cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Technology intervention for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage with motion detecting technologies

Background: This trans-disciplinary study presents the initial outcomes of a key study undertaken to explore the role of augmented reality and motion detecting technologies in the context of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) for museums-related environments. Initial prototypes are in the form of an interactive infrared camera based application for children to engage with an Aboriginal puppet, and Arabic calligraphic writings without touching any input devices. This study is unique as it tries to combine two extremes: the curation of historical intangible artifacts and their preservation through digital intervention. Objectives: This project aims to produce the following outcomes: *create a proof-of-concept ICH intelligent kinesthetic learning space; *evaluate and explore knowledge transfer opportunities of ICH afforded by peripheral games technology. The central research questions are: 1.Design: What do motion-capture and associated gaming technology experiences that are suitable for knowledge transfer of ICH in a museum situation look like? 2.Exemplified/perceived effectiveness: What is the contribution of this augmenting technology in terms of the perception of authentic and engaging learning environments? 3.Sustainability, scalability and interoperability: How can museums ensure ICH content is reusable and transferable? Methods and Results: The data will be collected and analyzed according to the differences in visitors' interactions and engagements. The data will be examined using (2 x 3 x 4) matrix triangulation strategy. The qualitative data will then be analyzed using quantitative methods such as Chi Square test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The analysis will culminate the visitors' behaviors and further development of the motion-detecting prototype. It is anticipated that the results will clarify the visitors' frequency of interaction with ICH content and their length and quality of engagement with the prototype. Conclusions: Heritage-related intangible content is always restricted because of its non-physical nature and has never been fully embedded in an environment like museums and related exhibitions. The study explores alternative opportunities for knowledge transfer of ICH content that manifest with playfulness in order to elicit a deeper understanding of such intangible cultural artifacts. This study complements multiple disciplines, including heritage preservation, museum technologies and emerging interaction design.
The value of resident teaching to improve student perceptions of surgery clerkships and surgical career choices.

Abstract Background A fundamental function of attending faculty is to teach and mentor medical students, but the benefit of the resident’s role is recognized increasingly. Methods Our Standardized Institutional Clinical Clerkship Assessment allows students to rate 27 factors relative to a clinical clerkship. Scores from 1998 to 2005 were used to evaluate our surgical clerkship program and to compare resident and attending teachers. Student surgery career choices also were monitored. Results Medical students routinely scored residents more highly than attending faculty. Attendings’ scores did not improve; however, residents’ teaching and overall clerkship scores improved during the study period and paralleled students’ increased selection of a surgical career. Conclusions Students perceived residents as teachers more than attendings. Residents may have significant influence over students’ career choice by their teaching and mentoring activities, which benefit attending efforts.
Is the CFA Franc Zone an Optimum Currency Area

Summary In this paper, we explore the features of the CFA franc zone and compare them to those of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) by operationalizing the criteria for an optimum currency area. A structural vector autoregression method is used in modeling national outputs as determined by global, regional, and country-specific shocks. We find that domestic outputs of the CFA franc zone countries are strongly influenced by country-specific shocks while regional shocks are far more important in European countries that have joined the EMU. The results suggest that the CFA franc zone countries are structurally different from each other and thus are more likely to be subjected to asymmetric shocks. They do not appear to form an optimum currency area and the monetary union may have been a costly arrangement for the member countries unless they are compensated with some other benefits.
Quantitatively Analyzing the Influence of Side Chains on Photovoltaic Properties of Polymer−Fullerene Solar Cells

Conventional wisdom dictates that the band gap and energy levels of a conjugated polymer are primarily determined by the molecular structure of the conjugated backbone, while the solubilizing alkyl chains should have a negligible impact on these properties. Hence the side chains should have minimal impact on the short circuit current (Jsc) and open circuit voltage (Voc) of corresponding polymer based bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. Contrary to the “conventional wisdom”, we demonstrate that the side chain of a low band gap polymer (PNDT-DTBT) significantly impacts the observed Voc and Jsc of the corresponding BHJ solar cell with variations as much as 100%, depending upon the length and shape of these alkyl chains. The observed difference in Voc and Jsc is quantitatively correlated with a pre-exponential dark current term, Jso, which accounts for the intermolecular interactions in the polymer/PCBM blends.
ASE and receiver induced noise penalty: Analytical models and experimental validation in NRZ/RZ systems

