cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cloning, characterization, and expression of growth regulator CYCLIN D3-2 in leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)

Abstract We have isolated both a genomic and near full length cDNA clone for a D-class cyclin gene from the perennial weed leafy spurge. Sequence analysis indicates that this gene has the highest similarity to CYCLIN D3-2 of Arabidopsis. This gene is preferentially expressed in growing shoot apices and is up-regulated in adventitious buds on resumption of growth following loss of correlative inhibition (apical dominance). CYCLIN D3-2 is also induced in nongrowing adventitious buds of plants treated with gibberellic acid or after removal of leaves—treatments known to up-regulate expression of G1 to S phase transition–specific genes such as HISTONE H3 in adventitious buds. CYCLIN D3-2 was not induced on removal of the apical and axillary buds. Expression of CYCLIN D3-2 is down-regulated in adventitious crown buds during initiation of ecodormancy in early winter. Sequence comparisons of CYCLIN D3-2 with its putative orthologue from Arabidopsis identified several conserved motifs in the promoter region and a ...
Central role for marinobufagenin in the pathogenesis of uremic cardiomyopathy

Patients with chronic renal failure develop a “uremic” cardiomyopathy characterized by diastolic dysfunction, cardiac hypertrophy and systemic oxidant stress. Patients with chronic renal failure also are known to have increases in the circulating concentrations of the cardiotonic steroid marinobufagenin. On this background, we hypothesized that elevations in circulating marinobufagenin may be involved in the cardiomyopathy. First, we observed that administration of marinobufagenin (10 μg/kg/day) for 4 weeks caused comparable increases in plasma MBG as partial nephrectomy at 4 weeks. Marinobufagenin infusion caused increases in conscious blood pressure, cardiac weight and the time constant for left ventricular relaxation similar to partial nephrectomy. Decreases in the expression of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase, cardiac fibrosis and systemic oxidant stress were observed with both marinobufagenin infusion and partial nephrectomy. Next, rats were actively immunized against a marinobufagenin bovine serum albumin conjugate or bovine serum albumin control, and partial nephrectomy was subsequently performed. Immunization against marinobufagenin attenuated the cardiac hypertrophy, impairment of diastolic function, cardiac fibrosis and systemic oxidant stress seen with partial nephrectomy without significant effect on conscious blood pressure. These data suggest that the increased concentrations of marinobufagenin are important in the cardiac disease and oxidant stress state seen with renal failure.
Exploring the Modeling Capacity of Two-Stage Robust Optimization: Variants of Robust Unit Commitment Model

To handle significant variability in loads, renewable energy generation, as well as various contingencies, (two-stage) robust optimization method has been adopted to construct unit commitment models and to ensure reliable solutions. In this paper, we further explore and extend the modeling capacity of two-stage robust optimization and present two new robust unit commitment variants: the expanded robust unit commitment and the risk constrained robust unit commitment model. We derive structural properties, demonstrate the connection to the popular scenario based stochastic unit commitment models, and present a customized column-and-constraint generation method. Numerical experiments on those models are performed using practical data sets, which illustrate their modeling strength, economic outcomes, and the algorithm performance in solving those models.
Radioimmunoassay data handling.

Methods are presented for fitting functions to radioimmunoassay and other competitive binding assay calibration data. For the case of a univalent hormone in equilibrium with a protein carrying one type of binding site, the theoretic function is fitted to the data using the method of least squares. Two methods are provided in this case. One method requires a computer search to locate the unknown parameters. A second approximate method, as easy to use as a conventional least-squares fit of a straight line, provides explicit solutions for the parameters. These methods have been found to work well with a number of commercially available radioimmunoassays. All of the methods presented are usable on a programmable desk-top computing calculator.
Production of Sustained Release Microspheres Coated with Inorganic Fine Particles

Producing sustained release micropheres was tried by coating a drug with inorganic fine particles. Magnesium carbonate in a tumbling fluidized bed was coated with two sorts of colloidal silica having a size of about 60-90nm and a size less than 6nm. It was confirmed experimentally by varying the size of colloidal silica, by varying the mixing ratio of two different-sized colloidal silica and by using a coating mass, that microspheres having different release rates.
Analyzing Emerging Christianities: Recent Insights from the Social Sciences

The social sciences contribute in important ways to our understanding of current Christian realities, especially ‘newer’ or ‘emerging’ Christianities. Recent research by social scientists on contemporary Christian groups – in historical anthropology and more recently in the anthropology of Christianity – has yielded important insights into modes of Christian agency and identity. Those interested in the spread of Christianity today – including missiologists – should familiarize themselves with such anthropological and sociological research. For their part, those engaged in social-scientific research on newer Christianities should attend more closely to Christianity in its historical and communal dimensions by developing an historical sociology.
Seasonal History and Damage Caused by Neurocolpus nubilus (Hemiptera: Miridae) on Cotton in Northern Mississippi

