cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Na-K-ATPase inhibitor dissociated from hypertension-associated plasma protein

Abstract It has been demonstrated that human plasma contains a low molecular weight sodium-potassium–stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (Na-K-ATPase) inhibitor, which can be dissociated from a circulating protein with a molecular weight of approximately 12,000 daltons. The dissociated factor was found to have a molecular weight
Cross-cultural Translation and Validation of Two US Psychoeducational Assessment Instruments

Procedures were examined for determining the culture-appropriateness of two instruments used frequently by school psychologists: one was designed for a high-school and adult population, and the other for use with young children. Traditional translation procedures as outlined by Butcher (1982) are detailed, using the example of the cross-cultural Spanish translation and validation of the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory, an interest inventory used in vocational school psychology. These traditional translation and validation procedures are not appropriate, however, for achievement tests, and an alternate non-traditional content validation procedure is outlined, using the Bracken Basic Concept Scale as a pre-school example.
An analytical expression for apsidal superhump precession and comparisons with numerical simulations and dwarf nova observations

We compare analytical expressions of precession rates from apsidal (positive) superhumps in close binary systems with numerical disc simulation results and observed values. In the analytical expressions, we include both the dynamical effects on the precession of the disc and effects caused by pressure forces that have been theorized to provide a retrograde effect (i.e. slowing) on the prograde disc precession. We establish new limits on density wave pitch angle to a normalized disc sound speed 60 $ Vorb d tan i/ c . 2:214. Using average values for the density wave pitch angle i and speed of sound c, we find good correlation between numerical simulations and the analytical expression for the apsidal superhump period excess, which includes both the prograde and retrograde effects, for mass ratios of 0:025 # q # 0:33. We also show good correlations with the four known eclipsing systems, OY Car, Z Cha, HT Cas, and WZ Sge. Our analytical expression for apsidal superhump period excess as a function of orbital period is consistent with the trend found in observed systems.
Effect of anticoagulants on experimental cerebral infarction; clinical implications.

Cerebral infarction is attended by extravasation of blood in varying degrees. The present study was undertaken to learn whether anticoagulant therapy increases the extravasation and thereby diminishes or negates possibly favorable therapeutic effects. A series of experiments on dogs is described and the clinical implications are discussed.
Managing Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents: A Clinical Review

Chronic pain in children and adolescents can be difficult for a single provider to manage in a busy clinical setting. Part of this difficulty is that pediatric chronic pain not only impacts the child but also the families of these children. In this review article, we discuss etiology and pathophysiology of chronic pain, along with variables that impact the severity of chronic pain and functional loss. We review diagnosis and management of selected chronic pain conditions in pediatric patients, including headache, low back pain, hypermobility, chronic fatigue, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, abdominal pain, fibromyalgia, and complex regional pain syndrome. For each condition, we create a road map that contains therapy prescriptions, exercise recommendations, and variables that may influence pain severity. Potential medications for these pain conditions and associated symptoms are reviewed. A multidisciplinary approach for managing children with these conditions, including pediatric pain rehabilitation programs, is emphasized. Lastly, we discuss psychological factors and interventions for pediatric chronic pain and potential complementary and alternative natural products and interventions.
Social Movements and Progressive Regimes in Latin America: World Revolutions and Semiperipheral Development

This chapter examines Latin America’s changing role in the modern world-system and the contributions that it has made, and may yet make, to the contemporary world revolution. Taking into account the period between 1959 and 2012, we discuss how earlier world revolutions have played out in Latin America and the contributions that Latin American social movements are making to the contemporary global justice movement. Noting that semiperipheral regions have often implemented innovative social organizational forms that transformed the scale and logic of world-systems, we develop and apply a method for coding regimes in Latin America based on whether and how they relate to what is broadly called the Pink Tide. We use this coding to examine the relationship between regime form and world-system position (periphery vs. semiperiphery). Both peripheral and semiperipheral countries have contributed to the Pink Tide, but semiperipheral countries did it earlier and more completely.
Weight Loss Mediated Reduction in Xanthine Oxidase Activity and Uric Acid Clearance in Adolescents with Severe Obesity.

Abstract Background: Increased xanthine oxidase (XO) activity and uric acid levels are known to be associated with obesity and hypertension; however, it is not known if obesity is directly responsible for these associations in youth. This study investigated the effect of weight loss on XO activity, uric acid, and their relationship to blood pressure change in obese youth to provide greater insight on how obesity increases cardiovascular risk. Methods: This was an ancillary study in which 16 adolescents (mean age 15 ± 2 years) received meal replacement therapy over a period of four weeks. Outcomes measured at baseline and after intervention included weight, blood pressure, XO activity, plasma uric acid, uric acid clearance, and creatinine clearance. Results: After the meal replacement intervention, participants experienced reductions in body weight (109.2 ± 16 kg vs. 105.2 ± 14 kg, p < 0.0001) and BMI (38.7 ± 4 kg vs. 37.4 ± 3 kg, p < 0.0001). Plasma XO activity was reduced by 9.8% (p = 0.016). Uric acid c...
Interface Dynamics and Far-From-Equilibrium Phase Transitions in Multilayer Epitaxial Growth and Erosion on Crystal Surfaces: Continuum Theory Insights

