cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Caveolin and β1-integrin coordinate angiotensinogen expression in cardiac myocytes

Abstract Background The cardiac renin–angiotensin system (RAS) has been implicated in mediating myocyte hypertrophy and remodeling, although the biochemical mechanisms responsible for regulating the local RAS are poorly understood. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1)/Cav-3 double-knockout mice display cardiac hypertrophy, and in vitro disruption of lipid rafts/caveolae using methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) abolishes cardiac protection. Methods In this study, neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM) were used to determine whether lipid rafts/caveolae may be involved in the regulation of angiotensinogen (Ao) gene expression, a substrate of the RAS system. Results Treatment with MβCD caused a time-dependent upregulation of Ao gene expression, which was associated with differential regulation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases ERK1/2, p38 and JNK phosphorylation. JNK was highly phosphorylated shortly after MβCD treatment (2–30min), whereas marked activation of ERK1/2 and p38 occurred much later (2–4h). β 1D -Integrin was required for MβCD-induced activation of the MAP kinases. Pharmacologic inhibition of ERK1/2 and JNK enhanced MβCD-induced Ao gene expression, whereas p38 blockade inhibited this response. Adenovirus-mediated expression of wild-type p38α enhanced MβCD-induced Ao gene expression; conversely expression of dominant negative p38α blocked the stimulatory effects of MβCD. Expression of Cav-3 siRNA stimulated Ao gene expression, whereas overexpression of Cav-3 was inhibitory. Cav-1 and Cav-3 expression levels were found to be positively regulated by p38, but unaffected by ERK1/2 and JNK. Conclusion Collectively, these studies indicate that lipid rafts/caveolae couple to Ao gene expression through a mechanism that involves β 1 -integrin and the differential actions of MAP kinase family members.
The Critical Importance of Retrieval for Learning

Learning is often considered complete when a student can produce the correct answer to a question. In our research, students in one condition learned foreign language vocabulary words in the standard paradigm of repeated study-test trials. In three other conditions, once a student had correctly produced the vocabulary item, it was repeatedly studied but dropped from further testing, repeatedly tested but dropped from further study, or dropped from both study and test. Repeated studying after learning had no effect on delayed recall, but repeated testing produced a large positive effect. In addition, students' predictions of their performance were uncorrelated with actual performance. The results demonstrate the critical role of retrieval practice in consolidating learning and show that even university students seem unaware of this fact.
Cellular growth of host and symbiont in a cnidarian-zooxanthellar symbiosis.

The hydroid Myrionema ambionense, a fast- growing cnidarian (doubling time 5 8 days) found in shal- low water on tropical back-reefs, lives in symbiosis with symbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium (here- after also referred to as zooxanthellae). The symbionts live in vacuoles near the base of host digestive cells, whereas unhealthy looking zooxanthellae are generally located closer to the apical end of the host cell. Cytokinesis of zooxanthellae occurred at night, with a peak in number of symbionts with division furrows (mitotic index, MI 5 12%-20%) observed at dawn. The MI of zooxanthellae decreased to near zero by the middle of the afternoon and remained there until the middle of the next night. Densities of live zooxanthellae living inside of host digestive cells peaked following cytokinesis, whereas densities of un- healthy looking symbionts were highest just before the division peak. Mitosis of host digestive cells was highest in the evening, also preceding the peak in zooxanthellar MI. This is the first study relating phased host cell division to diel zooxanthellar division in marine cnidarians. Food vacuoles were prevalent inside of digestive cells of field-collected hydroids within a few hours after sunset and throughout the night, coinciding with digestion of captured demersal plankton. Laboratory experiments showed that food vacuoles appeared in digestive cell cytoplasm within 2 h of feeding with nauplii of Artemia. The number and size of food vacuoles per digestive cell and the percentage of digestive cells with food vacuoles all decreased 5-7 h following feeding in laboratory experiments, and by mid- day in field-collected hydroids. Light and external food supply were important in main- taining phased division of the symbionts, with a lag in response time to both parameters of 11-36 h. Altering light and feeding during the night did not influence the level of the peak MI the next morning, though in one experiment the absence of light slowed final separation of daughter cells at the end of cytokinesis. In another experiment, hydroids starved for 3-7 d and "pulse-fed" Artemia nauplii fo r1ha t the beginning of the dark period showed continued low symbiont division (,5%) after 11 h, whether maintained in constant light or darkness, implying that most algal division is set more than 24 h prior to actual cytokinesis. Transferred to a 14:10 h light:dark cycle for another 24 h (36 h after feeding), the same hydroids exhibited a "normal" peak MI (ca. 15%) at dawn, but zooxanthellae from hydroids kept in constant darkness still showed a low MI. These results show that mitosis of symbiotic dinoflagellates requires three fac- tors: external food; a minimum period of time following feeding (11-36 h), presumably for digestion; and a period of light following feeding, presumably to provide carbon skel- etons necessary for completing cytokinesis.
User friendly digital image processing system for low energy electron diffraction applications

