cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laboratory Rearing Techniques for the Southern Corn Rootworm

An artificial diet was developed for the adult stage of Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber and was used to sustain a laboratory colony for over a year. Black aquarium gravel was found to be a practical oviposition substrate for use in conjunction with rearing larvae on artificial diet. Eggs could be readily removed from this medium with sieves and surface-sterilized with sodium hypochlorite. Over 40% of the newly hatched larvae placed on the artificial diet used for the larval stage successfully completed larval development in 20 to 21 days, Larval cannibalism occurred, and over ⅓ of the larvae placed on the diet were eaten by other larvae. Following completion of immature development, larvae were transferred to a mixture of dampened vermiculite and sand for pupation, Slightly over 60% of the larvae placed on this substrate emerged as adults in 16 to 24 days. With the diets and techniques described, about 25% of the 1st-stage larvae survived to become adults. Approximately 59 days were required for completion of a generation.
Application of two-dimensional photoelasticity to the study of acceleration stresses under quasi-static conditions

A laboratory method has been developed to simulate the state of stress in various structures under rapid-acceleration loading conditions. This method subjects a two-dimensional photoelastic model to impact loading, using a commercially purchased drop tester. The particular approach selected for studying this dynamic situation was a static technique utilizing a 4×5 studio camera and a high-intensity Xenon-light source. The light was flashed by the maximum pulse from an accelerator mounted on the model. This static treatment provided a significant improvement in the optical quality of the fringe patterns over that obtained by dynamic high-speed photographic methods used in earlier impact studies. It permitted evaluation of the reproducibility of the loading system and associated photographic synchronization and triggering circuits, since double exposures could be taken of separate individual tests of the same loading condition with little degradation of the optical fringe data. A composite picture made of four separate photographs of a series of individual tests, with the camera viewing a different portion of the sample in each picture, showed continuity of fringe pattern and highlighted the regions of critical stress within the model.
A Comparative Study of Prussian and Anglican Church-State Reform in the Nineteenth Century

Th e first half of the nineteenth century was an exciting time to be a Protestant if, to be sure, one were well born—or at the least, well educated—and male. Secular change had not yet eroded the clerical profession's ability to attract good minds and new ideas, and theolo gians said that they were unafraid of the new cultural "claims" of the nineteenth century, welcoming with an easy confidence the "fruitful tension"1 between science and theology and between con flicting theological schools. One of the ways in which it was exciting to be a Protestant was an ongoing and vigorous debate over the connection between church and state. That there must be some connection was assumed, but of what sort and with what division of authority remained unclear. Just as governmental and theological changes brought by the Reforma tion had forced a readjustment in ecclesiastical governance, so too in the nineteenth century changes in ideas about the nature of government and the function of the state churches brought changes in the constitutions of those churches. Although this essay will consider developments in England and Prussia only, what hap pened in those two countries is so similar that ecclesiastical changes occurring in England and Prussia may turn out to be a part of a broader, European movement. Although such a broad view here is premature, a preliminary conclusion that emerges from this study is that in ecclesiastical organization—as in theology2—one may have reached the point where the national literature is well enough
Modeling of DNA Translocation in Nanopores

A hydrodynamic model is used to investigate the translocation of a long-chain DNA molecule inside a solidstate nanopore. The flow field inside the nanopore is calculated base d on the lubrication approximation and the forces acting on the DNA are calculated. The DNA translocation velocity is predicted based on the force balance on the DNA and the results compares well with experimental data.
Power grid adaptability study on increasing ±800 kV UHVDC transmission capacity

According to the programming of ultra high voltage power grid, three different transmission capacity schemes(7 000 MW, 7 200 MW and 7 600 MW) of ±800 kV ultra HVDC system with the same DC voltage were proposed to exert the transmission capability. The adaptability of power grid was studied in detail, and power grid structure and stability of power system influenced by DC capacity increment was analyzed. In the view of problems existing in power system, power grid adjustment and control strategy were presented. The study results provide the support for power grid design and ultra HVDC capacity selection in the future.
AC/DC Hybrid Micro Grid Load Distribution and DC Voltage Control

In order to realize the uniform distribution of DC power among interlinking converters and improve the DC voltage quality,a hierarchical control strategy for the interlinking converters was introduced. The first layer of the control strategy is that the voltage-power droop control method is used,which can realize the uniform load distribution.Because the droop control may lead to fall of the DC bus voltage,the DC voltage reference value is compensated according to the second layer control method,which can recover the stability of the bus voltage and ensure the quality of the DC voltage. This control strategy was analyzed by the root locus method. The microgrid model was built based on the simulation software DIg SILENT,and simulation results verify the validity of the strategy.
First-principles Study on Structural Stabilities of SBBO (Sr_2Be_2B_2O_7) Family Crystals