Adult clouded plant bugs, Neurocolpus nubilus (Say), were caged for 2 d on individual cotton plants ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) during two stages of plant physiological development. Regression analyses of number of plant fruiting structures and yield on insect densities indicated that feeding by N. nubilus at the peak squaring period caused shedding of small pinhead squares and delayed crop maturation, although with no significant effects on total yield. The effects of N. nubilus feeding were less apparent at boll maturation. Observations of cotton fields with a history of N. nubilus infestations and analysis of data collected by the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service in northern Mississippi indicated that N. nubilus overwinters in the egg stage, develops its population on several host plants, and moves to cotton during late season, when cotton is less susceptible to its damage.
Technique of bilateral aortofemoral bypass grafting.

Long-term patency of an aortofemoral graft is good, and there should be little hesitation in recommending the procedure from this point of view. As long as the patient is aware of the complications, their low incidence should not act as a deterrent to the procedure.
Distributed Mechanical Actuation of Percussion Instruments

This paper describes a system for interactive mechanically actuated percussion. Design principles regarding seamless control and retention of natural acoustic properties are established. Performance patterns on a preliminary version are examined, including the potential for cooperative and distributed performance.
Understanding intersecting social identities in engineering education and practice

Studies on the persistence and success of underrepresented groups in STEM point to a number of challenges, ranging from college-preparedness to lack of role models and financial disparity. However, few studies, if any, systematically investigate the role students' individual identities (i.e. intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, culture, ability, sexual identity, language, etc.) play in helping or hindering their success in engineering and computer science. Relational and structural power often accrues to those who most closely approximate the defined norm, and those who do not align with these models may be compelled to withhold or even deny integral parts of their social and cultural identities as a means of successfully navigating engineering culture. We refer to this as “identity severance” and think it is negatively correlated with persistence in engineering education and practice. We have developed an exploratory study to be implemented at three distinct institutions of post-secondary education to identify the fundamental themes that would inform a more comprehensive and widespread national conversation regarding the influence of power and privilege on broader participation and practice in engineering and computer science.
Electrocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels: a review on the interaction between CO2 and the liquid electrolyte

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using renewable energy resources can potentially accomplish the carbon-neutral energy cycle while synthesizing fuels simultaneously. CO2 electrocatalysis typically requires the presence of protons in a liquid electrolyte, which acts as a possible cocatalyst for CO2 conversion to fuels. However, the following fundamental questions remain: (1) How does the interaction between CO2 and liquid electrolyte influence CO2 electrocatalysis? (2) How does the selectivity toward products from CO2 reduction depend upon the choice of electrolyte? In this review article, we emphasize on the interaction between CO2 and the liquid electrolyte, in order to find answers to these questions. Specifically, the nature of interactions along with the structures of solvated molecules for CO2 in water, organic solvents and ionic liquids are discussed. Finally, relevant questions are proposed which need to be studied carefully in order to gain a deeper understanding of CO2 electrocatalysis. WIREs Energy Environ 2017, 6:e239. doi: 10.1002/wene.239 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Engineering epithelial-stromal interactions in vitro for toxicology assessment

Crosstalk between epithelial and stromal cells drives the morphogenesis of ectodermal organs during development and promotes normal mature adult epithelial tissue homeostasis. Epithelial-stromal interactions (ESIs) have historically been examined using mammalian models and ex vivo tissue recombination. Although these approaches have elucidated signaling mechanisms underlying embryonic morphogenesis processes and adult mammalian epithelial tissue function, they are limited by the availability of tissue, low throughput, and human developmental or physiological relevance. In this review, we describe how bioengineered ESIs, using either human stem cells or co-cultures of human primary epithelial and stromal cells, have enabled the development of human in vitro epithelial tissue models that recapitulate the architecture, phenotype, and function of adult human epithelial tissues. We discuss how the strategies used to engineer mature epithelial tissue models in vitro could be extrapolated to instruct the design of organotypic culture models that can recapitulate the structure of embryonic ectodermal tissues and enable the in vitro assessment of events critical to organ/tissue morphogenesis. Given the importance of ESIs towards normal epithelial tissue development and function, such models present a unique opportunity for toxicological screening assays to incorporate ESIs to assess the impact of chemicals on mature and developing epidermal tissues.
Unleashing expert judgment in assessment