We review recent theoretical progress in the physical understanding of far-from-equilibrium phenomena seen experimentally in epitaxial growth and erosion on crystal surfaces. The formation and dynamics of various interface structures (pyramids, ripples, etc.), and also kinetic phase transitions observed between these structures, can all be understood within a simple continuum model based on the mass conservation law and respecting the symmetries of the growing crystal surface. In particular, theoretical predictions and experimental results are compared for (001), (110) and (111) crystal surfaces.
Flight Testing and Response Characteristics of a Variable Gull-Wing Morphing Aircraft

Contemporary morphing designs are focused towards enabling a vehicle to transition from one distinct flight regime to another. Such a change often requires highly complex morphing that is designed to address both aerodynamic performance and handling criteria. The University of Florida has developed a morphing demonstrator to investigate the effect of a biologically-i nspired gull-wing morphing on the flight characteristics of a small aircraft. The vehicle, equipped with sensors and data logging devices, is flight tested using a variety of maneuvers and techniques. The flight data from several mor phing conditions is analyzed to determine the extent of the change in the dynamic properties. Modeling of the lateral-directional dynamics indicates that gull-wing morphing has a considerable effect on the handling qualities and stability.
Path of valid management to an employee of knowledge in a business enterprise

Analyzing the importance of an employee of knowledge in the knowledge-based economy ages.It discussed the meanings and five valid management way that let employee attend enterprise management,implement overall salary strategy,carry on the occupation career design,practice the flexibility work system and strengthen the business enterprise soft environment important.
Specific antibodies and immunoglobulins in the oviductal fluid of the rhesus monkey

Levels of specific antibodies against model antigens, immunoglobulins G and A and also albumin, in oviductal fluid were studied in the rhesus monkey during the periovulatory period. Animals were systemically or intravaginally immunized against T 4 coliphages. Attempts to induce ovulation were made with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) monitored by radioimmunoassay of serum estrogen and progesterone. Collection of tubal fluid over 6 to 13 days was accomplished by surgical cannulation using a refrigerated extracorporeal collection device for each side. The results indicated the following: (1) The levels of specific antibodies against T 4 coliphage and immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA) in the oviduct fluid averaged approximately one tenth of the serum values and showed a characteristic decrease and subsequent increase by a factor of 4 to 5 during and following treatment with hMG/hCG. The nadir was observed on the first or second day after hCG injection. (2) This pattern was similar in both ovulatory or nonovulatory cycles; therefore, these changes seem to be associated with the changes in serum estrogen levels. (3) There was a striking difference in serum and tubal fluid antibody levels after systemic versus after vaginal immunization by a factor of 10 3 and 10 4 ; however, the patterns in tubal fluid under treatment with hMG/hCG were very similar. (4) Specific antibodies in oviductal fluid and serum were mainly of the IgG class. (5) A concomitant change of total protein and albumin in oviduct fluid was also observed. The presence of sperm agglutination antibody in oviductal fluid was demonstrated in two monkeys after systemic immunization with homologous spermatozoa. The sperm antibody titers showed a similar pattern of change after hMG/hCG treatment.
Does concomitant anterior fundoplication promote dysphagia after laparoscopic Heller myotomy

Concerns for gastroesophageal reflux after laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia justify considerations of concomitant anterior fundoplication. This study was undertaken to determine if concomitant anterior fundoplication reduces symptoms of reflux after myotomy without promoting dysphagia. From 1992 to 2004, 182 patients underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy without fundoplication. After a prospective randomized trial justified its concomitant application, anterior fundoplication was undertaken with laparoscopic Heller myotomy in 171 patients from 2004 to 2007. All patients have been prospectively followed. Pre and postoperatively, patients scored the frequency and severity of symptoms of achalasia (including dysphagia, choking, vomiting, regurgitation, chest pain, and heartburn) using a Likert Scale (0 = never/not bothersome to 10 = always/very bothersome). Before myotomy, symptoms of achalasia were frequent and severe for all patients. After myotomy, the frequency and severity of all symptoms of achalasia significantly decreased for all patients (P < 0.001, Wilcoxon matched pairs test). Notably, relative to patients undergoing laparoscopic Heller myotomy alone, concomitant anterior fundoplication led to significantly less frequent and severe heartburn after myotomy (P < 0.05, Mann-Whitney Test) and to less frequent and severe dysphagia and choking (P < 0.05, Mann-Whitney Test). Laparoscopic Heller myotomy reduces the frequency and severity of symptoms of achalasia. Concomitant anterior fundoplication decreases the frequency and severity of heartburn and dysphagia after laparoscopic Heller myotomy. Concomitant anterior fundoplication promotes salutary relief in the frequency and severity of symptoms after myotomy and is warranted.
Pelvic Angiography for Trauma in Children: A Rare but Useful Adjunct.

