cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Geographic Information Systems to Create and Analyze Statistical Surfaces of Population and Risk for Environmental Justice Analysis

Objective. Methodological issues associated with the conventional statistical approach to environmental justice research, such as scale of analysis, continue to make assessments of environmental injustice problematic. Geographic information systems (GIS) can be used to facilitate multiscale analysis through the generation of statistical surface representations of both socioeconomic character and environmental risk. Methods. As a case study, U.S. Bureau of the Census and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data sets were used to generate statistical surfaces of socioeconomic character and environmental risk for the southeast Pennsylvania region. Results. Analysis of these statistical surfaces reveals that socioeconomic status decreases with proximity to, and density of, hazardous facilities. Conclusions. Further research calls for incorporating other relevant information, such as amount and toxicity of toxic release, into GIS-based statistical surface representations of risk.
Tachyon-free dual model with a positive-intercept trajectory

Abstract A dual-reasonance model with two kinds of trajectories split by one-half unit is constructed. The lowest mass state on the leading trajectory has spin one, although the G -parity assignment are unsuitable for an identification with π's and ρ's.
Programmable variable stiffness 2D surface design

Variable stiffness features can contribute to many engineering applications ranging from robotic joints to shock and vibration mitigation. In addition, variable stiffness can be used in the tactile feedback to provide the sense of touch to the user. A key component in the proposed device is the Biased Magnetorheological Elastomer (B-MRE) where iron particles within the elastomer compound develop a dipole interaction energy. A novel feature of this device is to introduce a field induced shear modulus bias via a permanent magnet which provides an offset with a current input to the electromagnetic control coil to change the compliance or modulus of a base elastomer in both directions (softer or harder). The B-MRE units can lead to the design of a variable stiffness surface. In this preliminary work, both computational and experimental results of the B-MRE are presented along with a preliminary design of the programmable variable stiffness surface design.
Looking Toward the Future by Looking at the Past: Social Activism and Social History

This article examines the value of social history for researchers interested in current social problems. It reviews the critiques of early leaders of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) of a particular problem area—social power—and surveys research practices subsequent to these criticisms to see if there was any response to them. The impact of ignoring specific individual and global circumstances, and the effect of implicit theories and unexamined definitions, are considered as factors impeding the development of a truly problem-focused social psychology. An integration of social history, the sociology of knowledge, and social psychology is suggested as an alternative to the search for “timeless truths.”
Engineering Blood Vessels Through Geometry

Many believe that although the 20th century was the century of physics, the 21st century will be remembered by breakthroughs in biology. One of the most exciting of these biological advances is the possibility of engineering spare body parts on demand. If successful, shortage in organ donations and long patient waiting lists would become a thing of the past. Early successes in tissue engineering by the pioneers in the field, however, were hampered by poor patency after implantation. Vascularization and integration with host tissue have been proven essential to ensure survival of engineered tissues after implantation. Indeed, these issues continue to be the major roadblocks to implantation of tissues in humans. Now, Barnanski et al. have used microtissue molding to generate cords of endothelial cells to pursue an alternative solution. In their approach, a simple twist is introduced to answer an old question: “Does tissue architecture need to be recapitulated in order to ensure function?” They suspended a mix of endothelial cells (ECs) and mesenchymal cells in a collagen type I solution and then inserted the mix in a parallel array of 150-μm-wide channels. In 4 hours, the ECs self-assembled within the microchannels to form cords, whereas mesenchymal cells remained randomly distributed within the collagen matrix. The cell-seeded construct was then peeled off the mold, further embedded in fibrin, and implanted in athymic mice for up to 28 days. The initial large vessels observed 3 and 5 days after implantation within the engineered scaffold already revealed presence of blood and smooth-muscle cells. After 7 days, and sustained after 28 days in vivo, the large vessels remodeled into smaller and more stable capillaries made of a mixture of both graft and host endothelial cells. Most excitingly, coimplantation of EC microchannels with human hepatocytes showed improved function of hepatic tissue. Thus, architecture matters when it comes to engineering functional microvasculature. With this study, the gap between lab and clinic for engineered constructs is only becoming narrower. J. D. Barnanski et al. , Geometric control of vascular networks to enhance engineered tissue integration and function. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. , published online 22 April 2013 (10.1073/pnas.1217796110). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/04/17/1217796110
Seasat detection of waves, currents and inlet discharge

A new era of remote sensing for coastal and oceanographic monitoring was born on June 26, 1978 with the launch of Seasat. Duck-X was a 2 month experiment conducted during August to October 1978 off the east coast of the U.S.A. for the validation of the Seasat synthetic aperture radar (SAR). During this field experiment, various oceanographic phenomena were monitored. Ground truth observations of these phenomena have been correlated with Seasat SAR imagery. The ground truth sensors included airborne photographic and radar imagery, meteorological satellite imagery, land based radars, and conventional wave gauges. The direction and length of the principal ocean wave trains are compared for the periods of Seasat overflight of the Duck-X area. During these overflights significant wave heights were 1.5 m and less and the maximum wave period was 15 sec. The current correlations concentrate on the western boundary of the Gulf Stream and its associated eddy structure. Inlet outflow is shown for inlets on the east coast of the U.S.A. This ground truth study has indicated that the SAR imagery contains an unanticipated abundance of information on a variety of oceanographic and coastal phenomena.
The Instability of a Layer of Fluid Heated below and Subject to Coriolis Forces. II

