cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical profile of Intermediate Syndrome following Organophosphate Poisoning

Background: Organophosphate (OP) poisoning is a global issue, causing over 200,000 deaths annually especially in developing countries, such as Sri Lanka and India. Clinical presentation of a typical OP poisoning may follow three well-defined phases. The initial phase is an acute cholinergic crisis, after that Intermediate Syndrome (IMS) may develop within 24-96 hours, and lastly, Organophosphate-Induced Delayed Polyneuropathy (OPIDPN) may present after 2-3 weeks. The signs and symptoms of the IMS are weakness of the respiratory muscles, including the diaphragm, intercostal, accessory, neck, and proximal limbs muscles. The aim of this study was to highlight the clinical profile of the IMS following organophosphate poisoning. Methods: This descriptive, prospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted at the Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, over a period of 6 months from March 1, 2017 to August 31, 2017. Results: Of the total 65 enrolled patients, 60% (n=39) were male. All patients ingested OP pesticide for deliberate self-harm and all of them had some degrees of initial cholinergic crises. The prevalence of IMS in the studied patients was 5.88%. All 5 patients with IMS had neck, facial and proximal limbs muscle weakness from whom, two cases (40%) had extra-ocular muscle paralysis. There was no in-hospital fatality among IMS patients. Conclusion: IMS is a rare and life-threatening problem in OP intoxication. Early diagnosis and intensive care management can prevent further complications and mortality. Prevalence of IMS in this study was lower than previous reports with almost similar clinical features.
Structure, Magnetism, and Multi-electron Reduction Reactivity of the Inverse Sandwich Reduced Arene La2+ Complex [{[C5H3(SiMe3)2]2La}2(μ-η6:η6-C6H6)]1–

The magnetic properties and multi-electron reductive reactivity of the bimetallic inverse sandwich La2+ complex salt, [K(18-crown-6)(THF)2][(Cp″2La)2(μ-η6:η6-C6H6)]·THF, 1 (Cp′′ = C5H3(SiMe3)2), originally described by Lappert et al., have been examined. The compound was prepared by reduction of Cp″3La with potassium metal in benzene and crystallographically characterized. Compound 1 can be described as containing two 5d1 La(II) ions bridged by a planar (C6H6)1– benzenide bridged radical monoanion, with fits to its variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data revealing strong antiferromagnetic exchange coupling, with JLa–C6H6 > |−400 cm–1|. The multi-electron reduction reactivity of 1 was explored in reactions with anthracene, naphthalene, and cyclooctatetraene. Compound 1 reduces anthracene to give Cp″2La(μ-η6:η6-C14H10)K(18-crown-6), 2, which contains a nonplanar anthracenide dianion with an end ring interacting with La(III) and the central ring interacting with potassium. The reaction of 1 with na...
The structures of penicillin binding protein 4 (PBP4) and PBP5 from Enterococci provide structural insights into beta-lactam resistance.

The final steps of cell-wall biosynthesis in bacteria are carried out by penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), whose transpeptidase domains form the cross-links in peptidoglycan chains that define the bacterial cell wall. These enzymes are the targets of β-lactam antibiotics, as their inhibition reduces the structural integrity of the cell wall. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a rapidly growing concern; however, the structural underpinnings of PBP-derived antibiotic resistance are poorly understood. PBP4 and PBP5 are low-affinity, class B transpeptidases that confer antibiotic resistance to Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium, respectively. Here, we report the crystal structures of PBP4 (1.8 A) and PBP5 (2.7 A) in their apo and acyl-enzyme complexes with the β-lactams benzylpenicillin, imipenem, and ceftaroline. We found that, although these three β-lactams adopt geometries similar to those observed in other class B PBP structures, there are small, but significant, differences that likely decrease antibiotic efficacy. Further, we also discovered that the N-terminal domain extensions in this class of PBPs undergo large rigid-body rotations without impacting the structure of the catalytic transpeptidase domain. Together, our findings are defining the subtle functional and structural differences in the Enterococcus PBPs that allow them to support transpeptidase activity while also conferring bacterial resistance to antibiotics that function as substrate mimics.
FGF acts as a co-transmitter through adenosine A 2A receptor to regulate synaptic plasticity

Abnormalities of striatal function have been implicated in several major neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and depression. Adenosine, via activation of A(2A) receptors, antagonizes dopamine signaling at D2 receptors and A(2A) receptor antagonists have been tested as therapeutic agents for Parkinson's disease. We found a direct physical interaction between the G protein-coupled A(2A) receptor (A(2A)R) and the receptor tyrosine kinase fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR). Concomitant activation of these two classes of receptors, but not individual activation of either one alone, caused a robust activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway, differentiation and neurite extension of PC12 cells, spine morphogenesis in primary neuronal cultures, and cortico-striatal plasticity that was induced by a previously unknown A(2A)R/FGFR-dependent mechanism. The discovery of a direct physical interaction between the A(2A) and FGF receptors and the robust physiological consequences of this association shed light on the mechanism underlying FGF functions as a co-transmitter and open new avenues for therapeutic interventions.
Position Paper: A Theoretical Framework for General Cognition Evaluation of Cognitive Radios

