cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Blind turbo equalization in Gaussian and impulsive noise

We consider the problem of simultaneous parameter estimation and restoration of finite-alphabet symbols that are blurred by an unknown linear intersymbol interference (ISI) channel and contaminated by additive Gaussian or non-Gaussian white noise with unknown parameters. Non-Gaussian noise is found in many wireless channels due to the impulsive phenomena of radio-frequency interference. Bayesian inference of all unknown quantities is made from the blurred and noisy observations. The Gibbs sampler, a Markov chain Monte Carlo procedure, is employed to calculate the Bayesian estimates. The basic idea is to generate ergodic random samples from the joint posterior distribution of all unknowns and then to average the appropriate samples to obtain the estimates of the unknown quantities. Blind Bayesian equalizers based on the Gibbs sampler are derived for both Gaussian ISI channel and impulsive ISI channel. A salient feature of the proposed blind Bayesian equalizers is that they can incorporate the a priori symbol probabilities, and they produce as output the a posteriori symbol probabilities. (That is, they are "soft-input soft-output" algorithms.) Hence, these methods are well suited for iterative processing in a coded system, which allows the blind Bayesian equalizer to refine its processing based on the information from the decoding stage and vice versa-a receiver structure termed as blind turbo equalizer.
Failure to respond to endogenous or exogenous melatonin may cause nonphotoresponsiveness in Harlan Sprague Dawley rats

Responsiveness to changing photoperiods from summer to winter seasons is an important but variable physiological trait in most temperate-zone mammals. Variation may be due to disorders of melatonin secretion or excretion, or to differences in physiological responses to similar patterns of melatonin secretion and excretion. One potential cause of nonphotoresponsiveness is a failure to secrete or metabolize melatonin in a pattern that reflects photoperiod length. This study was performed to test whether a strongly photoresponsive rat strain (F344) and strongly nonphotoresponsive rat strain (HSD) have similar circadian urinary excretion profiles of the major metabolite of melatonin, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s), in long-day (L:D 16:8) and short-day (L:D 8:16) photoperiods. The question of whether young male HSD rats would have reproductive responses to constant dark or to supplemental melatonin injections was also tested. Urinary 24-hour aMT6s profiles were measured under L:D 8:16 and L:D 16:8 in young male laboratory rats of a strain known to be reproductively responsive to the short-day photoperiod (F344) and another known to be nonresponsive (HSD). Both strains exhibited nocturnal rises and diurnal falls in aMT6s excretion during both photoperiods, and the duration of the both strains' nocturnal rise was longer in short photoperiod treatments. In other experiments, young HSD rats failed to suppress reproduction or reduce body weight in response to either constant dark or twice-daily supplemental melatonin injections. The results suggest that HSD rats may be nonphotoresponsive because their reproductive system and regulatory system for body mass are unresponsive to melatonin.
Infection Rates and Comparative Population Dynamics of Peregrinus maidis (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) on Corn Plants With and Without Symptoms of Maize Mosaic Virus (Rhabdoviridae: Nucleorhabdovirus) Infection

We examined the population dynamics of the corn planthopper Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) throughout a cycle of corn (Zea mays L.) production on plants with or without symptoms of maize mosaic virus (MMV) (Rhabdoviridae: Nucleorhabdovirus) infection. Our results indicate that the timing of MMV plant infection greatly influenced the planthopper's host plant colonization patterns. Corn plants that expressed symptoms of MMV infection early in the crop cycle (28 d after planting) harbored, on average, 40 and 48% fewer planthoppers than plants that expressed symptoms of MMV infection later in the crop cycle (49 d after planting) and asymptomatic plants, respectively. We also observed a change in the number of brachypterous (short-wing type) and macropterous (long-wing type) winged forms produced; plants expressing early symptoms of MMV infection harbored, on average, 41 and 47% more of the brachypterous form than plants with late infections of MMV and plants with no symptoms of MMV, respectively. Furthermore, we determined the rates of MMV-infected planthoppers relative to their wing morphology (macropterous or brachypterous) and gender. MMV infection was 5 and 12% higher in females than in males in field and greenhouse experiments, respectively; however, these differences were not significantly different. This research provides evidence that MMV similarly infects P. maidis planthoppers regardless of the gender and wing morphotype. These results also suggest that the timing of symptom development greatly affects the population dynamics of the planthopper vector, and likely has important consequences for the dynamics of the disease in the field.
A new high-isolation, evironmentally insensitive, wideband distribution amplifier

A wideband distribution amplifier that has a high degree of automatic gain control, low environmental sensitivity, and very good isolation between channels is described. It performs within design specifications from 100 kHz to 10 MHz without tuning or operator adjustment. Interchannel isolation of better than 100 dB is combined with low phase noise and low harmonic distortion. The amplifier has been designed to be operated in a VXIbus environment to allow its inclusion in larger distribution systems. The block diagram of the amplifier is given, and measured performance data are presented. A novel method of measuring interchannel isolation is also described. >
Synthesis of LiFePO4 powder by the organic-inorganic steric entrapment method

