cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intracellular Ca2+ cycling is a general regulator of how fast and how strong the heart beats

Signals for faster and stronger beating of the heart (involving pacemaker cells and ventricular myocytes) are both transduced via common cell effectors, through sequestration and release of Ca 2+ to and from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Graded synchronization of local calcium releases (LCRs) from the SR is the basis of graded function within both cell types. An increase in the number of LCRs occurring within a given epoch induces a local recruitment of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) to fire within that epoch in both cell types. In sinoatrial nodal cells (SANC), a high level of basal cAMP-PKA-CaMKII signaling is present, which even in the absence of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) stimulation, allows partially synchronized, spontaneous LCRs to normally occur during the diastolic depolarization (DD) between successive action potentials (APs). This amplifies the rate of DD change, prompting surface membranes to generate an AP. Extension of the same basal transduction signaling pathways by GPCR receptor stimulation in SANC effects slower or faster heartbeats, and in ventricular myocytes, changes in synchronization of the functions of Ca 2 + cycling molecules occurring in response to GPCR result in stronger or weaker heartbeats. Synchronization of RyR activation and Ca 2 + release thus constitutes a unified mechanism that links chronotropy in the heart's pacemaker cells to inotropy in the ventricular cells.
In-the-flash pulse shape discrimination with liquid scintillators

Single neutron and gamma charge pulses were captured using a fast ADC. These data were used to populate simulated 5-µs active interrogation flash events. Analysis of these simulations revealed that long pulse tail accumulation during the flash leads to an unpredictable charge background for several microseconds after the flash. The existence of this changing background will make retrieving prompt neutron information immediately after the flash problematic. The tail accumulation is accentuated for every pulse in the flash, making the time just after the last pulse in the flash the worst possible time to measure prompt neutron data. Obtaining prompt neutron data during the flash—particularly near the beginning of the flash, where background tail accumulation is minimal—is feasible if shielding is used to control the count rates, but requires fast gamma-neutron pulse shape discrimination. A means of accentuating the pulse shape difference between neutron and gamma data is given, along with a means of compensating for the long pulse components in the dominant gamma pulses.
Transit Clairvoyance: Enhancing TESS follow-up using artificial neural networks

The upcoming TESS mission is expected to find thousands of transiting planets around bright stars, yet for three-quarters of the fields observed the temporal coverage will limit discoveries to planets with orbital periods below 13.7 days. From the Kepler catalog, the mean probability of these short-period transiting planets having additional longer period transiters (which would be missed by TESS) is 18%, a value ten times higher than the average star. In this work, we show how this probability is not uniform but functionally dependent upon the properties of the observed short-period transiters, ranging from less than 1% up to over 50%. Using artificial neural networks (ANNs) trained on the Kepler catalog and making careful feature selection to account for the differing sensitivity of TESS, we are able to predict the most likely short-period transiters to be accompanied by additional transiters. Through cross-validation, we predict that a targeted, optimized TESS transit and/or radial velocity follow-up program using our trained ANN would have a discovery yield improved by a factor of two. Our work enables a near-optimal follow-up strategy for surveys following TESS targets for additional planets, improving the science yield derived from TESS and particularly beneficial in the search for habitable-zone transiting worlds.
The History of the World Wool Market

This chapter highlights the history of the world wool market. Several different wool manufacturing centers emerged in Europe as trade began to grow again during the Middle Ages. In the 13th century, artisans in Flemish towns produced a variety of woolen goods from local wool and from wool imported from England. The Italian traders carried these fabrics to the prosperous eastern Mediterranean where they were exchanged for other products, notably dye-stuffs and mordants crucial to the industry itself. By the 14th century, the Italians had developed the cloth-finishing industry. Benefiting from interrupted trade relations between England and Flanders and severe Flemish political crises, Italian cities became the new centers of cloth production, dependent on English and Spanish supplies. The Italian wool merchants enjoyed an additional advantage because of their position as papal collectors, as catholic monasteries held an important portion of the English herds. At the same time that English export duties made the raw material more expensive, technological innovations spread through England.
Liquifying PLDLLA Anchor Fixation in Achilles Reconstruction for Insertional Tendinopathy

Insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) is a frequent cause of posterior heel pain and is often associated with Haglund’s deformity. Surgical correction for refractory cases of IAT has been well studied; however, the method of tendon fixation to bone in these procedures remains controversial, and to date, no standard technique has been identified for tendon fixation in these surgeries. Often, after Haglund’s resection, there is large exposed cancellous surface for Achilles reattachment, which may require unique fixation to optimize outcomes. Previous studies have consistently demonstrated improved patient outcomes after Achilles tendon reconstruction with early rehabilitation with protected weight bearing, evidencing the need for a strong and stable anchoring of the Achilles tendon that allows early weight bearing without tendon morbidity. In this report, we highlight the design, biomechanics, and surgical technique of Achilles tendon reconstruction with Haglund’s deformity using a novel technique that ut...
Habitat Use and Activity Patterns of a Terrestrial Turtle (Rhinoclemmys rubida perixantha) in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest

Abstract We report the results of a field study on Mexican Spotted Wood Turtles (Rhinoclemmys rubida perixantha) in a seasonally dry tropical forest of coastal Jalisco, Mexico. We used field surveys, trail spools, and radio telemetry to investigate activity patterns, estimate home range size with three different techniques, and develop a generalized linear model to identify features associated with habitats used by R. r. perixantha. We found that turtles were most frequently active at midday, with peak activity occurring from 0900 to 1500 h. During the dry season (January–mid-June), R. r. perixantha showed reduced activity (fewer movements and shorter travel distances) compared to the wet season (late June–September). Home range size did not differ among the three methods we compared, and all estimates revealed that R. r. perixantha have small home ranges, with males having larger home ranges than females. Sites used by turtles were positively associated with leaf litter and woody debris, herbaceous plant...
Three Exactly Soluble Quantum Field Theory Models in 2-,3- and 4-Dimensional Space Time and Some General Questions They Suggest

As a result of three decades of hard work on the local algebra formalism, we now have a general theory of quantized fields that provides a satisfactory framework for field theory. On the other hand, constructive quantum field theory has made rather limited progress toward the objective of characterizing and constructing all field theories that satisfy the axioms of the general theory. We do have the nontrivial examples P(ϕ)2,Y 2,ϕ 3 4 ,Y 3,Higgs2,Higgs3 and fragments of Y M 3 and Y M 4. However, these examples do not provide enough information to suggest reasonable guesses for the answers to general questions. For example, how do the perturbatively non-renormalizable theories fit into the general picture? The recent results of da Veiga and coworkers establishing the existence of tempered solutions of the Gross-Neveu model in three dimensional Euclidean space-time, show that a non-perturbative treatment of a perturbatively non-renormalizable theory is possible using rigorous renormalization group methods. What distinguishes such theories? Is the applicability of renormalization group methods to be regarded as always a reliable guide to the existence of non-trivial solutions of theories?
The Earliest Social Experiences and Their Effect on Social Development

Historically, great importance has been attributed to the relationship of the child with his first caregiver, usually the mother. Psychoanalysts have seen the quality of the child’s relationship to his mother as the prototype of all his later relationships. Ethologists such as Bowlby (1964) have suggested that prolonged separation of the child from his mother (or mother substitute) during the first five years of life “stands foremost among the causes of delinquent character development and persistent misbehavior.”
Income inequality and health outcomes in the United States: An empirical analysis

Abstract A growing body of research suggests a relationship between health and income inequality. This study specifically analyzes the correlation between income inequality, measured by state-level Gini coefficients from the American Community Survey (ACS), and individual behavioral, physical, and mental health outcomes from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 2006 through 2014. After controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, health insurance status, year trends, and state fixed effects, income inequality was found to have significant relationships with behavioral, physical, and mental health outcomes, including heavy drinking, obesity, exercise, diabetes, heart attack, heart disease, physical and mental health problems, and depression, and often the impact on low-income individuals is slightly smaller than on the high-income group. The research suggests that economic policies to address the rising income inequality in the United States might serve to also address some of our nation’s most troubling health statistics.
Optimizing shrub parameters to estimate gross primary production of the sagebrush ecosystem using the Ecosystem Demography (EDv2.2) model

Abstract. Gross primary production (GPP) is one of the most critical processes in the global carbon cycle, but is difficult to quantify in part because of its high spatiotemporal variability. Direct techniques to quantify GPP are lacking, thus, researchers rely on data inferred from eddy covariance (EC) towers and/or ecosystem dynamic models. The latter are useful to quantify GPP over time and space because of their efficiency over direct field measurements and applicability to broad spatial extents. However, such models have also been associated with internal uncertainties and complexities arising from distinct qualities of the ecosystem being analyzed. Widely distributed sagebrush-steppe ecosystems in western North America are threatened by anthropogenic disturbance, invasive species, climate change, and altered fire regimes. Although land managers have focused on different restoration techniques, the effects of these activities and their interactions with fire, climate change, and invasive species on ecosystem dynamics are poorly understood. In this study, we applied an ecosystem dynamic model, Ecosystem Demography (EDv2.2), to parameterize and predict GPP for sagebrush-steppe ecosystems in the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed (RCEW), located in the northern Great Basin. Our primary objective was to develop and parameterize a sagebrush ( Artemisia spp.) shrubland Plant Functional Type (PFT) for use in the EDv2.2 model, which will support future studies to model estimates of GPP under different climate and management scenarios. To accomplish this, we employed a three-tiered approach. First, to parameterize the sagebrush PFT, we fitted allometric relationships for sagebrush using field-collected data, gathered information from existing sagebrush literature, and borrowed values from other PFTs in EDv2.2. Second, we identified the five most sensitive parameters out of thirteen that were found to be influential in GPP prediction based on previous studies. Third, we optimized the five parameters using an exhaustive search method to predict GPP, and performed validation using observations from two EC sites in the study area. Our modeled results were encouraging, with reasonable fidelity to observed values, although some negative biases (i.e., seasonal underestimates of GPP) were apparent. We expect that, with further refinement, the resulting sagebrush PFT will permit explicit scenario testing of potential anthropogenic modifications of GPP in sagebrush ecosystems, and will contribute to a better understanding of the role of sagebrush ecosystems in shaping global carbon cycles.
Management of Patients with Difficult Vascular Access Issues