A theoretical study on the structural stabilities of the SBBO(Sr2Be2B2O7)family crystals is carried out employing first-principles calculations.Taking K2Al2B2O7,Na2Al2B2O7 and Sr2Be2B2O7 crystals for example,it's found that the structural stability of SBBO family crystals is closely related to the cohesion forces between [M2B2O7]∞(M=Be,Al)layers.A similar structure analysis can be extended to the other SBBO isomorphism.
Recent advances in understanding the interactions between nutrients and immunity in farm animals

Nutrition is an important determinant of the development and efficacy of the immune system. Nutrition is also sometimes used as a management tool to affect changes in the type or magnitude of an immune response. These developments have been the result of difficult research that relies on accepted principles of nutrition to inform the somewhat unknown frontiers of immunology and disease resistance. Historically, plethoric levels of nutrients were thought to boost, improve, or stimulate immunity and these claims were a tool of nutrient marketing because of the intellectual vacuum. These claims illustrate sloppiness in thinking, which fortunately has diminished due to our new appreciation for the role of nutrients in the immune system.
Improved Electrochemical Performance of Alkaline Batteries Using Quaternary Ammonia Polysulfone-Functionalized Separators

Flow-permeable separators underwent surface modification, and their performances were evaluated to determine the impact of an ion-exchange coating on the electrochemical properties of sandwich diffusion batteries. A zinc–alkaline system was used to evaluate this performance at high discharge rates and diffusion overpotentials across the separator. An alkaline-resistant anion-exchange polyelectrolyte was synthesized based on a quaternary ammonia polysulfone system to utilize the coated separators for faster ion and counterion transport, and the obtained functionalized separators were compared with stationary inert porous separators. Accordingly, the discharge behavior of primary battery systems for both inactive and functionalized separators was introduced. According to discharge profiles, the practical voltage range, specific capacity, and utilization of active materials were improved, and ionic conduction was enhanced and verified by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Different commercial filter pap...
Alfred Wegener: Science, Exploration, and the Theory of Continental Drift

Alfred Wegener was born in Berlin in 1880, and his life in many ways tells the story of the developing earth sciences in the early 20th century. Wegener was an eclectic scientist, with interests ra...
Gap regeneration within mature deciduous forests of Interior Alaska: Implications for future forest change

Abstract Increased fire severity in boreal forests of Interior Alaska is shifting forest canopy composition from black spruce ( Picea mariana ) to deciduous species, including trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides ) and Alaska paper birch ( Betula neoalaskana ). Because deciduous trees are less flammable than black spruce, the dominant disturbance regime in deciduous forests could move away from fire to one of gap disturbances. In this study, we quantified forest gap characteristics and vegetation within eight mature (62–119-yr-old) deciduous stands in Interior Alaska. Canopy gaps were generally small (true gap area 2 ), formed by the mortality of 4–16 gap makers (which were always deciduous trees), and occupied ∼17–29% of the forest except in the oldest stand, where gap fraction exceeded 45%, and in one anomalous 84-yr old stand, where gaps were absent. Canopy openness increased linearly with gap area, but density of both deciduous and evergreen tree recruits was generally low and insufficient to create future stands with densities similar to those currently found in mature stands across the landscape. Canopy openness was instead correlated with decreased leaf litter cover and increased cover of moss, lichen, and evergreen shrubs. Given the low recruitment of trees with canopy gaps and the decreased probability of fire, deciduous stands will likely transition to non-forested areas or low density stands once overstory trees reach maturity and die. This could have numerous implications for ecosystem function, including carbon (C), water, and energy balance, and potential feedbacks to future fire occurrence and regional climate.
Effect of Clinical Variables on the Volume of Blood Collected for Blood Cultures in an Adult Patient Population

OBJECTIVE To identify clinical variables that influence blood culture volume recovery DESIGN Retrospective chart review and linear model analysis SETTING A 621-bed Academic Medical Center with a Clinical Laboratory that processes 20,000+ blood cultures annually and dedicated phlebotomy staff for venipuncture PATIENTS Consecutive patients requiring blood culture METHODS Over a 6-day period, blood volume was determined in 568 culture bottles from 128 unique adult patients, and clinical data from the time of phlebotomy were extracted from hospital electronic medical records. Conditional hierarchical linear models with random effects for patient and phlebotomy occasion were utilized to analyze correlations between values collected from the same patient and during the same phlebotomy occasion. RESULTS Blood samples obtained from a central venous catheter yielded, on average, 2.53 mL more blood (95% CI, 1.63-3.44 mL; P<.001) than those from peripheral venipuncture, and aerobic bottles contained 0.38 mL more blood (95% CI, 0.1-0.67 mL; P=.009) than the anaerobic bottles. The remaining clinical variables (eg, hospital department, patient age, body mass index, gender, mean arterial pressure, concomitant systemic antibiotic use, and Charlson comorbidity index score) failed to reach statistical significance (P<.05) in relation to volume. CONCLUSIONS Blood cultures obtained from central venous catheters contain significantly greater volume than those obtained via peripheral venipuncture. These data highlight the clinically significant issue of low culture volume recovery, indicate that diagnostic and prognostic tools that rely on volume-dependent phenomena (ie, time to positivity) may require further validation under usual clinical practice circumstances, and suggest goals for future institutional performance improvement. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:1493-1497.
A Detailed Characterization of Aspectualizers — II: Continue, Keep, Resume, and Repeat Compared

