cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automatic Identification and Classification of Muscle Spasms in Long-Term EMG Recordings

Spinal cord injured (SCI) individuals may be afflicted by spasticity, a condition in which involuntary muscle spasms are common. EMG recordings can be analyzed to quantify this symptom of spasticity but manual identification and classification of spasms are time consuming. Here, an algorithm was created to find and classify spasm events automatically within 24-h recordings of EMG. The algorithm used expert rules and time-frequency techniques to classify spasm events as tonic, unit, or clonus spasms. A companion graphical user interface (GUI) program was also built to verify and correct the results of the automatic algorithm or manually defined events. Eight channel EMG recordings were made from seven different SCI subjects. The algorithm was able to correctly identify an average (±SD) of 94.5 ± 3.6% spasm events and correctly classify 91.6 ± 1.9% of spasm events, with an accuracy of 61.7 ± 16.2%. The accuracy improved to 85.5 ± 5.9% and the false positive rate decreased to 7.1 ± 7.3%, respectively, if noise events between spasms were removed. On average, the algorithm was more than 11 times faster than manual analysis. Use of both the algorithm and the GUI program provide a powerful tool for characterizing muscle spasms in 24-h EMG recordings, information which is important for clinical management of spasticity.
Effect of prior residence on dominance status of dark-eyed juncos, Junco hyemalis

Abstract Both prior residence and age have been reported to influence rank in avian dominance hierarchies. The aim of this study was to determine the relative effects of these two factors on dominance status of dark-eyed juncos. Twenty-one mixed-age flocks of recently captured juncos (192 individuals) were observed in two similar aviary experiments, one conducted during autumn migration and the other after autumn migration had ended. In the experimental treatment, a group of adult juncos was held in a cage for 1 week and then introduced to an observation cage in which a group of young juncos had already been housed for 1 week, thereby giving the young birds a prior-residence advantage. In the control treatment, groups of each age were held in separate cages for 1 week and were then introduced simultaneously to a neutral observation cage. Dominance ranks of all individuals were determined through observation of aggressive interactions. When given prior residence, young birds clearly dominated adults. Because adults tended to dominante young in control flocks, these results demonstrate that prior residence can reverse agerelated dominance among flocks of juncos under semi-natural conditions. If these results apply to wild populations, they indicate that young juncos might gain in dominance status during winter if they timed their autumn migration so as to arrive on the wintering grounds before adults.
Effects of municipal sludge on locomotor activity and exploratory behavior of meadow voles, Microtus Pennsylvanicus

Behavioral responses of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), inhabiting sludge-treated outdoor enclosures, were studied during the 1987 growing season. Significant accumulations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in the soils of the sludge-treated enclosures. Significant uptake of Zn and Cd were observed in Poa spp., while Bromus japonicum significantly accumulated Zn. Additionally, Bromus from the sludge-treated enclosures showed a strong trend of increased Cd. Both of these plant species are potentially eaten by voles. Both male and female sludge-exposed voles significantly bioaccumulated Cd in their livers and brains. Alterations in locomotor activity and exploratory behavior were found in sludge-exposed females that appeared either not to habituate to the novel environment of the activity chamber; or were hyperactive as a consequence of Cd exposure; or possibly an interaction between the two. No changes in behavior of males exposed to sludge was observed. We believe that the observed differences between the male and female voles were due to sex-related differential responses to Cd toxicity.
Toxicity of Non-Ionic Detergents for the Chick Embryo.∗:

SummaryTwo non-ionic detergents, Tween 80 and Triton X-100, have been compared with respect to their toxicity to chick embryos. Tween 80 was found to be 20 times less toxic than Triton X-100. The possibility is considered that with the increasing age of the embryos there is a decrease in the toxicity of both detergents.The authors are indebted to Dr. John C. krantz, Jr., University of Maryland, Baltimore, for his ciritical and constructive comments concerning the manuscript and the reported experiments.
Increased overall mortality and liver-related mortality in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background/Aims The natural history of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains to be defined. We conducted a study to determine the overall and liver-related mortality of NAFLD in the general US population. Methods In this study, the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) and NHANES III-Linked Mortality File were used. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for overall and liver-related mortality were calculated for NAFLD using persons without liver disease as reference. Causes of death were determined. Results After a median follow-up of 8.7 years, 80 persons with NAFLD and 1453 without liver disease died. Older age, male gender, non-Hispanic white race, lower educational level, lower income, higher BMI, presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or metabolic syndrome were significantly ( p P P Conclusions NAFLD is associated with higher overall and liver-related mortality in the general US population. Liver disease is a significant cause of death among persons with NAFLD.
A 15-Gb/s 2.4-V Optical Receiver Using a Ge-on-SOI Photodiode and a CMOS IC

