cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Small-Molecules on S4 Movement and Gating of Normal and Mutated IKM Channels

Abnormal or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain leads to epileptic seizures that, when repeated or prolonged, can cause neuronal damage resulting in delayed psychomotor development, intellectual disability and other neurological disorders. One of the major potassium current in neurons is the muscarine-regulated M-current. The M-current, formed by the heteromerization of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 channels (IKM), activates in the time frame of action potential initiation, thereby its crucial role in controlling neuronal excitability. The slow kinetics of activation and deactivation of the IKM (KCNQ2/KCNQ3) channel regulates the membrane potential and impede repetitive neuronal firing. Inherited mutations in the IKM channel cause a wide spectrum of early-onset epileptic disorders ranging from benign familial neonatal seizures to severe epileptic encephalopathies. I here study the molecular mechanisms by which a set of epileptic-inducing mutations in KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 cause malfunction of the IKM channel. I use a fluorescence assay, voltage clamp fluorometry (VCF), to measure simultaneously voltage sensor movement and gate opening during IKM channel activation in these mutations. The IKM channel is an attractive pharmacological target to treat epilepsy, because increasing the M-current stabilizes the resting and subthreshold membrane potential, thereby reducing membrane excitability. Lipophilic compounds, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), have been shown to favorably affect neuronal function. In particular, PUFAs have been shown to improve the outcome of epilepsy, therefore constituting very promising anti-epileptic agents. However, the molecular mechanism of action of PUFAs is unknown. Based on the molecular mechanism for each epileptic-inducing IKM channel mutation, I show that different PUFAs shift the voltage dependence of the IKM channel mutations, suggesting that PUFAs should, at least partly, reverse the effects of some epilepsy-causing mutations and restore wild type-like IKM currents in these mutations.
Demonstration of Rubella Complement-Fixing Antigens of Two Distinct Particle Sizes by Gel Filtration on Sephadex G-200.

SummaryBy means of gel nitration on Sephadex G-200, rubella complement-nxing antigens of two distinct particle sizes have been demonstrated in concentrates of fluids from infected BHK-21 cultures. ...
The Relative Breeding Worth of Full Sisters

Abstract THE earlier systematic attempts at the improvement of the productive characters of poultry were based on mass selection, a term used in animal breeding interchangeably with individual selection or selection on the basis of individual performance. The assumption underlying this method is that the individual’s phenotype for the trait in question presents an adequate measure of its genotype for the same trait. A notable experiment to test this assumption for annual egg production was undertaken in 1898 by Gowell whose results were subsequently analyzed by Pearl and Surface (1909). The conclusions reached by them were unfavorable to the original thesis to such a degree that a complete lack of correlation between phenotype and genotype was virtually postulated (see Pearl, 1912, p. 388). As a result the notion that progeny testing, a method whereby the individual’s genetic merit is judged on the basis of the phenotypes of its offspring, is a . . .
Ethnic Dimensions of Guatemala’s Stalled Transition: A Parity-Specific Analysis of Ladino and Indigenous Fertility Regimes

In some contemporary populations, fertility levels appear to plateau, with women maintaining a consistently high level of fertility for a relatively extended period. Because this plateau does not reflect the historical patterns observed in Europe, the focus of most studies on fertility patterns, mechanisms underlying the plateau and the reinstatement of a decline have not been fully explored and are not fully understood. Through the construction of fertility histories of 25,000 women using multiple years of health survey data, we analyze some of the components of stalled fertility as they pertain to Guatemala, the only Central American country to have experienced a stalled fertility decline.
Life Expectancy and the Search for a Bag Lady Effect in Charitable Giving

The popular press has speculated on the existence of a “bag lady” effect in which women, irrationally fearful of outliving their resources, become exceptionally frugal with their money. We use pane...
Adsorption of CO2, N2, and O2 on Natural Zeolites

Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and temperature swing adsorption are potential techniques for removing CO2 from high-pressure fuel gas streams. Natural zeolites are suitable candidate sorbents for use in the PSA process. Studies of volumetric gas adsorption of CO2 ,N 2, and O2 on three natural zeolites, with different major cations, were conducted at 25 °C up to a pressure of 300 psi (2 10 6 Pa). Preferential adsorption of CO2 was observed with all three zeolites. The natural zeolite with the highest sodium content and highest surface area showed the highest CO2 adsorption capacity. Competitive gas adsorption studies also showed that the zeolite with the highest sodium content gave the best separation of CO2 from the gas mixtures. Contact time did not affect the extent of adsorption of the zeolites. Temperature-programmed desorption studies indicated that the majority of the physically adsorbed CO2 was desorbed at room temperature, while some strongly bound CO2 was desorbed at 115 °C.
Oxides, porosity and fatigue performance of AlSi10Mg parts produced by selective laser melting