In the preceding chapter, it was shown that start refers to the onset of events named in its complement and that being refers to the initial temporal period of the nucleus of events. As we proceed with the analysis of other aspectualizers, we will see that each can refer to some temporal part or parts of the events named by the forms occurring as their complements. The first pair of verbs to be discussed in this chapter, keep and continue, can both refer to the nucleus of events. The nucleus is the temporal segment of an event during which the characteristic activity of that event is ‘ongoing’ or is in progress. Thus the verbs that refer to this segment are imperfective. This is in counter-distinction to begin and start, both inchoative, and thus both perfective. It should be recalled that start and begin were never called ‘perfectivizers’ as their effect is not always to place a temporal limit on their complements nor to perfectivize sentences. Yet the left-hand time boundary represented by either start or begin is itself perfective. The aspectual characterization of keep and continue is somewhat clearer than that of begin and start. As will be illustrated below, not only are these verbs themselves imperfective, but they have a consistent imperfectivizing effect on verbs and sentences occurring as arguments of them. They may thus be designated as imperfectivizers.
Explanation, Cognitive Psychology of

Explanations are judgments about why events occur. Much psychological work on explanation comes from Attribution Theory, a collection of theories and research on how people make judgments about others and themselves. This article summarizes work on explanation, beginning with Heider, the founder of the scientific study of explanation. It discusses three perspectives, specifically the views that people are: (a) intuitive scientists who form explanations in a logical manner; (b) cognitive misers who avoid cognitive effort, and (c) story understanders who rely heavily on common sense to make judgments. Bias in judgment is also addressed, with a focus on two well-known biases. The correspondence bias is the tendency to infer that a person's behavior reflects a similar disposition, even when the behavior was constrained by the person's immediate situation. The self-serving bias is the tendency to take more credit for one's successes than one's failures. The process of explanation is also discussed. Current models suggest that explanations are drawn through several stages that differ in their degree of automaticity. Cultural differences are also discussed briefly, as are the consequences of explanations. Explanations for successes and failures can have important implications for mental health.
The effects of the fossil fuel divestment campaign on stock returns

Abstract Recent campaigns by environmental activists have placed pressure on institutional investors to divest holdings of oil, coal and other fossil fuel industry stocks. A substantial literature has emerged to evaluate the effects of this divestment campaign on stock returns. Findings have been mixed, with some studies identifying above-market returns to socially responsible investing and others documenting a premium on the targeted stocks. We calculate the rate of return for a fossil fuel-free portfolio and compare it to the return for the Standard & Poor’s 500 index. We also compare a portfolio consisting only of fossil-fuel oriented stocks with the S&P 500. Over various sample periods ranging from January 4, 2010 to June 29, 2018, the low-carbon portfolio typically earns a slightly higher rate of return than the overall market, due to the poor performance of the fossil fuel industry. These findings suggest that in the case of fossil fuels divestment, given the timeline of the movement, socially responsible investing has not been costly in terms of forgoing market returns.
The design, fabrication, and applications of flexible biosensing devices

Flexible biosensors form part of a rapidly growing research field that take advantage of a multidisciplinary approach involving materials, fabrication and design strategies to be able to function at biological interfaces that may be soft, intrinsically curvy, irregular, or elastic. Numerous exciting advancements are being proposed and developed each year towards applications in healthcare, fundamental biomedical research, food safety and environmental monitoring. In order to place these developments in perspective, this review is intended to present an overview on field of flexible biosensor development. We endeavor to show how this subset of the broader field of flexible and wearable devices presents unique characteristics inherent in their design. Initially, a discussion on the structure of flexible biosensors is presented to address the critical issues specific to their design. We then summarize the different materials as substrates that can resist mechanical deformation while retaining their function of the bioreceptors and active elements. Several examples of flexible biosensors are presented based on the different environments in which they may be deployed or on the basis of targeted biological analytes. Challenges and future perspectives pertinent to the current and future stages of development are presented. Through these summaries and discussion, this review is expected to provide insights towards a systematic and fundamental understanding for the fabrication and utilization of flexible biosensors, as well as inspire and improve designs for smart and effective devices in the future.
Improving Documentation of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASIS) Using a Standardized Electronic Template at Two University-Affiliated Institutions.

