cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Guest Editorial - Special Issue on Modeling and Advanced Control in Power Electronics

This is the third special issue proposed on behalf of the PELS Technical Committee on Modeling, Simulation and Control. From the many high-quality papers submitted, the editorial team selected 40 papers for publication in this special issue. The 40 selected papers are divided into five topic areas and split between the November and the December online issues, as follows: 1) Digital Control of Switching-Mode Power Supplies (9 papers, November Issue); 2) Grid-Connected Converter Modeling and Control (8 papers, November Issue); 3) Three-Phase PWM Converter Modeling and Control (6 papers, November Issue); 4) Nonlinear Control of DC-DC Converters (7 papers, December Issue); 5) Device and Circuit Modeling and Analysis (10 papers, December Issue). The sequence in which the papers appear within each topic area is of no particular significance, although we have attempted to place together papers that deal with similar subjects or problems within each topic area.
SEISMIC REFRACTION MEASUREMENTS IN THE BALTIC SEA

Seismic refraction measurements were made in two areas of the Baltic Sea in June 1967. The refraction data were obtained in the course of the transmission measurements program of Operation MILOC BALTIC 67. Three profile pairs were obtained, two in the area south of Oland Island, Sweden, the third to the east, north of the peninsula of Hel, Poland. The water depths vary from 60 to 90 meters between the areas. The receiving positions for the two profiles south of Oland Island are only 46 km apart but the structures differ markedly. The northern section, only 500 m thick, shows a rather thin sedimentary cover above 350 m of 3.7 km/sec material that in turn overlies 5.6 - 5.9 km/sec velocity material. The southern section, almost 2 km thick, has an equivalent amount of low velocity material, and a layer about 1 km thick having velocity 4.8 km/sec that overlies 6.0 km/sec velocity material. The eastern profile shows high velocity material, 5.6 km/sec, at 2.5 km depth. Correlation of the layers determined by seismic refraction with nearby geology suggests that the structural change south of Oland Island may represent the boundary of the Sarmatian Shield in this region.
Negative regulation of NF-κB action by Set9-mediated lysine methylation of the RelA subunit

Proper regulation of NF-κB activity is critical to maintain and balance the inflammatory response. Inactivation of the NF-κB complex relies in part on the proteasome-mediated degradation of promoter-bound NF-κB, but the detailed molecular mechanism initiating this process remains elusive. Here, we show that the methylation of the RelA subunit of NF-κB has an important function in this process. Lysine methyltransferase Set9 physically associates with RelA in vitro and in vivo in response to TNF-α stimulation. Mutational and mass spectrometric analyses reveal that RelA is monomethylated by Set9 at lysine residues 314 and 315 in vitro and in vivo. Methylation of RelA inhibits NF-κB action by inducing the proteasome-mediated degradation of promoter-associated RelA. Depletion of Set9 by siRNA or mutation of the RelA methylation sites prolongs DNA binding of NF-κB and enhances TNF-α-induced expression of NF-κB target genes. Together, these findings unveil a novel mechanism by which methylation of RelA dictates the turnover of NF-κB and controls the NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response.
The path not taken

The differences Block attempts to capture with his putative distinction between P-consciousness and A-consciousness are more directly and perspicuously handled in terms of differences in richness of content and degree of influence. Block's critiques, based on his misbegotten distinction, evaporate on closer inspection.
When here becomes there: attentional distribution modulates foveal bias in peripheral localization

Much research concerning attention has focused on changes in the perceptual qualities of objects while attentional states were varied. Here, we address a complementary question—namely, how perceived location can be altered by the distribution of sustained attention over the visual field. We also present a new way to assess the effects of distributing spatial attention across the visual field. We measured magnitude judgments relative to an aperture edge to test perceived location across a large range of eccentricities (30°), and manipulated spatial uncertainty in target locations to examine perceived location under three different distributions of spatial attention. Across three experiments, the results showed that changing the distribution of sustained attention significantly alters known foveal biases in peripheral localization.
Differential unitary space-time-frequency coding for MIMO OFDM systems

Incorporating subcarrier grouping and differential unitary space-time modulation, we develop a differential unitary space-time-frequency (DUSTF) coding scheme for MIMO OFDM systems over frequency selective fading channels. We derive the design criteria for the DUSTF codes to maximize diversity advantage and coding advantage. We adopt Abelian group codes and show that for DUSTF coded MIMO OFDM systems with M/sub T/ transmit antennas and L resolvable multipaths in the channel, the optimal Abelian group in the sense of maximizing the coding advantage is actually the optimal Abelian group for a flat fading channel with M/sub T/L transmit antennas with the same rate. Simulation results are given to show the merits of the proposed scheme.
DynTile: Parametric tiled loop generation for parallel execution on multicore processors

