cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of glutathione peroxidase-1 expression

Studies on selenoprotein expression are revealing a hierarchy of selenoproteins with regard to the extent of regulation by dietary selenium status, and with regard to the dietary selenium requirement for maximal expression. In rats, liver glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPxl), liver type 1 deiodinase, and plasma selenoprotein P have the highest dietary selenium requirements to maintain plateau levels of selenoprotein. Liver GPxl, liver GPx4 and liver thioredoxin reductase-1 have the highest selenium requirements to maintain plateau levels of the mRNA. The 10-fold change in GPxl mRNA with changes in selenium status is the largest extent of regulation for any known selenoprotein. Regulation of selenoprotein translation by selenium, mediated by Sec-tRNA availability, also regulates the level of all selenoproteins. The unique and specific regulation of GPxl expression by selenium is mediated by GPxl mRNA stability, and involves nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. This regulation requires a functional SECIS element and a UGA codon, and the UGA must be followed by an intron. Our recent results indicate that GPxl mRNA in selenium-deficient rat liver is moderately abundant, and that GPxl mRNA increases more than 20-fold with selenium supplementation. We hypothesize that selenium regulation of GPxl expression is a major component of GPxl function in higher animals, and that in this role, GPxl serves as a biological selenium buffer that maintains modest selenium stores for future selenoprotein synthesis. This role of GPxl and the dramatic regulation of GPxl mRNA level by selenium status make GPxl mRNA an excellent molecular biology marker for assessment of selenium requirements.
Next Step Lymphatic Filariasis Eradication: Current Status in the Development of a Vaccine Against Lymphatic Filariasis

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquito-transmitted neglected tropical parasitic infection that causes most gruesome clinical outcome in the patients resulting in severe physical disability. Mass drug administration (MDA), spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO), is one of the most successful elimination strategies for any infection worldwide. India started implementing MDA since 2004 and has successfully reduced the incidence of the infection to a level that can be now easily managed. Few reports of non-compliance to MDA still remain. This has resulted in the presence of residual infections in some areas designated as “hotspots.” Transmission assessment surveys need to identify these “hotspots.” Before the momentum of MDA wanes, it is critically important to capitalize the success gained by MDA by planning toward an eradication strategy for LF in India. Eradication will not be possible with MDA alone. There is a need to develop a more sustainable strategy such as vaccine and vector control along with MDA. This paper reviews the current status of vaccine development against lymphatic filariasis and future prospects.
Reconciling in vitro and in vivo activities of engineered, LacI-based repressor proteins: Contributions of DNA looping and operator sequence variation

One way to create new components for synthetic transcription circuits is to re-purpose naturally occurring transcription factor proteins and their cognate DNA operators. For the proteins, re-engineering can be accomplished via domain recombination (to create chimeric regulators) and/or amino acid substitutions. The resulting activities of new protein regulators are often assessed in vitro using a representative operator. However, when functioning in vivo, transcription factors can interact with multiple operators. We compared in vivo and in vitro results for two LacI-based transcription repressor proteins, their mutational variants, and four operator sequences. The two sets of repressor variants differed in their overall in vivo repression, even though their in vitro binding affinities for the primary operator spanned the same range. Here, we show that the offset can be explained by different abilities to simultaneously bind and “loop” two DNA operators. Further in vitro studies of the looping-competent repressors were carried out to measure binding to a secondary operator sequence. Surprisingly, binding to this operator was largely insensitive to amino acid changes in the repressor protein. In vitro experiments with additional operators and analyses of published data indicates that amino acid changes in these repressor proteins leads to complicated changes in ligand specificity. These results raise new considerations for engineering components of synthetic transcription circuits and – more broadly – illustrate difficulties encountered when trying to extrapolate information about specificity determinant positions among protein homologs.
Familial support following childhood sexual abuse is associated with longer telomere length in adult females