Assessment evaluates accumulated knowledge and its limits. It informs and ideally empowers decisions and actions on complex, contested issues with persistent uncertainties. Applying rigorous expert judgment is an important dimension of assessment. Here we evaluate advances and challenges in approaches to expert judgment in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fifth Assessment Report (IPCC AR5). We find that revised guidance for author teams improved the development of balanced judgments on scientific evidence across disciplines. In particular, expert judgments underpinning conclusions are more extensively, transparently, and consistently communicated: degree-of-certainty terms are more abundant in AR5 policymaker summaries; wider ranges of possible outcomes are presented with greater inclusion of lower-certainty, decision-relevant findings; and expert judgments supporting conclusions are more comparable across working groups. But challenges in developing and communicating assessment conclusions persist, especially for findings with substantial uncertainties and for subjective aspects of judgments. Based on our evaluations and AR5 lessons learned, we propose a simpler, more rigorous framework for developing and communicating expert judgments in environmental assessment. We also describe practices for reducing expert-judgment biases, for advancing integration of evidence and expert judgment, and for addressing subjective dimensions of expert opinion directly and proactively.
Chapter 5: Passive Spectroscopic Diagnostics for Magnetically Confined Fusion Plasmas

Spectroscopy of radiation emitted by impurities and hydrogen isotopes plays an important role in the study of magnetically confined fusion plasmas, both in determining the effects of impurities on ...
The Role of Notch3 in Cancer.

The Notch family is a highly conserved gene group that regulates cell-cell interaction, embryogenesis, and tissue commitment. This review article focuses on the third Notch family subtype, Notch3. Regulation via Notch3 signaling was first implicated in vasculogenesis. However, more recent findings suggest that Notch3 signaling may play an important role in oncogenesis, tumor maintenance, and resistance to chemotherapy. Its role is mainly oncogenic, although in some cancers it appears to be tumor suppressive. Despite the wealth of published literature, it remains relatively underexplored and requires further research to shed more light on its role in cancer development, determine its tissue-specific function, and elaborate novel treatment strategies. Herein we summarize the role of Notch3 in cancer, possible mechanisms of its action, and current cancer treatment strategies targeting Notch3 signaling. Implications for practice The Notch family is a highly conserved gene group that regulates cell-cell interaction, embryogenesis, and tissue commitment. This review summarizes the existing data on the third subtype of the Notch family, Notch3. The role of Notch3 in different types of cancers is discussed, as well as implications of its modification and new strategies to affect Notch3 signaling activity.
Chronic Pediatric Rheumatologic Pain Syndromes

Chronic and recurrent musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents is a common problem for primary care physicians to address. These pain syndromes are categorized in the spectrum of biopsychosocial syndromes that incorporate physical symptoms and signs with psychological components, often amplified by environmental or social influences through partially understood mechanisms. The patient may experience localized or widespread pain. The syndromes can be readily recognized by patterns of symptoms and signs that are illustrated in the chapter. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia syndrome, and benign hypermobility syndrome have physical findings that help to define the diagnosis; while growing pains are void of objective physical findings but are defined by the episodic nature and characteristic history. There is often an association with excessive school absences, anxiety, depression, and dysfunctional relationships with the parents. The characteristic patient profiles and the cardinal findings are illustrated. It is important to diagnose these pain syndromes early and institute therapy in order to avoid unnecessary investigations, identify contributing factors, improve function, and render pain relief. Most patients are amenable to treatment; however, recurrences are common, and underlying emotional contributions are difficult to eliminate.
The Grounds and Extent of Legal Responsibility

This article identifies and discusses the three principal limitations on the extent of legal responsibility for tortiously caused harm and explains and justifies them by reference to the principle of interactive justice, which holds one legally responsible for causing (or being imminently about to cause) harm to another's person or property as a result of conduct that is inconsistent with others' right to equal freedom. The three principal limitations prevent liability for a tortiously caused harm when (1) the harm almost certainly would have occurred anyway in the absence of any tortious conduct or condition (the "no worse off" limitation), (2) there was a superseding cause of the harm (an actual cause of the harm that (i) intervened between the defendant's tortious conduct and the plaintiff's injury, (ii) was a necessary ("but for") cause of the plaintiff's injury, and (iii) was highly unexpected), or (3) the harm did not occur as part of the realization and playing out of one of the foreseeable risks that made the person's conduct tortious, before the hazards created by the realization of that risk had dissipated (the "risk playout" limitation). None of the three limitations match the usual academic prescription for limiting the extent of legal responsibility for tortiously caused harm, which would rely solely on a harm-matches-the-risk ("harm-risked") limitation that is often confused with, but which differs significantly from, the risk-playout limitation. However, as this article demonstrates, the results reached by the courts are consistent with the three stated limitations rather than the harm-risked limitation, despite the longstanding efforts of the academic drafters of the Restatements to install the harm-risked limitation as the sole, comprehensive limitation on the extent of legal responsibility for tortiously caused harm. These three limitations are neither exclusive nor absolute. Some of them do not apply or apply less broadly to some intentional torts and some strict liability actions. Moreover, there are other limitations on the extent of legal responsibility, such as the de-minimis-contribution limitation, as well as limitations on legal responsibility for certain types of losses - such as pure emotional distress, pure economic loss, and wrongful birth - that are more appropriately handled as categorical limitations on the scope of a person's duty rather than as limitations on the extent of legal responsibility for tortiously caused harm.
Combining Site Specificity and Idiotypy