Loop tiling is an important compiler transformation used for enhancing data locality and exploiting coarsegrained parallelism. Tiled codes in which tile sizes are runtime parameters — called parametrically-tiled codes — are important for empirical tuning systems like ATLAS. Some recent work has addressed the problem of generating sequential parametric tiled code. In this paper we describe DynTile, a system for transforming untiled sequential input C code containing affine imperfectly nested loops to parametrically tiled code for parallel execution on multicore processors. The effectiveness of the system is demonstrated using a number of benchmarks on an eight-core system.
Modernist Spirituality Alfred Loisy on the History and Spirit of the Eucharist

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the biblical critic Alfred Loisy (1857–1940) advanced a reform agenda that had significant political and theological implications and that helped to defin...
SWARMing for a Solution: Integrating Service Learning and Peer Education into the Health Education Curriculum

Johnson C. Smith University, one of the nation’s oldest historically Black colleges and universities, has a peer education program known as Students with a Realistic Mission (SWARM). SWARM’s primary focus is on HIV/ AIDS, other sexually transmitted disease prevention, alcohol education, and other drug awareness. During the spring 2000 semester, we integrated service learning and peer education into two health education courses titled Healthful Living and Drugs. Students enrolled in the classes serve as peer educators for the semester. We piloted the service learning component during the spring and fall 2000 semesters. The component has been evaluated and revised several times, but remains an integral part of the two courses. This article describes and reviews program development, successes and obstacles, and provides a summary of our findings.
Change Detection From Differential Airborne LiDAR Using a Weighted Anisotropic Iterative Closest Point Algorithm

Differential light detection and ranging (LiDAR) from repeated surveys has recently emerged as an effective tool to measure the three-dimensional (3-D) change. Currently, the primary method for determining 3-D change from LiDAR is through the use of the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm and its variants, with a simplistic assumption of a uniform accuracy for the entire LiDAR point cloud. This common practice ignores the localization anisotropy and results in local convergence and spurious error estimation. To rigorously determine spatial change, this paper introduces an anisotropic-weighted ICP (A-ICP) algorithm, and proposes to model the random error for every LiDAR observation in the differential point cloud, and use this as a priori weights in the ICP algorithm. The implementation is evaluated by qualitatively and quantitatively comparing the estimation performance on point clouds with synthetic fault ruptures between standard ICP and A-ICP algorithm. As a further enhancement, we also present a moving window technique to improve A-ICP. Practical application of the combined moving window A-ICP technique is evaluated by estimating post-earthquake slip for the 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah Earthquake (EMC) using pre- and post-event LiDAR. Based on the analysis, moving window A-ICP is able to better estimate the synthetic surface ruptures, and provides a smoother estimate of actual displacement for the EMC earthquake.
Variety of genotypes in males diagnosed as dichromatic on a conventional clinical anomaloscope

The hypothesis that dichromatic behavior on a clinical anomaloscope can be explained by the complement and arrangement of the long- (L) and middle-wavelength (M) pigment genes was tested. It was predicted that dichromacy is associated with an X-chromosome pigment gene array capable of producing only a single functional pigment type. The simplest case of this is when deletion has left only a single X-chromosome pigment gene. The production of a single L or M pigment type can also result from rearrangements in which multiple genes remain. Often, only the two genes at the 5' end of the array are expressed; thus, dichromacy is also predicted to occur if one of these is defective or encodes a defective pigment, or if both of them encode pigments with identical spectral sensitivities. Subjects were 128 males who accepted the full range of admixtures of the two primary lights as matching the comparison light on a Neitz or Nagel anomaloscope. Strikingly, examination of the L and M pigment genes revealed a potential cause for a color-vision defect in all 128 dichromats. This indicates that the major component of color-vision deficiency could be attributed to alterations of the pigment genes or their regulatory regions in all cases, and the variety of gene arrangements associated with dichromacy is cataloged here. However, a fraction of the dichromats (17 out of 128; 13%) had genes predicted to encode pigments that would result in two populations of cones with different spectral sensitivities. Nine of the 17 were predicted to have two pigments with slightly different spectral peaks (usually < or = 2.5 nm) and eight had genes which specified pigments identical in peak absorption, but different in amino acid positions previously associated with optical density differences. In other subjects, reported previously, the same small spectral differences were associated with anomalous trichromacy rather than dichromacy. It appears that when the spectral difference specified by the genes is very small, the amount of residual red-green color vision measured varies; some individuals test as dichromats, others test as anomalous trichromats. The discrepancy is probably partly attributable to testing method differences and partly to a difference in performance not perception, but it seems there must also be cases in which other factors, for example, cone ratio, contribute to a person's ability to extract a color signal from a small spectral difference.
Markov propagation of allosteric effects in biomolecular systems: application to GroEL–GroES

