cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of Male Infertility Secondary to Chemotherapeutic Agents During Childhood Cancer Treatment

A 33-year-old male with a history of Hodgkin lymphoma at age 14 presents with his wife to discuss fertility. He and his wife have been attempting pregnancy for the last 1 year, without success. His wife has recently undergone fertility testing and results thus far have been normal. She has regular menses, is not on birth control pills, and has achieved no prior pregnancies. The patient does not remember having a discussion about his fertility at the time of his lymphoma diagnosis. He had achieved puberty at the time of cancer treatment but did not cryopreserve sperm. The patient does have a history of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplant. He does not report any recent fevers or history of urological trauma, including testicular torsion. He does not report a history of prostatitis, epididymitis, or orchitis. He denies a history of post-pubertal mumps. There is no known family history of fertility problems. He is not taking any current medications. He is able to find his lymphoma treatment history and reports that he was treated with Cytoxan, Adriamycin, vincristine, IV methotrexate, intrathecal methotrexate and ARA-C, ifosfamide, VP-16, L-asparaginase, and cisplatin. He received 2500 cGy of mini-mantle radiation. He received his bone marrow transplant 2 years after the initial diagnosis and was treated with ARA-C, VP-16, cisplatin, thiotepa, and Cytoxan. On exam, his penile exam is normal, with no evidence of plaques or induration. His urethral meatus is normal. His testes are descended bilaterally with no evidence of abnormal masses or tenderness. Both testes are 10 cc in volume. The epididymis, vas deferens, and cord structures are normal bilaterally.
Regulation of Elastase By SerpinA3N Contributes to Pain in Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract SerpinA3N, a serine protease inhibitor, has been shown to ameliorate neuropathic pain by inhibiting leukocyte elastase activity (Vicuna et al., Nature Med 2015, 21:518-523). Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have activated leukocytes and experience neuropathic pain. We observed that SerpinA3N protein expression is significantly reduced in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of 5 month old homozygous HbSS-BERK sickle mice, compared to age-matched HbAA-BERK control mice expressing normal human hemoglobin A (p We observed that elastase activity is significantly increased in the DRG and lungs of male and female sickle mice compared to gender and age-matched control mice (p It has been suggested that leukocytes, including activated neutrophils, contribute to acute lung injury (a common complication of SCD) and the pathogenesis of SCD (Zhang et al., Blood 2016, 127:801-809). Our observations that decreased SerpinA3N protein expression leads to increased elastase activity in DRG and lung in sickle mice suggest that this mechanism may contribute to sickle pathobiology and pain. In Japan, sivelestat is already approved for treatment of acute lung injury. Therefore, pharmacological inhibition of elastase may offer the advantage of treating chronic pain while concomitantly ameliorating one of the pathogenic mechanisms of SCD. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Detecting prodromal Alzheimer’s disease with MRI through deep learning

ABSTRACT Deep learning applied to MRI for Alzheimer’s classification is hypothesized to improve if the deep learning model implicates disease’s pathophysiology. The challenge in testing this hypothesis is that large-scale data are required to train this type of model. Here, we overcome this challenge by using a novel data augmentation strategy and show that our MRI-based deep learning model classifies Alzheimer’s dementia with high accuracy. Moreover, a class activation map was found dominated by signal from the hippocampal formation, a site where Alzheimer’s pathophysiology begins. Next, we tested the model’s performance in prodromal Alzheimer’s when patients present with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We retroactively dichotomized a large cohort of MCI patients who were followed for up to 10 years into those with and without prodromal Alzheimer’s at baseline and used the dementia-derived model to generate individual ‘deep learning MRI’ scores. We compared the two groups on these scores, and on other biomarkers of amyloid pathology, tau pathology, and neurodegeneration. The deep learning MRI scores outperformed nearly all other biomarkers, including—unexpectedly—biomarkers of amyloid or tau pathology, in classifying prodromal disease and in predicting clinical progression. Providing a mechanistic explanation, the deep learning MRI scores were found to be linked to regional tau pathology, through investigations using cross-sectional, longitudinal, premortem and postmortem data. Our findings validate that a disease’s known pathophysiology can improve the design and performance of deep learning models. Moreover, by showing that deep learning can extract useful biomarker information from conventional MRIs, the advantages of this model extend practically, potentially reducing patient burden, risk, and cost.
Scale dependence of strike and dip in sedimentary basins: Implications for field measurements and integrating subsurface datasets

Abstract The measured orientation of geological surfaces such as bedding or fracture planes varies with scale of observation. This can be demonstrated by comparing representative orientation of an outcropping surface at centimeter, decameter and kilometer scale. It can also be verified by tracking variation of dip vectors while generalizing structure maps of subsurface horizons stored as numeric grids. The challenge of obtaining meaningful orientation information from outcrops is well-known but in practice, field geologists intuitively extract orientation information that suits their purposes rather than explicitly recording the scale of observation or even measurement process. There is an analogous problem when subsurface structural maps in sedimentary basins, made from kilometer-scale areas of reflection seismic interpretation, are integrated with wells containing image logs that yield strike and dip information at a scale of tens of centimeters. In the absence of upscaling guidelines, maps are often tied to the correct depth, but not to the structural orientation measured in piercing wells. The solution at outcrop and wells is to explicitly determine the scale-dependent structure, then use information at the appropriate length scale as required. Complete description of strike and dip requires a length scale parameter in addition to the orientation values.
Treatment of elbow periprosthetic joint infection: a systematic review of clinical outcomes.

