cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward reliable simulations of protein folding, misfolding and aggregation.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the reliable simulations of protein folding, misfolding, and aggregation. Computer simulations now regularly complement experiments in molecular biology. Often, they are the only instrument to probe fundamental processes in a cell. The chapter discusses a number of widely utilized algorithms and reviews recent results that demonstrate the power of these techniques in protein simulations. A system's biology of cells requires an insight into the molecular foundation of the fundamental processes in cells. A key component is proteins, which are nanomachines responsible for transporting molecules, catalyzing biochemical reactions, or fighting infections. Modern simulation techniques and experimental advances have led to a picture of protein folding as a stochastic search for the global minimum of free energy at physiological temperatures. The final structure determines the rate and mechanism of folding. The more complex the native structure of a protein is, the slower it folds.
Compression Testing of Aged Low Density Flexible Polyurethane Foam

Flexible open celled foams are commonly used for energy absorption in packaging. Over time polymers can suffer from aging by becoming stiffer and more brittle. This change in stiffness can affect the foam’s performance in a low velocity impact event. In this study, the compressive properties of new open-cell flexible polyurethane foam were compared to those obtained from aged open-cell polyurethane foam that had been in service for approximately 25 years. The foams tested had densities of 10 and 15 pcf. These low density foams provided a significant challenge to machine cylindrical compression specimens that were 1 “in height and 1” in diameter. Details of the machining process are discussed. The compressive properties obtained for both aged and new foams included testing at various strain rates (0.05. 0.10, 5 s−1) and temperatures (−54, RT, 74 °C). Results show that aging of flexible polyurethane foam does not have much of an effect on its compressive properties.
Spoof surface whispering-gallery mode supported by two concentrically coupled textured ring resonators

The Whispering-Gallery Mode (WGM) is very useful for sensing applications due to the exposure of an evanescent field. In a previous work we have shown that a surface WGM can be excited at the exterior of a negative-permittivity or -permeability material layer attached to a dielectric microresonator, which can amplify the evanescent field and then further advance the sensitivity. In this paper a wheel-shaped resonator which consists of two concentrically coupled textured rings is designed to generate the surface WGM and a sensor prototype is fabricated. The results show that the coupling gap between the two textured rings has provided a new freedom to manipulate the resonant characteristic and field confinement effect. Since most energies are concentrated in the vicinity of the gap, this region is quite sensitive to a slight change in the sample substance. Experimental results at the microwave frequencies are consistent with simulation and verify the performances of the sensor.
On the role of the properties of the nonzero entries on sparse signal recovery

We study the role of the nonzero entries on the performance limits in support recovery of sparse signals. The key to our results is the recently studied connection between sparse signal recovery and multiple user communication. By leveraging the concept of outage capacity in information theory, we explicitly characterize the impact of the probability distribution imposed on the nonzero entries of the sparse signal on support recovery. When Multiple Measurement Vectors (MMV) are available, we show that the identification of the nonzero rows of the signal is closely connected to decoding the messages from multiple users over a Single-Input Multiple-Output channel. Necessary and sufficient conditions for support (indices of nonzero rows) recovery are provided, and the results allow us to understand the role of correlation of the nonzero entries as well as the role of the rank of the matrix formed from the non-zero entries.
The Effect of “Anonymous Reviewer”: A Study of Anonymity, Affect Intensity, and Message Valence in the Cyberspace

This study aims to illustrate how anonymity, together with affect intensity and message valence, affects message receivers’ responses. A 2 (anonymous vs. revealed identity) × 2 (low vs. high affect...
VENOM APPARATUS OF TRYPOXYLON POLITUM SAY (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE)

The venom apparatus of Trypoxylon politum Say is very similar to that of the smaller Trypoxylon clavatum clavatum Say. The venom apparatus has paired filamentous venom glands and a poorly defined convoluted gland. The furcula is large and receives an extensive muscle supply from the oblong plate. Lancet valves are large and fill the sting bulb chamber. Gonoplacs are distinctly bilobed. The sting is strongly descendent.
GENETICS | Genetics of Lafora and Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsies

Three nonion channel genes cause two different adolescent myoclonic epilepsies and solve two mysteries of brain biochemistry and clinical epileptology: Why is glycogen absent in neurons in contrast to other cells of the human body? Why do patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), classified as idiopathic, have areas of brain cortex thicker than normal? The first two genes, Laforin (dual specificity phosphatase) and Malin (E3 ubiquitin ligase), working in concert, purge neurons of glycogen and polyglucosan inclusions by polyubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation; thus, there is no glycogen in nerve cells. Mutations in Laforin or Malin, when inherited as a recessive gene, cause insoluble glycogen (polyglucosan) to accumulate in nerve cells, cause cell death, produce stimulus-sensitive myoclonias, grand mal and absence seizures, rapid neurologic deterioration and death. The third nonion channel gene, Myoclonin/EFHC1, causes chronic and lifelong adolescent onset juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Myoclonin/EFHC1, a developmental gene, prunes branches and leaves of dendrites and modulates dendritic R-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCC). Mutations in Myoclonin/EFHC1, when inherited as a dominant trait, reduce its pruning functions, cause thicker brain cortex, and at the same time alter dendritic R-type VDCC functions, producing myoclonias and grand mal seizures. Unlike fatal Lafora epilepsy, JME has a good prognosis and responds to antiepileptic drugs that work on VDCC.
The Cohomology of Groups

This chapter discusses the cohomology of groups. The cohomology of groups is one of those branches of mathematics that is regarded as a tool for other areas of study. It has applications in homotopy theory, class field theory, representation theory, and K -theory. The clearest indication of the connection between algebraic topology and cohomology of groups is expressed in the theorem of Kan and Thurston [KaT]. For infinite groups, the cohomology theory is very much a part of group theory itself. Groups are often classified according to their homological properties, such as cohomological dimension. By contrast, the cohomology of finite groups is much more closely associated to modular and integral representation theory. The homology and cohomology of G are independent of the choice of the projective resolution. In addition, the homology and cohomology are functional in G, the group variable. However, the properties of this functionality are much more subtle. The restriction and inflation maps are also involved.
The silencing of ApoC3 suppresses oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in placenta cells from mice with preeclampsia via inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway

Abstract Objective Preeclampsia is one of the three primary causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study evaluated ApoC3 in placenta cells of mice with preeclampsia to explore its therapeutic role in preeclampsia and assess its function on oxidative stress and inflammatory responses involving the NF-κB signaling pathway. Methods A mouse model of preeclampsia was successfully established. APOC3-siRNA with the best silencing effect was screened out. The expression levels of ApoC3, p65, and IkBα were evaluated. The effect of ApoC3 silencing on metabolic activity and apoptosis was measured. The level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CPR), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, and the expression of malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-isoprostane and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were determined. Results ApoC3-siRNA-3 was the most effective siRNA. The mRNA expression of ApoC3 was scarcely observed, while the expression of p65 decreased and the expression of p-IkBα increased in the ApoC3-siRNA group. Compared with those in the model and empty vector groups, the cell apoptosis rate and the activities of invasion-related factors MMP-2 and MMP-9 increased, while the levels of hs-CPR, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, 8-isoprostane, and ox-LDL decreased in the ApoC3-siRNA group. Conclusion Silencing ApoC3 could suppress the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby exercising a protective effect on cell injury induced by oxidative stress and reducing inflammatory responses.
Statistical process control for analyzing resilience of transportation networks

Abstract Resilient transportation networks constitute a vital component of urban societies. Even a temporary disruption in the network can paralyze an entire society. Extreme events, such as natural disasters, may have serious destructive impacts on the performance of transportation networks. Reliable performance of transportation systems during an emergency is also critical for a timely, efficient, and successful emergency management operation. Quantitatively analyzing resilience of transportation networks is a critical step toward developing reliable urban societies. Advanced technologies, namely GPS tracking systems, provide rich information about human mobility in urban areas and can be used to monitor traffic patterns. This study proposes a systematic quantitative approach, to develop transportation networks and quantify their topological features using taxi GPS traces. A process control is developed to statistically monitor the topological features of the transportation network through time. Such analysis can allow detection of unusual patterns due to an extreme event and to analyze resilience of the transportation network. This methodology is used to analyze resilience of the New York City transportation network against Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The outcomes of this study will help decision makers analyze resilience of transportation networks, measure and compare destructive impacts of extreme events, and identify vulnerabilities in transportation networks.
Christian Campus Culture and Student Affairs Professionals Serving LGBQ Students.

This qualitative study explored how Christian campus culture shaped the experiences of 10 student affairs practitioners when interacting with lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning students, and th...
Flow dynamics in the vicinity of a gravel embedded vertical retaining wall: conditions corresponding to the initial stages of local erosion