Cognitive radio network (CRN) has been considered as the most promising solution for an efficient usage of wireless communication spectrum resource as the pervasive utility of Internet of Things (IoT) and other smart mobile devices. Such cognitive capabilities collectively define the intelligence of CRNs. While the capability of cognition and the intelligence are vital for CRNs, the quantitative study is largely an open area. Because of the structural complexity and the nature of multidisciplinary, there is not a theoretically reasonable method to evaluate the “effectiveness” and “intelligence” of cognitive radio models. In contrast, the human intelligence quotient (IQ) test provides a straightforward quantitative description of a person’s capability in conducting certain types of tasks like logical thinking. Inspired by the well-known Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory for human cognitive ability evaluation, in this paper a theoretical framework is proposed trying to apply the CHC model on cognitive radios. What this paper reports is the preliminary effort to lay down a theoretical framework for general cognition evaluation of cognitive radio or CRNs. By sharing the early stage conceptual idea with the colleagues in the smart cities community, we hope it will inspire more insightful discussions to accelerate the research in this important area.
Application of Activity Modeling to a ‘Dirt to Shirt’ Supply Chain

The paper models and evaluates the activities and processes in an agricultural supply chain in the southeastern US. The study utilizes Engestrom’s Activity Theory to model the planting, harvesting, transportation and ginning activities in a ‘Dirt to Shirt’ cotton supply chain to gain a better understanding of the material flows, information flows and interaction and collaboration between the supply chain partners. The models are used to analyze the supply chain activities and to pinpoint areas for improvement within the supply chain processes.
V2G for Reliable Microgrid Operations: Voltage/Frequency Regulation with Virtual Inertia Emulation

In this paper, we propose a stable electrical grid model, in which a home with a Photo-Voltaic (PV) system and Vehicle to Grid (V2G) capable Electric Vehicle (EV) can operate in both grid-connected and islanded modes. The model is used for studying load transients, power-sharing, and fault analysis. The implemented control system overcomes challenging situations such as load changing and transient conditions by managing the power of the battery and PV and regulating the voltage and frequency in the islanded mode. The Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is modified to include a feature for limiting the power in case of islanded mode and fully charged EV battery. Furthermore, the droop control and virtual inertia is utilized in a unified control manner. The model is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink and deployed to a real-time simulation by using an OPAL-RT simulator to validate the feasibility of the proposed model. The results for the real-time simulations are presented, showing the capabilities for voltage and frequency regulation of the controller, in load variations and fault condition.
Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Comparison Based on Surgical Approaches.

Abstract Background Comparisons of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) based on surgical approach for total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the United States are limited to series from single surgeons or institutions. Using prospective data from a large, multicenter study, we compare preoperative to postoperative changes in PROs between posterior, transgluteal, and anterior surgical approaches to THA. Methods Patient-reported function, global health, and pain were systematically collected preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively from patients undergoing primary THA at 26 sites participating in the Comparative Effectiveness of Pulmonary Embolism Prevention After Hip and Knee Replacement (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02810704). Outcomes consisted of the brief Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Health score, and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Operative approaches were grouped by surgical plane relative to the abductor musculature as being either anterior, transgluteal, or posterior. Results Between 12/12/2016 and 08/31/2019, outcomes from 3018 eligible participants were examined. At 1 month, the transgluteal cohort had a 2.2-point lower improvement in Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (95% confidence interval, 0.40-4.06; P = .017) and a 1.3-point lower improvement in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Health score (95% confidence interval, 0.48-2.04; P = .002) compared to posterior approaches. There was no significant difference in improvement between anterior and posterior approaches. At 3 and 6 months, no clinically significant differences in PRO improvement were observed between groups. Conclusion PROs 6 months following THA dramatically improved regardless of the plane of surgical approach, suggesting that choice of surgical approach can be left to the discretion of surgeons and patients without fear of differential early outcomes.
IL-12 Blocks Tfh Cell Differentiation during Salmonella Infection, thereby Contributing to Germinal Center Suppression

Germinal centers (GC) are crucial for the formation of long-lived humoral immunity. Many pathogens suppress GC, including Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm), but the mechanisms driving suppression remain unknown. We report that neither plasmablasts nor STm-specific B cells are required for GC suppression in mice. Rather, we identify that interleukin-12 (IL-12), but not interferon-γ (IFN-γ), directly suppresses T follicular helper (Tfh) cell differentiation of T cells intrinsically. Administering recombinant IL-12 during nitrophenyl-Chicken Gamma Globulin (NP-CGG) immunization also suppresses Tfh cell differentiation and GC B cells, indicating that IL-12 is sufficient to suppress Tfh cell differentiation independent of STm infection. Recombinant IL-12 induces high levels of T-bet, and T-bet is necessary for Tfh cell suppression. Therefore, IL-12 induced during STm infection in mice contributes to GC suppression via suppression of Tfh cell differentiation. More broadly, these data suggest that IL-12 can tailor the proportions of humoral (Tfh cell) and cellular (T helper type 1 [Th1] cell) immunity to the infection, with implications for IL-12 targeting therapies in autoimmunity and vaccination.
Investigating Inequality in the US School System through Ibn Khaldun’s Political Wisdom and the Concept of Asabiyah

AbstractMuch of the conversation about inequality in education and society problematizes poor and minority populations, rather than tackling systemic issues. It helps to address these issues throug...
PhenX: Vector measures for tobacco regulatory research.