Introduction Pelvic angiography with embolization can successfully control hemorrhage in adults with pelvic fractures. However, evidence to support similar application in children is sparse. We describe our experience using angiography for pediatric pelvic fractures to further highlight the safety and efficacy of this treatment approach. Methods A retrospective review at a pediatric tertiary care center was performed from 2004 to 2014. Inpatients treated for a pelvic fracture were considered. Results A total of 216 patients were analyzed. Four patients (1.9%) underwent pelvic angiography. Three of these patients had active contrast extravasation on angiography and underwent successful embolization. All patients who underwent angiography showed computed tomography (CT) or clinical evidence of ongoing hemorrhage. No surgical intervention was needed after angiography. No complications of angiography occurred. Three patients who were found to have active extravasation on CT did not require angiography and were stabilized in the intensive care unit; two patients went on to have delayed operative repair. Mortality was 2.3%. All deaths were secondary to concomitant traumatic brain injury. No mortality occurred in patients undergoing pelvic angiography or those with pelvic contrast extravasation on CT. Conclusions Pelvic angiography is a useful treatment option in pediatric patients with pelvic fractures and clinical evidence of ongoing blood loss without other explanation. Contrast extravasation on CT scan alone may not require further intervention.
Nonlinear damping and dephasing in nanomechanical systems

We present a microscopic theory of nonlinear damping and dephasing of low-frequency eigenmodes in nanomechanical and micromechanical systems. The mechanism of the both effects is scattering of thermally excited vibrational modes off the considered eigenmode. The scattering is accompanied by energy transfer of 2ℏω_0 for nonlinear damping and is quasielastic for dephasing. We develop a formalism that allows studying both spatially uniform systems and systems with a strong nonuniformity, which is smooth on the typical wavelength of thermal modes but is pronounced on their mean free path. The formalism accounts for the decay of thermal modes, which plays a major role in the nonlinear damping and dephasing. We identify the nonlinear analogs of the Landau-Rumer, thermoelastic, and Akhiezer mechanisms and find the dependence of the relaxation parameters on the temperature and the geometry of a system.
The Influence of Perpetrator Exposure Time and Weapon Presence/Timing on Eyewitness Confidence and Accuracy

Summary Crimes can occur in a matter of seconds, with little time available for an eyewitness to encode a perpetrator's face. The presence of a weapon can further exacerbate this situation. Few studies have featured mock crimes of short duration, especially with a weapon manipulation. We conducted an experiment to investigate the impact of weapon presence and short perpetrator exposure times (3 vs. 10 seconds) on eyewitness confidence and accuracy. We found that recall concerning the perpetrator was worse when a weapon was present, replicating the weapon focus effect. However, there was no effect on eyewitness identification accuracy. Calibration analyses revealed that all conditions produced a strong confidence–accuracy relationship. Confidence–accuracy characteristic curves illustrated almost perfect accuracy for suspect identifications at the highest levels of confidence. We conclude that weapon presence during a brief crime does not necessarily result in negative consequences for either eyewitness identification accuracy or the confidence–accuracy relationship. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding Nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid) reactions with ferric hydroxide.

Abstract Phosphonate compounds are used in a wide variety of industrial and agricultural applications, and are commonly found in surface and ground waters. Adsorption to ferric hydroxide can have a significant effect on the transport and fate of phosphonate compounds in the environment. This research used density functional theory modeling to investigate the adsorption mechanisms of nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid) (NTMP) on ferric hydroxide. Standard Gibbs free energies of reaction ( Δ G r o ) and reaction activation barriers (Ea) were calculated for different possible adsorption mechanisms. Physical adsorption of NTMP to ferric hydroxide was promoted by negative charge assisted hydrogen bonding, and had Δ G r o ranging from −2.7 to −7.4 kcal/mol. NTMP was found to form three different types of inner sphere complexes, monodentate, bidentate mononuclear and bidentate binuclear. For the monodentate complexes, Δ G r o ranged from −8.0 to −13.7 kcal/mol, for the bidentate complexes Δ G r o ranged from −15.3 to −28.9 kcal/mol. Complexation with Ca2+ decreased the energy for physical adsorption but increased the binding energies for mono- and bidentate complexes. Complexation with Ca2+ also allowed formation of a tridentate ternary surface complex, whereby the Ca2+ ion formed a bridge between three Fe O− and three P O− groups. Physical adsorption had Ea = 0, but mono- and bidentate complex formation had Ea values ranging from 36 to 53 kcal/mol. Formation of tridentate ternary surface complexes involving Ca2+ had the lowest activation barriers of 8 and 10 kcal/mol. The different activation barriers for different modes of adsorption may explain previous experimental observations of unusual kinetic behavior for adsorption and desorption of NTMP.
Feeding the Genome: In Silico Optimization of Dietary Amino Acid Composition