The present study examines the turbulent flow characteristics in the vicinity of the leading edge of a vertical retaining wall structure embedded in a gravel bed. Conditions before and during the initial stages of local scour development were considered. To that end, three laboratory experiments were carried out: one with fixed boundaries as a reference case, a second one with an erodible bed, but immobile channel bank, and a third one characterized by an erodible channel bed and bank. Instantaneous and time-averaged flow features, and turbulence statistics associated with the three-component velocity fields, obtained with a stereoscopic particle image velocimetry system, were analyzed. Water surface examination determined that channel bank erosion alters flow behavior upstream of the retaining wall. This change is manifested through more frequent formation of eddies near the top corner of the junction between the upstream face of the protrusion and the channel bank. Time-averaged and instantaneous velocity vector fields demonstrate the presence of two counter-rotating vortices in the experiments with the fixed channel bank, one located near the junction of retaining wall and the channel bed and one away from it generated as a result of a strong downflow. The latter motion represents a section of a horseshoe vortex. During the channel bank erosion, however, these vortices are not as significant and persistent. The results also indicate that the coherency and magnitude of the streamwise vorticity field diminish as a result of scour. However, it was confirmed that local turbulent kinetic energy and shear stresses increase in the presence of scour due to enhanced local flow separation.
A combined RNA-Seq and comparative genomics approach identifies 1,085 candidate structured RNAs expressed in human microbiomes

Structured RNAs play varied bioregulatory roles within microbes. To date, hundreds of candidate structured RNAs have been predicted using informatic approaches by searching for motif structures in genomic sequence data. However, only a subset of these candidate structured RNAs, those from culturable, well-studied microbes, have been shown to be transcribed. As the human microbiome contains thousands of species and strains of microbes, we sought to apply both informatic and experimental approaches to these organisms to identify novel transcribed structured RNAs. We combine an experimental approach, RNA-Seq, with an informatic approach, comparative genomics across the human microbiome project, to discover 1,085 candidate, conserved structured RNAs that are actively transcribed in human fecal microbiomes. These predictions include novel tracrRNAs that associate with Cas9 and RNA structures encoded in overlapping regions of the genome that are in opposing orientations. In summary, this combined experimental and computational approach enables the discovery of thousands of novel candidate structured RNAs.
Potential of crop-livestock integration to enhance carbon sequestration and agroecosystem functioning in semi-arid croplands

Abstract While characteristics of semi-arid climates place limitations on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, there is opportunity and urgency for increasing the quality and long-term persistence of cropland SOC content within these agroecosystems. Livestock re-integration into cropland shows potential to improve semi-arid agroecosystem functioning through shifts in biogeochemical processes and the facilitation of multiple ecosystem services involved in carbon and nutrient cycling and use-efficiency. Here we review the characteristics of grazing-based Integrated Crop-Livestock (ICL) systems and how various associated management practices may interplay with semi-arid agroecological and biogeochemical dynamics to influence soil microbial ecology and SOC accumulation and stabilization. We argue that livestock re-integration holds notable potential to increase cropland SOC through controls on landscape net primary productivity, allocation of biomass belowground, efficient recycling of residual crop nutrients, and soil biological activity related to a suite of soil ecosystem services. Achieving the full SOC accumulation potential of ICL management will require site-specific consideration of feedbacks between herbivory, soil microbial ecology, soil disturbance, and forage species interactions. Future research should focus on optimizing plant-soil-grazer feedbacks and understanding of mechanistic drivers of ICL system outcomes to optimize the design and management of semi-arid regional ICL systems for enhanced SOC quality and persistence.
Suppression of Dyakonov-Perel Spin Relaxation in 2D Channels of Finite Width

We have investigated spin-dependent transport in semiconductor narrow 2D channels and explored the possibility of suppressing spin relaxation. Our approach is based on a Monte Carlo transport model and incorporates information on conduction band electron spins and spin rotation mechanisms. Specifically, an ensemble of electrons experiencing multiple scattering events is simulated numerically to study the decay of electron spin polarization in channels of finite width due to the Dyakonov-Perel (DP) mechanism. We have identified different regimes of the spin relaxation in the 2D channels of finite width and established the dependencies of spin relaxation time on the width L and DP parameter ηDP. The most attractive regime for future spintronic applications is the regime of the suppressed spin relaxation with the relaxation time τS scaling as L—2.
Myeloid cell-derived HOCl is a paracrine effector that trans-inhibits IKK/NF-κB in melanoma cells and limits early tumor progression.