Objectives Adequate repair is vital to reduce the long-term sequelae of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS). Sufficient documentation is necessary to reflect the quality of care provided, to guide future management, and to reduce medicolegal liability. With the advent of electronic health records, proper methods of documentation can be more easily disseminated and applied for general use. The objectives of our study were to assess whether documentation of OASIS management is improved by introducing a standardized electronic operative report, determining rates of readmission due to complications, and measuring adherence to practice guidelines. Methods A pre- and postintervention study was conducted by auditing electronic charts of patients affected by OASIS at two university-affiliated delivery units throughout the 2016 calendar year. Unit A is a safety-net hospital and unit B is private. A standardized electronic template was created in the electronic health records of both units. The primary outcome was the quality of repair documentation, which was quantified using a scale that included all relevant aspects of the repair. Results Analyzing both units separately, baseline characteristics including operator training level, episiotomy rate, and operative delivery were similar pre- and postintervention. The quality of documentation measured by the scale score improved significantly postintervention. Proper use of antibiotics and bowel regimen significantly increased after the intervention at both units. Conclusions The use of a standardized electronic template for reporting the diagnosis and repair of OASIS improves the thoroughness of documentation and appears to promote the implementation of best practice guidelines.
The dominant role of surface functionalization in carbon dots' photo-activated antibacterial activity.

Background: Carbon dots (CDots) have recently been demonstrated their effective visible light-activated antimicrobial activities toward bacteria. This study was to evaluate and understand the roles of the surface functionalities in governing the antimicrobial activity of CDots. Methods: Using the laboratory model bacteria Bacillus subtilis, the photo-activated antimicrobial activities of three groups of CDots with specifically selected different surface functionalization moieties were evaluated and compared. The first group consisting of CDots with surface functionalization by 2,2-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine) (EDA) vs. 3-ethoxypropylamine (EPA), was evaluated to determine the effect of different terminal groups/charges on their photo-activated antibacterial activities. The second group consisting of CDots functionalized with oligomeric polyethylenimine (PEI) and those prepared by the carbonization of PEI – citric acid mixture, was to evaluate the effects of dot surface charges vs. fluorescent quantum yields on their antimicrobial activities. The third group consisting of CDots functionalized with PEI of 1,200 vs. 600 in average molecular weight was evaluated for the effect of molecular weight of surface passivation molecular on their antimicrobial activities. Results: The results indicated the EDA-CDots in the first group was more effective and was attributed to the positive charges from the protonation of the amino groups (–NH2) being more favorable to interactions with bacterial cells. The evaluation of the second group CDots suggested the same surface charge effect dominating the antibacterial performance over the fluorescent quantum yields. The evaluation of the third group CDots functionalized with PEI of 1,200 vs. 600 in average molecular weight, indicated the latter was significantly more effective. Conclusions: The results from this study highlighted the dominant role of surface functionalities in governing CDots’ light activated antimicrobial activity and should have significant implications to the further design and development of CDots as a new class of visible light-activated antibacterial agents.
An Efficient Digital Backend for Wideband Single-Carrier mmWave Massive MIMO

Millimeter wave (mmWave) carrier frequencies offer the dual benefits of large bandwidth and physically compact antenna arrays with a large number of elements, so that a large number of simultaneous independently modulated users can be supported with digital beamforming. In this paper, we propose an efficient digital backend design for a wideband mmWave massive MIMO uplink taking full advantage of both features. The challenges in receiver design for a wideband system with a large antenna array include the following: (a) for each user, there is a multi- symbol delay spread across the array, hence the receiver must handle intersymbol as well as multiuser interference; (b) even though we consider channels with a single dominant path, the spatial frequency for a user becomes smeared across the band; (c) the natural strategy of MIMO- OFDM used at lower carrier frequencies is unattractive at mmWave frequencies because the linearity requirements due to large peak-to-average ratio are difficult to meet. In this paper, we introduce a novel technique that combines spatial domain FFT and time domain FFT, together with an interpolation technique for limiting the spread of spatial frequency across the band which significantly reduces the complexity of beamformer weight acquisition. We present simulation results for a system operating at 140 GHz with a bandwidth of 14 GHz and a 256- element horizontally-scanning linear base station array
Pten-Deficient Mouse Models for High-Grade Astrocytomas