We introduce a novel approach for elucidating the potential pathways of allosteric communication in biomolecular systems. The methodology, based on Markov propagation of ‘information’ across the structure, permits us to partition the network of interactions into soft clusters distinguished by their coherent stochastics. Probabilistic participation of residues in these clusters defines the communication patterns inherent to the network architecture. Application to bacterial chaperonin complex GroEL–GroES, an allostery-driven structure, identifies residues engaged in intra- and intersubunit communication, including those acting as hubs and messengers. A number of residues are distinguished by their high potentials to transmit allosteric signals, including Pro33 and Thr90 at the nucleotide-binding site and Glu461 and Arg197 mediating inter- and intra-ring communication, respectively. We propose two most likely pathways of signal transmission, between nucleotideand GroES-binding sites across the cis and trans rings, which involve several conserved residues. A striking observation is the opposite direction of information flow within cis and trans rings, consistent with negative inter-ring cooperativity. Comparison with collective modes deduced from normal mode analysis reveals the propensity of global hinge regions to act as messengers in the
A transient learning comparison of Rosenblatt, backpropagation, and LMS algorithms for a single-layer perceptron for system identification

Presents a transient performance comparison of the Rosenblatt (1962), backpropagation, and LMS training algorithms for a single layer perceptron. The perceptron is attempting to identify a specific nonlinear system with Gaussian inputs. A summary of the first and second moment behaviors of the three algorithms is presented. With the criteria of probability of correct classification versus the number of algorithm iterations, the statistical results are used to compare the learning performance of the algorithms for some specific parameter values. By both the theoretical analysis and by Monte Carlo simulations, it is shown that there are no significant learning performance differences among these three algorithms for these parameter selections. >
A deterministic analysis of oversampled A/D conversion and ΣΔ modulation

As an alternative to the usual statistical analysis, we present a purely deterministic analysis of oversampled A/D conversion and ΣΔ modulation, which requires no assumption on the quantizer error. This leads to the notion of consistent estimate for the decoding, which is a necessary condition for optimality. Algorithms using convex projections are discussed, and the reduction of decoding error from O(R-(2n+1)) to O(R-(2n+2)) (where R is the oversampling ratio and n is the order of the encoder) is demonstrated experimentally for multi-loop and multi-stage ΣΔ modulators.
American Libraries and the US Federal Government: an overview of partnerships for enhanced resource access

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the US Government Publishing Office’s (GPO) partnership program: what it is, how the GPO defines partnership, the types of institutions that are participating and the resources these institutions are making available through partnership. Design/methodology/approach – This paper reviews the available literature and information from the US GPO on its partnership program, examines the institutions contributing to the program and what those contributions entail, surveys the resources made available through these partnerships and examines how this affects access to government information. Findings – Partnership with the US GPO provides benefits to libraries, museums, government agencies and other entities, increasing discoverability and enhancing access to digital collections of government information and other resources. Originality/value – This paper examines the parameters of the US GPO’s partnership program, why libraries and other institutions might wish to partner wit...
Mentorship: A Relationship Important to Professional Development

The purpose of this article is to review the concept and implications of mentorship. In this article, mentorship refers to the process by which a senior interacts one-to-one in a personal relationship with a less powerful and less experienced subordinate to develop the skills of the subordinate. Obstacles to mentorship and methods of fostering mentorship are discussed. By recognizing the importance of mentorship in professional development, by being sensitive to some of the common barriers to its implementation, and by taking forthright steps to encourage its use, a greater reliance on mentorship can be exercised to the benefit of our profession.
The role of mechanical deformation in lumbar radiculopathy: an in vivo model.

Study design In vivo strain techniques were used in an animal radiculopathy model. Objective To quantify the severity of compressive nerve root injury and characterize its effect on resultant mechanical allodynia in a lumbar radiculopathy model. Summary of background data Clinical and experimental work indicate many factors contributing to radicular pain mechanisms, including mechanical injury. Although it has been suggested that the degree of mechanical injury to the nerve root affects the nature of the pain response, no study has quantified local in vivo injury biomechanics, nor have such measures been linked with the resulting magnitude of mechanical allodynia or other clinical symptoms. Methods Male Holtzman rats were divided into a sham group with only nerve root exposure or a ligation group in which the nerve root was tightly ligated with a single silk suture. Using image analysis, nerve root radial strains were calculated at the time of injury and after surgery. The animals were grouped according to ligation strain for analysis. Mechanical allodynia was continuously assessed throughout the study. Results Compressive strains in the nerve root ranged from 7.8% to 61% (mean, 30.8% +/- 14.5%). Animals undergoing larger ligation strains exhibited heightened mechanical allodynia after injury. This was significant using a 12-g von Frey filament (P = 0.05). After surgery, the nerve roots displayed tissue swelling, which was relatively uniform in the low-strain group and less so in the high-strain group. Conclusions For the first time, in vivo biomechanical analysis of tissue deformations was used to investigate the role of mechanics in radicular pain. Overall mechanical allodynia was greater for more severe nerve root injuries (greater strains) in an animal model, suggesting that mechanical deformation plays an important role in the pain mechanism. Continued work is underway to understand the complex interplay between mechanics and the physiology of radicular pain.
What is Really Meant by “Specialty” Goods?:

It may be helpful to distinguish between specialty goods and other goods, says the author. But what criteria should be applied in identifying the specialty good? This is a reply to the article imme...
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF STEADY STATE HV ROLLING PROCESS OF SLAB