The current paper describes the PhenX (Phenotypes and eXposures) Toolkit Tobacco Regulatory Research Agent specialty area and the Agent Working Group's (WG's) 6-month consensus process to identify high-priority, scientifically supported measures for cross-study comparison and analysis. Eleven measures were selected for inclusion in the Toolkit. Eight of these are interviewer-administered or self-administered protocols: history of switching to lower tar and nicotine cigarettes, passive exposures to tobacco products, tobacco brand and variety (covering cigars, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco separately), tobacco product adulteration (vent-blocking or filter-blocking) and tobacco warning label exposure and recall. The remaining three protocols are either laboratory-based or visual inspection-based: measurement of nicotine content in smoked or smokeless tobacco products and the physical properties of these two classes of products. Supplemental protocols include a biomarker of exposure and smoking topography. The WG identified the lack of standard measurement protocols to assess subjective ratings of tobacco product flavours and their appeal to consumers as a major gap. As the characteristics of tobacco products that influence perception and use are tobacco regulatory research priorities, the reliable assessment of flavours remains an area requiring further development.
‘Measured by two yardsticks’: women in bank management training, 1960s to 1990s

In the 1960s and 1970s, the United States government ordered corporations to remedy sex discrimination by increasing the number of women working in male-dominated job categories. This article trace...
Identification of a Covalent Molecular Inhibitor of Anti-apoptotic BFL-1 by Disulfide Tethering.

Summary The BCL-2 family is composed of anti- and pro-apoptotic members that respectively protect or disrupt mitochondrial integrity. Anti-apoptotic overexpression can promote oncogenesis by trapping the BCL-2 homology 3 (BH3) “killer domains” of pro-apoptotic proteins in a surface groove, blocking apoptosis. Groove inhibitors, such as the relatively large BCL-2 drug venetoclax (868 Da), have emerged as cancer therapies. BFL-1 remains an undrugged oncogenic protein and can cause venetoclax resistance. Having identified a unique C55 residue in the BFL-1 groove, we performed a disulfide tethering screen to determine if C55 reactivity could enable smaller molecules to block BFL-1's BH3-binding functionality. We found that a disulfide-bearing N-acetyltryptophan analog (304 Da adduct) effectively targeted BFL-1 C55 and reversed BFL-1-mediated suppression of mitochondrial apoptosis. Structural analyses implicated the conserved leucine-binding pocket of BFL-1 as the interaction site, resulting in conformational remodeling. Thus, therapeutic targeting of BFL-1 may be achievable through the design of small, cysteine-reactive drugs.
A pore-scale experimental study of non-aqueous foam for improving hydrocarbon miscible flooding

Abstract Mobility control in hydrocarbon miscible flooding is crucial for commercial vitality where severe reservoir heterogeneity causes poor sweep efficiency. This study introduced a new concept of non-aqueous foam-assisted hydrocarbon miscible flooding in water-sensitive oil formations. This process involves the injection of a non-condensable gas (i.e., nitrogen or methane) and a raw mixture of NGLs (MNGLs) with a foaming additive to improve displacement and sweep efficiency. Foaming a light hydrocarbon liquid and the impact of non-aqueous foam on miscible displacement are the main focuses of this study. n-Pentane was used as a MNGLs (solvent) model for foam stability tests. Transient foam propagation and rheology were directly visualized and characterized based on the apparent gas (nitrogen) viscosity associated with foam texture and fluid saturations. Oil recovery factors were directly related to different degrees of in-situ foaming. For the injection of a solvent slug followed by a gas drive, the displacement of oil became unstable as nitrogen fingered through the solvent-oil mixing zone, resulting in a high residual liquid saturation. However, gas fingering was significantly hindered as the solvent was injected with a foaming agent. Dynamic fluid distribution indicate that the improved oil recovery could be attributed to the propagation of foam in the swept zone, which provided essential flow resistance for better displacement stability. To investigate the effect of initial gas saturation in the reservoir on flow behavior, a slug of gas was injected before solvent injection. Delayed solvent breakthrough and better sweep efficiency were observed in the presence of foam due to the reduced liquid phase mobility in preferential flow paths and the diversion of solvent into small pores by the trapped gas at the displacing front. Furthermore, it was possible to obtain stable foam flow with an apparent viscosity of 20 times greater than the solvent viscosity.
Interactions of multiple rhythms in a biophysical network of neurons