We report the fastest (15 Gb/s) and lowest voltage (2.4V) all-silicon-based optical receiver to date. The receiver consists of a lateral, interdigitated, germanium-on-silicon-on-insulator (Ge-on-SOI) photodiode wire-bonded to a 0.13-mum complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) receiver integrated circuit (IC). The photodiode has an external quantum efficiency of 52% at lambda=850 nm and a dark current of 10 nA at -2 V. The small-signal transimpedance of the receiver is 91-dBOmega and the bandwidth is 6.6 GHz. At a bit-error rate of 10-12 and lambda=850 nm; the receiver exhibits sensitivities of -11.0, -9.6, and -7.4 dBm at 12.5, 14, and 15 Gb/s, respectively. The receiver operates error-free at rates up to 10 Gb/s with an IC supply voltage as low as 1.5 V and with a photodiode bias as low as 0.5 V. The power consumption is 3 to 7 mW/Gb/s. The Ge-on-SOI photodiode is well suited for integration with CMOS processing, raising the possibility of producing high-performance, low-voltage, monolithically integrated receivers based on this technology in the future
Predicting remote reuse distance patterns in UPC applications

Current work in high productivity parallel computing has focused attention on the class of partitioned global address space (PGAS) parallel programming languages because they promise to reduce the effort required to develop parallel application codes. An important aspect in achieving good performance in PGAS languages is effective handling of remote memory references. We extend a single-threaded reuse distance model to predict memory behavior for multi-threaded UPC applications. Our model handles changes in per-thread data size as well as changes in thread mapping due to problem size increases. Our results indicate the model provides good predictions of remote memory behavior by accurately predicting changes in remote memory reuse distance as a function of the problem size and the number of threads.
Damage Detection and Correlation-Based Localization Using Wireless Mote Sensors

This study focuses on an experimental damage detection and correlation-based localization demonstration using wireless sensors. A simple cantilever beam has been constructed in the laboratory to serve as a test bed for measuring acceleration responses with these devices. The goal of this preliminary investigation is to test the feasibility and functionality of a wireless sensor network (WSN) to detect and localize damage utilizing current wireless mote technology
Immunoreactivity of A103, An Antibody to Melan A, in Canine Steroid-Producing Tissues and their Tumors

The monoclonal antibody A103 to the melanocytic differentiation antigen Melan A stains human steroid-producing cells and their tumors. A total of 200 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded canine normal tissues and hyperplastic and neoplastic lesions of the adrenal gland, testis, and ovary were immunohistochemically tested for Melan A with antibody A103. Leydig cell tumors (23/23, 100%), Sertoli cell tumors (14/15, 93%), and adrenocortical adenomas (12/13, 92%) were consistently positive. Adrenocortical carcinomas (23/35, 65%) and granulosa cell tumors (10/17, 59%) were less frequently positive. All pheochromocytomas, seminomas, and dysgerminomas were negative. The pattern of staining was cytoplasmic, but nuclear staining was also frequently seen in normal Leydig cells and their tumors. As in human tumors, immunohistochemistry for Melan A stains many canine steroid-producing tumors and can be used to distinguish these tumors from those of nonstereidogenic cells.
Misbinding of color to form in afterimages

Under dichoptic viewing conditions, rivalrous gratings that differ in both color and form can give the percept of the color from one eye in part of the form in the other eye. This study examined the afterimage following such misbinding of color to form. The first experiment established that afterimages of the misbound percept were seen. Two possible mechanisms for the misbound afterimage are (1) persisting retinal representations that are rivalrous and subsequently resolved to give misbinding, as during rivalrous viewing, and (2) a persisting response from a central neural representation of the misbound percept with the form from one eye and color from the other eye. The results support afterimage formation from a central representation of the misbound percept, not from resolution of rivalrous monocular representations.
The Diving Beetle Species Hydrotrupes palpalis Sharp, 1882 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

ABSTRACT The species Hydrotrupes palpalis Sharp is redescribed and its classification, natural history, and distribution reviewed. The species is compared with the only other species in the genus, Hydrotrupes chinensis Nilsson, from China. Hygropetric beetles are briefly discussed.
Evidence for an Important Role of WRKY DNA Binding Proteins in the Regulation of NPR1 Gene Expression

The Arabidopsis NPR1 gene is a positive regulator of inducible plant disease resistance. Expression of NPR1 is induced by pathogen infection or treatment with defense-inducing compounds such as salicylic acid (SA). Transgenic plants overexpressing NPR1 exhibit enhanced resistance to a broad spectrum of microbial pathogens, whereas plants underexpressing the gene are more susceptible to pathogen infection. These results suggest that regulation of NPR1 gene expression is important for the activation of plant defense responses. In the present study, we report the identification of W-box sequences in the promoter region of the NPR1 gene that are recognized specifically by SA-induced WRKY DNA binding proteins from Arabidopsis. Mutations in these W-box sequences abolished their recognition by WRKY DNA binding proteins, rendered the promoter unable to activate a downstream reporter gene, and compromised the ability of NPR1 to complement npr1 mutants for SA-induced defense gene expression and disease resistance. These results provide strong evidence that certain WRKY genes act upstream of NPR1 and positively regulate its expression during the activation of plant defense responses. Consistent with this model, we found that SA-induced expression of a number of WRKY genes was independent of NPR1.
Selection of fluorescent DNA dyes for real-time LAMP with portable and simple optics

