cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Brans-Dicke Theory and Its Experimental Tests

Carl Brans submitted his doctoral dissertation to the Princeton committee in May of 1961. By November, the Brans-Dicke theory was disseminated widely with the publication of a 10-page paper in Physical Review. An extension of Einstein’s general relativity, it generated great interest and was the subject of enormous effort to test its implications experimentally. We examine the history and impact of the experimental tests of this theory.
A method for solving the algebraic Riccati and Lyapunov equations using higher order matrix sign function algorithms

Higher order iterations for computing the matrix sign function of complex matrices are developed in this paper. The technique of generating higher order fixed point function produces the Newton and Halley methods as special cases for solving the equations S/sup 2/=I, and such that SA=AS has all its eigenvalues in the right halfplane. The matrix sign function is used to compute the positive semidefinite solution of the algebraic Riccati and Lyapunov matrix equations. The performance of these methods is demonstrated by several examples.
Repetition and Prominence: The Probabilistic Structure of Melodic and Non-Melodic Lines

This study examines the difference between prominent and non-prominent lines (e.g., melodies and accompaniments). After reviewing research suggesting that lines with few repeating patterns would readily capture attention, the hypothesis that prominent lines tend to be less repetitive is tested. Various probabilistic models are used to quantify the repetitiveness of lines from three musical corpora—two containing Classical string quartets, one including songs by the Beatles. The results suggest that notes from prominent lines tend to have lower probability. This trend, along with others found in the corpora, is consistent with the hypothesis that prominent lines are generally less repetitive.
Channel Gain Cartography for Cognitive Radios Leveraging Low Rank and Sparsity

Channel gain cartography aims at inferring the channel gains between two arbitrary points in space based on the measurements (samples) of the gains collected by a set of radios deployed in the area. Channel gain maps are useful for various sensing and resource allocation tasks essential for the operation of cognitive radio networks. In this paper, the channel gains are modeled as the tomographic accumulations of an underlying spatial loss field (SLF), which captures the attenuation in the signal strength due to the obstacles in the propagation path. In order to estimate the map accurately with a relatively small number of measurements, the SLF is postulated to have a low-rank structure possibly with sparse deviations. Efficient batch and online algorithms are derived for the resulting map reconstruction problem. Comprehensive tests with both synthetic and real data sets corroborate that the algorithms can accurately reveal the structure of the propagation medium, and produce the desired channel gain maps.
Single-Particle Detection of Transcription following Rotavirus Entry

Infectious rotavirus particles are triple-layered, icosahedral assemblies. The outer layer proteins, VP4 (cleaved to VP8* and VP5*) and VP7, surround a transcriptionally competent, double-layer particle (DLP), which they deliver into the cytosol. During entry of rhesus rotavirus, VP8* interacts with cell surface gangliosides, allowing engulfment into a membrane vesicle by a clathrin-independent process. Escape into the cytosol and outer-layer shedding depend on interaction of a hydrophobic surface on VP5* with the membrane bilayer and on a large-scale conformational change. We report here experiments that detect the fate of released DLPs and their efficiency in initiating RNA synthesis. By replacing the outer layer with fluorescently tagged, recombinant proteins and also tagging the DLP, we distinguished particles that have lost their outer layer and entered the cytosol (uncoated) from those still within membrane vesicles. We used fluorescent in situ hybridization with probes for nascent transcripts to determine how soon after uncoating transcription began and what fraction of the uncoated particles were active in initiating RNA synthesis. We detected RNA synthesis by uncoated particles as early as 15 min after adding virus. The uncoating efficiency was 20 to 50%; of the uncoated particles, about 10 to 15% synthesized detectable RNA. In the format of our experiments, about 10% of the added particles attached to the cell surface, giving an overall ratio of added particles to RNA-synthesizing particles of between 250:1 and 500:1, in good agreement with the ratio of particles to focus-forming units determined by infectivity assays. Thus, RNA synthesis by even a single, uncoated particle can initiate infection in a cell.IMPORTANCE The pathways by which a virus enters a cell transform its packaged genome into an active one. Contemporary fluorescence microscopy can detect individual virus particles as they enter cells, allowing us to map their multistep entry pathways. Rotaviruses, like most viruses that lack membranes of their own, disrupt or perforate the intracellular, membrane-enclosed compartment into which they become engulfed following attachment to a cell surface, in order to gain access to the cell interior. The properties of rotavirus particles make it possible to determine molecular mechanisms for these entry steps. In the work described here, we have asked the following question: what fraction of the rotavirus particles that penetrate into the cell make new viral RNA? We find that of the cell-attached particles, between 20 and 50% ultimately penetrate, and of these, about 10% make RNA. RNA synthesis by even a single virus particle can initiate a productive infection.
Mechanism of gasdermin D recognition by inflammatory caspases and their inhibition by a gasdermin D-derived peptide inhibitor.

