cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Further observations of regional dust storms and baroclinic eddies in the northern hemisphere of Mars

Abstract We have investigated the near-surface meteorology in the northern hemisphere of Mars through detailed analysis of data obtained with Mars Global Surveyor in January–August 2005. The season in the northern hemisphere ranged from midsummer through winter solstice of Mars Year (MY) 27. We examined composite, wide-angle images from the Mars Orbiter Camera and compiled a catalog of the dust storms that occurred in this interval. As in previous martian years, activity in the northern hemisphere was dominated by regional “flushing” dust storms that sweep southward through the major topographic basins, most frequently in Acidalia Planitia. We also used atmospheric profiles retrieved from radio occultation experiments to characterize eddy activity near the surface at high northern latitudes. There are strong correlations between the two sets of observations, which allowed us to identify three factors that influence the timing and location of the regional dust storms: (1) transitions among baroclinic wave modes, which strongly modulate the intensity of meridional winds near the surface, (2) storms zones, which impose strong zonal variations on the amplitude of some baroclinic eddies, and (3) stationary waves, which further modulate the wind field near the surface. The flushing dust storms ceased abruptly in midautumn, possibly in response to source depletion, CO 2 condensation, a shift in the period of the baroclinic eddies, and changes in the tidal wind field near the surface. Our results extend the meteorological record of the northern hemisphere, substantiate the findings of previous investigations, and further illuminate the climatic impact of baroclinic eddies.
Bundles in captivity: an application of superimposed information

What do you do to make sense of a mass of information on a given topic? Paradoxically, you likely add yet more information to the pile: annotations, underlining, bookmarks, cross-references, etc. We want to build digital information systems for managing such added or superimposed information and support applications that create and manipulate it. We find that requirements for a superimposed information system can be quite different from those for a traditional database management system: a lightweight implementation, multi-model information structures, "schema-later" data entry, interacting with data that is "outside the box" (controlled by other applications), and support, rather than removal, of redundancy. We report on SLIMPad (Superimposed Layer Information Manager scratchPad), a superimposed application which was inspired by the "bundling" of information elements from disparate sources we observed in a medical setting. We propose an architecture for superimposed applications and information management. Our prototype components to implement the architecture give flexibility in structuring superimposed information, and also encapsulate addressing, at a sub-document granularity, into a variety of base information sources.
Analyzing Online Discourse: Some Theoretical Ideas and a Visualization Approach

A distinctive feature of Web 2.0 is greater interactivity occurring through electronic forums. Such forms of communication are increasingly playing important roles in ensuring the success of electronic marketplaces, online communities, etc. and therefore, understanding online discourse is critical. We use concepts from the rich tradition of discourse analysis to study these patterns. We note that online discourse, with disjointed sequences and multiple overlapping conversations, is quite challenging to study. Visualization enables disentangling forum postings into a comprehensive yet rich view. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate how discourse analysis can be applied visually in order to understand communication patterns evident on online forums. We call our visualization approach a Communication Action Map (CAM), highlighting the action orientation of discourse and illustrate its use with empirical data from a crowdfunding campaign.
Modeling Economic-Engineering Responses to Drought: The California Case

Recurring droughts pose predictable challenges to water resources management in California. Disparities in water demand and supply over both space and time, fast-growing cities, prominent agriculture, and increasing concerns on maintaining and improving habitat for native species are among the most salient challenges to water allocation in the state. This chapter explores portfolio approaches to water management under drought conditions. We analyze water management portfolios that are economically optimized to minimize water scarcity and operating costs within some physical and operating constraints. Water management portfolios include intra- and inter-regional water transfers, flexible water storage operations, and conjunctive use, water conservation, and water augmentation via reuse or desalination. This enables us to identify economically attractive opportunities for re-operation of the water supply system. Results from the case studies indicate that despite the significant reductions in water supply under drought or climate change, California’s inter-tied network of water resources has the ability to adapt in the long term to these drought events by adding operational flexibility in the system.
Foodborne Gastroenteritis Caused by Salmonella and Shigella

Among the gram-negative rods that cause foodborne gastroenteritis, the most important are members of the genus Salmonella. This syndrome along with that caused by Shigella spp. are discussed in this chapter. The general prevalence of these organisms in a variety of foods can be found in Chapters 4–9.
Abstract 282: Assessing Levels of Active Participation through a VA Provider Network to Improve Quality of Care for Veterans with Heart Failure

