cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High levels of transcription factor RpoS (σS) in mviA mutants negatively affect 1,2-propanediol-dependent transcription of the cob/pdu regulon of Salmonella typhimurium LT2

Expression of the cobalamin biosynthetic (cob) and 1,2-propanediol utilization (cob/pdu) regulon of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 is controlled at the transcriptional level by global and specific regulatory proteins. In this paper we show that mutations in the mviA gene negatively affect cob/pdu transcription in response to 1,2-propanediol in the environment. The effects of mviA mutations were consistent with its role in the regulation of RpoS levels in the cell. Null mutations in rpoS eliminated the negative effect of mviA mutations on cob/pdu transcription, and restored growth on succinate, propionate and 1,2-propanediol. In addition, mviA mutants were deficient in the utilization of succinate, propionate and 1,2-propanediol as carbon and energy sources.
working out or working in: the choice between wage labor and cash cropping in rural Belize

Convinced that economic choices in real life seldom approximate optimality, an increasing number of anthropologists have been studying the cognitive processes of individuals making decisions. This paper discusses and illustrates the advantages of an alternative “statistical behavior” approach to the investigation of economic decision making. Statistical analysis of how men in two Belizean villages allocate their labor-time between wage labor and cash cropping provides information that cannot be discovered via elicitation of “rules” governing choice. [economics, decision making, Belize]
Predicting biodegradation products and pathways

Motivation: Current methods for the prediction of biodegradation products and pathways of organic environmental pollutants either do not take into account domain knowledge or do not provide probability estimates. In this article, we propose a hybrid knowledge-and machine learning-based approach to overcome these limitations in the context of the University of Minnesota Pathway Prediction System (UM-PPS). The proposed solution performs relative reasoning in a machine learning framework, and obtains one probability estimate for each biotransformation rule of the system. As the application of a rule then depends on a threshold for the probability estimate, the trade-off between recall (sensitivity) and precision (selectivity) can be addressed and leveraged in practice. Results: Results from leave-one-out cross-validation show that a recall and precision of ~0.8 can be achieved for a subset of 13 transformation rules. Therefore, it is possible to optimize precision without compromising recall. We are currently integrating the results into an experimental version of the UM-PPS server. Availability: The program is freely available on the web at http://wwwkramer.in.tum.de/research/applications/biodegradation/data. Contact: kramer@in.tum.de
A 30-MHz piezo-composite ultrasound array for medical imaging applications

Ultrasound imaging at frequencies above 20 MHz is capable of achieving improved resolution in clinical applications requiring limited penetration depth. High frequency arrays that allow real-time imaging are desired for these applications but are not yet currently available. In this work, a method for fabricating fine-scale 2-2 composites suitable for 30-MHz linear array transducers was successfully demonstrated. High thickness coupling, low mechanical loss, and moderate electrical loss were achieved. This piezo-composite was incorporated into a 30-MHz array that included acoustic matching, an elevation focusing lens, electrical matching, and an air-filled kerf between elements. Bandwidths near 60%, 15-dB insertion loss, and crosstalk less than -30 dB were measured. Images of both a phantom and an ex vivo human eye were acquired using a synthetic aperture reconstruction method, resulting in measured lateral and axial resolutions of approximately 100 /spl mu/m.
Response of peripheral-blood mononuclear cells to glutamate decarboxylase in insulin-dependent diabetes

Insulin-dependent diabetes is characterised by autoantibodies to several pancreatic-islet-cell antigens, including glutamate decarboxylase. We measured the proliferative responses to this antigen of peripheral-blood mononuclear cells from patients with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes, relatives of diabetic patients, and healthy controls. The likelihood of a positive response was substantially greater among the diabetic patients and relatives positive for islet-cell autoantibodies (ICA) than among subjects at low risk of diabetes (controls and ICA-negative relatives). Glutamate decarboxylase may have a pathogenetic role in insulin-dependent diabetes.
Observations of event-scale sedimentary dynamics with an instrumented bottom-boundary-layer tripod

Abstract A new approach to examine event-scale sedimentation is described that establishes a direct connection between water-column signals and changes in the seabed. The Po River (Italy) shelf is a good case study due to the dominant impact of winter storm events on sediment transport and the availability of coincident measurements necessary for the analysis. Repeated deployments of an instrumented bottom-boundary-layer tripod at this site have produced a nearly continuous record of sediment transport over ∼ 2.5 y. Sediment cores were collected every ∼ 3 mo during this time, and seabed inventories of 7 Be (half-life 53.3 d) were used to determine net sediment deposition or erosion during each deployment. Comparison of these values with the net elevation change obtained from the tripod altimeter shows good agreement, varying from ∼ 2 cm deposition to ∼ 1 cm erosion. The altimeter's use is extended to quantify the net seabed change that results from individual storm-induced sediment resuspension events, lasting from days to weeks. Within each event, analysis of the altimeter record has proved challenging likely due to changes in sediment porosity that occur during a storm event. However, net erosion and deposition that occurs over an event can be evaluated and was found to be
Socioeconomic Status and Social Support Following Illicit Drug Use: Causal Pathways or Common Liability?