The inflammasomes are signaling platforms that promote the activation of inflammatory caspases such as caspases-1, -4, -5, and -11. Recent studies identified gasdermin D (GSDMD) as an effector for pyroptosis downstream of the inflammasome signaling pathways. Cleavage of GSDMD by inflammatory caspases allows its N-terminal domain to associate with membrane lipids and form pores that induce pyroptotic cell death. Despite the important role of GSDMD in pyroptosis, the molecular mechanisms of GSDMD recognition and cleavage by inflammatory caspases that trigger pyroptosis are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the catalytic domains of inflammatory caspases can directly bind to both the full-length GSDMD and its cleavage site peptide, FLTD. A GSDMD-derived inhibitor, N-acetyl-Phe-Leu-Thr-Asp-chloromethylketone (Ac-FLTD-CMK), inhibits GSDMD cleavage by caspases-1, -4, -5, and -11 in vitro, suppresses pyroptosis downstream of both canonical and noncanonical inflammasomes, as well as reduces IL-1β release following activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. By contrast, the inhibitor does not target caspase-3 or apoptotic cell death, suggesting that Ac-FLTD-CMK is a specific inhibitor for inflammatory caspases. Crystal structure of caspase-1 in complex with Ac-FLTD-CMK reveals extensive enzyme–inhibitor interactions involving both hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic contacts. Comparison with other caspase-1 structures demonstrates drastic conformational changes at the four active-site loops that assemble the catalytic groove. The present study not only contributes to our understanding of GSDMD recognition by inflammatory caspases but also reports a specific inhibitor for these caspases that can serve as a tool for investigating inflammasome signaling.
Laboratory and at-sea experiments using a vertical synthetic array technique to measure the sound waves propagating above and below fluid-saturated sediment interfaces

A series of measurements in the NRL shallow water laboratory were designed and conducted to measure the sound waves propagating in an un-consolidated fluid-saturated porous medium. The novel design used a pair of small receivers, one buried in the bottom and one mounted in the water column to a linear vertical positioner. The buried receiver was carefully inserted into the sandy bottom using a small water-jet, engineered to have no entrained air, to minimally disturb the bottom. The receiver pair were incrementally pulled up through the bottom or water column to map out the sound propagating from a source mounted in the water column. The position of the source was varied to measure above critical angle and below critical angle sound penetration into the bottom. Measurements of carefully smoothed and roughened interfaces were also conducted. This synthetic vertical array technique proved very successful in the laboratory and was transitioned to at-sea measurements in a variety of sandy bottom locations around Panama City, FL. The analysis and modeling of these laboratory and at-sea experiments will be discussed.A series of measurements in the NRL shallow water laboratory were designed and conducted to measure the sound waves propagating in an un-consolidated fluid-saturated porous medium. The novel design used a pair of small receivers, one buried in the bottom and one mounted in the water column to a linear vertical positioner. The buried receiver was carefully inserted into the sandy bottom using a small water-jet, engineered to have no entrained air, to minimally disturb the bottom. The receiver pair were incrementally pulled up through the bottom or water column to map out the sound propagating from a source mounted in the water column. The position of the source was varied to measure above critical angle and below critical angle sound penetration into the bottom. Measurements of carefully smoothed and roughened interfaces were also conducted. This synthetic vertical array technique proved very successful in the laboratory and was transitioned to at-sea measurements in a variety of sandy bottom locations aro...
Creating Educational Destruction: A Critical Exploration of Central Neoliberal Concepts and Their Transformative Effects on Public Education

Individualism and competition are central neoliberal concepts that have profoundly altered the U.S. public education system. This article draws on poststructuralist theory and advances the ...
New York City Panel on Climate Change 2019 Report Chapter 4: Coastal Flooding

Coastal flooding from storm surge is one of the most dangerous and damaging natural hazards that societies face. It was responsible for half of all hurricane related mortalities in the United States from 1963 to 2012, far more than any other factor. Coastal extreme water levels are increasing globally, mainly driven by rises in mean sea level. Sea level rise is also causing rapid increases in the annual number of shallow “nuisance floods” for low-lying neighborhoods. The objectives of this chapter are to review the latest knowledge on New York City flood risk from storms and tides, and to evaluate how climate change will affect this risk between now and the end of the century. Methods used by NPCC (2015) for assessing storm-driven extreme floods are generally repeated here, including the use of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, 2013) baseline flood hazards (e.g., the 100-year flood(sup a)) and the methods for adding sea level rise and mapping the resulting hazard. New advancements include an innovative analysis of monthly tidal flooding based on a dynamic model, a broadened set of sea level rise scenarios supplemented with the Antarctic Rapid Ice Melt (ARIM) scenario (see Chapter 3), and sensitivity analyses that show how differing methods would affect our results. Wind is a primary factor for coastal storm surge, and a brief review is given in Appendix 4.A, with the latest scientific knowledge on what drives extreme wind events in the New York City area and how they may change in the future.
Increased platelet activation in sleep apnea subjects with intermittent hypoxemia