Background Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the elbow is a relatively common complication after total elbow arthroplasty (TEA), and its treatment is frequently variable. Few articles have provided direct comparisons of outcomes, making it difficult to draw conclusions from the available literature. This systematic review synthesizes the English-language literature on elbow PJI to quantify treatment outcomes. Methods The PubMed and Scopus databases were searched in December 2018. Our review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Keywords included “elbow replacement infection” and “elbow arthroplasty infection.” A total of 1056 titles were identified; after application of the exclusion criteria, 41 studies met the screening criteria and underwent full-text review. Fifteen articles were included for the final analysis regarding demographic characteristics, risk factors, infecting organisms, success of eradication of infection based on surgical method, and functional outcomes of specific treatment regimens. Results Among the 15 articles selected, there were 309 TEA infections. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated organism (42.4%), followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (32.6%). Risk factors for the development of elbow PJI included rheumatoid arthritis, steroid use, an immunocompromised state, and previous elbow surgery. The rate of successful infection eradication was highest with 2-stage revision (81.2%) and lowest with irrigation and debridement for component retention (55.8%). The level of evidence was IV in 14 studies and III in 1 study. Conclusions In this systematic review of TEA infections, Staphylococcus species represent the most common infecting organism. Two-stage revision was the most effective treatment for elbow PJI, showing the lowest recurrence rate for infection.
XI – Using Equalities

Publisher Summary When a formula has been maximally simplified and has had all the eligible destructor terms eliminated, it is tried to use any equality hypotheses that may exist in the formula. It is tried to use an equality hypothesis such as (EQUAL s' t’) by substituting s' for t’ f elsewhere in the formula and deleting the equality. This procedure sometimes results in conjectures that can then be proved by simplification. This chapter explains the heuristic cross-fertilization with an illustrative example. It also explains the precise way to use equalities. Given a clause, one looks for an equality hypothesis ( EQUAL s' t’), that is, a literal of the clause of the form (NOT (EQUAL s' t’))), where t’ (or s') occurs in another literal of the clause and is not an explicit value template. Suppose there is such an (EQUAL s' t’), where t’ (or s') occurs in another literal of the clause and is not an explicit value template, s' will be substituted for t'. If one is working on an induction step and there is an equality literal in the clause that mentions t’ on the right-hand side, it is decided to cross-fertilize (unless s' is an explicit value).
Goal Setting and Saving in the FinTech Era

We study the eff ectiveness of soft, self-designed commitment devices, i.e. saving goals, in increasing individuals' savings using data from a FinTech App. We establish that setting goals increases individuals' savings rate and show that the effe ct is causal using a diff erence-in-di fferences identi cation strategy that exploits the random assignment of users into a group of beta-testers who can set goals and a group of users who cannot. We also show that the increased savings within the App do not come at the expense of reduced savings outside the App and that goal-setting also helps the individuals the literature has identi fied as the ones with the lowest propensity to save. We explore the economic channels of our results by matching App user survey responses to their behavior and highlight the importance of a monitoring channel, consistent with models where agents experience disutility from falling short of their goal and goal setting reducing individuals' limited attention.
Magnetic field effects on cellulose nanocrystal ordering in a non-aqueous solvent

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are rod-shaped particles that can self-assemble into a chiral nematic phase at certain contents. Due to their negative diamagnetic susceptibility and high aspect ratio, the structure of the chiral nematic phase of CNC suspensions can be manipulated using a magnetic field, which is a promising path to extending local order to a larger scale. The ability to manipulate CNCs in non-aqueous solvents is critically needed to incorporate them in a wide range of polymers. So far, magnetic field-induced manipulation of CNCs in suspension was reported for aqueous suspensions only, whereas a much-needed similar study for non-aqueous solvents has not been reported to the best of our knowledge. In this paper, we investigate the CNC ordering in n-methylformamide (NMF) under a 0.7 T magnetic field and compare it to the order achieved in H2O. The formation of a well-defined chiral nematic phase and its viscosity have a significant influence on the rate and extent of the field-induced orientation of CNCs. A clearly formed chiral nematic phase has a high potential for increased levels of field-induced ordering. And the chiral nematic phase with the lowest viscosity showed the largest increase in ordering when the magnetic field is applied before reaching equilibrium and plateauing. In contrast, the higher viscosity suspensions exhibited limited temporal changes after the initial field effect. These findings will facilitate the fabrication of globally ordered CNCs in a variety of polymers under a magnetic field, which is a necessary step to expanding the engineering applications of large-scale cellulose-based composites with anisotropic properties.
Color Restoration Survey and an Overdetermined System for Color Retrieval from Faded Images