Robust associations between adverse childhood experiences and shortened telomere length exist, but few studies have examined factors that may moderate this association, particularly with a resilience framework. The present study examined the association between exposure to childhood sexual abuse (and abuse severity) and mean telomere length, and whether social support and optimism moderated this association. The sample included 99 White monozygotic female twins, ranging in age from 35 to 70 (Mage = 52.74, SD = 8.55 years), who provided a blood sample for telomere assay, and data on their childhood sexual abuse history, trait optimism, and current social support. Linear mixed effects models were employed to test study hypotheses. There were no effects of exposure to abuse or abuse severity on mean telomere length, nor were there main or moderating effects of optimism, in analyses of the full sample. However, in analyses that only included women exposed to abuse, there was an abuse type × support interaction: among women who experienced abuse in forms other than intercourse, higher levels of social support were associated with longer mean telomere length. Findings from the current study clarify the role of childhood sexual abuse in telomere attrition, and identify one factor that may protect against the negative biological effects of childhood sexual abuse.
Predictors of Balloon Guide Catheter Assistance Success in Stent-retrieval Thrombectomy for an Anterior Circulation Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Introduction Mechanical thrombectomy has become the standard treatment for large vessel occlusion (LVO) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in well-selected patients. Although many devices and strategies exist, the use of a balloon-tip guide catheter (BGC) with stent-retriever (SR) may hold several advantages. We aim to assess the efficacy and identify predictors of technical success of this unique approach. Methods From our prospectively maintained database, we identified consecutive cases in which a BGC was used for stent-retriever thrombectomy in anterior circulation LVO between 2015 and 2016. Baseline and procedural characteristics were captured and analyzed. Predictors of technical and clinical outcomes were identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results Ninety-three patients with AIS-LVO were treated with BGC-assisted mechanical thrombectomy. The mean age was 71 years old (SD 14), with 49.5% male (n=46). Pre-operative IV-tPA was administered in 55.9% (n=52) of cases. The most common location of occlusive thrombus was M1 (64.5%, n=60). Successful recanalization (mTICI=2b-3) was achieved in 86.0% (n=80) of cases while complete revascularization (mTICI-3) was achieved in 56.5% (n=52). There was a first-pass success rate of 52.7% (n=49). At discharge, 38.7% of the patients were functionally independent (mRS≤2). Multivariate analysis revealed that the middle cerebral artery location was strongly predictive of first-pass success, resulting in mTICI =2b revascularization (OR 7.10, p=0.018). Additionally, female gender (OR 2.85, p=0.042) and decreasing mTICI were associated with a poor clinical outcome (mRS≥4; OR 1.76, p=0.008). Conclusions BGC assistance in stent retrieval thrombectomy is safe and effective for AIS due to anterior circulation LVO. Further investigation is required to elucidate the optimal treatment strategy based on patient and disease characteristics.
Scientists who leave research to pursue other careers in science are still scientists.

In their study, Milojevic et al. (1) set out to examine the relationships between number of publications by (primarily academic) research scientists, whether those scientists were lead or supporting authors, and how long they remained in their research career. The authors found trends between how productive (measured by number of publications) researchers were early in their career and how long they remained researchers. Additionally, they found that a growing number of researchers never transition from supporting authors to lead authors, although no relationship exists between being a supporting author and time spent as a researcher. The authors argue that this change in authorship … [↵][1]1Email: shane.michael.hanlon{at}gmail.com. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
P193 Quality improvement in nursing clinical handover

Quality Improvement in Nursing Clinical Handover Nursing Clinical handover(CH) is a crucial point of vulnerability in patient care that can lead to errors and/or adverse events if incomplete or inaccurate (Department of health 2015, Manias et al 2016).The Department of Health clinical guidelines for CH (2015) key recommendations are use of a communication tool such as ISBAR3 (identify, situation, background, assessment, recommendation, readback, risk), involve patient/carer and verbal handover with written documentation. A literature search regarding research into nursing clinical handover yielded multiple articles supporting these recommendation but no gold standard process identified yet. Many research methods were used to evaluate CH both qualitative and quantitative. A change to existing process was necessary to improve timeliness of process, increase efficiency and effectiveness of handover, reduce risk of errors associated with clinical handover, promote interaction during handover as per the national guidelines and to involve parents/patients in handover as per national guidelines A new 3 step CH process, based on the national guidelines and up to date research literature, was introduced on a surgical ward specialising in neurosurgery and craniofacial surgery in Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Dublin in Feb 2108 following an audit of previous practice. Subsequent audit and staff survey identified the benefits of the new process which has since been implemented by other wards in the hospital The new CH process has succeeded in implementing the national guidelines and is a quality improvement project that addresses patient safety, reduction in medication errors, improvements in metrics data, facilitates ‘hello my name is’, and use of the communication tool ISBAR 3. It improves communication with patients and families and also improves time management as nurses can finish on time and reduces by 50% the time a nurse is away from patients for handover. One to one handover in quiet area (incl any undergrad or supernumerary students as per allocated area) Bedside review of each patient with both commencing and finishing nurse Group handover in office with all staff
Refeeding Syndrome in the Critically Ill: a Literature Review and Clinician’s Guide

To provide an overview of current methods of diagnosis and management of refeeding syndrome in the critically ill patient population. Despite recent publications indicating refeeding syndrome (RFS) is an ongoing problem in critically ill patients, there is no standard for the diagnosis and management of this life-threatening condition. There is not a “gold standard” nutrition assessment tool for the critically ill. Currently, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence criteria represent the best clinical assessment tool for RFS. Diagnosis and management with the help of a multidisciplinary metabolic team can decrease morbidity and mortality. Although a universal definition of RFS has yet to be defined, the diagnosis is made in patients with moderate to severe malnutrition who develop electrolyte imbalance after beginning nutritional support. The imbalances potentially can lead to cardiac, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal complications and failure. Standardizing a multidisciplinary nutrition care plan and formulating a protocol for critically ill patients who develop RFS can potentially decrease complication rates and overall mortality.
Triple top line-based identification of sustainable water distribution system conservation targets and pipe replacement timing

This paper introduces a simulation-based sustainable life of pipe (SLP) determination for a water distribution system (WDS) using a triple top line (TTL) sustainability index (SI). SLP is the pipe ...
Ionizing radiation modulates the phenotype and function of human CD4+ induced regulatory T cells.