Neural oscillations, including rhythms in the beta1 band (12–20 Hz), are important in various cognitive functions. Often neural networks receive rhythmic input at frequencies different from their natural frequency, but very little is known about how such input affects the network’s behavior. We use a simplified, yet biophysical, model of a beta1 rhythm that occurs in the parietal cortex, in order to study its response to oscillatory inputs. We demonstrate that a cell has the ability to respond at the same time to two periodic stimuli of unrelated frequencies, firing in phase with one, but with a mean firing rate equal to that of the other. We show that this is a very general phenomenon, independent of the model used. We next show numerically that the behavior of a different cell, which is modeled as a high-dimensional dynamical system, can be described in a surprisingly simple way, owing to a reset that occurs in the state space when the cell fires. The interaction of the two cells leads to novel combinations of properties for neural dynamics, such as mode-locking to an input without phase-locking to it.
Targeting Fat Oxidation in Mouse Prostate Cancer Decreases Tumor Growth and Stimulates Anti-Cancer Immunity.

Lipid catabolism represents an Achilles heel in prostate cancer (PCa) that can be exploited for therapy. CPT1A regulates the entry of fatty acids into the mitochondria for beta-oxidation and its inhibition has been shown to decrease PCa growth. In this study, we examined the pharmacological blockade of lipid oxidation with ranolazine in TRAMPC1 PCa models. Oral administration of ranolazine (100 mg/Kg for 21 days) resulted in decreased tumor CD8+ T-cells Tim3 content, increased macrophages, and decreased blood myeloid immunosuppressive monocytes. Using multispectral staining, drug treatments increased infiltration of CD8+ T-cells and dendritic cells compared to vehicle. Functional studies with spleen cells of drug-treated tumors co-cultured with TRAMPC1 cells showed increased ex vivo T-cell cytotoxic activity, suggesting an anti-tumoral response. Lastly, a decrease in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells expressing PD1 was observed when exhausted spleen cells were incubated with TRAMPC1 Cpt1a-KD compared to the control cells. These data indicated that genetically blocking the ability of the tumor cells to oxidize lipid can change the activation status of the neighboring T-cells. This study provides new knowledge of the role of lipid catabolism in the intercommunication of tumor and immune cells, which can be extrapolated to other cancers with high CPT1A expression.
2019 Supplement to Stephen H. Legomsky & David B. Thronson, Immigration and Refugee Law and Policy (7th ed. 2019)

This Supplement covers developments since the publication of the seventh edition of Immigration and Refugee Law and Policy in January 2019. It includes, in part: • Nielsen v. Preap and mandatory detention; • New regulations on public charge grounds of inadmissibility; • DACA updates; • Continued use of Attorney General decision to curtail procedures and limit rights in the removal process, including Matter of M-S- on bond hearings and Matter of E-F-H-L- on the right to full evidentiary hearings; • Updates on family separation policies and litigation; • Ryan v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and courthouse arrests; • Matter of L-E-A- and family as a particular social group; • Migration Protection Protocols/Remain in Mexico; • Bars to asylum based on passage through third countries and the Guatemalan agreement; • Sanctuary/Anti-sanctuary developments; • Department of Commerce v. New York on the inclusion of a citizenship question in the census.
From natural resource boom to sustainable economic growth: Lessons from Mongolia

Abstract Many resource-rich developing countries are in the process of harnessing immense mining resources towards inclusive growth and prosperity. The often-large infrastructure gap in developing countries calls for public investment to unlock the long-term growth potential. This paper utilizes a structural model-based approach to analyze the macroeconomic impacts of different public investment strategies on key fiscal and growth variables. We apply the model to one of the resource-rich developing countries -- Mongolia. We find that, although scaling up public investment could provide a boost to growth, too rapid fiscal outlays will push the economy to its limit of absorptive capacity and increase macroeconomic vulnerabilities. Prudent fiscal policy, particularly moderating infrastructure investment and optimizing investment efficiency, is essential to maintain economic stability, as well as to boost the long-term sustainable growth for developing countries like Mongolia.
Signaling amplitude molds the Ras mutation tropism of urethane

Abstract RAS genes are commonly mutated in cancers yet despite many possible mutations, cancers have a ‘tropism’ towards a specific subset. As driver mutations, these patterns ostensibly originate from normal cells. High oncogenic RAS activity causes oncogenic stress and different oncogenic mutations can impart different levels of activity. Here we show that changing rare codons to common in the murine Kras gene to increase translation shifts tumors induced by the carcinogen urethane from arising from canonical Q61 to biochemically less active G12Kras driver mutations, despite the carcinogen still being biased towards generating Q61 mutations. Loss of p53 to blunt oncogenic stress partially reversed this effect, restoring Q61 mutations. Finally, transcriptional analysis revealed similar signaling amongst tumors driven by different mutations and Kras alleles. These finding suggest that the RAS mutation tropism of urethane is largely product of selection in normal cells for mutations promoting proliferation without causing oncogenic stress. Impact statement The bias towards specific Kras driver mutations during urethane carcinogenesis appears to arise predominantly from the selection of a narrow window of oncogenic signaling in normal cells.
Estimating cycle-level real-time traffic movements at signalized intersections