The use of the LEED (low energy electron diffraction) methodology for the study of solid-state surfaces is discussed. An image processing system and associated computerization mechanisms have been devised for conducting LEED research activity. The LEED digital image processing system performs the following functions: set electron energy to the minimum energy; grab an LEED image; save the data onto the hard disk; change the electron energy by the step; take the next snapshot; and repeat the procedure up to the maximum electron energy. This system has been used to get hundreds of LEED images of a GaAs crystal. The authors present the technical, hardware, and software details of the image processing system and discuss the performance factors of the system. >
Stabilization of elastic systems using sampled data feedback

There is substantial interest in use of feedback control techniques to achieve active stabilization of elastic systems. Most previous research has focused on use of analog feedback techniques for achieving such stabilization. Use of sampled data output feed-back to achieve stabilization of an elastic system is examined in this work. The basic formulations are stated in terms of second order vector recursions. The suggested controller form consists of an output estimator and estimated output feedback. Sufficient conditions for closed loop stability are developed. A detailed development is given for the special case of an undamped finite dimensional elastic system. Two cases where the feedback depends only on velocity measurement data and only on displacement measurement data are considered. In each case explicit conditions on the gains are given for which the closed loop is guaranteed to be stable.
Exercise: a behavioral intervention to enhance brain health and plasticity

Extensive research on humans suggests that exercise could have benefits for overall health and cognitive function, particularly in later life. Recent studies using animal models have been directed towards understanding the neurobiological bases of these benefits. It is now clear that voluntary exercise can increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and other growth factors, stimulate neurogenesis, increase resistance to brain insult and improve learning and mental performance. Recently, high-density oligonucleotide microarray analysis has demonstrated that, in addition to increasing levels of BDNF, exercise mobilizes gene expression profiles that would be predicted to benefit brain plasticity processes. Thus, exercise could provide a simple means to maintain brain function and promote brain plasticity.
Electron Transport Across Interfaces in Horizontal Carbon Nanofiber Interconnects

In a carbon nanofiber (CNF) metal contact such as a bridge between two metallic electrodes, passing high current (current stressing) reduces the total resistance of the system (CNF resistance RCNF and contact resistance Rc) by orders of magnitude. The role of current stressing is modeled as a reduction in the interfacial tunneling gap with transport characteristics attributed to tunneling between Au and CNF. The model predicts a reduction in Rc and the nonlinearity in the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics gradually disappears as Rc decreases. These results are consistent with I-V behavior measured experimentally.
On distributed constrained formation control in operator-vehicle adversarial networks

We consider an operator-vehicle network where each vehicle is remotely maneuvered by an operator. The objective of the operators is to steer the vehicles to the desired formation subject to the given state and input constraints. Each operator-vehicle pair is attacked by an adversary who is able to maliciously replay the control commands sent from the operator. To play against attackers, we come up with a novel distributed resilient algorithm based on the receding-horizon control methodology, and show that the algorithm is able to allow vehicles, on the one hand, satisfy state and input constraints, and on the other hand, asymptotically achieve the desired formation despite replay attacks. With slight modifications, our proposed algorithm shows an analogous resilience to denial-of-service attacks.
Reduced brain responses to novel sounds in depression: P3 findings in a novelty oddball task

There have been conflicting findings as to whether the P3 brain potential to targets in oddball tasks is reduced in depressed patients. The P3 to novel distracter stimuli in a three-stimulus oddball task has a more frontocentral topography than P3 to targets and is associated with different cognitive operations and neural generators. The novelty P3 potential was predicted to be reduced in depressed patients. EEG was recorded from 30 scalp electrodes (nose reference) in 20 unmedicated depressed patients and 20 matched healthy controls during a novelty oddball task with three stimuli: infrequent target tones (12%), frequent standard tones (76%) and nontarget novel stimuli, e.g., animal or environment sounds (12%). Novel stimuli evoked a P3 potential with shorter peak latency and more frontocentral topography than the parietal-maximum P3b to target stimuli. The novelty P3 was markedly reduced in depressed patients compared to controls. Although there was a trend for patients to also have smaller parietal P3b to targets, this group difference was not statistically significant. Nor was there a group difference in the earlier N1 or N2 potentials. The novelty P3 reduction in depressed patients is indicative of a deficit in orienting of attention and evaluation of novel environmental sounds.
Measured Changes in Vortex Wakes with Downstream Distance

Data taken in the NASA 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel with 0.03 scale models of two subsonic transports is studied to determine what changes occur with downstream distance in the structure of lift-generated vortex wakes. Since the wind tunnel airstream has a turbulence level of about 0.5%, it is found that the downstream changes do not follow a uniform or steady decay process as predicted for vortices in non-turbulent flow fields. Instead of a montonic decay, the vortices sometimes appear to intensify and sometimes to decay much as might be expected in Sight as the vortex centerlines become sinuous. Tests conducted on the measured vortex structures indicate that some of the profiles exhibit an exponential character similar to Lamb's and Squire's model for turbulent vortices. It was also found that most also indicate a logarithmic character suggested by Hoffman and Joubert. The measured rolling moments on following wings do not appear to decrease or increase consistently over the one mile downstream distance in the wind tunnel.
Transcranial color duplex sonography in childhood and adolescence. Age dependence of flow velocities and waveform parameters.

