cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of in vivo microscopy to image the cnidarian stress response in three octocoral species

Energy‐converting symbionts and organelles may be central to the cnidarian stress response. Stress may damage photochemistry in the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium spp., leaving photosystems I and II relatively reduced and increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Alternatively, ROS may emanate from mitochondria of either the host or the symbiont, or both. These sources of ROS can be distinguished by using microscopy to examine the effects of light on stressed cnidarians incubated in the dark with a fluorescent, ROS‐detecting probe. Experiments were carried out with three species of alcyonacean octocoral, Phenganax parrini, Sarcothelia sp., and Sympodium sp. After incubation of colonies for 1 h at elevated temperature, imaging and illumination (excitation 450–490 nm, emission 515–565 nm) were begun simultaneously. Formation of ROS largely corresponded to the onset of illumination. On the other hand, chlorophyll fluorescence (excitation 530–580 nm, emission 620–690 nm) did not conform to this pattern. This difference is consistent with the expected rates of reaction. Remarkably, treatment with the inhibitor 3‐(3,4‐dichlorophenyl)‐1,1‐dimethylurea (DCMU) resulted in dramatically higher levels of light‐induced ROS. Chlorophyll fluorescence was higher in the DCMU treatment but not significantly so. By controlling for variation between individual symbionts, however, DCMU produced significantly greater levels of chlorophyll fluorescence, indicating the expected greater reduction of photosystem II. A brief exposure to light and thermal stress produced a similar effect in all three species. In addition to ROS being initiated by light, these results indicate that: (1) a brief period of stress shifts photosystem redox state toward reduction, (2) photosystem II can donate electrons to oxygen when blocked with DCMU, and (3) chlorophyll fluorescence is highly variable among individuals of Symbiodinium. Imaging of individual symbionts in hospite thus provides a powerful method for understanding the initial steps of the cnidarian stress response.
Domestic Disturbances and Fatal Police Shootings: An Analysis of the Washington Post’s Data:

Domestic disturbances are often touted as one of the most dangerous incidents to which police officers respond. Nevertheless, research examining the relative dangerousness of these incidents to responding officers is mixed. Recently, media outlets have compiled rich data on fatal police shootings, which provides the opportunity to examine police responses to domestic disturbances in a different light. Using data compiled by The Washington Post, this study explored whether domestic disturbances that resulted in a fatal shooting were more likely than other fatal shooting incidents to have involved: (a) a civilian armed with a firearm or toy/replica firearm or (b) a civilian who posed an imminent threat to officer or public safety. Findings suggest that there were some, albeit not many, differences in these outcomes between domestic disturbances and seven other incident types. Avenues for future research in this area are provided, along with a discussion about the availability of current data on this topic.
Mitochondrial Inhibition Augments the Efficacy of Imatinib by Resetting the Metabolic Phenotype of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.

Purpose: Imatinib dramatically reduces gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) 18F-FDG uptake, providing an early indicator of treatment response. Despite decreased glucose internalization, many GIST cells persist, suggesting that alternative metabolic pathways are used for survival. The role of mitochondria in imatinib-treated GIST is largely unknown.Experimental Design: We quantified the metabolic activity of several human GIST cell lines. We treated human GIST xenografts and genetically engineered KitV558del/+ mice with the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation inhibitor VLX600 in combination with imatinib and analyzed tumor volume, weight, histology, molecular signaling, and cell cycle activity. In vitro assays on human GIST cell lines were also performed.Results: Imatinib therapy decreased glucose uptake and downstream glycolytic activity in GIST-T1 and HG129 cells by approximately half and upregulated mitochondrial enzymes and improved mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Mitochondrial inhibition with VLX600 had a direct antitumor effect in vitro while appearing to promote glycolysis through increased AKT signaling and glucose transporter expression. When combined with imatinib, VLX600 prevented imatinib-induced cell cycle escape and reduced p27 expression, leading to increased apoptosis when compared to imatinib alone. In KitV558del/+ mice, VLX600 alone did not induce tumor cell death, but had a profound antitumor effect when combined with imatinib.Conclusions: Our findings show that imatinib alters the metabolic phenotype of GIST, and this may contribute to imatinib resistance. Our work offers preclinical proof of concept of metabolic targeting as an effective strategy for the treatment of GIST. Clin Cancer Res; 24(4); 972-84. ©2017 AACR.
A self-reinforced cementitious composite for building-scale 3D printing

Abstract A design scheme for self-reinforced cementitious composites to be used for building-scale 3D printing processes is introduced. The design is based on that of engineered cementitious composites, which include dispersed short polymer fibers to generate robust tensile strain-hardening. The mechanical property profile of these printable ECC materials is meant to eliminate the need for steel reinforcement in printed structures, providing more freedom and efficiency for building-scale 3D printing processes. The fresh state rheological properties have been systematically manipulated to allow printability. Effects on fresh state workability of several compositional ingredients and processing parameters are investigated herein. To maintain consistent printing performance with a batch mixing approach, thixotropy in the fresh state is exploited to temporarily decouple hardening behavior from the processing timeline. Minimal workability loss under continued shear agitation is achieved. Mechanical properties of the printable materials are characterized and the printability of the materials is demonstrated.
β-Lactam Biotransformations Activate Innate Immunity