The use of immunotherapy strategies for the treatment of advanced cancer is rapidly increasing. Most immunotherapies rely on induction of CD8+ tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells that are capable of directly killing cancer cells. Tumors, however, utilize a variety of mechanisms that can suppress anti-tumor immunity. CD4+ regulatory T cells can directly inhibit cytotoxic T cell activity and these cells can be recruited, or induced, by cancer cells allowing escape from immune attack. The use of ionizing radiation as a treatment for cancer has been shown to enhance anti-tumor immunity by several mechanisms including immunogenic tumor cell death and phenotypic modulation of tumor cells. Less is known about the impact of radiation directly on suppressive regulatory T cells. In this study we investigate the direct effect of radiation on human TREG viability, phenotype, and suppressive activity. Both natural and TGF-β1-induced CD4+ TREG cells exhibited increased resistance to radiation (10 Gy) as compared to CD4+ conventional T cells. Treatment, however, decreased Foxp3 expression in natural and induced TREG cells and the reduction was more robust in induced TREGS. Radiation also modulated the expression of signature iTREG molecules, inducing increased expression of LAG-3 and decreased expression of CD25 and CTLA-4. Despite the disconcordant modulation of suppressive molecules, irradiated iTREGS exhibited a reduced capacity to suppress the proliferation of CD8+ T cells. Our findings demonstrate that while human TREG cells are more resistant to radiation-induced death, treatment causes downregulation of Foxp3 expression, as well as modulation in the expression of TREG signature molecules associated with suppressive activity. Functionally, irradiated TGF-β1-induced TREGS were less effective at inhibiting CD8+ T cell proliferation. These data suggest that doses of radiotherapy in the hypofractionated range could be utilized to effectively target and reduce TREG activity, particularly when used in combination with cancer immunotherapies.
Attention effects in working memory that are asymmetric across sensory modalities

A key unanswered question about working memory is the nature of interference between items. At one extreme of existing theories, interference occurs between any two items because of a general capacity limit. At another extreme, interference depends on the similarity between particular features of different items. We examine this question in three experiments by presenting two sets of items on each trial, comprising tones or colors, with three levels of similarity between the two sets: cross-modal, unimodal with different marking features (two different musical instruments or shapes), and unimodal with the same marking feature. Another question is the extent to which the entry of presented items into working memory is obligatory or optional, which we examined by requiring retention of the first, the second, or both sets of stimuli for a recognition test shortly after the presentation of the two sets. The combination of the set similarity and attention manipulations allows us to draw conclusions about the nature of working-memory storage. The findings were not entirely in accord with any pre-existing theory. The effects of feature similarity were present in both modalities but more pronounced for sounds, whereas the detrimental effects of attention to both sets for retention occurred only for visual stimuli. Based on the findings we suggest a new, hybrid conception of working memory storage.
ExHPD: Exploiting Human, Physical, and Driving Behaviors to Detect Vehicle Cyber Attacks

As increasingly more vehicles are connected to the Internet, cyber attacks against vehicles are becoming a real threat with devastating consequences. This highlights the importance of detecting vehicle cyber attacks before fatal accidents occur. One natural method for tackling this problem is to adapt existing approaches for detecting attacks in enterprize networks, but which has achieved limited success. In this article, we propose a new approach to treat vehicles as cyber–physical–human systems, leading to a novel framework called exploiting human, physical and driving behaviors to detect vehicle cyber attacks (ExHPD). The framework has four detectors: 1) a human detector; 2) a physical behavior-based detector; 3) a driving behavior-based detector (DBD); and 4) an integrated physical and DBD. As the proof of concept, we recruited 50 drivers to conduct institutional review board-approved simulation-based driving tests. The experimental results show that ExHPD is effective to detect vehicle cyber attacks and avoid deadly crashes by offering drivers adequate time to safely pull over their compromised vehicle. The impact of driver’s impulsiveness (one aspect of human factors) on the detectors’ effectiveness and limitations of the present study are discussed. Future research directions toward an ultimately usable solution are outlined.
Using the Drosophila Transcriptional Reporter of Intracellular Calcium (TRIC) to examine lasting ethanol-induced changes in neuroexcitability