We are now rather close to understanding the mechanisms whereby antibody combining site diversity is generated. As this story has unfolded over the past several years, a number of unique genetic mechanisms have been uncovered and many of the issues that fueled controversy among laboratories have been resolved.
Methane Monooxygenase: Functionalizing Methane at Iron and Copper

Methane monooxygenases (MMOs) catalyze the conversion of methane to methanol as the first committed step in the assimilation of this hydrocarbon into biomass and energy by methanotrophs, thus playing a significant role in the biogeochemistry of this potent greenhouse gas. Two distinct enzymes, a copper-dependent membrane protein, particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO), and an iron-dependent cytosolic protein, soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO), carry out this transformation using large protein scaffolds that help to facilitate the timely transport of hydrocarbon, O2, proton, and electron substrates to buried dimetallic active sites. For both enzymes, reaction of the reduced metal centers with O2 leads to intermediates that activate the relatively inert C–H bonds of hydrocarbons to yield oxidized products. Among synthetic and biological catalysts, MMOs are unique because they are the only ones known to hydroxylate methane at ambient temperatures. As a need for new industrial catalysts and green chemical transformations increases, understanding how the different MMO metal centers efficiently accomplish this challenging chemistry has become the focus of intense study. This chapter examines current understanding of the sMMO and pMMO protein structures, their methods for substrate channeling, and mechanisms for the dimetallic activation of O2 and C–H bonds.
MaiterStore: A Hot-Aware, High-Performance Key-Value Store for Graph Processing

Recently, many cloud-based graph computation frameworks are proposed, such as Pregel, GraphLab and Maiter. Most of them exploit the in-memory storage to obtain fast random access which is required for many graph computation. However, the exponential growth in the scale of large graphs and the limitation of the capacity of main memory pose great challenges to these systems on their scalability.
Flexibility means adaptability: Bats adapt to jamming scenarios better than dolphins

Bats and dolphins both use sonar to image their environment, but frequency modulated (FM) bats demonstrate greater flexibility in echolocation than their marine counterparts, modifying the time-frequency shape of their calls. Bats' FM signals can change depending on foraging phase, environment, or even density and proximity of conspecifics. By changing their time-frequency call structure, bats can acquire different information than by using a stereotyped signal, such as the impulsive signal produced by dolphins. In my talk, I argue that bats have the superior sonar system due to this flexibility. I compare the signals between bats and dolphins and demonstrate new data on how both bats and dolphins adjust echolocation signals in jamming scenarios.Bats and dolphins both use sonar to image their environment, but frequency modulated (FM) bats demonstrate greater flexibility in echolocation than their marine counterparts, modifying the time-frequency shape of their calls. Bats' FM signals can change depending on foraging phase, environment, or even density and proximity of conspecifics. By changing their time-frequency call structure, bats can acquire different information than by using a stereotyped signal, such as the impulsive signal produced by dolphins. In my talk, I argue that bats have the superior sonar system due to this flexibility. I compare the signals between bats and dolphins and demonstrate new data on how both bats and dolphins adjust echolocation signals in jamming scenarios.
Migritude’s Decolonial Lessons

In this essay, I trace the deep time of the Indian Ocean through and against which Shailja Patel fabulates the notion of migritude and, in particular, what its valences are for solidarities between...
Ambient noise decreases detectability of songbird vocalizations in passive acoustic recordings in a consistent pattern across species, frequency, and analysis method

The presence of ambient noise is a potential constraint that can impact studies that rely on passive acoustic recording units to compare biotic signals across a range of ambient noise levels. To in...
Post pulse compression and partially adaptive multi-waveform STAP

The recently developed multi-waveform space-time adaptive processing (µ-STAP) formulation incorporates additional training data into the sample covariance matrix estimate by applying multiple different secondary pulse compression filters to the raw received data, where these filters have a relatively low cross-correlation with the transmitted waveform. The inclusion of this additional training data has been shown to improve robustness to non-homogeneous clutter due to a ‘range smearing’ homogenising effect of the secondary filters. Here, the authors introduce post µ-STAP (Pµ-STAP), a new form of µ-STAP that similarly generates additional training data, albeit after pulse compression has already occurred. In addition, we combine Pµ-STAP with well-known partially adaptive STAP techniques to assess whether the enhanced performance is retained for reduced-dimension operation. Specifically, element-space post-Doppler, beam-space pre-Doppler, and beam-space post-Doppler implementations of Pµ-STAP are evaluated via signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio analysis and minimum detectable Doppler for different simulated clutter environments.
Abstract 1797: Serum microRNAs as immune modulators and biomarkers of breast cancer recurrence