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is increasingly used for point-of-care nucleic acid based diagnostics. LAMP can be monitored in real-time by measuring the increase in fluorescence of DNA binding dyes. However, there is little information comparing the effect of various fluorescent dyes on signal to noise ratio (SNR) or threshold time (Tt). This information is critical for implementation with field deployable diagnostic tools that require small, low power consumption, robust, and inexpensive optical components with reagent saving low volume reactions. In this study, SNR and Tt during real-time LAMP was evaluated with eleven fluorescent dyes. Of all dyes tested, SYTO-82, SYTO-84, and SYTOX Orange resulted in the shortest Tt, and SYTO-81 had the widest range of working concentrations. The optimized protocol detected 10 genome copies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in less than 10 min, 10 copies of Giardia intestinalis in ~20 min, and 10 copies of Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella enterica in less than 15 min. Results demonstrate that reaction efficiency depends on both dye type and concentration and the selected polymerase. The optimized protocol was evaluated in the Gene-Z™ device, a hand-held battery operated platform characterized via simple and low cost optics, and a multiple assay microfluidic chip with micron volume reaction wells. Compared to the more conventional intercalating dye (SYBR Green), reliable amplification was only observed in the Gene-Z™ when using higher concentrations of SYTO-81.
Complementary histological and genomic analyses reveal marked differences in the developmental trajectories of ovaries in Siberian hamsters raised in long- and short-day lengths.

SUMMARY Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) delay sexual development when raised in short-day (SD; 10 hr light: 14 hr dark) conditions, which leads to delayed onset of estrous cycles and ovulations as compared to females raised in long-day (LD; 16 hr light: 8 hr dark) conditions. In addition to the absence of pre-ovulatory follicles and corpora lutea, the ovaries of SD-reared Siberian hamsters are characterized by an abundance of hypertrophied granulosa cells (HGCs) that surround atretic oocytes. To determine the age at which the histology of LD and SD ovaries first diverge, including the initial appearance of HGCs in SD conditions, we examined hamster ovaries histologically at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age. After identifying subtle differences in LD and SD ovarian histology at 4 weeks of age, we searched for differences in ovarian gene expression at 3 and 8 weeks of age, which correspond to the ages when ovarian histology do not differ (3 weeks) versus the earliest age when HGCs were observed (8 weeks). At 3 weeks, only 14 genes were differentially expressed in LD and SD ovaries, whereas 183 genes were differentially expressed at 8 weeks. Overall, our findings demonstrate that ovarian development under SD conditions is not simply arrested at an early stage of LD development, but rather utilizes a developmental path that is distinct from that used in LD ovaries. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Assembling the Affective Field How Smartphone Technology Impacts Ethnographic Research Practice

This article recounts what happens when an increasingly commonplace technology such as the smartphone is mobilized in ethnographic fieldwork practice, investigating the particular research-related ...
The Accountant’s Contribution to Executive Information Systems

Accountants can contribute to corporate strategy by participating in the design and operation of strategic information systems. Executive Information Systems (EIS), computerized systems that support top management in their strategic decision making, are one example. During the development of an EIS, accountants can assist in the identification of a sponsor, in cost/benefit determination for the initial proposal, in the analysis phase which will identify management’s information and processing needs, and in locating information during the design phase. After the system has been implemented, accountants often serve as on-going Knowledge Providers. In addition, accountants, serving as EDP Auditors, can design and review internal controls to safe-guard the sensitive data utilized by EIS and help ensure data accuracy which is so critical to the development of proper corporate strategy.
The US Decennial Census: Political Questions, Scientific Answers

This paper reviewed the history of decennial census and its controversy. It was established in 1787 and aimed to serve the political purpose of allocating seats in the House of Representatives. In the course of two centuries the census has added to it two other major political tasks: federal fund allocation and enforcement of nondiscriminatory elections. When a census carries this much political weight it is not surprising that partisan differences have emerged from time to time. Historically these differences generally have concerned the application of census counts. In recent years a significant shift has occurred with a heated battle emerging over the methodology of census taking. This battle was initiated by the charge that the decennial census could be designed to predetermine partisan outcomes in the reapportionment and redistricting processes. As Census 2000 was planned the charge shifted from could be to is . The accusation that Census Bureau has acted and would act on a narrow partisan agenda fails to take into account two counter forces. First neither the traditions nor the competencies of the Census Bureau are consistent with advancing a partisan agenda and second the decennial census is designed and executed under a spotlight. Whatever the controversy is the Census Bureau will continue to take every step possible to demonstrate that in its design and implementation statistical adjustment is based on the best technical judgement available and never involves partisan considerations.
Metal Toxicity Reduction in Naphthalene Biodegradation by Use of Metal-Chelating Adsorbents