A nanoscale and pure, olivine-structured LiFePO4 was synthesized at ∼300 °C using an organic–inorganic steric entrapment method. Normally, when calcined and crystallized in air, this method leads to the synthesis of compounds where the cations are in their highest oxidation state. However, in this study, we found a way to produce compounds having lower oxidation states (e.g., compounds containing Fe2+), which may have wider applications in the synthesis of other compounds with complex chemistry that have variable oxidation states and, therefore, potential applications in electronic ceramics. The resulting LiFePO4 or (Li2O·2FeO·P2O5) was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis, x-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, specific surface area by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller nitrogen absorption, and particle size analysis.
Natural Law and Self-Defense

This paper argues that the original basis for the law of self-defense as applied on the battlefield is that natural law, and that modern Rules of Engagement with respect to the right of a Soldier to use lethal force in self-defense ought to remain true to those natural law roots. Self-defense based in natural law derives its moral force from the fact that it is exercised in the face of an immediate threat, leaving no time for reflection, and forcing the defender into a terrible choice: either use force in self-defense, or lose one's life. This has traditionally been expressed using the formulation articulated in the "Caroline Doctrine," arguing that self-defense is appropriate when faced with a threat that is "manifest, immediate, and overwhelming." This law is generally translated into Rules of Engagement that authorize the use of force in self-defense when faced with a hostile act or hostile intent, with the latter being defined as the threat of the "imminent use of force." The concept of "imminence," then, appears consistent with the traditional natural law requirement that the threat be "immediate." US Rules of Engagement with respect to self-defense were modified in 2005, and the definition of hostile intent was clarified. In that revision, the Standing Rules of Engagement for the first time included one critical piece of clarifying language: "imminent does not necessarily mean immediate or instantaneous." This raises the question of what imminent actually does mean, and how far the temporal boundary around self-defense can be stretched before departing from its natural law roots. This paper argues that the US and other nations are best-served by returning to a natural law-based definition of self-defense that retains the requirement that a threat be immediate before the individual right of self-defense is triggered.
utilization and perioperative complications of laparoscopic cryoablation vs. robotic partial nephrectomy for localized renal tumors

Objective:To compare the utilization, perioperative complications and predictors of LCA versus RPN in the treatment of localized renal tumors.Methods:From the Nationwide Inpatient Sample we identified patients undergoing RPN or LCA for the treatment of localized renal tumors from October 2008 through 2010. Patient and hospital-specific factors which predict postoperative complications and use of LCA were investigated.Results:14,275 patients with localized renal tumors were identified: 70.3% had RPN and 29.7% had LCA. LCA was more common in older patient and at hospitals without robotic consoles. No difference was identified in perioperative complications (0.2% vs. 0.2%), transfusion (5.1% vs. 6.2%), length of stay (2.9 vs. 3.0 days) or median cost ($41,753 vs. $44,618) between the groups, LCA vs. RPN. On multivariate analysis sicker patients were more likely to have LCA (OR 1.34, p=0.048) and sicker patients had greater postoperative complications (OR 3.30, p<0.001); LCA did not predict more complications (OR 1.63, p=0.138) and LCA was performed at hospitals without RCs (OR 0.02, p<0.001). Limitations include observational study design, inability to assess disease severity, operative time, or body mass index, which may affect patient selection and outcomes.Conclusions:More patients had RPN vs. LCA; surgical technique was not predictive of postoperative complications. As technology develops to treat localized renal tumors, it will be important to continue to track outcomes and costs for procedures including RPN and LCA.
Association of vitamin D and dental caries in children: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2006

Abstract Background The authors sought to determine associations between serum vitamin D levels and dental caries in noninstitutionalized children aged 5 to 12 years in the United States. Methods The authors used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2006, data to study childhood caries and vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy were defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) less than 30 nanomoles per liter and between 30 and 49 nmol/L, respectively. Associations between vitamin D and caries experience (a combined measure of untreated caries or restorations) were examined after adjustment for confounders using multivariate logistic regression at a critical value of 5%. Sample weights were used to generate nationally representative estimates. Results The overall prevalence of serum 25(OH)D less than 30 nmol/L and 25(OH)D between 30 and 49 nmol/L among 5- to 12-year-olds was 3% and 16%, respectively. Prevalence of 25(OH)D less than 30 nmol/L and 25(OH)D between 30 and 49 nmol/L among children with caries experience was 2% and 16%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found no significant association between vitamin D and caries experience ( P = .78). Furthermore, this association was not significant after adjusting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, ratio of family income to poverty threshold, and sugar consumption ( P = .46). Conclusions The authors did not find a significant association between 25(OH)D status and caries experience in US children who participated in NHANES, 2005-2006. Practical Implications The authors’ findings do not support existing evidence of an association between caries and vitamin D.
Accurate wave functions in the presence of long-ranged potentials