Abstract We present an analytical model to account for amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise in long-haul systems. Our approach provides a drastic speed-up of system budgeting compared to conventional modeling based on split-step methods. We have validated the analytical model experimentally and numerically. We also are reporting on a new analytical model to account for electrical filter-induced noise penalty and show that this model agrees well with fully numerical simulations.
Daily temperature cycle induces daily hatching rhythm in Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers, Romalea microptera

In nature, Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers, Romalea microptera, tend to hatch in the morning, thus exhibiting a daily hatching rhythm. They also show high intra-pod hatching synchrony. We tested the hypotheses that both diel-hatching rhythmicity and intra-pod hatching synchrony are elicited by a daily temperature cycle. In the laboratory, we exposed egg pods to either a daily 15:26 °C temperature cycle (12 h at each temperature) or a constant 26 °C temperature regimen. Under the daily temperature cycle, hatching was strongly rhythmic, with peak hatching at 3 h after the beginning of the warm phase. Under the constant temperature, hatching rhythmicity was greatly reduced and eggs hatched throughout the 24-h period. There was little intra-pod hatching synchrony under either treatment. We propose that in nature both daily hatching rhythm and intra-pod hatching synchrony are controlled by a thermal threshold for hatching.
Speed-of-sound measurements for nitrogen gas at temperatures from 80 to 350 K and pressures to 1.5 MPa

Speeds of sound for nitrogen gas have been measured at pressures from 0.03 to 1.5 MPa on 16 isotherms from 80 to 350 K. Measurements were made in a fixed-path acoustic cavity using variable-frequency electrostatic transducers operating between 1 and 30 kHz. Correction for boundary-layer effects were made using existing values of thermodynamic properties.
Reflective thin films for information recording

Abstract Films (100–1000 A) of In, Sn, Ag and several other metals were deposited on stationary and moving substrates of a photoconductive thermoplastic material. The resulting composite was heat deformable and was used in an electrophotographic process for recording relief images. The metal films had an island structure and high electrical resistance. A heat pulse applied to the composite to melt the thermoplastic momentarily resulted in an increased reflectance and decreased transmittance of In and Sn films.
Molecular cloning of the cDNA and promoter sequences for the mouse sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor.

Abstract The Na/H exchanger regulatory factor (NHE-RF) was first identified as a co-factor for cAMP dependent protein kinase regulation of the rabbit epithelial Na/H exchanger. Subsequently, this protein which contains two PDZ motifs, was shown to interact with multiple cellular targets. To understand more fully the function of NHE-RF and its regulation, we have cloned the full-length cDNA for mouse NHE-RF and a portion of the mouse gene containing the promoter elements. NHE-RF cDNA, isolated from a mouse kidney cDNA library, predicted a polypeptide of 356 amino acids that shares striking sequence conservation within the two PDZ domains and in-vitro phosphorylation sites with the human and rat homologs. The nucleotide sequence 5′ of the transcription start site, identified by primer extension analysis, was highly ‘GC’ rich and lacked canonical TATA or CAAT sequences. Using a luciferase reporter construct, deletion analyses localized the critical segment for gene expression in mouse medullary thick ascending limb cells to 114 bp 5′ of the transcription start site. Although NHE-RF has been recently identified as an estrogen-inducible gene, the lack of an estrogen-response element in the mouse NHE-RF 5′-non-coding-sequence and the inability to demonstrate estrogen stimulation of reporter gene expression in MCF-7 cells suggests a non-conventional or indirect mechanism for NHE-RF regulation by estrogen.
Upscaling geochemical reaction rates accompanying acidic CO2‐saturated brine flow in sandstone aquifers