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with increased risk for stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Since activated platelets play an important role in cardiovascular disease, the objective of this study was to determine whether platelet reactivity was altered in OSA subjects with intermittent nocturnal hypoxemia. Thirty-one subjects, without hypertension or cardiovascular disease and not taking medication, participated in the study. Subjects were stratified based on OSA-related oxygen desaturation index (ODI) recorded during overnight polysomnography. Platelet reactivity to a broad panel of agonists (collagen, thrombin, protease-activated receptor1 hexapeptide, epinephrine, ADP) was measured by monitoring platelet aggregation and ATP secretion. Expression of platelet activation markers CD154 (CD40L) and CD62P (P-selectin) and platelet-monocyte aggregates (PMA) was quantified by flow cytometry. Epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation was substantially decreased in OSA subjects with significant intermittent hypoxemia (ODI ≥ 15) compared with subjects with milder hypoxemia levels (ODI < 15) (area under curve, p = 0.01). In addition, OSA subjects with ODI ≥ 15 exhibited decreased thrombin-induced platelet aggregation (p = 0.02) and CD40L platelet surface expression (p = 0.05). Platelet responses to the other agonists, CD62P platelet surface expression, and PMA levels were not significantly different between groups. Reduction in platelet responses to epinephrine and thrombin, and decreased CD40L surface marker expression in significant hypoxemic OSA individuals, is consistent with their platelets being in an activated state. Increased platelet activation was present in otherwise healthy subjects with intermittent nocturnal hypoxemia due to underlying OSA. This prothrombotic milieu in the vasculature is likely a key contributing factor toward development of thrombosis and cardiovascular disease. NCT00859950
Targeting EGFR Overexpression at the Surface of Colorectal Cancer Cells by Exploiting Amidated BODIPY-Peptide Conjugates.

Three BODIPY-peptide conjugates designed to target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) at the extracellular domain were synthesized, and their specificity for binding to EGFR was investigated. Peptide sequences containing seven amino acids, GLARLLT (2) and KLARLLT (4), and 13 amino acids, GYHWYGYTPQNVI (3), were conjugated to carboxyl BODIPY dye (1) by amide bond formation in up to 73% yields. The BODIPY-peptide conjugates and their "parent" peptides were determined to bind to EGFR experimentally using SPR analysis and were further investigated using computational methods (AutoDock). Results of SPR, competitive binding and docking studies propose that conjugate 6 including the GYHWYGYTPQNVI sequence binds to EGFR more effectively than conjugates 5 and 7, bearing the smaller peptide sequences. Findings in human carcinoma HEp2 cells overexpressing EGFR showed nontoxic behavior in the presence of activated light (1.5 J cm-2 ) and in the absence of light for all BODIPYs. Furthermore, conjugate 6 showed about five-fold higher accumulation within HEp2 cells compared with conjugates 5 and 7, localizing preferentially in the cell ER and lysosomes. Our findings suggest that BODIPY-peptide conjugate 6 is a promising contrast agent for detection of colorectal cancer and potentially other EGFR-overexpressing cancers.
Conditions for Improving the Computational Efficiency of Decentralized Optimal Merging Controllers for Connected and Automated Vehicles

A solution to a decentralized optimal merging problem for Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) was provided in earlier work. When no safety and state/control constraints are active, optimal trajectories are simple to implement on line, whereas trajectories with constrained arcs become computationally expensive to derive. In this paper, we prove simple-to-check conditions on whether the speed-dependent safety constraint for each CAV remains inactive, which are stronger than former results. We also derive conditions on whether speed constraints remain inactive. This significantly simplifies the online determination of an explicit decentralized solution for each CAV. These simple-to-check conditions also allow us to easily create a Feasiblity Enforcement Zone (FEZ) such that both the safety and speed constraints are not active in the control zone. Simulation examples are included to demonstrate that a large fraction of CAVs satisfy these conditions under common traffic rates, hence improving computational efficiency.
15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 upregulates heme oxygenase-1 through activation of Akt and NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in human breast cancer cells