Real-time traffic movements at intersections is vital for transportation and traffic engineering. It helps in providing intersection traffic data and optimizing signal control plans. This study att...
Nuclear Factor-kappa B

The Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) represents a family of transcription factors that controls a variety of processes related to immunity and development. This family of transcription factors is conserved from insects to humans. Five different proteins, encoded by five different genes, of this family are present in mammals and three related proteins are present in Drosophila. These factors act downstream of many receptors that receive signals from cytokines, microorganisms, and developmental cues. Receptor activation leads to modification of downstream signaling components, and degradation of the cytoplasmic inhibitors that normally act to retain NF-κB proteins in the cytoplasm. Once the NF-κB proteins are freed from the inhibitor complex, they enter the nucleus to regulate gene expression by binding to target κB sites present on many promoters. Misregulation of the NF-κB family of proteins can cause severe developmental defects, inflammatory diseases, and cancers.
The Death Wish in the Hebrew Bible: Rhetorical Strategies for Survival

This is the first book to systematically investigate the texts in the Hebrew Bible in which a character expresses a wish to die. Contrary to previous scholarship on these texts that assumed these death wishes were simply a desire to escape suffering, Hanne Loland Levinson employs narrative criticism and conversation analysis, together with diachronic methods, to carefully hear each death-wish text in its literary context. She demonstrates that death wishes embody powerful, multi-faceted rhetorical strategies. Grouping the death-wish texts into four main rhetorical strategies of negotiation, expression of despair and anger, longing to undo one's existence, and wishing for a different reality, Loland Levinson portrays the complex reasons why characters in the Hebrew Bible wish for death. She concludes that the death wishes navigate the tension between longing for death and fighting for survival - a tension that many live with also today as they attempt to claim agency and autonomy in life.
Untargeted metabolomics profiles of newborn dried blood spots and pediatric acute myeloid leukemia: a pilot study

Background: Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer. Compared to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which makes up 80% of pediatric leukemia cases, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is rarer and has low...
Population genetic structure of the broadcast spawning coral, Montastraea cavernosa, demonstrates refugia potential of upper mesophotic populations in the Florida Keys

In the Florida Keys, coral cover on shallow reef systems (0–30 m) has declined over the past several decades, punctuated by severe losses during coral disease outbreaks and bleaching events. However, certain areas within the Florida Keys, especially the Dry Tortugas and many upper mesophotic habitats (30–60 m), have maintained relatively healthy coral communities, even in the face of recent severe and widespread coral disease outbreaks. Relatively little is known about the genetic connectivity of corals among these sites or the potential for mesophotic sites to act as refugia by contributing to metapopulation recovery and persistence. Using a paired shallow and upper mesophotic sampling design, we assessed the genetic connectivity of a dominant, broadcast spawning coral species, Montastraea cavernosa, across the Northern and Southern Dry Tortugas, Lower Florida Keys, and Upper Florida Keys. A genetic dataset based on a suite of > 9000 single-nucleotide polymorphism loci indicated that the level of vertical genetic connectivity between paired shallow and upper mesophotic populations varied significantly based on location. Shallow and upper mesophotic M. cavernosa populations in the Northern Dry Tortugas and the Upper Keys were genetically similar. In contrast, populations were significantly differentiated across depth in the Lower Keys and Southern Dry Tortugas. While upper mesophotic populations in the Lower Keys and Southern Dry Tortugas were distinct from their shallow counterparts, there was evidence of relatively high levels of genetic connectivity to both the shallow and upper mesophotic populations downstream in the Upper Keys. These results suggest that while vertical connectivity between paired shallow and mesophotic populations can vary, certain upper mesophotic populations may fill an important role in maintaining coral metapopulations throughout the Florida Keys and should be considered in future management strategies.
Peptidergic modulation of fear responses by the Edinger-Westphal nucleus

Abstract Many neuronal populations that release fast-acting excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain also contain slower acting neuropeptides. These facultative peptidergic cell types are common, but it remains uncertain whether obligate peptidergic neurons exist. Our fluorescence in situ hybridization, genetically-targeted electron microscopy, and electrophysiological characterization data strongly suggest that neurons of the non-cholinergic, centrally-projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus in mice are fundamentally obligately peptidergic. We further show, using fiber photometry, monosynaptic retrograde tracing, anterograde projection mapping, and a battery of behavioral assays, that this peptidergic population both promotes fear responses and analgesia and activates in response to loss of motor control and pain. Together, these findings elucidate an integrative, ethologically relevant function for the Edinger-Westphal nucleus and functionally align the nucleus with the periaqueductal gray, where it resides. This work advances our understanding of the peptidergic modulation of fear and provides a framework for future investigations of putative obligate peptidergic systems.
Colloid transport in saturated porous media: Elimination of attachment efficiency in a new colloid transport model