Optimizing dietary amino acid ratios to achieve maximal growth and reproduction has historically required tedious empirical studies. In this issue, Piper et al. (2017) present an in silico method of essential amino acid optimization based on the translated portion of an organism's genome, or exome.
CASE HISTORY OF ST. JOHNS RIVER AND JACKSONVILLE HARBOR, FLORIDA

It seems particularly appropriate that this year should be chosen, for the presentation of a case history of St. Johns River, since it is this year that marks the centennial of the first effort to secure a navigable channel across its bar for ocean-bourne vessels. That effort led to a congressional appropriation of $10,000, a sizable sum in those days, for planning and definite work toward that end. Work was completed only last year, which provided a 34-foot channel from Jacksonville to the ocean, complete with various protective works, and a cut-off channel which eliminates three hazardous bends and reduces the distance to be navigated. Thus, the accomplishments of a century of efforts can be seen. It is those efforts which comprise the substance of this paper. A map of the river is shown as figure 1.
Polyketide mimetics yield structural and mechanistic insights into product template domain function in nonreducing polyketide synthases

Product template (PT) domains from fungal nonreducing polyketide synthases (NR-PKSs) are responsible for controlling the aldol cyclizations of poly-β-ketone intermediates assembled during the catalytic cycle. Our ability to understand the high regioselective control that PT domains exert is hindered by the inaccessibility of intrinsically unstable poly-β-ketones for in vitro studies. We describe here the crystallographic application of “atom replacement” mimetics in which isoxazole rings linked by thioethers mimic the alternating sites of carbonyls in the poly-β-ketone intermediates. We report the 1.8-A cocrystal structure of the PksA PT domain from aflatoxin biosynthesis with a heptaketide mimetic tethered to a stably modified 4′-phosphopantetheine, which provides important empirical evidence for a previously proposed mechanism of PT-catalyzed cyclization. Key observations support the proposed deprotonation at C4 of the nascent polyketide by the catalytic His1345 and the role of a protein-coordinated water network to selectively activate the C9 carbonyl for nucleophilic addition. The importance of the 4′-phosphate at the distal end of the pantetheine arm is demonstrated to both facilitate delivery of the heptaketide mimetic deep into the PT active site and anchor one end of this linear array to precisely meter C4 into close proximity to the catalytic His1345. Additional structural features, docking simulations, and mutational experiments characterize protein–substrate mimic interactions, which likely play roles in orienting and stabilizing interactions during the native multistep catalytic cycle. These findings afford a view of a polyketide “atom-replaced” mimetic in a NR-PKS active site that could prove general for other PKS domains.
Blind Deblurring Reconstruction Technique with Applications in Spect Imaging

To resolve fine details, or to accurately segment tumors from background activities, it is desired that the reconstruction image of the SPECT may preserve the edges and achieve high resolution. In this paper, we develop a blind deblurring reconstruction technique estimate of both the actual image and the PSF of the system, and enhance the performance of iterative reconstruction using this technique. A blurred SPECT reconstruction can be viewed as the convolution of a low-pass PSF with the actual image, where both the PSF and the actual image are unknown in practice. The PSF of a SPECT system is determined by the combined effect of several factors, which include the gamma camera PSF, the scattering, and pinhole PSF for pinhole SPECT systems, and therefore is hard to be determined analytically. Inspired by the blind deconvolution algorithm[1], we formulate a blind deblurring reconstruction algorithm, which also consists of two iterative update sequences, which are corresponded for the PSF and the SPECT reconstruction, respectively. In the phantom study, the algorithm reduces image blurring and preserves the edges without introducing extra artifacts. The localized measurement shows that the performance of reconstruction image improved by up to 50%. In experimental studies, the contrast and quality of reconstruction is substantially improved. Therefore, algorithm shows promising in tumor localization and quantification.
Decentralised Stochastic Control

Abstract The literature on decentralized stochastic control is classified in terms of a few paradigmatic problem formulations. The status of research in each problem formulation is presented, and an attempt is made to assess the limit of these formulations.
Survival patterns of oligoastrocytoma patients: A surveillance, epidemiology and end results (SEER) based analysis

Abstract Objective The 2016 update to the World Health Organization (WHO) states that oligoastrocytoma (OA) should be classified as either oligodendroglioma or astrocytoma based on molecular biomarkers. We examined the survival patterns of patients diagnosed with OA in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry in the context of this revised scheme. Methods We used data from the SEER database (1999–2010) to identify patients diagnosed with WHO grade II astrocytoma (A2, n = 4113), WHO grade II oligodendroglioma (O2, n = 2378), and oligoastrocytoma (OA, n = 1505). Survival comparison was performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results Similar to O2 patients, gross total resection (GTR) was not associated with improved survival in OA patients. In contrast, GTR is associated with improved survival in A2 patients. For OA patients who did not undergo surgery or radiation therapy (RT), those with tumors Conclusions Distinct survival patterns were observed in SEER OA patients with tumors
Unexplained Dyspnea in a Young Adult with Epstein–Barr Virus Infectious Mononucleosis: Pulmonary Involvement or Co-Infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia?