5726 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), an endogenous ligand for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, has been shown to induce apoptosis in various types of cells. However, this cyclopentenone prostaglandin, characterized by the presence of a highly reactive α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group, also exerts cytoprotective effects. In the present work, we found that treatment of human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells with 15d-PGJ2 led to concentration- and time-dependent increases in the expression and activity of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a ubiquitous stress-responsive enzyme. Elevated expression or activity of HO-1 has been reported to stimulate proliferation and to accelerate angiogenesis in several tumor cells. 15d-PGJ2 at 30 μM induced phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2 in 6 h and 12 h, respectively. Up-regulation of HO-1 by 15d-PGJ2 was abolished by pretreatment with the phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002, but not with the MEK inhibitor U0126. To confirm whether the HO-1 expression is mediated by Akt that is downstream of PI3K, we transfected MCF-7 cells with full length Akt or Kinase-Dead Akt (KD-Akt) vector. KD-Akt transfection abolished HO-1 expression as well as HO-1 activity. These results suggest that induction of HO-1 expression can be regulated via the PI3K-Akt pathway. Nrf2, a basic-leucine zipper transcription factor, has been reported to positively regulate the antioxidant response element (ARE)-mediated expression of various phase-2 detoxifying or antioxidant enzymes including HO-1. 15d-PGJ2 induced increased nuclear translocation as well as expression of Nrf2, leading to elevated Nrf2-ARE binding. The promoter activity assessed by using the luciferase reporter construct harbouring ARE consensus sequences was increased by 15d-PGJ2 in transiently transfected MCF-7 cells. Mutation of the GC box in the ARE core sequence obliterated the 15d-PGJ2-induced transcriptional activity of Nrf2. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with LY294002 or transient transfection with KD-Akt abrogated 15d-PGJ2-induced Nrf2 activation and ARE binding activity. MCF-7 cells transfected with dominant negative Nrf2 were less responsive to 15d-PGJ2-induced expression and activity of HO-1. 9,10-Dihydro-15d-PGJ2, a 15d-PGJ2 analog lacking the reactive α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group, failed to induce HO-1 expression as well as Nrf2 activation and Akt phosphorylation. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that covalent interaction of an electophilic carbon center of 15d-PGJ2 with a signaling molecule upstream of Akt facilitates activation of Akt and subsequently Nrf2. PTEN, a negative regulator of the PI3K-Akt signaling, was down-regulated by 15d-PGJ2, lending support to this supposition. The possible inactivation of PTEN through covalent modification of its cysteine thiol by 15d-PGJ2 is under investigation.
Strapped Cu interconnect for enhancing electromigration limit for power device application

Current can cause electromigration (EM) damage in power device interconnects, thus the current density should be properly controlled. Lowering the current density requires placing and routing wide interconnects, increasing the die size. Therefore, enhanced EM entitlement would help to reduce the die size. Towards this goal, we have investigated the impact of strapped Cu interconnects on EM performance. The experiments show that the strapped layer can have $\sim 5\mathrm{X}$ EM lifetime than the separated layers when the strapping VIA distance is comparable to or shorter than the Blech length. The strapping metal layer not only provides shunting benefit but also improves the layer’s diffusion property. The strapping technique is simple and does not request special process changes, and provides enhanced current carrying capability needed for the advanced power devices with low on-resistance.
Chronic Neuropathic Pain Following Hand Burns: Etiology, Treatment, and Long-Term Outcomes.

Purpose Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) after burn injury to the hand/upper extremity is relatively common, but not well described in the literature. This study characterizes patients with CNP after hand/upper extremity burns to help guide risk stratification and treatment strategies. We hypothesize that multiple risk factors contribute to the development of CNP and refractory responses to treatment. Methods Patients older than 15 years admitted to the burn center after hand/upper extremity burns, from January 1, 2014, through January 1, 2019, were included. Chronic neuropathic pain was defined as self-described pain for longer than 6 months after burn injury, not including pain due to preexisting illness/medications. Two analyses were undertaken: (1) determining risk factors for developing CNP among patients with hand/upper extremity burns, and (2) determining risk factors for developing refractory pain (ie, nonresponsive to treatment) among hand/upper extremity burn patients with CNP. Results Of the 914 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 55 (6%) developed CNP after hand/upper extremity burns. Twenty-nine of these patients (53%) had refractory CNP. Significant risk factors for developing CNP after hand/upper extremity burns included history of substance abuse and tobacco use. Among CNP patients, significant risk factors for developing refractory pain included symptoms of burning sensations. In all CNP patients, gabapentin and ascorbic acid were associated with significant decreases in pain scores on follow-up. Conclusions Substance abuse and tobacco use may contribute to the development of CNP after hand/upper extremity burns. Those who developed refractory CNP were more likely to use the pain descriptor, burning sensations. Pharmacological pain management with gabapentin or pregabalin and ascorbic acid may provide the most relief of CNP symptoms. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Accountability compliance, and student learning as competing rationales for assessment: a case study of us tuning in practice

Despite the long presence of assessment and quality assurance in US higher education, questions and concerns about higher education quality in this higher education system have been salient for the last several decades. Compliance and student learning are two frequently competing rationales for the implementation of assessment practices. This article explores assessment processes in three public universities in the United States to illustrate common challenges harmonizing these two rationales. The analysis compared institutions along four dimensions: (a) accountability, (b) educational mission, (c) assessment framework, and (d) student learning outcomes. Based on the present analysis, we argue that assessment for accreditation compliance and assessment for student learning are in fact different processes, based on the way they are implemented in US institutions. As a result, we claim that assessment for accreditation compliance is insufficient for improving higher education quality when student learning is taken into consideration. By studying the application of tuning in the United States, this paper also contributes to cross-national analyses and the comparative literature in higher education.
Application of unruptured aneurysm scoring systems to a cohort of ruptured aneurysms: are we underestimating rupture risk?

