cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterizing the Motion of W6.48 in the Active State of a GPCR

Early biochemical and biophysical studies of GPCRs (G-Protein Coupled Receptors) have suggested that there are a series of switches which trigger the conformational changes associated with activation[1]. These switches include i) the rupture of the cytosolic “ionic-lock” between the E/DRY motif on TMH3 and the intracellular end of TMH6, with a subsequent outward displacement of TMH6, as well as ii) a rotameric transition of W6.48, a modulator of the geometry of TMH6 about the conserved P6.50. This “toggle switch” mechanism effectively couples ligand binding to intracellular conformational changes necessary for activation. Recently several activated state crystal structures have been released, of particular significance is the agonist bound β2AR in complex with the Gs heterotrimer[2]. This state is noteworthy as it is the first structure of an activated GPCR in complex with it's cognate G-protein. Although these structures display the expected outward movement of TMH6, none indicate a rotameric transition of W6.48, implying that a rotameric change is not required for activation. Alternately, it has been suggested that the transition is transitory[3]. Given that the β2AR displays constitutive activity[4], it seems plausible that the energy required to transition from the inactive to the active state is thermally accessible. In order to test the hypothesis that W6.48 makes transient rotameric changes we have undertaken microsecond long molecular dynamics simulations embedding the full β2AR complex, derived from the crystal structure, into an all atom phospholipid environment. The thermal motion/fluctuations available to the complex and the propensity of W6.48 to undergo rotameric changes will be discussed in light of recent structural studies.[1] Shi et al. JBC 277 40989 (2002).[2] Rasmussen et al. Nature (2011).[3] Choe et al. Nature 471 651 (2011).[4] Seifert et al. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg Arch Pharmcol 366 381 (2002).
Parsons and Bales Revisited: Young Adult Children's Characterization of the Fathering Role

In the mid-20th century, Parsons and Bales characterized the fathering role in terms of instrumental functions such as providing income, protecting, and discipline. In the present study the authors investigated the extent to which the fathering role has expanded to include expressive functions. An ethnically diverse sample of 1,989 university students from intact and divorced families retrospectively reported on instrumental and expressive father involvement. Results indicated that, although family form and ethnicity moderated the divergence between instrumental and expressive father involvement, fathers from both family forms and from all ethnic groups were rated higher on instrumental than expressive involvement. Strikingly, across both family forms and ethnic groups, seven of the eight most highly endorsed fathering functions were in the instrumental dimension.
Live long and prosper: how black megachurches address HIV/AIDS and poverty in the age of prosperity theology

Abraham was wealthy…. He became wealthy because he was blessed (72, original emphasis).Poverty and illness are the result of limited or lack of faith or a questionable Christian lifestyle (50). Onc...
Modelling the health risks of exposure to respirable crystalline silica from hydraulic fracturing operations in the USA shale plays

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a known human carcinogen and a contaminant of potential concern. Proppants are used during the process of well stimulation (hydraulic fracturing) as additives in the fluid cocktail and sand is often used as a proppant which contains high percentage of silica determined by the quartz content. Empirical occupational exposure risk models were employed in this study to assess the potential health consequences from chronic RCS exposures based on RCS data from NIOSH and risk assessment formulas. Evaluating the lifetime (LT) excess cancer risk (LCR) potential, based on a risk target of 10 5 , the job titles that are likely to experience any substantial potential effect of cancer induction are the sand mover (LCR = 16.1 × 10 5 ) and transfer belt (LCR = 19.2 × 10 5 ) operators. The sand truck driver and data Van operators are among the job functions with a cumulative disease burden of 7.2% that are unlikely to be affected by < 2% carcinogenic disease burden. The chemical truck, sand mover and transfer belt (T-belt) operators may potentially be at risk of other occupational nonmalignant respiratory diseases with hazard quotient (HQ) of 0.65, 1.79, and 2.13 respectively. It is recommended that continuous occupational health monitoring of potentially exposed workers should be included as part of the project plan and the engineering risk controls that have been put in place should be ranked to highlight the effectiveness of any risk reduction/prevention methodology employed.
Generation and Vitrification of High-Level Light Water Reactor Liquid Waste