Objective: The goal of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) QUERI program is to improve the quality of care for heart failure (HF) patients and implement evidence-based practices throughout the VA system. One strategy to achieve this goal was to create a VA heart failure provider Network which occurred in 2006. We sought to characterize provider participation in this mature network. Method: We tracked all members of the HF Network including their title, location at one of 144 VA facilities; date joined and if applicable, date left the HF Network. We considered the following activities to be evidence of “active” participation: attended a web-based meeting or the annual in-person meeting, requested meeting materials, or completed a periodic survey of providers. Participation of all other members is considered “passive”. For this project we assessed each facility’s level of participation in the HF Network from July 2006 till June 2013 (7 years). Facility participation level was characterized as “None” (no member at that facility with active participation), “Low” (at least one member at that facility attended 1-2 activities) and “High” (at least one member at that facility participated in ≥3 activities). Data were linked to existing facility-level data that included presence of an HF clinic, cardiac cath lab, use of pharmacist, bed size, membership in Council on Teaching Hospitals (COTH), and presence of an Accredited Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) program. Results: Altogether, 1205 providers have participated in the HF Network. As of June 2013, 987 providers from 144 VA facilities participate in this network. They include VACO leadership (1%), VISN leadership (4%), facility leadership (9%), Chiefs of Cardiology (7%), staff physicians (32%), nurses (28%), pharmacists (5%) and others (14%). Participation at the facility-level has increased from 2008 (None=37, Low=43 and High=64) to 2013 (None=8, Low=16 and High=120, (p <0.001). High participating facilities were more likely to be classified as tertiary (p <.016), COTH members (p <0.001), having ACGME programs (p <0.001), and located in the West or Southeast United States (p =.03). High participating facilities are also more likely to have a HF clinic (p <0.001), a cardiac catheterization lab (<0.001), and use a pharmacist in routine HF care (p <.03). Conclusions: Involvement and active participation in the VA HF Network has grown and is more likely at academic facilities and those providing more intensive services.
Deep Spread Patterns in CT Staging of T2–4 Squamous Cell Laryngeal Carcinoma

In addition to clinical examination and less sophisticated radiographic techniques, high-resolution computerized tomography (CT) can help to stage squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. This study was undertaken to identify findings on CT scans that might predict the likelihood of radiation therapy (RT) alone, controlling the primary site disease without significant irradiation-related complications. Of 30 patients with T2–4 cancers of the larynx, 13 were classified as favorable and 17 were classified as unfavorable candidates for RT based on the CT criteria of transglottic spread, more than 25% pre-epiglottic space involvement, extensive paralaryngeal space spread, or cartilage involvement. Seven of 17 (41%) unfavorable patients had local recurrences, two are alive with cancer, three patients are dead of disease (DOD), and five had significant complication, but there was no evidence of recurrent cancer. In the favorable group, there were two local recurrences (15%), one distant metastasis, one patient is...
New method for electrical conductivity temperature compensation.

Electrical conductivity (κ) measurements of natural waters are typically referenced to 25 °C (κ25) using standard temperature compensation factors (α). For acidic waters (pH < 4), this can result in a large κ25 error (δκ25). The more the sample temperature departs from 25 °C, the larger the potential δκ25. For pH < 4, the hydrogen ion transport number becomes substantial and its mode of transport is different from most other ions resulting in a different α. A new method for determining α as a function of pH and temperature is presented. Samples with varying amounts of H2SO4 and NaCl were used to develop the new α, which was then applied to 65 natural water samples including acid mine waters, geothermal waters, seawater, and stream waters. For each sample, the κ and pH were measured at several temperatures from 5 to 90 °C and κ25 was calculated. The δκ25 ranged from −11 to 9% for the new method as compared to −42 to 25% and −53 to 27% for the constant α (0.019) and ISO-7888 methods, respectively. The new m...
Influence of petroleum deposit geometry on local gradient of electron acceptors and microbial catabolic potential.

A field survey was conducted following the Deepwater Horizon blowout and it was noted that resulting coastal petroleum deposits possessed distinct geometries, ranging from small tar balls to expansive horizontal oil sheets. A subsequent laboratory study evaluated the effect of oil deposit geometry on localized gradients of electron acceptors and microbial community composition, factors that are critical to accurately estimating biodegradation rates. One-dimensional top-flow sand columns with 12-h simulated tidal cycles compared two contrasting geometries (isolated tar “balls” versus horizontal “sheets”) relative to an oil-free control. Significant differences in the effluent dissolved oxygen and sulfate concentrations were noted among the columns, indicating presence of anaerobic zones in the oiled columns, particularly in the sheet condition. Furthermore, quantification of genetic markers of terminal electron acceptor and catabolic processes via quantitative polymerase chain reaction of dsrA (sulfate-red...
Kernelized Bayesian transfer learning