The myeloperoxidase (MPO) system of myeloid-derived cells (MDCs) is central to cellular innate immunity. Upon MDC activation, MPO is secreted into phagosomes where it catalyzes the production of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent chlorinating oxidant. Here, we demonstrated that the myeloid lineage-restricted MPO-HOCl system had antitumor effects in early melanoma growth in aged mice. Orthotopic melanomas grew more slowly in immunocompetent MPO+/+ host mice compared to age-matched syngeneic MPO-/- mice. Real-time intravital tumor imaging in vivo and in cell cocultures revealed a cell-cell proximity-dependent association between MDC-derived MPO enzyme activity and blockade of ligand-induced IκBα degradation in tumor cells. HOCl directly trans-inhibited IκB kinase (IKK) activity in tumor cells, thereby decreasing nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) transcriptional activation and inducing changes in the expression of genes involved in metabolic pathways, cell cycle progression, and DNA replication. By contrast, HOCl induced transcriptional changes in CD8+ T cells related to ion transport and the MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways that are associated with T cell activation. MPO increased the circulating concentrations of the myeloid cell-attracting cytokines CXCL1 and CXCL5, enhanced local infiltration by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, and decreased tumor growth. Overall, these data reveal a role for MDC-derived HOCl as a small-molecule paracrine signaling factor that trans-inhibits IKK in melanoma tumor cells, mediating antitumor responses during early tumor progression.
Contribution of Peripheral Injuries to the Symptom Experience of Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Peripheral injuries are common in patients who experience mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, the additive or interactive effects of polytrauma on psychosocial adjustment, functional limit...
Responding to Student Uncertainty During Computer Tutoring: An Experimental Evaluation

This paper evaluates dialogue-based student performance in a controlled experiment using versions of a tutoring system with and without automatic adaptation to the student affective state of uncertainty. Our performance metrics include correctness, uncertainty, and learning impasse severities, which are measured in a "test" dialogue after the tutoring treatment. Although these metrics did not significantly differ across conditions when considering all student answers in our test dialogue, we found significant differences in specific types of student answers, and these differences suggest that our uncertainty adaptation does have a positive benefit on student performance.
How to Give an Effective Presentation; or, Please Take the Mike Out of Your Mouth

Summary Denise Novak, herself an experienced presenter, provided the workshop participants with tips and techniques to improve their presentation skills. She focused on four vital skills that excellent speakers must master: understanding of the audience, control over one's voice, effective body language, and proper use of visuals.
A Splenic Requirement for the Generation of Suppressor T Cells

Tolerance to contact sensitization with DNFB may be induced by DNBSO 3 . This specific unresponsiveness may occur via one or both of two mechanisms — production of suppressor T cells or clone inhibition. We investigated the role of the spleen in this unresponsiveness. Splenectomized mice may be tolerized by i.v. injection of DNBSO 3 , but they are incapable of serving as donors of lymph node cells for transfer of tolerance to normal recipients. Kinetic studies indicated that the spleen must be present at least three days after tolerization in order to permit development of a significant number of suppressor cells in the peripheral lymph nodes. We interpret these results to indicate that 1) clone inhibition does not require the spleen, 2) the generation of suppressor T cells is dependent on the presence of the spleen, and 3) it is likely that tolerogens in this system induce suppressor cells in the spleen and some of these cells or their products leave the spleen to reach the peripheral lymph nodes.
Geometric Structure of Lower Probabilities

Lower probability theory has gained interest in recent years as a basis for representing uncertainty. Much of the work in this area has focused on lower probabilities termed belief functions. Belief functions correspond precisely to random set representations of uncertainty, although more general classes of lower probabilities are available, such as lower envelopes and 2—monotone capacities. Characterization through definitions of monotone capacities provides a mechanism by which different classes of lower probabilities can be distinguished. Such characterizations have previously been performed through mathematical representations that offer little intuition about differences between lower probability classes. An alternative characterization is offered that uses geometric structures to provide a direct visual representation of the distinctions between different classes of lower probabilities, or monotone capacities. Results are presented in terms of the shape of lower probabilities that provide a characterization of monotone capacities that, for example, distinguishes belief functions from other classes of lower probabilities. Results are also presented in terms of the size, relative size, and location-scale transformation of lower probabilities that provide further insights into their general structure.
Genomic Organization and Mutation Analysis of Hel-N1 in Lung Cancers with Chromosome 9p21 Deletions

Allelic loss of chromosome 9p21 is common in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene CDKN2a is rare, implying the existence of another target gene at 9p21. A recent deletion mapping study of chromosome 9p has also identified a site of deletion in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) centered around D9S126. The Hel-N1 (human elav-like neuronal protein 1) gene encodes a neural-specific RNA binding protein that is expressed in SCLC. We have mapped this potentially important gene in lung tumorigenesis to within 100 kb of the D9S126 marker at chromosome band 9p21 by using homozygously deleted tumor cell lines and fluorescence in situ hybridization to normal metaphase spreads. Hel-N1 is, therefore, a candidate target suppressor gene in both SCLC and NSCLC. We have determined the genomic organization and intron/exon boundaries of Hel-N1 and have screened the entire coding region for mutations by sequencing 14 primary SCLCs and cell lines and 21 primary NSCLCs preselected for localized 9p21 deletion or monosomy of chromosome 9. A homozygous deletion including Hel-N1 and CDKN2a was found in a SCLC cell line, and a single-base polymorphism in exon 2 of Hel-N1 was observed in eight tumors. No somatic mutations of Hel-N1 were found in this panel of lung tumors. Hel-N1 does not appear to be a primary inactivation target of 9p21 deletion in lung cancer.
Effect of charge density of polysaccharides on self-assembled intragastric gelation of whey protein/polysaccharide under simulated gastric conditions