For attractive potentials of the form 1/r 3 or 1/r obtaining accurate wave functions at long distances can be numerically challenging because of the many oscillations involved. In this case high accuracy can be achieved using the phase-amplitude representation of the one-dimensional wave function.
Stimuli-Responsive and Mechanically-Switchable Electrospun Composites

We report on a family of electrospun nanocomposites, which are capable of altering their stiffness upon hydration. An electrospun mat of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was incorporated as the filler in a polymeric matrix consisting of either poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) or ethylene oxide–epicholorohydrin copolymer (EO–EPI). The tensile modulus of the EO–EPI-based composites was found to increase significantly upon incorporation of the PVA filler mat, while PVAc-based composites exhibited modulus enhancement only above the matrix glass transition. Materials based on the PVAc matrix and PVA electrospun filler exhibited a reversible reduction of the tensile modulus by a factor of 280 upon exposure to water. In contrast, composites comprised of a rubbery EO–EPI matrix and PVA filler showed a reduction of tensile modulus upon water uptake, but with incomplete restoration when dried. A systematic investigation revealed that the underlying mechanism of mechanical response is related to the matrix–filler interactions an...
Paths of Professionals: Careers in City Management

As the council-manager form of government reaches the century mark since its establishment, it seems an opportune moment to take stock of the ways in which professional management continues to add value to communities. It also seems apropos to emphasize the ways in which city management can be among the most challenging and exciting career paths for the next generation of city managers who will be needed as the current cadre nears retirement. In this book, former city managers Douglas J. Watson and Rollin J. Watson illustrate the im portance of interpersonal skills in negotiating complex relationships in the political environ ment of city management. They relate five engaging stories that albeit fictional, are based on the real experiences of dozens of city managers with whom the authors are acquainted. In the review that follows, Roger Campbell, a long-serving assistant city manager, offers a practitioner's perspective on this unique contribution to the city management literature. David H. Folz Reviews and Essays Editor
Limits of absorption of orally administered vitamin B12: effect of intrinsic factor sources.

SummaryThe results show the extreme limitation of vit. B12 absorption from the gastrointestinal tract of individuals with normal gastric function. Within the dose range used, an upper level of absorption appears to have been reached which averages 1.6 μg vit. B12. This level is not increased by giving the vitamin with a test meal or in conjunction with intrinsic factor sources. In patients with a total gastrectomy, a graded response to intrinsic factor is obtained using 0.5 μg vit. B12 but at a 5 μg level, increasing the amount of intrinsic factor does not increase B12 absorption beyond levels obtained in normal subjects.
Improved in situ mineral and petrophysical interpretation with neutron-induced gamma-ray spectroscopy elemental logs

AbstractNeutron logs are routinely expressed as apparent neutron porosity based on the assumption of a freshwater-saturated homogeneous formation with solid composition equal to either sandstone, limestone, or dolomite. Rock formations are often extremely heterogeneous and consist of different minerals and fluids in varying proportions, which cause simultaneous matrix and fluid effects on neutron logs. Detailed quantification of formation mineral composition enables the correction of matrix effects on measured neutron logs to unmask fluid effects; this in turn enables accurate quantification of porosity and water saturation. Neutron-induced gamma-ray spectroscopy is one of the most direct means available to quantify in situ formation mineralogy but available spectroscopy-based interpretation methods are usually tool dependent and incorporate empirical correlations. We have developed a new interpretation method to quantify mineral concentrations through the joint nonlinear matrix inversion of measured spec...
Specificity of induced defenses in Mytilus edulis and asymmetrical predator deterrence

Induced defenses of prey have become widely recognized in several marine taxa, yet their specificity to particular predators and impacts on subsequent predation are seldom investigated. In this study, Mytilus edulis showed highly specific induced defenses in response to predators with different attack strategies. The mussels developed significantly heavier shells only in the presence of waterborne cues from Carcinus maenas, a crushing crab predator, and significantly heavier adductor muscles only in the presence of waterborne cues from Asterias vulgaris (= Asterias rubens), a predatory sea star that pries bivalves open. However, mussels effectively thickened their shells in response to cues from predators by either increasing allocation to shell (in response to C. maenas), or reducing linear shell growth (in response to A. vulgaris and, to a lesser extent, the predatory whelk Nucella lapillus). These different mechanisms of shell thickening in response to all 3 predators defended the mussels from subsequent crab predation, increasing handling times of mussels by predatory C. maenas by more than 48%. In contrast, only mussels with increased adductor muscle weight (an induced response to A. vulgaris) were subsequently protected from the sea star. These results suggest that although induced defenses in M. edulis are specific to predators with different attack strategies, diffuse selection by C. maenas may allow predator specific responses to be adaptive even when predator composition changes.
Annual variability in the abundance of migrant landbirds on Southeast Farallon Island, California

