cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Detection of Resistance Determinants

ABSTRACT The development of new antibiotics and the emergence of novel resistance mechanisms to counteract these drugs create a dynamic and challenging task for the clinical microbiology laboratory. The goal of antimicrobial resistance testing is to provide timely therapeutic options to guide the management of infectious diseases resulting from bacterial infections. Antimicrobial susceptibility has classically been determined using a variety of in vitro methods, such as disk diffusion, broth microdilution, and automated instrument-based methods. Using these methods, the reporting of MICs and interpretations can require 24 to 96 h after a pure culture of the suspected pathogen is obtained (6). Unfortunately, results obtained after 48 h are often of little clinical value and are unlikely to alter antimicrobial therapy. The extended turnaround associated with phenotypic antimicrobial resistance testing provides an opportunity for the use of alternative technologies capable of producing more timely results. The first reports in this supplement explore the manner in which the criteria for interpreting MICs are developed and the clinical relevance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In this report, we present an alternative to routine susceptibility testing and examine the role of molecular susceptibility testing now and in the future.
Cascading activation across levels of representation in children's lexical processing

Recent work in adult psycholinguistics has demonstrated that activation of semantic representations begins long before phonological processing is complete. This incremental propagation of information across multiple levels of analysis is a hallmark of adult language processing but how does this ability develop? In two experiments, we elicit measures of incremental activation of semantic representations during word recognition in children. Five-year-olds were instructed to select a target (logs) while their eye-movements were measured to a competitor (key) that was semantically related to an absent phonological associate (lock). We found that, like adults, children made increased looks to competitors relative to unrelated control items. However, unlike adults, children continued to look at the competitor even after the target word was uniquely identified and were more likely to incorrectly select this item. Altogether, these results suggest that early lexical processing involves cascading activation but less efficient resolution of competing entries.
Marina Abramovic's The House with the Ocean View: The View of the House from Some Drops in the Ocean

This issue's Critical Acts section features Marina Abramovic's 12-day life/art installation at a Chelsea gallery; Yelena Gluzman's “Science Project” on Ibsen's A Doll's House at the Performing Garage in New York; and Tim Miller's report from Tokyo, where he performed Body Blows, based on his book of the same name.
IFN-γ promotes τ phosphorylation without affecting mature tangles

Inflammatory activation precedes and correlates with accumulating τ lesions in Alzheimer’s disease and tauopathies. However, the relationship between neuroinflammation and etiology of pathologic τ remains elusive. To evaluate whether inflammatory signaling may promote or accelerate neurofibrillary tangle pathology, we explored the effect of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-mediated overexpression of a master inflammatory cytokine, IFN-γ, on τ phosphorylation. In initial studies in primary neuroglial cultures, rAAV-mediated expression of IFN-γ did not alter endogenous τ production or paired helical filament τ phosphorylation. Next, we tested the effect of rAAV-mediated expression of IFN-γ in the brains of 2 mouse models of tauopathy: JNPL3 and rTg4510. In both models, IFN-γ increased 1) signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 levels and gliosis, and 2) hyperphosphorylation and conformational alterations of soluble τ compared with control cohorts. However, sarkosyl-insoluble phosphorylat...
Relationships between metal concentrations and organism size in aquatic insects

SUMMARY. 1The influence of organism size on whole-body metal concentrations of eight metals was examined in aquatic insects in field and laboratory studies. Information on the partitioning of metals between adsorbed, absorbed and gut content material was also obtained. 2For Co, Cr, Fe, Sb and Sc, an exponential decrease in concentration with increasing organism size was observed, indicating surface adsorption as an important mode of metal accumulation. 3No, or only a slight, concentration-size relationship was found for K, Mn and Na. This is expected for metals with high absorption efficiencies and a low capacity to be adsorbed. 4Clearing of the gut of the mayfly Stenonema modestum (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae) did not significantly after the concentration size relationship for any of the metals studied. 5Studies of Cr uptake with Stenacron interpunctatum (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae) indicate that the concentration-size relationship is not affected by variability in the concentration of available Cr. 6About 52% of the whole-body burden of Cr in S. interpunctatum was associated with gut material while at least 33% was adsorbed to the organism's exoskeleton and at most 15% was internally absorbed.
Can Fossil Carbon Fuel the 21st Century

Fossil fuels, despite their drawbacks, have been fueling the world economy for the last two centuries. They have proven abundant, easy to use, and low in cost. Contrary to common belief, fossil fuels are not likely to run out any time soon. For the foreseeable future, fossil fuels may continue to be the most cost-effective energy resource, even as concerns over climate change will force the implementation of technologies to capture and dispose of the carbon dioxide generated in their use. With a successful implementation of the carbon management technologies that are under development today, the use of fossil carbon could be sustained for at least another century.
Correlates of daytime sleepiness in patients with asthma

