cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender and the Politics of Marijuana

Objectives The objectives of this study were to understand why, even though women are more liberal than men on a broad range of issues, when it comes to the increasingly prominent issue of marijuana legalization, the direction of the gender gap is reversed, with women more conservative than men. Methods Relying on a 2013 Pew survey—unique for the extensiveness of its marijuana questions, including marijuana usage—we explore and attempt to explain the nature of this unusual gender gap. We test several hypotheses rooted in the different life experiences of women and men. Results We find that women's role as mothers cannot explain this gap, and that mothers are in fact no different from those without children in terms of their support for marijuana policy, as well as their reported use of marijuana. The greater religiosity of women does play a prominent role in the gender gap on marijuana policy, but does not account for the full difference of opinion between women and men. Our findings suggest that men's greater propensity relative to women to use marijuana is a major driver behind the gender gap. Conclusions Not only are attitudes on marijuana legalization likely to continue to liberalize, but as marijuana legalization and marijuana use become normalized, rather than viewed as immoral and dangerous behavior, the existing gender gap should shrink.
Social Support and Relationships with Family and Friends

Social networks influence parenting by modelling what works, persuading their friends to persist when parenting gets tough, teaching knowledge and skills, and by giving emotional support within the context of community and neighborhood. The influences of social networks on parenting are explained from the Developmental Psychopathology interdisciplinary field of human development, and specifically the theories of Urie Bronfenbrenner, Jay Belsky, John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth, and Albert Bandura.
Safe phlebotomy reduction in stable pediatric liver and spleen injuries

Abstract Purpose Pediatric blunt solid organ injury management based on hemodynamic monitoring rather than grade may safely reduce resource expenditure and improve outcomes. Previously we have reported a retrospectively validated management algorithm for pediatric liver and spleen injuries which monitors hemodynamics without use of routine phlebotomy. We hypothesize that stable blunt pediatric isolated splenic/liver injuries can be managed safely using a protocol reliant on vital signs and not repeat hemoglobin levels. Methods A prospective multi-institutional study was performed at three pediatric trauma centers. All pediatric patients from 07/2016–12/2017 diagnosed with liver or splenic injuries were identified. If appropriate for the protocol, only a baseline hemoglobin was obtained unless hemodynamic instability as defined in an age-appropriate fashion was determined by treating physician discretion. Descriptive statistics were conducted. Results One hundred four patients were identified of which 38 were excluded from the protocol. There was a significant difference in abnormal shock index, pediatric age-adjusted (SIPA) values, hematocrit, and percentage of patients with hemoglobin less than 10 between the excluded and included patients. Of the 66 patients managed on the protocol, four patients had to be removed, two each on day one and day two. Of those four patients, only one required intervention. There were no mortalities. Conclusion A phlebotomy limiting protocol may be a safe option for stable pediatric splenic and liver injuries cared for in a pediatric trauma center with the resources for rapid intervention should the need arise. The differences in groups highlight the importance of utilizing this protocol in the correct patient population. Reduced phlebotomy offers the potential for reduced resource expenditure without any evidence of increased morbidity or mortality. Level of Evidence Level IV.
An Autoimmune Protocol Diet Improves Patient-Reported Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background Prior studies suggest dietary modification may improve clinical response or remission rates in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our aim was to examine whether an autoimmune protocol diet improves quality of life in patients with active Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods We conducted an uncontrolled clinical trial of the autoimmune protocol diet in adult patients with active IBD (Harvey-Bradshaw Index ≥ 5 for CD or partial Mayo score ≥ 3 for UC, and erosions/ulcers on endoscopy and/or elevated fecal calprotectin). The dietary intervention consisted of a 6-week elimination phase, followed by a 5-week maintenance phase. Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) was completed at baseline, and weeks 3, 6, 9, and 11. Results The final cohort included 6 UC and 9 CD participants. Mean SIBDQ score improved significantly from baseline (46.5) to weeks 3 (54.0, P = 0.02), 6 (53.3, P = 0.02), 9 (62.0, P = 0.03), and 11 (60.5, P = 0.05). Among participants completing all 5 surveys, mean SIBDQ increased from 46.5 to 61.5 by week 11 (P = 0.03). By week 3, participants experienced significant improvements in bowel movement frequency (36%, P = 0.04), stress (28%, P = 0.01), and ability to perform leisure/sport activities (29%, P = 0.02). Effects were not significantly different between CD and UC participants. Conclusions Dietary modification can improve quality of life as early as week 3 in patients with active IBD. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to examine dietary interventions in IBD.
G-Protein/Receptor inhibitors as blockers of receptor signaling.