Etude quantitative de la composition specifique et abondance des oiseaux terrestres migrateurs de ces iles en tant que fonction de leur repartition saisonniere et geographique sur le continent. Variations annuelles d'abondance. Variations a long terme
Observed and Projected Changes in United States Tornado Exposure

AbstractThis study examines how tornado risk and societal exposure interact to create tornado disaster potential in the United States. Finescale historical and projected demographic data are used in a set of region-specific Monte Carlo tornado simulations to reveal how societal development has shaped, and will continue to shape, tornado disaster frequency and consequences. Results illustrate that although the U.S. Midwest contains the greatest built-environment exposure and the central plains experience the most significant tornadoes, the midsouth contains the greatest tornado disaster potential. This finding is attributed to the relatively elevated tornado risk and accelerated growth in developed land area that characterizes the midsouth region. Disaster potential is projected to amplify in the United States due to increasing built-environment development and its spatial footprint in at-risk regions. In the four regions examined, both average annual tornado impacts and associated impact variability are p...
Abstract IA16: Breaking the balance between E2F activators and atypical repressors: Consequences to development and cancer

E2F transcriptional activators and repressors regulate cell cycle-dependent gene expression. Using a series of loss- and gain-of-function alleles to dial E2F transcriptional output we show that mouse development is relatively insensitive to alterations in E2F levels and composition. However, modest increases in E2F output resulted in spontaneous hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without additional organ involvement, whereas decreases protected against HCC. Cell type- and temporal-specific gene ablation strategies defined a cell-autonomous oncogenic role for E2F1/3B and a tumor suppressor role for E2F7/8 in hepatocytes. Genetic, biochemical and profiling studies suggest a mechanism involving E2F1/3B-mediated activation and E2F7/8-mediated repression of a common set of targets during early post-natal liver development, which are associated with HCC progression. Thus, while overall development is sufficiently robust, the liver is uniquely sensitive to perturbations in E2Fs. In summary, we identified the critical network components in immature hepatocytes that control E2F output and foster a cancer-free life span. Citation Format: Gustavo W. Leone. Breaking the balance between E2F activators and atypical repressors: Consequences to development and cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Precision Medicine Series: Cancer Cell Cycle - Tumor Progression and Therapeutic Response; Feb 28-Mar 2, 2016; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2016;14(11_Suppl):Abstract nr IA16.
Rad51-mediated double-strand break repair and mismatch correction of divergent substrates

The Rad51 (also known as RecA) family of recombinases executes the critical step in homologous recombination: the search for homologous DNA to serve as a template during the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Although budding yeast Rad51 has been extensively characterized in vitro, the stringency of its search and sensitivity to mismatched sequences in vivo remain poorly defined. Here, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we analysed Rad51-dependent break-induced replication in which the invading DSB end and its donor template share a 108-base-pair homology region and the donor carries different densities of single-base-pair mismatches. With every eighth base pair mismatched, repair was about 14% of that of completely homologous sequences. With every sixth base pair mismatched, repair was still more than 5%. Thus, completing break-induced replication in vivo overcomes the apparent requirement for at least 6-8 consecutive paired bases that has been inferred from in vitro studies. When recombination occurs without a protruding nonhomologous 3' tail, the mismatch repair protein Msh2 does not discourage homeologous recombination. However, when the DSB end contains a 3' protruding nonhomologous tail, Msh2 promotes the rejection of mismatched substrates. Mismatch correction of strand invasion heteroduplex DNA is strongly polar, favouring correction close to the DSB end. Nearly all mismatch correction depends on the proofreading activity of DNA polymerase-δ, although the repair proteins Msh2, Mlh1 and Exo1 influence the extent of correction.
Mediations: Pierre Bourdieu and Bruno Latour on Objects, Institution and Legitimisation

Marcel Mauss and Pierre Bourdieu underline the role of objects—or of the mediations of exchanges as we say, particularly their importance for a relational perspective in sociology. If Mauss remains unsystematic in this regard, Bourdieu delivers a theory of capitals illustrating the power of non-human beings, a view promoted by Bruno Latour in his sociology of associations. Chapter 5 compares Bourdieu and Latour, and shows that they have similar views on the link between mediations and institutions, the role of the institutions in the consecration of the cycles of the relation, the legitimacy of the actors and of the institutions involved in this cycles. Both view this legitimacy as dependant on shared interests between actors and institutions, an argument which puts Latour not only near to Bourdieu, but also to Emile Durkheim.
Laboratory Diagnosis of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterium Infections in Bronchiectasis Patients: Issues and Controversies