Abstract Background and purpose Patients with asthma often complain of daytime sleepiness, which is usually attributed to a direct effect of asthma on nocturnal sleep quality. We investigated this and other potential explanations for daytime sleepiness among asthmatics. Patients and methods One hundred fifteen adult asthmatics were assessed for perceived daytime sleepiness (one question item), subjective sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, ESS), obstructive sleep apnea risk (Sleep Apnea scale score within Sleep Disorders Questionnaire, SA-SDQ), asthma severity step, relevant comorbid conditions, and current asthma medications. Results Among all subjects, 55% perceived excessive daytime sleepiness and 47% had ESS>10. Most subjects reported snoring ( n =99, or 86%) and many snored habitually ( n =44, 38%). The ESS correlated with SA-SDQ ( P P =0.01), and asthma severity step ( P =0.04). In a multiple regression model, the ESS was independently associated with SA-SDQ ( P =0.0003) and male gender ( P =0.02), but not with asthma severity step ( P =0.51). There were no correlations between ESS and age, body mass index (BMI), forced expiratory volume in one second as percent of predicted value (FEV 1 %), comorbidities, or medication used to treat asthma. Conclusions Sleepiness is common in asthmatics and may reflect occult obstructive sleep apnea more often than effects of asthma itself, other comorbid conditions, or asthma medications.
Racial(ized) Identity, Ethnic Identity, and Afrocentric Values: Conceptual and Methodological Challenges in Understanding African American Identity

A survey of the literature reveals that there is conceptual confusion and inconsistent and sometimes inappropriate usage of the terms racial identity, ethnic identity, and Afrocentric values. This study explored the extent to which Black racial(ized) identity attitudes were related to ethnic identity and Afrocentric cultural values. Two hundred and one African American college students attending a predominantly White university or a historically Black university completed the Cross Racial Identity Scale (B. J. Vandiver et al., 2000), the Nadanolitization Scale (J. Taylor & C. Grundy, 1996), the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (J. S. Phinney, 1992), and the Africentrism Scale (C. Grills & D. Longshore, 1996). Results of a canonical correlation indicated 2 significant orthogonal roots that were labeled a nonracialized ethnic identity and a racialized ethnic identity. The results suggest important similarities and differences among the various identity constructs. Implications for racial and ethnic identity research and Afrocentric research are discussed.
Structure and Mechanism of the Glycerol-3-Phosphate Transporter from Escherichia Coli

The major facilitator superfamily represents the largest group of secondary membrane transporters in the cell. Here we report the 3.3 angstrom resolution structure of a member of this superfamily, GlpT, which transports glycerol-3-phosphate into the cytoplasm and inorganic phosphate into the periplasm. The amino- and carboxyl-terminal halves of the protein exhibit a pseudo two-fold symmetry. Closed off to the periplasm, a centrally located substrate-translocation pore contains two arginines at its closed end, which comprise the substrate-binding site. Upon substrate binding, the protein adopts a more compact conformation. We propose that GlpT operates by a single-binding site, alternating-access mechanism through a rocker-switch type of movement.
Absolute absorption cross sections of ozone in the 185- to 350-nm wavelength range

The absorption cross sections of ozone have been measured in the wavelength range 185-350 nm and in the temperature range 225-298 K. The absolute ozone concentrations were established by measuring the pressure of pure gaseous samples in the 0.08to 300-torr range, and the UV spectra were recorded under conditions where less than 1 percent of the sample decomposed. The temperature dependence is significant for wavelengths longer than about 280 nm. The absorption cross-section values around 210 nm were found to be about 10 percent larger than the previously accepted values.
A molecular dynamics simulation study of the influence of free surfaces on the morphology of self-associating polymers

Molecular dynamics simulations of thin films and bulk melts of model self-associating polymers have been performed in order to gain understanding of the influence of free surfaces on the morphology of these polymers. The self-associating polymers were represented by a simple bead-necklace model with attractive groups (stickers) at the chain ends (end-functionalized polymer) and in the chain interior (interior-functionalized polymer). The functionalized groups were found to form clusters in the melt whose size is representative of that found experimentally in many ionomer melts. While the size distribution and shape of the clusters in the thin films were found to be relatively unperturbed compared to their corresponding bulk melts, the morphology of the self-associating melts was found to be significantly perturbed by the free surfaces. Specifically, a strong depletion of stickers near the interface and the emergence of clearly defined layers of stickers parallel to the surface was observed. Increased bridging of clusters by the functionalized polymers was also observed near the free surface. We conclude that these effects can be associated with a high free energy for stickers in the low-density interfacial regime: stickers prefer to be in the higher-density interior of the film where relatively unperturbed sticker clusters can form.
A BENCHMARK MONTE CARLO NUMERICAL VERIFICATION OF COMPUTED PROBABILITY OF COLLISION