Abstract It is well-known that the fatigue behavior of cast aluminum alloy parts is largely determined by internal defects, particularly pores and inclusions. In this work, it is shown that such imperfections are also present in AlSi10Mg parts produced by selective laser melting, and serve as sites to initiate fatigue cracks. The effect of hatch spacing and building orientation on tensile and fatigue properties was tested. Oxide-driven pores dominate the fatigue resistance of the samples in this work. The larger oxide particles which are associated with crack initiation likely form by oxidation of metal vapor during part manufacture.
Coordinated, coenzyme Q reversible, 2,5-dibromothymoquinone inhibition of electron transport and ATPase in Escherichia coli

Abstract 2,6-dibromothymoquinone (DBMIB) and other coenzyme Q analogs partially inhibit electron transport and the membrane-bound Mg++ stimulated ATPase of E. coli membranes. The inhibitions by DBMIB are fully reversed by coenzyme Q6, and other analogs show partial reversal by coenzyme Q6. Electron transport reactions inhibited are NADH and lactate oxidase, NADH menadione reductase, lactate phenazinemethosulfate reductase and duroquinol oxidase. The concentrations of DBMIB required are similar for electron transport and ATPase inhibition and inhibitions are all increased by uncouplers. Electron transport and ATPase are not inhibited in a DBMIB insensitive mutant. Soluble ATPase extracted from the membranes does not show DBMIB inhibition under either high or low Mg++ conditions. Lipophilic chelators show additional inhibition over DBMIB. It appears that coenzyme Q functions at three sites in E. coli electron transport where ATPase activity is controlled. Coenzyme Q deficient mutants also show decreased electron transport and ATPase activity which is restored by coenzyme Q.
Modified Rank Order Clustering Algorithm Approach by Including Manufacturing Data

Abstract A modified rank order clustering (MROC) method based on weight and data reorganization has been developed to facilitate the needs of real world manufacturing environment. MROC is designed to optimize the manufacturing process based on important independent variables with weights and reorganize the machine-component data that helps form cells where each cell would have approximately the same work load. The developed algorithm using a heuristics minimizes number of bottlenecks for the cellular solution without human input (necessary in King {1980)), while ensuring comparable machine utilizations in each cell. This paper describes our proposed algorithm and a solution to the machine cell design process for the real world manufacturing environment.
The Mastery of Fate

Spinoza’s account of morality begins in Part IV of the Ethics, in his usual fashion with definition of terms. He then proceeds to explain and demonstrate man’s inevitable subjection to passion and kind of behaviour it occasions, indicating the extent to which it may be regarded as good or bad in accordance with the definition of these terms that he has given.
Control of Primary Particle Spacing in Gold Nanoparticle Clusters for Both High NIR Extinction and Full Reversibility.

Reversible NIR-active nanoparticle clusters with controlled size from 20 to 100 nm were assembled from 5 nm gold nanoparticles (Au NP), with either citrate (CIT) or various binary ligands on the surface, by tuning the electrostatic repulsion and the hydrogen bonding via pH. The nanoclusters were bound together by vdW forces between the cores and the hydrogen bonds between the surface ligands and dissociated to primary nanoparticles over a period of 20 days at pH 5 and at pH 7. When high levels of citrate ligands were used on the primary particle surfaces, the large particle spacings in the nanoclusters led to only modest NIR extinction. However, a NIR extinction (E1000/525) ratio of up to ∼0.4 was obtained for nanoclusters with binary ligand mixtures composed of citrate and either cysteine (CYS), glutathione (GSH), or thioctic acid zwitterion (TAZ) while maintaining full reversibility to primary particles. The optimum ligand ratio for both an E1000/525 of ∼0.4 and full reversibility decreased with increas...
High-temporal-resolution electron microscopy for imaging ultrafast electron dynamics

Ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM) has been demonstrated as an effective table-top technique for imaging the temporally evolving dynamics of matter with a subparticle spatial resolution on the timescale of atomic motion. However, imaging the faster motion of electron dynamics in real time has remained beyond reach. Here we demonstrate more than an order of magnitude (16 times) enhancement in the typical temporal resolution of UEM by generating isolated ∼30 fs electron pulses, accelerated at 200 keV, via the optical-gating approach, with sufficient intensity to probe efficiently the electronic dynamics of matter. Moreover, we investigate the feasibility of attosecond optical gating to generate isolated subfemtosecond electron pulses and attain the desired temporal resolution in electron microscopy to establish ‘attomicroscopy’ to allow the imaging of electron motion in the act.
Long‐term monitoring of Yellow‐naped Amazons (Amazona auropalliata) in Costa Rica: breeding biology, duetting, and the negative impact of poaching