Abstract Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental microbes that can cause pulmonary infection and are especially problematic in bronchiectasis patients with or without cystic fibrosis (CF). Microbiological identification of NTM in these patients is difficult given the high microbial burden in the lungs and the need to differentiate between colonization and transient and true infection. Determining if and when to initiate antimicrobial treatment against this multi-drug-resistant group of organisms is also challenging. To address the changing landscape of care for these patients, the U.S. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the European Cystic Fibrosis Society convened an expert committee in 2016 and drafted new guidelines for the management of NTM in CF patients. These recommendations update the 2007 American Thoracic Society and Infectious Disease Society of America guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of NTM pulmonary infections. Here, we provide data to support the new recommendations and discuss the advancements and ongoing challenges associated with NTM infections.
Impact of HIV infection on α1-antitrypsin in the lung

Emphysema is one of the most common lung diseases in HIV+ individuals. The pathogenesis of HIV-associated emphysema remains unclear; however, radiographic distribution and earlier age of presentati...
A complex web of risks for metabolic syndrome: race/ethnicity, economics, and gender.

Background Metabolic syndrome is a recognizable clinical cluster of risks known to be associated in combination and independently with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Identifying and treating metabolic syndrome is one promising strategy to reduce CVD. The intersection of race/ethnicity, gender, and economic status complicates our understanding of who is at risk for metabolic syndrome, but understanding this social patterning is important for the development of targeted interventions. This study examines the relationship between metabolic syndrome (and the underlying contributing risk factors) and race/ethnicity, economic status, and gender. Methods National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data collected from 1999 through 2002 were used; analysis was completed in 2006–2007. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the Adult Treatment Panel III definition. Economic status was measured using income as a percentage of the poverty level. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and each of its contributing risk factors were determined by race/ethnicity and economic group. Logistic regressions were estimated. All analyses were stratified by gender. Results Economic effects were seen for women, but not men. Women in the lowest economic group were more likely to be at risk in four of the five risk categories when compared with women in the highest economic group. Differences in the contributing risk profiles for metabolic syndrome were seen by race/ethnicity. Conclusions Strategies to reduce CVD must be built on a clear understanding of the differences in contributing risk factors for metabolic syndrome across subgroups. The findings from this study provide further information to guide the targeting of these strategies.
Tracing globin phylogeny using PSIBLAST searches based on groups of sequences.

Abstract PSIBLAST search of a protein database with a query sequence is a widely used tool for the detection of related but evolutionarily distant sequences. Iterations carried out until convergence (i.e., until the majority of the sequences most similar to the query sequence are extracted from the database) also produces an ordered list of more distantly related (i.e., less similar sequences) and false positives belonging to other protein families. Thus, a PSIBLAST search based on one group of globin sequences will provide sequences left in the database that are more distantly related (i.e., belong to other groups of globins) ordered according to the E value or bit score. The relative order of the scores should yield a clue to the relative similarity of the query group to the other groups of globins. Histograms of E values or bit scores from PSIBLAST searches using vertebrate myoglobins, cytoglobins, α - and β -globins, and neuroglobins as query groups show distributions that are congruent with the accepted phylogenetic tree. An illustration of more distant relationships is demonstrated by the results using neuroglobins as the query group, which show a striking similarity to bacterial single-domain globins and flavohemoglobins from bacteria and eukaryotes. Furthermore, it is observed that sequences belonging to the three undoubtedly ancient globin lineages form very broad distributions, while recently evolved groups such as cytoglobins have narrow distributions. Thus, the breadth of a distribution of E values or bit scores for a query group may be related to its evolutionary age.
Landolt's Club in the Amphibian Retina: A Golgi and Electron Microscope Study

Landolt's club process has been studied in the adult newt retina. In Golgi preparations this process has been shown to arise from the dendritic trunk of a bipolar cell and, to pass through the external synaptic layer without discernible synapse, apparently to terminate as an enlarged, bulb at the level of the external junctional zone (external limiting membrane). This confirms Landolt's original observations. The electron microscope reveals, in addition, that this process open lacks intervening glia between its own cell membrane and that of adjacent photoreceptors. Morphologically the club process differs somewhat from a typical dendrite. The process passes through the external junctional zone and terminates as a 9+0 cilium which extends between the receptor inner segments.
Toxicity in Aquatic Environments: The Cocktail Effect