Given the high association of cardiac and renal disease, it is imperative that considerations for future vascular access are taken into consideration at the time of any procedure. In this chapter we discuss the high incidence of central stenosis associated with cardiac instrumentation such as central access for line placement and the need for placement of pacer wires. All of this type of instrumentation may make future vascular access problematic. We present several unique ways to gain access in this challenging patient population.
Scalable Phononic Quantum Networks of Spins in Diamond

Phononic quantum networks with alternating phononic crystal waveguides have been developed. This new architecture solves the inherent scalability problem in coupling spins with mechanical vibrations by breaking large networks into small and closed mechanical subsystems.
TILM: Neural Language Models with Evolving Topical Influence.

Content of text data are often influenced by contextual factors which often evolve over time (e.g., content of social media are often influenced by topics covered in the major news streams). Existing language models do not consider the influence of such related evolving topics, and thus are not optimal. In this paper, we propose to incorporate such topical-influence into a language model to both improve its accuracy and enable cross-stream analysis of topical influences. Specifically, we propose a novel language model called Topical Influence Language Model (TILM), which is a novel extension of a neural language model to capture the influences on the contents in one text stream by the evolving topics in another related (or possibly same) text stream. Experimental results on six different text stream data comprised of conference paper titles show that the incorporation of evolving topical influence into a language model is beneficial and TILM outperforms multiple baselines in a challenging task of text forecasting. In addition to serving as a language model, TILM further enables interesting analysis of topical influence among multiple text streams.
Scavenging of Sub-Micron to Micron-Sized Microbial Aerosols during Simulated Rainfall

The processes removing aerosols from the atmosphere during rainfall are generically referred to as scavenging. Scavenging influences aerosol distributions in the atmosphere, with consequent effects on cloud properties, radiative forcing, and human health. In this study, we investigated the below-cloud scavenging process, specifically focusing on the scavenging of 0.2 to 2 µm-sized microbial aerosols by populations of water drops with average diameters of 3.0 and 3.6 mm. Rainfall was simulated in convective boundary layer air masses by dispensing the water drops from a 55 m bridge and collecting them at ground level. Particles and microbial cells scavenged by the water drops were visualized, enumerated, and sized using scanning electron and epifluorescence microscopy. Aerosolized particles and DNA-containing microbial cells of 2 µm diameter were scavenged at efficiencies similar to those reported previously in empirical studies; however, the efficiencies derived for smaller aerosols were significantly higher (one to three orders of magnitude) than those predicted by microphysical modeling. Application of the derived scavenging efficiencies to cell data from rainfall implies that, on average, approximately 50 to 70% of the 1 µm microbial cells in the precipitation originated from within the cloud. Further study of submicron to micron-sized aerosol scavenging over a broader raindrop size distribution would improve fundamental understanding of the scavenging process and the capacity to estimate (bio)aerosol abundances in the source cloud through analysis of rainfall.
Using Adapted Studio Critique to Teach Peer Review in the Document Design Classroom

Introduction: Given the importance of visual communication to technical communicators’ work, 40% of undergraduate programs in technical and professional communication require a document design course. However, document design pedagogies such as structuring peer review are still being researched, and popular textbooks do not provide instruction about how to facilitate this important pedagogy. About the case : An adapted form of studio critique was used to provide students with design feedback. Situating the case: Studio critique literature and document design peer review scholarship were used to devise an adapted critique, which I implemented in my course. Methods/approach: Twenty-five undergraduates were surveyed, and 23 were interviewed about adapted critique. Results/discussion: Results were favorable but recommend extending critique time, better facilitating participation, capturing feedback effectively, focusing the presentation, evaluating feedback, and requesting revision plans. Conclusions: Future research includes expanding the study to other courses and online environments.
Exploring the coronavirus epidemic using the new WashU Virus Genome Browser