The population of Yellow-naped Amazons (Amazona auropalliata) declined by an estimated 50% between 1980 and 2000, and the current population is estimated to be between 10,000 and 50,000. Poaching of young has been a persistent problem, but the species is also threatened by habitat loss and degradation. Because most aspects of their life history, behavior, and ecology have not been examined in wild populations, we studied Yellow-naped Amazons with the following objectives: (1) identify the species of trees used for nesting, (2) determine the size and potential function of breeding territories, (3) determine nesting success, and (4) examine their duetting behavior. We located nests at 16 sites on the Pacific Slope of Costa Rica from 1999 to 2008. We searched for nests from January to May. Every nest was visited at least once and some nests were visited every 2–3 weeks throughout the breeding season. We also collected territory and duetting data at one site (Ahogados). The breeding season of Yellow-naped Amazons was during the dry season (January–May). Yellow-naped Amazons nested in 21 species of trees, but 68% of nests were located in only five species, and cavities in dead coyols (Acrocomia aculeata) were used most often. We found no association between breeding success and the species of tree in which birds nested. Mean territory size was 25,578 m2, and these small areas generally consisted of several trees surrounding a nest tree. Pairs continued to duet throughout the breeding season, suggesting that duetting is important for territory defense. The nest failure rate in our study was 89%, and most nest failures (64%) were due to poaching for the pet trade. We recommend immediate population management and conservation actions, including increased law enforcement to reduce nest poaching, protection of key nesting areas, educational programs, and habitat conservation.
Thermo-mechanical behavior of organic-inorganic halide perovskites for solar cells

Abstract Organic-inorganic halide perovskites (OIHPs) are a remarkable family of hybrid materials at the heart of the emerging thin-film perovskite solar cells (PSCs) technology and other applications. In this Viewpoint article, in addition to some original experimental results, thermo-mechanical analyses of residual macro- and micro-stresses in OIHP thin films are presented in the context of fracture of both the OIHP layer itself and its interface with the substrate. The implications of mechanical behavior of OIHPs and interfaces on the reliability of PSCs, as well as opportunities for future research directions in this general area, are highlighted.
Discrete Event Control Design for Manufacturing Systems Via Ladder Logic Diagrams and Petri Nets: A Comparative Study

Design methods for sequence controllers play a prominent role in advancing industrial automation. The increasing complexity and varying needs of modern discrete manufacturing systems have challenged the traditional design methods such as the use of ladder logic diagrams (LLDs) for programmable logic controllers. The methodologies based on research results in computer science have recently received growing attention by academic researchers and industrial engineers in order to design flexible, reusable, and maintainable control software. Particularly, Petri nets (PNs) are emerging as a very important tool to provide an integrated solution for modeling, analysis, simulation, and control of industrial automated systems. However, in order to establish PNs as alternative to LLDs there is a need for benchmark studies to formally compare them. The contribution of this chapter is two fold. First, certain criteria are identified to compare LLDs and PNs in designing sequence controllers subject to the changing control requirements. The comparison is performed through a practical system after introducing ‘real-time Petri nets’ for discrete-event control purpose. Secondly, some analytical formulas and a methodology are developed to estimate the number of basic elements used in the PN and LLD designs prior to their constructions. The results will be useful for researchers and engineers to design control systems for complex industrial automated systems.
Biochemical Profile of an Adult Diabetic Population from Algeria in Relation with Anthropometric Parameters, Age and Gender

Background Diabetes is now a real global disease in particular due to various health problems associated with it. This study aimed to establish the relationship between diabetes and some biochemical parameters to assess the metabolic profile of an adult diabetic population in the region of Tebessa (Northeast Algeria). Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Public Health Facility and the House of Diabetics in Tebessa between Feb 2013 and Apr 2013. The study included 200 subjects (100 controls and 100 diabetics) aged 18-85 yr, chosen completely randomly. Results Type 2 diabetes mellitus (37%) was significantly more frequent than type 1 diabetes mellitus (13%). It was significantly more frequent in women than in men. The diabetes was highly correlated with the age and body mass index of patients. Moreover, the two types of diabetics have significantly more diseases and metabolic disorders compared to control subjects. Conclusion Diabetics especially type 2 has significantly higher metabolic disorders and associated diseases than type 1 and control subjects.
Living the Gospel Through the Feet of a Refugee

His feet had obvious sores, and his clothes had not been washed for many days or weeks. The shoes he had were threadbare canvas, thin soled, and carried a thick smell of poverty…While bandaging the feet, the physician asked about how the wounds had happened. The translator passed on to the physician that the traveler did not know for sure, as he had often been barefoot and often times could not feel his feet. An additional act of kindness and humility shown to this traveler (refugee) opened the door to share the hope of Abraham, to a fellow child of Abraham.
Dynamic responses and implications to coastal wetlands and the surrounding regions under sea level rise