The negative social attributes associated with drug use and abuse/dependence may arise as a result of shared genetic or environmental factors rather than through causal pathways. To evaluate this possibility, structured interviews were conducted for 3969 male and female twins from the Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry and evaluations of their socioeconomic status (SES), social interactions, and use of drugs were obtained. Drug involvement was categorized as never used, tried, or met criteria for abuse or dependence. A co-twin control design was implemented using hierarchical linear modeling to assess whether twins who used drugs experienced lower SES and social support than non-using co-twins. Poorer social functioning in the drug-exposed twin is consistent with a causal relationship, while similar functioning in the drug exposed versus naive twins imply shared genetic or common environmental factors. Use of drugs was not significantly related to any SES measures. However, education and job status appear to share genetic influences with drug abuse/dependence. Lower income was not related to abuse/dependence of drugs. Negative interactions with friends and relatives share genetic factors with use of drugs, but the escalation from trying drugs to abusing them appears to generate discord between the abuser and friends and relatives in a causal fashion. These results indicate that presumptive causal influences of drug abuse/dependence on low SES may actually be mediated by shared genes. Drug use and social discord also appear to have shared genetic factors, but increased levels of drug involvement seem to causally influence social interactions.
Direct Measurement of the N = 0 → 1 Transition of SH+ (X 3Σ–) by Submillimeter Velocity Modulation Spectroscopy

The N = 0 → 1 transition of SH+ in its 3Σ- ground electronic state has been recorded using submillimeter direct absorption/velocity modulation techniques. This molecular ion was created in an alternating current (AC) discharge of H2S and argon, or CH3SH in argon. Four hyperfine lines of the N = 0 → 1 transition were measured: three near 526 GHz and one near 346 GHz, arising from the J = 1 → 2 and J = 1 → 0 spin components, respectively; these four lines contribute 64% of the total intensity of the N = 0 → 1 transition. The measurements have been used to refine the molecular constants of SH+, in particular the fine-structure parameters. Both the transition frequencies and the derived constants are in good agreement with previous laser magnetic resonance data. This study has resulted in very accurate rest frequencies for SH+, which is predicted to be an abundant species in photon-dominated regions.
Augmented CPU reservations: towards predictable execution on general-purpose operating systems

One problem with performing soft real-time computations on general-purpose operating systems is that these OSs may spend significant amounts of time in the kernel instead of performing work on behalf of the application that is nominally scheduled: the OS effectively steals time from the running application. Stolen time can be a significant obstacle to predictable program execution on real-time versions of Linux and Windows 2000, where it can cause applications to miss essentially all of their deadlines. We propose augmented CPU reservations, a novel mechanism for using fine-grained accounting information about the amount of stolen time to help the scheduler allow applications to meet their deadlines. We have designed and implemented Rez-C and Rez-FB, two schedulers that provide augmented reservations, and we have tested them in Windows 2000, showing that they can increase the predictability of CPU reservations. We also experimentally quantify the severity of stolen time caused by a variety of devices such as hard disk controllers, a network interface, and a software modem under real-time versions of Windows 2000 and Linux.
Effect of 6 months use of a dentifrice and oral rinse containing sanguinaria extract and zinc chloride upon the microflora of the dental plaque and oral soft tissues

This study documented the effect upon the oral flora of twice daily brushing with a dentifrice containing 0.075% sanguinaria extract and 2% zinc chloride, followed by use of a mouthrinse containing 0.03% sanguinaria extract and 0.2% zinc chloride. Sixty subjects were randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups and monitored in a 6-month double-blind clinical trial. Bacteriological samples from the tongue, buccal mucosa, and supra- and subgingival plaque were characterized at 0, 14, and 28 weeks. Microbiological monitoring showed no increases in populations of yeast, staphylococci, coliform organisms, or Pseudomonas. Total Gram-negative counts in supragingival plaque samples decreased 83% in the active group compared to a 232% increase for the control group. Populations of B. intermedius in supragingival plaque were significantly lower in the active group at 3 months and significantly lower counts of Fusobacterium sp. were observed at 3 and 6 months. Results indicate that use of the test products did not promote opportunistic overgrowth of pathogens in the oral flora. Additionally, the alterations in organisms associated with gingivitis may account for reductions in gingivitis seen in the active group.
Sorting Spatial Data for Sampling and Other Geographic Applications