Abstract Since its debut in mid-December, 2019, the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has rapidly spread from its origin in Wuhan, China, to several countries across the globe, leading to a global health crisis. As of February 7, 2020, 44 strains of the virus have been sequenced and uploaded to NCBI’s GenBank [1], providing insight into the virus’s evolutionary history and pathogenesis. Here, we present the WashU Virus Genome Browser, a web-based portal for viewing virus genomic data. The browser is home to 16 complete 2019-nCoV genome sequences, together with hundreds of related viral sequences including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and Ebola virus. In addition, the browser features unique customizability, supporting user-provided upload of novel viral sequences in various formats. Sequences can be viewed in both a track-based representation as well as a phylogenetic tree-based view, allowing the user to easily compare sequence features across multiple strains. The WashU Virus Genome Browser inherited many features and track types from the WashU Epigenome Browser, and additionally incorporated a new type of SNV track to address the specific needs of viral research. Our Virus Browser portal can be accessed at https://virusgateway.wustl.edu, and documentation is available at https://virusgateway.readthedocs.io/.
Analytical Techniques Help Enhance the Results of Data Mining: Why Pink Noise Is Best for Enhancing Sleep and Memory

This chapter provides a second example of how analytical techniques can help enhance the results of data mining.
Changes in Membrane Dielectric Properties of Porcine Kidney Cells Provide Insight into the Antiviral Activity of Glycine

The ability to monitor the status and progression of viral infections is important for development and screening of new antiviral drugs. Previous research illustrated that the osmolyte glycine (Gly...
The Language of the Unheard: Legal Services and the 1960s Race Riots:

This article uses newly collected data on communities who received legal services grants between 1965 and 1975 to evaluate the effectiveness of the federal antirioting program. Results indicate a 4...
In Vivo Comparison of Radiation Exposure in Third Generation versus Second Generation Dual-Source Dual-Energy CT for Imaging Urinary Calculi.

Purpose: To investigate the potential for decreasing radiation dose when utilizing a third generation versus second generation dual-source dual-energy CT scanner, while maintaining diagnostic image...
On Bridging Generic and Personalized Federated Learning.

Federated learning is promising for its ability to collaboratively train models with multiple clients without accessing their data, but vulnerable when clients' data distributions diverge from each other. This divergence further leads to a dilemma: "Should we prioritize the learned model's generic performance (for future use at the server) or its personalized performance (for each client)?" These two, seemingly competing goals have divided the community to focus on one or the other, yet in this paper we show that it is possible to approach both at the same time. Concretely, we propose a novel federated learning framework that explicitly decouples a model's dual duties with two prediction tasks. On the one hand, we introduce a family of losses that are robust to non-identical class distributions, enabling clients to train a generic predictor with a consistent objective across them. On the other hand, we formulate the personalized predictor as a lightweight adaptive module that is learned to minimize each client's empirical risk on top of the generic predictor. With this two-loss, two-predictor framework which we name Federated Robust Decoupling Fed-RoD, the learned model can simultaneously achieve state-of-the-art generic and personalized performance, essentially bridging the two tasks.
Avian community response to a novel environment: Commercial forestry in the Campos grasslands of South America

Abstract Establishing commercial tree plantations in native grassland ecosystems introduces a different structural and functional vegetation cover type, with expected implications for biodiversity. To better understand biodiversity responses to afforestation, we conducted a resource-use study with birds as a focal group, during the 2013–2014 breeding season in the Northern Campos grasslands of Uruguay. We sampled birds in native environments and plantations of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and flooded gum (Eucalyptus grandis) at different rotation stages. We recorded 103 species during 1,573 visits (10-min, 50-meter radius point counts) to 570 stratified sampling units. Native grasslands and forests exhibited greater diversity and had greater variability in species composition than structurally homogeneous plantations. Avian communities in plantations had distinct species combinations and relative abundances not found in native conditions. Avian communities in older plantations were more similar to native forests while those of newly-planted stands were more like grasslands. However, plantations were dominated by habitat generalists and some forest-dependent species, with negligible use by grassland specialist birds. Our results suggest the best conservation opportunities for grassland-dependent birds in afforested systems of the Campos of Uruguay may depend on diverse landscape-level measures rather than stand-level management practices. Albeit our research constituted a comprehensive assessment of bird taxonomic alpha and beta diversity, research on complementary diversity facets and multi-scale resource selection and demographic studies are needed to better understand the fitness implications for conserving and managing grassland birds in afforested landscapes.
Late to the Party: HR’s Contribution to Contemporary Theories of Strategy

Drawing insights derived from systems theory, the resource theory of the firm and historical developments within the functional areas of management, this paper calls attention to the emergent importance of HR system design to firm competitiveness. The reader is introduced to the FourSquare Model and its premise that successful strategy formulation and implementation requires integrated decision-making across four primary functional domains. The Model makes three significant contributions to our understanding of organizational performance: (1) it brings together important insights from a range of theoretical perspectives; (2) it presents a parsimonious yet theoretically sophisticated model for empirical investigators and management theorists; and (3) it provides practicing organizational leaders with a cogent and accessible tool to guide executive development.
A complementation assay for in vivo protein structure/function analysis in Physcomitrella patens (Funariaceae).