Antibiotics are widely prescribed to treat bacterial infections, but many of these drugs also affect patient immune responses. While the molecular mechanisms regulating these diverse immunomodulatory interactions are largely unknown, recent studies support two primary models: (1) antibiotics can alter immune function by directly interacting with human targets; and/or (2) antibiotics can indirectly affect immune responses via alteration of the human microbiota composition. Here, we describe results that could support a third model in which a nonimmunostimulatory antibiotic can be biotransformed by human microbiota members into an immunostimulatory product that lacks antibacterial activity. Specifically, we identified, characterized, and semisynthesized new biotransformation products derived from the β-lactams amoxicillin and ampicillin, antibiotics regularly prescribed in the clinic. The drug metabolism products were identified in bacterial cultures harboring β-lactamase, a common resistance determinant. O...
Graphene-induced tunable Lamb shifts beyond atomic fine structure

We show that highly tunable atomic energy levels can be achieved by exploiting plasmonic Lamb shifts. The shifts can be larger than fine-structure shifts and potentially larger than the Coulomb interactions at certain Fermi energies.
Matrix Differential Equations and Lyapunov Transformations

The main purpose of this paper is to establish necessary conditions and sufficient conditions for the existence of a solution Q(t) of the Lyapunov matrix differential equation of the form $${{dQ\left( t \right)} \over {dt}} = A\left( t \right)Q\left( t \right) - Q\left( t \right)B\left( t \right) + C\left( t \right),t \in \left[ {\gamma ,\delta } \right]$$ where\(Q\left( t \right),{{dQ\left( t \right)} \over {dt}},{Q^{ - 1}}\left( t \right){\left[ {{{dQ\left( t \right)} \over {dt}}} \right]^{ - 1}}\) are bounded for t ∈ [γ, δ]. Such solutions are used to generate Lyapunov transformations which map one differential system to another system which has the same stability properties. Solutions of higher order Riccati matrix differential equations are used to uncouple stiff linear time-varying differential systems.
Using statistical models in estimating error rates for forensic firearm identification

Estimating error rates for firearm evidence identification is a fundamental challenge in forensic science. The recently developed Congruent Matching Cells (CMC) method provides applications to firearm evidence identification. To estimate error rates, appropriate statistical models are needed for the CMC values. In this paper, in addition to the binomial probability distribution the correlated binomial distribution is proposed. For an image comparison, the correlated binomial distribution can be applied to the cell pairs from CMC method. An application to an actual data set demonstrates that the correlated binomial distribution fits the relative frequency distribution of CMC values much better than the binomial distribution.
Combating Rx Drug Misuse: Incarcerated Women’s Proactive and Reactive Policy Recommendations:

Given the rapid increase in prescription (Rx) drug misuse, overdose, and drug-related arrests, the purpose of this study is to identify strategies to combat Rx misuse from the perspective of former...
Oncostatin M induces vascular endothelial growth factor in human breast cancer cells and promotes angiogenesis

1637 Oncostatin M (OSM), a multifunctional cytokine belonging to the IL-6 family, is produced by many cell types including human T-lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages and monocytes. OSM has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of breast and other tumor cell lines in vitro, and attention has been given to OSM as a potential cancer therapeutic. Recent studies, however, have shown that OSM stimulates cell detachment and invasion in vitro, and induces vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in endothelial and astroglioma cells, which suggests that OSM may play a role in angiogenesis and tumor progression. Here we demonstrate that OSM induces VEGF by approximately 4-fold in several human breast cancer cell lines, including MDA-MB-231 and T47D, and that this induction is dose- and time-dependent. Additionally, we demonstrate a novel property of OSM in the up-regulation of HIF1α, a potent pro-angiogenic transcription factor, and provide new evidence that OSM-induced VEGF expression is dependent on both the STAT3 and HIF1 signaling pathways. We show that conditioned media from OSM-treated breast cancer cells enhances endothelial cell formation by ∼150%, as measured by an increase in branch points in an in vitro angiogenesis assay. In addition, OSM-induced VEGF causes dramatic in vivo neovascularization, as measured by a 12-fold increase in hemoglobin levels in a Matrigel plug assay. This is the first direct evidence that OSM-induced VEGF in human breast cancer cells occurs through activation of STAT3 and HIF1α, and has a potent pro-angiogenic effect on endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest the importance of designing therapeutics to inhibit OSM during breast cancer progression and subsequent metastasis.
Multicommunicator Aspirational Stress, Suggestions for Teaching and Research, and Other Insights After 10 Years of Multicommunication Research:

This study offers a comprehensive review of data-based research on the practice of multicommunicating, that is, the behavior of participating in multiple, overlapping conversations. Initial researc...
Comparison of the Transcriptomes and Proteomes of Serum Exosomes from Marek's Disease Virus-Vaccinated and Protected and Lymphoma-Bearing Chickens.