Despite vigorous efforts in clinics and laboratories, the overall prognosis for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and aggressive glioma, has not greatly improved over the last few decades. Innovative new therapies based on detailed molecular mechanisms of glioma biology are highly desired. Mutation or loss of PTEN (phosphatase tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten), a key phosphatase that antagonizes the PI3K/AKT pathway, is one of the most frequent abnormalities found in high-grade astrocytomas. Whether this genetic alteration is causal or consequential to the tumorigenic process has begun to be elucidated through tumor genetics and new mouse models. This chapter describes the key findings from mouse astrocytoma models involving Pten deficiency or Akt activation, with specific emphasis on the recently reported Pten-heterozygous mouse models. In addition, future directions to inform the design of novel therapeutics for this devastating disease are discussed.
Exploring the metric, Klein-Gordon operator, and spinors in a 10-spacetime octonion extension of Dirac theory

The three conjugations in 10-space are used to examine details of the operators, metric, and wave functions in an octonion generalization of quantum electrodynamics.
An improved bound for the Shapley–Folkman theorem

Abstract We provide an up to 30% improvement in the Shapley–Folkman theorem error-bound, and briefly discuss its consequences for the course allocation problem.
Imaging of pediatric cervical spine trauma

While pediatric cervical spine injuries (CSI) are rare, they are associated with high morbidity and mortality and sometimes require expeditious surgical management. In this article, we aim to improve the diagnostic accuracy of pediatric CSI by reviewing normal pediatric cervical anatomy, typical pediatric CSI patterns, and common mimics of pediatric CSI. A literature review was conducted on pediatric CSI, its epidemiology, and the various imaging manifestations and mimics. The most common pediatric CSI occur in the upper cervical spine owing to the higher fulcrum and larger head at a young age, namely prior to age 9 years, while lower CSI occur more frequently in patients older than 9 years. While various craniocervical measurements may be utilized to identify craniocervical disruption, soft tissue injuries may be the only manifestation, thus making pediatric CSI difficult to diagnose on initial imaging. In the acute setting, CT cervical spine is an appropriate initial imaging modality for pediatric CSI evaluation. MRI serves as an additional tool to exclude or identify injuries when initial findings are equivocal. It is essential to recognize the unique anatomy and biomechanics of the pediatric spine and thus discern common pediatric CSI patterns and their mimics.
The new microbiology: Cultivating the future of microbiome-directed medicine

The discovery of human-associated microscopic life forms has captivated the scientific community since their first documentation in the 17th century. Subsequent isolation and cultivation of microor...
Intubating on the Ground

Anesthesiologists are frequently called to code blues to intubate patients who have gone into cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest. Occasionally, such patients are on the floor when they experience arrest. This can occur in out of OR settings, such as a hospital lobby, pharmacy, entrance, or bathroom. It is important for the code team to move the patient to a gurney or bed as soon as possible. However, depending on the exact location and patient body habitus, this may be quite challenging logistically. Due to time constraints, the anesthesiologist may choose to proceed with intubation on the ground. This chapter discusses several techniques for intubating on the ground and highlights ergonomic challenges.
Localization and chaos in a quantum spin glass model in random longitudinal fields: Mapping to the localization problem in a Bethe lattice with a correlated disorder

The analytical solution of a many-body localization problem in a quantum Sherrington-Kirkpatrick spin glass model in a random longitudinal field is proposed matching the problem with a model of Anderson localization in a Bethe lattice. The localization transition is dramatically sensitive to the relationship between interspin interaction and random field revealing different regimes in which the interaction can either suppress or enhance the delocalization. The localization is enhanced by decreasing the temperature and the localization transition shows a remarkable universality in a spin glass phase. The observed trends should be qualitatively relevant for other systems showing many-body localization.
Evaluating the Impact of IMU Sensor Location and Walking Task on Accuracy of Gait Event Detection Algorithms

There are several algorithms that use the 3D acceleration and/or rotational velocity vectors from IMU sensors to identify gait events (i.e., toe-off and heel-strike). However, a clear understanding of how sensor location and the type of walking task effect the accuracy of gait event detection algorithms is lacking. To address this knowledge gap, seven participants were recruited (4M/3F; 26.0 ± 4.0 y/o) to complete a straight walking task and obstacle navigation task while data were collected from IMUs placed on the foot and shin. Five different commonly used algorithms to identify the toe-off and heel-strike gait events were applied to each sensor location on a given participant. Gait metrics were calculated for each sensor/algorithm combination using IMUs and a reference pressure sensing walkway. Results show algorithms using medial-lateral rotational velocity and anterior-posterior acceleration are fairly robust against different sensor locations and walking tasks. Certain algorithms applied to heel and lower lateral shank sensor locations will result in degraded algorithm performance when calculating gait metrics for curved walking compared to straight overground walking. Understanding how certain types of algorithms perform for given sensor locations and tasks can inform robust clinical protocol development using wearable technology to characterize gait in both laboratory and real-world settings.
Stress and pain: modality-specific opioid mediation of stress-induced analgesia.