Transfer learning considers related but distinct tasks defined on heterogenous domains and tries to transfer knowledge between these tasks to improve generalization performance. It is particularly useful when we do not have sufficient amount of labeled training data in some tasks, which may be very costly, laborious, or even infeasible to obtain. Instead, learning the tasks jointly enables us to effectively increase the amount of labeled training data. In this paper, we formulate a kernelized Bayesian transfer learning framework that is a principled combination of kernel-based dimensionality reduction models with task-specific projection matrices to find a shared subspace and a coupled classification model for all of the tasks in this subspace. Our two main contributions are: (i) two novel probabilistic models for binary and multiclass classification, and (ii) very efficient variational approximation procedures for these models. We illustrate the generalization performance of our algorithms on two different applications. In computer vision experiments, our method outperforms the state-of-the-art algorithms on nine out of 12 benchmark supervised domain adaptation experiments defined on two object recognition data sets. In cancer biology experiments, we use our algorithm to predict mutation status of important cancer genes from gene expression profiles using two distinct cancer populations, namely, patient-derived primary tumor data and in-vitro-derived cancer cell line data. We show that we can increase our generalization performance on primary tumors using cell lines as an auxiliary data source.
Thyroid Masses: Approach to Diagnosis and Management in Childhood and Adolescence

The approach to the evaluation of a neck mass requires careful history and physical examination to determine if the mass is thyroidal or non-thyroidal. Thyromegaly can be classified as diffuse or nodular, painless or painful, or associated with a solitary or multiple nodules. While the most common cause of diffuse enlargement is chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, the presence of nodularity should prompt consideration of cancer. Results of a radionuclide scan, ultrasonogram, and/or a fine-needle aspiration of a cystic nodule should help guide the physician to those patients in need of an open thyroid biopsy.
Features of the Upgraded Imaging for Hypersonic Experimental Aeroheating Testing (IHEAT) Software

The Imaging for Hypersonic Experimental Aeroheating Testing (IHEAT) software is used at the NASA Langley Research Center to analyze global aeroheating data on wind tunnel models tested in the Langley Aerothermodynamics Laboratory. One-dimensional, semi-infinite heating data derived from IHEAT are used in the design of thermal protection systems for hypersonic vehicles that are exposed to severe aeroheating loads, such as reentry vehicles during descent and landing procedures. This software program originally was written in the PV-WAVE(Registered Trademark) programming language to analyze phosphor thermography data from the two-color, relative-intensity system developed at Langley. To increase the efficiency, functionality, and reliability of IHEAT, the program was migrated to MATLAB(Registered Trademark) syntax and compiled as a stand-alone executable file labeled version 4.0. New features of IHEAT 4.0 include the options to perform diagnostic checks of the accuracy of the acquired data during a wind tunnel test, to extract data along a specified multi-segment line following a feature such as a leading edge or a streamline, and to batch process all of the temporal frame data from a wind tunnel run. Results from IHEAT 4.0 were compared on a pixel level to the output images from the legacy software to validate the program. The absolute differences between the heat transfer data output from the two programs were on the order of 10(exp -5) to 10(exp -7). IHEAT 4.0 replaces the PV-WAVE(Registered Trademark) version as the production software for aeroheating experiments conducted in the hypersonic facilities at NASA Langley.
Multistep mechanism of polarized Ca2+ wave patterns in hepatocytes

The spatial organization of cytosolic Ca2+ (Ca2+i) signals is thought to be important for regulation of cell function. In epithelial cells, the involvement of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-mediated Ca2+ release in evoking Ca2+i signals is appreciated, but the location of IP3-sensitive Ca2+ stores and the role of Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) for Ca2+ signaling are less defined. Here, we demonstrate that IP3 receptors are localized to the apical region in hepatocytes. We also show that hormone-induced Ca2+i waves propagate across the cell at a rate that depends on mobilization of Ca2+ stores that are sensitive to caffeine, ryanodine, and dantrolene, and that these agents, at concentrations that inhibit CICR, decrease the magnitude of Ca2+i signals. Furthermore, Ca2+i wave speed is not reduced in Ca(2+)-free medium. These findings suggest that Ca2+i signals in epithelial cells begin as apical-to-basal Ca2+i waves that result from sequential release of Ca2+, first from IP3-sensitive stores in the apex and then from Ca(2+)-sensitive stores distributed across the remainder of the cell.
A Model Allocating Growth Among Leaf Proteins, Shoot Structure, and Root Biomass to Produce Balanced Activity

A model is developed that considers the allocation of carbon and nitrogen substrates to a protein compartment in the shoots, shoot structural components, and root biomass. Inclusion of a shoot-protein compartment allows variation in shoot-specific activity to be modelled as a function of leaf nitrogen concentration. Allocation to the biomass compartments is controlled by two partitioning variables that are defined by explicitly using the balanced activity hypothesis (...)
Polycrystalline CdS/CdTe/ZnTe n-i-p Solar Cell

We report here the development of a polycrystal line n-i-p thin film solar cell. The design of this cell, which incorporates wide band gap n-type CdS and p-type ZnTe semiconductors on opposite sides of high resistivity (intrinsic) CdTe, has many potential advantages over the simple heterojunction Recently we demonstrated a 4 cm2 9.4% efficient n-i-p solar cell1, and the results on 2 mm2 cells measured in our laboratory have reached 10.7%. In addition to its utility as a stand alone device, this structure is ideally suited for use as the wide band gap cell in a cascade design. Preliminary 2 results obtained with an IR transparent device are promising — 6.9% on 1.4 cm2.
The Pauseless Tape in Programmed Pattern Drills