This chapter presents a survey of the most widely used color restoration techniques from faded images. The purpose of the survey is to explain the reasons for color fading and emphasize how the color restoration techniques have evolved in recent years. The survey covers the color bleaching models, single-scale and multiscale retinex, gray world, max white, machine learning, and underwater color correction approaches. Image colorization, inpainting, and color constancy aspects are discussed in the machine learning portion of this survey. Numerous color restoration approaches are reviewed under the uncategorized techniques. An overdetermined system for retrieving the degraded color components from old faded images is presented as part of this survey. The system reviews three different approaches which combine the traditional max white, gray world, and retinex white balancing algorithms. In each approach, one of the three algorithms is eliminated while the other two are combined by a set of second-order equations.
Mortality After General Surgery Among Hospitalized Patients With Hematologic Malignancy.

Abstract Background Hospitalized patients with hematologic malignancies (HMs) may require abdominal operations for complications of malignancy, treatment sequelae, or unrelated abdominal pathology. We determined predictors of mortality after emergency general surgery for patients with HM using national-level data. Materials and Methods We analyzed the 2010-2014 National Inpatient Sample for International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for HM and abdominal operations, comparing adult patient encounters with abdominal operations with HM to those without HM. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of mortality. Results Of the 7.9 million adult inpatient encounters where abdominal surgery was performed, 82,187 (1%) had concomitant diagnoses of HM. Mortality among patient encounters with HM was significantly higher than without HM (9.0% versus 2.0%; P Conclusions Although uncommon, surgery on patients with HM is associated with mortality rates nearly five times higher than the general surgical population. Patients with HM requiring surgical intervention may be at particularly high odds of death and postoperative complications.
A slow-growing anterior maxillary mass.

A 43-year-old-male with no medical conditions presented to his dentist with a left maxillary swelling present for 1 year. His physical exam revealed a 2-cm × 2-cm, poorly demarcated, firm mass in the left anterior maxilla causing mobility of the associated teeth. He had a bluish discoloration of the anterior maxillary mucosa. A computed tomographic scan demonstrated a homogeneous and uniformly radiolucent, well-defined mass in the left anterior maxilla primarily involving the alveolus and the roots of teeth 7-12. The mass caused expansion and tooth displacement. An incisional biopsy was done and MUC 4 staining was diffusely positive so the diagnosis of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) was made. He underwent wide local excision and reconstruction with a fibula free flap and a three-dimensionally printed, implant-retained prosthesis. The final pathology confirmed the diagnosis of LGFMS, stage pT4aN0M0, with negative margins. The patient had no evidence of recurrence at 1-year follow-up.
The impact of child abuse on the neurobiology of self-processing in depressed adolescents

Abstract Child abuse is linked to lifetime psychopathology including abnormal self-processing. Given self-processing maturation in adolescence, we tested duration, presence, and abuse accumulation's impact upon self-processing neurobiology among depressed youth with (N = 54) and without an abuse history (N = 40). Youth evaluated positive and negative self-descriptors across four points of view in the scanner. Regression analyses showed that longer abuse duration (in days) was associated with lower activity in inferior temporal (e.g. insula, fusiform & parahippocampus), striatal, cerebellar and midbrain structures when processing negative self-descriptors; with the least activity in youth exposed to 6+ abuse years. Abuse presence vs. absence was linked to higher neural activity. However, youth exposed to a single abuse instance to 3 years of abuse might drive that relative neural hyperactivity. Results support: 1st the toxic stress model of blunted overall neuro-reactivity underpinning emotion, sensorimotor gating, and social cognition during negative stimuli as an adaptation to pervasively toxic environments, 2nd the differential impact of acute versus chronic stress upon neurophysiological indices. Finally, child abuse duration might impact these ancillary and higher socioemotional processes differently among depressed youth primarily for negative but not positive self-processing.
Turbulence theories and statistical closure approaches