Preclinical research has demonstrated that exposure to acute stress is associated with attenuated pain perception, so called stress-induced analgesia (SIA). Mechanisms of SIA in humans have not been reliably demonstrated. This study examined the role of the endogenous opioid system in the impact of combined interpersonal and mental stressors on evoked pain responses in 84 participants (34 women). Using a within-subject, double-blinded, counterbalanced design, participants were administered either oral placebo or the opioid antagonist naltrexone (50 mg) across two testing sessions. In each session, they experienced two evoked pain stimuli (cold pressor test [CPT], heat pain) after an extended rest period (rest condition) and after exposure to an acute stressor (a combination of public speaking and mental arithmetic challenge; stress condition). Results showed that both stress and opioid blockade produced significant changes in hormonal and cardiovascular measures, consistent with successful induction of acute stress. Stress was associated with attenuated pain perception (SIA) as indicated by significantly increased CPT tolerance. These effects were particularly pronounced in individuals experiencing the stress condition first. More importantly, SIA effects on CPT tolerance were abolished by opioid blockade. There were no significant SIA effects on heat pain responses. This study demonstrates that the endogenous opioid system may mediate effects of acute stress on pain perception, although this effect seems to be qualified by the type of evoked pain stimuli experienced.
Clinical and genetic features of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: Diagnosis, management and the heart failure perspective

Abstract Background Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is an emerging new concept of a life-threatening heart muscle disorder due not only to desmosome gene mutations, but also to non-desmosome genes, such as filamin C, lamin A/C, phospholamban, transmembrane protein 43, titin, SCN5A and RNA binding motif protein 20. Multi-modality imaging along with genetic testing are important tools for risk stratification to tailor treatment to a single patient. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is the gold standard for evaluating left and right ventricular structure and function, edema, and fibrosis. The identification of regional fibrosis with LGE has prognostic value. The management of ACM involves several aspects: treatment of arrhythmias and heart failure, risk stratification, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement, exercise restrictions, and life-style changes. The decision for ICD placement in ACM patients is not well established and should be made weighing risks and benefits. However, the presence of specific genotypes can allow a precision medicine approach. In ACM patients with only mild left ventricular dysfunction but phospholamban, filamin C or lamin A/C mutations, an ICD is now considered a reasonable approach. Aim of review We sought to provide an overview of clinical and genetic feature of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy providing epidemiology, imaging, diagnostic and treatment information, using a systematic genetic approach.
Binding and Degradation of Low Density Lipoproteins by Cultured Human Fibroblasts COMPARISON OF CELLS FROM A NORMAL SUBJECT AND FROM A PATIENT WITH HOMOZYGOUS FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

125I-Labeled low density lipoproteins were found to associate with monolayers of cultured normal fibroblasts by two processes—one of high affinity and one of low affinity. The high affinity association appeared to represent binding of the low density lipoprotein to specific receptor sites on the cell surface. This binding process exhibited saturation kinetics at low concentrations of the lipoprotein and competition by related molecules such as very low density lipoproteins. In addition, this process was stimulated by the presence of calcium in the culture medium and could be destroyed by limited treatment of the cells with pronase. The other process, designated low affinity uptake, may represent nonspecific endocytosis since the uptake was proportional to the lipoprotein concentration in the medium with no apparent saturation and because it showed no competition by very low density lipoproteins, no stimulation by calcium, and no destruction by pronase treatment. The 125I-labeled low density lipoproteins associated with normal cells by either the high or low affinity process were degraded by proteolysis to trichloroacetic acid-soluble material, most of which was 125I-tyrosine. In normal cells, binding of low density lipoproteins to the high affinity membrane receptor sites appears to serve two functions: (a) it results in suppression of the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, the rate-controlling enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, and (b) it facilitates the degradation of low density lipoproteins when they are present in the culture medium at low concentrations (i.e. high affinity degradation). Cultured cells from subjects with the homozygous form of familial hypercholesterolemia, which were found to lack the high affinity binding process, were resistant to suppression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity by low density lipoproteins and were also deficient in high affinity degradation. On the other hand, these mutant cells showed a normal low affinity uptake of low density lipoproteins and were able to degrade these lipoproteins when they were present in the culture medium at high concentrations. The possibility is raised, therefore, that a prerequisite for the regulation of cholestero-genesis in cultured fibroblasts is the initial binding of low density lipoproteins to the high affinity surface receptor sites and that a defect in this process represents the primary genetic abnormality in the disorder familial hypercholesterolemia.
Working Time Flexibility in the German Employment Relations System: Implications for Germany and Lessons for the United States**