Marek’s disease virus (MDV) is the causative agent of Marek’s disease (MD), a complex pathology of chickens characterized by paralysis, immunosuppression, and T-cell lymphomagenesis. MD is controlled in poultry production via vaccines administered in ovo or at hatch, and these confer protection against lymphoma formation, but not superinfection by MDV field strains. Despite vaccine-induced humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, mechanisms eliciting systemic protection remain unclear. Here we report the contents of serum exosomes to assess their possible roles as indicators of systemic immunity, and alternatively, tumor formation. We examined the RNA and protein content of serum exosomes from CVI988 (Rispens)-vaccinated and protected chickens (VEX), and unvaccinated tumor-bearing chickens (TEX), via deep-sequencing and mass spectrometry, respectively. Bioinformatic analyses of microRNAs (miRNAs) and predicted miRNA targets indicated a greater abundance of tumor suppressor miRNAs in VEX compared to TEX. Conversely, oncomiRs originating from cellular (miRs 106a-363) and MDV miRNA clusters were more abundant in TEX compared to VEX. Most notably, mRNAs mapping to the entire MDV genome were identified in VEX, while mRNAs mapping to the repeats flanking the unique long (IRL/TRL) were identified in TEX. These data suggest that long-term systemic vaccine-induced immune responses may be mediated at the level of VEX which transfer viral mRNAs to antigen presenting cells systemically. Proteomic analyses of these exosomes suggested potential biomarkers for VEX and TEX. These data provide important putative insight into MDV-mediated immune suppression and vaccine responses, as well as potential serum biomarkers for MD protection and susceptibility.
A new quantified self: embodied pedagogy and artistic practice

We live in an age of the ‘quantified self’, where activities, moods, and consumer habits are increasingly tracked. Accelerometers in devices like FitBit chart our activity, GPS-trackers locate us, ...
Streamlined assessment of membrane permeability and its application to membrane engineering of Escherichia coli for octanoic acid tolerance

The economic viability of bio-production processes is often limited by damage to the microbial cell membrane and thus there is a demand for strategies to increase the robustness of the cell membrane. Damage to the microbial membrane is also a common mode of action by antibiotics. Membrane-impermeable DNA-binding dyes are often used to assess membrane integrity in conjunction with flow cytometry. We demonstrate that in situ assessment of the membrane permeability of E. coli to SYTOX Green is consistent with flow cytometry, with the benefit of lower experimental intensity, lower cost, and no need for a priori selection of sampling times. This method is demonstrated by the characterization of four membrane engineering strategies (deletion of aas, deletion of cfa, increased expression of cfa, and deletion of bhsA) for their effect on octanoic acid tolerance, with the finding that deletion of bhsA increased tolerance and substantially decreased membrane leakage.
Principles of Biomedical Ethics: Marking Its Fortieth Anniversary.

We are pleased to join the editors of AJOB in marking the 40th anniversary of our Principles of Biomedical Ethics (PBE). In this editorial, we will reflect back on the book’s original publication, ...
Collectively Intelligent Teams: Integrating Team Cognition, Collective Intelligence, and AI for Future Teaming:

In this paper we propose a new model for teamwork that integrates team cognition, collective intelligence, and artificial intelligence. We do this by first characterizing what sets team cognition a...
Effects of CO 2 and N 2 on Anaerobic Digestion

Various agitation schemes used in digester operation have led to the possibility that carbon dioxide levels may have an effect on digester efficiency. Three digesters were set up in the laboratory,...
Social Reciprocity Facilitated Overseas Exchange in Early Austronesian Cultures

Archaeological investigations reveal voyaging networks involving the exchange of stone artifacts among early Austronesian-speaking communities in Taiwan and surrounding areas. Two case studies of maritime trade are presented: (1) the case of nephrite jade (used for making prestige goods such as lingling-o ear ornaments) which was exchanged from Taiwan to various locations across Southeast Asia around 500 BC to AD 500; and (2) the case of utilitarian tools, made of high quality basalt, that were mass-produced in the Penghu Archipelago (Taiwan Strait) and transported to Taiwan during the Neolithic era. Evidence from historical linguistics and comparative ethnography helps explain the social and economic context in which jade ornaments, basalt tools and other objects changed hands. It is argued that, in the absence of “true money,” which was unknown among early Austronesian communities, social reciprocity played a formal role in facilitating exchange. The manner in which social reciprocity may have facilitated exchange is illustrated by Polynesian gift exchange, a form of reciprocity where the primary value lies in creating and maintaining social bonds rather than in immediate economic gain. Ferdinand Braudel’s “tramping” and destination-conscious commerce models offer a useful framework for interpreting early Austronesian maritime trade.
Detection of Salmonella-specific antibody in swine oral fluids.