This paper presents some new methods for ordering spatial entities to reflect spatial proximity. The ordering methods work not only for point sets, but also for a variety of types of 1-D, 2-D, and higher-dimensional spatial objects. The paper describes some important, less traditional applications for spatially sorted data, including list frames for systematic sampling and efficient organization of hierarchical geographic neighborhoods. The new methods derive from methods for ordering vertices or edges in a tree (connected acyclic graph), making novel use of an Eulerian tour to assign a cyclic order. The new orderings are canonical in the sense that they are coordinate system independent, rotation invariant, and do not depend on prior bucketing of space as do some standard existing methods. They depend instead on the spatial distribution of the input data and on the metric of the underlying space. We call our new orderings tree-orders. They can be constructed in linear time from topological graph data structures; and we show that they are fully characterized by a useful proximity-preserving property called branch-recursion.
Single-strand interruptions in replicating chromosomes cause double-strand breaks

Replication-dependent chromosomal breakage suggests that replication forks occasionally run into nicks in template DNA and collapse, generating double-strand ends. To model replication fork collapse in vivo, I constructed phage λ chromosomes carrying the nicking site of M13 bacteriophage and infected with these substrates Escherichia coli cells, producing M13 nicking enzyme. I detected double-strand breaks at the nicking sites in λ DNA purified from these cells. The double-strand breakage depends on (i) the presence of the nicking site; (ii) the production of the nicking enzyme; and (iii) replication of the nick-containing chromosome. Replication fork collapse at nicks in template DNA explains diverse phenomena, including eukaryotic cell killing by DNA topoisomerase inhibitors and inviability of recombination-deficient vertebrate cell lines.
The Influence of Birth on the Weights of the Left and Right Cardiac Ventricles in Prematurely Born Infants

Summary The mean ventricular weights of prematurely born infants who had lived for five or more days were compared with the mean ventricular weights of stillborns of equal crown rump lengths. The left ventricular weights suggest that there has already been some hypertrophy over that which would have occurred in utero. The right ventricle growth continued a t the same rate as would have occurred had the child remained in vitero.
The fate of the N‐formyl‐chemotactic peptide receptor in stimulated human granulocytes: subcellular fractionation studies

Experiments were performed to examine how human granulocytes, stimulated by N-formyl-chemotactic peptides, process the N-formyl peptide receptor. One percent of the surface N-formyl-chemotactic peptide receptors of purified human granulocytes were covalently, specifically, and radioactively labeled at 4°C using the photochemically reactive N-formyl-chemotactic hexapeptide CHO-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-[l25I] Tyr-N°(6-(4′-azido-2′-nitrophenyl-amino)hexanoyl)-Lys. After incubation in the presence of 500 nM of N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe at 37°C, the cells were lysed and fractionated by isopycnic surcrose density gradient sedimentation. Receptor-associated radioactivity cosedimented with plasma membrane in fractions from cells kept at 4°C or incubated at 37°C for 2 min or less. Fractionation of cells incubated at 37°C for longer times revealed that the radioactivity sedi-mented to lower densities coincident with Golgi markers and the site of noncovalently bound and internalized formyl-chemotactic peptide. To follow the redistribution of unoccupied receptors, human granulocytes were stimulated with 500 nM N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe at 37°C for 5 min, washed, lysed by N2 cavitation, and fractionated by rate zonal sucrose density gradient sedimentation. Compared to unstimulated controls the specific binding of N-formyl-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe decreased 76% ± 9% in plasma membrane fractions. N-formyl-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe-binding activity associated with an intracellular pool cosedimenting with specific granules remained unchanged. Approximately 20% of the activity lost in the plasma membrane could be accounted for by a redistribution of specific N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe binding to fractions enriched in azurophil granules. We conclude that the receptor is the carrier in the internalization of the N-formyl-chemotactic peptides to a Golgi-enriched fraction and hypothesize that after a short residency in this fraction, the receptor may dissociate from the ligand and pass onto a fraction consedimenting with dense granules.
In vitro evaluation of feed-grade enzyme activity at pH levels simulating various parts of the avian digestive tract

Abstract The activities of β-glucanase, xylanase, amylase, α-galactosidase and protease were measured at their published optimum pH levels and at pH levels of 3.0, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0 and 7.5 to simulate pH levels of the gizzard, the diet, the crop, and the proximal and distal parts of small intestine, respectively. The activity of β-glucanase was determined by measuring reducing sugars after incubation of β-glucan. Xylanase activity was assayed by measuring xylose after hydrolysis of xylan. The activity of amylase was measured through hydrolysis of soluble starch. The assay of α-galactosidase was based on a hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-α- d -galactoside followed by measurement of liberated p-nitrophenol. The activity of protease was assayed by measuring tyrosine after enzymatic hydrolysis of casein. β-Glucanase had high activity at pH levels of 3.0–7.0. Xylanase had no enzyme activity at pH 3.0, but had high activity at pH levels of 6.0–7.0. Amylase had high activity at pH levels of 6.0 and 6.5 but had no or very low activity at pH 3.0, 7.0 and 7.5. α-Galactosidase had high activity at pH 6, but not at other pH levels tested. Protease had either no or very low activity at all pH levels except at pH 3.0. These results suggest that the pH levels commonly found in the avian digestive tract may be a limiting factor for maximum activity of the exogenous enzymes, such as amylase, α-galactosidase and protease.
Differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetric speciation of trace level inorganic arsenic compounds in natural water samples