[1] A colloid transport model is introduced that is conceptually simple yet captures the essential features of colloid transport and retention in saturated porous media when colloid retention is dominated by the secondary minimum because an electrostatic barrier inhibits substantial deposition in the primary minimum. This model is based on conventional colloid filtration theory (CFT) but eliminates the empirical concept of attachment efficiency. The colloid deposition rate is computed directly from CFT by assuming all predicted interceptions of colloids by collectors result in at least temporary deposition in the secondary minimum. Also, a new paradigm for colloid re-entrainment based on colloid population heterogeneity is introduced. To accomplish this, the initial colloid population is divided into two fractions. One fraction, by virtue of physiochemical characteristics (e.g., size and charge), will always be re-entrained after capture in a secondary minimum. The remaining fraction of colloids, again as a result of physiochemical characteristics, will be retained ‘‘irreversibly’’ when captured by a secondary minimum. Assuming the dispersion coefficient can be estimated from tracer behavior, this model has only two fitting parameters : (1) the fraction of the initial colloid population that will be retained ‘‘irreversibly’’ upon interception by a secondary minimum, and (2) the rate at which reversibly retained colloids leave the secondary minimum. These two parameters were correlated to the depth of the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) secondary energy minimum and pore-water velocity, two physical forces that influence colloid transport. Given this correlation, the model serves as a heuristic tool for exploring the influence of physical parameters such as surface potential and fluid velocity on colloid transport.
Purification and properties of a tropomyosin-containing protein fraction that sensitizes reconstituted actomyosin to calcium-binding agents.

Abstract A protein fraction that confers 1,2-bis-(2-dicarboxymethylaminoethoxy)ethane (EGTA) sensitivity on reconstituted actomyosin made with highly purified actin and myosin has been prepared from actin extracted from the acetone-dried muscle powder at 25–37°. This protein fraction had effects upon reconstituted actomyosin that, in the absence of Ca++-binding agents, resembled those of tropomyosin made by classical methods in that the Mg++-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity was inhibited during the clearing phase and enhanced after superprecipitation. Unlike tropomyosin made by classical methods, this protein fraction potentiated an inhibitory action of EGTA upon the Mg++-activated ATPase activity of reconstituted actomyosin. In the presence of Mg++ and the protein fraction, EGTA appeared to prevent activation of myosin ATPase by actin. The EGTA-sensitizing protein fraction, which sedimented as a single symmetrical peak in the ultracentrifuge, had a sedimentation coefficient of 2.66 S, a value similar to that of tropomyosin. The dependence of specific viscosity upon ionic strength was similar for both. However, the intrinsic viscosity of the protein fraction was less than that of tropomyosin, and amino acid analyses revealed several significant differences between the two. The relatively high contents of proline and phenylalanine found in the EGTA-sensitizing protein fraction indicate that a previously undescribed protein was present in addition to tropomyosin. It is possible that this additional protein material was responsible for sensitization of actomyosin to Ca++-binding agents, but the possibility remains that this action was produced by a "native" form of tropomyosin.
Outreach in natural settings: the use of peer leaders for HIV prevention among injecting drug users' networks.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Guided by a social influence and empowerment framework, peer leaders in the injecting drug user (IDU) community were trained to promote human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention among their contacts within and beyond their sex and drug networks. METHODS: From 1994 to 1995 in Baltimore, Maryland, 36 peer leaders who participated in the 10-session training program were administered pretest and posttest surveys. Evaluation included leaders' self-reported HIV-related behaviors and outreach activities. Survey data also were collected from 78 of the leaders' risk network members. RESULTS: Peer leaders reported a significant increase in condom use and in cleaning used needles with bleach. The leaders' risk network members, compared with controls, were significantly more likely to report greater needle hygiene. In an assessment of diffusion of information, the majority of risk network members who were current injectors reported receiving needle-cleaning materials from the leaders, and the majority of risk network members were able to correctly identify the HIV prevention slogans that had been taught to the leaders. The leaders documented 2165 HIV prevention interactions, of which 84% were with active drug users. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study suggest that, in the IDU community, training peer leaders as HIV educators may promote HIV prevention among the leaders' risk network members and others at risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV. This training also may provide the leaders with effective prosocial roles.
IUE and Optical Observations of He 2-104

He 2-104 has been classified as both a planetary nebula and as a symbiotic star. Optical and ultraviolet spectra and CCD images have been obtained in order to learn more about the evolutionary state of this object. The spectra of the object indicate that it could be either a symbiotic star or a very high excitation planetary nebula. The CCD images show a nebulosity with a radius of about 4 seconds of arc and faint bipolar outer structures extending out approximately 25 seconds of arc from the center of the nebula.
Insourcing or outsourcing? that is the question