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the pauseless tape in programmed pattern drills. The speed with which learners of a foreign language are able to react verbally to spoken stimuli varies considerably and changes during the learning period. An experiment with native speakers of English demonstrated that even in the mother tongue, the speed of response varied as much as 10 seconds. In a pauseless drill, the stimulus and the response are recorded without any pause for either imitation or response but with just enough silent space for the teacher or the student to catch the end of the stimulus or correct response. Once a drill is recorded as a two-cycle exercise without pauses, it can be transformed into either a three- or a four-cycle drill by means of the pause lever. The chief objection to the pauseless tape might be that the student can no longer record his voice on the lower track for playback and self-evaluation.
CHILD AND ADULT THE EDUCATIONAL BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

This chapter discusses the educational bridge between a child and an adult. The concept of the child's unique pattern, or individuality, poses two problems, which are most important for education, that is, to what extent individuality is shaped by heredity and to what extent by environment. The greatest difficulty in the educational situation lies in the misconception that the young child and the adult live on the same plane, share the same conception of the world, and have the same principles of self-expression. The right of individuality is not granted to the child if he is considered from adult standards. The adult puts demands upon the child, but the child is not allowed to put demands upon the adult. The education of the young child is determined by a basic observation, namely, that the child's growth follows a rather definite general pattern. Like a native of a mysterious civilization, the child has treasures of his own culture, worthy of exploration. The child is a receiver and also a giver; the adult can learn from the child.
PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade Enhances T-cell Activity and Antitumor Efficacy of Imatinib in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Purpose: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are effective in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), but often are of transient benefit as resistance commonly develops. Immunotherapy, particularly blockade of the inhibitory receptor programmed death 1 (PD-1) or the ligand programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), has shown effectiveness in a variety of cancers. The functional effects of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade are unknown in GIST. Experimental Design: We analyzed tumor and matched blood samples from 85 patients with GIST and determined the expression of immune checkpoint molecules using flow cytometry. We investigated the combination of imatinib with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in KitV558Δ/+ mice that develop GIST. Results: The inhibitory receptors PD-1, lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3), and T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3) were upregulated on tumor-infiltrating T cells compared to T cells from matched blood. PD-1 expression on T cells was highest in imatinib-treated human GISTs. Meanwhile, intratumoral PD-L1 expression was variable. In human GIST cell lines, treatment with imatinib abrogated the IFN-γ-induced upregulation of PD-L1 via STAT1 inhibition. In KitV558Δ/+ mice imatinib downregulated IFN-γ-related genes and reduced PD-L1 expression on tumor cells. PD-1 and PD-L1 blockade in vivo each had no efficacy alone, but enhanced the antitumor effects of imatinib by increasing T cell effector function in the presence of KIT and IDO inhibition. Conclusions: PD-1/PD-L1 blockade is a promising strategy to improve the effects of targeted therapy in GIST. Collectively, our results provide the rationale to combine these agents in human GIST.
Review of RyR1 pathway and associated pathomechanisms

Ryanodine receptor isoform-1 (RyR1) is a major calcium channel in skeletal muscle important for excitation-contraction coupling. Mutations in the RYR1 gene yield RyR1 protein dysfunction that manifests clinically as RYR1-related congenital myopathies (RYR1-RM) and/or malignant hyperthermia susceptibility (MHS). Individuals with RYR1-RM and/or MHS exhibit varying symptoms and severity. The symptoms impair quality of life and put patients at risk for early mortality, yet the cause of varying severity is not well understood. Currently, there is no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatment for RYR1-RM. Discovery of effective treatments is therefore critical, requiring knowledge of the RyR1 pathway. The purpose of this review is to compile work published to date on the RyR1 pathway and to implicate potential regions as targets for treatment. The RyR1 pathway is comprised of protein-protein interactions, protein-ligand interactions, and post-translational modifications, creating an activation/regulatory macromolecular complex. Given the complexity of this pathway, we divided these interactions and modifications into six regulatory groups. Three of several RyR1 interacting proteins, FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12), triadin, and calmodulin, were identified as playing important roles across all groups and may serve as promising target sites for treatment. Also, variability in disease severity may be influenced by prolongation or hyperactivity of post-translational modifications resulting from RyR1 dysfunction.
Oscillations in ODEs

As its title implies, this chapter is concerned with oscillatory solutions of ODEs. Solutions of the van der Pol system ( 1.36) plotted in Figure 1.7, are representative of the kind of behavior we focus on. Up to now, we have been forced to rely on the computer to study such phenomena. In this chapter, we introduce analytical techniques to predict and describe oscillatory behavior.
Sequences within the C Terminus of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 (mGluR5) Are Responsible for Inner Nuclear Membrane Localization