Two distinct microtidal estuarine systems were assessed to advance the understanding of the coastal dynamics of sea level rise in salt marshes. A coupled hydrodynamic-marsh model (Hydro-MEM) was applied to both a marine-dominated (Grand Bay, Mississippi) and a mixed fluvial/marine (Weeks Bay, Alabama) system to compute marsh productivity, marsh migration, and potential tidal inundation from the year 2000 to 2100 under four sea level rise scenarios. Characteristics of the estuaries such as geometry, sediment availability, and topography, were compared to understand their role in the dynamic response to sea level rise. The results show that the low sea level rise scenario (20 cm) approximately doubled high-productivity marsh coverage in the marine-dominated estuary by the year 2100 due to an equilibrium between the rates of sea level rise and marsh platform accretion. Under intermediate-low sea level rise (50 cm), high-productivity marsh coverage in the year 2100 increased (doubled in the marine-dominated estuary and a seven-fold increase in the mixed estuary) by expanding into higher lands followed by the creation of interior ponds. The results also indicate that marine-dominated estuaries are vulnerable to collapse as a result of low, relatively uniform topography and lack of sediment sources, whereas mixed estuaries are able to expand due to higher elevations and sediment inputs. The results from the higher sea level rise scenarios (the intermediate-high (120 cm) and high (200 cm)) showed expansion of the bays along with marsh migration to higher land, producing a five-fold increase in wetland coverage for the mixed estuary and virtually no net change for the marine-dominated estuary. Additionally, hurricane storm surge simulations showed that under higher sea level rise scenarios, the marine-dominated estuary demonstrated weaker peak stage attenuation indicating that the marsh’s ability to dissipate storm surge is sensitive to productivity changes and bay expansion / marsh loss.
Distinct Effects of (R)-Modafinil and its (R)- and (S)-Fluoro-Analogs on Mesolimbic Extracellular Dopamine Assessed by Voltammetry and Microdialysis in Rats

Psychostimulant use disorders remain an unabated public health concern worldwide, but no FDA approved medications are currently available for treatment. Modafinil (MOD), like cocaine is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, and one of the few drugs evaluated in clinical trials that has shown promise for the treatment of cocaine or methamphetamine use disorders, in some patient sub-populations. Recent structure-activity relationship and preclinical studies on a series of MOD analogs have provided insight into modifications of its chemical structure that may lead to advancements in clinical efficacy. Here we have tested the effects of the clinically available (R)-enantiomer of MOD on extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens shell, a mesolimbic dopaminergic projection field that plays significant roles in various aspects of psychostimulant use disorders, measured in vivo by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry and by microdialysis in Sprague-Dawley rats. We have compared these results with those obtained under identical experimental conditions, with two novel and enantiopure bis(F) analogs of MOD, JBG1–048 and JBG1–049. The results show that (R)-modafinil (R-MOD), JBG1–048, and JBG1–049, when administered intravenously with cumulative drug doses, will block the dopamine transporter and reduce the clearance rate of dopamine, increasing its extracellular levels. Differences among the compounds in their maximum stimulation of dopamine levels, and in their time course of effects were also observed. These data highlight mechanistic underpinnings of R-MOD and its bis(F) analogs as pharmacological tools to guide the discovery of novel medications to treat psychostimulant use disorders.
Clinical genetic testing in medical education

Although clinical geneticists have traditionally monopolized the administration of genetic tests, several genetic test companies have started producing affordable consumer tests for genetic screening and ancestry analysis. With genetic test kits readily available, patients are increasingly using personal genetic testing resources with the intention of sharing their results with their primary care physicians. Therefore, both medical professionals and patients need information and guidelines to interpret and act on personal genetic data. However, medical students, residents, and attending physicians have limited experience in handling the complexities involved in interpreting consumer genetic testing. Medical students, though, have shown significant interest in genetic testing and its application in their patients. Given the interest and need, medical education programs would best serve their students and patients through early education and training in clinical genetic testing.
Repairing constrained experimental regions and designs for mixture or nonmixture variables when some design points are unacceptable

A constrained experimental region (CER) involving mixture variables or nonmixture variables is generally specified by lower and/or upper bounds on the variables and possibly by lower and/or upper b...
Hitting it out of the park with game-based learning for FYEs and libraries

Mississippi State University (MSU) Libraries recently held its first library-centered First-Year Experience course. To develop an appealing class for first-semester students, the authors turned to ...
Integrative experimental and numerical study of ASR affected nuclear concrete containments

The alkali silica reaction (ASR) is a complex multifaceted deleterious one with broad implications on the structural integrity of a nuclear concrete containment (NCC). When compounded with seismic excitation, the structural assessment is even more complex, specially when its intrinsic shear strength is not yet well understood. This paper will highlight 3 years of a holistic research on the pre-cited problem, highlighting the interaction of various tasks, while details can be found in referenced publications. The reported work is broken into four integrated parts: (a) Design of a reactive concrete mix representative of the one in an NCC and likely to expand sufficiently within 6 months; (b) Specimens expansion monitoring in terms of different dimensions and reinforcement ratios for a year; (c) Large-scale testing of shear specimens to evaluate both material (no reinforcement) and structural (with reinforcement) components to assess impact of ASR; and (d) 3D probabilistic nonlinear seismic analyses of an NCC subjected to 40 years of ASR expansion followed by multiple dynamic excitation. It will be shown that the true shear strength of concrete material is affected by ASR, and that this reduction will reduce the seismic resistance of an NCC.
Election Emergency Redlines