As part of a collision avoidance enhancem ent study, an independent numerical verification of computed probability of collision by various methods is performed through a Monte Carlo process. The Monte Carlo process in this analysis starts with the numerical integration from the last observation or the end of an orbit determination fit span, where the state vector and the covariance are the "current best estimate." Thousands or millions of those special perturbation (SP) vectors of the primary and secondary satellites or objects are generated from t he state vectors and covariances at the above epoch and are then integrated to point of closest approach (PCA). A collision is flagged if the relative distance is equal to or less than the combined body dimension or collision radius. This Monte Carlo proce ss tries to closely simulate the real world orbital motion of the two objects during the close approach phase. The direct integration using accurate force models minimizes the uncertainties in covariance propagation and encounter geometry. This approach al so avoids the assumption of constant relative velocity at PCA, which may not hold for two GEO satellites and for a HEO/LEO encounter near perigee.
Antiviral activity of Shiga toxin 1: suppression of bovine leukemia virus-related spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation.

Human infections with Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause hemorrhagic colitis. The Stxs belong to a large family of ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) that are found in a variety of higher plants and some bacteria. Many RIPs have potent antiviral activity for the plants that synthesize them. STEC strains, both virulent and nonvirulent to humans, are frequently isolated from healthy cattle. Interestingly, despite intensive investigations, it is not known why cattle carry STEC. We tested the hypothesis that Stx has antiviral properties for bovine viruses by assessing the impact of Stx type 1 (Stx1) on bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from cows infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV). PBMC from BLV-positive animals invariably displayed spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation (SLP) in vitro. Stx1 or the toxin A subunit (Stx1A) strongly inhibited SLP. Toxin only weakly reduced the pokeweed mitogen- or interleukin-2-induced proliferation of PBMC from normal (BLV-negative) cows and had no effect on concanavalin A-induced proliferation. The toxin activity in PBMC from BLV-positive cattle was selective for viral SLP and did not abrogate cell response to pokeweed mitogen- or interleukin-2-induced proliferation. Antibody to virus or Stx1A was most effective at inhibiting SLP if administered at the start of cell culture, indicating that both reagents likely interfere with BLV-dependent initiation of SLP. Stx1A inhibited expression of BLV p24 protein by PBMC. A well-defined mutant Stx1A (E167D) that has decreased catalytic activity was not effective at inhibiting SLP, suggesting the inhibition of protein synthesis is likely the mechanism of toxin antiviral activity. Our data suggest that Stx has potent antiviral activity and may serve an important role in BLV-infected cattle by inhibiting BLV replication and thus slowing the progression of infection to its malignant end stage.
A maximum likelihood decoding algorithm for turbo codes

A maximum likelihood (ML) decoding algorithm is presented for decoding turbo codes. The basic algorithm, called the pair list algorithm (PLA) is a stack algorithm that examines pairs of constituent code trellis paths in order of decreasing metric sum. The PLA controls two per trellis list Viterbi algorithms (LVA) for finding the n highest metric paths in a trellis diagram. For practical implementation the ML search must be terminated. This search truncation may limit the utility of this algorithm to /spl Escr//sub b//N/sub 0/ for which the cutoff rate R/sub 0/ exceed the code rate. However, the terminated ML search can be used to generate FER statistics, or for a FEC/ARQ turbo code scheme without using an additional error detecting outer code.
Treatment Refusals: Autonomy, Paternalism, and the “Best Interest” of the Patient

Closely related to the problems of competency and consent discussed in the preceding chapter is the question of how to handle treatment refusals by patients. It was noted there that an asymmetry exists between the need physicians perceive to assess a patient’s competency to grant consent in the first place and the retrospective assessment of competency once a patient has refused treatment. Put another way, questions of competency usually do not arise when a patient willingly goes along with whatever treatment the physician recommends. It is well known that treatment refusals are often construed as evidence that the patient is incompetent to grant or refuse consent, but that view of the matter is surely mistaken. However competency is to be assessed, it cannot simply be explicated in terms of agreement with what a physician recommends. Even if a patient’s refusal appears irrational, on the face of it, that is still not grounds for assuming that the person is incompetent to choose or refuse a recommended treatment. It is worth recalling that presumptions of incompetency are often made when there is no other evidence of impairment—the patient is not a psychiatric patient, or suffering from senile dementia, or afflicted with a condition that normally impairs cognitive processes.
Low-order wavefront sensing and control for WFIRST-AFTA coronagraph