This study focuses on the behavior of mixed protein and polysaccharides with different charge densities under simulated gastric conditions. Three types of polysaccharides, namely, guar gum, xanthan gum and carrageenan (neutral, medium negatively, and highly negatively charged, respectively) were selected for heating together with whey protein isolate (WPI) at a biopolymer ratio ranging from 0.01 to 0.1. Upon mixing with simulated gastric fluid (SGF), all WPI–guar gum samples remained soluble, whereas WPI–xanthan gum and WPI–carrageenan at biopolymer ratio higher than 0.01 led to self-assembled intragastric gelation immediately after mixing with SGF. The mechanism behind the intragastric gelation is believed to be the cross-linking between oppositely charged protein and polysaccharides when pH was reduced to below the pI of the protein. Higher biopolymer ratio led to a higher degree of intermolecular interaction, which tends to form stronger gel. More negatively charged carrageenan also formed a stronger gel than xanthan gum. SDS-PAGE results show that the digestibility of protein was not affected by the presence of guar gum as well as xanthan gum and carrageenan at biopolymer ratio lower than 0.02. However, intragastric gel formed by WPI–xanthan gum and WPI–carrageenan at biopolymer ratio higher than 0.02 significantly slows down the digestion rate of protein, which could potentially be used to delay gastric emptying and promote satiety.
Calculation of excitation energies using quasidegenerate variational perturbation theory and multireference-averaged coupled-pair functional theory

Abstract Results are presented for the ground and excited states of Be and SiH 2 from ab initio multireference singles and doubles configuration interaction, quasidegenerate variational perturbation theory, and multireference-averaged coupled-pair functional theory calculations. The results are compared with previously obtained full configuration interaction studies. It is seen that quasidegenerate variational perturbation theory and multireference-averaged coupled-pair functional theory yield accurate total energies and excitation energies, even for states that are not the lowest in a given symmetry. Increased accuracy is obtained for excitation energies as the reference space is expanded. In these systems we find that for a fixed small reference space, multireference-averaged coupled-pair functional theory yields total energies closer to full configuration interaction values than either quasidegenerate variational perturbation theory or multireference singles and doubles configuration interaction. As the reference space size is increased averaged coupled-pair functional theory and configuration interaction yield comparable errors in the total energy. Comparison is also made with Davidson-corrected multireference singles and doubles configuration interaction results. Similar results to those given by quasidegenerate variational perturbation theory were obtained.
Emergency Department–triggered Palliative Care in Advanced Cancer: Proof of Concept

Background The American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend early palliative care consultation for patients with advanced, life-limiting illnesses, such as metastatic cancer. Objectives The objectives were to assess the process of early referral from the emergency department (ED) to palliative care for patients with advanced, incurable cancer as part of a randomized controlled trial and to compare the proportion and timing of consultation to a care as usual group. Methods A single-blind randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT01358110) compared early, ED-based referrals to palliative care for patients admitted with advanced, incurable cancer to physician-driven consultation (i.e., care as usual). Participants had to speak English or Spanish and have no history of palliative care consultation. They were randomized via balanced block randomization to the intervention or control group. Each intervention subject was referred by a research staff member to the palliative care team for consultation. The usual care group received palliative care only if requested by the admitting physician. Analysis was based on intention to treat. A chart review was performed to assess proportion and timing of palliative care consults during the index admission, defined as: 1) completed palliative care consult documented in the chart and 2) days from admission to palliative care consult. Results A total of 134 participants were enrolled and randomized. For patients in the intervention group, 88% (60 of 68) had documented palliative care consultations during their index admissions (95% confidence interval [CI] = 80.5 to 95.5), compared to 18% (12 of 66) in the control group (95% CI = 8.8 to 27.5; p < 0.01). The 60 intervention patients received palliative care consultations on average 1.48 days from admission (95% CI = 1.19 to 1.76), compared to 2.9 days from admission in the 12 control patients (95% CI = 1.03 to 4.79; p = 0.15). Conclusions This study documented a low baseline rate of palliative care involvement as part of usual care in patients with advanced cancer being admitted from the ED. Early referral to palliative care in the context of a research study significantly increased the likelihood that patients received a consult, thus meriting further investigation of how to generalize this approach.
Inertial Moment of Large Many-Fermion Systems with Repulsive Interactions