Anthropogenically sourced chemicals are commonly released into aquatic habitats where they can have a multitude of detrimental effects on organisms and ecosystems. Aquatic toxicants typically exert impacts through perturbation of physiological function; however, these effects can vary greatly depending on the life stage and environment of the organism. Using a case study approach, this chapter will explore the influence of life stage and environment on observed toxicity, with a particular emphasis on the physiological underpinnings that result in toxicity. This will include examining how toxicity can vary across developmental stages and environments and also how sublethal toxicity can impact the ability of organisms to perform and cope with typical environmental stressors, such as hypoxia. We will first examine how aquatic toxicants can have very different effects and sensitivities depending on the life stage of the affected organism using examples of neuroendocrine disruption in fish and amphibians. Such chemicals can have a suite of impacts including altered developmental progression, sexual differentiation, and reproduction, as well as disrupting the basic function of the endocrine stress axis. Through the lens of the biotic ligand model, we will also explore how specific environmental characteristics can impact metal toxicity and how these factors can dramatically alter the fitness consequences to a wide array of aquatic organisms. Finally, we will use polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon toxicity to demonstrate that even transient exposure to toxicants at various life stages can have persistent physiological consequences that can hamper an organism’s performance and ability to cope with environmental challenges. Specifically, we will use embryonic fish models to demonstrate how transient exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can result in cardiorespiratory perturbations that can have long-lasting physiological consequences for individuals that range from mortality to reduced physiological performance.
Flexible Non-Enzymatic Glucose Biosensor Based on Gold-Platinum Colloidal

We report on the design and development of a flexible non-enzymatic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) gold-electrode for measuring glucose. To facilitate the glucose sensor, a nanocomposite of platinum colloidal (co-Pt) was electrodeposited on the surface of Au-PET electrode to realize a bimetallic electrode for non-enzymatic glucose biosensing. The electrocatalysis of glucose at the surface of the electrode was measured by voltammetry and amperometry at a working potential of 0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The sensor exhibited a linear dynamic range up to 17 mM glucose and a sensitivity of 0.121 mA/mM cnr? with a response time of 2 s under physiological conditions. This method provides a low cost electrochemical deposition technology to fabricate PET-Au-co-Pt electrodes for glucose monitoring. The results indicate that this biosensor is highly specific to glucose in the presence of commonly interfering species such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, and acetaminophen. This simple solution to the pursuit of electrochemical sensors for biomolecular detection does not suffer from the limitations of complicated surface modification and critical microenvironment factors required for enzyme based biosensors.
Potential role of MRN-100, an iron-based compound, in upregulating production of cytokine IL-10 in human dendritic cells to promote an anti-inflammatory response in vitro.

The hydroferrate fluid MRN-100, an iron-based compound with potent antioxidant characteristics, was examined to identify its possible anti-inflammatory effects on human dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. Human monocyte-derived DCs were treated with MRN-100 at two concentrations (50 and 100 μL/mL) for 24 h and then stimulated with or without lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The expression of DC maturation markers was assessed by flow cytometry and the production of cytokines was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Functional assay was performed by co-culturing MRN-100-treated and untreated DCs with allogeneic naive CD4+ T cells and assaying the T cells' cytokine production. Results show that treatment with MRN-100 significantly upregulated the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 and increased human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) though not significantly. MRN-100 treatment also significantly increased the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10. On the other hand, MRN-100 significantly induced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 only at high concentrations. Furthermore, DCs pretreated with MRN-100 and either stimulated or not with LPS were able to prime CD4+ T cells to secrete significant amounts of IL-10 while inhibiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. These results indicate that MRN-100 is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that promotes the generation of an anti-inflammatory immune response in vitro. MRN-100 could be beneficial for treating patients with inflammatory diseases, including arthritis and type 1 diabetes, and its potential benefits should be examined in clinical trials.
Vulnerable Child Syndrome

1. Kristine Schmitz, MD* 1. *St Christopher’s Hospital for Children/Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA Vulnerable child syndrome (VCS) describes a phenomenon in which a child is perceived as being at higher risk for medical, behavioral, or developmental problems than is warranted by the child’s current health. It is most often thought to occur in children who have experienced a serious or life-threatening event or who have a chronic medical condition. However, VCS should be considered a maladaptive family dynamic and can also occur in families that have not experienced a significant event, particularly where parental mental health needs are unmet. Parental perception of exaggerated risk may lead to overuse of medical services, possible unnecessary interventions, and poor parenting practices, parent-child attachment, and child development. Several factors may predispose families to develop these maladaptive relationships and perceptions of their child. Infertility, pregnancy loss or emergent pregnancy complications, and premature birth may result in VCS. While the child is in the NICU, parents of premature infants face uncertainty about their child’s health, and many premature children develop chronic medical problems, many of which require subspecialty involvement. In addition, parents of children who have experienced a life-threatening event (eg, intubation due to respiratory syncytial virus) or diagnosis (eg, cancer) may continue to fear serious illness even after the illness has resolved. Similarly, children diagnosed as having chronic medical conditions, such as asthma or type 1 diabetes, require ongoing management and can have exacerbations, increasing the risk of parental misperception of vulnerability. Last, early childhood feeding difficulty or excessive crying may predispose families to develop VCS. Parental mental health is an important consideration in identifying risk factors for the development of VCS. Acute stress disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder in parents …
High-throughput mapping of CoA metabolites by SAMDI-MS to optimize the cell-free biosynthesis of HMG-CoA