Clinically, in young immunocompetent adults, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) usually manifests as infectious mononucleosis (IM). Typical clinical findings of EBV IM include fever, profound fatigue, pharyngitis, bilateral posterior cervical adenopathy, and splenomegaly. Respiratory involvement with EBV IM may occur, but is distinctly rare. We present a case of a 20 year old female who with classic EBV IM, but was inexplicably dyspneic and hypoxemic. Further diagnostic testing confirmed co-infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae. As a non-zoonotic atypical community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), M. pneumoniae may rarely be accompanied by severe hypoxemia and even acute respiratory distress syndrome. She represented a diagnostic dilemma regarding the cause of her hypoxemia, i.e., due to EBV IM with pulmonary involvement or severe M. pneumoniae CAP. The patient slowly recovered with respiratory quinolone therapy.
Assessing Tauc plot slope quantification: ZnO thin films as a model system

One of the most frequently used methods for characterizing thin films is UV–Vis absorption. The near-edge region can be fitted to a simple expression where the intercept gives the band gap and the fitting exponent identifies the electronic transition as direct or indirect. [See Tauc et al., Physica Status Solidi 15, 627 (1966); naturally, these are usually called “Tauc” plots.] In earlier work, we found that direct band gaps fitted using Tauc's method can be quite accurate, to ∼1% [see Viezbicke et al., Phys. Status Solidi B 252, 1700 (2015)]. Still, slopes of these Tauc plots are less frequently quantified, even though the slopes are directly rooted in key band-structure parameters. In this study, we examine the reproducibility of Tauc plot slopes for ZnO as a model direct-gap material and compare these experimental values with the theoretically derived slope. In contrast to the band gap accuracy, the experimental slope values varied by several orders of magnitude. The histogram of slope values was significantly more compact for Tauc plots exhibiting less Urbach tail contribution. In these cases, the Tauc slopes can provide an order-of-magnitude quantification of other key band characteristics such as carrier effective mass.
Subthreshold SRAM: Challenges, design decisions, and solutions

This paper presents an overview of various challenges, optimization strategies, and design requirements for subthreshold SRAM arrays targeting Ultra-Low Power (ULP) applications in the Internet of Things (IoTs). We study the impact of threshold voltage (VT) change due to process and temperature variations on various SRAM design decisions for ULP operation. We explore different solutions to enable reliable subthreshold operation ranging from technology to cell to architecture and assist. We also highlight the impact of process variations on optimal peripheral assist selection, and degree of assist requirements. We present trade-offs between reliability, energy, and performance to an application-specific SRAM design. Six different types of SRAM bitcells are compared for various subthreshold metrics to provide an optimal bitcell selection for the targeted application.
Teaching American sign language to a normally hearing infant with tracheostenosis. A case study.

This remedial program of teaching infants with tracheostenosis to use American Sign Language appears to be a successful procedure for eliciting not only expressive language but also in aiding psychosocial-cognitive development.
Contraception for Adolescents and Young Adults in the Inpatient Setting: The Providers' Perspective.

OBJECTIVES: To assess pediatric providers’ attitudes and barriers to initiating a contraceptive method in the inpatient setting. METHODS: Pediatric attending physicians and trainees from 5 academic institutions were surveyed about contraceptive prescribing practices, attitudes, and potential barriers to initiating contraception in the inpatient setting. RESULTS: In 2016, 271 pediatric providers (34.0% were attending physicians, 18.1% fellows, and 47.9% residents) completed the survey; the response rate was 19.2%. Most participants practiced in both inpatient and outpatient settings (95.7% and 85.0%, respectively). More providers felt confident screening for sexual activity among young adults as compared with adolescents (71.9% vs 65.6%). The same was true for discussing contraceptive options (44.0% vs 38.8%, respectively). Inpatient providers reported seeing adolescents and young adults privately, discussing confidentiality, and asking about sex less than half of the time. More than 80% of providers agreed that it would be appropriate to initiate a contraceptive method for inpatients; 35.8% had done so, and 85.2% indicated that having additional consultation would increase initiation of a contraceptive method in the hospital (88.1% felt similarly for long-active reversible contraception methods). General barriers to initiating contraception included insufficient training, insufficient exposure to adolescents and young adults to maintain skills, and lack of time. Barriers specific to the inpatient setting included concerns about follow-up, confidentiality, and interference with the treatment plan. CONCLUSIONS: Initiation of a contraceptive method in the inpatient setting is acceptable to providers. In our findings, it is suggested that strategies are needed to enhance provision of these services by addressing confidentiality concerns and educating providers.
DISSOCIATION OF LARGE OLIGOMERIC PROTEINS BY HIGH HYDROSTATIC-PRESSURE - DYNAMIC LIGHT-SCATTERING-STUDIES