Outsourcing is a word rarely used in higher education. And by outsourcing we don't mean the notion of sending faculty and students to India, although some might think this isn't a bad idea. Rather, I'm talking about the manner in which higher-education IT departments provide basic IT services. The author contends that these institutions should stop hiding behind not-invented-here excuses for keeping all of their IT services in-house. Instead, they should examine the real cost of internally providing IT services and consider alternative practices for serving their academic "customers".
The Economics of Planning and Preparing for Bioterrorism

In this chapter, I have demonstrated that it is possible to calculate the optimal annual amount that should be spent on a defined intervention to prevent or reduce the impact of a bioterrorist attack or other catastrophic infectious disease event. Such calculations, however, are not trivial and require a great deal of information. The information includes the epidemiology of the disease (e.g., who gets ill, what happens to them), the cost of such impacts, the potential effectiveness of proposed interventions, and an understanding of the annual probability of the event actually occurring. There are a great number of uncertainties associated with each of these inputs, and the impact of such uncertainties must be explored through systematic sensitivity analyses. One of the goals of such sensitivity analyses should be to identify the 2–3 most influential inputs. These 2–3 influential inputs then represent potential “policy levers” that policy makers can focus interventions. Finally, it must be appreciated that calculating the optimal annual amount to be spent on an intervention is not the complete set of decision-making points. There are many other factors influencing the choice of intervention. However, because calculating the optimal amount to be spent on a given intervention combines many different variables into a single estimate (the optimal amount), the calculated amount provides valuable information by which to start the decision-making process.
An interdependent look at perceptions of spousal drinking problems and marital outcomes

Research supports a bidirectional association between heavy alcohol use and marital quality among couples. The current research extends previous research on the role of interpersonal perception by examining how partner drinking and perceiving one's partner's drinking as problematic are associated with subsequent marital outcomes. Specifically, we evaluated how perceiving one's partner to have a drinking problem was associated with marital functioning, and whether that association differed based on the partner's actual drinking. Married couples (N = 123 dyads) with at least one spouse who consumed alcohol regularly completed measures of alcohol use and consequences, the perception that their spouse's drinking was problematic, and marital adjustment (i.e., relationship satisfaction, commitment, and trust). Results from actor-partner interdependence models using structural equations modeling indicated that for husbands, partner heavy drinking was associated with lower adjustment. Additionally, for husbands, perceiving their spouse had a drinking problem was associated with lower adjustment for both themselves and their wives. Moreover, significant interactions between partner drinking and the perception of partner drinking problem on marital adjustment emerged. Specifically, perceiving one's partner's drinking as a problem was only negatively associated with relationship adjustment if the partner reported higher levels of heavy drinking. This pattern was stronger for husbands. Results illustrate the importance of interpersonal perception, gender differences, and the use of dyadic data to model the complex dynamic between spouses with regard to alcohol use and how it affects relationship outcomes.
p2 and inhibition of Tn5 transposition.

Abstract Mutations of Tn5 which decreased the amount of the shorter element-encoded protein (p2) were made. One mutation was a change in the translation initiation codon of the protein, while two other mutations were changes in the promoter of the transcript (T2) which codes for p2. Analysis of all three mutants indicates that they decreased the inhibition of transposition that the protein exerts (in trans) on another element. The mutants have complicated transposition behaviors. Analysis of the RNA and proteins synthesized from the mutants led to the proposal that p2 can inhibit transposition at normal physiological concentrations. Therefore p2 synthesized from a given element is partly responsible for controlling the transposition frequency of the element. The mutants also show that p1 is the only Tn5-encoded protein necessary for transposition.
A parametric LQ approach to multiobjective control system design

The synthesis of a constant-parameter-output feedback control law for a constrained structure is set in a multiple-objective linear quadratic regulator framework. The use of intuitive objective functions such as model-following ability and closed-loop trajectory sensitivity allows multiple-objective decision-making techniques, such as the surrogate-worth tradeoff method, to be applied. For the continuous-time deterministic problem with an infinite time horizon, dynamic compensators as well as static output feedback controllers can be synthesized using a descent Anderson-Moore algorithm that is modified to impose linear equality constraints on the feedback gains by moving in feasible directions. Results of three different examples are presented, including a unique reformulation of the sensitivity reduction problem. >
Acicular crystals of sodium tungsten bronzes

Abstract The synthesis of sodium tungsten bronzes, Na x WO 3 , with emphasis on crystals with acicular morphology, has been examined experimentally. The acicular morphology is obtained for a range of compositions in which 0.15≤ x ≤0.28, and generally more than one crystal structure is present. At x ≈0.28 the tetragonal II phase predominates, whereas at x ≈0.15 an unknown structure is the major phase. Surprisingly, all the bronzes tested exhibited large solubilities in hot aqueous solutions of NH 4 OH.
Body image disturbance in schizophrenia: a study of arms and feet.