A full three-dimensional simulation of rolling process is carried out by the rigidplastic FEM for 2S-Al steel with different temperature distribution in width of the slab. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental ones in the literature, especially the calculated values for sectional shape of slab after edging are more precise compared with those by previous works.
Development and Practice of Management System on College Entrance Examination for PE Majors

This paper studies the development and practice of management system on college entrance examination for PE majors from the perspective of system operation environment,language and database. It introduces the function structure and practice of the system,such as biometric fingerprint identification,the second generation ID identification,the practice of electronic rating,etc.In addition,the study elaborates the active impact of the system on the improvement of scientific and standardized management of college entrance examination for PE majors.
Judges, Policymakers and Rationality

This article uses insights from cognitive psychology to contrast judge-made law with legislative and executive policy-making. I argue that the predominant narrow conception of reason and rationality have led to overly optimistic views of deliberate policymaking at the expense of traditional judge-made law. However, alternative views of what constitutes rationality suggest that judge-made law may have some often overlooked advantages to deliberate policymaking.
Cholesterol esterase in preglomerular microvessels from normal and cholesterol-fed rabbits

Feeding cholesterol to rabbits produces an atherosclerotic model sharing common metabolic features with the disease in humans, including the vascular lipid accumulation. In coronary vascular cells, this lipid accumulation has been associated with decreased prostacyclin (PGI2) biosynthesis and acid cholesterol esterase activity. Unlike the coronary vascular bed, renal microvasculature appears relatively resistant to atherosclerotic injury. This study examined whether renal microvessels from cholesterol-fed rabbits demonstrated similar metabolic changes in coronary vascular cells. Rabbits were fed either a 0% or 2% cholesterol diet for 1 mo. Similar to coronary vascular cells, in renal microvessels from cholesterol-fed rabbits PGI2 biosynthesis decreased and tissue concentrations of cholesterol and cholesteryl esters increased. However, unlike coronary vascular cells, renal microvascular cholesterol esterase activity increased. Light and electron microscopy revealed sporadic lipid deposits in renal microvessels from cholesterol-fed rabbits and no foam cells or occlusive lesions. In vitro addition of prostanoids to normal renal microvessels had no effect on cholesterol esterase activity. It is inviting to speculate that the increased acid cholesterol esterase activity in renal microvessels from cholesterol-fed rabbits protected them from developing extensive microvascular lesions. These biochemical events may explain the relative resistance of human renal microvessels to the development of occlusive atherosclerotic microvascular lesions.
Neural network evidence for the coupling of presaccadic visual remapping to predictive eye position updating

As we look around a scene, we perceive it as continuous and stable even though each saccadic eye movement changes the visual input to the retinas. How the brain achieves this perceptual stabilization is unknown, but a major hypothesis is that it relies on presaccadic remapping, a process in which neurons shift their visual sensitivity to a new location in the scene just before each saccade. This hypothesis is difficult to test in vivo because complete, selective inactivation of remapping is currently intractable. We tested it in silico with a hierarchical, sheet-based neural network model of the visual and oculomotor system. The model generated saccadic commands to move a video camera abruptly. Visual input from the camera and internal copies of the saccadic movement commands, or corollary discharge, converged at a map-level simulation of the frontal eye field (FEF), a primate brain area known to receive such inputs. FEF output was combined with eye position signals to yield a suitable coordinate frame for guiding arm movements of a robot. Our operational definition of perceptual stability was "useful stability,” quantified as continuously accurate pointing to a visual object despite camera saccades. During training, the emergence of useful stability was correlated tightly with the emergence of presaccadic remapping in the FEF. Remapping depended on corollary discharge but its timing was synchronized to the updating of eye position. When coupled to predictive eye position signals, remapping served to stabilize the target representation for continuously accurate pointing. Graded inactivations of pathways in the model replicated, and helped to interpret, previous in vivo experiments. The results support the hypothesis that visual stability requires presaccadic remapping, provide explanations for the function and timing of remapping, and offer testable hypotheses for in vivo studies. We conclude that remapping allows for seamless coordinate frame transformations and quick actions despite visual afferent lags. With visual remapping in place for behavior, it may be exploited for perceptual continuity.
Characterization of the homologs of flerovium with crown ether based extraction chromatography resins: studies in hydrochloric acid

A crown-ether-based extraction chromatography resin, Eichrom Pb resin, was characterized for separations of flerovium (Fl) homologs, specifically Pb and Sn. The batch uptake of Pb(II) and Sn(IV) radionuclides was determined from an HCl matrix. Both Pb(II) and Sn(IV) are strongly retained on the resin at different HCl concentrations. The affinity for Pb(II) decreases with increasing HCl concentration while Sn(IV) uptake increases. Extraction kinetics for Pb(II) and Sn(IV) were examined and show suitable uptake on the second time scale. Separation methods for the isolation of individual homologs, Pb(II) and Sn(IV), have been established using 2 mL pre-packed vacuum flow Pb resin columns.
Vatu-i-Ra Seascape, Fiji