A simple, fast and sensitive speciation method is described for inorganic arsenic in water at the g/l level, applicable in the laboratory and in the field, based on differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPCSV). Only As(III) is deposited on a Hg electrode in the presence of Cu and Se in HCl medium. Determination of total As is performed by reducing As(V) to As(III) using sodium meta-bisulfite/sodium thiosulfate reagent stabilized with ascorbic acid. As(V) is quantified by difference. The detection limit (S/N > 3) was 0.5g/l with a linear range from 4.5 to 180g/l. The relative standard deviation (n = 6) was 2.4, 2.5, 4.2% for As(III) and 8.0, 6.8, 9.0% for As(V) at levels of 45, 10, and 5g/l, respectively. Analysis of the NIST 1640 natural water standard yielded total arsenic concentration 26 .5 ± 3.4g/l (n = 3) compared to the certified value of 26.7 g/l. Results obtained on several natural water samples analyzed both in the laboratory and on-site compared well with those obtained by HR ICP-MS, GFAAS and IC-AFS. Ions (phosphate, iron, manganese) commonly found in groundwater containing arsenic were found to have negligible interference. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A correction procedure for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 for persons with spinal cord injury.

Abstract Barncord SB, Wanlass RL. A correction procedure for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 for persons with spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000;81:1185-90. Objective: To develop a procedure that adjusts scoring of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (MMPI-2) for the items related to spinal cord injury (SCI) that skew interpretations with this population, and to assess the accuracy of interpretations resulting from this procedure, standard MMPI-2 scoring, and a previously offered procedure. Design: A criterion study with masked comparisons. Setting: Hospital inpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation unit. Patients: Thirty-four SCI patients between the ages of 18 and 77 years, 19 with complete SCI and 15 with incomplete SCI. Other Participants: Twenty-one nurses, 23 physicians, and 17 psychologists. Main Outcome Measures: Masked MMPI-2 profiles, judged by clinicians for accuracy. Paired t tests comparing profile scales. Results: A correction procedure was arrived at for the MMPI-2 and MMPI-A incorporating adjustments for physical complaints frequently arising from SCI. The new procedure was judged superior to both the standard procedure and the previously offered procedure. Paired t tests of MMPI-2 scales showed that differences from scoring procedures were significant with many scales measuring significance at the p Conclusions: Statistically significant changes in MMPI-2 profiles occur when somatic complaints related to SCI are corrected for. Preliminary results suggest that the application of the new correction procedure increases clinical accuracy. © 2000 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Two-dimensional Echocardiography in Semilunar Valve Disease

M-mode echocardiography has been widely employed in the past in attempts to diagnose valvular aortic stenosis [1—4]. It has also been used to examine the pulmonic valve, and has been very helpful in the detection of pulmonary valvular stenosis [5—7]. Cross-sectional echocardiography, by enlarging our field of vision, generally permits an entire area of obstruction to be encompassed within the plane of a single ultrasonic scan. This allows comparison of the area of obstruction with a normal outflow tract both proximal and distal to this region. In addition, more precise characterization of the morphology and extent of valvular lesions — as well as in certain cases, the severity — is made possible by two-dimensional echocardiography. In this report, we will review our experience using cross-sectional echocardiographic systems to detect and characterize areas of valvular left ventricular obstruction, as well as valvular right ventricular obstruction.
Gender and cultural differences on death penalty support and views among Indian and U.S. college students

ABSTRACTThe death penalty is used as a criminal sanction in 58 out of 193 United Nations countries across the globe, yet the vast majority of research on capital punishment views has been conducted on Western nations, particularly the United States. This study examined the level of death penalty support among college students from both India and the United States. U.S. students expressed greater support for capital punishment compared to their Indian counterparts. In addition, men in both countries were more likely to support the death penalty. The reasons for supporting or opposing capital punishment also varied by gender and nation. Men expressed greater support for reasons of retribution, deterrence, and incapacitation, whereas women were more likely to oppose capital punishment for the reasons of rehabilitation, innocence, and morality. There were differences by nation on rationales to support or oppose capital punishment. Except for incapacitation, Indian students were more polarized in their reasons...
Convergence of Classical Cardinal Series