To maintain the required Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) coronagraph performance in a realistic space environment, a low-order wavefront sensing and control (LOWFS/C) subsystem is necessary. The LOWFS/C uses the rejected stellar light from the coronagraph to sense and suppress the telescope pointing errors as well as low-order wavefront errors (WFEs) due to changes in thermal loading of the telescope and the rest of the observatory. We will present a conceptual design of a LOWFS/C subsystem for the WFIRST-AFTA coronagraph. This LOWFS/C uses a Zernike phase contrast wavefront sensor (ZWFS) with a phase shifting disk combined with the stellar light rejecting occulting masks, a key concept to minimize the noncommon path error. We will present our analysis of the sensor performance and evaluate the performance of the line-of-sight jitter suppression loop, as well as the low-order WFE correction loop with a deformable mirror on the coronagraph. We will also report the LOWFS/C testbed design and the preliminary in-air test results, which show a very promising performance of the ZWFS.
Impact of core dielectric properties on the localized surface plasmonic spectra of gold-coated magnetic core-shell nanoparticles.

Gold-coated iron oxide core–shell nanoparticles (IO-Au NPs) are of interest for use in numerous biomedical applications because of their unique combined magnetic–plasmonic properties. Although the effects of the core-dielectric constant on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak position of Au-shell particles have been previously investigated, the impact that light-absorbing core materials with complex dielectric functions have on the LSPR peak is not well established. In this study, we use extended Mie theory for multilayer particles to examine the individual effects of the real and imaginary components of core refractive indices on Au-shell NP plasmonic peaks. We find that the imaginary component dampens the intensity of the cavity plasmon and results in a decrease of surface plasmon coupling. For core materials with large imaginary refractive indices, the coupled mode LSPR peak disappears, and only the anticoupled mode remains. Our findings show that the addition of a nonabsorbing polymer l...
On-Farm Efficacy of Aerially Applied Bacillus thuringiensis for European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Corn Earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Control in Sweet Corn

Aerial applications of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and tank-mixes with synthetic insecticides were evaluated for control of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) and Helicoverpa erpa zea (Boddie) in Minnesota sweet com during 1990-1992. In addition to natural infestations, sweet com was manually infested with first-instar O. nubilalis to investigate optimum timing of applications relative to larval hatch. Efficacy of B. thuringiensis was significantly enhanced when applied 2 d before larval hatch, compared with 2 d after hatch. Treatments with low-rate permethrin + B. thuringiensis or full-rate permethrin followed by B. thuringiensis provided control of O. nubilalis equal to full rates of permethrin or micro-encapsulated methyl parathion. Of the B. thuringiensis treatments, only the tank-mix of low-rate permethrin + Dipel ES significantly reduced H. zea larval infestations and yielded more marketable ears than the untreated check. Based on active ingredient per hectare, low-rate permethrin + B. thuringiensis reduced synthetic insecticide use 66%, compared with full-rate permethrin, or 92% compared with full-rate methyl parathion. Using a four-application program, permethrin followed by three B. thuringiensis applications reduced synthetic insecticide use 75'% compared With full-rate permethrin, or 94% compared with full-rate methyl parathion. Disadvantages of the use of B. thuringiensis for late-season insect management in sweet corn include application timing, incidence of H. zea, and potential for increased risk of larval contaminants in marketable product.
Modification on the Unoccupied Electronic Structure of Organic Semiconductor by Alkali Metal

We have investigated the evolution of both the occupied and unoccupied states for alkali metal (Cs and Na) doped Copper-Phthalocyanine (CuPc) with photoemission and inverse photoemission spectroscopy. As the doping ratio increases, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of CuPc shifts downward, reaching the Fermi level. After the saturation, the LUMO intensity decreases monotonically, while a gap state grows in the valence spectra, which gives direct evidence for the origin of the doping-induced gap state in CuPc molecules.
System framework on unified safety monitoring and integrated emergency response system for dangerous chemicals

According to the problems that current safety monitoring system can't provide overall information for safety monitoring of dangerous chemicals,put forward and designed a unified monitoring and integrated emergency response system for dangerous chemicals based on ArcGIS platform. The system consisted of GIS integrated platform,video surveillance subsystem,mobile hazards monitoring subsystem,production information management and qualification certification subsystem,and emergency information management and integrated emergency response subsystem. The system realized functions such as early warning,quick integrated emergency response and comprehensive information management,which were enjoyed by both the related departments of government and related enterprises during the process from production to usage of dangerous chemicals.
Ovarian follicular maturation in women. I. Intermittent versus daily administration of human menopausal gonadotropin.