Abstract When discussing research in physics and in science more generally, it is common to ascribe equal importance to the three components of the scientific trinity: theoretical, experimental, and computational studies. This review will explore the future of modern turbulence theory by tracing its history, which began in earnest with Kolmogorov’s 1941 analysis of turbulence cascade and inertial range [A.N. Kolmogorov, Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 30, 299, (1941); 32, 19, (1941)]. The 80th Anniversary of Kolmogorov’s landmark study is a welcome opportunity to survey the achievements and evaluate the future of the theoretical approach of turbulence research. Over the years, turbulence theories have been critically important in laying the foundation of our understanding of the nature of turbulent flows. In particular, the Direct Interaction Approximation (DIA) [R.H. Kraichnan, J. Fluid Mech., 5, 497 (1959)] and its subsequent development, known as the statistical closure approach, can be identified as perhaps the most profound single advancement. The remarkable success of the statistical closure has furnished a platform to study such essential concepts as the energy transfer process and interacting scales, and the roles of the straining and sweeping motions. More recently, the quasi-Lagrangian formulation of V. L’vov & I. Procaccia and Kraichnan’s solvable passive scalar model provided powerful ways to explore another fundamental aspect of turbulent flows, the phenomena of intermittency, and the associated anomalous scaling exponents. In the meantime, the theory of fluid equilibria has been developed to describe the large-scale structures that can emerge from turbulent cascades of two-dimensional and geophysical flows at a later time. And yet, despite all these successes, analytical treatments suffer from mathematical complexities. As a result, the utility of theoretical approaches has been limited to relatively idealized flows. On the other hand, in recent decades, computational abilities and experimental facilities have reached an unprecedented scale. Looking beyond the horizon, the imminent deployment of exascale supercomputers will generate complete datasets of the entire flow field of key benchmark flows, allowing researchers to extract additional measurements concerning fully developed, complex turbulent flow fields far beyond those available from the statistical closure theories. Some other developments that could potentially influence the future course of turbulence theories include the advancement of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science; likely disruptions arising from the advent of quantum computation; and the increasingly prominent role of turbulence research in providing more accurate climate scientific data. Turbulence theorists can leverage these developments by asking the right questions and developing advanced, sophisticated frameworks that will be able to predict and correlate vast amounts of data from the other two components of the trinity.
A soft bioaffinity sensor array for chronic wound monitoring

Smart wound care systems that are capable of analyzing biomarkers in the wound microenvironment and reporting data to healthcare professionals and patients can overcome many of the limitations and challenges associated with chronic wound healing. Lim and colleagues reported a novel multiplexed bioaffinity sensor array that could detect multiple inflammatory and physiological biomarkers in the wound bed. The outcome of this work can improve wound management and patient health and potentially reduce healthcare costs.
Access and attitudinal barriers to engagement in integrated primary care mental health treatment for rural populations.

Purpose Compared to urban areas, rural populations are less likely to engage in mental health care. Using data from the Study to Promote Innovation in Rural Integrated Telepsychiatry, we examined the effect of rurality on engagement in mental health treatment as well as the role of potential mediators. Methods Data were obtained from medical records and surveys. We defined rurality using the rural-urban commuting area codes. Baseline mediators included the Endorsed and Anticipated Stigma Inventory and the Assessment of Perceived Access to Care. Engagement outcomes included number of psychotherapy visits and self-reported medication use. We used path analysis to examine the relationship between rurality and engagement and the influence of mediating variables. Findings Rural participants were less likely to initiate psychotherapy (OR = 0.49; adjusted P = .036), although rurality was not associated with number of psychotherapy sessions or medication use. Rurality was associated with a small elevation in negative beliefs about mental health, but this potential mediator was not associated with engagement. Rurality was negatively associated with lower perceived need for treatment (OR = 0.67, adjusted P = .040), which was in turn positively associated with initiating psychotherapy (OR = 1.99, adjusted P = .001). Conclusions Neither rurality itself nor the potential mediators had a large effect on engagement. Federally Qualified Health Centers offering colocated and/or integrated mental health care appear to be mostly mitigating rural-urban disparities in mental health engagement. Improving rates of psychotherapy initiation for rural patients should remain a policy goal.
Comparison of Diagnostic Accuracy of Electrodiagnostic Testing and Ultrasonography for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

BackgroundConfirmatory methods such as electrodiagnostic testing (EDX) and ultrasonography (US) are currently used to support a clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Scientific consen...
Quantitative Lung Ultrasonography for the Nephrologist: Applications in Dialysis and Heart Failure

Volume overload and its attendant increase in acute care utilization and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality represents a critical challenge for the practicing nephrologist. This is particularly true among patients with ESKD on HD where pre-dialysis volume overload and intradialytic and postdialytic hypovolemia account for almost a third of all cost for the Medicare dialysis benefit. Quantitative lung ultrasound is a tool for assessing the extent of extravascular lung water which outperforms physical exam and plain chest radiography. B-lines are vertical hyperechoic artifacts present in patients with increased extravascular lung water. B-lines have been shown to decrease dynamically during the hemodialysis treatment in proportion to ultrafiltration volume. Among patients with chronic heart failure, titration of diuretics based on the extent of pulmonary congestion noted on lung ultrasonography has been shown to decrease recurrent acute care utilization. Early data from randomized-controlled trials of lung ultrasound-guided ultrafiltration therapy among patients with ESKD on HD have shown promise for potential reduction in recurrent episodes of decompensated heart failure and cardiovascular events. Ultimately lung ultrasound may predict those who are ultrafiltration tolerant and could be used to decreased acute care utilization and thus cost in this population.
Signed Langford sequences