The predictive values of current risk stratification scales such as the Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm Treatment Score (UIATS) and the PHASES score are debatable. We evaluated these scores using a cohort of ruptured intracranial aneurysms to simulate their management recommendations had the exact same patients presented prior to rupture. A prospectively maintained database of ruptured saccular aneurysm patients presenting to our institution was used. The PHASES score was calculated for 992 consecutive patients presenting between January 2002 and December 2018, and the UIATS was calculated for 266 consecutive patients presenting between January 2013 and December 2018. A shorter period was selected for the UIATS cohort given the larger number of variables required for calculation. Clinical outcomes were compared between UIATS-recommended "observation" aneurysms and all other aneurysms. Out of 992 ruptured aneurysms, 54% had a low PHASES score (≤5). Out of the 266 ruptured aneurysms, UIATS recommendations were as follows: 68 (26%) "observation," 97 (36%) "treatment," and 101 (38%) "non-definitive." The UIATS conservative group of patients developed more SAH-related complications (78% vs. 65%, p=0.043), had a higher rate of non-home discharge (74% vs. 46%, p 2) after 12-18 months (68% vs. 51%, p=0.014). Current predictive scoring systems for unruptured aneurysms may underestimate future rupture risk and lead to more conservative management strategies in some patients. Patients that would have been recommended for conservative therapy were more likely to have a worse outcome after rupture.
Titratable Acidity, Perceived Sourness, and Liking of Acidity in Drip Brewed Coffee

Acidity is a highly prized attribute in coffee, but there is little understanding of the brewing conditions under which acidity contributes favorable sensory attributes versus unfavorable sourness....
Immunosuppressed Miniswine as a Model for Testing Cell Therapy Success: Experience With Implants of Human Salivary Stem/Progenitor Cell Constructs.

An urgent need exists to develop large animal models for preclinical testing of new cell therapies designed to replace lost or damaged tissues. Patients receiving irradiation for treatment of head and neck cancers frequently develop xerostomia/dry mouth, a condition that could one day be treated by cell therapy to repopulate functional saliva-producing cells. Using immunosuppression protocols developed for patients receiving whole face transplants, we successfully used immunosuppressed miniswine as a suitable host animal to evaluate the long-term stability, biocompatibility, and fate of matrix-modified hyaluronate (HA) hydrogel/bioscaffold materials containing encapsulated salivary human stem/progenitor cells (hS/PCs). An initial biocompatibility test was conducted in parotids of untreated miniswine. Subsequent experiments using hS/PC-laden hydrogels were performed in animals, beginning an immunosuppression regimen on the day of surgery. Implant sites included the kidney capsule for viability testing and the parotid gland for biointegration time periods up to eight weeks. No transplant rejection was seen in any animal assessed by analysis of the tissues near the site of the implants. First-generation implants containing only cells in hydrogel proved difficult to handle in the surgical suite and were modified to adhere to a porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) membrane for improved handling and could be delivered through the da Vinci surgical system. Several different surgical techniques were assessed using the second-generation 3D-salivary tissue (3D-ST) for ease and stability both on the kidney capsule and in the capsule-less parotid gland. For the kidney, sliding the implant under the capsule membrane and quick stitching proved superior to other methods. For the parotid gland, creation of a tissue "pocket" for placement and immediate multilayer tissue closure were well tolerated with minimal tissue damage. Surgical clips were placed as fiduciary markers for tissue harvest. Some implant experiments were conducted with miniswine 90 days post-irradiation when salivation decreased significantly. Sufficient parotid tissue remained to allow implant placement, and animals tolerated immunosuppression. In all experiments, viability of implanted hS/PCs was high with clear signs of both vascular and nervous system integration in the parotid implants. We thus conclude that the immunosuppressed miniswine is a high-value emerging model for testing human implants prior to first-in-human trials.
Evidence for a uniformly small isotope effect of nitrogen leaching loss: results from disturbed ecosystems in seasonally dry climates