This study was designed to compare the efficiency of daily intramuscular human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) therapy to an intermittent subcutaneous regimen in women with ovulatory dysfunction. Ovarian follicular development was assessed with the use of serial ultrasound scans and serum 17 β -estradiol (E 2 ) levels. Ovulation was based on pregnancy and/or elevated luteal progesterone values. There were no significant differences between the two treatment regimens, based on E 2 levels, follicular size, and/or number of follicles>1.0cm. Pregnancy and ovulation occurred more frequently after intramuscular hMG therapy. These results indicate that daily hMG is preferred over intermittent subcutaneous administration because of convenience.
An approach for quantifying small effects in regression models

We develop a novel approach for quantifying small effects in regression models. Our method is based on variation in the mean function, in contrast to methods that focus on regression coefficients. Our idea applies in diverse settings such as testing for a negligible trend and quantifying differences in regression functions across strata. Straightforward Bayesian methods are proposed for inference. Four examples are used to illustrate the ideas.
Fluid-Induced Forces

The traditional method of determining the forces induced on structural elements has been to consider the force to be due to linear combination of an inertial contribution and a drag contribution, or FT = FI + FD Each of these time-varying components has then been formulated in terms of (i) geometrical properties of the structure, (ii) fluid properties describing the flow field and (iii) some “variable constants” which have been determined empirically. A great deal of effort has been devoted to an improved description of the flow field as discussed in Part I of this text and perhaps even more effort has been expended on correlations of the empirically determined “variable constants”. The purpose of this chapter is to describe and illustrate how these constants may be estimated and to indicate to what extent these predictions may be in error. To a large degree, these empirically determined constants exhibit a good deal of scatter in the data as published in the pertinent literature but usually (there are some notable exceptions) the scatter is not accounted for except in terms of experimental error in the acquisition of data.
Different Strokes for Different Folks: Gender and Emotions in an Environmental Game

Females are often expected to behave more environmentally-friendly than males, to be more sensitive to nuances in wording/framing, to be more emotionally expressive, and to be more likely to act on these emotions. Do they actually behave according to these expectations? Previous research found mixed evidence on gender effects. The purpose of our study is to examine whether there are gender differences in reaction to framing, expressing of emotions and acting in response to emotions in the environmental context and to determine whether these differences (if present) follow the “stereotypical” expectations. To investigate this, we conducted a framed laboratory experiment in the water quality context. Our findings show that there is a gender effect and it is highly context-dependent with respect to environmental decisions and with respect to the likelihood of expression of positive and negative emotions. Furthermore, we find that females sharing behavior is not sensitive to empathy vs. self-interest framing, while males sharing behavior is. Our results indicate that the payoff-relevant factors are, generally, more important than gender. We conclude that males and females are responding to different stimuli (“different strokes for different folks”), thus empirically testing behavior in a specific context is paramount when trying to predict responses by gender and designing environmental policies.
Long noncoding RNAs in the p53 network

The tumor-suppressor protein p53 is activated in response to numerous cellular stresses including DNA damage. p53 functions primarily as a sequence-specific transcription factor that controls the expression of hundreds of protein-coding genes and noncoding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). While the role of protein-coding genes and miRNAs in mediating the effects of p53 has been extensively studied, the physiological function and molecular mechanisms by which p53-regulated lncRNAs act is beginning to be understood. In this review, we discuss recent studies on lncRNAs that are directly or indirectly regulated by p53 and how they contribute to the biological outcomes of p53 activation. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1410. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1410 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
“Reason to Hope?”: The White Savior Myth and Progress in “Post-Racial” America:

On April 4, 2015, White North Charleston, South Carolina, Police Officer Michael Slager shot and killed Black motorist Walter Scott. Upon the release of a bystander video of the deadly shooting, Mayor Keith Summey and Police Chief Eddie Driggers denounced Slager’s actions and announced his arrest for Scott’s death. This article argues that journalists’ use and subsequent circulation of White savior mythology to narrativize the work of the two leaders offered a message of hope, progress, and White redemption, anchored in a vision of a “post-racial” United States.
Increasing the on-road fuel economy by trailing at a safe distance:

Energy is a driving force for automotive applications. Reducing the energy demand of the vehicle is one method of increasing the fuel economy of a vehicle. Heavy-duty commercial vehicles have large...
Nusinersen for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy.

Introduction: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive degenerative neuromuscular disorder characterized by loss of spinal motor neurons leading to muscle weakness. This review artic...
The effect of electron processes on metal walls in magnetized microdischarges

The influence of the electron reflection and secondary electron emission due to electron impact on a microdischarge with magnetized electrons and unmagnetized ions is analyzed using a one-dimensional Particle-in-Cell Monte Carlo collision model. For low gas pressure (below 10 Torr), the accounting for the electron processes on the walls results in a significant decrease of the breakdown voltage and allows one to increase both the plasma density and the discharge current. The generation of much denser plasma shrinks the cathode sheath to such an extent that the Larmor radius of emitted electrons becomes a few times larger than the sheath thickness. This leads to the expansion of the region of dense plasma toward the anode, which decreases the frequency of the ionization instability and decreases the number of striations obtained in the cathode-anode gap.
The Use of Dobutamine to Enhance Cardiac Performance and Improve Outcome in Patients Refractory to Hypervolemic Therapy for Cerebral Vasospasm: a Preliminary Study

