellular matrix fibrosis and restructuring. Over the past decade, there has been a substantive increase in our knowledge of the pathobiology of the development of the heart failure phenotype. This increased knowledge has in part been attributable to advances in the sciences of cell and molecular biology and their application to studies of the failing human heart. However, our improved understanding of the molecular and cellular events leading to the development of heart failure and in particular the transition from compensated to de-compensated myocardial function can also be attributed to studies of new and novel animal models. Indeed, it is studies in animal models that have contributed seminal information regarding the fundamental role of the pro-inflammatory cytokines in the development of the heart failure phenotype. This Chapter will review in detail the observations from animal models that have supported the “Cytokine Hypothesis” of heart failure and will detail how animal models of cytokine over-expression have provided novel experimental platforms for evaluating the efficacy of anti-cytokine pharmacotherapy.
Due Process: A Unified Understanding

This chapter, contributed to the forthcoming Cambridge Companion to the Constitution, explicates the role of the due process clauses in U.S. constitutional law. The concept of due process is traced from English origins through recent Supreme Court Cases, including Obergefell v. Hodges, Johnson v. United States, and Ohio v. Clark. Throughout American history, jurists have agreed that due process consistently forbids deprivations by government without ex ante legal authorization and fair procedures for applying the justifying law. They also have agreed that deprivations, legality and fairness are not whatever legislation says them to be. Beyond that, there has been no consensus about the meaning of these core concepts. Indeed, partisans on opposing sides of many great American controversies have invoked due process. What these partisans have disputed, however, is the nature of life, liberty, property, legality or fairness, not the nature of due process. Analytical focus on the constituent concepts can help us better understand these disputes.
Decreased EDHF-mediated relaxation is a major mechanism in endothelial dysfunction in resistance arteries in aged mice on prolonged high-fat sucrose diet.

Abstract High‐fat sucrose (HFS) diet in aged individuals causes severe weight gain (obesity) with much higher risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension or atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction is a major contributor for these vascular disorders. We hypothesize that prolonged ingestion of HFS diet by aged mice would accentuate endothelial dysfunction in the small resistance arteries. Male C57BL/6J mice at 12 weeks of age were divided into four groups and fed either normal chow (NC) or high‐fat sucrose diet (HFS). Young group received NC for 4 months, and high‐fat diet (HFD) for 3 months and 1 month HFS + 10% Sucrose (HFS diet). Aged mice received NC for 12 months. Aged HFS group received HFD for 4 months + 1 month HFD + 10% sucrose + 8 months HFD. Total body weight, plasma blood glucose levels, and glucose tolerance were determined in all groups. Isolated mesenteric arteries were assessed for arterial remodeling, myogenic tone, and vasomotor responses using pressure and wire myography. Both young and aged HFS mice showed impaired glucose tolerance (Y‐NC, 137 ± 8.5 vs. Y‐NC HFS, 228 ± 11.71; A‐NC, 148 ± 6.42 vs. A‐HFS, 225 ± 10.99), as well as hypercholesterolemia (Y‐NC 99.50 ± 6.35 vs. Y‐HFS 220.40 ± 16.34 mg/dL; A‐NC 108.6 ± vs. A‐HFS 279 ± 21.64) and significant weight gain (Y‐NC 32.13 ± 0.8 g vs. Y‐HFS 47.87 ± 2.18 g; A‐NC 33.72 vs. A‐HFS 56.28 ± 3.47 g) compared to both groups of mice on NC. The mesenteric artery from mice with prolonged HFS diet resulted in outward hypertrophic remodeling, increased stiffness, reduced myogenic tone, impaired vasodilation, increased contractility and blunted nitric oxide (NO) and EDH‐mediated relaxations. Ebselen, a peroxinitrite scavenger rescued the endothelium derived relaxing factor (EDHF)‐mediated relaxations. Our findings suggest that prolonged diet‐induced obesity of aged mice can worsen small resistance artery endothelial dysfunction due to decrease in NO and EDHF‐mediated relaxation, but, EDHF‐mediated relaxation is a major contributor to overall endothelial dysfunction.
Stem Cell Origin of Brain Tumors

The biology of both normal and tumor development clearly possesses overlapping and parallel features. Oncogenes and tumor suppressors are relevant not only in tumor biology, but also in physiological developmental regulators of growth and differentiation. Conversely, genes identified as regulators of developmental biology are relevant to tumor biology. This is particularly relevant in the context of brain tumors, where recent evidence is mounting that the origin of brain tumors, specifically gliomas, may represent dysfunctional developmental neurobiology. NSCs are increasingly being investigated as the cell type that originally undergoes malignant transformation—the cell of origin—and the evidence for this is discussed.
Complex Vulnerabilities and Highly Sophisticated Attacks