A model system comprising microbial degradation of naphthalene in the presence of cadmium has been developed to evaluate metal toxicity associated with polyaromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation and its reduction by the use of unmodified and surfactant-modified clays in comparison with a commercially available chelating resin (Chelex 100; Bio-Rad). The toxicity of cadmium associated with naphthalene biodegradation was shown to be reduced significantly by using the modified-clay complex and Chelex resin, while unmodified clay has no significant impact on this reduction. The degree of metal toxicity reduction can be quantitatively related to the metal adsorption characteristics of these adsorbents, such as adsorption capacity and selectivity.
Plasmon Resonance of Finite One-Dimensional Au Nanoparticle Chains

We report experimental and theoretical studies on the plasmon resonances of finite one-dimensional chains of Au nanoparticles excited by evanescent light waves with polarization parallel to the chains. The experimental results show that the plasmon resonance peak wavelengths of these finite 1D chains are significantly red-shifted in comparison to that of single Au nanoparticle. Contrary to previous findings, the peak wavelengths are observed to be a nonmonotonic function of particle numbers in the chain. This phenomenon is reproduced in the theoretical results obtained by using the transfer-matrix method and is shown to occur only for larger particles where phase retardation effects are important in plasmon coupling.
Posttraumatic stress symptoms among men who sustain partner violence: An international multisite study of university students.

Although research consistently shows that men can sustain intimate partner violence (IPV), few studies have investigated the possible consequences of sustaining IPV among men. The current study investigated the association between sustaining IPV and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms among 3461 male university students at 60 sites around the world. Because this was a multisite study, analyses were also conducted to investigate whether the association between sustaining IPV and PTS existed at all sites, and whether certain site-level characteristics influenced the association. Results showed that sustaining IPV was a significant predictor of PTS symptoms at all sites. At the site level, lower levels of violent socialization and higher levels of hostility toward men increased the associations between sustaining IPV and PTS.
Efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo with incomplete multinomial data

We propose a block Gibbs sampling scheme for incomplete multinomial data. We show that the new approach facilitates maximal blocking, thereby reducing serial dependency and speeding up the convergence of the Gibbs sampler. We compare the efficiency of the new method with the standard, non-block Gibbs sampler via a number of numerical examples.
Evaluation of action thresholds and spinosad for lepidopteran pest management in Minnesota cabbage.

Abstract Action thresholds, based on the percentage of plants infested, for the lepidopteran pest complex in fresh-market cabbage Brassica oleracea variety capitata were evaluated in 1996 and 1997 in southern Minnesota. Three lepidopteran pests are common in Minnesota, including the imported cabbageworm, Pieris (=Artogeia) rapae (L.), diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), and the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner). Most of the thresholds tested included all three pests. However, because T. ni is often the most consistent and damaging pest in Minnesota, two thresholds were based solely on the percentage of plants infested with T. ni eggs and larvae. Action thresholds were also evaluated for their compatibility with a recently labeled biologically based insecticide, spinosad, and a conventional pyrethroid, permethrin. Although all three lepidopteran pests were present in both years of the study, P. rapae provided most of the pest pressure in 1996, and T. ni was most abundant in 1997. Compared wi...
Notas sobre la familia Gelastocoridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) en el extremo sur de Chile, con descripción de un subgénero y especie nuevos

A fossil gelastocorid, Nerthra subantarctica Faundez & Ashworth sp. nov, is described from Puerto Eden (~49 °S), Ultima Esperanza province, Magallanes Region, Chile. The new species is described on basis of a head and a pronotum. Although it is a fossil species it is not believed to be extinct. New records and first description of the male are given for Nerthra praecipua Todd, 1957, and a new subgenus Rhinodermacoris Faundez subgen. nov., is erected to place N. praecipua. The male of N. praecipua is described for the first time. The new records for N. praecipua extends its north distribution up to Los Rios Region (~40 °S). On the other hand N. subantarctica is the southernmost distributed gelastocorid in South America.
Mind-reading without the scanner: Behavioural decoding of working memory content

ABSTRACTSophisticated machine learning algorithms have been successfully applied to functional neuroimaging data in order to characterize internal cognitive states. But is it possible to “mind-read” without the scanner? Capitalizing on the robust finding that the contents of working memory guide visual attention toward memory-matching objects, we trained a multivariate pattern classifier on behavioural indices of attentional guidance. Working memory representations were successfully decoded from behaviour alone, both within and between individuals. The current study provides a proof-of-concept for applying machine learning techniques to simple behavioural outputs (e.g., response times) in order to decode information about specific internal cognitive states.
Dietary calcium modulates renal BBM angiotensin II binding and Na(+)-H+ antiporter activity in SHR.