Transcranial color duplex sonographic examinations in children and adolescents without cerebrovascular disease were evaluated retrospectively. Flow velocities and waveform parameters were determined and their side-to-side differences and age dependence analyzed and, finally, compared with analogous data of a previously described group of healthy adults. With a 2.0-MHz sector transducer of a computed sonographic system, the anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries were examined in 64 children and adolescents between 1.5 and 17.5 years of age. Angle-corrected systolic peak, end-diastolic maximum, time-averaged, and time-averaged maximum velocities, and the resistance, pulsatility, and spectral broadening indexes were determined in all vessels. Mean +/- SD values for time-averaged maximum velocity (and time-averaged velocity) were 92.2 +/- 13.0, 79.9 +/- 17.7, and 63.9 +/- 13.6 (55.3 +/- 11.7, 40.4 +/- 10.4, and 34.2 +/- 9.2) cm/s, respectively, in the middle, anterior, and posterior cerebral arteries in children under 10 years of age; values were 83.2 +/- 11.9, 69.4 +/- 13.8, and 55.6 +/- 10.1 (50.8 +/- 9.0, 39.9 +/- 10.5, and 33.1 +/- 6.3) cm/s, respectively, in children 10 years of age and older. Time-averaged maximum velocity decreased significantly with age in all vessels (P Transcranial color duplex sonography allows angle-corrected measurements of "true" flow velocities in basal cerebral arteries. Additional determination of time-averaged velocity permits more detailed evaluation of flow characteristics for all age groups. The transcranial color duplex technique may provide deeper insights on normal cerebral perfusion and its disorders.
Seven new HLA‐B alleles associated with antigens in the B7 CREG

This paper describes seven novel HLA-B alleles. Five of these new alleles contain polymorphic motifs previously reported in HLA-B alleles, suggesting an origin resultant from a gene conversion mechanism. B*0723 contains a polymorphism previously unreported in class I HLA molecules. B*4105 contains a nucleotide substitution previously unreported in class I HLA molecules, which encodes a protein sequence previously reported only in HLA-C locus alleles.
Lithium and potassium saturation of illite/smectite clays from interlaminated shales and sandstones

Mixed-layer illite/smectite (I/S) clays in lower Eocene sediments of the Texas Gulf Coast de- crease in expandability with depth as found in previous studies of clay diagenesis, but at the same depth the 1/S clays from sand laminae tend to be more expandable than clays from adjacent shales. The I/S clays with greater expandability from sands collapse to phases with very low expandabilities after saturation with K. This non-ideal smectite behavior indicates that many of the expandable layers in I/S clays from sand laminae possess an illite-level negative layer charge on the structure. The Greene-Kelley Li-saturation test of the I/S clays also reveals that a considerable portion of the increased layer charge deficiency is created by tetrahedral substitution. The illitization of individual smectite layers in an I/S clay is envisioned to be a two step process instead of the single step rapid transformation implied in many earlier studies. The first rate-limiting step is the creation of sufficiently large negative layer charge in the lattice, primarily by AI for Si substitution in the tetrahedral sheet. The second rate-limiting step is the supply of K to the high- charged expandable layers. The abundance of high-charged expandable layers in I/S clays from sand lam- inae suggests that the K supply is influenced more by competing ions in the interstitial waters than by the absolute activity of K.
The Embryonic Origins of Left-Right Asymmetry

The bilaterally symmetric body plan of vertebrates features several consistent asymmetries in the placement, structure, and function of organs such as the heart, intestine, and brain. Deviations from the normal pattern result in situs inversus, isomerisms, or heterotaxia (independent randomization), which have significant clinical implications. The invariance of the left-right (LR) asymmetry of normal morphology, neuronal function, and phenotype of several syndromes raises fascinating and fundamental questions in cell, developmental, evolutionary, and neurobiology. While a pathway of asymmetrically expressed signaling factors has been well-characterized in several model systems, very early steps in the establishment of LR asymmetry remain poorly understood. In particular, the origin of consistently oriented asymmetry is unknown. Recently, a candidate for the origins of asymmetry has been suggested: bulk transport of extracellular morphogens by rotating primary cilia during gastrulation. This model is appealing because it 'bootstraps' morphological asymmetry of the embryo from the intrinsic structural (molecular) chirality of motile cilia. However, conceptual and practical problems remain with this hypothesis. Indeed, the genetic data are also consistent with a different mechanism: cytoplasmic transport roles of motor proteins. This review outlines the progress and remaining questions in the field of left-right asymmetry, and focuses on an alternative model for 'Step 1' of asymmetry. More specifically, based on wide-ranging data on ion fluxes and motor protein function in several species, it is suggested that laterality is driven by pH/voltage gradients across the midline, which are established by chiral movement of motor proteins with respect to the cytoskeleton.
Perspective reformulations of mixed integer nonlinear programs with indicator variables