The Nuclear Waste Vitrification Project was conducted to demonstrate the vitrification of high-level liquid waste (HLLW) generated during the reprocessing of spent fuel discharged from an operating light water reactor. Six pressurized water reactor fuel assemblies, containing 2.3 tU, were processed for the generation at HLLW. A conventional Purex-type process was used for the first cycle so that the HLLW generated would be typical of the nitric acid, fission product waste stream from the first extraction cycle of a commercial plant. Uranium and nonradioactive chemicals, normally added to the HLLW by back-cycling of waste from second and third solvent-extraction cycles, were added to the dilute HLLW to produce a waste composition typical of the HLLW from a commercial plant. The waste was then concentrated tenfold to provide feed for solidification by the spray calciner/in-can melting process. During calcination, the liquid waste was pumped to the calciner vessel, which was heated to 750/sup 0/C. The powdered calcine fell into a stainless steel canister, which was maintained at 1050/sup 0/C; this canister was attached directly to the bottom of the calciner. Glass-forming chemicals were metered into the canister simultaneously with the calcine. After the materials melted, the canister was cooled to producemore » glass. Two canisters containing glass were produced.« less
The Cleistogamous Breeding System: A Review of Its Frequency, Evolution, and Ecology in Angiosperms

Cleistogamy, a breeding system in which permanently closed, self-pollinated flowers are produced, has received increasing attention in recent years, but the last comprehensive review of this system was over 20 years ago. The goal of this paper is to clarify the different types of cleistogamy, quantify the number of families, genera, and species in which cleistogamy occurs, and estimate the number of times and potential reasons why cleistogamy has evolved within angiosperms. Cleistogamous species were identified through a literature survey using 13 online databases with references dating back to 1914; only those species well-supported by floral descriptions or empirical data were included in the data set. On the basis of this survey, we suggest the use of three different categories of cleistogamy in future studies: dimorphic, complete, and induced. Based on these categories, cleistogamy in general is present in 693 angiosperm species, distributed over 228 genera and 50 families. When analyzed on a family level across the angiosperms, the breeding system has evolved approximately 34 to 41 times. Theoretical investigations indicate that the evolution of cleistogamy in taxa may be influenced by the presence of heterogeneous environments, inbreeding depression and geitonogamy, and differential seed dispersal, as well as by various ecological factors and plant size. Cleistogamy will undoubtedly be discovered in additional species as the reproductive biology of more taxa is examined in the future. Such information will be invaluable for understanding the selective pressures and factors favoring the evolution of cleistogamy as well as the evolutionary loss of this breeding system, a subject that has received little attention to date.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Disease in Somali Immigrants in Minnesota

Study objective: To characterize pulmonary and extrapulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis cases in the Somali community in Minnesota. Design: Retrospective chart review of active tuberculosis cases in Somalis reported to the Minnesota Department of Health between January 1993 and June 1998. Patients: Ethnic Somalis in the state of Minnesota with M tuberculosis diagnosed by positive culture or radiographic findings consistent with tuberculosis and clinical improvement when treated with antituberculous drugs. Results: Eighty-two Somali patients were diagnosed with tuberculosis during the study period. Extrapulmonary disease (typically lymphadenopathy) was present in 46% (n 5 38). The 1997 incidence of tuberculosis in Minnesota’s Somali population was estimated at 170 cases per 100,000 population compared with a national incidence of 20.5 per 100,000 among African Americans and 2.5 per 100,000 among whites. Ninety percent of Somali patients were 90% had positive results with the purified protein derivative skin test. M tuberculosis was confirmed in 24 of 25 isolates from extrapulmonary cases. Multidrug resistance was present in 3.4%, and only two patients had AIDS. Conclusions: Somalis have a high incidence of active disease, with frequent extrapulmonary involvement in the absence of AIDS, clinical presentation shortly after immigration, and infrequent infection with resistant organisms. Health-care providers should maintain an increased awareness for tuberculosis when evaluating Somali immigrants. (CHEST 2001; 119:176 ‐180)
The Nomenclature of Monoclonal Antibodies

Hybridoma technology is a relatively new tool for the development of biochemical reagents having wide applicability in many areas of biology and chemistry. These reagents are termed “immunoreagents” because they are produced by cultured cell lines selected for their ability to secrete immunoreactive substances. The most common of these immunoreagents are monoclonal antibodies (MABs), which exhibit complex reactivity patterns although they are specific to unique epitopes. Epitopes are antigenic determinants of specific structure, i.e., chemically active structural components of proteins and complex carbohydrates which interact with antibodies (immunoglobulins). MABs developed through hybridoma technology are highly specific to individual epitope topologies, but because similar epitopes can be found on diverse proteins and polysaccharides, the MABs may react with dissimilar cell types or biochemical substances, despite their definition as “reagents of defined specificity”.
The importance of personal medicine: A qualitative study of resilience in people with psychiatric disabilities