Nitrogen (N) losses constrain rates of plant carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake and storage in many ecosystems globally. N isotope models have been used to infer that ~30 % of terrestrial N losses occur via microbial denitrification; however, this approach assumes a small isotope effect associated with N leaching losses. Past work across tropical/sub-tropical forest sites has confirmed this expectation; however, the stable N isotope ratio (δ15N) of ecosystem leaching has yet to be systematically evaluated in seasonally dry climates or across major ecosystem disturbances. We here present new measurements of the δ15N of total dissolved N (TDN) in small streams, bulk deposition, and soil pools across eight watershed sites in California, including grassland, chaparral, and coastal redwood forest ecosystems, with and without fire, grazing, and forest harvesting. Regardless of the dominant vegetation type or disturbance regime, average δ15N of TDN in stream water differed only slightly (<~1 ‰) from that of bulk soil δ15N, revealing a uniformly small isotope effect associated with N leaching losses even under non-steady state conditions. Rather, lower input δ15N compared to TDN δ15N in streams pointed to fractionations via gaseous loss pathways as the dominant mechanism behind soil δ15N enrichment. We conclude that N leaching does not impart a major isotope effect across a broad range of ecosystems and conditions examined, thereby advancing the N gas-loss hypothesis as the principal explanation for variation in bulk soil δ15N.
The Assembly Line

In the previous chapter we frequently used stocks to represent state variables. The corresponding STELLA II symbol is the Reservoir with inflow and outflow at each DT. In reality, many stocks, however, receive inflows and result in outflows only at particular periods of time, depending on a “schedule” that underlies the processes of the respective system. The scheduling of inflows into, and outflows from, stocks can be easily modeled by using the other versions of stocks offered in STELLA II: Conveyor, Queue, and Oven.
Kolorektale Adenome: Pro konventionelle/laparoskopische Resektion

The knowledge that due to the adenoma-cancer sequence polyps will develop sooner or later into invasive cancer demands the complete removal of colorectal polyps. The majority of polyps can be endoscopically removed. The indications for surgical removal of polyps are a previous incomplete endoscopic resection, location not amenable to endoscopic removal and lesions which are macroscopically highly suspicious for malignancy and cannot be detached by submucosal saline injection. If a surgical approach is indicated minimally invasive surgery in the hands of an experienced laparoscopic surgeon is a suitable option. Adenomas suspicious for malignancy in the lower two thirds of the rectum should not be treated by time-consuming endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and can be quickly and safely removed transanally, conventionally or by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) by a full thickness en bloc resection. This allows the pathologist to determine the depth of invasion and the completeness of resection in terms of the circumferential margin and a definitive radical surgical approach is only necessary in high risk situations.
Production of beauvericin by a strain of Fusarium proliferatum isolated from corn fodder for swine

Beauvericin, a cyclodepsipeptide, was produced by cultures of three strains of Fusarium proliferatum, M-5991, M-6992, and M-6993, grown on cracked corn. M-5991 produced approximately 1,000-mg/kg levels of fumonisins, moniliformin, and beauvericin.
Metabolic control of systemic lupus erythematosus: convergence of genetic and environmental factors on mitochondrial dysfunction and mTOR reveal treatment targets in lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by the dysfunction of T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells, the release of proinflammatory nuclear materials from necrotic cells and the formation of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and immune complexes of ANA with DNA, RNA, and nuclear proteins [1]. Oxidative stress and inflammation lead to parenchymal and vascular tissue damage, the latter resulting in accelerated atherosclerosis that is a major cause of mortality in SLE. Activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has recently emerged as a key factor in abnormal activation of T cells and B cells in SLE [2]. In T cells, increased production of nitric oxide and mitochondrial hyperpolarization (MHP) were identified as metabolic checkpoints upstream of mTOR activation. mTOR controls the expression T-cell receptor-associated signaling proteins CD4 and CD3ζ through increased expression of the endosome recycling regulator Rab5 and HRES-1/Rab4 genes [3], enhances Ca2+ fluxing and skews the expression of tyrosine kinases both in T cells and B cells, and blocks the expression of Foxp3 and the generation of regulatory T cells [4]. MHP, increased activity of mTOR, Rab GTPases, and Syk kinases, and enhanced Ca2+ flux have emerged as common T-cell and B-cell biomarkers and targets for treatment in SLE [5]. While inactivation and depletion of B cells have shown success in both animal models and patients, blockade of oxidative stress [6], mTOR [7], tyrosine kinases and T-cell-B-cell interaction are also being evaluated as targets for treatment in SLE.
Deficient Rab11 activity underlies glucose hypometabolism in primary neurons of Huntington’s disease mice

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Primary Huntington's disease neurons are impaired in taking up glucose. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Rab11 modulates glucose uptake in neurons. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Increasing Rab11 activity attenuates the glucose uptake defect in disease neurons. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We provide a novel mechanism for glucose hypometabolism in Huntington's disease. -- Abstract: Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. Positron emission tomography studies have revealed a decline in glucose metabolism in the brain of patients with HD by a mechanism that has not been established. We examined glucose utilization in embryonic primary cortical neurons of wild-type (WT) and HD knock-in mice, which have 140 CAG repeats inserted in the endogenous mouse huntingtin gene (HD{sup 140Q/140Q}). Primary HD{sup 140Q/140Q} cortical neurons took up significantly less glucose than did WT neurons. Expression of permanently inactive and permanently active forms of Rab11 correspondingly altered glucose uptake in WT neurons, suggesting that normal activity of Rab11 is needed for neuronal uptake of glucose. It is known that Rab11 activity is diminished in HD{sup 140Q/140Q} neurons. Expression of dominant active Rab11 to enhance the activity of Rab11 normalized glucose uptake in HD{sup 140Q/140Q} neurons. These results suggest that deficient activity ofmore » Rab11 is a novel mechanism for glucose hypometabolism in HD.« less
Local and Regional Control in Breast Cancer: Role of Sentinel Node Biopsy