We have previously concluded that CVP was an unreliable index of cardiac performance during hypervolemic therapy and that in previously healthy individuals a PAWP of 14 mm Hg was associated with maximal cardiac performance1. We describe the use of the Beta-agonist, Dobutamine, in combination with hypervolemic preload enhancement on cardiac performance in a preliminary report of 10 patients who failed to respond to traditional preload enhancement following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. All patients had the placement of a flow directed balloon-tipped catheter and measurement of pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP), central venous pressure (CVP), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI) during hyperdynamic therapy. Dobutamine was administered at a rate of 5 to 10 ug/kg/h for a period of up to ten days.
The Ubiquitin E3 Ligase PRU1 Regulates WRKY6 Degradation to Modulate Phosphate Homeostasis in Response to Low-Pi Stress in Arabidopsis.

Since phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants, plants have evolved a number of adaptive mechanisms to respond to changes in phosphate (Pi) supply. Previously, we reported that the transcription factor WRKY6 modulates Pi homeostasis by downregulating PHOSPHATE1 (PHO1) expression and that WRKY6 is degraded during Pi starvation in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the molecular mechanism underlying low-Pi-induced WRKY6 degradation was unknown. Here, we report that a ubiquitin E3 ligase, PHOSPHATE RESPONSE UBIQUITIN E3 LIGASE1 (PRU1), modulates WRKY6 protein levels in response to low-Pi stress. A pru1 mutant was more sensitive than the wild type to Pi-deficient conditions, exhibiting a reduced Pi contents in the shoot, similar to the pho1-2 mutant and WRKY6-overexpressing line. PRU1 interacted with WRKY6 in vitro and in vivo. Under low-Pi stress, the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of WRKY6, as well as the consequential enhancement of PHO1 expression, were impaired in pru1. PRU1 complementation lines displayed no obvious differences compared with wild-type plants. Further genetic analysis showed that disruption of WRKY6 abolished the low-Pi sensitivity of pru1, indicating that WRKY6 functioned downstream of PRU1. Taken together, this study uncovers a mechanism by which PRU1 modulates Pi homeostasis, through regulating the abundance of WRKY6 in response to low-Pi stress in Arabidopsis.
Taking family planning services to hard-to-reach populations.

Interviews were conducted in 1995 among 100 US family planning program personnel who serve hard-to-reach populations such as drug abusers prisoners the disabled homeless persons and non-English speaking minorities. Findings indicate that a range of services is available for hard-to-reach groups. Most family planning agencies focus on drug abusers because of the severity of HIV infections and the availability of funding. This article describes the activities of various agencies in Michigan Pennsylvania and Massachusetts that serve substance abuse centers with family planning services. One recommendation for a service provider is to present services in an environment where it is safe to talk about a persons needs. One other program offered personal greetings upon arrival and the continuity of having a familiar face to oversee all reproductive and health needs. Programs for prisoners ranged from basic sex education classes to comprehensive reproductive health care. Some prisons offered individual counseling. Some programs were presented in juvenile offender facilities. Outreach to the homeless involved services at homeless shelters outreach workers who recruited women into traditional family planning clinics and establishment of nontraditional sites for the homeless and other hard-to-reach persons. One providers suggestion was to offer services where high-risk women already go for other services. Most services to the disabled target the developmentally disabled rather than the physically disabled. Experience has shown that many professionals working with the disabled do not recognize their clients sexual needs. Other hard-to-reach groups include women in housing projects and shelters for battered women welfare applicants and sex workers. Key to service provision is creating trust overcoming language and cultural differences and subsidizing the cost of care.
Actin Cytoskeleton in Growth Cones, Nerve Terminals, and Dendritic Spines

Filamentous actin is thought to play key roles in both the organization and the function of a diverse set of neuronal structures. During early brain development, actin is concentrated in growth cones located at the tips of growing neurites. The organization and control of actin dynamics within growth cones are thought to play key roles in neuronal migration and axonal pathfinding. At a later stage of development, filamentous actin is highly enriched in dendritic spines, controlling their shape and stability. At the same time, in nerve terminals, a smaller amount of actin is mainly concentrated around synaptic vesicles, playing primarily a scaffolding role in mammalian central synapses.
Chapter 4 Neuronal Substrate for Volitional Movement

Summary The act of reaching toward and grasping an object is perhaps one of the best examples of volitional movement. Although the control of this movement is poorly understood, the motor cortex has been considered essential in this regard. While neuroanatomical studies suggest which structures may be involved in producing volitional movement, they cannot describe their functional organization. Only recently have neuronal studies been combined with behavioral paradigms to examine the control of this movement. I will review some historical studies of volitional movement and compare these to recent neurophysiological studies of more natural movements which have shown that characteristics of volitional action may be encoded throughout a large portion of the CNS and not restricted to discrete structures.
Data Mining on Facebook: A Free Space for Researchers or an IRB Nightmare?