In the study of oligomeric protein association, the combined approach of high hydrostatic pressure perturbation with optical spectroscopic detection has provided great insight into structure and dynamics of these complex systems. Various methods offer advantages in specific cases. For example, a decrease in the light scattering intensity tracks the pressure induced dissociation of oligomeric proteins. However, optical artifacts complicate the interpretation of light scattering experiments under pressure. Dynamic light scattering offers the possibility of directly detecting changes in the translational diffusion coefficient, rather than the total scattered intensity associated with oligomer dissociation. The translational diffusion coefficient of the protein is related to its molecular weight and hydrodynamic volume, both of which change with oligomer dissociation. Dynamic light scattering offers greater sensitivity for the study of very large oligomers, that are not readily accessible using other spectroscopic methods. In addition, dynamic light scattering is conveniently used in conjunction with high hydrostatic pressure perturbation. We have performed dynamic light scattering experiments on the pressure dissociation of hemocyanin (gastropod), a very large molecular assembly (approximately 8 x 106 D). Under ambient pressure conditions, dynamic light scattering measurements show a heterogeneous oligomer population. The application of about 2 kbar of pressure strongly changes the dynamic light scattering spectrum by depleting most of the low frequency spectral components (large molecular weight oligomers). The formation of large oligomers is stabilized by calcium ions and consequently in 10 mM calcium 2 kbar of pressure provides only a small perturbation to self-association. Our results provide an initial indication that dynamic light scattering in conjunction with high hydrostatic pressure perturbation techniques offers a unique and sensitive approach to the study large oligomeric proteins.
How the Revolution in Cell Biology Will Affect Glaucoma: Biomarkers

Multiple biomarker panels of common, multifactorial diseases - such as cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease - have recently been described, facilitating the diagnosis and risk management of these diseases. In principle, a biomarker is an indicator of a biochemical feature or facet that can be used to diagnose or monitor the progress of a disease. Detection technology has been identified for possible types of biomarkers in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). We will summarize known biomarkers with the intent of cataloging the biomarkers in the aqueous humor, trabecular meshwork (TM), optic nerve, and blood in patients with POAG. To facilitate comparisons and to offer mechanistic clues, biochemical changes such as up- or downregulation of proteins that have been reported in POAG are organized into three categories: namely, extra­cellular matrix (ECM) changes, cytokine/signaling molecules, and aging/stress (listed respectively in Tables 82.1, 82.2, and 82.3).
Concentration of three toxic metals in oysters (Crassostrea virginica) of biloxi and pascagoula, Mississippi estuaries

Concentrations of three toxic trace metals, Hg, Pb, and Cd in the commercial oyster Crassostrea virginica were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Oysters were collected from the Biloxi, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula, Mississippi area. Mercury concentrations were low and appeared to be natural background levels. Lead content of the Mississippi oysters compared favorably with levels in Atlantic Coast oysters, but Cd in Atlantic Coast oysters was approximately 6.7 times greater than in the local specimens. There was no definite relation between oyster size and Pb, Hg or Cd content.
Child-Care Usage Patterns as Estimates of Child-Care Need

Child-care utilization studies are often used to estimate the need for future child-care. The author stresses the limitations of the use of past patterns to judge future needs. Specifically the article focuses on the reliability and validity of measures of usage and satisfaction with various child-care modes, errors in study design, lack of conceptual clarity, and problems of the correlation of child-care modes and other variables. One obvious way to estimate future needs for child care is to look at patterns of child care used previously. How many children are currently enrolled in educational day-care centers? How many youngsters are kept by relatives? Which families have babysitters? These are just a few of the questions asked when predictions must be made about child-care needs. Much of the advice federal policy makers are getting about the extent of the need for child care in the U.S. is based on what may be called utilization studies. (cf. Hofferth, 1978: Hill, 1978; Shortlidge, 1977) Social scientists using for the most part survey research methods have sought to determine where America's children stay during the day and have based their calculations of future needs on straight-line projections from present-day usage of child-care facilities. In addition, some students of the need for care have used studies of usage patterns to generalize about the nations' preferences for forms of care. Few would quarrel with the importance of gathering and analyzing information about the forms of child care currently utilized. What is lacking in much of the concern with such patterns is an awareness of the limitations of this particular type of data both as an indication of preference and as a reliable predictor of future needs. The discussion of some of the projects which have sought to estimate need is under-taken not as a comprehensive critique of the studies, but in order to focus on methodological pitfalls and to indicate why an overreliance on the measures would be unwise. Specifically the focus will be on reliability and validity of measures of usage and satisfaction with child-care modes, errors in study design, lack of conceptual clarity, and
Gene expression and cell cycle regulation.