Traditionally, G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) are thought to be located on the cell surface where they transmit extracellular signals to the cytoplasm. However, recent studies indicate that some GPCRs are also localized to various subcellular compartments such as the nucleus where they appear required for various biological functions. For example, the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is concentrated at the inner nuclear membrane (INM) where it mediates Ca2+ changes in the nucleoplasm by coupling with Gq/11 Here, we identified a region within the C-terminal domain (amino acids 852-876) that is necessary and sufficient for INM localization of the receptor. Because these sequences do not correspond to known nuclear localization signal motifs, they represent a new motif for INM trafficking. mGluR5 is also trafficked to the plasma membrane where it undergoes re-cycling/degradation in a separate receptor pool, one that does not interact with the nuclear mGluR5 pool. Finally, our data suggest that once at the INM, mGluR5 is stably retained via interactions with chromatin. Thus, mGluR5 is perfectly positioned to regulate nucleoplasmic Ca2+in situ.
How to Map the Genetic Basis for Conditions that are Comorbid with Male Infertility.

Studying conditions that are comorbid with infertility can provide a picture of the overall health of a patient population that is younger than the typical cases of age-related diseases that preoccupy our health care system. If strong predictive relationships could be established between infertility and life-threatening disease, interventions can be established early in life for at-risk individuals. Here, we discuss how genomic tools can be used to identify diseases and traits that are likely to be comorbid with male infertility. We divide these approaches broadly into two categories: direct and indirect. Direct approaches require knowledge of the specific genetic variants associated with male infertility, while indirect approaches can work with only gene lists, or even no a priori knowledge of disease–gene architecture. Using existing data from human and mouse studies, we demonstrate that one indirect approach based on gene networks provides support for the recent epidemiological findings that infertility is a risk factor for cancer and cardiovascular disease. Finding comorbidities of male infertility is an important goal for the reproductive medicine community. We outline existing resources that will play a valuable role in this quest, and describe new resources that must be developed for maximum progress.
Semi-Arid Rangelands and Carbon Offset Markets: A Look at the Economic Prospects

Semi-Arid Rangelands and Carbon Offset Markets: A Look at the Economic Prospects DOI:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v30i2_steiguer
Remote Sensing-Based Damage Assessment for Homeland Security

For natural or anthropogenic disasters, rapid assessment is critical for an appropriate and effective emergency response. Remote sensing has served—and will continue to serve—a vital function in disaster damage-assessment activities. This includes disaster-mapping of natural and agricultural ecosystems and human settlements, which may involve assessments of structural damage, contamination, and affected populations. Single- and multi-date (change detection) analyses can be employed, and a need to exploit both spectral and spatial information in order to delineate damage regions from remote sensor imagery is identified. This chapter provides a brief overview of some of the remote-sensing damage-assessment applications that are of utility in the realm of homeland security. Specific attention is given to remote sensing-based detection of vegetation damage and soil contamination, including a discussion of the remote-sensing implications of artificial radionuclide contamination, as well as damage to urbanized areas and other human settlements.
How Conversations with Parents May Help Children Learn to Separate the Sheep from the Goats (and the Robots)

We examined how children’s active participation in parent–child conversations helps them organize the conceptual space of the animal domain. Three complementary research studies inform our understandings: (1) a diary study of family conversations about animals, (2) an investigation of how parent–child conversations about the properties of varied living and nonliving entities may inform children’s developing understanding of animacy, and (3) an examination of parent–child conversations about animals that vary in similarity to humans. We found that parents share information that is scientifically accurate alongside information that may encourage anthropomorphic and anthropocentric reasoning about animals. This information is greeted by an active child who can sort through the give-and-take of conversation to (ultimately) construct coherent representations of the biological domain. This rich portrait of parent–child conversation contrasts with the model of the child as a mere recipient of parental wisdom.
Breaking out of the traditional lecture hall: Geocaching as a tool for experiential learning in large geology service courses

It is uncommon for large service courses in geology to provide engaging outdoor activities that effectively mimic the experiences of working geologists, despite the fact that field experiences are ...
FRACTIONATION AND CHARACTERIZATION BY DIALYSIS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses fractionation and characterization by dialysis. The term dialysis as it will be used deals with the diffusion of solutes through porous membranes when the membrane is the boundary between two solutions of different concentration. The concentration of one of the solutions will always be as low as is practically possible. Simple dialysis has long been used to separate small so-called dialysable solutes from large non-dialysable ones. It has been the general practice to wet a length of this tubing with water and tie off one end to make a sac. If the tubing is of larger size, the end could be tied with a silk thread. This sac is often stretched or put under aqueous pressure to be sure that it did not leak. The solution to be dialyzed is then placed inside and often another knot is tied to close the top. The sac is then suspended in a stream of running tap water for a day or more if only the nondialyzable solute is of interest.
The Future of Energy I: Fossil Fuels