MicroRNAs (microRNAs) are short sequences of RNA (about 22 nucleotides) that are involved in the regulation of gene expression. Previous studies have suggested that a number of microRNAs are recognized as new biomarkers for cancers. The aim of this study is to identify specific microRNAs in serum, which may serve as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for breast cancer. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) array analyses of microRNAs in sera from four pairs of recurrent and nonrecurrent breast cancer patients were performed. Those differentially expressed microRNAs were verified in serum samples from 42 breast cancer patients. The prognostic values of the selected microRNAs were statistically analyzed, determined by the correlation between microRNA expression and tumor parameters. High serum levels of miR-134 and miR-483-5p were found to be associated with some aggressive tumor behaviors. Kaplan-Meier analysis of four upregulated microRNAs (miR-134, miR-483-5p, miR-493-3p and miR-139-3p) indicated that serum level of miR-134 can predict tumor recurrence in breast cancer patients after primary treatment. Further functional analysis showed that overexpression of miR-134 has no significant effects on tumor growth but regulates macrophage M1/M2 polarization. Overall, our data suggested that serum microRNAs may promote tumor progression and recurrence via modulating inflammation and immune response and potentially serve as blood biomarkers for prediction of recurrence in breast cancer. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Lauren Chen, Mithil Soni. Serum microRNAs as immune modulators and biomarkers of breast cancer recurrence [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1797.
Evolving patterns of agricultural frontier expansion in Mexico’s Chihuahuan Desert: a political ecology approach

This study sought to understand why and how the area of irrigated agriculture in Janos County, in northwestern Chihuahua, Mexico, has tripled since 1987. Expansion of agricultural frontiers has oft...
Cohomology of group theoretic Dehn fillings I: Cohen-Lyndon type theorems

Abstract This is the first paper of three papers in a row aiming to study cohomology of group theoretic Dehn fillings. In the present paper, we prove a particular free product structure, which is termed the Cohen-Lyndon property, of Dehn filling kernels. As an application, we describe the structure of relative relation modules of Dehn fillings.
Until the Revolution: Analyzing the Politics, Pedagogy, and Curriculum of the Oakland Community School

In United States conversations about progressive pedagogy and alternative forms of education, the longstanding models that scholars used were predominantly white. African-American historians of education have problematized this narrative. More recently, the interdisciplinary field of Black Power studies has increased investigation into Afrocentric pedagogy and Black politically-engaged education after World War II (Rickford, 2016). While much attention has been paid to the freedom schools, educational sites run by Black revolutionary nationalists have received less attention. One particular site is the Oakland Community School (OCS), the Black Panther Party’s full-time day school. Initially a combined day-care and home school known as the Children’s House in 1970, the school changed to become the Intercommunal Youth Institute in 1971. It then operated as the Oakland Community School from 1974 until 1982, earning acclaim from the California Department of Education and the governor of California (Gore, Theoharis & Woodard, 2009). While multiple historical studies detail the pedagogical contours of the school and its community engagement, very few elicit the voices of former students. This work incorporates such voices, in conjunction with traditional archives and digital archival material, as a means of contextualizing the OCS within the Black Panther Party’s politics of the period and the school’s implications for contemporary education.
Lanthanide-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases require an essential aspartate residue for metal coordination and function

The presence of lanthanide elements (Ln3+) and pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) containing cofactors in XoxF methanol dehydrogenases (MDHs) and ExaF ethanol dehydrogenases (EDHs) has expanded the list of biological elements and opened novel areas of metabolism and ecology. Other MDHs known as MxaFIs are related in sequence and structure to these proteins, yet they instead possess a Ca2+-PQQ cofactor. An important missing piece of the Ln3+ puzzle is defining what protein features distinguish enzymes using Ln3+-PQQ cofactors from those that do not. In this study, we investigated the functional importance of a proposed lanthanide-coordinating aspartate using XoxF1 MDH from the model methylotrophic bacterium Methylorubrum extorquens AM1. We report two crystal structures of XoxF1, one containing PQQ and the other free of this organic molecule, both with La3+ bound in the active site region and coordinated by Asp320. Using constructs to produce either recombinant XoxF1 or its D320A variant, we show Asp320 is needed for in vivo catalytic function, in vitro activity of purified enzyme, and coordination of La3+. XoxF1 and XoxF1 D320A, when produced in the absence of La3+, coordinate Ca2+, but exhibit little or no catalytic activity. In addition, we generated the parallel substitution to produce ExaF D319S, and showed the enzyme loses the capacity for efficient ethanol oxidation with La3+. These results provide empirical evidence of an essential Ln3+-coordinating aspartate for the function of XoxF MDHs and ExaF EDHs; thus, supporting the suggestion that sequences of these enzymes, and the genes that encode them, are markers for Ln3+ metabolism.
Plataforma de hardware livre para auxílio ao ensino da programação / Free hardware platform to assist programming teaching