Salmonella is a leading cause of bacterial foodborne-related illness and pork products are a food-associated source. With > 50% of U.S. swine herds testing positive for Salmonella, asymptomatic carrier pigs that shed Salmonella in their feces are a food safety and environmental contamination issue. Herd level surveillance of Salmonella shedding status is useful, but collection of feces and culture methods for Salmonella detection are laborious and time-consuming. Surveillance for Salmonella-exposure through detection of Salmonella-specific serum antibody is a reliable method, but presents labor and animal-welfare issues. Oral fluids are a reliable, antemortem sample with proven utility for surveillance in the swine industry. We tested oral fluid samples as a potential non-invasive, repeatable sample type for the presence of Salmonella-specific antibodies. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected anti-Salmonella IgG, IgM, and predominantly IgA in oral fluids from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium-exposed pigs. Furthermore, with minor modifications, a commercial ELISA-based kit also detected Salmonella-specific antibodies in oral fluids. Collectively, oral fluids may serve as a prospective surveillance tool for herd level monitoring of Salmonella exposure.
Spaceflight and simulated microgravity conditions increase virulence of Serratia marcescens in the Drosophila melanogaster infection model

While it has been shown that astronauts suffer immune disorders after spaceflight, the underlying causes are still poorly understood and there are many variables to consider when investigating the immune system in a complex environment. Additionally, there is growing evidence that suggests that not only is the immune system being altered, but the pathogens that infect the host are significantly influenced by spaceflight and ground-based spaceflight conditions. In this study, we demonstrate that Serratia marcescens (strain Db11) was significantly more lethal to Drosophila melanogaster after growth on the International Space Station than ground-based controls, but the increased virulence phenotype of S. marcescens did not persist after the bacterial cultures were passaged on the ground. Increased virulence was also observed in bacteria that were grown in simulated microgravity conditions on the ground using the rotating wall vessel. Increased virulence of the space-flown bacteria was similar in magnitude between wild-type flies and those that were mutants for the well-characterized immune pathways Imd and Toll, suggesting that changes to the host immune system after infection are likely not a major factor contributing towards increased susceptibility of ground-reared flies infected with space-flown bacteria. Characterization of the bacteria shows that at later timepoints spaceflight bacteria grew at a greater rate than ground controls in vitro, and in the host. These results suggest complex physiological changes occurring in pathogenic bacteria in space environments, and there may be novel mechanisms mediating these physiological effects that need to be characterized.
Guidelines for Research in the Education of Partially Seeing Children

Fifteen studies in the area of education of partially seeing children were chosen for investigation. They were examined to discover the nature, significance and implications of research in this are...
Leptin: Less Is More.

The successful use of leptin for the treatment of individuals with lipodystrophy and leptin deficiency is well established. However, pharmacological approaches of leptin therapy for the treatment of diet-induced obesity have been ineffective. There is ample room for a better understanding of the much famed “leptin resistance” phenomenon. Our recent data in this area prompt us to call for a conceptual shift. This shift entails a model in which a reduction of bioactive leptin levels in the context of obesity triggers a high degree of leptin sensitization and improved leptin action, both centrally and peripherally. Put another way, hyperleptinemia per se causes leptin resistance and associated metabolic disorders. In this perspective, we briefly discuss the underlying conceptual steps that led us to explore partial leptin reduction as a viable therapeutic avenue. We hope this discussion will contribute to potential future applications of partial leptin reduction therapy for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Chapter 15 – Discrete Variable Optimum Design Concepts and Methods

Several types of mixed variable optimum design problems (MV-OPT) are defined. Some basic concepts, definitions, and solution concepts related to the mixed discrete and continuous variable optimization problems are presented. Several methods for different classes of problems, such as the branch and bound method, integer programming, sequential linearization methods, simulated annealing (a stochastic method), dynamic rounding-off, and neighborhood search methods, are presented. An adaptive method for discrete variable optimization is also described. Methods for linked discrete variables where specification of value for one variable is linked to several other variables are also presented and illustrated. Characteristics of various discrete variable optimization methods are summarized in a table making it easier to select a method for the given MV-OPT problem.
Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptor Variants Are Associated with Protection from Symptoms Associated with More Severe Course in Parkinson Disease.

Immune dysfunction plays a role in the development of Parkinson disease (PD). NK cells regulate immune functions and are modulated by killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). KIR are expressed on the surface of NK cells and interact with HLA class I ligands on the surface of all nucleated cells. We investigated KIR-allelic polymorphism to interrogate the role of NK cells in PD. We sequenced KIR genes from 1314 PD patients and 1978 controls using next-generation methods and identified KIR genotypes using custom bioinformatics. We examined associations of KIR with PD susceptibility and disease features, including age at disease onset and clinical symptoms. We identified two KIR3DL1 alleles encoding highly expressed inhibitory receptors associated with protection from PD clinical features in the presence of their cognate ligand: KIR3DL1*015/HLA-Bw4 from rigidity (p c = 0.02, odds ratio [OR] = 0.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.69) and KIR3DL1*002/HLA-Bw4i from gait difficulties (p c = 0.05, OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.44-0.88), as well as composite symptoms associated with more severe disease. We also developed a KIR3DL1/HLA interaction strength metric and found that weak KIR3DL1/HLA interactions were associated with rigidity (pc = 0.05, OR = 9.73, 95% CI 2.13-172.5). Highly expressed KIR3DL1 variants protect against more debilitating symptoms of PD, strongly implying a role of NK cells in PD progression and manifestation.
Not Quite White or Black: Biracial Students’ Perceptions of Threat and Belonging Across School Contexts:

Stereotype threat posits that students who are members of negatively stereotyped groups in school should feel more threat and less belonging, especially in schools with large achievement disparitie...
A Data-Driven Graph Generative Model for Temporal Interaction Networks

Deep graph generative models have recently received a surge of attention due to its superiority of modeling realistic graphs in a variety of domains, including biology, chemistry, and social science. Despite the initial success, most, if not all, of the existing works are designed for static networks. Nonetheless, many realistic networks are intrinsically dynamic and presented as a collection of system logs (i.e., timestamped interactions/edges between entities), which pose a new research direction for us: how can we synthesize realistic dynamic networks by directly learning from the system logs? In addition, how can we ensure the generated graphs preserve both the structural and temporal characteristics of the real data? To address these challenges, we propose an end-to-end deep generative framework named TagGen. In particular, we start with a novel sampling strategy for jointly extracting structural and temporal context information from temporal networks. On top of that, TagGen parameterizes a bi-level self-attention mechanism together with a family of local operations to generate temporal random walks. At last, a discriminator gradually selects generated temporal random walks, that are plausible in the input data, and feeds them to an assembling module for generating temporal networks. The experimental results in seven real-world data sets across a variety of metrics demonstrate that (1) TagGen outperforms all baselines in the temporal interaction network generation problem, and (2) TagGen significantly boosts the performance of the prediction models in the tasks of anomaly detection and link prediction.
The Mechanical Response and Tolerance of the Anteriorly-Tilted Human Pelvis Under Vertical Loading

Military vehicle underbody blast (UBB) is the cause of many serious injuries in theatre today; however, the effects of these chaotic events on the human body are not well understood. The purpose of this research was to replicate UBB loading conditions on the human pelvis and investigate the resulting response in a controlled laboratory setting. In addition to better understanding the response of the human pelvis to high rate vertical loading, this test series also aimed to identify high rate injury thresholds. Twenty-seven post mortem human surrogate (PMHS) component pelvis tests were completed using the University of Virginia’s (UVa) simulated blast rig under a range of loading conditions and postures. Of those tests, 17 were in the anteriorly-tilted posture and used to construct the human injury probability curve. Average seat pan (rigid) accelerations for this subset of tests ranged from 300 to 2400 g over 2 to 3 ms of positive phase duration. Post-test computed tomography (CT) scans and necropsies were performed to determine injuries and revealed a frequent occurrence of anterior and posterior injuries, resulting in unstable pelvis ring fractures. The resulting Human Injury Probability Curve (HIPC) yielded mean forces of 5529, 8516, and 12431 N as measured by mass compensated seat platen loadcells applied through the rigid seat to the bilateral ischium are associated with a 10, 25, and 50% risk for unstable pelvic ring sacrum fractures in an anteriorly-tilted pelvis (28° from vertical), respectively.
Role of global economic policy uncertainty on firms participation in innovation and new product introductions: an empirical study in African SMEs

This study investigates the impact of Global Economic Policy Uncertainty (GEPU) on firms’ key marketing strategies namely, innovation as characterised by R&D spending and new product introductions....
Ab initio spillover compensation in mass cytometry data

Signal intensity measured in a mass cytometry (CyTOF) channel can often be affected by the neighboring channels due to technological limitations. Such signal artifacts are known as spillover effects and can substantially limit the accuracy of cell population clustering. Current approaches reduce these effects by using additional beads for normalization purposes known as single-stained controls. While effective in compensating for spillover effects, incorporating single-stained controls can be costly and require customized panel design. This is especially evident when executing large-scale immune profiling studies. We present a novel statistical method, named CytoSpill that independently quantifies and compensates the spillover effects in CyTOF data without requiring the use of single-stained controls. Our method utilizes knowledge-guided modeling and statistical techniques, such as finite mixture modeling and sequential quadratic programming, to achieve optimal error correction. We evaluated our method using five publicly available CyTOF datasets obtained from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), C57BL/6J mouse bone marrow, healthy human bone marrow, chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient, and healthy human cord blood samples. In the PBMCs with known ground truth, our method achieved comparable results to experiments that incorporated single-stained controls. In datasets without ground-truth, our method not only reduced spillover on likely affected markers, but also led to the discovery of potentially novel subpopulations expressing functionally meaningful, cluster-specific markers. CytoSpill (developed in R) will greatly enhance the execution of large-scale cellular profiling of tumor immune microenvironment, development of novel immunotherapy, and the discovery of immune-specific biomarkers. The implementation of our method can be found at https://github.com/KChen-lab/CytoSpill.git.
McIsaac score for group A streptococcal infection: Comparison of electronic visits versus face-to-face visits:

IntroductionAcute sore throat is a common complaint traditionally completed with an in-person visit. However, non-face-to-face telemedicine visits offer greater access at reduced cost. We evaluated...
From Combat to COVID-19 – Managing the Impact of Trauma Using Virtual Reality

Research has documented the efficacy of clinical applications that leverage Virtual Reality (VR) for assessment and treatment purposes across a wide range of domains, including pain, phobias, and p...
“I AM A Child!”: A Girl-Child’s Truth and The Lies of Law Enforcement:

On January 29, 2021, a police officer with the Rochester, New York, Police Department pepper-sprayed a 9-year old Black girl who had been handcuffed and forced into the back of a police car. In the...
Density-aware decentralised multi-agent exploration with energy constraint based on optimal transport theory

This paper addresses a density-aware multi-agent exploration problem based on an Optimal Transport (OT) theory while considering energy constraints of a multi-agent system. The density-aware explor...
Associations between Handgrip Strength and Ultrasound-Measured Muscle Thickness of the Hand and Forearm in Young Men and Women.

It is unknown whether muscle size of intrinsic hand muscles is associated with handgrip strength. To investigate the relationships between handgrip strength and flexor muscle size of the hand and forearm, muscle thickness (MT) of 86 young adults (43 men and 43 women) between the ages of 18 and 34 y was measured by ultrasound. Two MTs (forearm radius and forearm ulna MT) in the anterior forearm, two MTs (lumbrical and dorsal interosseous MT) in the anterior hand and handgrip strength were measured on the right side. Linear regression with part (also referred to as semipartial) correlation coefficients revealed that forearm ulna MT positively correlated with handgrip strength in both men (part = 0.379, p = 0.001) and women (part = 0.268, p = 0.002). Dorsal interosseous MT correlated with handgrip strength in women only (part = 0.289, p = 0.001). Our results suggest that the forearm ulna and dorsal interosseous MTs for women and forearm ulna MTs for men are factors contributing to prediction of handgrip strength in young adults.
Binding of Porphyrins to Rabbit Hemopexin and Albumin

Abstract The binding of porphyrins by two serum proteins, hemopexin and albumin, has been compared using a fluorescence method in order to clarify the biological roles of the proteins in the disposal of these pigments. The affinity of hemopexin for metalloporphyrins increases in the order: nickel-deuteroporphyrin IX l cobalt-deuteroporphyrin IX l iron-deuteroporphyrin IX (deuteroheme) ≃ iron-protoporphyrin IX (heme); and the binding of nickel-deuteroporphyrin IX is approximately equal to that of deuteroporphyrin IX and protoporphyrin IX. The data are consistent with a single binding site on the hemopexin molecule for all porphyrins except cobalt-deuteroporphyrin. The titration behavior of 0.5 µm and 1 µm hemopexin indicates that the dissociation constant (Kd) for the interaction with deuteroheme ≤ 10-8 m. The results of both dialysis equilibrium and fluorescence quenching experiments demonstrate that the Kd for the binding of deuteroporphyrin IX by hemopexin is 1 to 2 µm. Like hemopexin, albumin binds deuteroheme more strongly than protoporphyrin. The avidity of hemopexin for deuteroheme, an analogue whose structure is closely related to heme, is at least 60-fold higher than that of albumin. The affinity of both proteins for protoporphyrin is similar and characterized by a Kd ∼2 µm. Hemopexin can be implicated definitely in the metabolism of heme and possibly also in that of its precursors.
Analysis of the Ros repressor of Agrobacterium virC and virD operons: molecular intercommunication between plasmid and chromosomal genes.

Abstract The virulence genes of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid are regulated both positively and negatively. The products of the genes of the virC and virD operons play an important role in host specificity and T-DNA processing. These operons are transcribed in opposite directions and therefore bear diametrically oriented promoters. These promoters are positively regulated by the VirG protein, which is believed to be activated through phosphorylation by a histidine kinase encoded by the virA gene. The virC and virD operons are also regulated by a 15.5-kDa repressor protein encoded by the ros chromosomal gene. A mutation in ros causes the constitutive expression of virC and virD in the complete absence of the VirG protein. It appears, therefore, that the Ros repressor interacts with the regulatory region of these operons. The Ros repressor is shown here to bind to an upstream sequence (Ros box) comprising 40 bp bearing a 9-bp inverted repeat, TATATTTCA/TGTAATATA, in the promoter region of these operons. The affinity for this sequence is specific and tenacious, since the addition of at least a 20,000-fold excess of competitor DNA failed to remove the Ros protein coding sequence from the Ros box. DNase I footprint analysis showed that the Ros box overlaps the binding site of VirG (Vir box). This result suggests that virC and virD transcription is modulated by Ros and VirG proteins.
The Impact of Childrens' Divorce on Parents: And Some Contributing Factors.