The Drosophila transcriptional reporter of intracellular calcium (TRIC) is a genetic tool used to measure lasting changes in neuroexcitability. Both pan-neuronal and dopaminergic cells were examined with TRIC to test the hypothesis that ethanol exposure causes lasting changes in adult brain neuroexcitability. We found little to no impact on TRIC signal following acute and repeated ethanol vapor exposures. This work shows that TRIC may be useful in future investigations such as developmental or chronic drug exposure paradigms.
Dislodgement of tissue expander ports in a patient without trauma or MRI history

SUMMARY Tissue expansion is involved in the majority of breast reconstruction procedures in the United States. We describe a case of a 56-year-old woman who was found to have bilateral dislodged magnetic ports in her breast tissue expanders at her surgery to replace the expanders with permanent implants. An awareness that this can occur would be helpful for all plastic surgeons who perform breast reconstruction.
Steroids and antibiotics for treatment of acute asthma exacerbations in African-American children

Background There has been great debate surrounding the appropriate treatment regimens in children who present with acute asthma exacerbations secondary to upper respiratory tract infections. Objective To determine whether treatment with corticosteroids alone or in combination with antibiotics will decrease respiratory symptoms in children who develop asthma exacerbations secondary to upper respiratory tract infections. Methods A retrospective cohort control study involving 86 African-American children, ages 5-16, with mild intermittent asthma. The patients were treated with an albuterol inhaler (control group), inhaler plus five days of Prednisone; or inhaler, Prednisone, and 10 days of Amoxicillin. All patients were assessed regarding peak flows, albuterol inhaler usage, and symptomatology. Results On follow up five- to seven days after presentation, the corticosteroids group demonstrated a marked improvement in peak flows (88% versus 77%) and a significantly lower albuterol inhaler usage rate (2.2 versus 3.7 times a day) relative to the control group. The corticosteroids plus antibiotics group demonstrated peak flows (86% versus 88%) and inhaler usage (2.4 versus 2.2) nearly identical to corticosteroids alone, but the severity of underlying respiratory symptoms was significantly less. Conclusion A five-day course of oral corticosteroids will significantly improve lung function and lessen severity of asthma symptoms. The addition of antibiotics to the treatment regimen has no additive effect on the reactive airway symptoms.
A psychocutaneous profile of psoriasis patients who are stress reactors : A study of 127 patients

Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing, cutaneous condition with a 1%-2% prevalence in the general population. About 40% of psoriatics report that psychosocial stress significantly exacerbates their condition. However, the clinical characteristics of the subgroup of psoriatic patients who are stress reactors have not been delineated. At a practical clinical level it is therefore difficult to implement specific psychosocial treatments among the psoriatic population. In this study, we compared the psychocutaneous characteristics of patients who reported that stress exacerbated their psoriasis, i.e., the high stress reactors (N = 64) to the subgroup who reported no significant association between stress and their psoriasis, i.e., the low stress reactors (N = 63). The high stress reactors had more disfiguring disease clinically (p less than 0.02); psychologically they tended to rely more upon the approval of others (p less than 0.05) and experienced more psoriasis-related daily stress (p less than 0.005). The high stress reactors also reported more flare-ups of their psoriasis during the 6 months prior to admission (p less than 0.05). We have shown that the high stress reactors can be clinically delineated from the low stress reactors. Certain psychosocial interventions will most likely decrease the morbidity associated with psoriasis among the high stress reactors, and may possibly even result in a decline in the number of major flare-ups of the psoriasis.
Transcutaneous bilirubin measurements in full-term infants.

A total of 292 transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurements were performed in 157 white full-term infants: 157 were obtained from the forehead and 135 from the midsternum. TcB measurements correlated well with serum bilirubin determinations (r = .93, P less than .0001). The sensitivity of the test was 100% and the specificity 97%. It was possible to establish guidelines for the TcB measurement which identified all infants whose serum bilirubin concentrations exceeded 12.9 mg/100 ml (221 mumoles/liter) with no false-negative and only five false-positive determinations (3%). The positive predictive value for the TcB measurements was 58%. This implies that, in our population, an infant with a TcB index greater than or equal to 24 has a 58% chance of having a serum bilirubin concentration greater than 12.9 mg/100 ml. The negative predictive value was 100%. Thus, a negative test will correctly predict the absence of hyperbilirubinemia in all cases. As these measurements were obtained prospectively in a well-baby population with a prevalence of hyperbilirubinemia (greater than 12.9 mg/100 ml) of 4.5%, the positive predictive value should be applicable to other similar populations and will, in fact, increase in populations with a higher prevalence of hyperbilirubinemia. TcB measurements can be recommended for the identification of significant neonatal jaundice in full-term infants. It is important to recognize, however, that because of potential variations in TcB meters as well as serum bilirubin measurements in different laboratories, each institution should establish its own criteria for the use of this instrument.
Six-coordinate ferric porphyrins containing bidentate N-t-butyl-N-nitrosohydroxylaminato ligands: structure, magnetism, IR spectroelectrochemisty, and reactivity