O objetivo deste trabalho e desenvolver um modelo de placa de prototipacao rapida de baixo custo financeiro, capaz de equipar projetos de automacao e robotica, principalmente robotica educacional, que possam ser distribuidas como substituto ao produto Arduino. Alem disto, busca-se desenvolver o conceito de produto para a prototipacao de circuitos eletronicos em projetos de automacao, visando como mercado, a propria rede do Instituto Federal do Espirito Santo, adicionando assim, um valor academico a uma possivel marca. Quanto a metodologia, apresenta-se a necessidade de estudos aprofundados quanto a confeccao das trilhas de circuitos e nos modelos de componentes que podem ser utilizados, levando-se em conta que alguns destes sao criados para manipulacao em escala industrial. Para um resultado satisfatorio, muitos desafios sao observados, dentre os principais o uso dos Dispositivos de Montagem Superficial (do ingles, Surface-Mount Device, SMD), que integram parte do interesse deste projeto.
Obstetrics and Gynecology

Prematurity is the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality in the United States, so research into the causes and prevention of preterm birth occupies the highest priority in the field of obstetrics. Before a prevention program can be tested, a reliable means of identifying pregnancies at risk must be available. Scoring systems, based mainly on demographic characteristics, were developed a decade or more ago. Initially, they seemed promising, but experience has shown them to be inadequate as clinical predictors. The most promising candidate as a predictor of preterm labor is fibronectin, a cellular glycoprotein normally present as a specific isoform in various fetal tissues (as well as in certain malignant neoplasms). Fetal fibronectin can be measured with an immunoassay using a monoclonal antibody, and in cervical secretions the critical level seems to be about 50 ng/mL. When levels exceed this cutoff, presumably reflecting disruption or other alteration of the
Dissenting Designers: Reading Activism and Advocacy in Architecture through a Sociological Lens

The history of American architecture includes many examples of activists and reformers who sought to make the profession more inclusive, just, and socially engaged. This article provides a review o...
Longitudinal Changes in Hematologic Parameters Among Transgender People Receiving Hormone Therapy.

Context The effect of gender-affirming hormone therapy (HT) on erythropoiesis is an area of priority in transgender health research. Objective To compare changes in hematologic parameters and rates of erythrocytosis and anemia among transgender people to those of cisgender controls. Design Longitudinal observational study. Participants and setting We compared 559 transfeminine (TF) and 424 transmasculine (TM) people enrolled in 3 integrated health care systems to matched cisgender referents. Interventions and outcome Hormone therapy receipt was ascertained from filled prescriptions. Hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) levels were examined from the first blood test to HT initiation, and from the start of HT to the most recent blood test. Rates of erythrocytosis and anemia in transgender participants and referents were compared by calculating adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results In the TF group, there was a downward trend for both Hb and Hct. The corresponding changes in the TM cohort were in the opposite direction. TM study participants experienced a 7-fold higher rate (95% CI: 4.1-13.4) of erythrocytosis relative to matched cisgender males, and an 83-fold higher rate (95% CI: 36.1-191.2) compared to cisgender females. The corresponding rates for anemia were elevated in TF subjects but primarily relative to cisgender males (hazard ratio 5.9; 95% CI: 4.6-7.5). Conclusions Our results support previous recommendations that hematological parameters of transgender people receiving HT should be interpreted based on their affirmed gender, rather than their sex documented at birth. The clinical significance of erythrocytosis following testosterone therapy, as well as anemia following feminizing HT, requires further investigation.
Radioembolization for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

The liver is the most common site of metastatic disease in colorectal cancer, and, in the setting of liver-dominant disease, a chief contributor to mortality. Chemotherapy is the backbone of treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer; however, the duration of response is limited and resistance to therapy inevitably develops. Radioembolization represents a targeted treatment to the liver which has been studied in first-line, second-line, and in salvage treatment. Therapeutic rationale, outcomes, and prognostic indicators are presented in this systematic review article.
Polymeric membrane-modified voltammetric sensors for lipophilic analytes with nanomolar detection limit: Key parameters influencing the response characteristics

Abstract Thin plasticized PVC membrane-coated glassy carbon working electrodes have been used for the voltammetric measurement of highly lipophilic, electroactive drugs. Compared to conventional working electrodes, these membrane-coated electrodes exhibit remarkable detection limit and selectivity and are less prone to electrode fouling. The unique performance characteristics of these sensors are related to the large partition coefficient of the analyte in the membrane coating where it is oxidized in a non-aqueous membrane phase. To analyze the influence of the key parameters of the response of membrane-coated sensors, we derived theoretical expressions on the voltammetric response of the sensors. In our analysis we considered 1) the partition coefficient ( P m w ) of the analyte between the aqueous sample and the organic membrane, 2) the membrane volume to sample volume ratio ( V m / V w ), and 3) the binding constant of constituents in the sample that bind the analyte ( K ). The results of our theoretical analysis have been tested through voltammetric measurement of highly lipophilic analytes with l o g P o w values (logarithm of the partition coefficient between octanol and water) ranging between 0.3 and 7.5. By understanding of the influence of the sensor design parameters on the overall sensor response, these parameters can be tuned for optimized response slope, detection limit, etc., for solving specific analytical tasks.
Augmented Sparsifiers for Generalized Hypergraph Cuts with Applications to Decomposable Submodular Function Minimization