Background: Resilience does not refer to a magical state of invulnerability and the capacity for resilience does not end when one is diagnosed with a prolonged disorder or disease. Despite the enduring legacy of pessimism regarding resilience in the population of people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, a majority do recover. Aim: The present study seeks to understand how people with psychiatric disorders demonstrate the capacity for resilience in the ways they use or do not use psychiatric medications in their daily lives. Method: A qualitative method and participatory action design was used to analyze interviews with 29 people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. Results: When discussing their use of psychiatric medications, research participants also talked about non-pharmaceutical, personal medicine. Personal medicine was found to be those activities that gave life meaning and purpose, and that served to raise self-esteem, decrease symptoms, and avoid unwanted outcomes such as hospitalization. When psychiatric medications interfered with non-pharmaceutical personal medicine, non-adherence often occurred. Conclusion: People with psychiatric disorders demonstrate resilience through the use of non-pharmaceutical, personal medicine in the recovery process. This understanding suggests that medication adherence may be improved when clinicians inquire about patients’ personal medicine and use pharmaceuticals to support, rather than interfere with, these self-assessed health resources.
Oxygen Diffusivity and Defect Transport in Pure and Yb Doped Nano-crystalline Ceria

Oxygen (18O) diffusivity in sol-gel synthesized nano-crystalline ceria films of average grain size of 3 nm and 7 nm, annealed at 300 °C and 450 °C for one hour respectively is examined by nuclear reaction analysis (NRA). Diffusivity and electrical transport properties measured by a. c. impedance spectroscopy were compared with microcrystalline ceria film of average grain size 38 nm annealed at 900 °C for one hour. Effect of enhanced oxygen diffusion along with reduced ionic transport in nano-crystalline ceria and reduced oxygen diffusion along with enhanced ionic transport in microcrystalline ceria are correlated to long range ordering, grain boundary scattering and defect density. Enhancement in the conductivity with reduction in activation energy from 1 eV to 0.5 eV in the case 4 atom% ytterbium (Yb) doped ceria compared to pure ceria is a result of increased oxygen vacancies taking part in the defect transport.
Children’s Experiences of Being Without a Place to Call Home: What the Research Tells Us:

The article provides a critique of qualitative nursing research regarding children's experiences of being without a place to call home. The phenomena under study were the lived experience of being without a home, feeling uncomfortable, hope, and what was special in the children's lives. Parse's criteria for the critique of qualitative research were used. A synthesis of the interpretive findings about the children's experiences is presented. Recommendations for advancing nursing theory, nursing research, and nursing practice are discussed.
Behavioral choice across leech species: chacun à son goût

At any one time, animals are simultaneously bombarded with many sensory stimuli, but they typically choose to respond to only a few of them. We used multidimensional analysis to determine the behavioral responses of six species of leeches to stimulation, as the responses are affected by species identity, diet, behavioral state and stimulus location. Our results show that each of the species tested while not feeding displayed remarkably similar behaviors in response to tactile stimulation of the surface of the body. When not feeding, stimulus location was the most reliable factor in determining behavioral response. While feeding, the three sanguivorous (bloodsucking) species tested ignored stimulation, whereas the three carnivorous leeches abandoned feeding in favor of locomotory responses, regardless of phylogenetic relationships. In the sanguivorous leeches, feeding abolished all mechanically elicited responses and mechanical stimulation in turn had no effect on feeding. We also show that the behavioral hierarchy of leeches was fixed and unchanging even in species that can consume both a carnivorous and a sanguivorous diet.
Efficient sampling of protein conformational space using fast loop building and batch minimization on highly parallel computers.

All-atom sampling is a critical and compute-intensive end stage to protein structural modeling. Because of the vast size and extreme ruggedness of conformational space, even close to the native structure, the high-resolution sampling problem is almost as difficult as predicting the rough fold of a protein. Here, we present a combination of new algorithms that considerably speed up the exploration of very rugged conformational landscapes and are capable of finding heretofore hidden low-energy states. The algorithm is based on a hierarchical workflow and can be parallelized on supercomputers with up to 128,000 compute cores with near perfect efficiency. Such scaling behavior is notable, as with Moore’s law continuing only in the number of cores per chip, parallelizability is a critical property of new algorithms. Using the enhanced sampling power, we have uncovered previously invisible deficiencies in the Rosetta force field and created an extensive decoy training set for optimizing and testing force fields.
Immunochemical and biological characterization of three capsular polysaccharides from a single Bacteroides fragilis strain