We study mixed integer nonlinear programs (MINLP)s that are driven by a collection of indicator variables where each indicator variable controls a subset of the decision variables. An indicator variable, when it is “turned off”, forces some of the decision variables to assume fixed values, and, when it is “turned on”, forces them to belong to a convex set. Many practical MINLPs contain integer variables of this type. We first study a mixed integer set defined by a single separable quadratic constraint and a collection of variable upper and lower bound constraints, and a convex hull description of this set is derived. We then extend this result to produce an explicit characterization of the convex hull of the union of a point and a bounded convex set defined by analytic functions. Further, we show that for many classes of problems, the convex hull can be expressed via conic quadratic constraints, and thus relaxations can be solved via second-order cone programming. Our work is closely related with the earlier work of Ceria and Soares (Math Program 86:595–614, 1999) as well as recent work by Frangioni and Gentile (Math Program 106:225–236, 2006) and, Akturk et al. (Oper Res Lett 37:187–191, 2009). Finally, we apply our results to develop tight formulations of mixed integer nonlinear programs in which the nonlinear functions are separable and convex and in which indicator variables play an important role. In particular, we present computational results for three applications—quadratic facility location, network design with congestion, and portfolio optimization with buy-in thresholds—that show the power of the reformulation technique.
Depolarizing agent-induced cyclic AMP accumulation in isolated rat spinal cord

Abstract The stimulation of cyclic adenosine 3′, 5′ -monophosphate (cyclic AMP) accumulation by the depolarizing agents K + , ouabain and veratridine, was studied in rat and guinea pig spinal cord tissue slices. Significantly increased accumulation of cyclic AMP was produced by each of the agents in a concentration-dependent manner. Veratridine and ouabain were equipotent (EC 50 = 5 × 10 −5 M) and approximately 500 fold more potent than K + (EC 50 = 10 −2 M). Depolarizing agent-induced cyclic AMP accumulation in slices from guinea pig spinal cord was approximately double the response in rat spinal cord. Maximum stimulation occurred within 2.5 min of incubation with these agents and lasted for at least 30 min. Regional studies demonstrated that the maximal accumulation of cyclic AMP occurred to a greater degree in tissue slices from the dorsal section of spinal cord from both rat and guinea pig. Whereas the ouabain and veratridine stimulatory responses are completely dependent on extracellular Ca ++ , the K + response is only partially dependent. Stimulation due to ouabain and veratridine is dependent, and K + is independent, of release of neurohumoral substances such as norepinephrine or adenosine from spinal neurons. These experiments indicate the possible modulatory role of depolarization-linked events in regulating the spinal cord cyclic AMP system.
Ecological Heterogeneity in the Effects of Grazing and Fire on Grassland Diversity

Grazing and fire and are major forces shaping patterns of native and exotic species diversity in many grasslands, yet both of these disturbances have notoriously variable effects. Few studies have examined how landscape-level heterogeneity in grassland characteristics, such as soil-based variation in biomass and species composition, may contribute to variation in the effects of fire or grazing. We studied the effects of live- stock grazing and fire in a mosaic of serpentine and nonserpentine soils in California, where most grasslands are dominated by exotic annuals and serpentine soil is the major refuge for native grassland species. We pre- dicted that the effects of disturbance would be proportional to productivity and therefore would be greater on nonserpentine than serpentine soils. We measured species composition at 80-100 grazed or ungrazed sites for 2 years before (1998-1999) and 2 years after (2000-2001) an autumn wildfire. Both disturbances in- creased total species richness on both soils. However, fire enhanced total and exotic species richness more on nonserpentine soils and enhanced native species richness more on serpentine soils. Grazing increased native species richness on serpentine soils but not on nonserpentine soils. These soil-disturbance interactions suggest that the use of fire and grazing to manage native species diversity in wildlands must be done with careful at- tention to background ecological heterogeneity.
Automated Tracking of 3-D Overturn Patches in Direct Numerical Simulation of Stratified Homogeneous Turbulence