In recent years, hypergraph generalizations of many graph cut problems have been introduced and analyzed as a way to better explore and understand complex systems and datasets characterized by multiway relationships. Recent work has made use of a generalized hypergraph cut function which for a hypergraph $\mathcal{H} = (V,E)$ can be defined by associating each hyperedge $e \in E$ with a splitting function ${\bf w}_e$, which assigns a penalty to each way of separating the nodes of $e$. When each ${\bf w}_e$ is a submodular cardinality-based splitting function, meaning that ${\bf w}_e(S) = g(|S|)$ for some concave function $g$, previous work has shown that a generalized hypergraph cut problem can be reduced to a directed graph cut problem on an augmented node set. However, existing reduction procedures often result in a dense graph, even when the hypergraph is sparse, which leads to slow runtimes for algorithms that run on the reduced graph. We introduce a new framework of sparsifying hypergraph-to-graph reductions, where a hypergraph cut defined by submodular cardinality-based splitting functions is $(1+\varepsilon)$-approximated by a cut on a directed graph. Our techniques are based on approximating concave functions using piecewise linear curves. For $\varepsilon > 0$ we need at most $O(\varepsilon^{-1}|e| \log |e|)$ edges to reduce any hyperedge $e$, which leads to faster runtimes for approximating generalized hypergraph $s$-$t$ cut problems. For the machine learning heuristic of a clique splitting function, our approach requires only $O(|e| \varepsilon^{-1/2} \log \log \frac{1}{\varepsilon})$ edges. This sparsification leads to faster approximate min $s$-$t$ graph cut algorithms for certain classes of co-occurrence graphs. Finally, we apply our sparsification techniques to develop approximation algorithms for minimizing sums of cardinality-based submodular functions.
Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Is Required for Fexofenadine's Therapeutic Effects against Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Mice.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an autoimmune condition with complicated pathology and diverse clinical signs. TNFα is believed to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of IBD. We recently identified fexofenadine, a well-known antagonist of histamine H1 receptor, as a novel inhibitor of TNFα signaling. Additionally, cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) was isolated as a binding target of fexofenadine, and fexofenadine-mediated anti-TNF activity relied on cPLA2 in vitro. The objective of this study is to determine whether fexofenadine is therapeutic against chemically-induced murine IBD model and whether cPLA2 and/or histamine H1 receptor is important for fexofenadine’s anti-inflammatory activity in vivo by leveraging various genetically modified mice and chemically induced murine IBD models. Both dextran sulfate sodium- and 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced murine IBD models revealed that orally delivered fexofenadine was therapeutic against IBD, evidenced by mitigated clinical symptoms, decreased secretions of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and IL-1β, lowered intestinal inflammation, and reduced p-p65 and p-IĸBα. Intriguingly, Fexofenadine-mediated protective effects against IBD were lost in cPLA2 deficient mice but not in histamine H1 receptor-deficient mice. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the therapeutic effects of over-the-counter drug Fexofenadine in treating DSS-induced IBD murine and provide first in vivo evidence showing that cPLA2 is required for fexofenadine’s therapeutic effects in murine IBD model and probably other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well.
Fabrication and characterization of intermediate band CdTe quantum dot solar cells

An intermediate band solar cell (IBSC) device based on type-II CdTe/ZnCdSe sub-monolayer quantum dots is presented. I-V and two step photon measurements are compared to a reference solar cell and show improved properties for the IBSCs.
Time Evolution of Broadened Initial States

In this chapter, we study the time evolution of broadened initial conditions under the action of a dynamical map. The broadened initial conditions are represented by probability density functions, in contrast to pure initial conditions which are represented by points. The evolution of densities is a special case of the evolution of measures which is studied in the chapter on ergodic theory.
10 Phosphorylase Kinase

Publisher Summary Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are well recognized as major metabolic control mechanisms in eukaryotic cells. By the 1940s, through work in the laboratories of Con and others, the basic biochemistry of glycogen breakdown had been established with the characterization of the phosphorylase-catalyzed conversion of glycogen to glucose 1-phosphate. This chapter discusses the extensive network of regulatory phenomena that impinge upon the control of phosphorylase kinase activity. Phosphorylase kinase activity can be modulated by a number of effectors that interact in a noncovalent and specific manner and presumably modulate activity by affecting the enzyme's conformation. Included in this group are Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , calmodulin, and glycogen; each is discussed in the chapter. It is suggested that the understanding of the control of glycogenolysis has served well for many years as a guideline for how other metabolic control systems may function. Similarly, phosphorylase kinase can serve as a model to understand the properties of other regulatory enzymes. An attempt is made in this chapter to provide this understanding.
Multiobjective programming approach to reliability allocation for nuclear power plants