This paper is devoted to examining the stability of a horizontal layer of fluid heated below, subject to an effective gravity ( g ) acting (approximately) in the direction of the vertical and the Coriolis force resulting from a rotation of angular velocity Ω about a direction making an angle ϑ with the vertical. It is shown that the effect of the Coriolis force is to inhibit the onset of convection, the extent of the inhibition depending on the value of the non-dimensional parameter T = 4 d 4 Ω 2 cos 2 ϑ/ v 2 , where d denotes the depth of the layer and v is the kinematic viscosity. Tables of the critical Rayleigh numbers ( R c ) for the onset of convection are provided for the three cases ( a ) both bounding surfaces free, ( b ) both bounding surfaces rigid and ( c ) one bounding surface free and the other rigid. In all three cases R c →constant x T 2/3 as T →∞ ; the corresponding dependence of the critical temperature gradient (— β c ) for the onset of convection, on v and d , is gαβ c = constant x ĸ (Ω 4 cos 4 ϑ/ d 4 v ) 1/2 ( ĸ is the coefficient of thermometric conductivity and α is the coefficient of volume expansion). The question whether thermal instability can set in as oscillations of increasing amplitude (i.e. as 9overstability’) is examined for case ( a ), and it is shown that if ĸ/v ĸ/v >1.478, over-stability is the first type of instability to arise for all T greater than a certain determinate value. It further appears that these latter possibilities should be considered in meteorological and astrophysical applications of the theory.
Fish and fish-eating birds at the Salton Sea: a century of boom and bust

Abstract We reconstruct historical trends in both fish and fish-eating bird populations at the Salton Sea, California since the Sea's formation in 1905. The fish community has undergone dramatic shifts in composition, from freshwater species present in the initial wash-in to stocked marine species to dominance by an unintentionally introduced cichlid. Historical catch records, creel censuses, and gill-netting studies suggest that total fish biomass in the lake increased dramatically throughout the 1970s, crashed in the late 1980s, recovered in the mid-1990s, and crashed again in the early 2000s. We speculate that crashes in fish populations are primarily due to three physiological stressors—rising salinity, cold winter temperatures, and high sulfide levels and anoxia associated with mixing events. The trends in fish biomass are mirrored in population trends of both breeding and wintering fish-eating birds, as indexed by a number of independent bird surveys. In contrast, most non-piscivorous birds at the S...
Relationship between the auditory brainstem response and auditory nerve thresholds in cats with hearing loss.

Abstract This study explored the relationship between the auditory brainstem response (ABR) and auditory nerve sensitivity in cats with normal hearing and with noise-induced permanent threshold shifts. A statistically significant linear correlation was found between each cat’s ABR thresholds and the most sensitive single neuron thresholds at the same frequency. ABR thresholds were approximately 25 dB higher than the thresholds of the most sensitive neural responses in cats with normal hearing. The two measures produced equivalent thresholds at impaired frequencies in subjects with sensorineural hearing loss. Two factors may have contributed to this convergence of ABR and neural thresholds. First, our results suggest that the elevation of the most sensitive neural responses led to a compressed threshold distribution. Consequently, only a narrow range of sound levels separated stimulus conditions that activated relatively few fibers from those that were sufficient to evoke a robust population response. In addition, the threshold responses of impaired auditory nerve fibers may have been augmented by activity in the more sensitive ‘off-frequency’ regions that surrounded a discrete cochlear lesion. Across varying degrees of hearing loss, the ABR maintained a systematic relationship to auditory nerve fiber thresholds, and therefore has the potential to be used as a functional assay of cochlear pathology.
Leaf wall yield threshold of field-grown soybean measured by vapour pressure psychrometry

Abstract. Wall-yield threshold pressures of growing leaves obtained from field-grown soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) plants were measured in vapour pressure psychrometers. The plants were grown either under well-watered or water deficit conditions. Wall-yield threshold pressures were measured at night when turgor pressure was expected to exceed the wall-yield threshold pressure both in drought-stressed and well-watered growing leaves. Wall-yield threshold pressure increased as the area of the growing leaves increased in both treatments. After an 8-d drought, wall-yield threshold pressure in leaves which had recently emerged from the meristem was 0.50 MPa, while in well-watered leaves these values ranged from 0.03 to 0.23 MPa. Upon release from drought, wall-yield threshold pressure rapidly returned to unstressed values.
QoSMap: Achieving Quality and Resilience through Overlay Construction