NONOates (diazeniumdiolates) containing the [X{N2O2}](-) functional group are frequently employed as nitric oxide (NO) donors in biology, and some NONOates have been shown to bind to metalloenzymes. We report the preparation, crystal structures, detailed magnetic behavior, redox properties, and reactivities of the first isolable alkyl C-NONOate complexes of heme models, namely (OEP)Fe(η(2)-ON(t-Bu)NO) (1) and (TPP)Fe(η(2)-ON(t-Bu)NO) (2) (OEP = octaethylporphyrinato dianion, TPP = tetraphenylporphyrinato dianion). The compounds display the unusual NONOate O,O-bidentate binding mode for porphyrins, resulting in significant apical Fe displacements (+0.60 A for 1, and +0.69 A for 2) towards the axial ligands. Magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements made from 1.8-300 K at magnetic fields from 0.02 to 5 T, yielded magnetic moments of 5.976 and 5.974 Bohr magnetons for 1 and 2, respectively, clearly identifying them as high-spin (S = 5/2) ferric compounds. Variable-frequency (9.4 GHz and 34.5 GHz) EPR measurements, coupled with computer simulations, confirmed the magnetization results and yielded more precise values for the spin Hamiltonian parameters: g(avg) = 2.00 ± 0.03, |D| = 3.89 ± 0.09 cm(-1), and E/D = 0.07 ± 0.01 for both compounds, where D and E are the axial and rhombic zero-field splittings. IR spectroelectrochemistry studies reveal that the first oxidations of these compounds occur at the porphyrin macrocycles and not at the Fe-NONOate moieties. Reactions of 1 and 2 with a histidine mimic (1-methylimidazole) generate RNO and NO, both of which may bind to the metal center if sterics allow, as shown by a comparative study with the Cupferron complex (T(p-OMe)PP)Fe(η(2)-ON(Ph)NO). Protonation of 1 and 2 yields N2O as a gaseous product, presumably from the initial generation of HNO that dimerizes to the observed N2O product.
Idioms of distress, ethnopsychology, and the clinical encounter in Haiti's Central Plateau.

Haiti's 2010 earthquake mobilized mental health and psychosocial interventions from across the globe. However, failure to understand how psychological distress is communicated between lay persons and health workers in rural clinics, where most Haitians access care, has been a major limitation in providing mental health services. The goal of this study was to map idioms of distress onto Haitian ethnopsychologies in a way that promotes improved communication between lay persons and clinicians in rural Haiti. In Haiti's Central Plateau, an ethnographic study was conducted in May and June 2010, utilizing participant observation in rural clinics, 31 key informant interviews, 11 focus groups, and four case studies. Key informants included biomedical practitioners, traditional healers, community leaders, and municipal and religious figures. Deductive and inductive themes were coded using content analysis (inter-rater reliability > 0.70). Forty-four terms for psychological distress were identified. Head (tet) or heart (ke) terms comprise 55% of all qualitative text segments coded for idioms of distress. Twenty-eight of 142 observed patient-clinician contacts involved persons presenting with tet terms, while 29 of the 142 contacts were presentations with ke terms. Thus, 40% of chief complaints were conveyed in either head or heart terms. Interpretations of these terms differed between lay and clinical groups. Lay respondents had broad and heterogeneous interpretations, whereas clinicians focused on biomedical concepts and excluded discussion of mental health concerns. This paper outlines preliminary evidence regarding the psychosocial dimensions of tet and ke-based idioms of distress and calls for further exploration. Holistic approaches to mental healthcare in Haiti's Central Plateau should incorporate local ethnopsychological frameworks alongside biomedical models of healthcare.
Cytokine gene activity in AML cells in vivo in patients

The proliferation of acute myelogenous leukemia cells is dependent upon cytokine stimulation. Additionally, there is a body of literature which reports that leukemia cells produce GMCSF, IL6, and other cytokines. The study reported here, using an rt-multiplex polymerase method, determined the presence or absence of transcripts in freshly obtained AML cells for the following cytokine or cytokine-related genes: IL 1b, IL1ra, TNFa, GMCSF, IL6, flt 3, and hSCF. This demonstrated that leukemia cell populations usually contain transcripts for IL1b, TNFa, flt 3 and flt 3 ligand in vivo and that transcripts for the other cytokines only appear after the leukemia cells are processed in vitro. The presence of TNFa transcripts appears to be associated with resistance to remission induction therapy. Furthermore, the transcript profile of the leukemia cells can change during remission induction therapy. The data also demonstrate the assessment of cytokine production by leukemia cells after in vitro manipulation should not be extrapolated to the in vivo situation. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
In vivo staining of the mammalian retina by means of a simple fluorescent method.