Abstract We answer a question of Brown and Jordon (2021) [4] by proving the existence of signed Langford sequences of every possible order for each defect. Our proof is constructive, and the constructions are shown to have other interesting properties and connections to several conjectures concerning permutations and partial sums of sequences of elements from cyclic groups.
Optimization of separation and detection schemes for DNA with pulsed field slab gel and capillary electrophoresis

The purpose of the Human Genome Project is outlined followed by a discussion of electrophoresis in slab gels and capillaries and its application to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Techniques used to modify electroosmotic flow in capillaries are addressed. Several separation and detection schemes for DNA via gel and capillary electrophoresis are described. Emphasis is placed on the elucidation of DNA fragment size in real time and shortening separation times to approximate real time monitoring. The migration of DNA fragment bands through a slab gel can be monitored by UV absorption at 254 nm and imaged by a charge coupled device (CCD) camera. Background correction and immediate viewing of band positions to interactively change the field program in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis are possible throughout the separation. The use of absorption removes the need for staining or radioisotope labeling thereby simplifying sample preparation and reducing hazardous waste generation. This leaves the DNA in its native state and further analysis can be performed without de-staining. The optimization of several parameters considerably reduces total analysis time. DNA from 2 kb to 850 kb can be separated in 3 hours on a 7 cm gel with interactive control of the pulse time, which is 10 timesmore » faster than the use of a constant field program. The separation of {Phi}X174RF DNA-HaeIII fragments is studied in a 0.5% methyl cellulose polymer solution as a function of temperature and applied voltage. The migration times decreased with both increasing temperature and increasing field strength, as expected. The relative migration rates of the fragments do not change with temperature but are affected by the applied field. Conditions were established for the separation of the 271/281 bp fragments, even without the addition of intercalating agents. At 700 V/cm and 20{degrees}C, all fragments are separated in less than 4 minutes with an average plate number of 2.5 million per meter.« less
Longitudinal Waves in Rods

Rods and struts are very important structural elements and form the basis of many truss and grid frameworks. Since their load bearing capability is axial, then as waveguides they conduct only longitudinal wave motion.
Studies on the Mechanism of Hydrogen Exchange between Succinate and Water Catalyzed by the Soluble Succinic Dehydrogenase of Singer from Bovine Heart

Abstract The equilibrium exchange of hydrogen between the 2,3-methylene positions of succinate and water was studied under aerobic conditions with specifically tritiated and deuterated succinates and soluble succinic dehydrogenase prepared by the method of Singer from bovine heart. The exchange of tritium from racemic 2-tritiosuccinate (racemic-T1), racemic 2,3-ditritiosuccinate (racemic-T2), and meso-2,3-ditritiosuccinate (meso-T2) proceeds to completion and exhibits simple, first order kinetics. The rates of exchange of tritium from racemic-T1 and racemic-T2 are identical and 1.35 times faster than that from meso-T2. The enantiomorphs of racemic-T1 and racemic-T2 are not distinguished kinetically. Hydrogen exchange products of deuterated succinates were identified by their infrared spectra. In the exchange of deuterium from 2,2,3,3-tetradeuterosuccinate (D4) to water, meso-2,3-dideuterosuccinate (meso-D2) is the only major intermediate detected between D4 and the final product, succinate. 2-Deuterosuccinate is detected as an intermediate during the exchange of deuterium from racemic 2,3-dideuterosuccinate, but not from meso-D2. In the exchange of deuterium from D2O to succinate, meso-D2 is again the major intermediate detected between succinate and the final exchange product, D4. The exchange of deuterium from succinate to water goes to completion regardless of the extent and stereochemistry of deuteration. Hydrogen exchange proceeds mainly through the exchange of trans (RS) pairs of methylene hydrogens, and is analogous to the trans elimination of a proton pair during the oxidation of succinate to fumarate. Kinetic isotope effects appear to relate only to the nature of trans hydrogen pairs and to be unrelated to the stereochemical differences between labeled enantiomorphs. Activation of succinate seems to involve both hydrogens of a trans pair symmetrically and thus all 4 methylene hydrogen atoms are very nearly equivalent kinetically.
Studies on the reconstitution of bovine erythrocyte superoxide dismutase. II. Some observations on the nature of catalyzed superoxide anion dismutation as an enzymatic activity.

1. 1. A spurious form of superoxide dismutase activity has been found to result from the simple addition of Cu2+ to aqueous solutions of apo dismutase. Cu2+ are bound to the protein in such a manner as to possess no spectral property in common with copper bound in native form, and this activity can be partially inhibited by EDTA. 2. 2. Conditions have been found under which reconstitution of superoxide dismutase activity requires stoichiometric quantities of both Cu2+ and Zn2+. 3. 3. The six sulfur atoms of bovine dismutase are shown to exist as two sulfhydryl and two disulfide groups in the apo protein. These are available for titration with mercurials only under denaturing contions. 4. 4. Preliminary evidence is presented which indicates sulfhydryl groups to be essential in reforming native protein.
Recombinant alpha i-3 subunit of G protein activates Gk-gated K+ channels.