There are three different types of power: backbone power, green power, and mobile power. Backbone power is the primary energy source that is always there when we need it. Green power comes from renewable energy sources which do not pollute. Mobile power drives our cars, planes, and other vehicles and has the special requirement of transportability. We will discuss each of these in turn.
Circulating microRNA Profiles in Acetaminophen Toxicity

Acetaminophen toxicity has been associated with elevation of microRNAs. The present study was to evaluate overall microRNA profiles and previously identified microRNAs to differentiate acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity from other causes of transaminase elevation. This was an observational study of adults with presumed acetaminophen toxicity at presentation. Serum samples were collected every 12 hours during hospitalization. Total miRNAs were extracted from plasma and levels of 327 microRNAs were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. A standard measure of miRNA expression (delta-delta cycle threshold) was calculated for each microRNAs. A two-level cluster analysis was performed using a random k-means algorithm. Demographic and clinical characteristics of each cluster were compared using ANOVA, Wilcoxon rank sum, Kruskal-Wallis, and chi-square tests. Performance of specific miRNAs of interest was also evaluated. Twenty-seven subjects were enrolled (21 with a final diagnosis of acetaminophen toxicity), and a total of 61 samples were analyzed. Five clusters were identified, two of which demonstrated clear clinical patterns and included specific elevated miRNAs previously reported to be elevated in APAP toxicity patients. Features associated with clusters 1 and 5 included confirmed acetaminophen toxicity, high peak alanine aminotransferase, and late presentation. Clusters 2–4 contained lower peak microRNAs, lower peak alanine aminotransferase, and heterogeneous clinical characteristics. Severe cases of acetaminophen toxicity showed two distinct patterns of microRNA elevation which were similar to previous work, while less severe cases were difficult to distinguish from non-acetaminophen-associated cases. Further work is needed to incorporate microRNA profiles into the diagnostic algorithm of acetaminophen toxicity.
Experimental Implementation of an ANN Controller for Quadrotor Trajectory Control in Confined Environment

This paper presents the experimental results of the trajectory control of a Qball-X4 quadrotor in confined environments and with the presence of model uncertainties. The presented controller utilizes Artificial-Neural-Networks to adjust for aerodynamic and model uncertainties on-line. The provided experimental results show the robustness and effectiveness of the developed ANN controller when applied to the Qball X4 quadrotor.
Fused filament fabrication of polymer composites for extreme environments

Vast improvements have been made to the capabilities of advanced manufacturing (AM), yet there are still limitations on which materials can effectively be used in the technology. To this end, parts created using AM would benefit from the ability to be developed from feedstock materials incorporating additional functionality. A common three-dimensional (3D) printing polymer, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, was combined with bismuth and polyvinylidene fluoride via a solvent treatment to fabricate multifunctional composite materials for AM. Composites of varying weight percent loadings were extruded into filaments, which were subsequently 3D printed into blocks via fused filament fabrication. Investigating the material properties demonstrated that in addition to the printed blocks successfully performing as radiation shields, the chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties are suitable for AM. Thus, this work demonstrates that it is possible to enhance AM components with augmented capabilities while not significantly altering the material properties which make AM possible.
Spawning and Embryonic Development of the Least Brook Lamprey (Lampetra aepyptera)

The reproductive biology of lampreys is of special interest given the group has retained many developmental features reminiscent of the earliest vertebrates. Herein I report spawning behavior in the Least Brook Lamprey (Lampetra aepyptera) from southern Indiana and provide descriptions of its embryonic development. Nesting activities began in mid-March when water temperatures ranged from 10 to 12 C, as two or more individuals dug out shallow depressions in loose gravel immediately above riffles. Communal spawning groups (>10 individuals) subsequently formed at the nest sites when the water temperature rose above 12 C. Embryos generated from the gametes of spawning adults underwent gastrulation 72 h after fertilization, neurulation after 6 d, and hatched after 14 d. Prolarvae developed melanophores 19 d after fertilization, eyespots were visible by 20 d, and the velum began to beat 25 d after fertilization. Expulsion of yolk from the intestine and filter feeding occurred 26 d after fertilization. Embryonic development in L. aepyptera largely matches the embryonic stages established for the Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), with subtle differences in the sequence of specific developmental features. These descriptions clarify conflicting accounts of spawning activities for L. aepyptera and provide staging criteria for future investigations into its embryonic development.
Persuasion, Donor Heterogeneity, and Workload: The Impact of Charitable Workers on Donors’ Blood Donation Decisions