Abstract Intraocular injections of microliter volumes of a solution containing the fluorescent stain Fluoro-Gold produces an intense and long-lasting in vivo stain of the cells forming the neural retina of rats and mice. The label is incorporated by the neuro-retinal cells. while other intraocular structures such as the lens, iris, ciliary processes and even the optic nerve head exclude it. The fluorophore can be easily demonstrated under epi-illumination by means of commonly used fluorescence filter combinations. The stain has proven to be compatible with cryostat sectioning and with plastic embedding. Furthermore, electron dense lysosomal and lamellar bodies in retinal neurons which have incorporated the stain may provide a means for identification of Fluoro-Gold labeled cells at the electron microscopic level which is consistent with previous results. Intraocular injection of Fluoro-Gold fills the need for a reliable, simple, and robust in vivo and in toto stain of the neural retina.
Time-mapped harmonic balance

Matrix-implicit Krylov-subspace methods have made it possible to efficiently compute the periodic steady-state of large circuits using either the time-domain shooting-Newton method or the frequency-domain harmonic balance method. However, the harmonic balance methods are not so efficient at computing steady-state solutions with rapid transitions, and the low-order integration methods typically used with shooting-Newton methods are not so efficient when high accuracy is required. In this paper we describe a Time-Mapped Harmonic Balance method (TMHB), a fast Krylov-subspace spectral method that overcomes the inefficiency of standard harmonic balance in the case of rapid transitions. TMHB features a non-uniform grid to resolve the sharp features in the signals. Results on several examples demonstrate that the TMHB method achieves several orders of magnitude improvement in accuracy compared to the standard harmonic balance method. The TMHB method is also several times faster than the standard harmonic balance method in reaching identical solution accuracy.
New Temporal Filtering Scheme to Reduce Delay in Wavelet-Based Video Coding

Scalability is an important desirable property of video codecs. Wavelet-based motion-compensated temporal filtering provides the most powerful scheme for scalable video coding and provides high-compression efficiency that competes with the current state of art codecs. However, the delay introduced by the temporal filtering schemes is sometimes very high, which makes them unsuitable for many real-time applications. In this paper, we propose a new temporal filter set to minimize delay in 3D wavelet-based video coding. The new filter set gives a performance at par with existing longer filters. The length of the filter can vary from two to any number of frames depending on delay requirements. If the frames are processed as separate groups of frames (GOFs), the proposed filter set will not have any boundary effects at the GOF. Experimental results are presented and conclusions are drawn.
The emission spectrum of 200Hg127I

Abstract The ultraviolet emission systems of HgI—C → X, D → X, F3 → X, G → X, and H → X—are photographed and analyzed using tesla-discharge sources containing isotopically pure 200Hg. The previous assignment for F3 → X is revised, the main change being a decrease by 3 units in the v″ numbering. Results for the other systems corroborate the existing interpretations, except that for C → X there are prominent intensity gaps in the unresolved rotational structure of the bands, not reported previously for “natural” HgI spectra. These gaps are attributed to perturbations of the C state by high levels (v ≈ 90) of the B state. The data for these systems are combined with existing B → X data for 200Hg127I and 200Hg129I and fitted simultaneously to yield optimal vibrational parameters for all states. In this analysis the X state is fitted to a mixed representation—a polynomial in ( v + 1 2 ) for v ≤ 20 and a near-dissociation expansion for v ≥ 20, with Gv and its first derivative constrained to be continuous at v = 20. The revised estimate of D e for X is 2800 ± 40 cm−1. The recommended vibrational parameters (cm−1) for v ≤ 20 are ωe = 125.41, ωexe = 1.009, ωeye = −0.0159.
Periplatform carbonate flux in the northern Bahamas

In a preliminary effort to quantify the off-bank transport and vertical flux of shallow-water carbonates, a sediment trap was moored at 500 m in Northwest Providence Channel, northern, Bahamas. Two months of particulate flux data collected during a fair-weather, storm-free period revealed that the flux components differed significantly from that of the underlying sediments. Planktonic foraminifera tests, pteropod shells, fragments and coccoliths contributed 61% to the total flux of carbonate material, whereas bank-derived carbonates constituted 39%. Coccolith calcite represented half of the carbonate mass flux in the fine size fraction (< 63 μm) of the trap material. In contrast, the underlying periplatform ooze sediments consist of 80% bank-derived and 20% planktonic carbonate components. The results suggest that the flux and deposition of bank-derived carbonates in the periplatform environment are variable on a temporal scale, where a relatively minor proportion of bank-derived components is deposited during calm, storm-free periods, with the balance delivered during the passage of frequent, low-amplitude seasonal storms and occasional hurricanes.
Counterfeit electronics: A rising threat in the semiconductor manufacturing industry