The development and acceptance of the SLND has profoundly affected the management of breast cancer. SLND has supplanted ALND as a highly accurate and less-morbid axillary staging procedure in patients with clinically node-negative early-stage breast cancer. SLND alone is associated with less than 1% isolated axillary recurrence in patients with node-negative disease and provides excellent regional nodal control. Historically, ALND has been the recommended treatment for patients with SLN metastases. ALND was thought to offer prognostic information, prevent axillary local recurrence, and possibly render a small survival benefit. However, resection of nonsentinel nodes with metastases may not affect survival, and not all axillary metastases progress to become clinically evident. Furthermore, with increased understanding of tumor biology, nodal status and number of involved lymph nodes are no longer the only determinants of systemic therapy. As improved breast cancer screening allows identification of early-stage disease localized to the breast, and because treatment plans are more often made on the basis of tumor biology, the role of completion ALND may be less critical. The low LRR rates seen in the ACOSOG Z0011 trial, several other randomized trials, and retrospective reviews suggest that SLND alone may provide adequate locoregional control and provide adequate information to guide adjuvant systemic therapy in selected women with clinically node-negative early-stage breast cancer.
Toddler peer interaction in mixed-age groups

Abstract Toddler preference for different age playmates was investigated. Thirty toddlers, aged 16 to 23 months, were observed in family day care homes. Each subject had access to both same-age and older peers. Results indicate that toddlers preferred 2-year-olds compared to same-age peers. Toddlers watched preschoolers more often than same-age peers. Toddlers also used more imitation and language in their play with 2-year-olds compared to other age peers. Features of the caregiving environment were also assessed. Higher levels of arousal and motion were associated with more elaborate peer interaction. These findings support the notion that partner age and the caregiving environment can influence toddler social interaction.
Food and water restriction shifts corticosterone, temperature, activity and brain amine periodicity.

The circadian periodicity of plasma corticosteroid levels was determined in individual adult male and female rats, sampled every 4 hr over a 48-hr period. Access of these rats to food and water was then restricted to 9:30 AM–11:30 AM for a 15-day period, the animals being kept under normal laboratory lighting conditions (lights on 8:00 AM, off 8:00 PM). At the end of this period, such animals had a 12-hr shift in the time of the circadian peak of plasma corticosteroid levels. A similar alteration in the time of the peak of body temperature levels was also seen in these animals. Alteration of patterns of running activity, with a marked increase in daytime running activity was also present in such food and water restricted animals. There was also a reversal of AM/PM ratios of hippocampal norepinephrine and of serotonin levels in these animals. These findings demonstrate that presence of normal light-dark alteration is not sufficient for the maintenance of normal circadian periodicity of plasma corticos-tero...
New oil-filled apparatus bushings

FOR 32 YEARS, oil-filled bushings have been applied to transformers and oil circuit breakers. Although these bushings have an excellent service record, recent trends in electric apparatus have made improvements necessary. A new line of oil-filled bushings has been developed which meets the requirements of hermetic sealing, low-cost maintenance, high mechanical strength, reduction in size and weight, and also provides ease of installation and storage. These bushings meet AIEE and NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) standards and are designed to meet the needs of modern apparatus.
Treatment techniques, the primary process, and ego development in schizophrenic children.

The therapist of the schizophrenic child is confronted with the kind of direct primary-process communication, both in word and deed. which is not encountered in therapy with other types of disturbed children. This paper explores the bearing of these primary-process phenomena on the treatment process and on the choice of therapy techniques to foster ego growth in the schizophrenic child. The need to modify therapy techniques in order to rea ch and affect schizophrenic children with their particular drive and defense structure has been pointed out by Rank (1955), Betz (1947), Ekstein and Wallerstein (19!J{,), Alpert (1959), Mahler (1952), and others. Betz states tha t ..I t is the task of the therapist to assume the initiative in negotiating significant con tact by some tactical approach near to the patient's particular receptive channel," and describes a participation in the child's idiosyncratic activities to as great a degree as the child will permit for the purpose of fostering greater satisfaction of the child 's need. Alpert speaks of therapy in terms of a "corrective object relationship" as the initial step, and Rank and her coworkers have detailed the vicissitudes of the "atypical" child's form-
Social Desirability Response Set: Error or Predictor Variable