Abstract This paper describes the behavior of binding and functional receptor systems where an antagonist of the receptor/G protein binding reaction is added as a blocker of agonist-induced receptor function. For agonist radioligands, the reduction of G protein receptor interaction leads to a possible change in the binding affinity of the agonist radioligand to the receptor. Reciprocally, the allosteric cooperativity between the agonist and the G protein binding site antagonist (quantified by the factor γB) affects the potency of the G protein antagonist modulator; this model presents the various profiles that would be expected for modulators that reduce (γB = 0.01), have no effect on (γB = 1) and increase (γB = 100) the affinity of the agonist for the receptor. It will be seen that modulators that increase the affinity of the receptor for the agonist are the most potent antagonists and may attain a profile of some special negative allosteric modulators referred to as PAM antagonists. In all cases, these modulators will be inverse agonists of constitutive receptor activity. This model presents a strategy for the discovery of PAM antagonists for therapeutic blockade of physiological signaling.
Quantifying Memory Underutilization in HPC Systems and Using it to Improve Performance via Architecture Support

A system's memory size is often dictated by worst-case workloads with highest memory requirements; this causes memory to be underutilized in the common case when the system is not running its worst-case workloads. Cognizant of this memory underutilization problem, many prior works have studied memory utilization and explored how to improve it in the context of cloud. In this paper, we perform the first large-scale study of system-level memory utilization in the context of HPC systems; through seven million machine-hours of measurements across four HPC systems, we find memory underutilization in HPC systems is much more severe than in cloud. Subsequently, we also perform the first exploration of architectural techniques to improve memory utilization specifically for HPC systems. We propose exposing each compute node's currently unused memory to its CPU(s) via novel architectural support for OS. This can enable many new microarchitecture techniques that use the abundant free memory to boost microarchitecture performance transparently without requiring any user code modification or recompilation; we refer to them as Free-memory-aware Microarchitecture Techniques (FMTs). We then present a detailed example of an FMT -- Free-memory-aware Memory Replication (FMR). On average across five HPC benchmark suites, FMR provides 13% performance and 8% system-level energy improvement compared to a highly optimized baseline representative of modern memory systems. To check the performance benefits our simulation reports, we emulated FMR in a real system and found close corroboration between simulation results and real-system emulation results. The paper ends by discussing other possible FMTs and applicability to other types of systems.
Reconfigurable Gallium Nitride Based Fully Solid-State Microwave Power Module for Cognitive Radio Platforms

This paper presents as a proof-of-concept (POC) the design, integration, and performance of a novel reconfigurable S-/X-band Gallium Nitride (GaN) based fully solid-state microwave power module (SSMPM) for the role as the transmit module in a cognitive radio (CR). The SSMPM synergistically integrates multiple amplifiers through diplexing and high power switches to enable a single SSMPM capable of functioning as both S-/X-band amplifiers for telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C), telecommunications, and science data downlink or as X-band radar for proximity sensing onboard a planetary exploration spacecraft. Integration of an electric field shaping field plate (FP) onto the GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) in this SSMPM provides increased performance and reliability for operation in the harsh conditions of space. This SSMPM is capable of delivering saturated power (Psat) of 39 dBm (8 W continuous wave (CW)) at S-band, Psat of 43 dBm (20 W CW) at X-band, and Psat of >50 dBm (>100 W Pulsed) at X-band.
Impactful Academic Advising: What Students Recall Years Later

Twenty-one graduate students were asked to reflect on what they remember most from their undergraduate academic advising experiences. Impactful advising is defined here as academic advising that leaves a positive, long-lasting effect on students. In this study, three themes emerged, which depict impactful advising. These advisors were inspiring, had a positive attitude, and were intrusive. Academic advisors do not often realize the long term impact they might leave on students. Students may always pay close attention, but they do feel judgment. It is captivating what students recall several years or decades later, such as encouraging words to a struggling student or belittling the student for going to the wrong office. As students themselves, academic advisors were likely self-motivated and were interested in finding solutions to their academic and personal problems. Frustration can set in when students arrive at advising appointments with no preparation, questions, or ideas related to how they can maximize their total college experience. Assumptions can easily be made about these students, which can be unfair to the student.
Crime, Desistance, and Persistence

This article on persistence and desistance in criminal offending examines key areas related to the question of why some criminal offenders stop their offending (desist) while other criminal offenders continue to offend for longer periods of time (persist). Included in the article are discussions of this research literature's foundations in the age–crime curve, common theoretical explanations, and key methodological issues including both definitional and modeling challenges. The discussion concludes by describing key empirical findings related to the association of adult life events with changes in offending patterns and finally identifies areas for future inquiry.
Palliative Care of the Right Heart

Heart failure is a life-limiting illness, and Palliative Care benefits patients and their caregivers from the time of diagnosis throughout the entire disease trajectory. Palliative care provides symptom management, psychosocial support, and assistance with medical decision-making. The overarching goal is to make recommendations for care to ensure that patients receive goal-concordant care.
Congenital and Hereditary Cataracts: Epidemiology and Genetics