Direct numerical simulation is a valuable tool for modeling turbulence, but like "wet lab" simulation, it does not solve the problem of how to interpret the data. Manual analysis, accompanied by visual aids, is a time consuming, error prone process due to the elaborate time-dependent structures appearing in simulations. We describe a technique based on volume tracking, that enables the worker to identify and observe evolving coherent flow structures, eliminating uninteresting background data. Using our techniques we were able to investigate 3-D density overturns in stably stratified homogeneous turbulence, understand entangled physical structures and their dynamical behavior. We describe our technique, which improves on past work by incorporating application-specific knowledge into the identification process. Such knowledge was vital in filtering out spurious information that would have interfered with the experimental method. Representative results are shown which summarize the physical insight gained by the application of the above identification/tracking method.
Neighborhood disorder, psychological distress, and heavy drinking

Studies show that residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods drink more heavily than residents of more affluent neighborhoods. However, explanations for this association are not well developed. Using data collected from a sample of low-income women with children from Boston, Chicago, and San Antonio, we explore the possibility that perceptions of neighborhood disorder encourage heavy drinking. Drawing on Conger's (Q. J. Stud. Alcohol 17 (1956) 296) tension reduction hypothesis, we propose that the stress of living in a neighborhood characterized by problems with drugs, crime, teen pregnancy, unemployment, idle youth, abandoned houses, and unresponsive police can be psychologically distressing and lead some people to consume alcohol as a means of palliative escape, to regulate feelings of anxiety and depression. In support of the tension reduction hypothesis, we find that the positive association between neighborhood disorder and heavy drinking is largely mediated by anxiety and depression.
Preliminary Findings for Two New Measures of Social and Role Functioning in the Prodromal Phase of Schizophrenia

Introduction: Research on prediction and prevention of schizophrenia has increasingly focused on prodromal (prepsychosis) social and role dysfunction as developmentally early, stable, and treatment-resistant illness components. In this report, 2 new measures, Global Functioning: Social and Global Functioning: Role, are presented, along with preliminary findings about psychometric properties and course of social and role (academic/work) functioning in the prodromal phase of psychosis. Methods: Subjects included 69 participants from the Recognition and Prevention program and 52 from the Center for the Assessment and Prevention of Prodromal States. Ages ranged from 12 to 29 years, and all met criteria for Attenuated Positive Symptom syndrome. Retrospective (past year) and baseline data are reported for all 121 prodromal subjects and for 44 normal controls (NCs). Prospective follow-up data are reported for a subsample of patients reevaluated at both 6 and 12 months (N = 44). Results: For both scales, inter-rater reliability was high, and preliminary data supported construct validity. Relative to NCs, prodromal individuals displayed impaired social and role functioning at baseline. Analyses of change over time indicated that role functioning declined over the year before ascertainment and improved over 12-month follow-up, presumably with treatment. Social impairment, by contrast, was constant across time and predicted later psychosis (P = .002). Discussion: Using 2 new global measures, social functioning was found to be a stable trait, unchanged by treatment, with considerable potential to be a marker of schizophrenia. Role functioning, by contrast, may be a more direct barometer of clinical change and may be responsive to treatment and environmental change.
Systematic desensitization as a counter-conditioning process.

Systematic desensitization, demonstrated in both clinical and experimental studies to reduce avoidance behavior, entails the contiguous pairing of aversive imaginal stimuli with anxiety-competing relaxation. If, as is widely assumed, the efficacy of the procedure derives from a genuine counterconditioning process, a disruption of the pairing between graded aversive stimuli and relaxation should render the technique ineffective in modifying avoidance behavior. This hypothesis was strongly confirmed: significant reduction in avoidance behavior was observed only in densensitizat ion Ss, with none occurring either in yoked Ss for whom relaxation was paired with irrelevant stimuli or in yoked Ss who were gradually exposed to the imaginal aversive stimuli without relaxation. Other theoretical issues were raised, especially the problem of transfer from imaginal to actual stimulus situations. Recent years have witnessed increasing application of the systematic desensitization procedure, as developed by Wolpe (1958), to the modification of a wide range of neurotic disorders. In this therapeutic method the client is deeply relaxed and then instructed to imagine scenes from a hierarchy of anxietyprovoking stimuli. Initially he is asked to imagine the weakest item in the list and, if relaxation is unimpaired, is gradually presented incremental degrees of aversive stimuli until eventually he is completely desensitized to the most upsetting scene in the anxiety hierarchy.
A low-noise miniaturized patch-clamp amplifier

We present measurement results from a low-noise miniaturized patch-clamp amplifier with electrode compensation. The patch clamp amplifier has less than 4 pA of rms noise at a 10 kHz bandwidth and is capable of accurately measuring nano-Amperes of current. The device measurements shown here show that the integrated amplifier can be used for the design of high-density patch-clamp arrays.
Atmospheric Response to Local Upwelling in the Vicinity of New York–New Jersey Harbor