Election officials must prepare for the November 2020 presidential election amidst the threat posed by COVID-19. Many experts, task forces, advocacy groups, and scholars are recommending affirmative steps they should take to respond to the threat. Whether developing contingency plans, modifying the rules governing the electoral process under election emergency statutes or more general state-of-emergency laws, or crafting new election emergency legislation, government officials must also be aware of the redlines they should not cross. Officials' ultimate goals must be ensuring that every eligible voter has sufficient opportunity to cast a ballot without jeopardizing their health, safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process, and preserving public faith in its fairness and accuracy. This short essay seeks to complement existing work by identifying policies that officials should avoid authorizing, adopting, or incorporating into contingency plans as part of their response to the COVID crisis.
Liberalism and the Limits of Justice: Justice and the Moral Subject

Like Kant, Rawls is a deontological liberal. His book takes the main thesis of the deontological ethic as its central claim. That this claim has received little direct discussion in the voluminous critical literature on A Theory of Justice may attest to its fixed place in the moral and political assumptions of the time. It concerns not the principles of justice but the status of justice itself. It is the assertion that both opens the book and concludes it, the core conviction Rawls seeks above all to defend. It is the claim that ‘justice is the first virtue of social institutions’, the single most important consideration in assessing the basic structure of society and the overall direction of social change. Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought. A theory however elegant and economical must be rejected or revised if it is untrue; likewise laws and institutions no matter how efficient and well-arranged must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust. … Being first virtues of human activities, truth and justice are uncompromising (3–4). I have tried to set forth a theory that enables us to understand and to assess these feelings about the primacy of justice. Justice as fairness is the outcome: it articulates these opinions and supports their general tendency (586). It is this claim for the primacy of justice that I propose to examine.
Self-reported Hazardous Drinking, Hypertension, and Antihypertensive Treatment Among Hispanic Immigrants in the US National Health Interview Survey, 2016–2018

Compared to the US-born population, Hispanic immigrants are reported to have lower age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension. However, country of origin, race/ethnicity, and risk behaviors associated with acculturation, including hazardous drinking, can affect the prevalence of hypertension. Additionally, health disparities across immigration/nativity status may be associated with suboptimal antihypertensive treatment and control of hypertension. In the present study, population-based data from the years 2016 to 2018 of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were analyzed to assess the association of nativity status and hazardous drinking with hypertension among US-born and foreign-born Hispanic populations. Age-adjusted prevalence of past-year hypertension among foreign-born Hispanics was lower than US-born Hispanics. However, the proportion of Hispanic immigrants who had their blood pressure checked by a healthcare professional was also smaller than US-born Hispanics, suggesting that the prevalence of hypertension among Hispanic immigrants may be underreported. Hazardous drinking was associated with decreased odds of antihypertensive treatment among the Hispanic immigrants.
Chemically Powered Synthetic “Living” Systems

Summary Synthetic chemically powered active matter aims to reproduce many of the salient features of out-of-equilibrium living systems. These include exhibiting emergent properties and complex functions based on interactions with each other and the environment. In this perspective, we focus on some of the principal achievements to date, their significance, and their possible applications. We also outline several future challenges, such as designing memory and evolution into active systems and engineering “living” chimeras, which are hybrid systems involving communication and interaction between living and synthetic active matter.
Attachment Style Moderates Polygenic Risk for Posttraumatic Stress in United States Military Veterans: Results From the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study

Abstract Background A polygenic risk score (PRS) derived from genome-wide association studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may inform risk for this disorder. To date, however, no known study has examined whether social environmental factors such as attachment style may moderate the relation between PRS and PTSD. Methods We evaluated main and interactive effects of PRS and attachment style on PTSD symptoms in a nationally representative sample of trauma-exposed European-American U.S. military veterans (N = 2030). PRS was derived from a genome-wide association study of PTSD re-experiencing symptoms (N = 146,660) in the Million Veteran Program cohort. Using one-sample Mendelian randomization with data from the UK Biobank (N = 115,099), we evaluated the effects of re-experiencing PRS and attachment style on PTSD symptoms. Results Higher re-experiencing PRS and secure attachment style were independently associated with PTSD symptoms. A significant PRS-by-attachment style interaction was also observed (β = −.11, p = .006), with a positive association between re-experiencing PRS and PTSD symptoms observed only among veterans with an insecure attachment style. One-sample Mendelian randomization analyses suggested that the association between PTSD symptoms and attachment style is bidirectional. PRS enrichment analyses revealed a significant interaction between attachment style and a variant mapping to the IGSF11 gene (rs151177743, p = 2.1 × 10−7), which is implicated in regulating excitatory synaptic transmission and plasticity. Conclusions Attachment style may moderate polygenic risk for PTSD symptoms, and a novel locus implicated in synaptic transmission and plasticity may serve as a possible biological mediator of this association. These findings may help inform interpersonally oriented treatments for PTSD for individuals with high polygenic risk for this disorder.
Association of transcutaneous CO 2 with respiratory support: a prospective double blind observational study in children with bronchiolitis and reactive airway disease