As the supply chain of electronic circuits grows more complex, with parts coming from different suppliers scattered across the globe, counterfeit integrated circuits (ICs) are becoming a serious challenge which calls for immediate solutions. Counterfeiting includes re-labeling legitimate chips or illegitimately replicating chips and deceptively selling them as made by the legitimate manufacturer, or simply selling fake chips. Counterfeiting also includes providing defective parts or simply previously used parts recycled from scrapped assemblies. Obviously, there is a multitude of legal and financial implications involved in such activities and even if these devices initially work, they may have reduced lifetime and may pose reliability risks. In this tutorial, we provide a comprehensive review of existing techniques which seek to prevent and/or detect counterfeit integrated circuits. Various approaches are discussed and an advanced machine learning-based method employing parametric measurements is described in detail.
An Advisory Committee to Review, Evaluate, and Plan Dairy Extension Programs

Abstract We describe utilization of a Dairy Extension Advisory Committee comprised primarily of Extension agents for planning, reviewing, and evaluating Dairy Extension education programs, preparation of extension literature, development of Extension agent in-service education, and problem identification. A procedure is outlined for measuring the performance of Extension specialists, and suggestions are made for improving this evaluation.
ABC of work related disorders. Occupational dermatitis.

Sheeted eczema over dorsal aspect of hand and up forearm due to allergic contact dermatitis to a carbamate accelerator in protective rubber gloves. Many dermatoses may have occupational relevance, but the overwhelming majority are dermatitic. In current terminology “dermatitis” is used synonymously with “eczema” to describe inflammatory reactions in the skin with a particular spectrum of clinical and histopathological characteristics. Dermatitis may be endogenous or exogenous, or a combination of these, and may be aggravated by pathogens. A dermatitis may be entirely endogenous (constitutional) or be entirely exogenous (contact). Exogenous dermatitis may be caused by irritant or allergic contact reactions. A dermatitis often has a multifactorial aetiology and may be aggravated by the presence of pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. When considering a hand eczema it is always worth investigating the possible role of contributory factors and assessing the importance of these. Atopic hand eczema is a common example of an endogenous eczema in which exogenous factors normally compound the situation. An occupational dermatitis is one where the inflammatory reaction is caused entirely by occupational contact factors or where such agents are partly responsible by contributing to the reaction on compromised skin. In most cases occupationally related dermatitis affects the hands alone, though there may be spread onto the forearms. Occasionally, the face may be the prime site of inflammation (for example, with airborne contact factors), and other sites may be affected. Dermatitis of occupational cause may be suspected when Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by direct chemical or physical damage to the skin. Everyone is susceptible to …
Formation of Fast Excited H Atoms. III. Collisional Dissociation of H 2 + and H 3 + on Helium

The collisional dissociation of 75- to 700-keV ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{H}}_{3}^{+}$ by impact on targets of He is studied. The formation of excited hydrogen is detected by quantitative measurement of collisionally induced Balmer-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ emission; the contributions from $3s$, $3p$, and $3d$ levels are separated by a method that utilizes the different lifetime of the excited states. Cross sections are almost the same for each of the $3s$, $3p$, and $3d$ states; they vary slowly with projectile energy.
Effect of Schiff base formation on the function of the calcitriol receptor

The genomic action of calcitriol is mediated through the interaction of the calcitriol receptor (VDR) with vitamin D response elements (VDREs) of the target genes. We have shown that the interaction of VDRs with VDREs is inhibited by uremic toxins. We hypothesize that uremic toxins form Schiff bases with the lysine residues of the VDR DNA binding domain and inhibit the VDR interaction with the VDRE. In this study, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was used as a probe to test Schiff base formation as the inhibitory mechanism, since it forms Schiff bases with steroid receptors. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate inhibited the VDR binding to the VDREs and chemically modified the DNA binding domain of the VDR in vitro. The inhibition was reversed when pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was preincubated with lysine. Further, this chemical agent also blocked the production of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) enzyme induced by calcitriol in cells transfected with a constructed VDRE attached to a CAT reporter gene. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that pyridoxal 5'-phosphate could interact with the VDR and impair its DNA binding within cells. Since induction of 24-hydroxylase synthesis is a receptor mediated process, we studied the effect of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate on the synthesis of renal 24-hydroxylase in rats. When pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was infused to rats, renal 24-hydroxylase activity was suppressed, consequently, degradation of calcitriol was also reduced in these animals. Thus, chemicals capable of Schiff base formation potentially could alter the physiological function of VDR and calcitriol.
INFLUENCE OF PROGESTERONE UPON THE FERTILITY OF GONADOTROPHIN-TREATED FEMALE RABBITS

A relation between the stage of the reproductive cycle at the time of treatment with gonadotrophins and the fertility of the artificially ovulated ova has been reported in rabbits (Murphree, in press), cattle (Zavadovskii et al., 1935; Casida et al., 1940, 1943) and sheep (Murphree et al., 1944). Females treated at a time when the ovaries contain functional corpora lutea have shown little or no fertility, whereas good fertility has been shown by those females treated while in the follicular phase of the sexual cycle. Although there is evidence suggesting a relationship between the presence of corpora lutea and infertility, no adequate analysis of the endocrine basis for this phenomenon has been made. The previous studies have usually involved treatments which produced superovulation and the preparations used for the ovulating stimulus (unfractionated or luteinizing extracts of the pituitary gland injected intravenously) undoubtedly contained rather large amounts of the hormones necessary for the productio...
Nuclear matrix attachment regions and plant gene expression