Publisher Summary The ability to grow and divide is a fundamental property of living organisms. The duplication of cellular contents and their distribution to two daughter cells is an orderly process of changes in the structure and function of cellular constituents, which is coordinated and controlled by a sequential genetic program. The major control point for the initiation of this sequence lies in the period prior to DNA replication in most cell types and may be defective in transformed and tumorigenic cells. Cells growing in vitro usually arrest in the prereplicative phase in response to high population density or serum or nutrient deprivation. This quiescent G 0 state is characterized by decreased metabolic activity, in particular, a decrease in ribosome content and protein synthetic capacity and prolonged viability in the absence of growth and division. A return to the division cycle may be initiated by supplying the missing nutrient or by surface acting agents including polypeptide growth factors, carbohydrate binding plant lectins, and proteases and other enzymes. These agents initiate a series of surface and cytoskeletal rearrangements and transmit a proliferation signal to the interior of the cell.
S11.1 Introduction to the vaginal microbiome pre-conference symposium

This will comprise an introduction to this session. Disclosure No significant relationships.
Better together: young children's tendencies to help a non-humanoid robot collaborator

In child-robot collaborations, a robot may fail to accomplish its part of a task. In this situation, the robot is reliant on the child to recover. Inherently prosocial, a child is inclined to help the robot collaborator if the child can properly identify the robot failure and infer how to help correct it. In this study, we investigate how a non-humanoid robot can solicit the help of a child-collaborator using only its motion path. We conducted a study with twenty-two children, ages 3-7, who participated in a collaborative building task with a non-humanoid mobile robot. We found that autonomous motion of a non-humanoid robot elicited prosocial behavior from 59% of children, and that young children were willing to engage with the robot as an animate partner despite its limited capabilities and form. This finding has implications for robot design striving to encourage prosocial behavior in children of different ages.
Characterization, mechanical properties, and microstructural development of lunar regolith simulant-portland cement blended mixtures

Abstract Lunar regolith simulant – JSC-1A is a basaltic powder compositionally similar to rock samples brought back from the moon by Apollo missions. This study describes JSC-1A as a potential construction material advancing the critical, prerequisite knowledge for the construction of shelters on the moon. A reactivity test based on isothermal calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis was conducted on JSC-1A materials of different fineness. The results indicated that the finer portion could potentially be used as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) of low reactivity, whereas the coarser fraction, which was considered inert, could be used as a filler/aggregate material (similar to sand). Four JSC-1A-portland cement blended pastes were tested as prospective binders. Some extent of portlandite consumption by JSC-1A in blended pastes was confirmed through thermogravimetric analysis. Blended mortar containing 75% JSC-1A and 25% portland cement developed over 30 MPa of compressive strength at 28 days of hydration and an increasing strength development over time was observed, as JSC-1A slowly reacted. Microstructural analysis of these mortars showed evidences of dissolution sites on JSC-1A and formation of different types of reaction products. The results presented and discussed in this research lengthen the directions for long-term space missions.
ProMT: optimizing integrity tree updates for write-intensive pages in secure NVMs

Current computer systems are vulnerable to a wide range of attacks caused by the proliferation of accelerators, and the fact that current system comprise multiple SoCs provided from different vendors. Thus, major processor vendors are moving towards limiting the trust boundary to the processor chip only as in Intel's SGX, AMD's SME, and ARM's TrustZone. This secure boundary limitation requires protecting the memory content against data remanence attacks, which were performed against DRAM in the form of cold-boot attack and are more successful against NVM due to NVM's data persistency feature. However, implementing secure memory features, such as memory encryption and integrity verification has a non-trivial performance overhead, and can significantly reduce the emerging NVM's expected lifetime. Previous work looked at reducing the overheads of the secure memory implementation by packing more counters into a cache line, increasing the cacheability of security metadata, slightly reducing the size of the integrity tree, or using the ECC chip to store the MAC values. However, the root update process is barely studied, which requires a sequential update of the MAC values in all the integrity tree levels. In this paper, we propose ProMT, a novel memory controller design that ensures a persistently secure system with minimal overheads. ProMT protects the data confidentiality and ensures the data integrity with minimal overheads. ProMT reduces the performance overhead of secure memory implementation to 11.7%, extends the NVM's life time by 3.59x, and enables the system recovery in a fraction of a second.
Visual processing: Systematic variation in light-dark bias across visual space.

Summary Detecting changes in luminance is a fundamental property of the visual system. A new study shows that lights and darks are represented differently across visual space, with strong OFF bias in central vision and balanced ON/OFF in the periphery.
A Novel Bayesian Semi-parametric Model for Learning Heritable Imaging Traits

Heritability analysis is an important research topic in brain imaging genetics. Its primary motivation is to identify highly heritable imaging quantitative traits (QTs) for subsequent in-depth imaging genetic analyses. Most existing studies perform heritability analyses on regional imaging QTs using predefined brain parcellation schemes such as the AAL atlas. However, the power to dissect genetic underpinnings under QTs defined in such an unsupervised fashion is largely deteriorate with inner partition noise and signal dilution. To bridge the gap, we propose a new semi-parametric Bayesian heritability estimation model to construct highly heritable imaging QTs. Our method leverages the aggregate of genetic signals to imaging QT construction by developing a new brain parcellation driven by voxel-level heritability. To ensure biological plausibility and clinical interpretability of the resulting brain heritability parcellations, hierarchical sparsity and smoothness, coupled with structural connectivity of the brain, are properly imposed on genetic effects to induce spatial contiguity of heritable imaging QTs. Using the ADNI imaging genetic data, we demonstrate the strength of our proposed method, in comparison with the standard GCTA method, in identifying highly heritable and biologically meaningful new imaging QTs.
Approaches to the Treatment of the Hemoglobin Disorders