Abstract Multiply nested urbanized mesoscale model [Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS)] simulations of the New York–New Jersey metropolitan region are conducted for 4–11 July 2004. The simulations differ only in their specification of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) on nest 4 (1.33-km resolution) and nest 5 (0.44-km resolution). The “control SST” simulation (CONTROL-SST) uses an analyzed SST product, whereas the “New York Harbor Observing and Prediction System (NYHOPS) SST” simulation (NYHOPS-SST) uses hourly SSTs from the NYHOPS model hindcast. Upwelling-favorable (southerly) winds preceding the simulation time period and continuing for much of the first 5 days of the simulation generate cold water adjacent to the New Jersey coast and a cold eddy immediately outside of the harbor in the New York Bight. Both features are prominent in NYHOPS-SST but are not pronounced in CONTROL-SST. The upwelled water has a discernible influence on the overlying atmosphere by cooling near-surfac...
Immune Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex chronic disease. Chronic inflammation is the hallmark of COPD, involving the interplay of a wide variety of cells in the lung microenvironment. Cigarette smoke (CS) induces chronic lung inflammation and is considered a key etiological factor in the development and pathogenesis of COPD. Structural and inflammatory cells in the lung respond to CS exposure by releasing proinflammatory mediators that recruit additional inflammatory immune cells, which collectively contribute to the establishment of a chronic inflammatory microenvironment. Chronic inflammation contributes to lung damage, compromises innate and adaptive immune responses, and facilitates the recurrent episodes of respiratory infection that punctuate and further contribute to the pathological manifestations of the stable disease. A number of studies support the conclusion that immune dysfunction leads to exacerbations and disease severity in COPD. Our group has clearly demonstrated that CS exacerbates lung inflammation and compromises immunity to respiratory pathogens in a mouse model of COPD. We have also investigated the phenotype of immune cells in patients with COPD compared with healthy control subjects and found extensive immune dysfunction due to the presence and functional activity of T regulatory cells, CD4(+)PD-1(+) exhausted effector T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Manipulation of these immunosuppressive networks in COPD could provide a rational strategy to restore functional immune responses, reduce exacerbations, and improve lung function. In this review, we discuss the role of immune dysfunction in COPD that may contribute to recurrent respiratory infections and disease severity.
Colloid-Predominant Lesions

The term goiter refers to any enlargement of the thyroid gland. However, most goiters are caused by a nonneoplastic, dynamic process in which there is hyperplasia and regression of the follicular epithelium and accumulation of colloid within the enlarged follicles. Grossly, this can lead to the development of multiple nodules of varying sizes within the gland, termed multinodular goiter. Often the largest or dominant nodule is the target of the fine needle aspiration (FNA). Iodine deficiency is a major cause of multinodular goiter in some countries; however, in geographic areas where dietary iodine is sufficient, the etiology of multinodular goiter is unknown. It may involve abnormalities in thyroid hormone production and variable sensitivity of follicular cells to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). For unclear reasons, multinodular goiters are more common in women and increase with age.
Forensic Interviews for Child Sexual Abuse Allegations: An Investigation into the Effects of Animal-Assisted Intervention on Stress Biomarkers

The use of therapy animals during forensic interviews for child sexual abuse allegations is a recommendation by the Therapy Animals Supporting Kids Program to help ease children's discomfort during the forensic interview process. Based on this recommendation, this study incorporated a certified therapy canine into the forensic interview process for child sexual abuse allegations. This study investigated changes in salivary cortisol, immunoglobulin A, blood pressure, and heart rate as a result of forensic interview phenomenon (e.g., outcry) incorporating animal-assisted intervention versus a control condition in children (N = 42) interviewed for alleged child sexual abuse. The results supported significantly greater heart rate values for the control group (n = 23) who experienced sexual contact and/or indecency than the experience of aggravated sexual assault compared to no difference in HR for the intervention group (n = 19). The results suggest that the presence of the canine in the forensic interview may have acted as a buffer or safeguard for the children when disclosing details of sexual abuse. In the intervention group, children's HR was lower at the start of the forensic interview compared to the control group. Finding an effect of having a certified handler-canine team available during the forensic interview on physiological measures of stress has real-world value for children, child welfare personnel, and clinical therapists. It is suggested that animal-assisted intervention be expanded to children facing other types of trauma and to treatment programs for child survivors of sexual abuse.
Dendritic Cell Molecules Involved in Self Reactive T cell Activation (137.12)

Dendritic cells (DC) initiate and shape an adaptive immune response. DC can be stimulated with B7-DC XAb, a novel immunomodulatory IgM that crosslinks B7-DC/PDL2 on the DC surface. Previously, we have shown that B7-DC XAb treated DC (DCXAb) reprogram Foxp3+ Tregulatory cells into IFNgamma+, IL-17+ effectors. Adoptive transfer of neoself antigen (OVA)-pulsed DCXAb induces destruction of OVA-bearing pancreatic islets and autoimmune diabetes in RIP-OVA mice. We hypothesized that DC-derived molecules involved in Th1 or Th17 polarization would be important in autoreactive T cell activation by DCXAb. In spite of their ability to induce a CTL response against OVA-bearing targets, we found that DCXAb deficient in either Tbet, IFNgamma (Th1 polarizing) or CD40, IL-6 (Th17 polarizing) fail to cause autoimmunity. In conclusion, both Th1 and Th17 polarizing molecules on DC are needed to stimulate an autoimmune response.
Heat and mass transfer in non-Newtonian nanofluids over a non-isothermal stretching wall