The diverse natural resources of the Vatu-i-Ra seascape, and the human communities that rely on them for subsistence and income, face highly uncertain climate change threats. Climate models disagree on future projections of precipitation, El Nino-Southern Oscillation conditions, and tropical cyclone frequency and intensity. Adaptation options therefore focus on increasing the capacity of local communities to adaptively manage natural resources in ways that mutually benefit humans and biodiversity, and that are responsive to changing conditions. Drawing on existing ecosystem-based management principles and programs, governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Fiji are incorporating climate change science into management plans and taking action to increase the resilience of coral reefs and social systems.
Influences of Superalloy Composition and Pt Content on the Oxidation Behavior of Gamma–Gamma Prime NiPtAl Bond Coatings

The effects of superalloy composition and Pt content on the high-temperature oxidation behavior of γ–γ’ NiPtAl diffusion coatings were investigated over the temperature range of 1050–1150 °C. Simple NiPtAl diffusion coatings with 7 or 12 µm electroplated Pt thickness were evaluated in 1-h cycles in dry O2 for up to 2500 cycles on four superalloys: directionally solidified (DS) alloy 142, 1st generation single-crystal (SX) alloy 1483, and 2nd generation SX alloys X4 and N5. Coatings on high-Hf alloy 142 experienced severe internal oxidation of Hf at all temperatures. Coatings on ~5 at.% Ti alloy 1483 were protective at 1050 °C, but exhibited severe scale spallation at 1100 °C, with extensive formation of Ti- and Ni-rich oxides at the gas interface. Coatings with 7-µm Pt on X4 were extremely protective at 1100 °C, but failed rapidly at 1150 °C, which also was associated with the formation of Ti-rich oxides. Increasing the coating Pt content on X4 improved the 1150 °C oxidation behavior. Coatings on Ti-free N5 showed the best performance at 1150 °C, especially with 12-µm Pt. Although γ–γ’ coatings can exhibit outstanding cyclic oxidation resistance with minimal Al depletion, they appear to be sensitive to substrate composition, as well as eventual Pt depletion due to interdiffusion.
Patterned quantum dot and nanopore lasers

The formation of patterned quantum dot lasers and laser results for this type of quantum dot laser are outlined. A novel inverted quantum dot structure or nanopore laser containing three dimensional quantization formed from an engineered periodicity is described.
A massive, quiescent, population II galaxy at a redshift of 2.1

Unlike spiral galaxies such as the Milky Way, the majority of the stars in massive elliptical galaxies were formed in a short period early in the history of the Universe. The duration of this formation period can be measured using the ratio of magnesium to iron abundance ([Mg/Fe]) in spectra1,2,3,4, which reflects the relative enrichment by core-collapse and type Ia supernovae. For local galaxies, [Mg/Fe] probes the combined formation history of all stars currently in the galaxy, including younger and metal-poor stars that were added during late-time mergers5. Therefore, to directly constrain the initial star-formation period, we must study galaxies at earlier epochs. The most distant galaxy for which [Mg/Fe] had previously been measured6 is at a redshift of z ≈ 1.4, with [Mg/Fe] = . A slightly earlier epoch (z ≈ 1.6) was probed by combining the spectra of 24 massive quiescent galaxies, yielding an average [Mg/Fe] = 0.31 ± 0.12 (ref. 7). However, the relatively low signal-to-noise ratio of the data and the use of index analysis techniques for both of these studies resulted in measurement errors that are too large to allow us to form strong conclusions. Deeper spectra at even earlier epochs in combination with analysis techniques based on full spectral fitting are required to precisely measure the abundance pattern shortly after the major star-forming phase (z > 2). Here we report a measurement of [Mg/Fe] for a massive quiescent galaxy at a redshift of z = 2.1, when the Universe was three billion years old. With [Mg/Fe] = 0.59 ± 0.11, this galaxy is the most Mg-enhanced massive galaxy found so far, having twice the Mg enhancement of similar-mass galaxies today. The abundance pattern of the galaxy is consistent with enrichment exclusively by core-collapse supernovae and with a star-formation timescale of 0.1 to 0.5 billion years—characteristics that are similar to population II stars in the Milky Way. With an average past star-formation rate of 600 to 3,000 solar masses per year, this galaxy was among the most vigorous star-forming galaxies in the Universe.
Team WPI-CMU: Achieving Reliable Humanoid Behavior in the DARPA Robotics Challenge

In the DARPA Robotics Challenge DRC, participating human-robot teams were required to integrate mobility, manipulation, perception, and operator interfaces to complete a simulated disaster mission. We describe our approach using the humanoid robot Atlas Unplugged developed by Boston Dynamics. We focus on our approach, results, and lessons learned from the DRC Finals to demonstrate our strategy, including extensive operator practice, explicit monitoring for robot errors, adding additional sensing, and enabling the operator to control and monitor the robot at varying degrees of abstraction. Our safety-first strategy worked: we avoided falling, and remote operators could safely recover from difficult situations. We were the only team in the DRC Finals that attempted all tasks, scored points 14/16, did not require physical human intervention a reset, and did not fall in the two missions during the two days of tests. We also had the most consistent pair of runs.
Exercising Agency: How Men Experiencing Homelessness Employ Human, Social, and Cultural Capital to Mitigate Natural Hazards Risk