Higher-order chromatin organization is presumed to be mediated in part by DNA sequences that bind to the insoluble nuclear matrix. The function of these ‘matrix attachment regions' (MARs) has been investigated in transgenic plants. The studies indicated that MARs can reduce variation in, and increase, transgene expression levels. However, the hypothesis that MARs fix chromatin loops to the nuclear matrix and insulate regulatory domains presently lacks firm confirmatory evidence, and alternative models and experimental approaches need to be considered.
Integrating Sensors With Nanostructures for Biomedical Applications

This paper presents the fabrication of sensors that are integrated with nanostructures and bio-functionalized to create novel devices for biomedical applications. Biosensors are in great demand for various applications including for the agriculture and food industries, environmental monitoring, and medical diagnostics. Much research is being focused on the use of nanostructures (nanowires, nanotubes, nanoparticles, etc.) to provide for miniaturization and improved performance of these devices. The use of nanostructures is favorable for such applications since their sizes are closer to that of biological and chemical species and therefore, improve the signal generated. Moreover, their high surface-to-volume ratio results in devices with very high sensitivity. The use of nanotechnology leads to smaller, lower-power smart devices. Thus, this paper presents the integration of sensors with nanostructures for biomedical applications, specifically, glucose sensing. In the work presented, a glucose biosensor and its fabrication process flow are described. The device is based on electrochemical sensing using a working electrode with bio-functionalized zinc oxide (ZnO) nano-rods. Among all metal oxide nanostructures, ZnO nano-materials play a significant role as a sensing element in biosensors due to their properties such as high isoelectric point (IEP), fast electron transfer, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and chemical stability which are very crucial parameters to achieve high sensitivity. Amperometric enzyme electrodes based on glucose oxidase (GOx) are used due to their stability and high selectivity to glucose. The device also consists of silicon dioxide and titanium layers as well as platinum working and counter electrodes and a silver/silver chloride reference electrode. The chlorination process on the reference electrode was optimized for various times using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS or EDX) measurements. The ZnO nanorods were grown using the hydrothermal method and will be bio-functionalized with GOx for electrochemical sensing. Once completed, the sensors will be tested to characterize their performance, including their sensitivity and stability.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Energy-aware on-line algorithms for image transmission over wireless LAN

In this paper, we analyze the performance of on-line image transmission algorithms designed to minimize wastage of battery energy and bandwidth over bursty wireless channels. These algorithms estimate the wireless channel state in an online fashion and adapt accordingly. Theoretical basis for these algorithms are presented using competitive analysis. Computational and transmission energy consumption factors are taken into account. Experimental results show that some of the proposed algorithms can result in significant performance improvement.
No effect of a common allelic variant in the reelin gene on intermediate phenotype measures of brain structure, brain function, and gene expression.

Background A recent genome-wide association study linked a common variant in RELN (rs7341475G) with risk for schizophrenia in women. In the largest neuroimaging intermediate phenotype study reported so far, we evaluated the effect of rs7341475 on an extended array of different neuroscientific measures. Methods Brain structure was evaluated with voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging. Brain function during working memory was examined with functional magnetic resonance imaging. The RELN expression was determined in postmortem brain tissue of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. A total of 736 datasets were examined (voxel-based morphometry: n = 230, diffusion tensor imaging: n = 93, functional magnetic resonance imaging: n = 308, RELN expression: n = 105). Results Our analyses did not provide evidence for a significant main effect of gene or gene × sex interaction effect on any of the examined measures. Conclusions This study does not suggest a significant impact of rs7341475 on brain structure, function, and RELN expression, arguing that this single nucleotide polymorphism and others linked with it do not affect brain measures related to the biology of schizophrenia.
Affinity for the dopamine D2 receptor predicts neuroleptic potency in blocking the reinforcing effect of MFB stimulation.

Abstract For each of nine neuroleptics, the dose required to block sustained responding for intracranial stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle was determined in the rat. To check whether the blocking of responding was due to effects on reinforcement as opposed to effects on performance factors, the rats were always tested for task-specific extinction of responding by transferring them to another testing box once they refused to respond in the first testing box. With all the neuroleptics, task-specific extinction was seen in at least some of the animals. Task-specific extinction was not seen in control tests with a general anaesthetic (Chloropent) nor with picrotoxin, a drug that can produce pseudo-extinction. Affinity for the dopamine D 2 receptor (from in vitro studies) predicted neuroleptic potency in blocking reinforcement, whereas affinity for other aminergic receptors (D 1 , D 3 , the α-adrenergic receptor, S 1 , and S 2 ) did not.