The interaction effects on the moment of inertia of a large many-body fermion system moving under periodic boundary conditions have been explicitly derived in the second order of particle-particle coupling for the case of nonsingular repulsive interparticle forces. The derivation is facilitated by the use of a new Hamiltonian constructed by canonical transformation. This transformation is determined by requiring that it remove the compensating effects of pair excitation and that the new interaction operators of first and second order in the cranking field be also of first order in particle-particle coupling. A graphical analysis is presented in which those classes of diagrams which yield corrections vanishing relative to the rigid moment in the limit $L\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$ are distinguished. Some remarks on the related problem of diamagnetism are made. The possible application of the method of canonical transformation to related many-body problems is indicated.
Cooperative emission from a disordered system: a classical model

The effect of disorder on the collective emission from a system of classical oscillators is studied theoretically. Three types of disorder are considered: random orientation of dipole moments, finite spread in frequencies of the individual oscillators (diagonal disorder), and dipole- dipole interaction (off-diagonal disorder). We found that for sufficiently high concentration of oscillators the diagonal disorder does not completely destroy the collective character of the emission. We show that the eigenmodes of a cooperative system with disorder comprise a large number of oscillators and, due to cooperative character of the emission, their lifetime is much longer than the lifetime of an individual oscillator. Consequently, the cooperative emission spectrum of the system is not simply broadened by the disorder, but represents a superposition of relatively narrow peaks.
African American and Latina community health workers engage PhotoPAR as a resource in a post-disaster context: Katrina at 5 years:

This article reports on participatory action and photo elicitation research conducted by community health workers and university-based researchers in post-Katrina New Orleans between August 2007 and 2010. It documents how 11 African American and Latina women community health workers forged ties and developed a model for responding to some of the personal, familial, and community effects of this "unnatural disaster." We identify and analyze two of the health literacies they developed and deployed: (1) intragroup and intergroup empathy skills and (2) capacity to critically analyze structural causes of health inequities. We argue that the participatory processes and outcomes analyzed herein offer one possible model through which local communities and health workers can creatively respond to health disparities in post-disaster contexts. Language: en
Multishell Structures of Virus Coat Proteins

Under conditions of low ionic strength and a pH ranging between about 3.7 and 5.0, solutions of purified coat proteins of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) form spherical multishell structures in the absence of viral RNA. The outer surfaces of the shells in these structures are negatively charged, whereas the inner surfaces are positively charged due to a disordered cationic N-terminal domain of the capsid protein, the arginine-rich RNA-binding motif that protrudes into the interior. We show that the main forces stabilizing these multishells are counterion release combined with a lower charge density in the RNA-binding motif region of the outer shells due to their larger radii of curvature, arguing that these compensate for the outer shells not being able to adopt the smaller, optimal, radius of curvature of the inner shell. This explains why the structures are only stable at low ionic strengths at pHs for which the outer surface is negatively charged and why the larger outer shells are not observed separately in solution. We show how to calculate the free energy of shells of nonoptimal radius of curvature from the elastic properties of the native shell. The spacing between shells is determined mainly by the entropic elasticity of the RNA-binding motifs. Although we focus on CCMV multishells, we also predict the solution conditions under which multishells formed by CCMV coat protein mutants with a lower RNA-binding motif charge are stable, and we examine other viruses as well. We conclude that at a given surface charge density, the boundaries separating regions of stable multishells with different numbers of shells shift to lower ionic strengths upon either increasing the length of the RNA-binding motif, increasing the stiffness of the shells, or decreasing the charge per RNA-binding motif.
MEASURED FREE VIBRATIONS OF PARTIALLY CLAMPED, SQUARE PLATES

Abstract Experiments were designed to measure the free, transverse vibrations for square, thin elastic plates with two types of edge support configurations. One configuration was fully clamped on three edges and free on the fourth edge (CCCF), and the other was fully clamped on two adjacent edges and free on the other two edges (CCFF). For these respective configurations, up to 18 frequencies and the corresponding modal contours were measured using a scanning laser-doppler velocimeter, acoustic excitation, and computer software. Measurements for the lowest five non-dimensional frequency parameters λ and their node lines compared favorably to the corresponding theoretical results available in the open literature. Curve veering may be the reason that several of the crisp modal contours at some higher excitation frequencies for the CCFF configuration were observed to be neither symmetric nor antisymmetric about the plate's diagonal line of geometric symmetry.
Cooperative infection of P1-lysogenic bacteria by restricted phage T1