Premise of the study: A method for rapid in vivo functional analysis of engineered proteins was developed using Physcomitrella patens. Methods and Results: A complementation assay was designed for testing structure/function relationships in cellulose synthase (CESA) proteins. The components of the assay include (1) construction of test vectors that drive expression of epitope-tagged PpCESA5 carrying engineered mutations, (2) transformation of a ppcesa5 knockout line that fails to produce gametophores with test and control vectors, (3) scoring the stable transformants for gametophore production, (4) statistical analysis comparing complementation rates for test vectors to positive and negative control vectors, and (5) analysis of transgenic protein expression by Western blotting. The assay distinguished mutations that generate fully functional, nonfunctional, and partially functional proteins. Conclusions: Compared with existing methods for in vivo testing of protein function, this complementation assay pro...
The Use of Radioisotopic Methods to Characterize Metal Foil Monolith Catalytic Converters

Radioisotopic methods have been applied to nondestructive measurements on experimental automotive catalytic converters. These converters consist of thin corrugated metal foil which supports an alumina coating impregnated with noble metals. A radiogauging system, using gamma radiation from a gadolinium-153 source, was developed to determine the total quantity and distribution of alumina coating applied to the foil substrate. The radiogauging apparatus was also used to provide axial and radial profiles of lead deposited in the catalytic converter when leaded fuel was used. During dynamometer aging, iron-59 was used as a radiotracer in the alumina to monitor the coating attrition as a function of operating time. These studies demonstrate the capability of radiotracer and radiogauging techniques for rapid, nondestructive measurements on prototype catalytic converters during performance testing.
Principles and Applications of Embryogenomics

Embryogenomics, or developmental genomics, is defined as a systematic analysis of embryo development with large-scale approaches. This systematic analysis permits consideration of the system as a whole by keeping whole-genome sequences and a complete gene catalog in perspective. By merging genomics and developmental biology, embryogenomics contributes to both disciplines: large-scale methodologies and genome-wide concepts are contributed to developmental biology, and the materials and knowledge of genes specifically expressed in embryos are contributed to genomics. In this chapter the history and recent strides in this effort are reviewed, and discussions included of the genome projects, complementary DNA (cDNA) library construction, and large-scale experiments and analysis for model organisms that have the greatest impact on the field of embryology. Emphasis will be placed on progress in mouse embryogenomics, as this provides the basis of discussion for what is arguably the most accessible model organism with a developmental plan that has high similarity to that of humans. Finally, the status of current technologies as they relate to embryogenomics, the obstacles to overcome, and the future aims for this new field are discussed. Large-scale approaches to developmental biology require some special considerations in this discussion, as compared to approaches using samples from adult organisms. This is due to the relatively small size of tissue samples and the temporal-spatial migration and proliferation of cells in embryonic tissues of interest. Keywords: BAC; cDNA; DIGE (or 2-D DIGE); DNA Microarray; Embryo; Genome; Genomics; Hybridization; ISH; Next-generation sequencing; PCR; Q-PCR; SAGE; Transcriptome
Bounded relational analysis of free data types

In this paper we report on our first experiences using the relational analysis provided by the Alloy tool with the theorem prover KIV in the context of specifications of freely generated data types. The presented approach aims at improving KIV's performance on first-order theories. In theorem proving practice a significant amount of time is spent on unsuccessful proof attempts. An automatic method that exhibits counter examples for unprovable theorems would offer an extremely valuable support for a proof engineer by saving his time and effort. In practice, such counterexamples tend to be small, so usually there is no need to search for big instances. The paper defines a translation from KIV's recursive definitions to Alloy, discusses its correctness and gives some examples.
Remember the annual fund!: Small steps to build and sustain a library annual giving alumni program

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to share ideas for increasing alumni library donors through a university's annual giving efforts.Design/methodology/approach – A case study is used to explain how alumni library donors are acquired and sustained.Findings – Agreeing to any and all means to bring new alumni donors to the libraries, consistent and increased alumni giving is achieved.Originality/value – Practical suggestions and reminders regarding an academic library annual giving program.
Nonlinear satellite wakes in planetary rings. I - Phase-space kinematics