Although Bacteroides fragilis accounts for only 0.5% of the normal human colonic flora, it is the anaerobic species most frequently isolated from intra-abdominal and other infections with an intestinal source. The capsular polysaccharides of B. fragilis are part of a complex of surface polysaccharides and are the organism's most important virulence factors in the formation of intra-abdominal abscesses. Two capsular polysaccharides from strain NCTC 9343, PS A1 and PS B1, have been characterized structurally. Their most striking feature is a zwitterionic charge motif consisting of both positively and negatively charged substituent groups on each repeating unit. This zwitterionic motif is essential for abscess formation. In this study, we sought to elucidate structural features of the capsular polysaccharide complex of a commonly studied B. fragilis strain, 638R, that is distinct from strain 9343. We sought a more general picture of the species to establish basic structure-activity and structure-biosynthesis relationships among abscess-inducing polysaccharides. Strain 638R was found to have a capsular polysaccharide complex from which three distinct carbohydrates could be isolated by a complex purification procedure. Compositional and immunochemical studies demonstrated a zwitterionic charge motif common to all of the capsular polysaccharides that correlated with their ability to induce experimental intra-abdominal abscesses. Of interest is the range of net charges of the isolated polysaccharides-from positive (PS C2) to balanced (PS A2) to negative (PS 3). Relationships among structural components of the zwitterionic polysaccharides and their molecular biosynthesis loci were identified.
Spatial modeling of Bering Sea walleye pollock with integrated age-structured assessment models in a changing environment

Climate change may affect the spatial distribution of fish populations in ways that would affect the accuracy of spatially aggregated age-structured assessment models. To evaluate such scenarios, spatially aggregated models were compared with spatially explicit models using simulations. These scenarios were based on hypothetical climate-driven distribution shifts and reductions in mean recruitment of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) in the eastern Bering Sea. Results indicate that biomass estimates were reasonably accurate for both types of estimation models and precision improved with the inclusion of tagging data. Bias in some aggregated model scenarios could be attributed to unaccounted-for process errors in annual fishing mortality rates and was reduced when estimating effective sample size or time-varying selectivity. Spatially explicit models that allow estimation of variability in movement and ontogenetic parameters (specified as a random walk process) were shown to be feasible, whereas models...
OUABAIN: A NEW FISH HORMONE?

![Figure][1] Remarkably, many fish have the ability to move easily between freshwater and seawater, despite the demands these two extreme environments make on their physiology. For example, in freshwater, fish constantly lose salt and gain water from the environment, requiring them to have
Point defects of La2CuO4-based ceramics, Part I: Oxygen interstitials

Theoretical and experimental studies are reported on oxygen excess defect structure of lanthanum cuprate, La2CuO4+δ. The local density functional formalism is applied to theoretical analysis. The self-consistent discrete variational method has been used to find energy levels, densities of states, charge transfer, wavefunctions, and potentials for a fragment consisting of N (30–44) atoms embedded in the infinite crystal. Calculations have been performed on three interstitial oxygen models, with and without local relaxations. These models include sites proposed on the basis of neutron diffraction and interstitial dimers [O2]q. The dimer charge q is found to be consistent with that of normal oxygens, and not -1 as proposed in “superoxide” models. Electrostatic energies are used to estimate the relative stabilities of the proposed interstitial structures. The experimental Seebeck coefficient also shows that the charge of interstitial oxygen is -2. Effective atomic configurations for the ideal lattice are compared with those in the vicinity of the defects, and defect-related spectro-scopic consequences are examined.
The scalability of an object descriptor architecture OODBMS

An object database management system (OODBMS) has been often criticized for its alleged insufficient scalability for a large-scale production system. We investigated the scalability issue on a commercial OODBMS with a focus on the scalability with respect to the number of objects. Our approach was a benchmark experiment using the loading and indexing of SGML text documents as an application. The application was characterized by its small granularity of objects, which resulted in a huge number of objects in order to make a large database volume. The OODBMS we used was built in a so-called "object descriptor architecture (ODA)" as opposed to a "virtual memory mapping architecture (VMMA)". The results showed that the OODBMS scaled better than we had anticipated. It required however, algorithmic resolutions to overcome the shortage of object cache space. Three key resolutions were made. First, we created indexes in fragments by committing a loading transaction before the object cache space become full, and subsequently merged the fragments into one master index. Secondly, we had the application release cached object descriptors (CODs) as soon as they became unnecessary. Thirdly, we utilized a query cursor mechanism to fetch the objects returned from a query piece by piece without overflowing the object cache space. Currently we are attempting to push the scalability up to filling up the maximum available hard disk space.
Functional and physiological resistance of crayfish to amphibian toxins: tetrodotoxin resistance in the white river crayfish (Procambarus acutus)

Freshwater crayfish are reported to consume early life-history stages of a number of toxic amphibians. Although previous research indicates toxic amphibians are palatable to crayfish, the potential toxicity associated with consumption of toxic prey has been poorly described. We sought to characterise the supposed tetrodotoxin (TTX) resistance of freshwater crayfish, which have been observed to eat the eggs and larvae of toxic Taricha Gray, 1850 newts. White river crayfish (Procambarus acutus (Girard, 1852)) consumed 7.7 ± 4.0 Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa (Skilton, 1849)) eggs (mean ± SD) when offered 10 eggs in controlled feeding trials. Eggs were determined to contain a concentration of 1239 ± 571 ng (mean ± SD) of TTX. A dose-response assay was then performed to compare ingested doses with physiological TTX resistance. Crayfish were highly susceptible to TTX when administered as an intramuscular injection; TTX doses of 0.1 mass-adjusted mouse units were lethal to 100% of P. acutus crayfish. We ...
Getting attention online in election coverage: Audience selectivity in the 2012 US presidential election