Abstract Restricted phage T1 exhibits cooperation in the infection of P1-lysogenic bacteria at high multiplicities. Above a multiplicity of 5, essentially all the progeny phage become modified. Genetic crosses done under the conditions of cooperative infection show unusual features: (1) the recombinant frequency is strongly dependent on the multiplicity; (2) above a multiplicity of 10, the recombinant frequency is three to four times that found in control crosses; (3) complementary classes of recombinants are found in unequal numbers; (4) single bursts often contain a single genotype of progeny; this can be a recombinant genotype. Certain strains of T1 show erratic cooperation and are poorly modified. The existence of a nonreplicating but genetically recombining state of the genome is proposed.
Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Summary The case of an 18-month-old girl with the symptom complex of abdominal distension, ascites, and hepatomegaly is presented. The original diagnosis was metastatic neuroblastoma. This diagnosis was erroneously supported by an initial pathologic report, and the patient was subjected to 2 days of radiation therapy before a review of the biopsy material was adjudicated as showing no liver pathology. The patient pursued a progressively downhill course, with recurrent ascites, jaundice, extensive thrombophlebitis, and death. At autopsy she was found to have thrombosis of the hepatic veins, consistent with the Budd-Chiari syndrome.
Complex cellular composition of solitary fibrous tumor of the prostate.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) of the prostate are a rare type of spindle cell neoplasm that can demonstrate either a benign or malignant phenotype. SFTs represent a clinical challenge along with other spindle cell lesions of the prostate in terms of both diagnosis and treatment. The present study shows, for the first time, that SFTs of the prostate and other organs can comprise a mixed population of fibroblast, myofibroblast, and smooth muscle cell types. The highly proliferative component demonstrated a fibroblastic phenotype that readily underwent myofibroblast differentiation on exposure to profibrotic stimuli. Consistent with other recent studies, the prostatic SFTs demonstrated NAB2-STAT6 gene fusions that were also present in the fibroblast, myofibroblast, and smooth muscle cell types of the SFT. The results of these studies suggest that benign and malignant prostatic tumors of mesenchymal origin may be distinguished at the molecular and cellular levels, and that delineation of such defining characteristics may help elucidate the etiology and prognosis of such tumors.
Sodium concentration in rehydration fluids for children with ketoacidotic diabetes: effect on serum sodium concentration.

Objectives To analyze in a retrospective cohort if sodium concentration in the rehydration fluids influence natremia in children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Study design Consecutive episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis admitted in a tertiary care referral center from 2000 to 2005. Rehydration was programmed for 48 hours with a 2-bag system. Initial rehydration was performed with isotonic fluids and thereafter with variable tonicity. Analysis of the influence of the different factors on natremia was performed with a multivariate linear regression analysis. Results Forty-two episodes of DKA were reviewed. Increased sodium content in rehydration fluids behaved as an independent variable, causing a positive tendency of natremia (P Conclusions Sodium concentration in the rehydration fluids behaves as an independent factor that influences positively the trend of the serum concentration of sodium during DKA rehydration. We propose the use of isotonic solutions for rehydration in diabetic ketoacidosis.
Subglottic laryngeal paraganglioma.

Objectives To review the clinical and pathological picture of laryngeal paragangliomas and compare laryngeal paragangliomas with the three other types of laryngeal neuroendocrine neoplasms. Study Design The study presents a case review of a patient with a subglottic laryngeal paraganglioma treated at our institution, with a literature review of the laryngeal neuroendocrine neoplasms. Included is a review of all four neuroendocrine neoplasms, taking a close look at a comparison between laryngeal paragangliomas and atypical carcinoids tumors. All cases of subglottic laryngeal paragangliomas reported in the literature were also compiled and tabulated. Methods The patient's record was reviewed for age, symptomatology, workup, and surgical procedures performed. Results The patient was disease free 36 months after undergoing a tracheostomy for airway control, followed by a cricoid split for complete excision of the tumor. Conclusions It is important to differentiate among the four laryngeal neuroendocrine neoplasms, especially between atypical carcinoids and paragangliomas. Each tumor requires different treatments, with the former requiring a more aggressive approach. Paragangliomas must be completely excised to prevent their recurrence, and this approach should be considered a curative treatment. In addition, the immunohistochemical battery is of paramount importance in obtaining the correct pathological diagnosis.
Characterizing fiber formation in meat analogs using an anisotropic photon migration model

Animal meat products may not be the best choice for many people in the world due to various reasons such as cost, health problems, or religious restrictions. High moisture (40-80%) extrusion technology shows a great promise for texturizing vegetable proteins into fibrous meat alternatives. Soy protein which is healthy, highly nutritious, low in both fat and carbohydrate has been used in high moisture extrusion process to produce meat analogs with well formed fiber that resemble chicken or turkey breast meat. Assessing fiber formation in extruded products is important for controlling extrusion quality in manufacturing process. Although several methods have been studied for quantifying fiber formation in extrudates, their applications for real time quality control in manufacturing process have been challenging. We explored the possibility of applying a nondestructive method based on backscattered reflectance to measure the fiber formation of extruded soy proteins. An image processing method was developed to extract the light reflectance profile at the extrudates' surface. We applied the anisotropic continuous time random walk (CTRW) theory to quantitatively describe the fiber formation in extrudates based on extracted surface reflectance profiles. This method has a potential to be used as a non-destructive, fast, real time quality control tool for products with fibrous structures.
RelativeK 2 for powers of an ideal