Dietary Ca is an important modulator of blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Since the kidney plays a key role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, the purpose of this study was to determine the potential renal mechanisms of the blood pressure-lowering effect of increasing dietary Ca content. In 21-day-old SHR fed 0.1 vs. 3.6% Ca diet for 14 days, increasing dietary Ca had no significant effects on basal [704 +/- 50 in 0.1% Ca vs. 784 +/- 61 ng angiotensin I (ANG I).mg-1.h-1 in 3.6% Ca, P = not significant (NS)], isoproterenol-stimulated (1,057 +/- 52 in 0.1% Ca vs. 1,104 +/- 59 ng ANG I.mg-1.h-1 in 3.6% Ca, P = NS), or angiotensin II (ANG II)-inhibited (370 +/- 50 in 0.1% Ca vs. 411 +/- 39 ng ANG I.mg-1.h-1 in 3.6% Ca, P = NS) renal superficial cortical slice renin release. In contrast, in apical brush-border membrane (BBM) vesicles isolated from the superficial cortex, increasing dietary Ca caused a significant decrease in ANG II binding, which was mediated by a decrease in the number of binding sites (Bmax, 376 +/- 14 in 0.1% Ca vs. 234 +/- 6 fmol ANG II/mg BBM protein in 3.6% Ca, P less than 0.01), and no change in the affinity [dissociation constant (Kd), 17.8 +/- 1.4 in 0.1% Ca vs. 13.4 +/- 2.8 nM ANG II in 3.6% Ca, P = NS].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Toward Automatic Inference of Causal Structure in Student Essays

With an increasing focus on science and technology in education comes an awareness that students must be able to understand and integrate scientific explanations from multiple sources. As part of a larger project aimed at deepening our understanding of student processes for integrating multiple sources of information, we are developing machine learning and natural language processing techniques for evaluating students' argumentative essays. In previous work, we have focused on identifying conceptual elements of the essays. In this paper, we present a method for inferring the causal structure of student essays. We used a standard parser to derive grammatical dependencies of the essay and converted them to logic statements. Then a simple inference mechanism was used to identify concepts linked to syntactic connectors by these dependencies. The results suggest that we will soon be able to provide explicit feedback that enables teachers and students to improve comprehension.
Optimal estimator for tomographic fluorescence lifetime multiplexing

We use the model resolution matrix to analytically derive an optimal Bayesian estimator for multiparameter inverse problems that simultaneously minimizes inter-parameter cross talk and the total reconstruction error. Application of this estimator to time-domain diffuse fluorescence imaging shows that the optimal estimator for lifetime multiplexing is identical to a previously developed asymptotic time-domain (ATD) approach, except for the inclusion of a diagonal regularization term containing decay amplitude uncertainties. We show that, while the optimal estimator and ATD provide zero cross talk, the optimal estimator provides lower reconstruction error, while ATD results in superior relative quantitation. The framework presented here is generally applicable to other multiplexing problems where the simultaneous and accurate relative quantitation of multiple parameters is of interest.
Antibiotic-Associated Colitis: Effects of Antibiotics on Clostridium difficile and the Disease in Hamsters

Fifteen isolates of Clostridium difficile from hamsters and human patients were inhibited or killed by low concentrations of metronidazole, vancomycin, penicillin, and ampicillin; the isolates were often reesistant to tetracycline, cephalosporins, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, erythromycin, and aminoglycosides. Antibiotics to which C. difficile was susceptible were able to prevent or postpone the colitis caused by clindamycin in hamsters. Colitis could be produced by treatment of hamsters with any one of these antibiotics. Production of colitis not only involved selection of resistant variants, but in some instances seemed to result from the acquisition of organisms after treatment, their persistence despite treatment, or from subinhibitory cecal concentrations of antibiotic (explainable by either pharmacologic factors or enzymatic inactivation). As in humans, no organisms other than C. difficile have been implicated conclusively as etiologic agents of colitis in hamsters. Our results suggest it may be wise to use isolation precautions for patients with colitis caused by C. difficile.
Ahlfors maps, the double of a domain, and complexity in potential theory and conformal mapping

We prove that the Bergman kernel function associated to a finitely-connected planar domain can be expressed as a rational combination of two independent Ahlfors maps associated to the domain plus the derivative of one of the maps. Similar results are shown to hold for the Szego and Poisson kernels and other objects of potential theory. These results generalize routinely to the case of a relatively compact domain in a Riemann surface with finitely many boundary components.
Preparation Of Single-Phase Knbo3, Using Bimetallc Alkoxides

Single-phase KNbO3 was prepared using bimetallic alkoxides. Potassium-niobium ethoxide, KNb(OC2H5)6, and potassium-niobium propoxide, KNb(OC3H7)6, were synthesized and subsequently hydrolyzed using several water concentrations. Potassium-deficient particles were rapidly precipitated when higher water concentrations were used and this resulted in the formation of a multiphase material after calcination. In contrast, single-phase KNbO3 powders could be prepared by two methods: (1) hydrolysis of KNb(OC3H7)6/propanol solutions using 1 mole water (per mole of propoxide) added as a water/propanol solution and (2) hydrolysis of KNb(OC2H5)6,/ethanol solutions using 1 mole of water (per mole of ethoxide) added as a water/methanol solution. The latter method was also used to form thin films of KNbO3.
Abstract B23: Sulfotransferase isoform 1A1 (SULT1A1) gene expression is regulated by transcription factor NF1 in human breast cancer cell lines.