Little has been written to date concerning the impact of an adult child's divorce on his or her parents-their anguish, grief, concern, humiliation or even occasional elation. The senior parent's reactions affect their own life cycle development. And within the context of a cybernetic circular systems model of conceptualization about family relations which we adhere to, it is posited that their reactions impact upon their childrens' (and grandchildrens') post divorce readjustment. This article is written to attempt to begin to address this issue and to fill this gap in the literature. It is primarily on the author's combined clinical observations with hundreds of clients and friends and their experiences living through their childrens' divorces. The next step is process and outcome research about this issue.
Activity-dependent release of endogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor from primary sensory neurons detected by ELISA in situ.

To define activity-dependent release of endogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), we developed an in vitro model using primary sensory neurons and a modified ELISA, termed ELISA in situ . Dissociate cultures of nodose-petrosal ganglion cells from newborn rats were grown in wells precoated with anti-BDNF antibody to capture released BDNF, which was subsequently detected using conventional ELISA. Conventional ELISA alone was unable to detect any increase in BDNF concentration above control values following chronic depolarization with 40 mm KCl for 72 hr. However, ELISA in situ demonstrated a highly significant increase in BDNF release, from 65 pg/ml in control to 228 pg/ml in KCl-treated cultures. The efficacy of the in situ assay appears to be related primarily to rapid capture of released BDNF that prevents BDNF binding to the cultured cells. We therefore used this approach to compare BDNF release from cultures exposed for 30 min to either continuous depolarization with elevated KCl or patterned electrical field stimulation (50 biphasic rectangular pulses of 25 msec, at 20 Hz, every 5 sec). Short-term KCl depolarization was completely ineffective at evoking any detectable release of BDNF, whereas patterned electrical stimulation increased extracellular BDNF levels by 20-fold. In addition, the magnitude of BDNF release was dependent on stimulus pattern, with high-frequency bursts being most effective. These data indicate that the optimal stimulus profile for BDNF release resembles that of other neuroactive peptides. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that BDNF release can encode temporal features of presynaptic neuronal activity.
Towards an operational nowcast/forecast system for the U.S. east coast

Abstract A model system consisting of the Princeton ocean model forced by forecast surface fluxes of momentum and heat from the regional atmospheric Eta model is at the heart of the East Coast Ocean Forecast System. Existing near-real-time data sets, including coastal water level gauge data and satellite-derived sea surface temperature and altimetry data, are being used operationally for model evaluation purposes and ultimately for assimilation into the ocean model. The first twelve months of comparisons between 24-hour forecasted and observed subtidal coastal water levels indicate a meridional average correlation coefficient of 0.65, an rms difference of 10 cm, and shows that the forecasts represent over 60% of the observed subtidal variability. A number of sensitivity experiments are underway and a series of enhancements are soon to be implemented, including modification of the surface heat and momentum fluxes; the inclusion of atmospheric pressure loading, riverine fresh water and surface fresh water (evaporation and precipitation) fluxes, and tidal forcing; and accounting for the effects of thermal expansion and contraction. In order to evaluate and improve the basic ocean model and system, the implementation of data assimilation is currently being withheld, however data assimilation methodologies have been developed and the sea surface temperature and altimeter data currently available in near-real-time will be used for these purposes.
Deploying an Antarctic Interferometer

Because Dome C permits major improvements in interferometer performance [1], several interferometer concepts [2, 3] are being developed for possible deployment at Antarctic Dome C. The deployment model explored here is based on a four step process. (1) Build a modular interferometer packaged in standard shipping containers. (2) Assemble and validate the interferometer in the Northern hemisphere. (3) Ship the interferometer, with no disassembly beyond the container level, to Dome C Antarctica, using the established Concordia station supply traverse system. (4) Connect the containerized modules at Dome C and begin observations. The deployment model assumes the instrument will not be shipped to Antarctica until it can operate in the Northern hemisphere exactly the way it will operate in Antarctica (within the limitations imposed by the test site). Recent atmospheric models [4] show that the excellent atmosphere at Dome C lies above a ∼ 30 m thick, turbulent boundary layer containing strong seeing. In the absence of laser guide stars, interferometer and adaptive optics system sensitivity is limited by the coherence volume, and thus it is necessary to elevate the interferometer primary telescopes above the strong seeing layer.
Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II Contributes to Spinal Cord Central Sensitization