We describe QoSMap, an overlay construction mechanism which computes high quality overlay networks for applications having stringent constraints on hop-degrading QoS metrics and provides resilience against the Internet’s unpredictable network behavior. QoSMap implements three features to achieve the QoS and resiliency goals. In order to provide high QoS, it constructs overlay communication edges with short but efficient underlay paths. In case of QoS violations due to changing network conditions, QoSMap utilizes supplemental backup paths, which are specifically constructed in order to extend overlay lifetimes. QoSMap also avoids nodes that have experienced recent QoS failure, further improving the resilience of the overlays. PlanetLab experiments prove the ability of QoSMap to construct efficient and resilient overlays for applications with stringent QoS constraints of latency and packet loss for a variety of topologies. QoSMap-constructed overlays significantly outperform overlays constructed without the three QoSMap features. The results also reveal the usability and effectiveness of QoSMap to construct near-optimal solution in a short amount of time, compared to the optimal solution which has a very high time complexity.
An ontology-driven semantic mashup of gene and biological pathway information: Application to the domain of nicotine dependence

Objectives: This paper illustrates how Semantic Web technologies (especially RDF, OWL, and SPARQL) can support information integration and make it easy to create semantic mashups (semantically integrated resources). In the context of understanding the genetic basis of nicotine dependence, we integrate gene and pathway information and show how three complex biological queries can be answered by the integrated knowledge base. Methods: We use an ontology-driven approach to integrate two gene resources (Entrez Gene and HomoloGene) and three pathway resources (KEGG, Reactome and BioCyc), for five organisms, including humans. We created the Entrez Knowledge Model (EKoM), an information model in OWL for the gene resources, and integrated it with the extant BioPAX ontology designed for pathway resources. The integrated schema is populated with data from the pathway resources, publicly available in BioPAX-compatible format, and gene resources for which a population procedure was created. The SPARQL query language is used to formulate queries over the integrated knowledge base to answer the three biological queries. Results: Simple SPARQL queries could easily identify hub genes, i.e., those genes whose gene products participate in many pathways or interact with many other gene products. The identification of the genes expressed in the brain turned out to be more difficult, due to the lack of a common identification scheme for proteins. Conclusion: Semantic Web technologies provide a valid framework for information integration in the life sciences. Ontology-driven integration represents a flexible, sustainable and extensible solution to the integration of large volumes of information. Additional resources, which enable the creation of mappings between information sources, are required to compensate for heterogeneity across namespaces. Resource page: http://knoesis.wright.edu/research/lifesci/integration/structured_data/JBI-2008/
Interobserver Reliability of Computed Tomography to Diagnose Scaphoid Waist Fracture Union

Purpose To determine the interobserver agreement and diagnostic performance characteristics of computed tomography (CT) for determining union of scaphoid waist fractures. Methods A total of 59 orthopedic and trauma surgeons rated for union a set of 30 sagittal CT scans of 30 scaphoid waist fractures. Of these fractures, 20 were treated nonoperatively, were imaged between 6 and 10 weeks after injury, and were known to have eventually achieved union. Ten were operatively confirmed to be ununited. We rated each scan as united or ununited using a Web-based rating application. We assessed interobserver reliability using Siegel's multirater Kappa. We calculated diagnostic performance characteristics using Bayesian formulas. Results The interobserver agreement among 59 raters was substantial. The average sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of diagnosing union of scaphoid waist fractures on sagittal CT scans were 78%, 96%, and 84%, respectively. Assuming a 90% prevalence of fracture union of the scaphoid, the positive predictive value of a diagnosis of union on sagittal CT scan was 0.99 and the negative predictive value was 0.41. Conclusions Our results suggest that CT scans are accurate and reliable for diagnosis of union but inadequate for ruling out nonunion of scaphoid waist fractures between 6 and 10 weeks after injury. Type of study/level of evidence Diagnostic III.
Belaboring gender: the spatial practice of work and the politics of "making do" in Istanbul.

From focus-group and survey research conducted in Istanbul between 1998 and 2002, I argue that the spatial practice of work is critical to the constitution of what it means to ‘be a woman’ in the Turkish context. My approach to gender and work makes use of Butler's theory of performativity in order to show how discourses and practices of work are not only implicated in the production of male and female gender identities but also provide a variety of routes through which different aspects of masculinity and femininity are performed. In my reading of the discussions and debates assembled by the focus-group texts, I try to show how work compels various performances, such as the ‘good woman’ or the ‘bad girl’ in Istanbul. Further, work not only calls forth different ways of being a woman in relation to the city but also produces differentiated female bodies. Finally, I argue that work is a spatial practice through which belonging, identity, and rights are staked in the urban environment.
The Paradox of Cuban Agriculture

When Cuba faced the shock of lost trade relations with the Soviet Bloc in the early 1990s, food production initially collapsed due to the loss of imported fertilizers, pesticides, tractors, parts, and petroleum. The situation was so bad that Cuba posted the worst growth in per capita food production in all of Latin America and the Caribbean. But the island rapidly re-oriented its agriculture to depend less on imported synthetic chemical inputs, and became a world-class case of ecological agriculture. This was such a successful turnaround that Cuba rebounded to show the best food production performance in Latin America and the Caribbean over the following period, a remarkable annual growth rate of 4.2 percent per capita from 1996 through 2005, a period in which the regional average was 0 percent.This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website, where most recent articles are published in full.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.
Bypassing the bypass: EUS-directed transgastric ERCP for Roux-en-Y anatomy.