Lens opacities or cataracts in children are usually congenital and/or hereditary and less often are secondary to trauma, infections, or systemic disorders such as diabetes or galactosemia. Congenital cataracts cause approximately one-third of blindness in infants worldwide. Between 8% and 25% of congenital cataracts are inherited, and knowledge of their genetic architecture is increasing. Delineating the relationship between the genes and mutations causing cataracts and their phenotypic presentation can help us to understand the biology of the lens and provide a framework for the clinical approach to diagnosis and therapy.
A “Great Power” Defended and Denounced: An Examination of Twentieth-Century Advertising and Advertising Criticism in the United States

Speaking in 1926, President Calvin Coolidge warned advertisers not to abuse “a great power that has been entrusted to your keeping which charges you with the high responsibility of inspiring and en...
Expanding Role and Potential of Curation in Education: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Advances in computing power have accelerated the growth of knowledge and created opportunities. However, the resulting tidal wave of information presents challenges, including vast quantity with va...
High efficiency millimeter and submillimeter frequency multipliers

Frequency doublers, triplers and quadruplers operating from 90–570 GHz are described. Tripiers show a conversion efficiency of 16% at 100 GHz decreasing to ∼10% at 290 GHz, the doubler 7% efficiency at 570 GHz and the quadruplers ∼3% at 390 GHz. Devices are optimized for 10–20 mW input power and produce output powers of ∼l-5 mW.
81. FACTORS THAT ARE PRIORITIES IN PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTY CHOICE

Background Pediatric subspecialty fellowships are common pathways for graduating pediatric residents. While some subspecialties continue to grow, others struggle to fill their spots. Objective Examine factors of importance in residency graduates’ decision to pursue fellowship by resident characteristics. Methods A random sample of 1000 residency graduates across the US via the 2019 AAP Annual Survey of Graduating Residents were surveyed. Residents were asked about their plans after residency and importance of 12 factors in the decision to pursue their specific fellowship. Chi-square examined variations in importance by gender, children, medical school location, debt, location of residency training and program size. Results 504 (51%) responded. 189 (38%) reported they would be starting pediatric subspecialty fellowships following residency. Future job opportunities and interest in specific disease/organ system were the 2 highest rated factors, with most reporting them as essential or very important (90% and 88%, respectively). Other important factors included subspecialty exposure and mentorship during residency. Factors with the lowest ratings were ability to stay at same institution and education debt, with 1/3 reporting essential or very important. No variation in importance was found by gender, region and program size; few were found by medical school location and debt. Most variation was found among residents with children. E.g., residents with children were more likely than those without to report family considerations and control over work hours as essential/very important (86% vs 48%, p Conclusion Four in 10 graduating residents report starting fellowship training after residency. Residents prioritize factors important in choosing their subspecialty similarly across gender, region and program size, with top factors being job opportunities and interest in specific disease/organ systems. Family considerations and control over work hours are particularly important for residents with children. Understanding of these factors is critical in advising and recruiting trainees into fellowship.
Association among length of residence, physical activity, and obesity in the US immigrants: A regression-based mediation analysis.

OBJECTIVES To examine the mediated relationship between objectively measured obesity, accelerometer-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and length of residence among US immigrants. METHODS A total of 885 adults (≥18 years) who were born outside the United States from the 2003 to 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in the analysis. The participants were categorized into two groups (i.e., living in the United States ≥15 years vs. <15 years). MVPA time (minutes/day) was measured by ActiGraph accelerometry. Obesity was defined as body fat percentage measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Regression-based mediation analysis was conducted using SURVEY procedures in SAS version 9.4. RESULTS When controlling for covariates, immigrants living in the United States for ≥15 years were significantly less likely to spend time participating in MVPA (c; β = -4.50, p = .04), and more likely to be at high risk of obesity (a; β = 1.70, p = .01) compared to those living in the United States for <15 years. Also, the relationship between obesity and MVPA was statistically significant (b; β = -0.80, p = .003). Length of residence was indirectly associated with MVPA (ab; β = -1.37, p = .03), suggesting that obesity mediated the association of length of residence on MVPA (c'; β = -3.13, p = .20). CONCLUSIONS Obesity mediated the association between length of residence and MVPA in the US immigrants. These findings may encourage long-term US immigrants to prevent and treat obesity for increasing the amount of MVPA time.
GEN-FOAM MODEL AND BENCHMARK OF DELAYED NEUTRON PRECURSOR DRIFT IN THE MOLTEN SALT REACTOR EXPERIMENT