The explicit expression presently derived for the phase-space density of a planetary ring subjected to perturbations by a proximate satellite recovers the usual perturbed-streamline equations by drawing first-order moments of the phase-space density. The surface density obtained is positive-definite in virtue of taking the ring particles' finite-velocity dispersion into account. The satellite-wake local mean velocity components deviate from the streamline equations' sinusoidal form; this deviation grows as the wake moves downstream from the shepherding satellite.
Lethality Patterns and Morphology of Selected Lethal and Semi-Lethal Mutations in the Zeste-White Region of DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Aspects of the developmental genetics of lethal and semi-lethal mutants representing 13 complementation groups (cistrons) in the 3A-3C region of the X chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster are given. Each of these cistrons is associated with a particular chromomere in the salivary gland chromosome. Mutants within each cistron have similar lethality patterns and morphological attributes, and the characteristics of a given cistron are distinct with respect to other cistrons. These results provide additional evidence that only one function is associated with each chromomere.-The results of the lethality pattern analysis are also compared with previous studies of lethal mutants of Drosophila.
On the importance of interval sets in type-2 fuzzy logic systems

Type-2 fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) allow uncertainties that occur in rule-based FLSs to be modeled using the new third dimension of type-2 fuzzy sets. Although a complete theory of type-2 FLSs exists for general type-2 fuzzy sets, it is only for interval type-2 fuzzy sets that type-2 FLSs are practical. This paper explains why this is so.
Modulational instability of fast magnetosonic waves in a solar plasma

Transverse amplitude modulations of fast magnetosonic waves propagating perpendicular to the background magnetic field are shown to be unstable on a time scale τ ∼- λ∥/Vaφ, if the wave amplitude φ exceeds a critical value, φc= Cs/Va. The slow modes generated by the modulational instability under gravity can propagate along the magnetic field with the characteristic velocity, Vph = g/2k∥Vaφ. The applications of this modulational instability and slow-mode generation mechanism to a solar plasma are discussed.
Using nonuniform electric fields to accelerate the transport of viruses to surfaces from media of physiological ionic strength.

Nonuniform ac (alternating current) electric fields created by microelectrodes are investigated for their influence on the transport of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) from aqueous suspensions of physiological ionic strength to surfaces on which the VSV is captured. Whereas passive diffusion did not lead to detectable levels of virus captured on a surface when using titers of VSV as high as 107 PFU/mL, nonuniform electric field-mediated transport led to the detection of 105 PFU/mL of virus in 2 min. An order-of-magnitude analysis of the time scales associated with virus transport to the microelectrodes inside media of physiological relevance indicates that electrothermal fluid flow (and the resulting viscous drag forces on the virus) rather than dielectrophoresis likely constitutes the major mechanism for virus transport far from the electrodes. The influence of dielectrophoresis was calculated to be confined to a region within a few micrometers of the electrodes and to lead to collection patterns of...
Optimizing teacher preparation loan forgiveness programs: Variables related to perceived influence

This research used multilevel modeling to investigate the perceived effect of a teacher preparation loan forgiveness program on recruiting science and mathematics majors to become teachers and teach in high-need schools. The study investigated how and which personal perceptions, characteristics, and teacher preparation program variables influenced recipient perceptions. Data used for the study were collected from participants in the National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, which provides funding for highly qualified science and mathematics majors to teach in high-need schools. Recipients agree to teach in high-need schools for at least 2 years in return for each year of funding. The results suggest that scholars' race, their path into teaching, their perceptions of their preparation for teaching in high-need schools, and the amount of funding were significant variables. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed95: 121–144, 2011
MPTP and MPTP analogs induced cell death in cultured rat hepatocytes involving the formation of pyridinium metabolites

Abstract MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) which has been shown to produce a Parkinson-like syndrome in humans and monkeys also causes cell death in cultures of rat hepatocytes. Treatment of cells with MPTP or its metabolite MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium ion), resulted in leakage of lactic acid dehydrogenase and 14C-labeled adenine nucleotides, as well as marked depletion of ATP and glutathione. Deprenyl, a specific inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-B, the enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of MPTP into MPP+, blocked the lethal effect of MPTP, but gave no protection from MPP+-induced cell death. The 4′-fluoro and 4′-chloro analogs of MPTP evoked toxicities similar to that of the parent compound, while N-butyl-PTP, 4′-amino-MPTP, and 2′-methyl-MPTP were relatively less toxic. N-Acetylamino-MPTP was found virtually nontoxic. The cell death produced by these analogs was also associated with leakage of [14C]adenine nucleotides, which is an indicator of loss of ATP from cells. All these compounds except the N-acetylamino analog were converted to corresponding pyridinium metabolites by liver cells when analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography and plasma desorption mass spectrometry. MPTP and its analogs also served as substrates for rat liver mitochondrial monoamine oxidase to varying degrees. Toxicity of various analogs, with the noticeable exception of 2′-methyl-MPTP, was inhibited by deprenyl. These findings indicate that the conversion of MPTP and its analogs to corresponding pyridinium metabolites is essential for the expression of toxicity.
The Na/K-ATPase/Src Interaction and the E1/E2 Transition