Summary This study investigated the significance of omitting arms/hands and legs/feet on the Draw-A-Person Test (DAP) in 128 hospitalized schizophrenic and 104 normally functioning adult males. The DAP was administered according to Machover's instructions, and the data were analyzed by chi-square tests. It was found that schizophrenics demonstrated significantly more omissions of arms/hands and legs/feet than the normals. These findings were interpreted to indicate body image disturbance in schizophrenia and were related to Schilder's and Federn's theories of the disorder emphasizing an impairment of ego boundaries.
The spherical endotracheal tube cuff: A plain radiographic sign of tracheal injury

Tracheobronchial injury is an uncommon event associated with blunt chest trauma. The clinical signs and symptoms as well as plain radiographic findings are usually nonspecific, so a high index of suspicion is required for early detection and optimal management. This report describes a severely traumatized patient whose tracheal inury was suspected when a spherical endotracheal tube cuff was noted on a portable trauma chest radiograph.
The evolution of antiplatelet therapy in cardiovascular disease

The platelet--an anucleate cell--is the bedrock of thrombosis, both physiologically and pathologically. Antagonism of the P2Y(12) receptor for ADP is one of several pathways inhibiting the activation and aggregation of platelets, thereby attenuating coronary thrombosis in response to spontaneous plaque rupture or percutaneous revascularization. The addition of clopidogrel to a background of aspirin therapy was a revolutionary change in the management of ischemic coronary syndromes. Despite this paradigm shift, clopidogrel has certain limitations, including variability in platelet inhibitory effect, which is associated with adverse thrombotic events. In the evolution of antiplatelet treatment strategies, two new P2Y(12) receptor antagonists--prasugrel and ticagrelor--have been added to the armamentarium in the past few years. Both of these drugs confer greater platelet inhibition than clopidogrel. Nevertheless, more-potent platelet inhibition comes with an increased risk of hemorrhagic complications. Cangrelor and elinogrel are novel P2Y(12) inhibitors that show potential in the periprocedural setting with their rapid onset and offset of activity. Successes in P2Y(12) inhibitory therapies have reduced use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, which block the final pathway leading to platelet aggregation and thrombosis. Newer therapies aimed at various molecular factors are under clinical investigation. Pharmacodynamic platelet function assays and pharmacogenetic testing to individualize and optimize antiplatelet therapy may find their way into clinical use, although much more study is needed.
Synaptic State Matching: A Dynamical Architecture for Predictive Internal Representation and Feature Detection

Here we explore the possibility that a core function of sensory cortex is the generation of an internal simulation of sensory environment in real-time. A logical elaboration of this idea leads to a dynamical neural architecture that oscillates between two fundamental network states, one driven by external input, and the other by recurrent synaptic drive in the absence of sensory input. Synaptic strength is modified by a proposed synaptic state matching (SSM) process that ensures equivalence of spike statistics between the two network states. Remarkably, SSM, operating locally at individual synapses, generates accurate and stable network-level predictive internal representations, enabling pattern completion and unsupervised feature detection from noisy sensory input. SSM is a biologically plausible substrate for learning and memory because it brings together sequence learning, feature detection, synaptic homeostasis, and network oscillations under a single unifying computational framework.
Optical control of IMPATT oscillator dynamics

The results of detailed computer simulations of the effect of optically generated carriers on the dynamics of an IMPATT diode oscillator are presented. Both small- and large-amplitude oscillations are examined over wide ranges in operating conditions and optical power level. Agreement is obtained between the theoretical results and experimental observations. Key results of the calculations are used to establish the extent to which the amplitude and frequency of a conventional IMPATT oscillator can be optically modulated as well as the operating conditions under which this control is optimized.
Demonstration of an adenovirus-inhibitory factor in adenovirus-induced hamster tumor cells.

Abstract A factor which inhibits the production of adenoviruses in permissive cells to levels as low as 1% that in control cultures is present in extracts of Ad12-induced hamster tumor cells. The inhibitory factor is not cell specific, causing an equivalent decrease in virus yield from treated human as well as hamster cell lines; it has no effect on the replication of Sindbis virus. Activity is lost upon incubation with pronase but is not affected by DNase or RNase. One-step growth experiments in the presence and absence of tumor cell extract demonstrated that the inhibitory factor both decreases the final yield of of virus and reduces the rate of virus production. Plaque formation was reduced by only 50% in experiments where the mass yield of virus from comparable cultures under liquid overlay was less than 1%. Therefore, the principal effect of the factor appears to be in decreasing the virus yield per infected cell, rather than in reducing the proportion of virus yielders. Maximum inhibitory activity is observed when extract is added at any time up to approximately 12 hr after infection. Correspondingly, production of T antigen is not affected by the factor. On the other hand, tumor cell extracts have no inactivating activity for extracellular virus. Therefore, the effect of the inhibitory factor cannot be on adsorption, penetration, or early parental genome expression, but must involve later events, preceding final maturation of infectious virions.