The effective delayed neutron fraction is an important reactor kinetics parameter. In flowing liquid-fuel reactors, this differs from the delayed neutron fraction because of the emission of delayed neutrons with a lower energy spectrum than prompt and the delayed neutron precursor (DNP) drift due to the fuel movement. In general, neglecting delayed neutron precursor drift leads to an over-estimation of the effective delayed neutron fraction. Nevertheless, the capability to simulate this peculiar phenomenon is not available in most reactor physics tools. In this project, a multi-physics approach to modeling DNP drift is developed using the GeN-Foam toolkit, and it benchmarked against available experimental data from the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE). GeN-Foam couples a neutron diffusion solver with a thermal-hydraulics solver. Additionally, a new function was added for solving adjoint multi-group diffusion eigenvalue problems and calculating effective delayed neutron fraction. For benchmarking, an R-Z model of the MSRE was developed in GeN-Foam. The porous media model was applied, and cross sections were generated using the Monte Carlo code Serpent-2 with ENDF/B-VII.1 nuclear data library. In order to evaluate the impact of DNP drift, two steady-state conditions (stationary and flowing salt at 1200 gpm) were simulated. A reactivity change of -241 pcm was calculated using GeN-Foam for the MSRE between static and flowing fuel, which is in a good agreement with the experimental value of -212 pcm. The total effective delayed neutron fraction change was calculated to be -230 pcm vs. -304 pcm reported for the MSRE and analytical calculated during the experimental campaign. Three transient accidents were also analyzed.
Stability and Validation of a High-Throughput LC-MS/MS Method for the Quantification of Cefepime, Meropenem, and Piperacillin and Tazobactam in Serum

BACKGROUND The class of antibiotics known as β-lactams are a commonly used due to their effectiveness and safety. Therapeutic drug monitoring has been proposed but requires an accurate assay along with well-characterized preanalytic stability, as β-lactams are known to be relatively unstable. METHODS A high-throughput LC-MS/MS assay validation and stability study was performed for cefepime, meropenem, and piperacillin and tazobactam in serum. Patient samples, standards, and QCs were crashed with acetonitrile containing internal standard. Following centrifugation, an aliquot of the supernatant was diluted with clinical laboratory reagent water and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. RESULTS The assay showed linearity between 0.5 and 60 µg/mL for each analyte. The intra- and interassay reproducibility at 3 different concentrations (approximately 2, 25, and 40 µg/mL) was <5% for each analyte. Accuracy studies for each analyte were compared using linear regression and demonstrated: slope = 1.0 ± 0.1; r2 ≥ 0.980; and y intercept 95% CI that included zero. Minimal ion suppression or enhancement was observed, and no significant carryover was observed up to 500 µg/mL of each analyte. Stability studies demonstrated significant loss in serum for each analyte at ambient and refrigerated temperatures (2-8 °C) and at -20 °C over days or weeks. In contrast, when stored at -80 °C, no significant loss was observed. CONCLUSIONS The LC-MS/MS assay showed acceptable performance characteristics for quantitation of β-lactams. With well-characterized stability, this assay can be used with residual specimens for pharmacokinetic modeling, which may lead to individualized dosing and improved patient care.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis in solid organ transplant donors and recipients.

Purpose of review Due to impaired immune response, solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are susceptible to tuberculosis (TB) and its subsequent morbidity and mortality. Current prevention strategies, diagnostic and treatment approach to TB infection in donors and recipients were reviewed in this article. Recent findings Screening of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in donors and recipients is the cornerstone of TB-preventive strategy in recipients and requires an assessment of TB risk factors, TB-specific immunity testing, and radiographic evaluation. Interferon-gamma release assay has superseded the tuberculin skin test in LTBI evaluation despite its recognized limitations. LTBI treatment should be offered to transplant candidates and living donors before transplantation and donation, respectively. Diagnosis of TB disease can be challenging because of nonspecific clinical presentation in the recipient and is limited by the sensitivity of current diagnostics. The approach to LTBI and TB disease treatment is similar to the general population, but can be challenging because of potential drug interactions and toxicities. Summary The appropriate evaluation of donors and recipients for TB can mitigate posttransplant TB disease. Current approaches to diagnosis and treatment parallels that of immunocompetent hosts. Future research evaluating existing and novel diagnostics and treatment in transplant recipients is needed.
A novel process for the upcycling of waste polyolefins to high-value fuels and chemicals

In this issue of Chem Catalysis, Lin and co-workers describe a promising approach for selectively producing high-value products—such as jet fuel and lubricants—from waste polyethylene and other polyolefin polymers. They report a liquid-phase catalytic hydrogenolysis process to efficiently convert high-density polyethylene under relatively mild conditions.
Ectomycorrhizal root tips harbor distinctive fungal associates along a soil nitrogen gradient

Abstract A diverse range of fungi associate with ectomycorrhizal (EcM) root tips, however, their identity and the biotic and abiotic filters structuring these communities remain unknown. We employed a metabarcoding approach to characterize fungal communities associating with the EcM root tips of Quercus rubra along a natural soil nitrogen gradient. EcM communities and ectomycorrhizal associated fungi (EcAF) were tightly linked across the breadth of the soil gradient. Notably, EcAF communities were primarily shaped by the morphological attributes of EcM communities, particularly the relative abundance of EcM taxa forming rhizomorphic hyphae. Edaphic properties (soil C:N and net N mineralization) exerted minimal influence, suggesting a strong role of biotic interactions in EcAF community assembly. The presence of plants forming ericoid mycorrhizal associations also shapes the prevalence of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi associating with EcM root tips. Overall, EcAF communities were dominated by helotialean fungi, ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, dark septate endophytes, and the white-rot fungi Mycena.
Engagement and time perception in virtual reality