A boundary layer analysis has been presented for the heat and mass transfer in non-Newtonian nanofluids over a stretching surface with prescribed wall temperature and surface nanoparticle concentration. A power-law model is used for non-Newtonian fluids whereas Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects are incorporated in the nanofluid model. A similarity transformation is used to reduce mass, momentum, thermal energy, and nanoparticles concentration equations into non-linear ordinary differential equations which are solved numerically by using a finite difference method. Effects of nanofluid parameters, suction/injection and temperature parameters, and generalized Pr and Le numbers on dimensionless functions, skin friction, local Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are shown graphically. The present results of skin friction and heat transfer rates are compared with published results for special cases and are found to be in good agreement.
Nitrogen Doping of ZnO Prepared by Organometallic Chemical Vapor Deposition

ZnO layers were grown by organometallic chemical vapor deposition. Films were deliberately doped with nitrogen by incorporating ammonia into the ambient during growth. The resistivity of the films depended strongly on the ammonia partial pressure. The layers were n-type with resistivities in the range of 0.1 − 360 ohm-cm. The films exhibited strong ultraviolet nearbandedge photoluminescent emission. Emission was ascribed to recombination of bound excitons at neutral acceptors, presumably involving substitutional nitrogen.
Introduction of the Gibbons Ureteral Stent Facilitated by Antecedent Percutaneous Nephrostomy

AbstractPatients in whom retrograde catheterization of the ureters has failed can have the Gibbons catheter placed by a new technique that requires no regional or general anesthesia. This technique entails antecedent percutaneous nephrostomy and passage of an angiographic catheter down the ureter. The catheterizing apparatus is attached to the angiographic catheter and then pulled into position.
Clinical uses of the leukocyte esterase test.

SUMMARY In summary, there are many current and potential uses of the leukocyte esterase dipstick. However, the studies in the literature supporting these uses have several methodologic problems that should make one cautious about relying on the test too heavily. Its use in the symptomatic patient should be secondary to a urinalysis, especially in those who as a group have significant sequelae from urinary tract infections. These include pregnant patients, diabetics, and geriatric patients who may be lacking signs and symptoms of infection. The dipstick is not meant as a replacement for the microscopic examination of the urine sediment; it should be used to direct one to examine urine specimens that would not normally be analyzed microscopically. Further studies controlling for symptoms and gender are needed to make the leukocyte esterase test more useful to the primary care physician.
Staple-Free DNA Self-Assembly

Scaffolded DNA origami uses a single-stranded DNA scaffold that spans all duplexes in a target nanostructure to hybridize with shorter helper staple strands using anti-parallel (DX) crossovers to stabilize the target geometry. While this design approach is powerful for achieving high-yield folding for diverse target structures, it is limited to contain crossovers that are spaced a minimum of ten base pairs apart and requires the use of numerous staple strands that limits both the minimum size of structural motifs and control over single-strand stoichiometry to achieve proper folding. In contrast, parallel (PX) crossovers have been used to achieve higher crossover density with 5-6 base pair spacing, eliminating the need for numerous helper strands and enabling higher rigidity nanostructures. Here, we explore application of a top-down computational approach to generate sequence designs for thermodynamically stable 3D wireframe structures that exhibit kinetically favorable folding properties, verified using experimental characterization.
Language Practices in Regional Settings — The Language Nesting Model

This chapter returns to the conceptual and empirical interventions laid out in Chapter 1 through previously untold stories about the complex cultural, linguistic and political identities of African diaspora communities in regional Australia. The chapter argues that the identity of those with an African background who arrived in Australia as refugees is shaped and mediated by convoluted migration journeys through several countries as asylum seekers, where they may have spent from two to twenty years, before permanent settlement in Australia. The linguistic and cultural experiences gained in transit added to the already dense levels of diversity among African migrants.
AMF components from a microbial inoculum fail to colonize roots and lack soil persistence in an arable maize field

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are root obligate biotrophs that provide the host with nutrients and pathogen protection, in exchange of photosynthetic products. A decline in AMF diversity can reduce the overall benefit for host plants. A sustainable strategy to re-establish AMF diversity is to supply the target soil with AMF inoculants. After inoculation, it is essential to verify whether the inoculants successfully colonize the host plant and persist, and if the resident AMF community is affected. The AMF components of a microbial inoculum (including other saprotrophs) that was applied to maize were identified and traced in field by 454-pyrosequencing of the partial rRNA 18S gene. In addition, mycorrhizal colonization and plant biomass were monitored in inoculated and non-inoculated maize. The inoculated AMF taxa failed to colonize roots and lacked soil persistence. Nevertheless, the inoculation process reduced species dominance and increased diversity in the pre-existing AMF community. No differences were seen between mycorrhizal colonization in treated and control maize. We suggest that the slightly significant increase in treated plant biomass was potentially due to (i) marginally colonizing inoculated AMF that remained unseen and other saprotroph inoculants applied and/or (ii) the effect of inoculation on the pre-existing AMF community in treated maize roots.
Informatics as a Strategic Priority and Collaborative Processes to Build a Smarter, Forward-Looking Health Department