Endoscopic necrosectomy with PEG-jejunostomy placement was performed in a 34-year-old man with infected pancreatic necrosis (Video 1, available online at www. giejournal.org). A pediatric bronchoscope was advanced through a 24F PEG to prevent looping as it was advanced to the jejunum. Alternatively, the guidewire could have been grasped with a gastroscope and advanced to the jejunum. The gastroscope was exchanged for a 12F jejunal tube. The area of necrosis was located with an echoendoscope. The puncture was made with a 19-gauge needle. Over a guidewire, a fistula was created with a dilating balloon. An 18 60–mm, fully covered esophageal metal stent was deployed (Fig. 1). The stent was centered within the necrotic cavity to decrease the risk of bleeding and perforation. The stent allows for drainage of cystic contents and provides access for endoscopic irrigation and debridement by using various
Oxygen-minimum zone edge effects: Evidence from the central California coastal upwelling system

Geologic and biological data from box cores, gravity cores, and bottom photographs across the modern coastal upwelling system of central California reveal that biogeochemical activity increases along the edges of the oxygen-minimum zone (OMZ; <0.5 ml/1 O2). Macrofauna and benthic foraminifers, as well as relative concentrations of calcium carbonate, glauconite, and fecal pellets, all display edge effects. The major controls appear to be a combination of dissolved oxygen concentration of near-bottom waters, bottom currents, and possibly bacterially mediated nutrient recycling, as well as food supplies. OMZ edge effects should be recognizable in the rock record and may prove to be powerful paleoenvironmental/paleoecological indicators.
Immunologic therapeutic approaches in the management of food allergy.

Food allergy affects up to 6% of children and 3–4% of adults in Westernized countries, and is the most common cause of outpatient anaphylaxis in most studies. The mainstay of treatment is strict avoidance of the offending allergens and education regarding the use of emergency medication in cases of accidental ingestions or exposures. While these approaches are generally effective, there are no definitive treatments that cure or provide long-term remission from food allergy. However, with recent advances in characterizing food allergens and understanding humoral and cellular immune responses in food allergy, several therapeutic strategies are being investigated. Potential treatments include allergen-specific immunotherapy as well as allergen-nonspecific approaches to downregulate the overall allergic response in food-allergic individuals.
Tunneling nanoelectromechanical switches

Nanoelectromechanical (NEM) switches have emerged as a promising competing technology to the conventional metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors. NEM switches exhibit abrupt switching behavior with large on-off current ratios, near-zero off-state leakage currents and sub-threshold slopes below the 60 mV/decade theoretical limit of conventional MOS devices [1]. However, current NEM switches commonly operate at relatively high actuation voltages exceeding 1 V and suffer from failure due to stiction [1]. Reducing the switching gap is a common approach utilized to lower the operating voltage. However, the decrease in the gap size further increases the surface adhesion forces and consequently the possibility of stiction-induced failure.
Physicians and Lay People Are Unable to Apply Pressure Immobilization Properly in a Simulated Snakebite Scenario

Abstract Objective.—To determine whether volunteers (with or without prior medical training) can correctly apply pressure immobilization (PI) in a simulated snakebite scenario after receiving standard instructions describing the technique. Methods.—Twenty emergency medicine physicians (residents and attendings) and 20 lay volunteers without prior formal medical training were given standard printed instructions describing the application of PI for field management of snakebite. They were then supplied with appropriate materials and asked to apply the technique five separate times (twice to another individual [one upper and one lower extremity] and three times to themselves [nondominant upper extremity, dominant upper extremity, and one lower extremity]). Successful application was defined a priori by four criteria previously published in the literature: wrap begins at the bite site, entire extremity is wrapped, splint or sling is applied, and pressures under the dressing are between 40 and 70 mm Hg in uppe...
Effect of egg composition on the developmental capacity of androgenetic mouse embryos