Problem definition: How does charitable workers’ experience affect donors’ donation decisions? We demonstrate how different types of charitable workers’ experiences affect corresponding donation outcomes and return probability, which can be impacted by their interactions with their donors. Methodology/Results: Using a unique dataset at the nurse-donor interaction level, we analyze the role of nurse persuasion in driving charitable productivity as well as the moderating effect of nurse experience with donor physical capabilities and nurse workload. We find that the persuasion ability of the nurse and physical dimension of donors play important roles in designing staffing to improve charitable productivity. The effect of staff persuasion strongly depends on the relevant, rather than general, experience of the nurse. Moreover, donors that are physically-disadvantaged are more likely to be influenced by nurse persuasion. Nurse persuasion also reduces the negative effects of workload. In the long run, we do not find significant negative effects of experience on donor return probability. Managerial Implications: When taking the insights on staffing-donor interactions into account, improved matching between nurses and donors can provide economically significant benefits for the blood bank. Understanding worker persuasion in the staff-donor interactions and leveraging big data in staffing decisions can help charitable organizations improve their productivity simply from the personnel end.
Sincere Integration of Patients' Perspectives into Kidney Care: Affirming and Adopting Patient Activation.

In health care, patients must possess knowledge to understand their treatment options, confidence to communicate effectively with providers, and skills to apply this information to experience the best health outcomes. This combination of knowledge, confidence, and skills, collectively referred to as
Graduate Students' Perspectives Toward Telepractice at the COVID-19 Global Pandemic Onset

Purpose The purpose of this article was to describe a cross-sectional research study exploring the perceived knowledge, skills, and attitudes of telepractice service delivery use among speech-langu...
Membrane dynamics are slowed for Alexa594-labeled membrane proteins due to substrate interactions

Abstract The addition of fluorescent dyes to proteins, lipids and other biological molecules can affect a range of processes such as mobility, molecular interactions, localization, and, ultimately, function. The dynamics of a protein can be dramatically affected if the label interacts non-specifically with the substrate or with other molecules in the system. To test how dye-substrate interactions affect protein diffusion, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) measurements were designed to explicitly determine the role of the dye on the diffusion of a transmembrane protein, Syntaxin1a, expressed on the cell surface. Syntaxin1a, was tagged with EGFP on the extracellular side and an EGFP nanobody with or without a dye label was attached. FRAP was performed on Syx1a-EGFP and the choice of cell growth substrate affected mobility in the presence of a dye labeled nanobody. This work provides evidence for choosing fibronectin (Fn) over poly-L-lysine (PLL) in FRAP and single molecule tracking measurements when using Alexa594, a common probe for red fluorescent measurements. Alexa594-labeled nanobody but not unlabeled nanobody, dramatically reduced the mobility of Syx1a-EGFP when cells were cultured on PLL. However, when Fn was used, the mobility returned. Mobility measured by single molecule tracking measurements align with the FRAP measurements with Fn coated surfaces being more mobile than PLL.
Environmental Law and Contrasting Ideas of Nature: Defining Nature as a Common Pool Resource

One of the many ways in which we attempt to study resource use and conservation is to define natural resources as “common pool resources.” Yet in a broad sense we can understand nature more generally as a common pool resource with which we maintain a special relationship. This definition incorporates several legal, behavioral, and ecological concepts that seek to capture the intricate and complex place where nature and the governance of nature collide. Once we apply the common pool resource definition to nature, we commit to viewing nature through five distinct and specific lenses that are embedded in the common pool resource framework. This chapter explores these commitments in an effort to establish a foundation for related research on how these common pool resource-specific lenses may influence the management of nature. The chapter begins with a short background on common pool resources and the understanding of them in the legal literature. The chapter then turns to five conceptual commitments we make by labeling nature as a common pool resource. An exploration of the commitments reveals that they have both intended and unintended consequences on the way we view nature. Those consequences, in turn, have both positive and negative implications for the management of nature. Further, regardless of whether the commitments help facilitate positive or negative approaches to nature management, each commitment places limiting and potentially harmful constraints on the broader perspective with which we should view nature. The chapter concludes by raising the question of whether this limited perspective fully considers pertinent characteristics inherent in nature and whether we should think more broadly when defining nature.
Serologic and structural characterization of immunoglobulin chains secreted by rabbit-mouse hybridomas.

Serologic and primary structural analyses of Ig chains secreted by several rabbit-mouse hybridomas have shown that these hybrid cells produce heavy (H) or light (L) chains identical to those isolated from rabbit sera. Two of the cell lines (7D2, 7D6) secreted rabbit H chains with a m.w. of 55,000 each of which expressed a full complement of variable and constant region allotypes (a3, d11, e15). These apparently normal rabbit H chains were secreted in a complex with a m.w. about 130,000, and serologic studies indicated that this complex contained a covalently linked mouse kappa L chain. Two other cell lines (4C1, 12F2) produced allotype b4 L chains with m.w. of 23,000 and 25,000, and a third (1D4P5) produced an allotype b5 L chain with a m.w. of 23,000. Serologic analyses indicated that the allotypes on these chains are equivalent to those expressed by normal rabbit Ig molecules. Partial amino acid sequence data obtained for the L chain products showed them to be typical of rabbit L chains, and to be significantly different from mouse L chains.
Integrating bioinformatics advances into disease management systems to improve quality of care