In Chapter 6, vulnerability analysis focused on identifying the weaknesses of a network, starting with the basic principles that underscore the given network. In contrast, this chapter analyzes the key principles and assumptions that define the network itself, in an effort to discover the presence of fundamental weaknesses, if any, and the exact circumstances under which the network may be broken. Clearly, such vulnerabilities are highly complex and are likely to require sophisticated attacks. Consider IP networks, a key strength of which is resilience, stemming from the lack of a priori knowledge of the exact route of any IP packet. A key assumption underlying this resilience is that an IP router, upon intercepting an incident IP packet, forwards it in the general direction of its final destination node toward a subsequent IP node through the least congested link. When a perpetrator intercepts and deliberately discards an IP packet at an intermediate node, the assumption is abruptly broken. Given that the Internet has been in use for some time, the circumstances under which the fundamental assumptions break down are well known. However, for networks that are relatively recent, such circumstances may not be public knowledge, implying that someone, somewhere, may know precisely how to bring a network down.
Action Potential Initiation and Conduction in Axons

Action potential initiation and propagation processes in vertebrate axons are based on three proteins, two ion channels, voltage-dependent sodium channels and voltage-dependent potassium channels, and an ion pump, the sodium–potassium pump, which maintains sodium and potassium concentration gradients. Except for initiation involving sensory neurons, whereby action potentials begin near the sensory receptor, initiation takes place at the axon hillock and initial segment of the axon where sodium channels are concentrated. Conduction of the action potential is continuous in unmyelinated axons and is fast and saltatory in myelinated axons where sodium channels are concentrated at the nodes of Ranvier.
Learning Without External Reward [Research Frontier]

In the traditional reinforcement learning paradigm, a reward signal is applied to define the goal of the task. Usually, the reward signal is a "hand-crafted" numerical value or a pre-defined function: it tells the agent how good or bad a specific action is. However, we believe there exist situations in which the environment cannot directly provide such a reward signal to the agent. Therefore, the question is whether an agent can still learn without the external reward signal or not. To this end, this article develops a self-learning approach which enables the agent to adaptively develop an internal reward signal based on a given ultimate goal, without requiring an explicit external reward signal from the environment. In this article, we aim to convey the self-learning idea in a broad sense, which could be used in a wide range of existing reinforcement learning and adaptive dynamic programming algorithms and architectures. We describe the idealized forms of this method mathematically, and also demonstrate its effectiveness through a triple-link inverted pendulum case study.
Vocal Transmission of Breeding Status May Facilitate Dispersal in a Cooperative Breeding Primate

Social complexity may drive complexity in communicative systems due to an individual9s need to navigate unpredictable interactions with multiple conspecifics. Cooperative breeding primates (marmosets and tamarins; family: Callitrichidae) live in groups with moderate to high reproductive skew, particularly in females, whereby sexually mature individuals are frequently prevented from breeding. Remarkably, dispersal from natal groups is not stereotyped upon reaching reproductive maturity. Individuals are often observed remaining in their natal groups until the same-sex breeder in their group or a neighboring group dies, experiencing hormonal reproductive suppression, aggression, and limited access to potential mates. Here we examined whether emperor tamarins ( Saguinus imperator ) might use vocal signals to reduce dispersal risks and maximize the likelihood of attaining a breeding position. Using six consecutive years of mark-recapture data, we showed that sexually mature non-breeders (herein "secondary breeders") are more likely to leave their groups from one year to the next than sexually mature breeders ("primary breeders"). This confirmed that, unlike primary breeders who do not need to disperse in order to reproduce, secondary breeders are choosing to accept the risks associated with dispersal and emigrating from their natal groups. We used neural networks to classify vocalizations according to individual breeding status, and conducted a series of playback experiments which demonstrated that tamarins discriminated between the calls of primary and secondary breeders. Our data support the hypotheses that secondary breeders disperse to increase mating opportunities and use vocalizations to signal their availability to potential mates. This species of cooperative breeder appears to use vocalization to navigate its social and reproductive systems, minimizing risks of dispersal and in turn increasing the likelihood of reproductive success. This research has important implications for our understanding of sexual signaling, partner choice, and reproductive success in cooperative breeders.
Characterizing the Impact of Sampling Rate and Filter Design on the Morphology of Lower Limb Angular Velocities