This study investigates how citizens select election news online. Voluntary national samples (n = 372) browsed a news website featuring four types of election news (horserace, candidates’ issue positions, campaign trails, and voters). Their online activities, including article selection and the length of exposure, were unobtrusively measured by behavior tracking software. The results revealed that participants tended to choose issue-based election coverage but avoided news stories about campaign trails. The horserace was not more popular than the other types of election news. The findings also supported negative bias by showing that participants preferred election news headlines that contained negative words.
The role of community college counselors as validating agents on men of color student success

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to explore the role of counselors in providing validation for men of color in community colleges. Through protocol writing, 13 counselors from seven community colleges responded to open-ended questions asking them to reflect and describe strategies they employed when advising and counseling men of color. Thematic analysis using a combination of detailed, selective, and wholistic reading approaches, as described by van Manen (1990), was employed to identify themes reflecting different forms of validation. Findings from this study demonstrate the critical role of community college counselors as validating agents in affirming men of color as being capable of college success, helping them build confidence, affirming them as individuals, and providing opportunities for academic and personal development. Implications for practice are discussed.
Commentary for Section 1: Linking Research and Practice in School Mathematics

As I write this commentary I have beside me Helen Forgasz’s and Ferdinand Rivera’s (Towards equity in mathematics education: Gender, culture, and diversity, 2012) 597-page, edited volume, Towards Equity in Mathematics Education: Gender, Culture, and Diversity. In the introduction to that volume Forgasz and Rivera not only point to the super-abundance of theories and strategies which have been invoked in order to address issues concerned with equity in mathematics education, but also to difficulties in translating the theories and associated research into effective practice. Many of the theories are summarized in Eva Jablonka, David Wagner, and Margaret Walshaw’s (Third international handbook of mathematics education, pp. 41–68, 2013) review in the Third International Handbook of Mathematics Education. Although succinct, that review verges on being overpowering as it challenges readers to decide which of the large number of theories, if any, are most pertinent to their particular situations. I experienced a similar feeling as I read the articles in the special issue on equity of the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education (Vol. 44, Number 1, January 2013).
Integrin Signaling in Angiogenesis and Metastatic Cancer Progression in the Brain

Integrins have been identified as major contributors to the progression of brain cancer. This includes the development and spreading of primary brain tumors and, more recently, also metastatic disease originating from solid tumors outside the brain. In these processes, integrin functions affect not only the tumor cells themselves but also the reactions of host cells that respond to the presence of developing lesions within the brain microenvironment. Integrin functions can promote cell survival, proliferation, invasion and regulatory adjustments of signaling cascades ­triggered by other receptor types, including those for growth factors. Supported by the promise of ongoing clinical trials, specific targeting of certain integrins and their functions could thus prove successful for new therapeutic approaches against brain cancer and metastatic disease in the central nervous system.
Dangers from Ground Subsidence

There are numerous artificial and natural causes for ground subsidence, from dissolution and removal of evaporite deposits in the East, to collapse of underground coal seams and mines in the Midwest, to growth faults in the South, to subsidence due to groundwater withdrawal in the West. Ground subsidence is not a serious hazard unless homes or subsurface infrastructure (pipelines, tunnels, etc.) are impacted. This chapter devotes most of its attention to subsidence due to groundwater withdrawal and identifying subsidence fissures using aerial photographs. Ground subsidence due to collapsing soils and growth faults in the Mississippi Delta area are also covered.
UV Irradiation and Humic Acid Mediate Aggregation of Aqueous Fullerene (nC60) Nanoparticles

The transport and fate of engineered nanomaterials is affected by multiple environmental factors, including sunlight and natural organic matter. In this study, the initial aggregation kinetics of aqueous fullerene (nC(60)) nanoparticles before and after UVA irradiation was investigated in solutions varying in ionic strength, ionic composition, and humic acid concentration. In NaCl solutions, surface oxidation induced by UV irradiation remarkably increased nC(60) stability due to the increased negative surface charge and reduced particle hydrophobicity; although humic acid greatly enhanced the stability of pristine nC(60) via the steric hindrance effect, it had little influence on the stability of UV-irradiated nC(60) in NaCl due to reduced adsorption on oxidized nC(60) surface. In contrast, UV irradiation reduced nC(60) stability in CaCl(2) due to specific interactions of Ca(2+) with the negatively charged functional groups on UV-irradiated nC(60) surface and the consequent charge neutralization. By neutralizing surface charges of both UV-irradiated nC(60) and humic acid as well as forming intermolecular bridges, Ca(2+) facilitated humic acid adsorption on UV-irradiated nC(60), resulting in enhanced stability in the presence of humic acid. These results demonstrate the critical role of nC(60) surface chemistry in its environmental transport and fate.
Buckling of elastic beams embedded in granular media