Sulfotransferase isoform 1A1 (SULT1A1), a cytosolic phase II detoxification enzyme, plays a central role in drug metabolism, and breast cancer treatment and prevention drugs such as tamoxifen (TAM) and raloxifene (RAL) are among its substrates. Thus, regulation of this gene in target tissues could influence the efficacy of therapy. SULT1A1 activity varies several-fold in human populations, and genetic variants within the gene only account for a small proportion of the observed variability. Expression also varies with tissue type, with SULT1A1 being more highly expressed in breast tumors than in normal breast tissue. We have identified human nuclear factor 1(NF1) as a potential transcription factor (TF) regulating SULT1A1 gene expression in the ZR-75 breast cancer cell line. The NF1 gene family consists of NF1A, NF1B, NF1C, and NF1X. In order to determine the potential transcriptional regulation of SULT1A1 by NF1 genes in breast cancer in vitro, we measured and compared the mRNA levels of SULT1A1, NF1A, NF1B, NF1C, and NF1X in different human breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, T47D, ZR-75, and MDA-231) and the transformed human epithelial cell line MCF10A. SULT1A1 gene expression in each cell line was highly positively correlated with the gene expression of NF1B (p Citation Format: Aiwei Yao-Borengassar, Lora Rogers, Vinay Raj, Susan Kadlubar. Sulfotransferase isoform 1A1 (SULT1A1) gene expression is regulated by transcription factor NF1 in human breast cancer cell lines. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B23.
Toxic Immunoglobulin Light Chain Autoantibodies are Associated with a Cluster of Severe Complications in Older Adult Type 2 Diabetes

Aims To assess neuronal depolarization evoked by autoantibodies in diabetic depression compared to depolarization evoked by autoantibodies in control patients. To determine whether a subset of severe (late-onset) diabetic complications may be mediated in part by toxic immunoglobulin light chains that may increase in diabetic nephropathy. Methods Protein-A eluates from plasma of 21 diabetic depression patients and 37 age-matched controls were tested for depolarization in hippocampal or immature neurons. Subsets of depolarizing or non-depolarizing autoantibodies were tested for neurite outgrowth inhibition in N2A neuroblastoma cells or the ability to modulate Ca2+ release in HL-1 atrial cardiomyocytes or in endothelial cells. The stability of depolarizing autoantibodies was investigated by heat treatment (56°C × 30 minutes) or following prolonged exposure to the pro-protein convertase, furin. Gel filtration of active depolarizing autoantibodies was performed to determine the apparent molecular mass of peak neurotoxicity associated with the autoantibodies. Results Diabetic depression (n = 21) autoantibodies caused significantly greater mean depolarization in neuroblastoma cells (P < 0.01) compared to autoantibodies in diabetic (n = 15) or non-diabetic (n = 11) patients without depression. Depolarizing autoantibodies caused significantly more (P=0.011) inhibition of neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cells than non-depolarizing autoantibodies (n = 10) and they evoked sustained, global intracellular Ca2+ release in atrial cardiomyocytes or in endothelial cells. A subset of older diabetic patients suffering with a cluster of nephropathy, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and/or depression demonstrated the presence of stable light chain dimers having apparent MW of 46 kD and associated with peak neurotoxicity in neuroblastoma cells. Conclusion These data suggest that autoantibodies in older adult diabetic depression cause long-lasting depolarization in hippocampal neurons including adult dentate gyrus neural progenitor cells. The autoantibodies may impair adult dentate gyrus neurogenesis associated with treatment-refractory depression via several mechanisms including suppression of neurite outgrowth, and alteration of membrane excitability. Stable, toxic light chain autoantibody components may contribute to a cluster of severe (late-onset) complications characterized by dysfunction in highly vascularized tissues.
A Study of the Relationship Between Teacher Maintenance and Middle School Effectiveness

AbstractTeachers are themselves the chief instrument in their work. This study focuses on the identification of school-initiated and teacher-initiated maintenance system factors which help middle s...
Lowering Barriers to Undergraduate Research through Collaboration with Local Craft Breweries