Competitive conditions are leading to much experimentation within and decentralization of the German employment relations system. In this aritcle, I show how flexible working time is an integral part of the German employment relations system and how flexible working time arrangements are contributing to its transformation. In addition, I discuss the implications for employers and employees of flexible working time, and the lessons the German experience with flexible working time has for the United States. Flexible working time contributes to the decentralization of German employment relations on multiple levels, particularly within the enterprise. The benefits to employers of flexible working time take many forms and are generally positive, whereas the implications for employees are more mixed. The main lesson for the United States is that labor market insitutions still matter in developing flexible working time models that can meet both employer and employee needs. Arbeitszeitflexibilitat im deutschen System der Arbeitsbeziehungen: Implikationen fur Deutschland und Lehren fur die USA Zusammenfassung — Wettbewerbsbedingungen fuhren zunehmend zu Dezentralisierungs Experimenten im deutschen System der Arbeitsbeziehungen. In diesem Artikel wird gezeigt, inwiefern flexible Arbeitszeiten ein integraler Bestandteil des deutschen Systems sind und wie flexible Arbeitszeitmodelle zu dessen Transformation beitragen. Auserdem werden die Impli kationen, die flexible Arbeitszeiten fur Arbeitgeber und Arbeitnehmer haben, sowie die Lehren der deutschen Erfahrungen fur die USA diskutiert. Flexible Arbeitszeiten tragen zur Dezentra lisierung des deutschen Systems der Arbeitsbeziehungen auf diversen Ebenen bei, insbesonde re innerhalb der Unternehmen. Aus Arbeitgebersicht nimmt der Nutzen flexibler Arbeitszeiten vielfaltige Formen an und ist generell positiv, wahrend die Implikationen fur Arbeitnehmer ambivalenter Natur sind. Die wichtigste Lehre fur die USA besteht darin, dass Arbeitsmarktin stitutionen nach wie vor relevant sind fur die Entwicklung flexibler Arbeitszeitmodelle, die den Bedurfnissen sowohl der Arbeitgeber als auch der Arbeitnehmer gerecht werden.
Tartaric Acid Metabolism IX. SYNTHESIS WITH TARTRATE EPOXIDASE

Abstract Tartrate epoxidase catalyzes the quantitative conversion of both optical isomers of trans-epoxysuccinate to mesotartrate. The enzyme has been obtained in a homogeneous state from a strain of Pseudomonas putida and has been crystallized. The protein has a molecular weight of 66,000 which can not be decreased by treatment with guanidine hydrochloride and a mercaptan.
Response to endotoxin of endotoxin-"resistant" C3H/HeJ mice: a model for study of hematopoietic control

Hematopoietic effects of bacterial Iipopolysaccharide (LPS). specifically S. typhosa LPS extracted by the Boivin (B) or Westphal (W) method, were compared in the C3H/HeJ (resistant) strain and in closely related normal strains C3H eB/FeJ and C3H/HeN. Maximal release of neutrophils from marrow to blood was normal after either LPS-B or LPS-W in C3H/HeJ. Induction of an increase in colony-stimulating factor (CSF) in serum was markedly blunted but was present after either LPS-B or LPS-W. and no evidence for this being due to an inhibitor was elicited. The effect of IPS given before sublethal irradiation on subsequent hematopoietic recovery in marrow and spleen was evaluated. LPS-W had no discernable effect on any measure of postirradiation recovery. while LPS-B influenced some but not all measures of recovery. In C3H/HeJ. LPS-B failed to have any appreciable effect on recovery of marrow neutrophils, on 4-day splenic granulocytic colonies, or on changes in numbers of transplantable spleen colony-forming cells (CFU-S). However, its effect on 1 0-day endogenous spleen colonies (E-CFU). spleen weight. and spleen iron uptake appeared to be normal. These data indicate that the C3H/HeJ mouse is a valuable model for study of control of the response of stem cells. For example, results suggest that progenitor cell response is not linked by a recognition system to changes in blood neutrophil level nor to the size of the (postmitotic) marrow pool of neutrophils. Postirradiation granulocyte recovery also appears not to be linked to the number of E-CFU. The results indicate that endotoxin has effects on multiple individual control systems and further that there is a lack of linkage between some of the control systems. T HE C3H/HeJ MOUSE is a C3H substrain that developed a genetic resistance to bacterial lipopolysacchanide (endotoxin, LPS). The present study was undertaken to explore the use of the C3H/HeJ mouse as a model for studies of control factors in hematopoiesis. The control of neutrophil production and distnibution is, at best, poorly understood, and we have even less understanding of control of the plunipotent stem cell system. LPS has been used in studies of control because it produces profound perturbation of the entire hematopoietic system. The possibility that LPS plays an in vivo role in hematopoietic regulation is under study.’ Two difficulties arise in studies of control neutrophil and plunipotent stem cell systems. First, it is difficult to separate the primary from subsequent events after endotoxin injection. Second, any putative control factor thought to be causing one of these hematologic events may contain endotoxin as a contaminant. A national sequence of events relative to the pentur
Neuroimaging Research into Disorders of Consciousness: Moral Imperative or Ethical and Legal Failure?