Many of the hemoglobin disorders, particularly those that include the sickle hemoglobinopathies and thalassemia syndromes, produce severe disease manifestations and early mortality in a large percentage of affected individuals. The disability, pain, and loss of productivity that these individuals suffer, as well as their often extensive needs for transfusions and other forms of medical care, have stimulated major efforts toward the development of more effective forms of therapy for these conditions.
Modulation of extracellular receptor kinase (ERK) by radiation

1298 Signal-transduction genes such as EGFR and RAS, which encode components of the MAPK pathway, are frequently over-expressed or mutated in a variety of cancers. A majority of colorectal cancers carry either a RAS or a BRAF mutation. The BRAF gene codes for a serine/threonine kinase just downstream from RAS that activates p42/44 ERK via phosphorylation. In some instances, ionizing radiation activates the EGFR via its phosphorylation, which is a major effector of the p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway. This pathway has been proposed to be involved in cell proliferation or repopulation after radiation. We wished to understand the significance of the EGFR and MAPK pathways in radiation-induced cell death and/or survival. For this purpose we chose a panel of cell lines including SW620 colorectal cell line, MDA-MB-468 breast carcinoma, A431 epidermoid carcinoma, normal skin fibroblasts and ATM cells. SW620 cells do not express EGFR (absent by immunoblotting and RT-PCR), while both MDA-MB-468 and A-431 have EGFR amplification and overexpression. The surviving fractions of SW620 and MDA-MB-468 cells irradiated with 2 Gy were 0.37 ± 0.05 and 0.32 ± 0.06, respectively. Cells were irradiated with 2-8 Gy. Phospho p42/44-ERK levels were assessed by immunoblotting at various time interval post irradiation. We found that p42/44 ERK levels were decreased in a dose dependent manner relative to control within 5 min of irradiation in SW620, MDA-MB-468 and fibroblasts. In these cells the p42/44 ERK levels recovered by 2h at 2 or 4 Gy dose levels. However we found as reported before, that in confluent A-431 cells the p42/44 ERK levels were increased within 2 min post irradiation, the levels returned to baseline by 20 min. In contrast the pERK activity was not affected in ATM cells. These results demonstrate that p42/44 ERK can be modulated by ionizing radiation, but that this effect is independent of EGFR. These findings suggest that it will be critical to measure downstream effects, rather than simply EGFR presence or activation, in determining the effect of radiation on signal transduction.
Writing and Reading the CTD Code: In Vitro Reconstruction of Post-Translational Modifications on RNA Polymerase II

Information flow within the cell is filtered through a vast array of codes. Vital biological data is compiled at the DNA, RNA, and protein levels with additional information relayed through an ever...
Photolysis of allene-ozone mixtures at 647 nm in cryogenic matrices: Part 1. Formation of allene oxide

Abstract Matrix studies of the photolytic reaction at 647 nm between allene and ozone were carried out at 12 K. Primary photoproducts include carbon monoxide, acrolein ( cis and trans ), cyclopropanone, ketene, ethylene, allene oxide and formaldehyde. In Ar and Kr matrices both acrolein and cyclopropanone are produced in high yields, whereas in Xe matrices cyclopropanone is the major product. Infrared spectra for cyclopropanone and its oxygen-18 and deuterium substitutes are reported. The carbonyl stretch for cyclopropanone is observed at 1815 cm −1 in an Ar matrix. Also reported is the first synthesis of allene oxide. The carbon—carbon double bond stretch is observed at 1823.4 cm −1 and it exhibits a small oxygen-18 shift. The change in product distribution is discussed in terms of heavy atom spin—orbit enhancement of singlet—triplet excitation, so that in xenon reaction takes place on a triplet surface, whereas in argon it occurs on a singlet surface.
Culture in the mind's mirror: how anthropology and neuroscience can inform a model of the neural substrate for cultural imitative learning

Abstract Cultural neuroscience, the study of how cultural experience shapes the brain, is an emerging subdiscipline in the neurosciences. Yet, a foundational question to the study of culture and the brain remains neglected by neuroscientific inquiry: “How does cultural information get into the brain in the first place?” Fortunately, the tools needed to explore the neural architecture of cultural learning — anthropological theories and cognitive neuroscience methodologies — already exist; they are merely separated by disciplinary boundaries. Here we review anthropological theories of cultural learning derived from fieldwork and modeling; since cultural learning theory suggests that sophisticated imitation abilities are at the core of human cultural learning, we focus our review on cultural imitative learning. Accordingly we proceed to discuss the neural underpinnings of imitation and other mechanisms important for cultural learning: learning biases, mental state attribution, and reinforcement learning. Using cultural neuroscience theory and cognitive neuroscience research as our guides, we then propose a preliminary model of the neural architecture of cultural learning. Finally, we discuss future studies needed to test this model and fully explore and explain the neural underpinnings of cultural imitative learning.