[1] Network flow models were used to simulate the flow of CO2-saturated brine in the pore networks corresponding to three different sandstones. The simulations were used to study upscaling of anorthite and kaolinite reaction rates from pore to core scales. Unique to our simulations is the use of computed tomography to capture the mineral distribution in the samples as well as the sample pore network. The upscaled reaction rates determined from these simulations incorporate mass balance principles and microscale reaction rate laws and capture the physical, mineral, and flow heterogeneities in the network. These upscaled rates were compared with upscaled rates predicted by a continuum model and by a volume-averaged-concentration method. For the anorthite reaction, which remains far from equilibrium, the volume-averaged reaction rate exceeded the reaction rate of the network model by 18% to 46%. While the continuum model rate also exceeded the network model rate by −1% to 53%, its predicted values were generally better than the volume-averaged method. The kaolinite reaction is near equilibrium and is heavily influenced by the form of the microscale rate law in the precipitation regime. Three alternate rate laws were tested, which produced significantly different predictions for the bulk reaction rates. For all three rate laws, continuum and volume-averaged reaction rates incorrectly predicted the magnitude of the kaolinite reaction rate (disagreements of −700% to 55%), and the predicted reaction type, dissolution versus precipitation, was also often opposite to that of the network model. Finally, for both anorthite and kaolinite, all upscaled reaction rates showed significant flow rate dependence.
Modelling female mating success during mass trapping and natural competitive attraction of searching males or females

Simulation models of insects encountering sex pheromone with or without mass trapping in which the searching sex is either male (moths and many insect species) or female (some true bugs, beetles, and flies) were developed. The searching sex moved as a correlated random walk, while the opposite sex remained stationary (calling) and released an attractive sex pheromone. The searching sex was caught when encountering a pheromone-baited trap, and females mated when encountering a male. Anencounterwith pheromone was defined by the searcher’s interceptionofa circletermedtheeffective attraction radius (EARc). Parameters of movement (speed and duration), initial numbers of calling sex and searching sex, number of traps, area, and EARc of traps and calling sex were varied individually to evaluate effects on the percentage of females mating. In the natural condition without traps, female mating success in both models was identical. Increasing the EARc of the calling sex caused diminishing increases in female mating success, suggesting that evolution of larger pheromone release and EARc is limited by increasing costs (production/sensitivity) relative to diminishing increases and benefits of mating encounters. With mass trapping, increasing the EARc of traps or density of traps caused similar declines in female mating in both models, but the female-searching modelpredictedslightlylower matingsuccess thanthe male-searching model. Increasingthe EARcof calling insects or the initial density of insects caused similar increases in female mating in both models, but again the female-searching model had slightly lower mating success than the malesearching model. The models have implications for mating lek formation and for understanding the variables affecting the success of mass trapping programs for insect pests with either male or female sex pheromones.
Site-specific clutter modeling using DMA digital terrain elevation data (DTED), digital feature analysis data (DFAD), and Lincoln Laboratory five frequency clutter amplitude data

Ground clutter masking can significantly enhance route survivability of low altitude aircraft missions. To maximize the benefits of ground clutter in foiling detection by enemy ground-based air defense radars, one requires an accurate characterization of the site-specific ground clutter environment. This paper reports on a methodology that combines Defense Mapping Agency (DMA), DTED and DFAD data, and MTT Lincoln Laboratory empirical terrain clutter amplitude models to generate an accurate site-specific ground clutter reflectivity map suitable for mission planning route radar detectability and clutter masking analysis. Initial application of this methodology to two sites in the Iraq/Iran region shows that inclusion of DFAD significantly expands the expected region of clutter returns from that predicted by use of terrain data only.
IEEE Dynamic Spectrum Access policy standards work