(1961). Social Desirability Response Set: Error or Predictor Variable. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 321-329.
The Academic and Social-Emotional Needs of Secondary Latino English Learners: Implications for Screening, Identification, and Instructional Planning

Nationwide statistics show that English Learners in grades 6–12 are often among the lowest performing students in all academic areas and have some of the highest rates of dropout. Their academic deficiencies are usually attributed to their limited English language proficiency, often ignoring the social-emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems they might be experiencing. The purpose of this article is to illustrate specific needs of Latino English Learners that often go unmet. Social-emotional resiliency scores (as measured by the Behavior Emotional Resiliency Scale) and academic outcomes of 62 middle school Latino English Learners were analyzed for this study. The results revealed that social-emotional resiliency correlated positively with academic progress and negatively with time spent in English Language Development programs. Students who spent more time in English Language Development programs showed poorer social emotional resiliency. These findings have specific implications for identifying and...
Neural Activity during Natural Viewing of Sesame Street Statistically Predicts Test Scores in Early Childhood

It is not currently possible to measure the real-world thought process that a child has while observing an actual school lesson. However, if it could be done, children's neural processes would presumably be predictive of what they know. Such neural measures would shed new light on children's real-world thought. Toward that goal, this study examines neural processes that are evoked naturalistically, during educational television viewing. Children and adults all watched the same Sesame Street video during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Whole-brain intersubject correlations between the neural timeseries from each child and a group of adults were used to derive maps of “neural maturity” for children. Neural maturity in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), a region with a known role in basic numerical cognition, predicted children's formal mathematics abilities. In contrast, neural maturity in Broca's area correlated with children's verbal abilities, consistent with prior language research. Our data show that children's neural responses while watching complex real-world stimuli predict their cognitive abilities in a content-specific manner. This more ecologically natural paradigm, combined with the novel measure of “neural maturity,” provides a new method for studying real-world mathematics development in the brain.
Applications of carbon nanotubes for cancer research

Carbon nanotubes have many unique properties such as high surface area, hollow cavities, and excellent mechanical and electrical properties. Interfacing carbon nanotubes with biological systems could lead to significant applications in various disease diagnoses. Significant progress in interfacing carbon nanotubes with biological materials has been made in key areas such as aqueous solubility, chemical and biological functionalization for biocompatibility and specificity, and electronic sensing of proteins. In addition, the bioconjugated nanotubes combined with the sensitive nanotube-based electronic devices would enable sensitive biosensors toward medical diagnostics. Furthermore, recent findings of improved cell membrane permeability for carbon nanotubes would also expand medical applications to therapeutics using carbon nanotubes as carriers in gene delivery systems. This article reviews the current trends in biological functionalization of carbon nanotubes and their potential applications for breast cancer diagnostics. The article also reports the applications of confocal microscopy for use in understanding the interactions of biological materials such as antibodies on carbon nanotubes that are specific to surface receptors in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, a nanotube-field-effect transistor is demonstrated for electronic sensing of antibodies that are specific to surface receptors in cancer cells.
Optical images from pathophysiological signals within breast tissue using three-dimensional near-infrared light

Near Infrared (NIR) tomography has the potential for characterization of different tissue types based upon cellular and vascular alternations that are optically apparent. This is especially useful for characterizing cancerous regions within normal tissue due to the high available contrast. Reconstructed images from NIR light propagation measurements through the female breast hold promise of providing clinically useful information about the pathophysiologic change of the tissue. We have developed a fast three-dimensional finite element model and image reconstruction algorithm, NIRFAST (Near Infrared Frequency-Domain Absorption and Scatter Tomography) and have previously tested the results extensively against simulated and phantom data. The results have shown that the reconstructed images have good accuracy in recovering optical changes within the medium under investigation, and that with appropriate constraints, the calculated quantitative values agree well with the true values. Based on these algorithms, we present true three-dimensional images of the breast, from patient data. These images, which are reconstructed using NIR measurements over a range of wavelengths, provide additional information regarding the blood content and oxygen saturation distribution within the breast.
Unmasking: on violence, masculinity, and superheroes in science education

Through exploration of public mask/private face, the authors trouble violence and its role in science education through three media: schools, masculinity, and science acknowledging a violence of hate, but dwelling on a violence of caring. In schools, there is the poisonous “for your own good” pedagogy that becomes a “for your own good” curriculum or a coercive curriculum for science teaching and learning; however, the antithetical curriculum of I’m here entails violence—the shedding of the public mask and the exposing of the private face. Violence, likewise, becomes social and political capital for masculinity that is a pubic mask for private face. Lastly, science, in its self-identified cultural, political and educational form of a superhero, creates permanent harm most often as palatable violence in order to save and to redeem not the private face, but the public mask. The authors conclude that they do not know what violence to say one should not do, but they know the much of the violence has been and is being committed. All for which we can hope is not that we cease all violence or better yet not hate, but that we violently love.