We consider symmetric partial sums of the classical cardinal series and record necessary and sufficient conditions for convergence. Included are growth conditions on the coefficients that imply analogous asymptotic behavior of the function represented by the series. Several relatively immediate corollaries are also recorded, including sampling-type theorems.
Thermal and physical properties of reconsolidated crushed rock salt as a function of porosity and temperature

Crushed salt can be used as backfill to bury and conduct heat away from radioactive waste in salt repositories. As the crushed salt compacts during reconsolidation, its thermal, mechanical and hydrologic properties will change in a manner related to the porosity. Measurements of crushed salt thermal properties are conducted to evaluate such relationships. A simple mixture theory model is presented to predict thermal conductivity of consolidating salt in repository conditions. Experimental work was completed to evaluate the model by measuring thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat of crushed salt as a function of porosity and temperature. Sample porosity ranged from 0 to 46 %, and measurements were made at ambient pressure, from room temperature to 300 °C. These are the temperature conditions expected in a radioactive waste storage facility. Crushed salt thermal conductivity decreases with increasing porosity and temperature. Thermal diffusivity showed little porosity dependence but decreased with increasing temperature. Specific heat also shows little porosity dependence but increases with increasing temperature. Fracture porosity in deformed bedded salt cores appears to reduce thermal conductivity more dramatically than inter- and intra-granular porosity in consolidated salt. A long-term effort to dry crushed salt at high temperatures resulted in a 0.48 weight-percent loss of water that had resided at grain boundaries and in intra-granular fluid inclusions. While this loss does not significantly affect thermal properties, the release of this water volume could impact the mechanical response of the reconsolidating salt and host rock.
Modeling at the Algorithmic Level

Different from an RTL or an FSMD level descriptions where a designer has to specify a clock by clock behavior of a circuit, an algorithmic specification looks much more like an ordinary program, consisting of processes containing loops, conditionals, input/output (I/O), and arithmetic and logic expressions. Algorithmic descriptions do not have reference to states and need to be scheduled before they can be mapped to an FSMD description. Table 10.1 shows the difference between algorithmic descriptions and RTL or FSMD descriptions.
Flow Structure Above Stationary and Oscillating Low-Aspect-Ratio Wing

Computations have been carried out in order to describe the complex unsteady flow structure over a stationary and plunging aspect-ratio-two wing under low Reynolds number conditions (Rec = 104). The flow fields are computed employing a high-fidelity implicit large-eddy simulation (ILES) approach found to be effective for moderate Reynolds number flows exhibiting mixed laminar, transitional and turbulent regions. The evolution of the flow structure and aerodynamic loading as a function of increasing angle of attack is presented. Lift and pressure fluctuations are found to be primarily dominated by the large scale circulatory pattern established above the wing due to separation from the leading edge, and by the inherent three dimensionality of the flow induced by the finite aspect ratio. The spanwise distribution of the sectional lift coefficient revealed only a minor direct contribution to the loading exherted by the tip vortex. High-frequency, small-amplitude oscillations are shown to have a significant effect on the separation process and accompanying loads suggesting potential flow control through either suitable actuation or aero-elastic tailoring.© 2012 ASME
Closure of disperse-flow averaged equations models by direct numerical simulation

This paper presents a summary of some recent work on the systematic closure of disperse-flow averaged-equations models on the basis of direct numerical simulations. Since the average pressure is found by solving the equations rather than prescribed as a closure relation, it is important first to identify the pressure part of the average stress. This objective is achieved by examining the transformation properties of the average stress under the gauge transformation pc + pc +ψ, where PC is the continuous-phase pressure and ~ the potential of the body forces. After this step, the stress is expressed in terms of computable quantities. A strategy to derive closure relations is then described. It is also shown that the theological behavior of spatially non-uniform suspensions is described by a non-Newtonian constitutive equation.
Abstract PR-06: Upregulation of microRNA‐21 (miR‐21) in human bronchial epithelial cells chronically exposed to 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanone (NNK) plus nicotine and modulation of these effects by diindolylmethane