Analysis of the developmental capacities of androgenetic and gynogenetic mouse embryos (bearing two paternal or two maternal pronuclei, respectively) revealed a defect in blastocyst formation of androgenetic, but not gynogenetic, embryos that was a function of the maternal genotype. Androgenetic embryos constructed using fertilized eggs from C57BL/6 or (B6D2)F1 mice developed to the blastocyst stage at frequencies similar to those previously reported, whereas androgenetic embryos constructed with fertilized eggs from DBA/2 mice developed poorly, the majority failing to progress beyond the 16-cell stage and unable to form a blastocoel-like cavity, regardless of whether the male pronuclei were of C57BL6 or DBA/2 origin. This impaired development was observed even in androgenetic embryos constructed by transplanting two male pronuclei from fertilized DBA/2 eggs to enucleated C57BL/6 eggs, indicating that the defect cannot be explained as the lack of some essential component in the DBA/2 cytoplasm that might otherwise compensate for androgeny. Rather, the DBA/2 egg cytoplasm apparently modifies the incoming male pronuclei differently than does C57BL/6 egg cytoplasm. Several specific alterations in the protein synthesis pattern of DBA/2 androgenones were observed that reflect a defect in the regulatory mechanisms that normally modulate the synthesis of these proteins between the 8-cell and blastocyst stages. These results are consistent with a model in which cytoplasmic factors present in the egg direct a strain-dependent modification of paternal genome function in response to epigenetic modifications (genomic imprinting) established during gametogenesis and indicate that preimplantation development can be affected by these modifications at both the morphological and biochemical levels.
Tin(II) Chloride

[7772-99-8] Cl2Sn (MW 189.61) InChI = 1/2ClH.Sn/h2*1H;/q;;+2/p-2/f2Cl.Sn/h2*1h;/q2*-1;m InChIKey = AXZWODMDQAVCJE-VDZLWFDJCG (reducing agent for many functional groups; carbonyl allylation; Lewis acid catalyst in C–C bond-forming reactions; catalyst with AgClO4 for the synthesis of α-glycosides; synthesis of alkenes, dienes, cis-vinyloxiranes, and allylic selenides; deoxygenation of 1,4-endoperoxides; protection of carboxylic acids as 1,3-dithianes; selective p-methoxybenzyl ether cleavage reagent; additive in hydroformylation and carbonylation reactions1) Alternate Name: stannous chloride. Physical Data: mp 246.8 °C; bp 623 °C; d 3.95 g cm−3. Solubility: insol xylenes; sol water, ethanol, acetone, diethyl ether, methyl acrylate, methyl ethyl ketone, isobutyl alcohol. Form Supplied in: white crystalline solid; widely available. Preparative Methods: analytical reagent grade tin(II) chloride is prepared by adding the dihydrate to a vigorously stirred solution of acetic anhydride (120 g salt per 100 g anhydride). After ca. one hour, the anhydrous SnCl2 is filtered on a dry sintered glass or Buchner funnel, washed free from acetic acid with dry Et2O, and dried in vacuo. It is best stored in a sealed container.2
Vitamin D Status in an Elective Orthopedic Surgical Population

Background:Adequate vitamin D availability is required for normal bone metabolism. Hypovitaminosis D is highly prevalent in latitudes above 30 degrees. The goal of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in an unselected population of patients undergoing major ankle or hindfoot arthrodesis in Burlington, Vermont (latitude 44.5° N).MethodsOne hundred eighteen patients undergoing a major ankle, hindfoot, or midfoot arthrodesis between May 2012 and February 2014 were eligible for the study, of which 81 participated. All clinical data, including comorbidities, demographics, and lab values, were obtained from the comprehensive electronic medical record system that encompassed all inpatient and outpatient care. Based on the recommendations published by the Vitamin D Task Force Committee of the Endocrine Society, vitamin D levels above 30 ng/mL were considered normal. Statistical analyses were performed using a significance level of P <.05.ResultsOf 81 patients tested, 54 (67%...
What Are Your Customers Still Doing? A Bivariate Generalization of the Latent Attrition Framework

Latent attrition models serve as the foundation for customer base analyses in transactional settings. Despite their intuitive appeal, limited research has been conducted to generalize these “buy till you die” models to multivariate contexts to examine the nature of attrition when a firm offers multiple types of transactional activities. Attrition for the different activities may be independent, simultaneous, or separate but related events. To investigate this issue, we develop a coupled hidden Markov model in which we use a Gaussian copula distribution to correlate customers’ latent lifetimes, as well as correlate the inter-activity durations. The proposed dynamic model extends the univariate “buy till you die” framework to a bivariate context and nests models that allow for latent attrition in different ways.Using the data provided by a website that allows users to purchase digital content and/or use a free ancillary service that promotes customer engagement, we find positive correlations between the two latent lifetimes, as well as between the times at which the two activities occur, suggesting that the firm can benefit from encouraging use of its ancillary service in a timely manner. We further demonstrate how our bivariate model offers a more complete picture of customers’ dynamic behavior than is afforded by examining multiple transactional activities in isolation.
Ferritinophagy drives uropathogenic Escherichia coli persistence in bladder epithelial cells