Although we have made progress in reducing mortality and morbidity rates in a number of human diseases through early detection and adjuvant therapy, the interventions inferred from conventional disease management and clinical care systems, such as those in cancers and neurological diseases, still lack discrimination and come at considerable emotional, physical, and financial cost. Complex diseases exhibit complex phenotypes, and proper diagnosis at the point-of-care requires that the analysis take into account the patient's history and exposure to environmental factors, as well as genotype and phenotype information.
Ein Dialogsystem zur Methodensuche

Die heute verfugbaren Programmbibliotheken bieten im allgemeinen zu wenig Unterstutzung, um fur ein Problem die Losungsmethode und das zugehorige Programm aufzufinden und unter gegebenenfalls mehreren einsetzbaren auszuwahlen.
Examining the Spatial Ability Phenomenon from the Student's Perspective

This phenomenological investigation examined the lived experience of technically-oriented students over the course of a single semester, attempting to answer the question, “What was it like for a student to experience the spatial ability phenomenon?” The study included 12 interviewees and 8 focus group freshman participants at a Midwestern university. Data sources included interview transcripts, think aloud transcripts, task solutions, focus group transcripts, researcher journal entries, course performance data, course observation data, and spatial ability test data. This paper provides the holistic, structural description of the spatial phenomenon that emerged from the descriptions of the participants’ experience, as well as an expository on four of the five invariant themes that were elicited from the data. the collaborative session. Recommendations were made for future course improvements when a real world project is used in the curriculum. This paper also discusses changes in design process and the role of designers based on the collaborative session feedback.
The enthalpy of hydrolysis of acetylcholine.

Abstract The enthalpy of hydrolysis of acetylcholine at pH 7 and 25° is found to be ΔH = +280 ± 20 cal mole-1 after correction for buffer ionization heat. Under physiological conditions, the hydrolysis, which is accompanied by the liberation of 1 proton per molecule hydrolyzed, will have an enthalpy change depending almost entirely on the effective heat of protonation of the complex buffering system present. At neutral pH the buffering in vivo is presumably largely by imidazole and amino groups on protein side chains, with protonation heats of -7 to -12 kcal mole-1.
RESPONSE OF DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS AND PULMONARY AND SYSTEMIC ARTERIAL PRESSURE TO CHANGES IN OXYGEN ENVIRONMENT IN NEWBORN INFANTS.

Hemodynamic studies were performed through the umbilical arteries in 15 normal unanesthetized full-term newborn infants breathing air, 13% oxygen in nitrogen, and 100% oxygen. The investigation was aimed at studying the effect of changes in oxygen environment on shunts through the ductus arteriosus and on pressures in the pulmonic and systemic circuits. Left-to-right shunts disappeared with administration of 100% oxygen and recurred with 13% oxygen. This response was most pronounced during the first 3 hours but diminished noticeably or disappeared completely thereafter. During the first few hours there was a tendency for the ductus to reopen spontaneously after closure was effected with 100% oxygen. Hypoxia consistently caused a rise in pulmonary arterial pressure whereas inhalation of 100% oxygen caused a fall. The data support the concept that oxygen environment of the ductus arteriosus may be one of the factors which determines its closure.
Biological immunomodulators improve the healing rate in surgically treated perianal Crohn’s fistulas

Aim The role of biological therapy in perianal fistulas associated with Crohn’s disease (CD) is uncertain as available data are confused and conflicting. In order to provide some clarity to the issue we have examined a large cohort of patients with perianal fistulas and CD and stratified them according to use of biological agents. Method Patients with perianal Crohn’s fistulas treated between June 1999 and June 2009 were stratified according to use of biological agents and outcome was examined. Healing was defined as absence of fistula or drainage. Prior to surgery perianal sepsis was eradicated with drains or setons. Endpoints were defined as either complete healing, improvement (minimal symptoms and drainage) or unhealed, as noted at subsequent outpatient follow-up. Variables assessed were age, body mass index, smoking, perineal involvement with Crohn’s granuloma and type of procedure. Fisher’s exact test and χ2 test were used for analysis. Results Two hundred and eighteen patients had anal fistulas and CD. Mean follow-up was 3.2 ± 3 years with mean age 38.8 ± 12.2 years and body mass index of 25.3 ± 6. One hundred and seventeen patients (53.7%) underwent surgery alone (Group A) and 101 patients (46.3%) underwent surgery and biological immunomodulator treatments (Group B). Demographic data and CD history were similar between groups. Surgeries included seton drainge (n = 90), fistulotomy (n = 22), rectal advancement flap (n = 39), fistulotomy plus seton (n = 47) and others (n = 20). Overall improvement in Group A was in 42 patients (35.9%) vs 72 patients (71.3%) in Group B (P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in other studied variables between both groups. Conclusions There is a definite role for biological therapy as an adjuvant to surgery in patients with perianal fistulas and CD.