Abstract G proteins, particularly those sensitive to pertussis toxin, are difficult to separate biochemically, creating uncertainty in functional assignments. For this reason the cDNAs encoding G alpha i-3 and two of the G alpha s splice variants were expressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli using a T7 promoter-based expression system. These proteins were denoted r alpha i-3 and r alpha s (short and long) and accumulated in bacteria to as much as 5-10% of total cellular protein, of which 5-10% was soluble in lysates. Soluble r alpha subunits were tested for stimulation of K+ channel activity in inside-out atrial membrane patches and for reconstitution of cyc- adenylyl cyclase activity. r alpha i-3, activated either by guanosine 5'-(3-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) or AlF-4, stimulated in a concentration-dependent manner single channel K+ currents in isolated atrial membrane patches of three species: guinea pigs, neonatal rats, and embryonic chick. In contrast, GTP gamma S-activated r alpha s did not. In agreement with a similar study by Graziano et al. (Graziano, M. P., Casey, P. J. and Gilman, A. G. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 11375-11381), both r alpha s forms reconstituted GTP gamma S-stimulated cyc- adenylyl cyclase activity, albeit at concentrations 50-100 times higher than those needed with native Gs. The concentrations of r alpha i-3 needed to stimulate the K+ channels were also higher than needed with native human erythrocyte Gk, in this case 30-50 times. Single K+ channel currents stimulated by r alpha i-3 were indistinguishable from those stimulated by the natural effector acetylcholine. Thus, bacterial expression of G alpha subunits provided the means to demonstrate unequivocally that Gi-3 has intrinsic Gk activity.
Maxwell’s Equations

Most students in engineering and science have heard the term “Maxwell’s equations,” and some may also have heard that Maxwell’s equations “describe all electromagnetic phenomena.” However, it is not always clear what exactly do we mean by these equations. How are they any different from what we have studied in the previous chapters? We recall discussing static and time-dependent fields and, in the process, discussed many applications. To do so, we used the definitions of the curl and divergence of the electric and magnetic fields: what we called “the postulates.” Are Maxwell’s equations different? Do they add anything to the previously described phenomena? Perhaps the best question to ask is the following: Is there any other electromagnetic phenomenon that was not discussed in the previous chapters because the definitions we used were not sufficient to do so? If so, do Maxwell’s equations define these yet unknown properties of the electromagnetic field? The answer to the latter is emphatically yes.
Advanced Nanosensors for Environmental Monitoring

Nanoparticle-enhanced chemical and biosensors offer dynamic and quantitative analysis of toxic compounds in drinking water with potentials to provide rapid, ultrasensitive, and accurate risk assessment. We have developed a number of nanostructured materials as candidates for assessing the occurrence of water contamination. These include polyamic acid–metal nanoparticle composite membranes, polyoxy-dianiline membranes, sequestered metal nanoparticles within electroconducting polymers, and underpotential deposition of metal films onto solid electrodes. These materials have been utilized to design advanced sensors and have also been integrated with conventional instrumental techniques such as flow injection analysis (FIA), liquid chromatography (LC), and gas chromatography (GC). The resulting nanostructured sensors have been tested for the detection and identification of bacteria based on antibiotic susceptibility, multiarray electrochemical sensor with pattern recognition techniques, as well as for metal-enhanced detection of DNA–DNA, DNA–toxin, and DNA–drug interactions. The detection of cyanobacteria microcystis (M) spp and other toxins have also been reported. These sensors coupled with pattern recognition have provided reliable detection, classification, and differentiation of bacteria at subspecies and strain levels. Most of these sensors have shown good-to-excellent pathogen recovery efficiencies as well as a reasonable efficacy for sensing contaminants from water in controlled laboratory experiments. This chapter focuses on some of these novel approaches as well as the fundamental scientific questions involved in this emerging area of research. Advanced nanosensors will be described with respect to the mechanism of molecular recognition, material design, and characterization, sensing procedure and efficiency as well as potential application for improving water quality. The specific evaluation of these sensors will be described in terms of speed, simplicity, and cost for rapid and reliable measurements of some environmental contaminants such as pathogenic bacteria, endocrine disruption chemicals, cyanobacteria, and organophosphate pesticides.
Héroes, vencedores y derrotados o la 'banalidad del mal' en la narrativa latinoamericana

Este trabajo forma parte de una investigacion que analiza, a traves de la figura del perdedor los vinculos entre literatura, politica y etica en la narrativa latinoamericana de los ultimos cuarenta anos. El articulo vincula dos novelas de Edgardo Rodriguez Julia con textos del Cono Sur a traves del analisis de las representaciones de los antiheroes, derrotados o vencedores, en coyunturas historicas especificas. El cuento de Jorge Luis Borges 'Deutsches Requiem' funciona como texto fundante que conecta entre si a estos ambiguos 'heroes' y permite analizar el debate en torno a las opciones eticas frente a la derrota politica que ponen en escena todos los relatos posteriores.
The effect of initiation of exercise training in young horses on vitamin K status