Autophagy is a cellular recycling pathway, which in many cases, protects host cells from infections by degrading pathogens. However, uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), the predominant cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs), persist within the urinary tract epithelium (urothelium) by forming reservoirs within autophagosomes. Iron is a critical nutrient for both host and pathogen, and regulation of iron availability is a key host defense against pathogens. Iron homeostasis depends on the shuttling of iron-bound ferritin to the lysosome for recycling, a process termed ferritinophagy (a form of selective autophagy). Here, we demonstrate for the first time that UPEC shuttles with ferritin-bound iron into the autophagosomal and lysosomal compartments within the urothelium. Iron overload in urothelial cells induces ferritinophagy in an NCOA4-dependent manner causing increased iron availability for UPEC, triggering bacterial overproliferation and host cell death. Addition of even moderate levels of iron is sufficient to increase and prolong bacterial burden. Furthermore, we show that lysosomal damage due to iron overload is the specific mechanism causing host cell death. Significantly, we demonstrate that host cell death and bacterial burden can be reversed by inhibition of autophagy or inhibition of iron-regulatory proteins, or chelation of iron. Together, our findings suggest that UPEC persist in host cells by taking advantage of ferritinophagy. Thus, modulation of iron levels in the bladder may provide a therapeutic avenue to controlling UPEC persistence, epithelial cell death, and recurrent UTIs.
Computational Modeling of Adult Neurogenesis

The restriction of adult neurogenesis to only a handful of regions of the brain is suggestive of some shared requirement for this dramatic form of structural plasticity. However, a common driver across neurogenic regions has not yet been identified. Computational studies have been invaluable in providing insight into the functional role of new neurons; however, researchers have typically focused on specific scales ranging from abstract neural networks to specific neural systems, most commonly the dentate gyrus area of the hippocampus. These studies have yielded a number of diverse potential functions for new neurons, ranging from an impact on pattern separation to the incorporation of time into episodic memories to enabling the forgetting of old information. This review will summarize these past computational efforts and discuss whether these proposed theoretical functions can be unified into a common rationale for why neurogenesis is required in these unique neural circuits.
tert-Butyl hydroperoxide oxygenation of organic sulfides catalyzed by diruthenium(II,III) tetracarboxylates.

Diruthenium(II,III) carboxylates Ru2(esp)2Cl (1a), [Ru2(esp)2(H2O)2]BF4 (1b), and Ru2(OAc)4Cl (2) efficiently catalyze the oxygenation of organic sulfides. As noted in a previous work, 1a is active in oxygenation of organic sulfides with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) in CH3CN. Reported herein in detail is the oxygenation activity of 1a, 1b, and 2, with the latter being highly selective in oxo-transfer to organic sulfides using TBHP under ambient conditions. Solvent-free oxidation reactions were achieved through dissolving 1a or 1b directly into the substrate with 2 equiv of TBHP, yielding TOF up to 2056 h–1 with 1b. Also examined are the rate dependence on both catalyst and oxidant concentration for reactions with catalysts 1a and 2. Ru2(OAc)4Cl may be kinetically saturated with TBHP; however, Ru2(esp)2Cl does not display saturation kinetics. By use of a series of para-substituted thioanisoles, linear free-energy relationships were established for both 1a and 2, where the reactivity constants (ρ) are ne...
Radioresistant DNA Synthesis in SV40-Immortalized Ataxia Telangiectasia Fibroblasts

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is an autosomal recessive disease, characterized by both neurological disorders and a high incidence of early-onset cancers. On a cellular level, cellular radiosensitivity and radioresistant DNA synthesis are the hallmarks of AT. While expression of cellular radiosensitivity varies somewhat among affected individuals, radioresistant DNA synthesis is seen consistently and, in fact, is the only end point used for assigning individuals to genetic complementation groups. For this reason, complementation-group-specific correction of radioresistant DNA synthesis in AT cells has long been thought to be an absolute requirement for confirmation of a bona fide clone of an AT gene. Since primary AT cells grow poorly in culture, SV40-immortalized AT fibroblasts are the usual recipients of transfected DNA in these studies. In experiments reported here, we demonstrate that SV40-immortalized AT fibroblasts have significantly reduced radioresistant DNA synthesis compared to primary AT fibroblasts, and their response to radiation is more like normal cells, in that both the radiosensitive and radioresistant components appear to be present. This suggests that there may be an interaction between SV40 proteins and the AT gene product or its downstream elements. This partial "complementation" of radioresistant DNA synthesis in SV40-immortalized AT cells complicates complementation cloning strategies, and should be considered when terminally screening putative AT gene clones by analysis of radioresistant DNA synthesis.
Materials science and metallurgy of the Caribbean steel drum Part II Heat treatment, microstructures, hardness profiles and tuning effects

The heat treatment of the Caribbean steel drum has been found to involve strain ageing and is especially prominent in drum steels containing 0.03–0.04 wt% C. The optimum strain-ageing conditions appear to be about 350 °C for 10 min, and either water quenching or air cooling produce similar ageing effects (hardness increases) ranging from about 5 to 20%. The strain ageing combined with the strain hardening applied to the drum-head sinking and note-fabrication processes, produces a requisite elastic–plastic interaction, which allows for multiharmonic tuning and the creation of the unique chromatic tones and harmonic overtones that are a characteristic of the various instruments. These unique features of note vibrations were illustrated by comparing dynamic impact hardness profiles with corresponding, static Vickers hardness measurements for actual, tuned notes and the same, corresponding notes extracted from the drum head, respectively. Elastic–plastic and plastic-hardness profiles were compared in unique colour maps. Microstructural analyses by light metallography and transmission electron microscopy illustrate corresponding dislocation substructures and carbide precipitation. Finally, the analysis and comparison of acoustic spectra for specific steel-drum note zones illustrates their complex, non-linear behaviour, and the role that deformation-induced defects play in acoustic dispersion and multiharmonic signal production.
The Compare Disquisition of the Knee Ligaments:Normal and Pathologic Appearances on MRI