1. The Main Result Recall from [3] and I-6] the Maazen-Stienstra-Keune presentation of K2(A,I) where I is an ideal contained in the Jacobson radical of A. Let D(A, I) denote the Z-module with generators (a,b) for a s I and b~A or a s A and b~I and relations (i) (a, b) = ( b, a) , (ii) (a, b) + (a, c) = (a, b + c + abc), (iii) (a, bc) = (ab, c) + (ac, b) for a, b, or c in I. Then there is a natural isomorphism
One-trial excitatory backward conditioning as assessed by conditioned suppression of licking in rats: Concurrent observations of lick suppression and defensive behaviors

Twenty-eight male albino rats were given a single 4-sec 1-mA electric-grid-shock unconditioned stimulus (US). In the same session they received two 12-sec conditioned stimuli (CSs). One CS (explicitly unpaired) terminated 180 sec before the US began; the other (backward paired) began immediately after the US terminated. The CSs used were a 1000-Hz 85-dB tone and an 84-dB click; their roles were counterbalanced. Over the next 2 days, each CS was presented for 2 min while the rats drank from a water bottle. The backward-paired CS was found to suppress licking more than the explicitly unpaired CS. This suppression was accompanied by an increase in defensive behavior (freezing and freeze/nod) and by a decrease in other activity. The suppression did not seem to be due to a maintained or enhanced CS-orienting response reflex, nor could it be attributed to an adventitiously reinforced interfering operant. The results support the presumption made in previous reports that the lick suppression evoked by a backward CS reflected one-trial backward excitatory fear conditioning.
Effect of flaxseed flour incorporation on the physical properties and consumer acceptability of cereal bars

Extensive research has revealed numerous nutritional and health benefits of flaxseed due primarily to its nutrients content. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of flaxseed flour addition on the physical and sensory characteristics of cereal bars. Four formulations of the flaxseed cereal bars were prepared by partially replacing oats with flaxseed flour added at levels of 0 (control), 6%, 12% and 18%. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in water activity, moisture and firmness values between the flaxseed bars and control. Flaxseed addition significantly (p 0.05) between the 12% flax cereal bars and the control with respect to sensory attributes and overall acceptability. The overall acceptability for both 12% flax bars and the control was in between 'like moderately' and 'like slightly' on the 9-point hedonic scale. The overall acceptability was most highly correlated with flavor acceptability for both control (r = 0.80) and 12% flax (r = 0.82) cereal bars. Flaxseed bars provided 12% dietary fiber of the daily recommended value. These results indicated that flaxseed flour incorporation up to 12% substantially enhanced the nutritional qualities of the cereal bars without affecting their sensory and quality properties.
Identification for Systems With Binary Subsystems

Consider a stochastic system of multiple subsystems, each subsystem having binary (“0” or “1”) output. The full system may have general binary or nonbinary (e.g., Gaussian) output. Such systems are widely encountered in practice, and include engineering systems for reliability, communications, and sensor networks, the collection of patients in a clinical trial, and Internet-based control systems. This paper considers the identification of parameters for such systems for general structural relationships between the subsystems and the full system. Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) is used to estimate the mean output for the full system and the “success” probabilities for the subsystems. We present formal conditions for the convergence of the MLEs to the true full system and subsystem values as well as results on the asymptotic distributions for the MLEs. The MLE approach is well suited to providing asymptotic or finite-sample confidence bounds through the use of Fisher information or bootstrap Monte Carlo-based sampling.
Enzyme catalysis: Conflicting requirements of substrate access and transition state affinity

Maximal efficiency of catalysis appears to require that an enzyme and a substrate combine productively in the ground state. Following this initial combination, powerful forces of attraction are believed to develop between the enzyme and activated forms of the substrate. Local conformation changes may assist this process, if the active site of the enzyme is initially open to substrate access, but tends toenclose the altered substrate in the transition state. In many cases, catalytic complexes must be capable of rapid decomposition by two opposite routes which are not related by symmetry. Structural reorganization of the active site may help to satisfy this additional requirement.
New western Tipula

Kertesz’s “Catalogue Dipterorum” vo1. II (“conclusum exitu anni 1900”) lists 309 species belonging to the genus TIPULA. In 1901 I published descriptions of 52 additional species. Between that time and this there have appeared in various journals descriptions of some 16 other species, 7 of which are American. This makes a total of 377 species described before the beginning of 1911.