There is a dramatic increase in standards work due to the progress of cognitive radio technology and changes in spectrum allocation dictated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The IEEE Standards Coordinating Committee 41 (SCC41) represents standards projects in the areas of dynamic spectrum access, cognitive radio, interference management, coordination of wireless systems, advanced spectrum management, and policy languages for next generation radio systems. The purpose of the P1900.5 working group is to define a policy language (or a set of policy languages or dialects) to specify interoperable, vendor-independent control of cognitive radio systems and behavior for Dynamic Spectrum Access resources and services. This work will benefit both commercial and military applications by providing a framework for policy description and control. This paper will provide an overview of SCC41 work, specifically focusing on policy standardization of the P1900.5 working group.
RC-interconnect macromodels for timing simulation

Most timing simulators obtain their efficiency over circuit simulation in terms of explicit integration algorithms that have difficulty handling the stiff RC circuit models which characterize interconnect-dominated paths. We describe a reduced-order N-port interconnect macromodel for timing simulation. This macromodel is shown to improve the timing simulation efficiency dramatically since it alleviates the stiff circuit problem. Moreover through its compatibility with the simple timing simulation transistor models, it is shown that this macromodel does not suffer from the dramatic increase in complexity with an increase in the number of ports like circuit simulation.
Ambient-Condition nano-Alumina Formation Through Molecular Control

When toluene solutions of the tetrametallic compound, (Al{µ-OEt)2AlMe2}3 )( 1), are stirred in air at room temperature, pure amorphous nanoparticulate Al2O3 precipitates. The average particle size is 17.7 ± 7.4 nm. The tetrametallic core of 1, having the correct stoichiometry for alumina (2Al2O3) appears to act as a template or nucleating site for the formation of alumina rather than the expected products of formula, AlOOH. The stability of the Al4O6 core of 1 was tested by combining it with six equivalents
The X-chromosome and the enzymes controlling muscle glycogen: phosphorylase kinase.

The genetic locus for alleles (+k and k) that determine the presence and absence of the muscle enzyme, phosphorylase kinase, has been located on the X chromosome of the mouse. The inheritance of glycogen content in resting skeletal muscle follows the Mendelian pattern, and the genes which determine it must also be sex-linked. Evidence is presented which strongly suggests that one of the major determinants of glycogen concentration is phosphorylase kinase; inverse correlations of the enzyme and glycogen were found during neonatal development and among hybrid females, where content of phosphorylase kinase in muscle is highly variable. This variability in kinase content also determines the degree of the epinephrine effect (formation of phosphorylase a) in these hybrid females. The hybrid mice (F1, F2, and first backcross) were obtained from crosses of I/FnLn and C57BL/FnLn mice. Adult mice of the I strain completely lack phosphorylase kinase in skeletal muscle and have a high glycogen content.
Using Prediction from Sentential Scope to Build a Pseudo Co-Testing Learner for Event Extraction

Event extraction involves the identification of instances of a type of event, along with their attributes and participants. Developing a training corpus by annotating events in text is very labor intensive, and so selecting informative instances to annotate can save a great deal of manual work. We present an active learning (AL) strategy, pseudo co-testing, based on one view from a classifier aiming to solve the original problem of event extraction, and another view from a classifier aiming to solve a coarser granularity task. As the second classifier can provide more graded matching from a wider scope, we can build a set of pseudocontention-points which are very informative, and can speed up the AL process. Moreover, we incorporate multiple selection criteria into the pseudo cotesting, seeking training examples that are informative, representative, and varied. Experiments show that pseudo co-testing can reduce annotation labor by 81%; incorporating multiple selection criteria reduces the labor by a further 7%.
Cobaltous chloride-induced hypothermia. II: Pretreatment with sympathoplegics, antihistamines, and narcotic antagonists.