The use of clinical scoring to assess for severity of respiratory distress and respiratory failure is challenging due to subjectivity and interrater variability. Transcutaneous Capnography (TcpCO2) can be used as an objective tool to assess a patient’s ventilatory status. This study was designed to assess for any correlation of continuous monitoring of TcpCO2 with the respiratory clinical scores and deterioration in children admitted for acute respiratory distress. A prospective observational study over one year on children aged 2 weeks to 5 years admitted with acute respiratory distress or failure secondary to Bronchiolitis and Reactive airway disease was performed. Continuous TcpCO2 monitoring for upto 48 h was recorded. Investigators, bedside physicians, respiratory therapists, and nurses were blinded from the transcutaneous trends at the time of data collection. Total of 813 TcpCO2 measurements at standard intervals of 30 min were obtained on 38 subjects. Subjects with abnormal TcpCO2 (> 45 mmHg) were younger (6.9 ± 5.2 vs. 23.05 ± 17.7 months,) and were more likely to be on higher oxygen flow rate (0.52 L/min/kg vs 0.46 lier/min/kg, p = 0.004) and higher FiO2 (38.4 vs 33.6, p < 0.001 using heated high flow nasal cannula. No difference was found in bronchiolitis score or PEW score in subjects with normal and abnormal TcpCO2. A small but statistically significant increase in TcpCO2 was observed at the escalation of care. Even though odds of escalation of care are higher with abnormal TcpCO2 (OR 1.92), this difference did not reach statistical significance. pCO2 can provide additive information for non-invasive clinical monitoring of children requiring varying respiratory support; however, it does not provide predictive value for escalation or de-escalation of care.
The role of social media for patients with temporomandibular disorders: A content analysis of Reddit.

Background Social media is frequently used to discuss health topics among users. Reddit is a popular social media platform particularly suit for discussion about chronic illness because of its anonymity that allow users to express uninhibited feelings. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) represent a chronic painful disorder which has been rarely studied in terms of social media discussion. Objectives By exploring how Reddit is used to discuss about TMD, we aim to raise awareness to clinicians involved in TMD management about the online discussion on this topic. Methods A quantitative content analysis was performed on a pool of most relevant threads and comments about the topic "TMJ" on Reddit. Following a codebook, two independent coders assessed multiple clinically relevant variables. A third subject resolved eventual discrepancies. Results Reddit is mostly used by subjects with TMD asking for advice to other users about symptoms and treatment modalities. The most discussed causes of TMD were bruxism and dental occlusion and the most discussed treatments were oral appliance therapy and complementary and alternative treatments. The most favorable opinions about treatment modalities were for self-care and behavioral therapy while the least favorable opinions were for surgery and irreversible dental treatments. Conclusions Reddit represents an excellent data-mining platform to retrieve valuable information about health-related discussion by the community. Our findings suggest an overall alignment of such discussion with evidence-based science about TMD, however, to further increase this trend, we encourage healthcare provider to take an active role in the digital spread of scientifically valid information.
Work-Trip Mode-Choice Models for South Africa

This paper describes a number of individual-choice models of work-trip mode-choice, calibrated in the course of a bus study in two communities of Metropolitan Johannesburg. First, it is found to be useful to reduce the alternative set from eight modes to four modes, without loss of estimation power. Second, a number of alternative specifications of costs and times are examined, from which the chosen model is selected as one containing five such variables. In addition, a variable of car competition is found to add significantly to the explanatory power of the model. Finally, recently-documented procedures are applied to the selected model specification to pool the results of two random subsamples and to correct the choice-based biases in the alternative-specific constants. It is found that the coefficients of the South African model fall well within the range of coefficients determined in the U.S.
Georeferenced data employed in the spatial analysis of neighborhood diversity and creative class share in Chicago.

The dataset described in this article, and made available as an accompanying spreadsheet, was used in the study entitled, “Neighborhood diversity and the creative class in Chicago,” to assess the spatial associations between neighborhood diversity and the creative class at the neighborhood (i.e., census tract) scale in Chicago [1]. In this study, we found a significant positive association between the creative class and the proportion of gay households and income diversity, but not racial or linguistic diversity. However, a geographically-weighted regression (GWR) analysis demonstrated substantial spatial nonstationarity among these relationships. This article describes the creative class, diversity, and control variables, their sources, and the methods used to calculate them. *Correspondence to: Department of Geography/Geology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Durham Science Center 263, Omaha, NE 68182, USA.
A Peculiar People: Anti-Mormonism and the Making of Religion in Nineteenth-Century America