The angular velocity of lower limb segments during walking is useful for calculating temporal–spatial parameters and joint kinematics in the inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based gait analysis. While many IMU-based methods for gait analysis have been proposed, configurations of data acquisition and signal conditioning parameter have not been standardized across studies. This study examined the effect of sampling rate and filter design on the characteristic angular velocity waveform obtained from IMUs donned on the lower limbs. Specifically, the frequency analysis of this waveform was performed, and the difference in timing and magnitude of the signal at gait events was evaluated relative to the initial signal. A minimum sampling rate of 35 Hz and a lowpass filter (LPF) cutoff of greater than 10 Hz were found to be appropriate parameters for acquisition and conditioning of the lower limb angular velocity signals. The required low minimum sampling rate suggests that gyroscope data are appropriate for use in bandwidth and battery life limited mobile health applications. Our results also showed that while the commonly employed LPF cutoffs of 5 Hz or less may be appropriate for mid-stance detection, they were not optimal for calculation of heel-strike, toe-off, mid-swing, or angular displacement, obtained with heel-strike and toe-off as delimiters.
IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS AND META-ANALYSES FOR RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

The systematic reviews of the literature reported in this issue of the Journal provide a number of important contributions to the field. First, they organize a large literature, culling out core contributions to the knowledge base for those new to the injury prevention field. Second, they provide concise information to policy makers and program planners on approaches to preventing injury that are most likely to lead to success. Third, they reveal key limitations of the extant literature, and point the way toward methodological improvements and changes needed in how research is reported. The members of the collaborative team that conducted these reviews selected ten interventions that target major causes of injuries, for which evaluation studies are available, and for which estimates of their overall effect across studies was deemed to make a useful contribution to the literature. The reader should not assume that there are no other interventions with scientifically established beneficial effects. There are numerous others. In the alcohol arena, for example, evidence is clear that numerous regulations reducing the availability of alcohol (such as raising the legal drinking age or increasing alcohol taxes) reduces drinking, reduces alcohol-related car crashes, and re
Inorganic nanomaterials in polymeric water decontamination membranes

One of the major research challenges today is the efficient treatment and desalination of seawater, brackish water, and wastewater to make it recyclable and ecofriendly. Membrane technology has offered an increasingly important role to overcome confronts associated with the water treatment. Polymeric membrane is the most common and preliminary technology used for water purification. However, solicitation of polymeric membrane is restricted due to inadequate permeability, selectivity, strength, and low fouling resistance. Consequently, polymeric nanocomposite has emerged as a promising solution to address these flouts. Nanocomposite membrane is considered as a new class of membranes prepared by combining polymeric materials with nanoparticles. Advanced nanocomposite membranes based on polymer/inorganic nanoparticle materials have been designed to meet explicit water treatment applications. This review basically summarizes scientific and technological advances toward the development of polymer/inorganic nanoparticle nanocomposite membranes for water treatment. A wide range of inorganic nanoparticles have been used to reinforce polymers such as metal and metal oxide nanoparticle, nanoclay, and zeolite. Polymer/inorganic nanoparticle nanocomposite membranes have been fabricated by fine tuning the structure and physicochemical properties such as porosity, hydrophilicity, antibacterial, thermal, and mechanical characteristics. Moreover, inorganic nanoparticle incorporated in matrix may behave as adsorbents for the removal of toxic metal ions, inorganic, organic, and biological micropollutant, and other noxious compounds from aqueous solutions. Toward the end, challenges and future research trends on high-performance polymer/inorganic nanoparticle nanocomposite membranes have been discussed.
High-speed volumetric fluorescein angiography (vFA) by oblique scanning laser ophthalmoscopy in mouse retina

Abstract Oblique scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (oSLO) is a recently developed technique to provide three-dimensional volumetric fluorescence imaging in retina over a large field of view, without the need for depth sectioning. Here in the paper, we present high-speed volumetric fluorescein angiography (vFA) in mouse retina in vivo by oSLO. By simply using a low-cost industrial CMOS camera, we improved the imaging speed by ~10 times comparing to our previous results, achieving vFA at 2 volumes per second. Enabled by high-speed vFA, we visualized hemodynamics at single capillary level in 3D and provided methods to quantify capillary hematocrit, absolute capillary blood flow speed, and detection of capillary flow stagnancy and stalling. The quantitative metrics for capillary hemodynamics at 3D retinal capillary network can offer valuable insight in vision science and retinal pathologies.
Factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV + Patients in Guangxi, China

This study employed logistic regression to examine the factors that predict medication adherence among a total of 2,146 HIV-infected individuals who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in G...
Acute hydroxyurea treatment reduces tubular damage following bilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury in a mouse model of sickle cell disease.