Abstract In this paper, an experimental and theoretical study of the buckling response of slender elastic beams within granular media is performed. Buckling loads of beams with different flexural rigidity, length, and boundary conditions within granular media of different depths are determined. The Ritz approximate method is implemented to model the buckling response of the beams based on the concept of an overhanging beam on an elastic foundation, using a series of springs whose spring constants change linearly with respect to the depth of the grains. There is good agreement between the experimental results and the theoretical model. There is a characteristic penetration ratio where the beams are not able to sense the boundary condition at the embedded end, resulting in a convergence of the buckling loads. This condition happens when the rigidity of the beam is lower than the effective stiffness of granular support, leading to the confinement of the lower portion of the beam inside the grains, and acting as a secondary boundary condition that is independent of the condition at the end of the beam. We derive a scaling law to characterize this characteristic penetration ratio in terms of a dimensionless stiffness parameter, allowing for the characterization of three distinct interactions between the beam and medium based on the ratio of granular support effective stiffness to the beam’s effective stiffness.
Moving towards an improved index for assessing liquefaction hazard: Lessons from historical data

Abstract While Liquefaction Potential Index (LPI) has been used to assess liquefaction hazards worldwide, evaluations of LPI during recent earthquakes have found its performance to be inconsistent. In 1985, Ishihara considered the influence of the non-liquefied surface layer on the manifestation of liquefaction, and proposed an empirical approach to predict liquefaction surface effects. The study presented herein investigates the insights the boundary curves proposed by Ishihara may provide for improving the existing LPI framework. The result of the investigation is a novel Ishihara-inspired index, LPIISH. Its performance is evaluated using select liquefaction case histories and is compared to that of the existing LPI framework. For the selected case studies, LPIISH was found to be consonant with observed surface effects and showed improvement over LPI in mitigating false-positive predictions. Ultimately, the influence of non-liquefiable layers on surficial manifestation is complex, and further research is needed to fully elucidate and quantify these effects.
Factors Associated With HPV Vaccine Initiation, Vaccine Completion, and Accuracy of Self-Reported Vaccination Status Among 13- to 26-Year-Old Men:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage in young men is suboptimal. The aims of this study were (a) to examine HPV vaccination and factors associated with HPV vaccination in men 13 to 26 years of age and (b) to examine and determine factors associated with accurate self-report of vaccination. Young men ( n = 400) recruited from a teen health center and a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic completed a survey. Accuracy was defined as correct report of at least one dose and number of doses. Mean age was 21.5 years, 104 (26.0%) received at least one vaccine dose and 49 (12.3%) received all three doses. Factors significantly associated with receipt of at least one dose in multivariable models included recruitment site (teen health center vs. STD clinic, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.75), public versus other insurance (AOR = 2.12), and age (AOR = 0.68). Most young men accurately reported their vaccination status but accuracy of report differed by age: 50.6% of 14- to 18-year-olds, 75.9% of 19- to 21-year-olds, and 93.2% of 22- to 26-year-olds. Most (293, 73.3%) accurately reported number of doses received. Age was associated with accuracy of self-report of at least one vaccine dose (AOR = 1.42), while recruitment site (STD vs. teen health center, AOR = 2.56) and age (AOR = 1.44) were associated with accuracy of self-report of number of vaccine doses. In conclusion, HPV initiation and completion in this study sample were low. Teen health center attendance, public insurance, and younger age were associated with vaccine initiation; older age and STD clinic setting were associated with accurate vaccination self-report.
Surgical approach to colon cancer

Abstract Surgery remains the most definitive treatment for colon cancer. A complete colon exam is critical to localize the primary lesion and exclude other pathology in the colon that may influence the extent of resection. In the comorbid aging population, the surgeon must be able to accurately prognosticate postoperative morbidity and mortality. Enhanced recovery interventions, including minimally invasive approaches to resection offer improved short-term outcomes without oncologic compromise. Colectomy for cancer follows four oncologic principles—adequate lymphadenectomy of ≥12 lymph nodes, high ligation of the primary vessel, complete mesocolic excision, and >5 cm proximal and distal margins. Special consideration must be given to the patient with locally advanced or metastatic disease, as surgical intervention must fit within the scheme of adjunctive therapy and treatment goals whether curative or palliative.
Fundoplication wrap disruption: an experimental study in rats