Twelve Quarter Horses, 18 to 24 mo of age and having an average body weight of 460+/-12 kg, were randomly assigned to one of two exercise treatments (control and exercise) to study the effect of initiation of exercise training in young horses on vitamin K status. The control treatment consisted of hand-walking the horses 7 min/d and 5 d/wk for 180 d. Exercise consisted of the following treadmill exercise regimen: 2 min at 4.5 to 5.4 m/s, 3 min at 13.4 to 14.3 m/s, and 2 min at 4.5 to 5.4 m/s on 5 d/wk for 180 d. Both groups were allowed free access to brome grass hay (273 mg of phylloquinone/100 g) individually. Additionally, the exercise group was fed .45 kg of a grain-mix concentrate (40 mg of phylloquinone/100 g) on the days they were exercised. Jugular venous blood samples were collected at d 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180. Blood samples were analyzed for total serum osteocalcin and vitamin K status via the hydroxyapatite binding capacity of serum osteocalcin calculated as follows: Hydroxyapatite binding capacity of serum osteocalcin = [(total serum osteocalcin - serum osteocalcin following extraction of serum with hydroxyapatite)/total serum osteocalcin] x 100. All horses were killed with an overdose of sodium pentobarbital on d 180. Computed tomographic osteoabsorptiometry was used to measure relative bone density distribution on the surface of the distal radial carpal bone, proximal third carpal bone, and the distal third metacarpal condyle. Relative bone density distribution was measured in Hounsfield units and categorized as low-, medium-, and high-density bone corresponding to 800 to 1,199, 1,200 to 1,299, and 1,300 to 3,000 Hounsfield units, respectively. Carpal and metacarpophalangeal joints were assigned a score of 0 (normal) to 3 (severe) that reflected the presence and severity of joint lesions. Hydroxyapatite binding capacity of serum osteocalcin and serum osteocalcin were unchanged over the 180-d period in both groups. Exercised horses had a higher percentage of high density bone (P < .01) and a lower percentage of low density bone (P < .01) on the surface of the third metacarpal condyle and a higher cumulative gross lesion score (P < .01) in the metacarpophalangeal joint than controls. There were no differences between treatments in relative bone density distribution in the carpal bones, or cumulative gross lesion score of the carpal joints. No significant correlation was present between the serum measures, osteocalcin and hydroxyapatite binding capacity of serum osteocalcin, and the bone measures, relative bone density distribution and joint gross lesion score.
Median-based measures of inequality: Reassessing the increase in income inequality in the U.S. and Sweden

The increase in income inequality, due to a shift in favor of the upper end in the United States and other countries, has become a public policy concern. This paper shows that the Gini index, G, underestimates the rate of increase in inequality because a shift of income towards the top incomes increases both the numerator and denominator of G. A modified index (G2) ,w hich replaces the mean in the denominator by the median, indicates that income inequality in the United States grew at about twice the rate as the Gini index from 1967 to 2012. The analysis accounts for the effect of the changes made in the survey collection process in 1994. In contrast with the United States, while income inequality increased in Sweden, the shift in favor of the upper income region was less pronounced. The index G2 is readily computed from the mean, median and Gini index, published by many national statistical agencies. Although G2 may not be appropriate for some analytic purposes, it is an easily calculated summary descriptive measure that is more sensitive to important changes in the income distribution than the Gini index. Most other indices placing greater weight on the upper end of the income distribution must be calculated from micro-data.
Electromyographic activity of cat hindlimb flexors and extensors during locomotion at varying speeds and inclines.

Abstract Electromyographic activity (EMG) was used to determine how hindlimb muscle activation patterns are modified as speed and incline of locomotion are varied in treadmill-trained cats. EMG was recorded using chronically implanted i.m. electrodes from the soleus, medial gastrocnemius, gluteus medius, and tibialis anterior muscles of adult cats during treadmill locomotion at a range of speeds and inclines. The patterns of changes in EMG activity at varying speeds and inclines were similar in all cats. Across speeds, the integrated EMG per step decreased for the soleus but remained constant for the other muscles. The integrated EMG per step was elevated in all muscles at higher inclines. Generally, with increased speed or incline the mean EMG per step was elevated in the medial gastrocnemius, gluteus medis, and tibialis anterior, the largest increase seen in the medial gastrocnemius. Soleus mean EMG per step remained unchanged with increased speed, but showed an absolute increase at the higher inclines. The integrated EMG per minute was always highest for the soleus followed by the medial gastrocnemius, and always lowest for the tibialis anterior. At the faster speeds, the ‘on-time’ increased in the tibialis anterior and decreased in the other muscles. These data suggest that the number of motor units activated and/or their firing frequencies increased in the medial gastrocnemius and the gluteus medius during locomotion at faster speeds or larger inclines, while relatively little change occurred in the soleus and tibialis anterior. These data also suggest that while there is considerable modulation of the level and duration of excitation of the extensor motor pools there is relatively little modulation of the flexor motor pools to adjust for both the speed and the incline of locomotion.
Authentication and dating of biomass components of industrial materials; links to sustainable technology