Abstract Ischemic injury is a primary contributor to the initiation of renal tubular epithelial cell damage in sickle cell disease (SCD). In this study, we investigated the effects of bilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is a common type of acute kidney injury (AKI), in male and female genetic mouse model of SCD. Bilateral occlusion of both renal hila for 21 min led to a significantly higher detection of established serum markers of AKI (creatinine, KIM-1 and NGAL) compared to sham-operated male SCD mice. Severe damage to the outer medullary tubules was determined in the ischemia-reperfision injury (IRI)-treated SCD male mice. In female SCD mice with a longer ischemic time (23 min), the serum markers of AKI were not as highly elevated compared to their male counterparts, and the extent of outer medullary tubular injury was less severe. To assess the potential benefit in the use of hydroxyurea (50 mg/kg IP) following bilateral renal IRI, we observed that the serum markers of AKI and the outer medullary tubular damage were markedly improved compared to male SCD mice that were not treated with hydroxyurea. In this study, we confirmed that male SCD mice were more susceptible to increased tubular damage and a loss in renal function compared to female SCD mice, and that hydroxyurea may partially prevent the extent of tubular injury following severe ischemia-reperfusion injury in SCD.
Adaptive Security in Broadcast Encryption Systems.

We present new techniques for achieving adaptive security in broadcast encryption systems. Previous work on fully collusion resistant broadcast encryption with short ciphertexts was limited to considering only static security. First, we present a new definition of security that we call semi-static security and show a generic “two-key” transformation from semi-statically secure systems to adaptively secure systems that have comparable-size ciphertexts. Using bilinear maps, we then construct broadcast encryption systems that are semi-statically secure in the standard model and have constant-size ciphertexts. Our semi-static constructions work when the number of indices or identifiers in the system is polynomial in the security parameter. For identity-based broadcast encryption, where the number of potential indices or identifiers may be exponential, we present the first adaptively secure system with sublinear ciphertexts. We prove security in the standard model.
Nonnegative sum-symmetric matrices, optimal-score partitions, and optimal resource allocation.

The main result of the note describes certain optimal-score partitions, which can be interpreted as optimal resource allocations. This result is based on the fact that any nonnegative square matrix whose column sums are the same as the corresponding row sums can be represented as the sum of circuit matrices.
Data on the quality and methods of studies reporting healthcare costs of post-prostate biopsy sepsis.

Abstract This data article presents the supplementary material for the review paper “Healthcare Costs of Post-Prostate Biopsy Sepsis” (Gross et al., 2019). A general overview is provided of 18 papers, including the details about year and journal of publication, country of dataset, data population characteristics, cost basis, and potential for bias evaluation. Quality assessment and the risk of bias of the 18 papers are detailed and summarized.
Field Test Results of Sex- and Gender-Specific Health Multimedia Case-Based Learning Modules.

Background: The sex- and gender-specific health (SGSH) multimedia case-based learning modules (MCBLMs) were developed to address the absence of validated or peer-reviewed material that incorporates...
Amphiphilic and amphoteric aqueous soy protein colloids and their cohesion and adhesion to cellulose

Abstract Highly stable aq. soy protein (SP) colloids have been facilely prepared by high-speed blending (30k rpm, 15 min) to homogeneously disperse up to 97.7 % of soy protein isolate at up to 9 %. Aq. SP colloids were amphoteric with a 4.5 isoelectric point and ζ-potentials ranging from +32.4 mV at pH 2.2 to -39.1 mV at pH 7.1 with respective average hydrodynamic diameters of 157 and 233 nm. Diluted aq. SP colloids (0.0001 %) dried on hydrophilic mica appeared as 6.0 nm thick and 16.4 nm wide disk-like nanoparticulates. Aq. SP colloids were also amphiphilic, reducing water surface tension to 41.2 mN/m at > 0.98 % and could be solvent-exchanged to dimethyl formaldehyde or 4:1 v/v methanol/water. Colloidal SPs exhibited preferential affinity and adhesion to cellulose filter paper to significantly improve the respective tensile modulus and strength by 70 and 42 % at merely 2.8 % dried add-on. The improved cohesion of 6.2 % SPs was evident by drying at 110 °C to further increase the respective tensile modulus and strength of cellulose by another 78 and 41 %.
Analysis of multi-electron, multi-step homogeneous catalysis by rotating disc electrode voltammetry: theory, application, and obstacles

Rotating disc electrode (RDE) voltammetry has been widely adopted for the study of heterogenized molecular electrocatalysts for multi-step fuel-forming reactions but this tool has never been comprehensively applied to their homogeneous analogues. Here, the utility and limitations of RDE techniques for mechanistic and kinetic analysis of homogeneous molecular catalysts that mediate multi-electron, multi-substrate redox transformations are explored. Using the ECEC′ reaction mechanism as a case study, two theoretical models are derived based on the Nernst diffusion layer model and the Hale transformation. Current–potential curves generated by these computational strategies are compared under a variety of limiting conditions to identify conditions under which the more minimalist Nernst Diffusion Layer approach can be applied. Based on this theoretical treatment, strategies for extracting kinetic information from the plateau current and the foot of the catalytic wave are derived. RDEV is applied to a cobaloxime hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst under non-aqueous conditions in order to experimentally validate this theoretical framework and explore the feasibility of RDE as a tool for studying homogeneous catalysts. Crucially, analysis of the foot-of-the-wave via this theoretical framework provides rate constants for elementary reaction steps that agree with those extracted from stationary voltammetric methods, supporting the application of RDE to study homogeneous fuel-forming catalysts. Finally, obstacles encountered during the kinetic analysis of cobaloxime, along with the voltammetric signatures used to diagnose this reactivity, are discussed with the goal of guiding groups working to improve RDE set-ups and help researchers avoid misinterpretation of RDE data.
Lysosome AKT Targeting in Metastatic Cancer