Social networking sites like Facebook are yielding much more than the opportunity to connect with friends, view and post photographs, or show support for a particular organization or cause. Researchers are currently using social networking sites like Facebook to gather data that will yield information about people’s political views, social interactions, or even their views on privacy, a practice referred to as data mining, often without the knowledge of the Facebook users from whom they are collecting data. A number of university Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) have recently adopted policies and procedures governing online research, particularly data mining on social networking sites. Federal regulations that have their basis in ethical standards governing research require IRB review for research that involves human subjects, but whether data mining on Facebook constitutes research with human subjects is questionable. If data mining on Facebook involves an interaction between the researcher and the Facebook user, or if the researcher is collecting identifiable, private information about Facebook users, this type of research involves human subjects, and the federal regulations mandate IRB review. Researchers and universities would therefore have both an ethical and a legal obligation to ensure that subjects whose online profiles are mined for data are adequately protected from harm. If IRB review is not required, it is unnecessary and inefficient to burden researchers and IRBs with preparation and review of an IRB application for research involving data mining on Facebook. This article argues that data mining on Facebook does not constitute research with human subjects, but contends that if the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Human Research Protections determines that this type of research involves human subjects, it should either undergo expedited review or be deemed exempt. It discusses the benefits that both researchers and IRBs will reap if data mining on Facebook does not involve human subjects, as well as the consequences that researchers and IRBs face if the research requires IRB review and no such review is conducted. However, unless and until the Department of Health and Human Services issues guidance addressing or specific regulations governing Internet research, whether data.
Phosphate-stimulated breakdown of 5'-methylthioadenosine by rat ventral prostate.

A soluble enzyme preparation catalysing the release of adenine from 5′-methylthioadenosine was purified some 30-fold from extracts of the rat ventral prostate. This reaction was completely dependent on addition of inorganic phosphate ions to the assay medium. This absolute requirement for phosphate ions suggests a phosphorolytic cleavage mechanism. After acid treatment, the other product of the reaction appeared to be 5-methylthioribose. The actions of some other well-characterized enzymes of nucleoside metabolism of 5′-methylthioadenosine were also investigated; purified purine nucleoside phosphorylases from calf spleen and human erythrocytes did not attack 5′-methylthioadenosine. The role of 5′-methylthioadenosine in mammalian tissues is discussed.
The dead Syrian refugee boy goes viral: funerary Aylan Kurdi memes as tools of mourning and visual reparation in remix culture:

The picture of 3-year-old Syrian refugee Aylan Kurdi, whose dead body washed up on a Turkish beach in September 2015, was lauded as iconic after it went viral. Within hours, Aylan was a symbol, a h...
Quality of Life and Symptom Burden 1 Month After Concussion in Children and Adolescents

We conducted a prospective study of children and adolescents (n = 176; mean age = 13.0 ±2.7 years; 38% female) assessed acutely post-concussion and again 30 days later. We investigated the association between symptom burden and quality of life (QOL) outcomes, as well as the effect of age on QOL. We assessed QOL using patient-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0, and symptoms using the Health and Behavior Inventory (HBI). Acute (<2 days post-injury) HBI ratings demonstrated a low correlation ( R2 = 0.08) with physical health QOL and a moderate correlation with psychosocial health QOL ( R2 = 0.21) 30 days post-concussion. HBI ratings 30 days post-concussion demonstrated a moderately high correlation with physical health QOL ( R2 = 0.35) and psychosocial health QOL ( R2 = 0.57). Age was not significantly associated with physical or psychosocial QOL ratings. Impairments in QOL following concussion may identify children and adolescents who need additional referral to address persistent symptoms at this time.
Modeling of Ion Thruster Plume and Backflow Using Pic-Dsmc Approach With Multiple Gpus.

Ion thruster plumes, consisting of neutrals, ions, and electrons, interact with the spacecraft surface and the solar panels in the backflow region, affecting their performance 1. Therefore, an understanding of the plume characteristics, the charge-exchange reactions, and ion energy distribution in the backflow region plays an important role in the design of such thrusters and the location of hollow cathodes. We implement a three dimensional PIC-DSMC approach to model the electric field induced by the charged particles as well as to model the momentum-and the charge-exchange collisions 2 between the neutrals and the ions. To model the plume expansion efficiently, we construct a forest of linearized octrees such that the leaf nodes, analogous to grid cells, satisfy the local mean free path criteria for the DSMC collisions and the local Debye length criteria for the electric field computations. To ensure that the flow-field gradients are captured accurately, a 2:1 balance criteria is imposed where the maximum level difference between a leaf node and its face neighbors is one. The leaf nodes of the forest of trees are finally distributed to multiple GPUs, which iteratively solves the Poisson equation to obtain the electric potential and the electric field. Finally, the charged particles are accelerated by the electric field to generate a new charge distribution and a new potential.
Tensegrity topology optimization by force maximization on arbitrary ground structures