In our previous studies, we have shown that Na+/K+-ATPase interacts directly with Src to form a signaling receptor complex. This complex is involved in control of basal Src activity and ouabain-induced signal transduction. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that Na+/K+-ATPase also regulates Src activity through its conformation-dependent domain movements during pumping cycles. It is known that the Na+/K+-ATPase transits from E1 to E2 conformation during an ion pumping cycle. Based on the known crystal structures of Na/K-ATPase, this conformational transition results in a 110 degree turn of the A domain of Na/K-ATPase where Src SH2 domain binds. Computational modeling suggests that the movement of A domain during the pump cycle is likely to release Src from the Na/K-ATPase, resulting in the activation of Src kinase. Indeed, in vitro kinase assays show that while stabilization of Na/K-ATPase by N-ethylmaleimide and AMPPNP in E1P conformation keeps Src in an inactive state, converting the pump into an E2P state by fluoride compounds stimulates Src. Consistently, the Na+-liganded E1 form of Na+/K+-ATPase inhibits Src whereas the K+-liganded E2 form releases Src from the Na+/K+-ATPase and re-activated Src. Finally, Src is completely inactivated by the Na/K-ATPase in the presence of physiological concentrations of Na+ (150 mM) and K+ (5 mM). Reduction of K+ results in an accumulation of E2P Na/K-ATPase and consequently an increase in active Src. Taken together, these new findings suggest that the Na+/K+-ATPase/Src complex may function as a pumping receptor, capable of coordinating ion pumping at the plasma membrane and other cellular activities by activating/inhibiting Src kinase.
Impact of bisphenol a on the cardiovascular system - epidemiological and experimental evidence and molecular mechanisms.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous plasticizing agent used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. There is well-documented and broad human exposure to BPA. The potential risk that BPA poses to the human health has attracted much attention from regulatory agencies and the general public, and has been extensively studied. An emerging and rapidly growing area in the study of BPA’s toxicity is its impact on the cardiovascular (CV) system. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that higher urinary BPA concentration in humans is associated with various types of CV diseases, including angina, hypertension, heart attack and coronary and peripheral arterial disease. Experimental studies have demonstrated that acute BPA exposure promotes the development of arrhythmias in female rodent hearts. Chronic exposure to BPA has been shown to result in cardiac remodeling, atherosclerosis, and altered blood pressure in rodents. The underlying mechanisms may involve alteration of cardiac Ca2+ handling, ion channel inhibition/activation, oxidative stress, and genome/transcriptome modifications. In this review, we discuss these recent findings that point to the potential CV toxicity of BPA, and highlight the knowledge gaps in this growing research area.
Constitutive μ opioid receptor activity in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells

We propose that treatment of the human neuroblastoma cells, SK-N-SH or SH-SY5Y, with morphine leads to significant constitutive activation of the μ opioid receptor. Further naloxone is shown to serve as an inverse agonist blocking the constitutively active μ receptor. Thus, pretreatment with morphine (1 μM for 48 hrs) followed by drug removal, leads not only to the known cAMP overshoot, but also to an additional cAMP overshoot when naloxone is added. Since morphine is completely removed by washing, this naloxone cAMP overshoot indicated the presence of constitutively active μ receptors
Salt permeation and exclusion in hydroxylated and functionalized silica pores.

We use combined ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD), grand canonical Monte Carlo, and molecular dynamics techniques to study the effect of pore surface chemistry and confinement on the permeation of salt into silica nanopore arrays filled with water. AIMD shows that 11.6 \AA{} diameter hydroxylated silica pores are relatively stable in water, whereas amine groups on functionalized pore surfaces abstract silanol protons, turning into ${\mathrm{NH}}_{3}^{+}$. Free energy calculations using an ab initio parametrized force field show that the hydroxylated pores strongly attract ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$ and repel ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ions. Pores lined with ${\mathrm{NH}}_{3}^{+}$ have the reverse surface charge polarity. Finally, studies of ions in carbon nanotubes suggest that hydration of ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ is more strongly frustrated by pure confinement effects than ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$.
A genome-wide scan in an Amish pedigree with parkinsonism.