Metastatic cancer is caused by hyperactivated lysosomes. Such activation causes a fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus, to permanently activate the AKT gene network that controls the lysosome through positive feedback loops. Targeting such a network by the redox balance change, and with an antifungal medication eliminates the metastatic phenotype, the complexity and robustness of the cancer. This principal mechanism of gene targeting, which suppressed metastasis of unknown origin, was observed clinically.
The case for voter-centered audits of search engines during political elections

Search engines, by ranking a few links ahead of million others based on opaque rules, open themselves up to criticism of bias. Previous research has focused on measuring political bias of search engine algorithms to detect possible search engine manipulation effects on voters or unbalanced ideological representation in search results. Insofar that these concerns are related to the principle of fairness, this notion of fairness can be seen as explicitly oriented toward election candidates or political processes and only implicitly oriented toward the public at large. Thus, we ask the following research question: how should an auditing framework that is explicitly centered on the principle of ensuring and maximizing fairness for the public (i.e., voters) operate? To answer this question, we qualitatively explore four datasets about elections and politics in the United States: 1) a survey of eligible U.S. voters about their information needs ahead of the 2018 U.S. elections, 2) a dataset of biased political phrases used in a large-scale Google audit ahead of the 2018 U.S. election, 3) Google's "related searches" phrases for two groups of political candidates in the 2018 U.S. election (one group is composed entirely of women), and 4) autocomplete suggestions and result pages for a set of searches on the day of a statewide election in the U.S. state of Virginia in 2019. We find that voters have much broader information needs than the search engine audit literature has accounted for in the past, and that relying on political science theories of voter modeling provides a good starting point for informing the design of voter-centered audits.
Hormonal Evaluation of Incidental Adrenal Masses: The Exception, Not the Rule

Incidental adrenal masses (IAMs) occur in approximately 4% of patients undergoing abdominal CT scans for any indication. Hormonal evaluation is recommended for all IAMs. The purpose of this study was to identify the rate of IAMs in a screening population and to determine the adequacy of endocrine evaluation of newly identified IAMs based on established guidelines. This was a retrospective analysis of 6913 patients undergoing a non-contrast screening CT colonography at a single academic medical center between June 2004 and July 2012. The prevalence of IAMs in this asymptomatic screening population was 2.1% (n = 148). Of those patients, 8.8% (n = 11) underwent some form of hormonal evaluation and only 6.4% (n = 8) patients had a “complete” workup. Cortisol, metanephrines, and an aldosterone–renin ratio were evaluated in 8.0%, 7.2%, and 4.0% of patients, respectively. Of the patients (n = 11) who underwent hormonal evaluation, 27.3% had functional masses and 36.4% underwent surgery. Of those who did not have hormonal evaluation, 42.1% (n = 48) had comorbidities that should have prompted hormonal evaluation based on established guidelines. Hormonal evaluation was not performed in 89.4% of patients with hypertension and 21.1% of patients with diabetes. 88.9% of patients on three or more antihypertensive medications did not undergo any hormonal evaluation. Compliance with IAM workup guidelines is poor, which may result in missed diagnosis of functional adrenal masses. Establishment of a robust protocol and education on appropriate workup for IAMs is necessary for adequate hormonal evaluation.
ARCHONS: a highly multiplexed superconducting optical to near-IR camera

We report on the development of ARCONS, the ARray Camera for Optical to Near-IR Spectrophotometry. This photon counting integral field unit (IFU), being built at UCSB and Caltech with detectors fabricated at JPL, will use a unique, highly multiplexed low temperature detector technology known as Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs). These detectors, which operate at 100 mK, should provide photon counting with energy resolution of R = E/δE > 20 and time resolution of a microsecond, with a quantum efficiency of around 50%. We expect to field the instrument at the Palomar 200" telescope in the first quarter of 2011 with an array containing 1024 pixels in a 32×32 pixel form factor to yield a field of view of approximately 10×10 arcseconds. The bandwidth of the camera is limited by the rising sky count rate at longer wavelengths, but we anticipate a bandwidth of 0.35 to 1.35 μm will be achievable. A simple optical path and compact dewar utilizing a cryogen-free adiabatic demagnetization refridgerator (ADR) allows the camera to be deployed quickly at Naysmith or Coude foci at a variety of telescopes. A highly expandable software defined radio (SDR) readout that can scale up to much larger arrays has been developed.
Thyroid Disorders in Adolescence