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a class of naturally occurring small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate genes by either inducing mRNA degradation or inhibiting translation. The expression of miRNAs is deregulated in several cancers, including lung cancer. However, most studies have been carried out using full‐blown cancer tissues and the regulation of miRNAs during early‐stage tumorigenesis is unknown. In the present study, we used an in vitro model of lung tumorigenesis to assess the effect of chronic treatment with tobacco compounds on the expression of miR‐21, one of the most deregulated miRNAs in lung cancer, in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC). Freshly prepared NNK (10 µM) and nicotine (10 µM) were added to the culture media containing NHBC every 3 days for 3 weeks. Beginning the second week of NNK plus nicotine treatment, the dietary chemopreventive agent diindolylmethane (DIM) was added, every 3 days, to the culture media until the termination of the study. Then, the cells were harvested, RNA prepared and the expression level of miR‐21 and its target genes PDCD4 and RECK were analyzed by QRT‐PCR. Levels of PDCD4 and RECK were also examined by Western immunoblotting. NNK plus nicotine treatment significantly elevated miR‐21 levels but markedly decreased expression of PDCD4 and RECK at both gene and protein levels. The effect of the tobacco compounds on miR‐21 as well PDCD4 and RECK was reversed by treatment with DIM. This study shows that miR‐21 levels are deregulated beginning the early phase of lung tumorigenesis and miR‐21 is a valuable target for chemopreventive agents. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):PR-06.
Secretion Profile of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium During Wound Healing.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to characterize the secretion profile of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (iPS-RPE) during wound healing. iPS-RPE was used to develop an in vitro wound healing model. We hypothesized that iPS-RPE secretes cytokines and growth factors which act in an autocrine manner to promote migration and proliferation of cells during wound healing. Methods iPS-RPE was grown in transwells until fully confluent and pigmented. The monolayers were scratched to induce a wound. Levels of Ki-67, β-catenin, e-cadherin, n-cadherin, and S100A4 expression were analyzed by immunofluorescent labeling. Cell culture medium samples were collected from both the apical and basolateral sides of the transwells every 72 hours for 21 days. The medium samples were analyzed using multiplex ELISA to detect secreted growth factors and cytokines. The effects of conditioned medium on collagen gel contraction, cell proliferation, and migration were measured. Results iPS-RPE underwent epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during wound healing as indicated by the translocation of β-catenin to the nucleus, cadherin switch, and expression of S100A4. GRO, GM-CSF, MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 were secreted by both the control and the wounded cell cultures. VEGF, FGF-2, and TGFβ expression were detected at higher levels after wounding than those in control. The proteins were found to be secreted in a polarized manner. The conditioned medium from wounded monolayers promoted collagen gel contraction, as well as proliferation and migration of ARPE 19 cells. Conclusions These results indicate that after the monolayer is wounded, iPS-RPE secretes proteins into the culture medium that promote increased proliferation, contraction, and migration.
Plato: UX Prototyping for Platonic Friendship

In this poster session, we present the concept modeling, user testing, research methods, analysis, and low-fidelity prototyping of PLATO, a social discovery app (friendship app) designed to bridge the gap between high efficiency, low-trust dating apps (e.g. Tinder, etc.) and low-efficiency, high-trust friendship apps. User testing methods included user experience questionnaires, quantitative analysis of click-data, focus group, and Design Thinking Workshop. Major findings included firm preferences for activity-based icons and the desire for profile privacy customizability as ways to improve levels of trust in the social discovery app community. Research and prototyping of PLATO contributes to broader UX investigations of trust by exploring the relationship between app design and social-emotional satisfaction. This research was the result of George Mason University's Fall 2015 graduate seminar in Usability Testing and Prototyping in the Department of Cognitive Psychology/ Human Factors.
Clinical and Radiologic Correlates of Non-Metabolic Triphasic Waves and Epileptiform Activity in Primary Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (P02.237)

OBJECTIVE: To clinically correlate specific electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). BACKGROUND: EEG is a commonly used diagnostic tool in patients with SAH.We describe specific EEG patterns in SAH patients with clinical and radiologic correlation. DESIGN/METHODS: Patients with primary SAH admitted to two academic institutions between July 2009 and April 2012 were identified. Records were reviewed to identify intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), intracerebral hemorrhagic extension(ICH), occurrence of delayed cerebral ischemia(DCI) and length of stay(LOS). EEG reports were reviewed and classified as: arrhythmic continuous slow activity(aCS), rhythmic and periodic slow activity of triphasic morphology(TW), epileptiform activity(EA), and background suppression(SUP).Patients with metabolic causes for TW were excluded. RESULTS: Of 154 patients, 49 had EEG monitoring. Thirteen (26.5%) exhibited non-metabolic TW, 16 (32.7%) had EA, 18 (36.7%) had aCS, 1 patient had SUP and 1 had a normal EEG. EA was associated with DCI (56.3%) as compared to non-epileptiform patterns (31.7%; p = 0.04). Furthermore, EA was more common in patients with ICH without statistical significance (31.3% vs.18.2%;p=0.2). The presence of TW was associated with IVH as compared to other patterns (69.2% vs.41.7%;p=0.04) and IVH was more likely to be restricted to lateral ventricles in this group (80% vs. 46.7%; p=0.05). In patients with with IVH, the mean LOS is patients with TW was 42 ± 28.8 days vs. 19 ± 11.6 days (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SAH, the presence of IVH within the lateral ventricles was associated with non-metabolic TW. This pattern has previously been scantly reported in the literature with diencephalic and brainstem lesions. The presence of TW in patients with IVH significantly increased LOS. The presence of epileptiform activity was associated with DCI and more likely to be seen in ICH. Disclosure: Dr. Mohamed has nothing to disclose. Dr. Burghardt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Solaiman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shah has received personal compensation from UCB Pharma for consulting services. Dr. Shah has received research support from UCB Pharma, Sunovion, Upsher-Smith and Pfizer. Dr. Basha has nothing to disclose.
A tunable magnetic skyrmion neuron cluster for energy efficient artificial neural network