Metabolic engineering uses enzymes to produce small molecules with industrial, pharmaceutical, and energy applications. However, efforts to optimize enzymatic pathways for commercial production are limited by the throughput of assays for quantifying metabolic intermediates and end products. We developed a multiplexed method for profiling CoA-dependent pathways that uses a cysteine-terminated peptide to covalently capture CoA-bound metabolites. Captured metabolites are then rapidly separated from the complex mixture by immobilization onto arrays of self-assembled monolayers and directly quantified by SAMDI mass spectrometry. We demonstrate the throughput of the assay by characterizing the cell-free synthesis of HMG-CoA, a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of isoprenoids, collecting over 10,000 individual spectra to map more than 800 unique reaction conditions. We anticipate that our rapid and robust analytical method will accelerate efforts to engineer metabolic pathways.
Ten quick tips for effective dimensionality reduction

Dimensionality reduction (DR) is frequently applied during the analysis of high-dimensional data. Both a means of denoising and simplification, it can be beneficial for the majority of modern biological datasets, in which it’s not uncommon to have hundreds or even millions of simultaneous measurements collected for a single sample. Because of “the curse of dimensionality,” many statistical methods lack power when applied to high-dimensional data. Even if the number of collected data points is large, they remain sparsely submerged in a voluminous high-dimensional space that is practically impossible to explore exhaustively (see chapter 12 [1]). By reducing the dimensionality of the data, you can often alleviate this challenging and troublesome phenomenon. Low-dimensional data representations that remove noise but retain the signal of interest can be instrumental in understanding hidden structures and patterns. Original high-dimensional data often contain measurements on uninformative or redundant variables. DR can be viewed as a method for latent feature extraction. It is also frequently used for data compression, exploration, and visualization. Although many DR techniques have been developed and implemented in standard data analytic pipelines, they are easy to misuse, and their results are often misinterpreted in practice. This article presents a set of useful guidelines for practitioners specifying how to correctly perform DR, interpret its output, and communicate results. Note that this is not a review article, and we recommend some important reviews in the references.
Effect of feeding thyrotropin-releasing hormone to lactating sows

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of feeding thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) during lactation on sows. In Exp. 1, sows were fed 0, 1, 10, 100 or 1,000 mg TRH on d 10.8 +/- .4 (mean +/- SE) after parturition. Blood samples were taken from sows every 30 min from -2 h to 8 h and at 10, 12 and 18 h from feeding. Consumption of 100 or 1,000 mg TRH increased mean serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4; P less than .001), 1,000 mg TRH increased growth hormone (GH; P less than .06) and 100 or 1,000 mg TRH increased prolactin (PRL; P less than .01), but insulin (INS; P greater than .10) was unaffected by TRH. Serum concentrations of T4 were elevated within 2 to 4 h after feeding TRH and remained elevated for 12 to 18 h. Concentrations of GH and PRL began to increase immediately after feeding 100 or 1,000 mg TRH and remained elevated for 6 and 8 h, respectively. In Exp. 2, sows were fed 0 or 200 mg TRH from d 111 of gestation to weaning at 27.1 +/- .3 d of lactation. Consumption of TRH elevated concentrations of T4 at all stages of lactation and increased respiration rate on d 10 and d 20, heart rate on d 20, and milk production on d 20 of lactation. Consumption of TRH did not influence number of pigs born, number born alive, survival rate during lactation, sow body weight, heartgirth, backfat depth, feed disappearance, or milk production on d 10 of lactation. Piglets nursing sows fed TRH were similar in weight to piglets nursing sows not fed TRH on d 0 and 5 of lactation, but they were heavier on d 10 (P less than .07), 15 (P less than .001), 20 (P less than .001) and 27 (P less than .0001). Sows fed TRH took longer (P less than .001) to return to estrus after weaning than control sows. Results indicated that feeding TRH elevated T4, GH and PRL and that feeding TRH for the duration of lactation increased milk production on d 20 of lactation and increased weaning weights, but it delayed estrus after weaning.
Bilateral motor priming for post stroke upper extremity hemiparesis: A randomized pilot study.