Acquired thyroid diseases including thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer are more common during adolescence in the pediatric age group. Early identification and treatment of thyroid disease in children and adolescents are critical to optimize growth and development. Pubertal and menstrual disorders can be seen with both hypo- and hyperthyroidism. Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease, are the most common causes of acquired hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in adolescents, respectively. In genetically susceptible individuals, several environmental factors may trigger thyroid autoimmunity by increasing the immunogenicity of thyroid autoantigens, enhancing antigen presentation in the thyroid, and reducing self-tolerance. AITD are frequently associated with other common autoimmune disorders such as type 1 DM and celiac disease. Recently, unique guidelines were created for thyroid cancer and nodule management in pediatric population. This chapter addresses the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of common thyroid disorders in adolescents.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Vehicle Miles Traveled: Integrating the California Environmental Quality Act with California Global Warming Solutions Act

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) commits California to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The transportation sector is the top GHG emitter in California, contributing roughly 40 percent of all California emissions. Poor fuel efficiency and high vehicle miles traveled (VMT) are primary contributors to transportation sector GHG emissions. Meeting California’s GHG emissions reduction goals requires reductions in both per-mile emissions and vehicle miles traveled. Fuel efficiency has been addressed historically by federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, and California has passed its own legislation regulating GHG emissions from vehicles. Vehicle
An induced junction photovoltaic cell

Silicon solar cells operating with induced junctions rather than diffused junctions have been fabricated and tested. Induced junctions were created by forming an inversion layer near the surface of the silicon by supplying a sheet of positive charge above the surface. Measurements of the response of the inversion layer cell to light of different wavelengths indicated it to be more sensitive to the shorter wavelengths of the sun's spectrum than conventional cells. The greater sensitivity occurs because of the shallow junction and the strong electric field at the surface.
Design and development of a peer evaluation instrument for "student learning teams"

"Student learning teams" (SLT) involves the integration of academic cooperative learning with an industrial based model used to develop corporate teams. For effective teamwork to occur within a SLT, a variety of factors must be monitored and evaluated. One specific area "Interpersonal Relations", can potentially cause serious problems which stem from unclear and poorly defined expectations team members have of each other. Also, participation of all team members is paramount because it builds trust and demonstrates each member's sincerity and interest in being on the SLT. One suitable way to assess the "Interpersonal Relations " element within a team involves a peer evaluation. This paper discusses the design and development of a student centered peer evaluation for the SLT concept. It is based on input from several SLTs. Teams in the are continuing the refinement of the instrument and will be using it as one factor in determining each team member's grade for the course. Data is being collected to substantiate the validity and reliability of the instrument and those results will be available in the future. For SLTs the ultimate purpose of the peer evaluation focuses on the individual integrity of the learning experience. Each team member plays an integral part in the success of the team and its performance must be periodically reviewed and assessed by each team. Also, appropriate feedback needs to be offered so shortcomings can be addressed by the individual.
Large deformation minimum mean squared error template estimation for computational anatomy

This paper presents a method for large deformation exemplar template estimation. This method generates a representative anatomical template from an arbitrary number of topologically similar images using large deformation minimum mean squared error image registration. The template that we generate is the image that requires the least amount of deformation energy to be transformed into every input image. We show that this method is also useful for image registration. In particular, it provides a means for inverse consistent image registration. This method is computationally practical; computation time grows linearly with the number of input images. Template estimation results are presented for a set of five 3D MR human brain images.
A Novel Infrared Spectrometer Using a Linear Array Detector

An infrared spectrometer has been constructed that employs a 32-element InSb linear array detector. A comparison has been made of the spectra obtained with this spectrometer with those obtained with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. It has been predicted that, from 2400 to 2650 cm−1 in the infrared spectrum, a four-microsecond transient could be captured with an approximate SNR of 50.
T-2 mycotoxin inhibits mitochondrial protein synthesis.