Artificial neuron is one of the fundamental computing unit in brain-inspired artificial neural network. The standard CMOS based artificial neuron designs to implement non-Unear neuron activation function typically consist of large number of transistors, which inevitably causes large area and power consumption. There is a need for novel nanoelectronic device that can intrinsically and efficiently implement such complex non-Unear neuron activation function. Magnetic skyrmions are topologically stable chiral spin textures due to Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in bulk magnets or magnetic thin films. They are promising next-generation information carrier owing to ultra-small size (sub-10nm), high speed (>100n]/s) with ultra-low depinning current density (MA/cm2) and high defect tolerance compared to conventional magnetic domain wall motion devices. In this work, to the best of our knowledge, we are the first to propose a threshold-tunable artificial neuron based on magnetic skyrmion. Meanwhile, we propose a Skyrmion Neuron Cluster (SNC) to approximate non-linear soft-limiting neuron activation functions, such as the most popular sigmoid function. The device to system simulation indicates that our proposed SNC leads to 98.74% recognition accuracy in deep learning Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with MNIST handwritten digits dataset Moreover, the energy consumption of our proposed SNC is only 3.1 fj/step, which is more than two orders lower than that of CMOS counterpart.
“I Would Never Fall for That”: The Use of an Illegitimate Authority to Teach Social Psychological Principles:

This activity explores attitudinal beliefs and behavioral responses of obedience to an illegitimate authority figure in an ambiguous situation. In Experiment 1, students either self-reported the li...
Distance Geometry for Realistic Molecular Conformations

In order to better understand the many different distance geometry numerical algorithms, it is necessary to relate them to real-world problems in computational chemistry. Here we consider small molecule applications, determination of protein conformation from nuclear magnetic resonance experiments (NMR), protein homology modeling, and more abstract applications to conformational classification and protein sequence comparison. Underlying methods involve conformations in more than three dimensions, low resolution treatments of large problems, and special abstract algebras for dealing with geometry.
Nutrient Exchange: Matching Digestion and Absorption

This chapter focuses on events related to digestion and absorption beginning with a description of the relevant functional anatomy involved in these processes. The role of various enzymes for digestion in the gastrointestinal tract of the macromolecular foodstuffs (i.e., carbohydrates, lipids, and protein) to molecules that can be readily absorbed is discussed. Finally, the factors involved in the absorption of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, and select nutrients (i.e., calcium, iron, and vitamins) are considered.
The Physician Handoff and Its Role in Quality and Safety

Abstract The clear, accurate, and effective exchange of clinical information has always played a central role in the delivery of health care. It remains one of the most critical events that allows for health care providers to be effective at managing patients and their conditions. In this chapter, the scope and background of the importance of the handoff for effective patient care delivery will be reviewed. A background of the current literature will be discussed. Studies demonstrating the importance of handoffs and those describing some of the limitations found in the current literature will be reviewed. The current thinking on the complexities of the handover process and the implications for further study and improvement will be described in an effort to encourage quality projects in this area. The limitations of available research specifically in Neurosurgery will be addressed. Further research into the development of data driven, safety promoting guidelines and best practices are desired that are acceptable for the neurosurgical setting with its particular complexities and its need for flexibilities in multiple environments, that will still provide for quality and safety in patient care. Guidelines shown to have improved clinical outcomes based on study data are needed. With more attention to quality projects that feature the development of the characteristics of the proper handoff in Neurosurgery, the implications are for improved quality and safety in the care and treatment of our Neurosurgery patients.
Computer-aided design of three terminal (3T-) zig-zag SWCNT junctions and nanotube architectures

Abstract Construction of topologically accurate models of nanotube junctions is essential for the determination of its thermal, mechanical and electronic properties. Most of the earlier nanotube junction models have been based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and heuristic methods which are either computationally expensive or impossible to model large 3D structures. CAD based approach that uses triangular meshes with remeshing strategies and have desired mesh optimization capability are found to be ideal to generate 3T-nanotube junctions with generic predefined orientation of nanotubes and accurate topological features. These 3T-junctions can be considered as building blocks and can be replicated in multiple directions to build complex nanotube architectures, which are shown via two examples for generating 2D and 3D microstructures by replication, translation, and rotation of a fused 3T-junction.
Literature and vivisection: reevaluating Emile Zola’s interpretation of Claude Bernard