AbstractPeople experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable in society. They are exposed to a variety of natural and technological hazards and may have few resources available to protect...
Anaerobic exposure before or after wounding reduces the production of wound-induced phenolic compounds in fresh-cut lettuce

Abstract Wounding lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L., Longifolia) leaves by excising 5-mm thick mid-rib segments increased phenylpropanoid metabolism with the synthesis and accumulation of wound-induced phenolic compounds (WIPC). Immersing freshly excised segments for 1 h in 20 °C water agitated with air or N 2 produced a 45% or 65% reduction in wound-induced phenolic content, respectively, compared to non-immersed segments when measured after incubation for 48 h at 10 °C in air. In contrast, agitating the water with O 2 produced a 23% increase in WIPC over the non-immersed controls. The enhanced reduction of WIPC in N 2 versus air agitated water, and the increase in WIPC in O 2 agitated water suggests that anaerobiosis, and not dilution of the wound signal, was the cause of the reduction in WIPC. Holding 5-mm segments in an anaerobic N 2 atmosphere produced a similar reduction in WIPC as did holding the segments in water. Delaying the 1 h anaerobic treatment for up to 3 h had no significant effect on the ability of the anaerobic treatment to reduce WIPC. Exposing 8-cm long mid-rib sections to anaerobiosis for 2 h before excision of the 5-mm segments reduced subsequent WIPC from the 5-mm segments. The previous anaerobic treatment of the 8-cm sections predisposed the tissue to have a reduced response to subsequent wounding. After a 2 d lag in WIPC accumulation, the rates of accumulation were similar for the air and 2 h anaerobic treated 5-mm segments. Using vacuum treatments to facilitate the loss of volatile products of anaerobic metabolism (e.g., acetaldehyde and ethanol) did not have a significant effect on the accumulation of WIPC. Ion leakage from the symplastic volume of the tissue (i.e., across the cell membrane) was unaffected by the anaerobic treatments, but leakage from the apoplastic volume increased with increasing duration of the anaerobic treatment. Immersing fresh-cut lettuce in an aqueous solutions did not reduce the wound response because of dilution of the wound signal, but because of the anaerobic environment created within the tissue. Some remnant of the anaerobic treatment seems to persist in the tissue and delay the accumulation of WIPC.
O15 Tibial nerve morphology does not explain neuromotor deficits associated with chronic ankle instability

Study Design Case-control. Objectives Compare tibial nerve cross-sectional area (CSA), plantar cutaneous sensation, isokinetic ankle strength, and single-limb postural control in people with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI). Background Patients with CAI exhibit a range of neuromotor impairments. These impairments include deficits in postural control and ankle strength which may be related to altered somatosensation following repetitive joint trauma. However, it is unclear if tibial nerve injury or entrapment may be an underlying contributing factor to many of these impairments. Methods and Measures Twelve people with CAI (age: 21.25±2.80, height: 165.96±8.34 cm, weight: 72.01±14.19 kg) were compared to 12 people without CAI (age: 21.75±1.96, height: 166.47±6.97 cm, weight: 67.84±12.92 kg). Tibial nerve CSA was measured at two sites; 5 cm and 1 cm proximal to the distal pole of medial malleolus, using diagnostic ultrasound. Plantar cutaneous detection thresholds were assessed at the 1st metatarsal head using monofilaments applied through a staircase algorithm. Static postural control was tested during eyes open and closed single-leg balance on a force plate. Centre of pressure variables included x-range, y-range, velocity, and area 95% eclipse. Normalised peak torque was assessed during a concentric/concentric isokinetic strength protocol for dorsiflexion/plantarflexion at 60°/s. Group differences were assessed through a combination of independent t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests (p≤0.05). Results The CAI group demonstrated decreased sensation (CAI: 3.65±0.34, Healthy: 3.21±0.43; p=0.02), greater eyes closed area 95% eclipse (CAI: 24.50±7.80 cm2, Healthy: 18.65±4.75 cm2; p=0.04), and lower plantarflexion peak torque (CAI: 55.02±32.60°/s, Healthy: 85.13±29.08°/s; p=0.03). There were no significant group differences for any other measures. Conclusions Individuals with CAI exhibited deficits in sensory acuity, postural control, and strength, however, no morphological changes were identified in the tibial nerve based on CSA. These findings suggest several of the neuromotor impairments associated with CAI may be related to central nervous system alterations rather than peripheral nerve injury or entrapment.
Zur Verteidigung des Freudianismus

Die Arbeit von Grunbaum stellt eine ernsthafte Herausforderung fur jene dar, die meinen, es gebe vernunftige Grunde, Freudianische Doktrinen zu akzeptieren.
Social Support, Health, and Health Care Access Among Latino Immigrant Men in an Emerging Community:

Objective. To determine the association of social support with alcohol abuse, depression, and health care access among Latino immigrant men in an emerging Latino community (an area with a small yet...
Inferior Vena Cava: Embryology and Anomalies

Reconstruction of the abdominal aorta and its visceral branches is one of the most common operations performed by practicing vascular surgeons. These procedures can be challenging depending on the patient anatomy and the state of the aorta. In cases of aneurysm rupture, time is of the essence; there is very little margin for error. An intimate knowledge of the anatomy of the caval venous system and its tributaries, including familiarity with developmental anomalies, is critical to safe, rapid, and precise anatomical dissection.
Structural basis for the second step of group II intron splicing.

The group II intron and the spliceosome share a common active site architecture and are thought to be evolutionarily related. Here we report the 3.7 A crystal structure of a eukaryotic group II intron in the lariat-3' exon form, immediately preceding the second step of splicing, analogous to the spliceosomal P complex. This structure reveals the location of the intact 3' splice site within the catalytic core of the group II intron. The 3'-OH of the 5' exon is positioned in close proximity to the 3' splice site for nucleophilic attack and exon ligation. The active site undergoes conformational rearrangements with the catalytic triplex having different configurations before and after the second step of splicing. We describe a complete model for the second step of group II intron splicing that incorporates a dynamic catalytic triplex being responsible for creating the binding pocket for 3' splice site capture.
The Role of Androgen Receptor Signaling in Ovarian Cancer

Emerging evidence has suggested that androgen receptor signaling plays an important role in ovarian cancer outgrowth. Specifically, androgen receptor activation appears to be associated with increased risks of developing ovarian cancer and inducing tumor progression. However, conflicting findings have also been reported. This review summarizes and discusses the available data indicating the involvement of androgens as well as androgen receptor and related signals in ovarian carcinogenesis and cancer growth. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms for androgen receptor functions in ovarian cancer remain far from being fully understood, current observations may offer effective chemopreventive and therapeutic approaches, via modulation of androgen receptor activity, against ovarian cancer. Indeed, several clinical trials have been conducted to determine the efficacy of androgen deprivation therapy in patients with ovarian cancer.
More than data collectors: A systematic review of the environmental outcomes of youth inquiry approaches in the United States.

Over the last twenty years, research on the impact of engaging children and adolescents in the generation of new knowledge about their lives, schools, and communities, has grown tremendously. This systematic review summarizes the findings from empirical studies of youth inquiry approaches in the United States, with a focus on their environmental outcomes. Searches of four interdisciplinary databases retrieved a total of 3,724 relevant articles published between 1995 and 2015. Sixty-three distinct studies met the systematic review inclusion criteria, of which, 36 (57.1%) reported that the youth inquiry approach contributed to positive changes among adults, peers, organizations, and/or institutions. These environmental outcomes were qualitatively recorded, inductively categorized, and then organized into Bronfenbrenner's ecological framework. Youth inquiry approaches led to practitioner growth and changes in peer group norms at the micro-system level, program development or improvement and research benefits at the meso-system level, and school, city, and state level policy adoption at the exo-system level. Qualitative methods, especially case studies, were most commonly used to evaluate the impact of youth inquiry approaches on environmental outcomes. Studies of approaches that utilized advocacy to create change, targeted decision-makers as the audience for the youth's work and convened for a longer duration were more likely to report improved environmental outcomes. This systematic review suggests that youth inquiry approaches are a promising strategy for ecological systems change.
Immunotransplantation for multiple myeloma using allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

17516 Background: Despite the improvement seen in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT), most of the patients relapse or die of t...
Importance of the 'Higgs' Amplitude Mode in Understanding the "Ideal Glass Transition" and the Kauzmann Entropy Paradox at the Four-Dimensional Crystal/Glass Quantum Critical Point

In this article, a theoretical description of the "ideal glass transition" is approached upon the adoption of a quaternion orientational order parameter. Unlike first-order phase transitions of liquids into crystalline solid states, glass transitions are entirely different phenomena that are non-equilibrium and that are highly dependent on the applied cooling rate. Herein, the "ideal glass transition" that occurs at the finite Kauzmann temperature at which point the configurational entropy of an undercooled liquid matches that of its crystalline counterpart is identified as a first-order quantum critical point. We suggest that this quantum critical point belongs to quaternion ordered systems that exist in four- and three-dimensions. The Kauzmann quantum critical point is considered to be a higher-dimensional analogue to the superfluid-to-Mott insulator quantum phase transition, in two- and one-dimensional complex ordered systems. Such quantum critical points are driven by tuning a non-thermal frustration parameter, and result due to characteristic softening of the 'Higgs' type mode that corresponds to amplitude fluctuations of the order parameter. The first-order nature of the finite temperature Kauzmann quantum critical point is seen as a consequence of the discrete change of the topology of the ground state manifold that applies to crystalline and non-crystalline solid states.
A Molecular Pathway for Arterial-Specific Association of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