Abstract J. G. Pace , M. R. Watts and W. J. Canterbury . T-2 mycotoxin inhibits mitochondrial protein synthesis. Toxicon26, 77 – 85 1988. — We investigated the effect of T-2 toxin on rat liver mitochondrial protein synthesis. Isolated rat liver mitochondria were supplemented with an S-100 supernatant from rat liver and an external ATP-generating system. We used an in vitro assay employing cycloheximide, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic protein synthesis, and chloramphenicol, an inhibitor of mitochondrial protein synthesis, to distinguish mitochondrial protein synthesis from the cytoplasmic process. Amino acid incorporation into mitochondria was dependent on the concentration of mitochondria and was inhibited by chloramphenicol. The rate of uptake of [3H]leucine into mitochondrial protein was unaffected by the addition of T-2 toxin and was not a rate-limiting step in incorporation. However, 0.02 μg/ml of T-2 toxin decreased the rate of protein synthesis by isolated mitochondria by 50%. The degree of protein synthesis inhibition correlated with the amount of T-2 toxin taken up by the mitochondria. While T-2 toxin is known to inhibit eukaryotic protein synthesis, this is the first time T-2 was shown to inhibit mitochondrial protein synthesis.
Identification and Characterization of a Novel Monoamine Transporter in the Human Brain

Abstract Precise control of monoamine neurotransmitter levels in the extracellular fluids of the brain is critical in maintaining efficient and robust neurotransmission. High affinity transporters in the solute carrier SLC6A family function in removing monoamines from the neurosynaptic cleft. Emerging evidence suggests that these transporters are only one part of a system of transporters that work in concert to maintain brain homeostasis of monoamines. Here we report the cloning and characterization of a new human plasma membrane monoamine transporter, PMAT. The PMAT cDNA encodes a protein of 530 amino acid residues with 10–12 transmembrane segments. PMAT is not homologous to known neurotransmitter transporters but exhibits low homology to members of the equilibrative nucleoside transporter family. When expressed in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells and Xenopus laevis oocytes, PMAT efficiently transports serotonin (Km = 114 μm), dopamine (Km = 329 μm), and the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (Km = 33 μm). In contrast, there is no significant interaction of PMAT with nucleosides or nucleobases. PMAT-mediated monoamine transport does not require Na+ or Cl– but appears to be sensitive to changes in membrane potential. Northern blot analysis showed that PMAT is predominantly expressed in the human brain and widely distributed in the central nervous system. These studies demonstrate that PMAT may be a novel low affinity transporter for biogenic amines, which, under certain conditions, might supplement the role of the high affinity transporters in the brain.
Organic Management Practices on Athletic Fields: Part 1. The Effects on Color, Quality, Cover, and Weed Populations

Many organic products have been used effectively in turfgrass management programs, but their exclusive use in athletic fi eld maintenance and effect on playing surface quality has not been extensively researched. The objectives were to determine the effects of management regimes and overseeding during simulated traffi c on (i) turfgrass color and quality, (ii) percent cover, and (iii) weed populations. The experimental design was a 2 × 6 factorial, with two overseeding levels (overseeded and not overseeded) of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) blend during traffi c and six management regimes: (i) conventional, (ii) organic manure (OMan), (iii) organic protein (OPro), (iv) organic manure plus compost tea (OMan+CT), (v) organic protein plus compost tea (OPro+CT), and (vi) none or the control. This research was conducted over 2 yr on a mature stand of ‘Langara’ Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) on a Paxton sandy loam soil. Fall traffi c was simulated with a Cady Traffi c Simulator. The conventional treatment consistently produced higher quality turfgrass, lower weed counts, and better mid- to late-fall color. Weed populations were signifi cantly less with the conventional regime. Overseeding increased cover at the end of the traffi c periods by 32% in the fi rst year and by 103% in the second year. Overseeding was also benefi cial to turfgrass color and quality and in reducing weeds. The conventional treatment also retained signifi cantly higher turfgrass cover than the organic regimes under traffi cked conditions late into the fall in 2008. However, no difference in late fall cover between the conventional and organic management regimes was observed in late fall 2009. Compost tea applications showed no enhancement of turfgrass color, quality, or cover over the entire duration of the study.
Secretory protein synthesis in parotid glands of young and old rats

To determine whether the synthesis of secretory proteins changes with age, the incorporation of [14C]-leucine into exportable proteins of the parotid gland was compared in 2- and 24-month-old rats. The proteins were separated by SDS-gel electrophoresis of the post-microsomal supernatant and identified by comparing the banding patterns in gels prepared from unstimulated glands with those from the glands stimulated to secrete. The amount of radioactivity incorporated into the bands corresponding to exportable proteins was significantly less in the older group, indicating that the synthesis of secretory proteins declines with age.
Effect of Actinomycin D on the replication of Mengovirus-ribonucleic acid in Novikoff hepatoma cells

Abstract The formation of the viral-induced RNA polymerase and the production of mature Mengovirus are prevented by treatment of Novikoff (rat) hepatoma cells with Actinomycin D, 6–10 hours prior to infection. When cells are treated with Actinomycin D after the synthesis of viral polymerase has been initiated (2.5 – 3 hours after infection), there is no effect on the subsequent production of enzyme or on its activity or on the yield of virus. The effect of Actinomycin D on the production of viral-induced RNA polymerase increases as a function of the interval of exposure to the antibiotic prior to the time the synthesis of enzyme normally begins (2.5 – 3 hours after infection).
Multi-layer membrane model for mass transport in a direct ethanol fuel cell using an alkaline anion exchange membrane