Objective To provide the basis for imaging diagnosis through compare disquisition of the knee ligaments:normal and pathologic appearances on MRI.Methods By retrospective analysis of 16 cases of patients with knee ligaments injury,the normal and pathologic appearances of knee ligaments including the internal and external collateral ligament,anterior and posterior cruciate ligament were observed on MRI.Results MRI scans clearly showed the normal and pathologic appearances of knee ligaments.T1WI showed low or moderate signal,T2WI showed high signal in patients with complete laceration of the internal and external collateral ligament;MRI scans also showed ligament continuity interrupted and increased signal in patients with complete laceration of anterior and posterior cruciate ligament.Conclusion MRI can clearly show normal and pathologic appearances of the knee ligaments,It should serve as a routine examination of knee ligaments injury in order to provide adequate clinical information.
Effects of dietary resistant starch on glucose metabolism in offsprings of diabetic rats

Objective To investigate the effects of dietary resistant starch on glucose metabolism in offsprings of diabetic rats. MethodsTwenty female Goto-Kakizaki(GK) rats with type 2 diabetes aged 6 weeks were randomized into resistant starch diet group(GK-RS group,n=10) and energy control diet group(GK-EC group,n=10),and another 10 age-matched female Wistar rats fed with energy control diet were served as blank control group(Wistar-EC group).Ten male offsprings were randomly selected in each group,and were raised till 8 weeks old on regular chow diet.Body weight and volume of food intake were recorded three time a week,pancreatic relative β cell density was measured by immunohistochemistry,fasting serum insulin concentration was detected by ELISA,concentrations of fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose were determined by oral glucose tolerance test,and insulin sensitivity was evaluated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR). ResultsCompared with GK-EC group,the concentration of fasting blood glucose significantly decreased(P0.05),pancreatic insulin content significantly increased(P0.05),and pancreatic relative β cell density tended to increase in GK-RS group(P=0.07).There was no significant difference in body weight,volume of food intake,HOMA-IR and concentrations of 2 h postprandial blood glucose and fasting serum insulin between GK-EC group and GK-RS group(P0.05) ConclusionDietary resistant starch has potential in improving glucose metabolism disorder in offsprings born to diabetic dams.
Evolution of partial ring current ion pitch angle distributions during the main phase of a storm on 17 March 2015

During a severe magnetic storm from 17 to 19 March 2015, three identically instrumented Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms probes crossed the magnetosphere in a string-of-pearls configuration enabling sequential observations of same regions of the magnetosphere with a 2 h time separation. These observations allow us to study the temporal evolution of ion pitch angle distributions (PADs) in the dusk-premidnight sector (between 17 and 20 h magnetic local time) during the storm's main phase. We found that the ion PAD evolved from pancake to isotropic in fewer than 2 h. Analysis of electromagnetic wave spectra revealed the presence of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves at frequencies below the helium cyclotron frequency. We conclude that the observed pitch angle evolution was due to ion scattering by EMIC waves.
Lollipops in the Clinic: Information Dense Mutation Plots for Precision Medicine.

Introduction Concise visualization is critical to present large amounts of information in a minimal space that can be interpreted quickly. Clinical applications in precision medicine present an important use case due to the time dependent nature of the interpretations, although visualization is increasingly necessary across the life sciences. In this paper we describe the Lollipops software for the presentation of panel or exome sequencing results. Source code and binaries are freely available at https://github.com/pbnjay/lollipops. Although other software and web resources exist to produce lollipop diagrams, these packages are less suited to clinical applications. The demands of precision medicine require the ability to easily fit into a workflow and incorporate external information without manual intervention. Results The Lollipops software provides a simple command line interface that only requires an official gene symbol and mutation list making it easily scriptable. External information is integrated using the publicly available Uniprot and Pfam resources. Heuristics are used to select the most informative components and condense them for a concise plot. The output is a flexible Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG) diagram that can be displayed in a web page or graphic illustration tool. Conclusion The Lollipops software creates information-dense, publication-quality mutation plots for automated pipelines and high-throughput workflows in precision medicine. The automatic data integration enables clinical data security, and visualization heuristics concisely present knowledge with minimal user configuration.
Therapeutic Bronchoscopy for Central Airway Obstruction