Body temperature depression was noted in rats, mice, and hamsters following intraperitoneal cobaltous chloride administration (25 mg/kg). Intracerebral cobalt injection elicited hypothermia in rats and mice but not in hamsters. Body temperature depression appeared to be centrally mediated in rats and mice and peripherally mediated in hamsters. The effect of intraperitoneal and intracerebral pretreatment with phentolamine, diphenhydramine, propranolol, cimetidine, and naloxone on the mouse rectal temperature response to cobalt (25 mg/kg ip) was noted. Systemic phentolamine injection (intraperitoneal) did not alter the cobalt response, whereas intracerebral administration partially antagonized cobalt-induced hypothermia, indicating that antagonism was mediated centrally. Pretreatment with propranolol and cimetidine failed to modify the temperature response. Intracerebral diphenhydramine did not influence cobalt hypothermia. However, this agent reduced the cobalt response when given intraperitoneally, presumably through a peripheral inhibitory mechanism. The intracerebral injection of naloxone 30 min prior to cobalt slightly enhanced hypothermia, apparently through a central action. Intracerebral 6-hydroxydopamine injection depleted brain norepinephrine and dopamine but exhibited no apparent influence on cobalt-induced hypothermia.
Felt obligation and the family life cycle: A study on intergenerational relationships

Since the 1990s researchers have considered as the dominant view on family obligation a set of responsibilities, duties, and obligation of care and assistance,that adult children should assume when parents are old or infirm. This concept is limited, because it assumes that family obligation is salient only in one period of life: when parents reach old age and are infirm. In contrast, a relational approach to family obligation considers family relationships as central to understanding children's duties and responsibilities. Following Stein, family obligation can be defined as felt obligation: expectations for appropriate and negotiated behaviour, perceived within the context of specific personal relationships with kin across life course. Felt obligation is conceptualized in five dimensions: a duty to maintain contact, assistance, avoidance of conflict, personal sharing, and self-sufficiency. The purpose of the present study was to analyze perceptions of felt obligation in intergenerational relationships (parent-child and family of origin) in different phases of the family life cycle in a specific cultural context (Italy). The sample was composed of 92 parents with children of different ages (infants, school-aged children, and young adults).The measure addressed the five dimensions of felt obligation, all assessed in various phases of family life. Results indicated differences in dimensions of felt obligation between intergenerational relationships (both parent-child and with family of origin). Some of these differences, such as self-sufficiency and personal sharing, assumed more importance and salience in some periods of the life cycle than in others.
Neuromorphic interconnects using Ultra Wideband radio

We present the architecture and testing of an address event representation (AER) wireless link that uses ultra wideband (UWB) radio as the physical layer. The wireless protocol layers from high to low level are: AER events, asynchronous handshaking, PRN coding, and UWB transmission. The top three layers are implemented in digital logic in an FPGA, while the UWB physical layer is implemented using discrete RF components. The combination of error detection during asynchronous handshaking and PRN codes add noise robustness to the wireless link. First we describe the implementation and testing of the UWB AER link, demonstrating the operation of the protocol. Second we analyze the capacity of a network of UWB AER nodes, finding it able to support several thousand neurons across multiple transmitters, even at relatively high sustained firing rates.
Reconstitution of Embryo‐Like Structures from Sea Urchin Embryo Cells: Distinction Between Cell‐Cell and Cell‐Substrate Associations

Sea urchin embryos can be dissociated into a suspension of single cells that reconstitute embryo-like structures. When reconstitution is conducted in stationary cultures the first step is attachment of the cells to the culture plate, which requires calcium and metabolic energy but not protein synthesis. We have found that protease treated cells form cell-cell associations in stationary cultures without attaching to the culture plates, and that cell-plate attachments are unaffected by inhibition of protein synthesis. These data suggest that cell surface proteins are needed for cell-plate attachment and that these proteins are present on freshly dissociated cells. We also demonstrated that butanol extracted cells attach to the plates, but do not form functional cell-cell associations unless the butanol extracted material is restored to them. We conclude that sea urchin embryo cells contain two classes of attachment components. The first class functions in the cell-plate attachments, is protease sensitive, and not extracted by butanol; the second class is necessary for cell-cell associations, is protease insensitive, and extracted by butanol. Since protease treated cells reconstitute embryo-like structures without attaching to the culture plates, only the second class of attachment components is necessary for embryo reconstitution.
Crystal Structure of Human Cytochrome P450 2D6 with Prinomastat Bound