Virtual reality (VR) is a simulation tool that is being used extensively to study the effects of training and perception. However, several studies have shown that some aspects of perception within ...
Notes on new and old world African drumming: just playing it like you mean it is not playing

Certainly the most lasting impression I brought home from my "hippie summer" of 1968 in Berkeley, California was of those fierce conga drum ensembles that gathered almost daily in lower Sproul Plaza. Then, as now, there was great variation in the quality of the playing. On one set of benches sat a motley crew of drum thumpers, banging away without Time; sound and fury signifying egotism and indiscipline. At a deliberate distance sat another ensemble, three or four dignified black men well past adolescence in every sense, the conga (golpe) melody drum and the lead or quinto placed properly on either side of the bass (tumbao). Their rhythms were complex yet clearly articulated, restrained yet thoroughly compelling, relentlessly goading the body and spirit into dance.
Fast-time 2-D spatial modulation of physical radar emissions

It was recently shown that polyphase-coded frequency modulation (PCFM) waveforms can be expanded to incorporate a spatial modulation coding across a linear antenna array that enables fast-time beamsteering during a transmitted pulsewidth. Here this joint waveform / spatial modulation framework is generalized to two spatial dimensions via a planar array so that complete fast-time spatial steering freedom is available. The resulting emission represents a physically realizable manifestation of MIMO radar that provides enhanced spatial resolution and target discrimination capability using only matched filtering and non-adaptive beamforming. Spatial modulation can also be viewed as a time-varying form of phase-only transmit beam-shaping where the significant increase in degrees-of-freedom, relative to static beam-shaping, translates into many more possible physically achievable design solutions.
[21] Randomization and selection of RNA to identify targets for RRM RNA-binding proteins and antibodies

Publisher Summary The original peptide randomization experiments of Geysen were designed to identify antibody epitopes on plastic pins. This early approach, to generating combinatorial polymers, is similar in concept to the DNA randomization, selection, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification methods developed later, by Struhl and co-workers and Horwitz and Loeb, to identify the DNA-binding sites of transcription factors. Both of these in vitro selection methods required the ability to create high diversity of molecular sequences, by a randomization protocol, using synthetic polymers. The ability to amplify DNA libraries and binding ligands, selected from the libraries, by PCR, provided a distinct advantage over peptide libraries, because peptides had to be synthesized in a decodable (addressable) matrix. This limitation places severe practical constraints on the numbers of degenerate ligands that a peptide library can contain. On the other hand, the choice of 20 amino acids versus 4 nucleotides gives peptide libraries an exceedingly high potential for diversity compared to oligonucleotide libraries. The ability to determine sequence-binding preferences of proteins for RNAs, using randomization and selection, required the development of both RNA-binding methods and a means to identify the successful binding sequences. This chapter describes the RNA-binding assays as well as the methods to randomize RNA, to select the sequences for RNA-binding specificity, and to amplify selected RNAs, either in vivo, by DNA replication, or in vitro, using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR.
Anomalous left ventricular band: An unemphasized cause of a precordial musical murmur

Abstract The pertinent clinical and necropsy features are described in an elderly man who had a loud precordial murmur when he was in severe cardiac decompensation. With restoration of cardiac compensation the precordial murmur disappeared and the heart became smaller. At necropsy, a fibrous cord was found in the left ventricle, stretching from the septum to the free wall. It is suggested that the murmur was the result of this band's being stretched taut when the left ventricular cavity was dilated. When the left ventricular chamber returned to normal size, the anomalous band became lax and the murmur disappeared. Other reports describing anomalous left ventricular bands are briefly reviewed.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Urban Soils of Different Land Uses in Miami, Florida

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous organic pollutants in urban environments and are considered as the priority pollutants by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The objective of this study was to determine the depth-wise distribution (0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm) of 16 PAHs compounds in four urban soils of different land uses (residential, public parks, public buildings, and commercial areas) in Miami, Florida, USA. The PAHs were analyzed using a Gas Chromatograph equipped with a Flame Ionization Detector. Results showed that across use soils, total PAHs were significantly greater at surface (1,869 μg/kg) than sub-surface (478–1,079 μg/kg). Among land uses at 0–15 cm, PAHs were significantly greater in commercial areas (2,364 μg/kg) than the residential and public parks (1,508–1,595 μg/kg), but not the public buildings (2,007 μg/kg). However, at lower depths, PAHs were greater in residential soils (15–30 cm: 1,454 μg/kg; 30–45 cm: 834 μg/kg) compared with other land uses (15–30 cm:...
THE COMBINED USE OF LIQUID AND GASEOUS HELIUM TO PROVIDE NEAR ACTUAL SPACE ENVIRONMENT

Combined use of liquid and gaseous helium as refrigerant to provide simulated space environment
The 4-cysteine zinc-finger motif of the RNA polymerase regulator DksA serves as a thiol switch for sensing oxidative and nitrosative stress.