Laboratory research experiences are highly impactful learning environments for undergraduate students. However, a surprising number of chemistry students do not research. These students often do not research because they lack the time, interest, opportunity, or awareness. Course-based undergraduate research experiences can reach out to these nonresearching students by lowering the barriers to research. Classroom research opportunities typically harness undergraduate efforts to benefit faculty research. Here we introduce a research course that harnesses undergraduate efforts to benefit an outside company: a local brewery. The benefits of the course design were 3-fold. First, the course attracted students not engaged with existing research opportunities. Second, the students produced data that helped the brewery make significant business decisions. Third, the students developed personally and professionally: learning to design an experiment, to work in teams, and to enjoy science. Similar research courses w...
Continuum of Care Among People Living with Perinatally Acquired HIV Infection in New York City, 2014

Objective.The HIV care continuum outlines the steps from HIV infection to diagnosis, linkage to care, and viral suppression among people living with HIV. We examined data for steps along the HIV ca...
Initial-Rate Kinetics of Multi-Substrate Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions

The initial-velocity approach offers a versatile range of experimental paradigms for obtaining significant information about enzyme catalysis and control. The initial-rate approach remains a powerful kinetic approach, one that has been employed to discover the vast majority of principles of enzyme action. This chapter deals with initial-rate kinetic approaches and develops the basic theory for the kinetics of one-substrate enzyme-catalyzed reactions, beginning with the rapid-equilibrium treatment of Michaelis–Menten and the steady-state treatment of Briggs and Haldane. While rate parameters like K m , V max , and V max / K m provide valuable insights into the operation of one-substrate enzymes, initial rate analysis of enzymes provides an incomplete picture of catalysis, especially with regard to the nature of the rate-determining step(s), and the number of elementary reactions. This chapter also deals with a two-intermediate steady state case, the effect of multiple internal isomerizations on steady-state kinetics, as well as the effect of total enzyme concentration on reaction rate. Then procedures for plotting enzyme rate data are considered and the definitions and conceptual implications of Michaelis constants, turnover numbers, specificity constants, commitment to catalysis, catalytic proficiency, internal equilibria, and enzyme perfection are discussed. The chapter also covers related aspects of ribozyme kinetics, the kinetics for simultaneous enzymatic action on the same or different substrates, the kinetics of enzymatic enantiomeric enrichment, the kinetics of enzymes acting on polymeric substrates, processive versus distributive enzyme kinetics, random scission kinetics, the kinetics of substrate-assisted catalysis, the use of micro-arrays, and phage display to profile enzyme specificity, as well as the effects of nonproductive polymeric substrate binding.
Performance-Based Hurricane Engineering: A Multi-Hazard Approach

Hurricanes are among the most costly natural hazards affecting communities worldwide. The landfall of a hurricane involves different hazard sources (i.e., wind, wind-borne debris, flood, and rain) that interact to generate the hazard scenario for a given structure. Thus, hurricanes can be viewed and must be analyzed as multi-hazard scenarios. In this chapter, a probabilistic Performance-Based Hurricane Engineering (PBHE) framework is used for the risk assessment of a residential structure subjected to hurricane hazard. The general multilayer Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) approach is specialized for the risk assessment of pre-engineered or non-engineered buildings. A case study of a hypothetical residential house subjected to the combined hazards of wind, wind-borne debris, flood, and rainfall is considered to illustrate the sequential procedure for the probabilistic risk assessment. The results obtained from the application example include the annual probability of exceedance of repair cost for the target residential building due to each hazard and their combined effects. These results highlight the importance of considering the interaction between different hazard sources.
At What Hematocrit Should a Patient Who is Undergoing Craniotomy for Tumor be Transfused

A 67-year-old retired operating room nurse is scheduled for craniotomy for tumor resection. The presumptive tissue diagnosis is a renal cell carcinoma metastasis. The lesion measures 3 cm by 2 cm, and imaging shows that the tumor encases a segment of the middle cerebral artery. This will be her third craniotomy in the last 3 years, all on the right side. This unfortunate woman had a right radical nephrectomy, and the left kidney has significant tumor burden. Her preoperative hematocrit is 25. She mentions that she received a blood transfusion after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery 15 years ago following a ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and ended up in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 2 weeks with septic shock; she thinks from contaminated blood products. She asks you what the likelihood is of needing a blood transfusion, and she would like to know what your transfusion strategy is because she only wants to receive blood if it is absolutely necessary.
Is There an Ideal Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Level? Confusion regarding Lipid Guidelines, Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Targets, and Medical Management

There are multiple guidelines for managing patients with high-risk cardiovascular disease, and unfortunately for the practicing clinician, these guidelines are quite variable. Some are fairly specific whereas others are not, resulting in a great deal of confusion regarding whether management of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) should be tailored only, targeted only, or managed by a combination of both. In the management of cardiovascular disease, favorable cardiovascular outcomes can be obtained by simply lowering the LDL-C in the absence of any other medications. The advent of statins, the most potent LDL-C–lowering medication yet when developed, provided benefits augmented by the presence of multiple pleiotropic effects. Tailoring and/or targeting the decrease in LDL-C is also an issue of concern. Then, in 2016, the new proprotein convertase sutilisin-like/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors appeared, providing a solution to patients with high-risk cardiovascular disease with statin intolerance and those who did not attain a desired LDL-C level while on a high-dose statin. These new PCSK9 inhibitors necessitate a determination of how low the LDL-C can and should go, most likely safely down to a beneficial level of 25 mg/dL for the highest-risk patient. These issues are documented and discussed with an attempt to help the reader make an informed risk management decision.
Experimental Analysis of Speaking and Stuttering Rate in a Child Who Stutters