Background Bilateral priming, device assisted bilateral symmetrical wrist flexion/extension, is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that can be used in the clinic. Objective We examined the additive effect of bilateral motor priming and task specific training in individuals with severe upper limb hemiparesis. Methods This is a parallel assignment, single-masked, randomized exploratory pilot study with three timepoints (pre-/post-intervention and follow up). Participants received either bilateral motor priming or health care education followed by task specific training. Sixteen participants who were at least 6 months post-stroke and had a Fugl Meyer Upper Extremity (FMUE) score between 23 and 38 were randomized. Our primary and secondary measures were Chedoke Arm & Hand Activity Index 9 (CAHAI-9) and the FMUE respectively. We determined changes in interhemispheric inhibition using transcranial magnetic stimulation. We hypothesized that improvement in the priming group would persist at follow up. Results There was no between-group difference in the CAHAI. The improvement in the FMUE was significantly greater in the experimental group at follow up (t = 2.241, p = 0.045). Conclusions Both groups improved in the CAHAI. There was a significant between-group difference in the secondary outcome measure (FMUE) where the bilateral priming group had an average increase of 10 points from pre-intervention to follow up.
Developing 3-d animated applications prototypes in the classroom

Simulated environments, such as those found in training centers, computer games, movies, advertisement and defense applications, require software companies to face two important challenges in today's economy: creating a good prototype as showcase for the end-user and meeting "time to market" deadlines. Graphics libraries and development environments provide to the application programmer the necessary interfaces used in the construction of graphics, animations, simulations and games. The true value of a graphics library can be measured from two issues: ease of use and extensibility. However, the special needs in an educational environment change the shape and form of graphics frameworks such that each library must be designed to accommodate ease of use and extensibility. Such frameworks provide the user-friendly environment required by, for example, novice game programmers. This study presents a new game-programming library called PGL that addresses the timing and learning factors that exist in game development.
Investigating emergent nested geographic structure in consumer purchases: a Bayesian dynamic multi-scale spatiotemporal modeling approach

Spatial modeling of consumer response data has gained increased interest recently in the marketing literature. In this paper, we extend the (spatial) multi-scale model by incorporating both spatial...
Injection of mscs mitigates particle associated chronic inflammation of bone

Background & Aim Chronic inflammation is a common feature in many diseases of different organ systems, including bone. Unfortunately, there are few interventions to mitigate chronic inflammation and preserve host tissue. We have used diverse strategies to regulate chronic inflammation including polarization of local macrophages to an M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype and modulation of the transcription factor NF-kB. In the current study, we investigate local injection of unmodified and pre-conditioned MSCs (pMSCs) in a model of chronic inflammation of bone: the murine continuous femoral intramedullary polyethylene particle infusion model. Methods, Results & Conclusion Methods: Osmotic pumps were connected to vinyl catheter tubing and a hollow titanium rod was press-fit into the distal femur through the intercondylar region of 11-12 week BALB/c mice. At primary surgery, the pumps were filled with 10% BSA/PBS +/- 1.25% polyethylene (PE) particles and 10 ng/ml of LPS (contaminated polyethylene particles, cPE). For preparation of pMSCs, murine MSCs were seeded at 5,000 cells/cm2 and treated with 20 ng/ml TNF-a and 20 mg/ml LPS for 3 days. Three weeks after primary surgery, pumps were changed to new ones for 3 more weeks. In specific treatment groups, 5 × 105 murine primary MSCs or pMSCs were injected intramedullary at the second surgery. There were six groups +/- PE/cPE and +/- treatment with MSCs or pMSCs (7-9 mice/group). MicroCT analysis was carried out 6 weeks after primary surgery. A three-dimensional region of interest (ROI: 4 × 4 × 3 mm) was created in the distal femur. Bone mineral density (BMD, mg/mm3) was quantified. Histomorphological analysis was performed of the area of osteoclasts (TRAP staining) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining; immunohistochemistry was used to calculate the total number of macrophages (F4/80+), and the number of M1 (iNOS+) and M2 (arginase+) phenotypes. A one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test was performed to quantify the results. Results Contaminated polyethylene particles increased total macrophages, M1 macrophage phenotype, and the percentage of TRAP positive area in the ROI, and decreased M2 macrophage phenotype (Figures 1 and 2). Injection of un-modified MSCs or pMSCs reversed these findings. There were no significant effects on BMD for the treatments in the polyethylene particle groups. Conclusion Local injection of MSCs may be a potential intervention to mitigate the adverse effects of chronic inflammation of bone due to contaminated polyethylene particles.
Examining Measurement Invariance of a School Climate Survey Across Race and Ethnicity

Positive school climate is a key determinant factor of students’ psychological well-being, safety, and academic achievement. Although researchers have examined the validity of school climate measur...
Taking the Humanities Seriously

As the humanities suffer decline in the academy, some psychologists have turned to them as an especially apt way to advance a psychological science that reflects lived experience more accurately an...