A methodology for reliability allocation in nuclear power plants, which determines reliability characteristics of reactor systems, subsystems, and components (low-level criteria) that are consisten...
Particle‐in‐cell simulation of the incoherent scatter radar spectrum

[1] A particle-in-cell (PIC) approach is presented and utilized to simulate incoherent scatter radar (ISR) spectra. In particular, a two-dimensional simulation is performed of a small, unmagnetized, F region plasma volume in thermodynamic equilibrium. The simulation results are compared to the analytical ISR spectra obtained for a plasma in thermodynamic equilibrium, and they are shown to be in agreement. Even though some plasma parameters have to be modified to limit the computational cost, the physical conclusions obtained by simulation can remain unaltered. The PIC approach can be extended to study distorted ISR spectra to obtain insights into the underlying physical phenomena. This simulation also provides a means for studying the time evolution of spectral distortions, which could enable the development of procedures for estimating plasma parameters from distorted spectra.
Assays for Detecting Chromosomal Aberrations

This unit describes the techniques used to investigate chromosome structure to detect changes induced by toxicant exposure. Protocols are included for detecting microcucleus (MN) formation, changes in banding patterns by Giemsa banding or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using chromosome-specific probes, and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in cultures of established cell lines.
Chapter 19 The ecology of Strongylocentrotus franciscanus and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the ecology of Strongylocentrotus franciscanus (S. franciscanus) and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (S. purpuratus). Red sea urchins, S. franciscanus, and purple sea urchins, S. purpuratus, are the most studied and well-known echinoid species in the world. Red and purple sea urchins are dominant members of near shore rocky reef communities along the North American west coast and are capable of structuring subtidal algal communities and influencing community diversity. Red and purple sea urchins are also the basis for important fisheries, with purple sea urchins making up a minor component of the fishery. Purple sea urchins are collected extensively for scientific research, including fertilization biology, embryology, genome analysis, and fertilization bioassays that are used to assess the toxicity of marine pollutants, silt, pulp-mill effluent, and ultraviolet radiation. Red sea urchins are important for fisheries, in part because of their large body size. Red and purple sea urchins reside on rocky substrates with a broad geographic and depth distribution.
Residual hemothorax after chest tube placement correlates with increased risk of empyema following traumatic injury.

BACKGROUND: Empyema complicates tube thoracostomy following trauma in up to 10% of cases. Studies of potential risk factors of empyema have included use of antibiotics, site of injury and technique of chest tube placement. Residual fluid has also been cited as a risk factor for empyema, although the imaging technique to identify this varies.
Wave Heights during Hurricane Katrina: An Evaluation of PPP and PPK Measurements of the Vertical Displacement of the GPS Antenna

Abstract In August 2005 the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed 49 n mi to the west of a 3-m discus buoy operated by the Central Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System (CenGOOS). Buoy motions were measured with a strapped-down 6 degrees of freedom accelerometer, a three-axis magnetometer, and a survey-grade GPS receiver. The significant wave heights were computed from the buoy’s accelerometer record and from the dual-frequency GPS measurements that were processed in two different ways. The first method was postprocessed kinematic (PPK) GPS, which requires another GPS receiver at a fixed known location, and the other was precise point positioning (PPP) GPS, which is another postprocessed positioning technique that yields absolute rather than differential positions. Unlike inertial measurement units, either GPS technique can be used to obtain both waves and water levels. The purpose of this note is to demonstrate the excellent reliability and accuracy of both methods for determining wave heights and periods from...
Endothelial function and vascular response to mental stress are impaired in patients with apical ballooning syndrome.

Objectives The aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that vascular and endothelial functional responses to acute mental stress are abnormal in patients with apical ballooning syndrome (ABS). Background Apical ballooning syndrome is a transient cardiomyopathy that occurs predominantly in post-menopausal women and may be triggered by acute mental stress. The mechanism for ABS is unknown. Methods Reactive hyperemia as a parameter of endothelial function and vascular responses to acute mental stress were measured using peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) at baseline and following 3 acute mental stress tests in female patients with ABS (n = 12, at least 6 months after being hospitalized or diagnosed with ABS), post-menopausal female controls (n = 12), and female patients with myocardial infarction (MI) (n = 4). Plasma catecholamine levels were measured at baseline and following the 3 mental stress tests. Results Reactive hyperemia PAT scores following mental stress were significantly lower in patients with ABS compared with post-menopausal controls (p Conclusions There is increased vascular reactivity and decreased endothelial function in response to acute mental stress in patients with a prior episode of ABS. The findings implicate vasomotor dysfunction as a potential mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of this unique cardiomyopathy.