This study investigated the relationship between stuttering and speaking rates in a 9-year-old female child who stuttered. A single-subject experimental design was used to investigate the effect on stuttering of increasing and decreasing speaking rate. The experiment was followed by a treatment program that incorporated a control over speaking rate (based on the experimental data) and procedures designed to promote the transfer of treatment benefits. The speaking rate control program emphasized relatively slow (but not prolonged) speech which was gradually speeded up and included contingencies that were demonstrated to be effective and efficient in contributing to treatment effects. Data are also provided that demonstrate that the treatment effects generalized to beyond-clinic speaking conditions.
Infinite DimEnsionAl State-space as a systematic process intensification tool: Energetic intensification of hydrogen production

Abstract In this work, process intensification is identified as a process synthesis activity seeking significant improvements over traditional designs. The Infinite-DimEnsionAl State-space (IDEAS) conceptual framework is proposed as a systematic process intensification tool, which can identify intensified process designs, and assess fundamental performance limitations of networks of technologies under consideration. The synthesis of intensified flowsheets, in an energy efficiency sense, is pursued through the simultaneous synthesis of the flowsheet and its heat exchange network. The use, for the first time in process synthesis, of atomic balance, and Gibbs free energy minimization based equilibrium reactor models, enables a broad state-space search for process intensification opportunities, even by low dimensional, feasible, linear programming, IDEAS approximations. Application of the proposed method to natural gas reforming based hydrogen production, identifies intensified process designs featuring hot utility costs that can be lower by over an order of magnitude to those of traditional designs.
A high temperature variable gain amplifier based on GaN HEMT devices for downhole communications

The decay of easily accessible reserves pushes the oil and gas industry to explore deeper wells, where the ambient temperature often exceeds 210 °C. The need for high temperature operation, combined with real-time data logging, results in a growing demand for robust, high temperature RF circuits. This paper presents a high temperature IF variable gain amplifier (VGA) for downhole communications, which is capable of operating at 230 °C. The proposed VGA is prototyped using GaN on SiC HEMT technology. Measured results at 230 °C show that the VGA has a peak gain of 27 dB at the center frequency of 97.5 MHz, and a dynamic range of 29.4 dB. The input P1dB compression at the peak gain is −11.57 dBm at 230 °C, and −3.63 dBm at 25 °C. The input and output return losses are above 12 dB across the entire temperature range from 25 °C to 230 °C. The maximum power gain and dynamic range drop by 1 dB and 4.7 dB, respectively, at 230 °C. The maximum power dissipation of the VGA is 176 mW under the peak gain at 230 °C.
Blasius Flow Past a Flat Plate

After a pastoral interlude revisiting singular perturbation theory by determining higher order terms in the Method of Matched Asymptotic Expansions and comparing these results with those obtained by the method of multiple scales for the constant coefficient second-order ordinary differential equation treated in Chapter , steady-state Blasius boundary-layer flow of a viscous fluid streaming uniformly past a flat plate is investigated. This is accomplished by applying singular perturbation theory techniques to the governing partial differential equation satisfied by the relevant stream function governing that flow. The solution of the resulting boundary-layer equation to lowest order requires a similarity solution argument. When the drag on the plate is calculated for that lowest order solution it is nonzero resolving D’Alembert’s paradox in this instance. In order to make an interpretation of these results the second order term in the outer free stream solution is calculated and compared with that deduced for inviscid flow past an effective body consisting of the flat plate plus the boundary layer. The problems involve two extensions: The first extending the singular perturbation techniques developed in the pastoral interlude for a constant coefficient example to a variable coefficient one and the second extending the Blasius flow methodology employed in the chapter for a uniform stream flow situation to a variable flow one.
Introduction to alcohol withdrawal.

Heavy drinkers who suddenly decrease their alcohol consumption or abstain completely may experience alcohol withdrawal (AW). Signs and symptoms of AW can include, among others, mild to moderate tremors, irritability, anxiety, or agitation. The most severe manifestations of withdrawal include delirium tremens, hallucinations, and seizures. These manifestations result from alcohol-induced imbalances in the brain chemistry that cause excessive neuronal activity if the alcohol is withheld. Management of AW includes thorough assessment of the severity of the patient's symptoms and of any complicating conditions as well as treatment of the withdrawal symptoms with pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches. Treatment can occur in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Recognition and treatment of withdrawal can represent a first step in the patient's recovery process.