Abstract A one-dimensional, isothermal, single-phase model is presented to investigate the mass transport in a direct ethanol fuel cell incorporating an alkaline anion exchange membrane. The electrochemistry is analytically solved and the closed-form solution is provided for two limiting cases assuming Tafel expressions for both oxygen reduction and ethanol oxidation. A multi-layer membrane model is proposed to properly account for the diffusive and electroosmotic transport of ethanol through the membrane. The fundamental differences in fuel crossover for positive and negative electroosmotic drag coefficients are discussed. It is found that ethanol crossover is significantly reduced upon using an alkaline anion exchange membrane instead of a proton exchange membrane, especially at current densities higher than 500 A m − 2 .
Selectivity in palladium(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions: Application to a tandem stille reaction

Abstract A tandem palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between a pyridyl triflate 1a and a variety of aryl bromides mediated by hexamethylditin is described. The reaction apparently proceeds via the intermediacy of the labile pyridylstannane 1b indicating that the oxidative addition of palladium(0) to the triflate, subsequent transmetalation with hexamethylditin and reductive elimination occurs selectively in the presence of the aryl halide.
Effects of Texture Component Orientation on Orientation Flow Visibility for 3-D Shape Perception

In images of textured 3-D surfaces, orientation flows created by the texture components parallel to the surface slant play a critical role in conveying the surface slant and shape. This study examines the visibility of these orientation flows in complex patterns. Specifically, we examine the effect of orientation of neighboring texture components on orientation flow visibility. Complex plaids consisting of gratings equally spaced in orientation were mapped onto planar and curved surfaces. The visibility of the component that creates the orientation flows was quantified by measuring its contrast threshold (CT) while varying the combination of neighboring components present in the pattern. CTs were consistently lowest only when components closest in orientation to that of the orientation flows were subtracted from the pattern. This finding suggests that a previously reported frequency-selective cross-orientation suppression mechanism involved with the perception of 3-D shape from texture is affected by proximity in orientation of concurrent texture components.
Romancing the Gop: Assessing the Strategies Used by the Christian Coalition to Influence the Republican Party

Despite the increasing involvement of interest groups and social movement organizations in the American political system over the past few decades, only recently has some attention been given to understanding how their activities affect political parties. To investigate the relationship between parties and groups, I examine the interactions between the Christian Coalition and the Republican Party. Relying on 17 interviews with national Republican and Christian Coalition officials, and a mail survey of 423 Republican county chairs, I argue that the Christian Coalition has used electoral mobilization and policy expertise more than financial clout to influence the party. These results have important ramifications for the relationship between groups and political parties.
Precontoured fixed-angle volar distal radius plates: a comparison of anatomic fit.

Purpose To compare distal radius volar fixed-angle plates for anatomic fit. Methods Twenty embalmed radii were stripped of soft tissues. The volar lip (watershed line) on the volar distal radius served as a reference line. Seven volar fixed-angle plates were tested (Acumed Acu-loc Standard, Hand Innovations DVRAW and DVRAN, Synthes Juxta-articular [JA], Synthes Extra-articular [EA], Trimed Volar Bearing, Zimmer Volar Lateral Column). Four parameters of anatomic fit were studied: (1) site of best fit; (2) percent plate contact; (3) pin–subchondral bone distance; and (4) extraosseous penetrations. The Wilcoxon signed rank test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to compare interobserver plate placement. A Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance was used to compare percent plate contact and pin–subchondral bone distance across all plates. The Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was used to compare pin–subchondral bone distances for all possible plate combinations. Results There was no difference between observers for plate placement. Each plate had a specific site of best fit, and the 7 plates varied widely in best fit location. Percent contact (range, 3% to 6%) between plates was significantly different. Pin–subchondral bone distance across all plates was significantly different. Analysis of all possible plate combinations showed that the Synthes EA pin–subchondral bone distances were significantly different than those of all plates except Zimmer. Amongst the 140 plate insertions, the radiocarpal joint was penetrated in 17, the styloid in 7, (with 6 associated with the DVRAW plate), and the distal radioulnar joint in 9 (all associated with the DVRAW plate). Conclusions There was considerable variation in ideal plate location among the 7 plates tested. Total contact was minimal for all plates tested. The Synthes EA pin–subchondral bone distance was significantly greater than those of other plates tested. Joint penetration was relatively common, necessitating use of fluoroscopy and proper plate width.