In this article I explore the ethical and legal implications of enrolling individuals with disorders of consciousness (DOC) in neuroimaging research studies. Many scientists have strongly emphasized the need for additional neuroimaging research into DOC, characterizing the conduct of such studies as morally imperative. On the other hand, institutional review boards (IRBs) charged with approving research protocols, scientific journals deciding whether to publish study results, and federal agencies that disburse grant money have limited the conduct, publication, and funding of consciousness investigations based on ethical and legal concerns. Following a detailed examination of the risks and benefits of neuroimaging research involving individuals with DOC, I urge IRBs, scientific journals, and funding agencies to no longer stall the conduct, publication, and funding of neuroimaging research into DOC if certain criteria designed to protect the health and safety of individuals with DOC are satisfied.
A computationally efficient modelling of laminar separation bubbles

In order to predict the aerodynamic characteristics of airfoils operating at low Reynolds numbers (R < 5.0 × 105), it is necessary to accurately account for the effects of laminar (transitional) separation bubbles.1 In general, the greatest difficulty comes about when attempting to determine the increase in profile drag that results from the presence of separation bubbles. Because the drag on an airfoil depends on the trailing-edge value of the momentum thickness,2 the increase in drag that accompanies separation bubbles is primarily due to the rapid increase in momentum thickness that occurs in a bubble compared to the much smaller growth that occurs with a natural transition from a laminar to a turbulent boundary layer. As a consequence, when a separation bubble is the actual mechanism of transition, methods that assume transition occurs at the laminar separation point and use the boundary-layer properties at that point as the initial conditions for the turbulent boundary-layer calculations usually underpredict the drag. Thus, to successfully determine the increase in drag on an airfoil due to separation bubbles, it is necessary to accurately model the development of the boundary layer through the bubble.
Variable resolution discretization in the joint space

We present JoSTLe, an algorithm that performs value iteration on control problems with continuous actions, allowing this useful reinforcement learning technique to be applied to problems where a priori action discretization is inadequate. The algorithm is an extension of a variable resolution technique that works for problems with continuous states and discrete actions [6]. Results are given that indicate that JoSTLe is a promising step toward reinforcement learning in a fully continuous domain.
Students Educated in Self-Contained Classrooms and Self-Contained Schools: Part II--How Do They Progress over Time?.

Little attention has been dedicated to monitoring the educational progress of students with EBD receiving services in restrictive settings, using empirically validated tools and procedures. This st...
Cyclophilin-40 has a cellular role in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling

Cyclophilin-40 (CyP40) promotes the formation of the gel shift complex that contains the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), AhR nuclear translocator (Arnt) and dioxin response element (DRE) using baculovirus expressed proteins. Here we reported that CyP40 plays a role in the AhR signaling. When the CyP40 content in MCF-7 cells is reduced, up-regulation of cyp1a1 and cyp1b1 by 3-methylchloranthrene (3MC) is also reduced, suggesting that CyP40 is essential for maximal AhR function. The CyP40 region containing amino acids 186–215, but not the peptidyl-prolyl cis–trans isomerase and tetratricopeptide repeat domains, is essential for forming the AhR/Arnt/DRE complex. CyP40 is found in the cell nucleus after 3MC treatment and appears to promote the DRE binding form of the AhR/Arnt heterodimer.
Gas-solid energy transfer: effect of internal vibrational energy

Abstract Classical trajectories were run simulating the collision of a diatomic molecule with a solid surface on a realistic potential energy surface. Previous model potentials have been generalized to include lattice dynamics in the solid surface and, hence, the possibility of gas-solid energy transfer. This energy transfer is examined as a function of the vibrational state of the diatomic molecule and is found to be rather insensitive to added vibrational energy. A means is suggested to utilize this effect to separate vibrationally excited molecules from unexcited ones by adsorption on a surface.
Rapid purification of human trypsin and chymotrypsin I.

Abstract A one-step purification of both human cationic trypsin and chymotrypsin I is described. The method involves the adsorption of the enzymes onto a Sepharose-Trasylol affinity column. Subsequent elution and separation of the two enzymes is accomplished by a gradient of decreasing pH.