Antireflux surgery usually gives long lasting control of gastroesophageal reflux disease, but late failures can occur from fundoplication wrap disruption. Disruption presumably occurs when physiological mechanical stresses cause the sutures to pull out of the fundoplication wrap. We hypothesized that complete fundoplications (fundus sutured to fundus) would withstand disruptive forces better than partial fundoplications (fundus sutured to esophagus). Forty-eight rats underwent fundoplication (24 partial and 24 complete). Fundoplication wraps were disrupted by distending the stomach (bursting pressure technique) and by distracting the wrap in a tensiometer (breaking strength technique). Bursting pressures were similar in the partial (103.7 +/- 13.5 mmHg) and complete (100.5 +/- 13.1 mmHg) fundoplication wraps (P = 0.93, not significant). In both groups, all disruptions occurred by sutures tearing through the stomach wall. Breaking strength was also equivalent for the two types of wrap. Partial wraps disrupted at 6.69 +/- 1.49 N and complete wraps disrupted at 6.52 +/- 1.28 N (P = 0.77, not significant). Sutures tore out of the stomach side of the partial wrap in five rats and out of the esophagus in the other seven rats with partial wraps. Disruption occurred by sutures tearing through the stomach in all rats with complete fundoplications. This experimental study in the rat did not show any difference in the ability of partial and complete fundoplication wraps to withstand disruptive forces.
Adding value to a graduate physiology seminar by focusing on public communication skills

a major goal of graduate education is the development of students as “stewards of the discipline,” scholars who can create and preserve knowledge and responsibly translate it through writing, teaching, and practical applications ([5][1]). These qualities are consistent with the American
Disorders of gastrointestinal hypomotility

Ingestion and digestion of food as well as expulsion of residual material from our gastrointestinal tract requires normal propulsive, i.e. motor, function. Hypomotility refers to inherited or acquired changes that come with decreased contractile forces or slower transit. It not only often causes symptoms but also may compromise nutritional status or lead to other complications. While severe forms, such as pseudo-obstruction or ileus, may have a tremendous functional impact, the less severe forms of hypomotility may well be more relevant, as they contribute to common disorders, such as functional dyspepsia, gastroparesis, chronic constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Clinical testing can identify changes in contractile activity, defined by lower amplitudes or abnormal patterns, and the related effects on transit. However, such biomarkers show a limited correlation with overall symptom severity as experienced by patients. Similarly, targeting hypomotility with pharmacological interventions often alters gut motor function but does not consistently improve symptoms. Novel diagnostic approaches may change this apparent paradox and enable us to obtain more comprehensive information by integrating data on electrical activity, mechanical forces, patterns, wall stiffness, and motions with information of the flow of luminal contents. New drugs with more selective effects or more specific delivery may improve benefits and limit adverse effects. Lastly, the complex regulation of gastrointestinal motility involves the brain-gut axis as a reciprocal pathway for afferent and efferent signaling. Considering the role of visceral input in emotion and the effects of emotion on visceral activity, understanding and managing hypomotility disorders requires an integrative approach based on the mind-body continuum or biopsychosocial model of diseases.
35. Dickinson’s I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died

(1955). 35. Dickinson’s I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died. The Explicator: Vol. 13, No. 6, pp. 84-87.
Gabor Wavelet Based Modular PCA Approach for Expression and Illumination Invariant Face Recognition

A Gabor wavelet based modular PCA approach for face recognition is proposed in this paper. The proposed technique improves the efficiency of face recognition, under varying illumination and expression conditions for face images when compared to traditional PCA techniques. In this algorithm the face images are divided into smaller sub-images called modules and a series of Gabor wavelets at different scales and orientations are applied on these localized modules for feature extraction. A modified PCA approach is then applied for dimensionality reduction. Due to the extraction of localized features using Gabor wavelets, the proposed algorithm is expected to give improved recognition rate when compared to other traditional techniques. The performance of the proposed technique is evaluated under conditions of varying illumination, expression and variation in pose up to a certain range using standard face databases.
A Hedonic Analysis of Big Game Hunting Club Dues in Georgia, USA