Summary We show that thiols in the 4-cysteine zinc-finger motif of DksA, an RNA polymerase accessory protein known to regulate the stringent response, sense oxidative and nitrosative stress. Hydrogen peroxide- or nitric oxide (NO)-mediated modifications of thiols in the DksA 4-cysteine zinc-finger motif release the metal cofactor and drive reversible changes in the α-helicity of the protein. Wild-type and relA spoT mutant Salmonella, but not isogenic dksA-deficient bacteria, experience the downregulation of r-protein and amino acid transport expression after NO treatment, suggesting that DksA can regulate gene expression in response to NO congeners independently of the ppGpp alarmone. Oxidative stress enhances the DksA-dependent repression of rpsM, while preventing the activation of livJ and hisG gene transcription that is supported by reduced, zinc-bound DksA. The inhibitory effects of oxidized DksA on transcription are reversible with dithiothreitol. Our investigations indicate that sensing of reactive species by DksA redox active thiols fine-tunes the expression of translational machinery and amino acid assimilation and biosynthesis in accord with the metabolic stress imposed by oxidative and nitrosative stress. Given the conservation of Cys114, and neighbouring hydrophobic and charged amino acids in DksA orthologues, phylogenetically diverse microorganisms may use the DksA thiol switch to regulate transcriptional responses to oxidative and nitrosative stress.
Microresonators with Active Tuning

In this chapter, methods for actively controlling the resonant wavelength of photonic microresonators in order to manipulate the propagation of light are introduced. The presented tuning mechanisms are based on the free-carrier dispersion effect and the thermo-optic effect. The free carriers and the thermal power required for the tuning can be generated either electrically or optically, enabling different applications including electro-optic modulators, optical switches, optical routers, all-optical logic, and memories. These microresonator-based devices have small footprint, low power consumption, and the capability of large-scale integration.
6 – Intermediary Metabolism

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins. Despite the limited importance of carbohydrate in the natural diets of most fish, carbohydrate metabolism is the central pathway by which energy transactions occur in fish, as in most animals. Carbohydrate breakdown is initiated by glycolysis, which can proceed in the absence of oxygen, albeit with a reduced ATP yield compared to that provided by mitochondrial oxidation to CO2 and H2O. Body protein metabolism is a continuous process of synthesis and degradation (catabolism). The process of turnover of amino acids, sequentially cycling through protein via synthesis degradation, is extremely specific at different tissue levels, but overall, fish catabolize 40–50% of body proteins to be returned to the pool of precursors and reused for synthesis. Simultaneous availability of all essential amino acids, assuming an excess of nonessential amino acids, at the site of protein synthesis is required for efficient protein synthesis. The initiating enzymes of protein synthesis (acyl synthetases) have a high affinity for amino acid substrates in comparison to enzymes which catabolize amino acids.
Characterization of Performance Anomalies in Hadoop

With the huge variety of data and equally large-scale systems, there is not a unique execution setting for these systems which can guarantee the best performance for each query. In this project, we tried so study the impact of different execution settings on execution time of workloads by varying them one at a time. Using the data from these experiments, a decision tree was built where each internal node represents the execution parameter, each branch represents value chosen for the parameter and each leaf node represents a range for execution time in minutes. The attribute in the decision tree to split the dataset on is selected based on the maximum information gain or lowest entropy. Once the tree is trained with the training samples, this tree can be used to get approximate range for the expected execution time. When the actual execution time differs from this expected value, a performance anomaly can be detected. For a test dataset with 400 samples, 99% of samples had actual execution time in the range predicted time by the decision tree. Also on analyzing the constructed tree, an idea about what configuration can give better performance for a given workload can be obtained. Initial experiments suggest that the impact an execution parameter can have on the target attribute (here execution time) can be related to the distance of that feature node from the root of the constructed decision tree. From initial results the percent change in the values of the target attribute for various value of the feature node which is closer to the root is 6 times larger than when that same iii feature node is away from the root node. This observation will depend on how well the decision tree was trained and may not be true for every case.
Immuno-Electron Microscopy of the Morphogenesis of Mumps Virus