Review of: "A Peculiar People: Anti-Mormonism and the Making of Religion in Nineteenth-Century America," by A. R. Blair.
Mechanism of Action of Nalidixic Acid on Escherichia coli VI. Cell-free Studies

The effects of nalidixic acid in vitro on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)- polymerase (deoxyribonucleosidetriphosphate: DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.7), deoxyribonucleotide kinases (ATP: deoxymono- and diphosphate phosphotransferases), and deoxyribosyl transferase (nucleoside: purine deoxyribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.6) were examined employing partially purified and crude extracts of Escherichia coli ATCC 11229 and E. coli 15TAU. Nalidixic acid had no inhibitory effect on the DNA-polymerase of the wild-type strain E. coli ATCC 11229 at concentrations of 1.4 × 10−3 to 2.8 × 10−3m. No inhibition of deoxyribonucleotide kinase activity was observed at concentrations of nalidixic acid ranging from 2 × 10−3 to 8.6 × 10−3m. Nalidixic acid (0.43 × 10−4 to 0.43 × 10−3m) had no inhibitory effect on the deoxyribosyl transferase activity of crude extracts obtained from E. coli ATCC 11229 or E. coli 15TAU. Analytical CsCl density gradient centrifugation demonstrated that the DNA obtained after treatment of E. coli 15TAU with nalidixic acid was not cross-linked. These results suggest that the prevention of DNA synthesis in vivo by nalidixic acid is not attributable to inhibition of DNA polymerase, deoxyribonucleotide kinase, deoxyribosyl transferase, or to cross-linking of the DNA of treated cells.
Copper bonding on thin top metal bonding pad

Among the key drivers of development today is cost reduction. To achieve this, one of the measures undertaken is to convert the wire used for the wirebond process from gold to copper in several devices. Conversion from Au to Cu wire is particularly challenging for thin top metal devices because the bond pad structure is more prone to damage. This paper discusses the characterization and optimization studies undertaken in successful copper wire conversion of thin top metal devices. The successful conversion from Au wire to Cu wire resulted in 70% cost reduction. A device with circuit under pad (CUP) die technology has been selected as the representative for thin top metal copper wire conversion. SOIC 14L was the package of choice for this qualification. The representative die used has a top metal thickness of ∼0.675μm and a pad metal composition of Al with 0.5% Cu. This qualification enables introduction of new products that combine CUP die technology and copper wire combination as well as copper wire bonding capability for thin top metal. At present, production is currently running on copper wire using thick bond pads of >3μm. This parameter was used as baseline for free-air ball and 2nd bond. A different bond parameter optimization approach was used for this project as the wire being used is harder and the bond pad structure is prone to pad damage. Only the first bond parameter was meticulously optimized, others were just fine tuned. Based on the statistical analysis software, the most significant parameter change is the bond force. Responses to the wire conversion have been closely monitored. Among the responses monitored are free-air ball (FAB) characteristics, non-stick on pad (NSOP) elimination, ball shear test, wire pull test, crater test and pad metal displacement (PMD). Cross-sectioning and delayering of the bond pads have also been performed to verify the result of the pad metal displacement measurement equipment. All the wirebond responses that have been monitored indicate that the optimization of the bond force proved to be successful since all the responses required passed the criteria set at assembly site. Aside from wire bond response, reliability test responses have also been monitored. No failures were observed after TC 500 and after other reliability tests. By meeting the required wirebond and reliability responses, this study shows that copper wire bonding for thin top metal devices is achievable. The savings expected in successfully converting Au wire to Cu wire for this package has been obtained without any sacrifice to quality.
The Consciousness and Human Knowledge of Christ According to Lonergan and Balthasar

Bernard Lonergan and Hans Urs von Balthasar both gave considerable attention to the consciousness and human knowledge of Christ. In their respective treatments of this topic, both theologians evince common tendencies. Both are at pains to develop a model of Christ’s human consciousness that 1) avoids the impression of psychological dualism, 2) acknowledges Christ to be a unique comprehensor (beholder) of the divine nature, and yet 3) shows Christ to be a true viator (wayfarer), learning and discerning in a genuinely human fashion. Lonergan does this through his model of “ineffable knowledge,” and Balthasar through “mission consciousness.” On the face of it, they seem to disagree as to whether Christ possessed the so-called visio beata (beatific vision)—with Lonergan answering affirmatively and Balthasar answering negatively. Nonetheless, because they understand the meaning of this attribution differently, it seems likely they are divided more at the level of verbal formulation than at the level of conceptual judgment. Both consciousness Christologies prove convergent and complementary.
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction and Facial Pain in Children: An Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment

A model for the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and facial pain in children is presented. Emphasis is placed on systematic assessment of physical, psychologic, and behavioral factors when conservative medical therapy is inadequate for symptom relief. The model represents a multidisciplinary approach to patient care which is described through case presentations. The results of research on the incidence of primary psychopathology in 53 children and 322 adults evaluated during a 3-year period for temporomandibular joint dysfunction and facial pain are also presented. It was found that children were more likely to be psychiatrically impaired (25%) than adults (7%). Children had a variety of psychiatric diagnoses including depression, conversion and adjustment disorders, overanxious behavior, and anorexia nervosa. The benefits of a multidisciplinary approach are discussed in terms of the efficacy of this coordinated treatment effort in ameliorating symptoms.
Brain drain and economic growth: A dynamic model

Abstract The problem of the international migration of educated people is analyzed in the context of a dynamic economy where individuals are faced with three basic decisions: education, acquisition of physical capital and migration. The paper discusses the transitional and steady-state behaviour of such an economy, and in addition incorporates a detailed dynamic analysis of the effects of minimum wages and of the implementation of a migration tax.
Regulation of Biotin Transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The metabolic control of biotin transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. Nonproliferating cells harvested from cultures grown in excess biotin (25 ng/ml) took up small amounts of biotin, whereas cells grown in biotin-sufficient medium (0.25 ng/ml) accumulated large amounts of the vitamin. Transport was inhibited maximally in cells grown in medium containing 9 ng (or more) of biotin per ml. When avidin was added to biotin-excess cultures, the cells developed the ability to take up large amounts of biotin. Boiled avidin was without effect, as was treatment of cells with avidin in buffer. Avidin did not relieve transport inhibition when added to biotin-excess cultures treated with cycloheximide, suggesting that protein synthesis was required for cells to develop the capacity to take up biotin after removal of extracellular vitamin by avidin. Cycloheximide did not inhibit the activity of the preformed transport system in biotin-sufficient cells. The presence of high intracellular free biotin pools did not inhibit the activity of the transport system. The characteristics of transport in biotin-excess cells (absence of temperature or pH dependence, no stimulation by glucose, absence of iodoacetate inhibition, independence of uptake on cell concentration, and nonsaturation kinetics) indicated that biotin entered these cells by diffusion. The results suggest that the synthesis of the biotin transport system in S. cerevisiae may be repressed during growth in medium containing high concentrations of biotin.
Quantum field theory of non-abelian strings and vortices

We develop an operator formalism for investigating the properties of non-abelian cosmic strings (and vortices) in quantum field theory. Operators are constructed that introduce classical string sources and that create dynamical string loops. The operator construction in lattice gauge theory is explicitly described, and correlation functions are computed in the strong-coupling and weak-coupling limits. These correlation functions are used to study the long-range interactions of non-abelian strings, taking account of charge-screening effects due to virtual particles. Among the phenomena investigated are the Aharonov-Bohm interactions of strings with charged particles, holonomy interactions between string loops, string entanglement, the transfer of “Cheshire charge” to a string loop, and domain-wall decay via spontaneous string nucleation. We also anayze the Aharonov-Bohm interactions of magnetic monopoles with electric flux tubes in a confining gauge theory. We propose that the Aharonov-Bohm effect can be invoked to distinguish among various phases of a non-abelian gauge theory coupled to matter.
Rotifers as models for the biology of aging

It has been two decades since 1993 when research on the biology of rotifer aging was last reviewed by Enesco. Much has transpired during this time as rotifer biologists have adapted to the "omics" revolution and incorporated these techniques into the experimental analysis of rotifers. Rotifers are amenable to many of these approaches and getting adequate quantities of DNA, RNA, and protein from rotifers is not difficult. Analysis of rotifer genomes, transcriptomes, and proteomes is rapidly yielding candidate genes that likely regulate a variety of features of rotifer biology. Parallel developments in aging biology have recognized the limitations of standard animal models like worms and flies and that comparative aging research has essentially ignored a large fraction of animal phylogeny in the lophotrochozoans. As experimentally tractable members of this group, rotifers have attracted interest as models of aging. In this paper, I review advances over the past 20 years in the biology of aging in rotifers, with emphasis on the unique contributions of rotifer models for understanding aging. The majority of experimental work has manipulated rotifer diet and followed changes in survival and reproductive dynamics like mean lifespan, maximum lifespan, reproductive lifespan, and mortality rate doubling time. The main dietary manipulation has been some form of caloric restriction, withholding food for some period or feeding continuously at low levels. There have been comparative studies of several rotifer species, with some species responding to caloric restriction with life extension, but others not, at least under the tested food regimens. Other aspects of diet are less explored, like nutritional properties of different algae species and their capacity to extend rotifer lifespan. Several descriptive studies have reported many genes involved in rotifer aging by comparing gene expression in young and old individuals. Classes of genes up or down-regulated during aging have become prime targets for rotifer aging investigations. Alterations of gene expression by exposure to specific inhibitors or RNAi knockdown will probably yield valuable insights into the cellular mechanisms of rotifer life extension. I highlight major experimental contributions in each of these areas and indicate opportunities where I believe additional investigation is likely to be profitable.