Human cytochrome P450 2D6 contributes to the metabolism of >15% of drugs used in clinical practice. This study determined the structure of P450 2D6 complexed with a substrate and potent inhibitor, prinomastat, to 2.85 A resolution by x-ray crystallography. Prinomastat binding is well defined by electron density maps with its pyridyl nitrogen bound to the heme iron. The structure of ligand-bound P450 2D6 differs significantly from the ligand-free structure reported for the P450 2D6 Met-374 variant (Protein Data Bank code 2F9Q). Superposition of the structures reveals significant differences for β sheet 1, helices A, F, F′, G″, G, and H as well as the helix B-C loop. The structure of the ligand complex exhibits a closed active site cavity that conforms closely to the shape of prinomastat. The closure of the open cavity seen for the 2F9Q structure reflects a change in the direction and pitch of helix F and introduction of a turn at Gly-218, which is followed by a well defined helix F′ that was not observed in the 2F9Q structure. These differences reflect considerable structural flexibility that is likely to contribute to the catalytic versatility of P450 2D6, and this new structure provides an alternative model for in silico studies of substrate interactions with P450 2D6.
Speed and Performance Differences among Computer-Based and Paper-Pencil Tests

This study investigated the effect of several different modes of test administration on scores and completion times. In Experiment 1, paper-based assessment was compared to computer-based assessment. Undergraduates completed the computer-based assessment faster than the paper-based assessment, with no difference in scores. Experiment 2 assessed three different computer interfaces that provided students various levels of flexibility to change and review answers. No difference in scores was observed among the three modes, but students completed the least-flexible mode faster than the other two modes. It appears that less flexible test modes are faster and do not result in poorer performance than more flexible modes.
Classification of speech under stress based on features derived from the nonlinear Teager energy operator

Studies have shown that the distortion introduced by stress or emotion can severely reduce speech recognition accuracy. Techniques for detecting or assessing the presence of stress could help neutralize stressed speech and improve the robustness of speech recognition systems. Although some acoustic variables derived from linear speech production theory have been investigated as indicators of stress, they are not consistent. Three new features derived from the nonlinear Teager (1990) energy operator (TEO) are investigated for stress assessment and classification. It is believed that TEO based features are better able to reflect the nonlinear airflow structure of speech production under adverse stressful conditions. The proposed features outperform stress classification using traditional pitch by +22.5% for the normalized TEO autocorrelation envelope area feature (TEO-Auto-Env), and by +28.8% for TEO based pitch feature (TEO-Pitch). Overall neutral/stress classification rates are more consistent for TEO based features (TEO-Auto-Env: /spl sigma/=5.15, TEO-pitch: /spl sigma/=7.83) vs. (pitch: /spl sigma/=23.40). Also, evaluation results using actual emergency aircraft cockpit stressed speech from NATO show that TEO-Auto-Env works best for stress assessment.
Tradeoff between Frequency and Depth of Price Promotions: Implications for High- and Low-Priced Brands

Academic researchers and marketing managers are interested in investigating two important issues in the consumer goods market. One is the effectiveness of price promotions and the other is the emerging competition between brands belonging to different price/quality tiers (e.g., national brands vs. store private-label brands). The author proposes a conceptual framework to examine the trade-off between frequency and depth of price cuts for high- and low-priced brands, and applies the framework in a numerical simulation. The findings are that high-priced brands benefit from infrequent large price cuts, whereas low-priced brands benefit more from frequent small price cuts. Implications for retailers and manufacturers are discussed.
Total synthesis of (-)-callipeltoside A.