ABSTRACTHunting lease revenue can be a reliable supplemental income for forest landowners. Although studies have examined factors influencing per acre lease rates, little is known about how various characteristics are capitalized in hunting club dues. The objective of this study was to conduct a hedonic analysis of big game hunting club dues in Georgia, USA using a variety of club-, site-, and location-specific characteristics. To accomplish this objective, multivariate regression analysis was applied to explain variation in hunters’ self-reported big game hunting club dues in 2012. Implicit price was then calculated for each significant covariate. Club size, presence of food plots, and game quality had positive effects on club dues, whereas membership number had a negative effect. These results should be useful for landowners and club lease managers interested in enhancing the marketability of their hunting sites and understanding the effect of management actions.
Distant Position of Chordae from Coaptation Causes Mitral Regurgitation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND The study aim was to investigate the mechanism of mitral regurgitation (MR) in lone atrial fibrillation (AF) patients using three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted of 64 patients with AF and a normal left ventricle, and without prolapse of the mitral valve. Among these patients, significant MR was not identified in 33 cases (AF+MR- group) but was present in 31 cases (AF+MR+ group). The distance from the coaptation to the bending point of the anterior mitral leaflet (AML), where the chorda was attached, was termed the 'bending length'. The ratio of the bending length to the distance from coaptation to anterior mitral annulus was termed the 'bending ratio' (= bending length/coaptation-annulus length). The mitral annular area (MAA) fractional change was defined as follows: (MAA at late systole - MAA at early systole)/MAA at late systole × 100%). Other parameters relating to mitral valve morphology obtained using 3D TEE were measured with commercial software (QLAB, Phillips). RESULTS The coaptation length (CL) was smaller in the AF+MR+ group than in the AF+MR- group (p<0.001), and correlated significantly with the anteriorposterior diameter of the mitral annulus (R = 0.286, p = -0.022), MAA at mid-systole (R = -0.269, p = 0.032), MAA fractional change (R = 0.434, p <0.001), and the bending ratio (R = -0.603, p <0.001). With a multivariable analysis, the correlating factors of significant MR in lone AF patients were a decrease in MAA fractional change (p = 0.022) and an increase of the bending ratio (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS Small MAA fractional changes and the distant position of the chordae tendineae on the AML from the coaptation correlated with significant MR in AF patients with normal left ventricular systolic function.
Advanced Cardiopulmonary Support for Pulmonary Embolism

Management of high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) requires an understanding of the pathophysiology of PE, options for rapid clot reduction, critical care interventions, and advanced cardiopulmonary support. PE can lead to rapid respiratory and hemodynamic collapse via a complex sequence of events leading to acute right ventricular failure. Importantly, reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance must be accomplished either by systemic thrombolytics, catheter directed thrombolytics, endovascular clot extraction, or surgical embolectomy. There are important advances in these techniques all of which have a niche role in the cardiopulmonary stabilization of critically ill patient with PE. Critical care support surrounding the above interventions is necessary. Maintenance of systemic perfusion and cardiac output may require careful titration of vasopressors, inotropes, and preload. Extreme caution should be taken with approach to intubation and positive pressure ventilation. A hemodynamically neutral induction with preparations for circulatory collapse should be the goal. Once intubated, the effect of positive pressure on pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricular hemodynamics is necessary. Veno-arterial extra corporeal membrane oxygenation plays an increasingly important role in the stabilization of the hemodynamically collapsed patient who either has a contraindication to systemic lytics, failed systemic lytics, or requires a bridge to surgical or catheter embolectomy. Veno-arterial extra corporeal membrane oxygenation has also been used alone to stabilize the circulation until hemodynamics normalize on anticoagulation and has also been used in tenuous patient as a safety net for endovascular procedures.
The Problem with College Rankings

We may say we don't pay attention to rankings, but are they actually influencing many of our decisions and policies? The author looks at how rankings may be having a pernicious effect on higher edu...
Using Myoglobin Denaturation To Help Biochemistry Students Understand Protein Structure

Analyzing and understanding data directly from primary literature can be a daunting task for undergraduates. However, if information is put into context, students will be more successful when developing data analysis skills. A classroom activity is presented using protein denaturation to help undergraduate biochemistry students examine myoglobin structure. Student learning goals are to understand relationships involving molar absorption coefficients and light absorbance, quantum yield and fluorescence, guanidine hydrochloride and protein folding, as well as protein folding and spectral properties of aromatic amino acids. This activity was performed by 56 students over three years. Results show statistically significant gains in student learning and student reported increased understanding.
A Sweet Embrace: Control of Protein-Protein Interactions by O-Linked β-N-Acetylglucosamine.

O-Linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a critical post-translational modification (PTM) of thousands of intracellular proteins. Reversible O-GlcNAcylation governs many aspects of cell physiology and is dysregulated in numerous human diseases. Despite this broad pathophysiological significance, major aspects of O-GlcNAc signaling remain poorly understood, including the biochemical mechanisms through which O-GlcNAc transduces information. Recent work from many laboratories, including our own, has revealed that O-GlcNAc, like other intracellular PTMs, can control its substrates’ functions by inhibiting or inducing protein–protein interactions. This dynamic regulation of multiprotein complexes exerts diverse downstream signaling effects in a range of processes, cell types, and organisms. Here, we review the literature about O-GlcNAc-regulated protein–protein interactions and suggest important questions for future studies in the field.