In analyzing the debt Emile Zola’s “Le Roman experimental” (1880) owes to Claude Bernard’s Introduction a l’etude de la medecine experimentale (1865), this article places vivisection at the intersection of science and literature. Using two very different precursors of the Naturalist’s manifesto—the preface to Therese Raquin (1868) and the 1863 antivivisection debates at the Academie de Medecine—it argues that Bernard’s strong association with vivisection was of key significance to Zola’s choice of model. It then draws a distinction between the two men’s experimental ethics, showing that the literary author specializes in human research subjects. Despite his enthusiastic emulation of the physiologist, Zola remains unaware of the ethical pitfalls of moving on from animal subjects. In the Introduction, Bernard navigates these by making the experimental method itself, and the savant’s mastery thereof, the moral guarantees of physiology.
GENES ON THE MAIZE CHLOROPLAST CHROMOSOME

ABSTRACT In earlier work, genes for a few chloroplast ribosomal proteins were located in the nuclear and plastid genomes of the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii by a combination of transmission genetic analyses and biochemical methods.
Images, Values, and Concepts of Time in Psychological Research

Some years back we began an inquiry that sometimes proved rewarding, yet more often has filled us with dissatisfaction, uncertainty, and a tormenting sense of the many questions still to be asked and answered. Our quest was one that has lured many others throughout the ages, namely, a search to understand the meaning of time and its relationships to other aspects of behavior and experience.
"Drumbeats, pennywhistles and all that jazz": the relationship between urban South African musical styles and musical meaning

In the forties, a pennywhistle was considered to be a child's toy: what small boys played because they could not afford 'real' instruments. What the quote I have just given illustrates particularly well is that from the sixties onwards, the pennywhistle and kwela music, the style which evolved around this instrument, had come to symbolise a whole era of South Africa’s history. I would like to explain this extraordinary metamorphosis of meaning through an exploration of kwela's socio-political context and its effect on the style's development. As my theoretical springboard, I have taken Gramsci's notions of the relationship between culture and society's economic base. I explore this relationship using Chantal Mouffe's 'articulation theory' as modified for the study of popular music by Richard Middleton. I have further adapted Middleton's model, moulding it to the specific needs of the southern African situation.
Uniformed Services University Women's Enrollment and Career Choices in Military Medicine: A Retrospective Descriptive Analysis.

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to examine Uniformed Services University (USU) women graduates in terms of percent of graduates', specialty choices and practice choices as compared to civilian women who graduate and practice medicine in the USA. This is a perspective that is currently not well understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all USU women graduates (1980-2015) using the 2016 American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Masterfile that included data from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). To describe USU women graduates' current practice status we queried for: (1) medical school; (2) year of graduation; (3) practice state; (4) primary specialty board; and (5) major professional activity (office-based practice vs. full-time hospital staff). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Our findings indicate that the percentage of USU women graduates has increased over time and stands at 29% for the 2010-2015 cohort as compared to 48% for women graduating from all U.S. medical schools. USU women graduates have a slightly higher board certification rate (89%) than the national cohort (88%). USU women graduates also have a higher percentage in family medicine (19%) than the national cohort (14%). USU women graduates practice in 48 states and were equally split between full-time hospital staff and office-based practice which differs from the national cohort that has a much higher proportion in office-based practice (85%). CONCLUSIONS Women are making significant gains in enrollment at USU, obtaining board certification at similar, and in some cases, higher rates than their civilian peers, and practicing in diverse specialties. This study provides a descriptive picture of women's enrollment and practice characteristics from a military-based medical school. Future work could examine underlying factors that may influence their school choice, career experiences, and trajectories. Future research could also focus on women's experiences of mentoring and support to better understand these factors.
Implementation of Bar-Code Medication Administration to Reduce Patient Harm

Abstract Objective To assess the impact of implementing bar-code medication administration (BCMA) technology on the rate of medication administration errors in the inpatient setting, specifically those that affect the patient and result in harm. Patients and Methods Implementation of the new technology began in September 2008 in a staged rollout of 4 or 5 units at a time in 11 separate waves. All corresponding medication administrations and voluntarily reported medication-related adverse events from March 1, 2007, through September 30, 2013, were included for analyses. Adherence to the use of BCMA technology and the number of adverse events were tracked and compared across the preimplementation period through follow-up. Actual errors, not potential errors, were included in the analysis. Results After the BCMA technology was introduced, reported medication administration errors decreased by 43.5%. More importantly, the rate of harmful medication errors decreased from 0.65 per 100,000 medications preintervention to 0.29 per 100,000 medications postintervention. This resulted in a 55.4% decrease in actual patient harm events. None of the errors at category E or higher was caused by BCMA factors. Conclusion Consistent use of BCMA technology improves patient safety by decreasing the number of patients harmed by medication administration errors.