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) is found throughout the CNS. It regulates calcium signaling in synaptic transmission by phosphorylating various proteins, including neuronal membrane receptors and intracellular transcription factors. Inflammation or injuries to peripheral tissues cause long-lasting increases in the responses of central nociceptive neurons to innocuous and noxious stimuli. This change can occur independently of alterations in the responsiveness of primary afferent neurons and has been termed central sensitization. Central sensitization is a form of activity-dependent plasticity and results from interactions in a set of intracellular signaling pathways, which modulate nociceptive transmission. Here we demonstrate an increased expression and phosphorylation of CaMK II in rat spinal dorsal horn neurons after noxious stimulation by intradermal injection of capsaicin. Local administration of a CaMK II inhibitor in the spinal cord significantly inhibits the enhancement of responses of spinal nociceptive neurons and changes in exploratory behavior evoked by capsaicin injection. In addition, spinal CaMK II activity enhances phosphorylation of AMPA receptor GluR1 subunits during central sensitization produced by capsaicin injection. This study reveals that CaMK II contributes to central sensitization in a manner similar to its role in the processes underlying long-term potentiation.
Chapter 5 – Electronic Data Interchange

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses electronic data interchange (EDI) as a growing technology used in the e-commerce environment. In today's competitive business environment, most large companies and government agencies are committed to reducing expenses, increasing efficiency, and improving their business relationships with a limited number of key suppliers. EDI is one of the main technologies that help organizations achieve these goals. It is one of the oldest and most successful technologies used in business-to-business e-commerce. EDI is commonly defined as an application-to-application transfer of business documents between computers using industry-defined standards and is the closest option to processing a paperless business transaction. Many businesses use EDI to substitute their usual method of communication, where paper documents such as purchase orders, invoices, and/or shipping notices are physically carried from department to department, mailed or faxed from one organization to another, or manually reentered into the computer of the recipient. Also, organizations use EDI to electronically communicate, with documents and other types of information transmitted immediately and accurately into a computer-understandable format.
Inter-annual variability and spatial coherence of net primary productivity across a western Oregon Cascades landscape

Abstract Inter-annual variability (IAV) of forest Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is a function of both extrinsic (e.g., climate) and intrinsic (e.g., stand dynamics) drivers. As estimates of NPP in forests are scaled from trees to stands to the landscape, an understanding of the relative effects of these factors on spatial and temporal behavior of NPP is important. Although a high degree of spatial coherence (i.e., the degree of spatial synchrony over time) is often assumed, this inherent behavior is rarely examined. Quantifying this term may improve future predictions as site-level estimates are scaled up spatially. We quantified the spatial coherence of bole biomass production (BBP) within and between trees, and bole-related NPP (NPPB) between sites of varying age, elevation, moisture, and species composition across a forested landscape in the western Cascade Range of Oregon. Within sites, individual trees with lower than average BBP were the most coherent. IAV of BBP increased as average tree BBP increased and spatial coherence was reduced. Among sites, NPPB was the most spatially coherent (r = 0.92) between young sites, while older sites and comparisons between age classes revealed a much larger range in spatial coherence (r = −0.18 to 0.85). Our findings indicate climate variability may be of greater importance for spatial coherence between young sites, and that intrinsic factors could be decreasing spatial coherence between older sites or sites not in close proximity. The wide range in spatial coherence between sites found in this study, coupled with the complex land use history patterns across forested landscapes, has significant implications for modeling and scaling of NPP.
Vertical-cavity surface-emitting semiconductor lasers: present status and future prospects

Dramatic progress in the development of high-quality vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VC-SELs) has been achieved during the last couple of years, with very strong contributions made by U.S. researchers. In particular, new concepts of microlasers and resonant-periodic- gain devices have been proposed and implemented, and devices with strained-quantum-well active regions have been demonstrated. This paper reviews the present status and future prospects for (VC-SELs), with emphasis on recent developments in the U.S.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hunting and human evolution

Recent fossil evidence coupled with new ethnographic data stimulate this reappraisal of the role of hunting in hominid evolution. Figures are assembled on modern primate diets including those of human foragers, which indicate the distinctive importance of hunting in human adaptation. Guided by current theory in evolutionary ecology, a scenario for hominid divergence is developed which is consistent with (a) the latest fossil evidence, (b) data available on the behavior of modern non-human primates, (c) archaeologically detectable traces of hominid behavior, and (d) modern hunter-gatherer ethnography.
Crystal data, molecular dimensions and molecular symmetry in cytochrome oxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome oxidase (nitrite reductase, cytochrome cd) has been crystallized in space group P21212 with cell dimensions a = 122.8 A , b = 87.2 A , c = 73.4 A . Density measurements suggest that the asymmetric unit contains one 63,000 molecular weight subunit of the dimeric molecule. Crystal data agree well with electron microscopy of single molecules. The X-ray pattern extends beyond 2.5 A resolution, and structure analysis is in progress.
A Single Raised Hand: Prospects for Peace in the Sudanese Rivalry

ABSTRACTInterstate rivalry develops as a series of steps, each raising the likelihood that states will use violence to settle disputes. Why rivals are born feuding presents a major gap in our understanding of rivalry. The Sudanese rivalry provides the chance to study rivalry together with state birth. To disentangle issues at stake, the African Union must provide the capacity and security guarantees for rivalry de-escalation. Recent violence in South Sudan is shaped by the rivalry with Sudan, and because we see similar issues throughout Africa, the African Union must learn from the Sudanese rivalry and step in before it and other budding rivalries entrench.