A total synthesis of (−)-callipeltoside A (1) has been achieved. The core macrocycle was made via a dual macrolactonization/pyran hemiketal formation reaction, developed to circumvent issues related to the reversible nature of acylketene formation from β-keto lactone substrates. Initial approaches to the core of the natural product that revolved around ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and relay ring-closing metathesis (RRCM) reactions are also described.
Fast Data Processing for Optical Absorption Measurements

The measurement capability of tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy has now been demonstrated by several research groups across several subsonic and supersonic test and research facilities. Evolution of the technique’s utility now rests in large part with the signal processing aspect of the measurement activity. Feedback to test and research engineers demands prompt signal processing; feedback to both low and high order modeling has less of a demand on promptness and more of a demand on fidelity and precision. Utility of the measurement for control activities will require real-time signal processing. These differing processing modes demand differing levels of data reduction resolution in both the spatial and temporal sense. We are currently developing a single signal processing package within the MATLAB environment that can be naturally operated over various levels of resolution to address the need of the end user. This puts demands and constraints on the math techniques employed by the code. We present our work to date in this effort below.
Recognition and Reactivity in the Binding between Raf Kinase Inhibitor Protein and Its Small-Molecule Inhibitor Locostatin

The present work is aimed to provide detail on the binding process between Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) and locostatin, the only exogenous compound known to alter the function of RKIP. Understanding the basis of RKIP inhibition for use in pharmacological applications is of considerable interest, as dysregulated RKIP expression has the potential to contribute to pathophysiological processes. Herein, we report a series of atomistic models to describe the protein–ligand recognition step and the subsequent reactivity steps. Modeling approaches include ligand docking, molecular dynamics, and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations. We expect that such a computational assay will serve to study similar complexes in which potency is associated with recognition and reactivity. Although previous data suggested a single amino acid residue (His86) to be involved in the binding of locostatin, the actual ligand conformation and the steps involved in the reactivity process remain elusive from a detaile...
A Preliminary Investigation of Caffeinated Alcohol Use During Spring Break

ABSTRACTBackground: Caffeinated alcoholic beverages (e.g., Red Bull and vodka) are popular but associated with negative consequences. CABs may be particularly popular during Spring Break, a potentially risky social event. Objectives: We aimed to identify the prevalence of Spring Break caffeinated alcohol use, determine how caffeinated alcohol use Spring Break drinking habits differ from usual, and examine the association between Spring Break caffeinated alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. Methods: Data were collected from 95 college students during March of 2013 and 2014. Students completed questionnaires of their alcohol and caffeinated alcohol use before and during Spring Break and Spring Break alcohol-related problems. Results: Approximately 54% of students used caffeinated alcohol during Spring Break. Spring Break caffeinated alcohol use was associated with more alcohol-related problems, even after controlling for other alcohol consumed and Spring Break vacation status. Conclusions/Importance: C...
Mental health status and visit rates of active duty members and their families: findings from the 1994-1995 Department of Defense Health Beneficiary Survey.

Determining whether there is evidence of underutilization of outpatient mental health care by Department of Defense (DoD) beneficiaries relative to the general population is the purpose of this study. It analyzes data from the 1994-1995 DoD Health Beneficiary Survey and compares the mental health status and usage rates of active duty members and their families with benchmark levels found in the general population. Although the mental health status for the DoD beneficiary population was found to be generally the same as that of the general U.S. population within gender categories, gender-specific usage rates of mental health services of DoD beneficiaries in the groups examined were well below rates recorded for the general population. The concept of psychological readiness is also introduced. Several recommendations for increasing access to mental health care are presented.
Dialysis Arteriovenous Fistula Failure and Angioplasty: Intimal Hyperplasia and Other Causes of Access Failure

The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred hemodialysis access type because it has better patency rates and fewer complications than other access types. However, primary failure remains a common problem impeding AVF maturation and adding to patients' morbidity and mortality. Juxta-anastomotic (or inflow) stenosis is the most common reason leading to primary failure, and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty continues to be the gold-standard treatment with excellent success rates. Intimal hyperplasia (IH) has been traditionally blamed as the main pathophysiologic culprit, but new evidence raises doubts regarding the contribution of IH alone to primary failure. We report a 64-year-old man with a 2-stage brachiobasilic AVF that was complicated by failure 4 months after creation. An angiogram showed multiple juxta-anastomotic and midfistula stenotic lesions. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was successful in assisting maturation and subsequently cannulating the AVF for hemodialysis treatment. We failed to identify the underlying cause of stenosis because biopsy specimens from fistula tissue obtained at the time of transposition revealed no occlusive IH. This case emphasizes the need for additional research on factors contributing to AVF failure besides IH and highlights the need for more therapeutic options to reduce AVF failure rate.
CHAPTER 25 – Genomes, Transcriptomes, Proteomes, and Bioinformatics