The identification of familial Parkinson Disease (PD) genes is yielding important molecular pathogenetic insights. In an effort to identify additional PD genes, we studied an eight generation Amish pedigree with apparent autosomal dominant parkinsonism with incomplete penetrance. Phenotypic variability ranged from idiopathic PD to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), with the average age at onset 53 years (range of 39 to 74 years). We identified markers on chromosome 3 and 7 that were significant at a genome-wide level by parametric and nonparametric criteria, lod > 3 and non-parametric P-value 3. These data suggest that parkinsonism in this pedigree is genetically complex, with contributions from several loci.
Re-epithelialization of Human Oral Keratinocytes in vitro:

Re-epithelialization involves interactions between keratinocytes and the extracellular matrix upon which these cells move. It is hypothesized that keratinocytes are activated when wounded, and the resultant phenotypic change directs re-epithelialization. We have adapted organotypic cultures, in which oral gingival keratinocytes are fully differentiated, to study re-epithelialization following wounding. To elucidate keratinocyte behavior and phenotype during re-epithelialization, we have investigated this process in the presence and absence of the growth factor TGF-beta 1 and have monitored expression of MMP-1 (Type I collagenase) mRNA by in situ hybridization. In addition, we have followed proliferation and migration of wound keratinocytes by genetically marking these cells with a retroviral vector and by measuring their proliferative index. We found that keratinocytes grown without TGF-beta 1 were hyperproliferative in response to wounding, and re-epithelialization was complete by 24 h. However, 2.5 ng/mL TGF-beta 1 induced a transient delay in re-epithelialization, a reduction in proliferation, and fewer clusters of genetically marked cells. Keratinocytes expressed MMP-1 mRNA only when they covered the wounded surface, suggesting that the cells acquire a collagenolytic phenotype during re-epithelialization and that contact with different ECM components may modulate keratinocyte expression of MMP-1. We conclude that the phenotype of oral keratinocytes is altered during re-epithelialization in vitro and that this process is modulated by TGF-beta 1. Re-epithelialization occurs as keratinocytes are activated to move over the wound bed. Understanding the phenotype of wounded keratinocytes may facilitate treatment of chronic oral wounds and periodontal disease.
Isolation of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 2 from Guaymi Indians in Panama.

Abstract Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and with a chronic degenerative myelopathy. However, another major type of HTLV, HTLV-II, has been isolated only sporadically, and little is known of disease associations, transmission routes, and risk factors for HTLV-II infection. Recent studies indicate that a high percentage of certain groups of i.v. drug users and blood donors are infected with HTLV-II. Seroepidemiologic studies have found an elevated rate of seroreactivity to HTLV among Guaymi Indians from Bocas del Toro Province, Panama. To identify the cause of seroreactivity among this unique population we used HTLV-II-specific polymerase chain reaction techniques to detect HTLV genetic sequences from blood leukocytes of three seropositive Guaymi Indians. The HTLV-II primer-amplified polymerase chain reaction products from two of these subjects were partially sequenced and matched published HTLV-II nucleotide sequences in both p24 gag (94% of 107 bases) and pol (98% of 112 bases) regions. A CD4+ T-lymphocyte line established from one of these same subjects produced HTLV-II-specific proteins when tested in antigen-capture and immunoblot assays, as well as mature HTLV particles. The demonstration of HTLV-II infection in this geographically and culturally isolated Central American Indian population without typical risk factors for HTLV infection suggests that HTLV-II infection is endemic in this population and provides an important clue to potential natural reservoir for this virus.
Interaction coefficients in Fe-C-Ti-i (i = Si, Cr, AI, Ni) systems

Ever since Schroeder and Chipman[10] initiated the application of the silver bath iso-activity method to the study of activity interaction coefficients of components in iron alloys, the method was only applied to some ternary systems in which only one component dissolves in both liquid iron and liquid silver. The authors of the present work proposed a method which enables the silver bath iso-activity method to be utilized to study the activity interaction coefficients of two components simultaneously dissolvable in both liquid iron and liquid silver by establishing an iso-i-j-activity state for several Fe-C-i-j quarternary samples through a common silver bath. This new “quarternary silver bath iso-activity method” was applied to quarternary Fe-C-Ti-i (i = Si,Cr, Al,Ni) melts at 1600 °C and estimated the activity interaction coefficients as follows: eTii = 7.96, ρTii = −6.88, ρsiTi = 0.51, ρTiTi,si = −2.27, ρTiTi,si = −5.66 eTiŗ = 3.46, ρTiŗ = 10.43, ρTiCr,Ti = 17.40 eTiAl = 0.93, ρTiŗ = 10.22, ρTiAl,Ti = 25.11 eTiNi = 2.49, ρTiNi = 9.33, ρTiNi,Ti = 16.37
TAU - A mission to a thousand astronomical units

The potential of nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) is investigated as the enabling technology for achieving a mission to a thousand astronomical units within 50 years duration. By means of a 1000 AU baseline, the primary objective is to make measurements of distances to the stars in the Galaxy and beyond. In addition, several deep space unique studies in astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and space plasma physics can be carried out. NEP technology requirements for a mission to 1000 AU are addressed. These technology requirements are compared with current plans for both nuclear space power and ion propulsion research. And finally an example TAU spacecraft system is described.