The fine structure of mumps virus-infected chick embryo fibroblastic cells was examined sequentially after viral inoculation. Intracytoplasmic nucleoprotein strands, similar to those described for parainfluenza viruses, were detectable in small aggregates between 36 and 48 hr. The peripheral strands of this viral component lie beneath and along an antigenically altered bulging portion of the cell membrane. The outermost strands are consistently parallel to the differentiated segment of the plasma membrane, which is invariably associated with surface projections. As has been found with other myxoviruses, mumps virus replicates by budding from the cell surface. The virus particle, roughly spherical in shape, has a size ranging from 1,000 to 8,000 A. Filamentous forms are rarely observed in the present culture system. Ferritin-conjugated antibody specifically labels the cytoplasmic nucleoprotein, the modified cell membrane, and the virus particle. Intranuclear inclusions of low electron density and morphologically different from those described in measles virus-infected HeLa and amnion cells were observed in the nucleus of several infected cells. Immuno-electron microscopic observations suggest that the nucleoprotein synthesis rate exceeds that of cell membrane differentiation into viral envelope. This difference results in the accumulation of viral nucleoprotein in large intracytoplasmic masses which can be demonstrated by electron microscopy.
Clinical and pharmacological experience with etanercept.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is the dominant mediator of the cytokine cascade that causes inflammation and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A new class of agent under investigation, the biological TNF inhibitors, inhibit the activity of TNF. Recombinant human TNF receptor p75 Fc fusion protein (TNFR:Fc; etanercept) blocks the activity of the cytokine TNF. Etanercept (Enbrel™) was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of RA. Etanercept is a genetically engineered recombinant soluble TNF receptor fusion protein that binds to TNF body and inhibits its biologic action; it is the first biotechnology product approved for the treatment of RA. Remarkable progress has been achieved in the treatment of RA with the development of TNF antagonists. Recent clinical trials have improved our understanding of the major role played by the cytokine TNF in provoking joint inflammation in RA.
Chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic actions of mTOR inhibitor in genetically-defined head and neck squamous cell carcinoma mouse model

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of rapamycin treatment in chemoprevention and chemotherapy of tumorigenesis in a genetically defined mouse model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Experimental design: Knockdown of Tgfbr1 and/or Pten using siRNA-mediated RNA interference was carried out in human HNSCC cell lines to analyze molecular changes in the mTOR pathway . Tgfbr1 flox/flox ; Pten flox/flox ; K14-CreER tam mice were treated with oral gavage of tamoxifen for the conditional deletion of Tgfbr1 and Pten in oral mucosa, resulting in HNSCC. Tgfbr1 and Pten conditonal deletion (2cKO) mice were treated with rapamycin before or after the onset of HNSCC, and the efficacy of this treatment was assessed by determining tumor burden, longevity, and molecular analysis of the mTOR pathway. Molecular changes observed in human HNSCC cell lines and 2cKO mice were compared to identify key alterations in the mTOR pathway. Results: Knockdown of Tgfbr1 and/or Pten in human HNSCC cell lines resulted in activation of mTOR activity complex 1 and increased levels of survivin. Furthermore, we observed similar changes in HNSCC of the 2cKO mouse. In the human HNSCC tissue array, a loss of Tgfbr1 expression correlated with increased survivin levels. Chemopreventive rapamycin treatment significantly delayed the onset of the HNSCC tumors and prolonged survival in 2cKO mice. In addition, we also found that rapamycin had a therapeutic effect on squamous cell carcinomas in these mice. In 2cKO HNSCC tongue tumors, rapamycin treatment induced apoptosis, inhibited cell proliferation and phosphorylation of Akt and S6, and decreased survivin expression. Conclusions: These findings indicate that tumorigenesis in 2cKO HNSCC is associated with activation of the Akt/mTOR/survivin pathway, and inhibition of this pathway by rapamycin treatment successfully ameliorates the onset and progression of tumorigenesis. Clin Cancer Res; 18(19); 5304–13. ©2012 AACR .
The control of electrostatic characteristics in toner type paper‐like display

Abstract The toner type paper‐like display (PLD) has been developed with two polymer particles having opposite polarity composed of polymer, colorant and external additives (nano‐sized silica). Nano‐sized silica with triboelectric charge was used for the charge control agent (CCA) and influenced on the electrostatic properties of the silica‐coated polymer particles. The surface morphology and the cohesiveness of silica‐coated polymer particles were changed with the silica coating time. From these results, it was verified that the PLD cell using silica‐coated particles (200 seconds) shows a good white appearance and low driving voltage.
Quarterly intravenous ibandronate for postmenopausal osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is under-recognized and undertreated among postmenopausal women. Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates are its first-line pharmacotherapy. Oral bisphosphonate treatment requires stringent dosing guidelines to minimize gastrointestinal irritation and enhance absorption. This paper reviews the efficacy, safety and tolerability of quarterly intravenous ibandronate 3 mg injection, approved in 2006 in the USA and Europe. Quarterly intravenous ibandronate injection has shown superior efficacy to daily oral ibandronate for bone mineral density increase and fracture prevention. No drug-related serious atrial fibrillation events have been reported with intravenous ibandronate. The regimen has a favorable renal safety profile. Quarterly intravenous ibandronate is administered as a simple 15-30-s intravenous injection in a physician’s office and provides a beneficial option for patients who are unable to tolerate oral administration.
The life testing of cathode-ray tubes

The principal requirement of cathode-ray-tube life-testing equipment is that it shall give an accurate description of the life performance of any type of cathode-ray tube in the shortest possible time. This object is achieved only after due consideration of all the factors involved, which include the safety of personnel from electric shock and mechanical implosion, the flexibility and reliability of apparatus and methods of arriving at an estimate of life before failure actually occurs. The paper describes how the problem has been approached and concludes that the desired flexibility in the apparatus can best be achieved in an open-bench type of equipment. This entails the provision of electrical safeguards to protect the operator.
Vacancy motion in solid helium

A model calculation of the vacancy tunneling frequency in bcc 3 He, hcp 3 He, and hcp 4 He is presented. Only the Debye temperature (and its volume dependence) and vacancy activation energies (from NMR data) are used; comparison with experiment is made. The relative tunneling rates in the three systems along with NMR and specific heat data provide evidence for the nature of vacancy motion in each of these systems.
Photoaffinity labeling of P450Cam by an imidazole-tethered benzophenone probe.