Abstract There are twin pressures mounting in US industry for increased utilization of biomass feedstocks and biotechnology in production. The more demanding pressure relates to economic sustainability, that is, because of increased competition globally, businesses will fail unless a minimum margin of profit is maintained while meeting the demands of consumers for less expensive products. The second pressure relates to “Green Technology” where environmental sustainability, linked for example to concerns about climate change and the preservation of natural resources, represents a worldwide driving force to reduce the consumption of fossil hydrocarbons. The resulting transition of biomass production in the industrial plant, as opposed to the agricultural plant, has resulted in an increasing need for isotopic methods of authenticating and dating feedstocks, intermediates and industrial products. The research described represents a prototypical case study leading to the definition of a unique dual isotopic ( 13 C, 14 C) signature or “fingerprint” for a new biomass-based commercial polymer, polypropylene terephthalate (3GT).
Effect of Two Point Mutations in Lung Surfactant Protein-D on Enhancing its Inhibition Activity Against Influenza a Virus

Lung collectin surfactant proteins are pulmonary host defense proteins that contribute to innate, front-line defense against influenza A virus (IAV) and other inhaled pathogens. Effective pulmonary host defense requires fast recognition by lung surfactant protein D (SP-D) of glycans on the globular head of IAV hemagglutinin (HA), thereby initiating events leading to pathogen neutralization. In site-directed mutagenesis experiments, a double mutant of human SP-D, namely R343V/D325A, was found to enhance IAV neutralization activity. In order to understand the effect of the double mutation on the mechanism of SP-D recognition and inhibition of IAV HA, we performed molecular dynamics simulations on docked SP-D-HA complexes for wild type SP-D (wtSP-D) and double mutant SP-D (dmSP-D). Our simulations revealed that side chain properties of the mutated residues and modes of glycan binding lead to increased binding affinity of dmSP-D to the active site of IVA HA, increasing thereby its antiviral activity.
The Sterol Requirement of Tetrahymena paravorax RP

Tetrahymena paravorax RP was cultured axenically in a medium of known chemical composition (within the limits of contemporary standards of chemical purity). In this medium, it required 12 amino acids, 6 B-complex vitamins, a purine, a pyrimidine, and inorganic salts. A sterol or sterol ester was necessary for optimal growth. Plant and animal 3 β-OH sterols with saturated and unsaturated ring systems, and with a variety of side chain structures, were active. Several methylated sterols suggested as intermediates in cholesterol synthesis were inhibitory.
Sensor Fault Detection Using Noise Analysis

The feasibility of sensor fault detection using noise analysis is evaluated. The noise powers at various frequency bands present in the sensor output are calculated using power spectrum density estimation and compared with historically established noise pattern to identify any abnormalities. The method is applicable to systems for which the noise is stationary under normal operating conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) is used to reduce the space of secondary variables derived from the power spectrum. T2 statistics is used to detect deviations from the norm. We take advantage of the low-pass filtering characteristics exhibited by most process plants and closed-loop control systems, which allows the noise power at higher frequency bands to be used in the fault detection. The algorithm does not require a process model because it focuses on characterization of each individual sensor and the measurement it generates. Experimental studies with two kinds of garden variety sensors (off the shelf temper...
Ion induced reactions in Fe/Al bilayers by pulsed-beam ion irradiation and Xe implantation

Abstract Bilayers of Fe/Al have been used to contrast two types of irradiations, pulsed-beam and conventional implantation. The Fe/Al bilayers were reacted with ∼ 70 ns, 280 keV light ion pulsed-beam irradiation and 550 keV Xe ion implantation. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and electron and X-ray diffraction data reveal that pulsed beam irradiation results in substantially larger interface reactions compared to Xe implantation. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the reactions observed in the pulsed-beam irradiated Fe/Al do not stem from nuclear cascade mixing and heating. These reactions are the result of lattice heating which occurs when the energy deposited into the electronic system of the Fe/Al is coupled to the lattice. Heat flow calculations have indicated that the irradiation induced lattice heating causes rises in the surface temperature and the melting of Al.
Photovoltaics: Clean power for the 21st century

Abstract Silicon still is the material of choice for more than 90% of PV production, although very recently the commercial production of thin film PV has accelerated dramatically, partly due to a shortage of silicon feedstock. We provide an overview of the physics of three thin-film materials, amorphous silicon, polycrystalline CdTe, and polycrystalline CuIn(Ga)Se2. Efficiencies now challenge or exceed those of multicrystalline Si in small devices and the expectation is that production costs will soon be significantly lower than for silicon. We discuss some of the opportunities and challenges for materials scientists and engineers in these three classes of materials.