Health information is critical to surveillance and assessment of public health threats, population and disease trends, management of clinical services, completion of immunizations, identification of disease trends, and communication with community partners. This article explores how a medium-sized local health department using best practices in informatics could implement and use informatics to improve the practice of public health.
The battery business: Lithium availability and the growth of the global electric car industry

Abstract This article presents a spatial analysis of lithium availability from the mid-twentieth century to the present time in order to clarify and contribute to the growing body of scholarship on the relationship between the global lithium supply and the viability of a modern, mass-market electric vehicle industry. Drawing on archival research conducted in Bolivia in 2012, this article advances the argument that the concept of ‘lithium scarcity’ is much more nuanced than is often portrayed. In addition, perceptions of a worldwide lithium shortage are more entangled with business demands for certain grades of lithium at certain price points rather than actual scarcity. This analysis of lithium availability is defined in terms of the basic tension between the supply of extractable lithium deposits on the one hand and the quality and price demands of battery manufacturers on the other. This tension has played a role in determining the evolution of the electric car from a luxury to a mass-market product and involves a host of complementary and competitive business and geopolitical actors.
Local anesthesia in endodontics

Complete pulpal anesthesia is critical during endodontic treatment. The clinical goal is for patients to have a pain-free endodontic experience. Despite clinical signs indicating complete local anesthesia, patients may still experience pain. This clinical challenge often requires the use of supplemental injections. This review describes the indications, limitations, and advantages of each type of supplemental injection, thus serving as a useful clinician’s guide to management of the patient with incomplete anesthesia.
Unearthing the Developmental and Intergenerational Dynamics of Stress in Parent and Child Functioning

The current volume represents some of the state-of-the-art research, theory, and practice addressing parenting stress and its connections with children’s development. The three major sections of this book represent work examining: the sociocultural and individual (parent and child) contributors to parenting stress, the consequences of parenting stress for children’s adaptive and maladaptive development and the parenting they exhibit and experience with the next generation; and pathways to coping and management of stress through enhanced self-regulation and utilization of social and personal resources. Together, the theories and empirical research findings that are presented convey the importance of examining individuals and their development within systems in and between families and generations. Increasingly, the means to that end will require collaborative multidisciplinary inquiry that integrates levels of analysis, from molecules to individuals, and families to societies.
The steady aerodynamics of aerofoils with porosity gradients.

This theoretical study determines the aerodynamic loads on an aerofoil with a prescribed porosity distribution in a steady incompressible flow. A Darcy porosity condition on the aerofoil surface furnishes a Fredholm integral equation for the pressure distribution, which is solved exactly and generally as a Riemann–Hilbert problem provided that the porosity distribution is Holder-continuous. The Holder condition includes as a subset any continuously differentiable porosity distributions that may be of practical interest. This formal restriction on the analysis is examined by a class of differentiable porosity distributions that approach a piecewise, discontinuous function in a certain parametric limit. The Holder-continuous solution is verified in this limit against analytical results for partially porous aerofoils in the literature. Finally, a comparison made between the new theoretical predictions and experimental measurements of SD7003 aerofoils presented in the literature. Results from this analysis may be integrated into a theoretical framework to optimize turbulence noise suppression with minimal impact to aerodynamic performance.
Spin-orbit torque based magnetization switching in Pt/Cu/[Co/Ni]5 multilayer structures

Spin-Orbit Torque (SOT) in Heavy Metal/Ferromagnet (HM/FM) structures provides an important tool to control the magnetization of FMs and has been an area of interest for memory and logic implementation. Spin transfer torque on the FM in such structures is attributed to two sources: (1) the Spin Hall effect in the HM and (2) the Rashba-effect at the HM/FM interface. In this work, we study the SOT in a Pt/[Co,Ni] structure and compare its strength with the SOT in a Pt/Cu/[Co,Ni] structure where copper, a metal with a low spin-orbit interaction, is inserted between the Pt (HM) layer and the [Co,Ni] (FM) layer. We use an AC harmonic measurement technique to measure the strength of the SOT on the magnetic thin-film layer. Our measurements show that a significant SOT is exerted on the magnetization even after a 6 nm thick copper layer is inserted between the HM and the FM. Also, we find that this torque can be used to switch a patterned magnetic layer in the presence of an external magnetic field.