This paper presents an optimization approach for design of tensegrity structures based on graph theory. The formulation obtains tensegrities from ground structures, through force maximization using mixed integer linear programming. The method seeks a topology of the tensegrity that is within a given geometry, which provides insight into the tensegrity design from a geometric point of view. Although not explicitly enforced, the tensegrities obtained using this approach tend to be both stable and symmetric. Borrowing ideas from computer graphics, we allow “restriction zones” (i.e., passive regions in which no geometric entity should intersect) to be specified in the underlying ground structure. Such feature allows the design of tensegrities for actual engineering applications, such as robotics, in which the volume of the payload needs to be protected. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed design method, we show that it is effective at extracting both well-known tensegrities and new tensegrities from the ground structure network, some of which are prototyped with the aid of additive manufacturing.
Advanced High‐Voltage Aqueous Lithium‐Ion Battery Enabled by “Water‐in‐Bisalt” Electrolyte.

A 21 molal aqueous LiN(Tf)2 (corresponding to a stoichiometric compound of LiN(Tf)2(H2O)2.6) mixed with 7 molal LiOTf is used as super-concentrated electrolyte (cation to H2O ratio of 1:2) in a standard Li-ion coin cell based on LiMn2O4 and C-coated TiO2.
?-Alkyl-?-aminosilanes: Synthesis via Alkylation and Hydrosilylation

The readily available aminomethylsilanes can be utilized to prepare the less available α-alkyl-α-aminosilanes. Versatile t-butoxy-carbonal (Boc) derivatives can be metalated between nitrogen and silicon, and then alkylated by an electrophile at this position. Two alternative procedures were also developed, including an aza-reverse-Brook rearrangement of metalated N-silylcarbamates and hydrosilylation of N-alkenylcarbamates. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinician Strategies to Improve the Care of Patients Using Supplemental Oxygen.

This article reviews four key clinician strategies to improve the care of adult patients receiving supplemental oxygen in the outpatient setting in the United States. The current barriers to adequate oxygen services are substantial and complex and include decreased reimbursement to durable medical equipment (DME) companies; a substantially lower number of available DME suppliers; difficult communication with DME suppliers; rigid patient testing, prescription, and documentation requirements; and unclear patient benefit and adherence. Recent data documenting frequent and varied problems reflect the significant impact of supplemental oxygen therapy on patients and caregivers. Areas where clinicians can improve patient oxygen experiences are highlighted in this review and include understanding Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services oxygen prescription requirements, matching oxygen equipment to patient needs, providing essential patient education, and understanding mechanisms for patients and clinicians to report unresolved oxygen problems.
The Politics of Authoritarian Rule

What drives politics in dictatorships? Milan W. Svolik argues authoritarian regimes must resolve two fundamental conflicts. Dictators face threats from the masses over which they rule - the problem of authoritarian control. Secondly from the elites with whom dictators rule - the problem of authoritarian power-sharing. Using the tools of game theory, Svolik explains why some dictators establish personal autocracy and stay in power for decades; why elsewhere leadership changes are regular and institutionalized, as in contemporary China; why some dictatorships are ruled by soldiers, as Uganda was under Idi Amin; why many authoritarian regimes, such as PRI-era Mexico, maintain regime-sanctioned political parties; and why a country's authoritarian past casts a long shadow over its prospects for democracy, as the unfolding events of the Arab Spring reveal. Svolik complements these and other historical case studies with the statistical analysis on institutions, leaders and ruling coalitions across dictatorships from 1946 to 2008.
The PI3K–AKT network at the interface of oncogenic signalling and cancer metabolism

The altered metabolic programme of cancer cells facilitates their cell-autonomous proliferation and survival. In normal cells, signal transduction pathways control core cellular functions, including metabolism, to couple the signals from exogenous growth factors, cytokines or hormones to adaptive changes in cell physiology. The ubiquitous, growth factor-regulated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT signalling network has diverse downstream effects on cellular metabolism, through either direct regulation of nutrient transporters and metabolic enzymes or the control of transcription factors that regulate the expression of key components of metabolic pathways. Aberrant activation of this signalling network is one of the most frequent events in human cancer and serves to disconnect the control of cell growth, survival and metabolism from exogenous growth stimuli. Here we discuss our current understanding of the molecular events controlling cellular metabolism downstream of PI3K and AKT and of how these events couple two major hallmarks of cancer: growth factor independence through oncogenic signalling and metabolic reprogramming to support cell survival and proliferation.