Central airway obstruction (CAO) results from a variety of malignant and nonmalignant causes. Advanced lung cancer is the most common etiology. The clinical presentation varies from slowly progressive cough and ­dyspnea to rapidly developing respiratory distress and asphyxia. A close collaboration among interventional pulmonologists, radiologists, anesthesiologists, and thoracic surgeons is essential for optimal outcome in these challenging situations. Immediate goals of the therapy are to secure the airway and to restore the patency of airway lumen. Several therapeutic bronchoscopy techniques are available using flexible or rigid bronchoscope to achieve these goals. The choice of technique depends on the underlying cause, type of obstruction, severity of CAO and availability of the instruments and expertise. Immediate relief in symptoms can be achieved with mechanical debridement, laser photoresection, electrocautery, argon plasma coagulation, cryorecanalization, and balloon dilation (Balloon bronchoplasty). Brachytherapy, photodynamic therapy, and cryotherapy have delayed effects and therefore are not suitable when immediate relief in symptoms is needed.Airway stents are helpful in patients with extrinsic central airway compression. A combination of these procedures is usually successful in rapid palliation of symptoms and in selected cases paves way for further treatments such as external beam radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery.
Facet-Selective Epitaxial Growth of δ-Bi2O3 on ZnO Nanowires

Integration of ZnO nanowires with Bi2O3 coating layers can modify their physicochemical properties and efficiently improve the performance of the resulting nanostructured composites for specific applications. The interfacial structures often control the properties of such nanocomposite systems. We report a novel approach to achieving selective epitaxial growth of δ-Bi2O3 layers onto the {11–20} nanoscale facets of ZnO nanowires. By detailed atomic scale characterization of the surfaces and interfaces of the Bi2O3/ZnO nanocomposites we proposed that growth of the δ-Bi2O3 species on ZnO {11–20} surfaces follows the Stranski–Krastanov mechanism with an epitaxial relationship of ZnO [10–10] (11–20)∥δ-Bi2O3 [001] (100). An atomic model is proposed to explain the epitaxial relationship, the interfacial atomic structure, and the facet-selective growth.
The influence of FADS2 rs174575 on the recognition memory abilities of 6-month-old breastfed infants

Study ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to test the relation between maternal genotype at the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs174575 on the FADS2 gene, the fatty acid content of her breastm...
Simulating the Effects of Surface Roughness on Reinforced Concrete T Beam Bridge under Single and Multiple Vehicles

This research focuses on the application of the spatial system of finite element modeling for the vehicle-bridge interaction on reinforced concrete US Girder Bridge in order to obtain the effect of surface roughness. Single vehicle and multiple vehicles on reinforced concrete T beam bridge were studied with variable surface roughness profiles. The effects of six different surface roughness profiles (very good, good, measured, average, poor, and very poor) were investigated for vehicle-bridge interaction. The values of the Dynamic Amplification Factor (DAF) were obtained for single and multiple vehicles on T Beam Bridge for different surface roughness profiles, along with the distances between the axles of heavy vehicle. It was observed that when the bridge has very good, good, measured, and average surface roughness, the DAF values for the single vehicle over the bridge were observed to be within acceptable limits specified by AASHTO. However, for the bridge with multiple vehicles only very good and measured surface roughness profiles showed a DAF and vehicle axle distances within the acceptable limits. From the current studies, it was observed that the spatial system showed reliable responses for predicting the behavior of the bridge under variable road surface roughness conditions and was reliable in vehicle axle detection, and therefore, it has a potential to be use for realistic simulations.
Resolving Late-Stage Intermediates of Eukaryotic Ribosome Assembly.

The assembly of eukaryotic ribosomes requires about 200 assembly factors promoting RNA modification, folding, cleavage, and ribosomal protein association. In this issue of Structure, Johnson et al. (2017) report structures of several late-stage intermediates of pre-40S ribosomal subunit assembly. This work provides detailed testable insights into assembly factor function.
Special Visual Assessment Techniques for Multiply Handicapped Persons

Techniques to assess vision capabilities of multihandicapped persons are discussed as used in a specialty Optometric clinic. The major emphasis of the assessment is to obtain information about visu...
Detection and Quantification of Biologically Active Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotypes A and B Using a Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-Based Quantum Dot Nanobiosensor.

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is the most potent toxin known. The ingestion of food contaminated with biologically active BoNT causes foodborne botulism, which can lead to respiratory paralysis, coma, and death after ingestion of as little as 70 μg for a 70 kg human. Because of its lethality and challenges associated with current detection methods, there is an urgent need for highly sensitive rapid screening techniques capable of detecting biologically active BoNT. Here, we describe a Forster resonance energy transfer-based nanobiosensor that uses quantum dots (QDs) and two specific quencher-labeled peptide probes to detect and differentiate two biologically active forms of BoNT, serotypes A and B, which were responsible for 80% of human foodborne botulism cases in the U.S. from 2012 to 2015. Each peptide probe contains an enzymatic cleavage site specific to only one serotype. QDs were selected based on the spectral overlap with the quenchers. In the presence of the target BoNT serotype, the peptide probe i...