The preferential accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells on arteries versus veins during early development is a well-described phenomenon, but the molecular pathways underlying this polarization are not well understood. During zebrafish embryogenesis the cxcr4a receptor (mammalian CXCR4) and its ligand cxcl12b (mammalian CXCL12) are both preferentially expressed on arteries at time points consistent with the arrival and differentiation of the first vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs). We show that autocrine cxcl12b/cxcr4 activity leads to increased production of the vSMC chemoattractant ligand pdgfb by endothelial cells in vitro and increased expression of pdgfb by arteries in vivo. Additionally, we demonstrate that expression of the well-characterized blood flow-regulated transcription factor klf2a in primitive veins negatively regulates cxcr4/cxcl12 and pdgfb expression, restricting vSMC recruitment to the arterial vasculature. Together, this signaling axis leads to the differential acquisition of smooth muscle cells at sites where klf2a expression is low and both cxcr4a and pdgfb are co-expressed, i.e. arteries during early development.
New and Developing Therapies in Spinal Muscular Atrophy: From Genotype to Phenotype to Treatment and Where Do We Stand?

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a congenital neuromuscular disorder characterized by motor neuron loss, resulting in progressive weakness. SMA is notable in the health care community because it accounts for the most common cause of infant death resulting from a genetic defect. SMA is caused by low levels of the survival motor neuron protein (SMN) resulting from SMN1 gene mutations or deletions. However, patients always harbor various copies of SMN2, an almost identical but functionally deficient copy of the gene. A genotype–phenotype correlation suggests that SMN2 is a potent disease modifier for SMA, which also represents the primary target for potential therapies. Increasing comprehension of SMA pathophysiology, including the characterization of SMN1 and SMN2 genes and SMN protein functions, has led to the development of multiple therapeutic approaches. Until the end of 2016, no cure was available for SMA, and management consisted of supportive measures. Two breakthrough SMN-targeted treatments, either using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or virus-mediated gene therapy, have recently been approved. These two novel therapeutics have a common objective: to increase the production of SMN protein in MNs and thereby improve motor function and survival. However, neither therapy currently provides a complete cure. Treating patients with SMA brings new responsibilities and unique dilemmas. As SMA is such a devastating disease, it is reasonable to assume that a unique therapeutic solution may not be sufficient. Current approaches under clinical investigation differ in administration routes, frequency of dosing, intrathecal versus systemic delivery, and mechanisms of action. Besides, emerging clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of either SMN-dependent or SMN-independent approaches are ongoing. This review aims to address the different knowledge gaps between genotype, phenotypes, and potential therapeutics.
Compressive failure of hydrogel spheres

Hydrogels have gained recent attention for biomedical applications because of their large water content, which imparts biocompatibility. However, their mechanical properties can be limiting. There has been significant recent interest in the strength and fracture toughness of hydrogel materials in addition to their stiffness and time-dependent behavior. Hydrogels can fail in a brittle manner, although they are extremely compliant. In this work, the failure and fracture of hydrogels are examined using a compression test of spherical hydrogel particles. Spheres of commercially available polyacrylamide–potassium polyacrylate were hydrated and tested to failure in compression as a function of loading rate. The spheres exhibited little relaxation when compressed to small fixed displacements. The distributions of strength values obtained were examined in a particle fracture framework previously used for brittle ceramics. There was loading rate dependence apparent in the measured peak force and calculated peak strength values, but the data fell on a single empirical distribution function of strength for the hydrogels regardless of loading rate. Strength values for these hydrogels were mostly in the range of 0.05–0.3 MPa, illustrating the challenges using hydrogels for mechanically demanding applications such as tissue engineering.
Atmospheric resonances and their coupling to vibrations of the ground and waves in the ocean

Observations of the ionosphere with the airglow, GPS-TEC, and HF radar techniques reveal a resonant response of the middle and upper atmosphere to broad-band excitation by earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and convective storms. The resonances occur at such frequencies that an atmospheric wave, which is radiated at the ground level and is reflected from a turning point in the middle or upper atmosphere, upon return to the ground level satisfies boundary conditions on the ground. Using asymptotic and numerical models of atmospheric waves, this paper investigates atmospheric resonances and their excitation by seismic waves and infragravity waves in the ocean. It is found that “buoyancy” resonances with periods up to several hours arise in addition to “acoustic” resonances with periods of about 3–5 min. The acoustic and buoyancy resonances occur, respectively, on the acoustic and gravity branches of the dispersion curve of acoustic-gravity waves. Buoyancy of the atmosphere is important for the resonances of both kinds. Acoustic resonances are found to be sensitive to the temperature profile, especially around mesopause and tropopause, and are predicted to be a seasonal phenomenon in polar atmosphere. Unlike acoustic resonances, buoyancy resonances exhibit high sensitivity to the wind velocity profile and its variations. The resonances correspond to most efficient coupling between the atmosphere and its lower boundary and are promising for detection of such coupling.