Abstract [ 3 H]4-Benzoyl- N -[2-(imidazole-4-yl)ethyl]benzamide ([ 3 H]HBP) was synthesized and used to photoaffinity label P450 Cam . The imidazole moiety of HBP anchors the compound in the P450 Cam active site by coordination of the heme iron, thereby insuring that covalent modification occurs in the active site. Additionally, the imidazole anchor provides a known binding orientation of HBP to P450 Cam from which conclusions about enzyme structure can be drawn based upon the locations of photoadducted residues. Two sites of adduction were identified by MS analysis of digested, photoaffinity labeled P450 Cam . Photoaffinity labeling experiments in the presence of the type II competitive inhibitor, 1-phenylimidazole, were used to assess the specificity of the photoadducts characterized. One adduct was located at Met103 on the flexible B′/C loop region of P450 Cam . The other adduct was localized on the C-helix at Met121. The implications of these data are discussed.
Degradation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone by the GH3 strain of pituitary cells in culture.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), pGlu-His-ProNH2, binds within 1 h to specific receptors on the GH3 strain of pituitary cells. When GH3 cells were incubated for 2 days with 3 nM [2,3-3H-Pro]TRH, an increasing fraction of the total cellular radioactivity (7% after 1 h, 81% after 43 h) was associated covalently with proteins as etermined by dialysis, acid precipitation, and gel filtration; this fraction corresponded to label which could not be displaced from intact GH3 cells by the addition of excess unlabeled TRH. R5 and GH12C1 cells, strains which lack TRH receptors, accumulated 16or 23%, respectively, as much label from [2,3-3H-Pro]TRH as did GH3 cells in 24 h. After 24 h of incubation with [2,3-3H-Pro]TRH and [MC-His]TRH, the ratio of 14C⁄3H in GH3 cells was the same as in the culture medium, indicating tha the intact tripeptide wastaken up by the cells. After 24-48 h of incubation with [2,3-3H-Pro]TRH, GH3 proteins appeared to be labeled randomly as surmised by fractionation on Sephadex G-100, DEAE...
Electroencephalographic Analysis in Communication Science: Testing Two Competing Models of Message Production

Electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis allows measurement of electrical activity in bundles of neurons around electrodes placed at various locations on the scalp. In this essay, we provide an overview of the biological basis of EEG methodology and outline basic principles and practices of data collection. We conducted a study using EEG to test expectations from two competing cognitive theories of communication—computational theory and dynamic memory theory. Participants (N = 30) were assigned to one of two conditions—routine talk and direction-giving. EEG was used to measure the electrical activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), an area of the brain that is associated with message production. Results indicated that DLPFC activity was far more suggestive of dynamic memory theory. Specifically, electrical activity in the DLPFC was significantly lower during routine talk than during direction-giving. We discuss the implications of our findings and the limitations of EEG methods in communicati...
Clinical, angiographic, hemodynamic, perfusional and functional changes after one-vessel left anterior descending coronary angioplasty.

Abstract Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was successfully performed in 20 patients with 1-vessel left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery disease. Exercise capacity in terms of peak workload, heart rate and systolic blood pressure all increased significantly 1 week after PTCA. All patients had some decrease in stenosis size and gradient. All patients except 1 had an improvement in functional class. Eight of 12 patients with abnormal exercise electrocardiograms before PTCA had normal electrocardiograms after the procedure. Exercise thallium-201 (Tl-201) myocardial perfusion images obtained in all 20 patients before and 1 week after PTCA were analyzed using a new computer method designed to quantitate regional myocardial Tl-201 distribution, redistribution and clearance rate. Significant improvement in Tl-201 activity was present in the anterior and septal segments of the left ventricle 1 week after PTCA. This increase in Tl-201 uptake was associated with a significant reduction in the amount of Tl-201 redistribution between initial and delayed postexercise images in the same regions. Tl-201 clearance rate in the segments supplied by the dilated vessel also improved significantly. Abnormal Tl-201 lung uptake was seen in 17 patients before and in 4 patients after PTCA. Exercise ejection fraction response and septal wall motion also improved after PTCA of the LAD stenosis in all 17 patients who had exercise radionuclide ventriculography. Improvement in clinical, angiographic and hemodynamic factors as well as in global and regional myocardial perfusion and function occurs after PTCA for 1-vessel LAD coronary artery disease.