The human genome project is culminated in the elucidation of the structure and organization of the genetic blueprint of the cell. Sequencing a single gene produces a lot of information. The sequencing of several genes that are of experimental interest to a laboratory produces an even greater amount of information. Sequencing an entire genome produces so much information that it could not possibly be organized, analyzed, archived, or made readily accessible to other investigators without very powerful, high-speed computers and outstanding software for the recovery of desired information from the database. One of the functions of bioinformatics is known as ‘data mining,’ which is a unique blend of information sciences and biology. Among the goals of genomics is the elucidation of the precise stretches of DNA that constitute discrete genes. DNA sequence information is only part of the story, because not all genomic DNA have the capability to be ‘functional.’ RNA, although a commonly examined parameter of gene expression, does not tell the whole story because of the enormous turnover of heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) in the nucleus and because messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the cytoplasm are not guaranteed to be translated. Because genomes are stable but the RNA and protein complement of a cell are not, it makes sense to study both RNA and protein expression data to gain a more complete picture of the physiology of the cell under local conditions.
Hydrocodone is More Effective than Morphine or Oxycodone in Suppressing the Development of Burn-Induced Mechanical Allodynia.

Background Pain is the most frequent complaint of burn-injured patients. Opioids are commonly used in the course of treatment. However, there is a lack of rodent studies that examine the differential effects of various opioids on burn pain. Objective This study compared the ability of morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone to suppress the development of burn-induced mechanical allodynia and reduce pain sensitivity. Methods Mice were examined for their baseline pain sensitivity thresholds using the von Frey Filaments test. Then, they were subjected to burn or sham injury and treated orally with morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone (20 or 40 mg/kg), or saline twice daily throughout the study. They were retested on days 4, 7, 11, 14, 21, and 28 postburn. Results In the sham animals, morphine produced significant opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). Development of OIH was minimal for hydrocodone and was not observed for oxycodone. Secondary mechanical allodynia was observed beginning four days after the burn injury and intensified with time. All opioids produced comparable antinociceptive effects. Hydrocodone was effective in suppressing the development of burn-induced mechanical allodynia and fully treated the burn-induced increase in pain sensitivity. In contrast, morphine and oxycodone had only minimal effects on the development of burn-induced mechanical allodynia and only partially treated the burn-induced increase in pain sensitivity. Conclusions This study demonstrated that hydrocodone is effective in suppressing the development of burn-induced mechanical allodynia, while both morphine and oxycodone had minimal effects. These findings underscore the need for additional studies on the differences among various opioids using clinically relevant pain models.
Human iPSC-derived myocardium-on-chip with capillary-like flow for personalized medicine

The heart wall tissue, or the myocardium, is one of the main targets in cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment. Animal models have not been sufficient in mimicking the human myocardium as evident by the very low clinical translation rates of cardiovascular drugs. Additionally, current in vitro models of the human myocardium possess several shortcomings such as lack of physiologically relevant co-culture of myocardial cells, lack of a 3D biomimetic environment, and the use of non-human cells. In this study, we address these shortcomings through the design and manufacture of a myocardium-on-chip (MOC) using 3D cell-laden hydrogel constructs and human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) derived myocardial cells. The MOC utilizes 3D spatially controlled co-culture of hiPSC derived cardiomyocytes (iCMs) and hiPSC derived endothelial cells (iECs) integrated among iCMs as well as in capillary-like side channels, to better mimic the microvasculature seen in native myocardium. We first fully characterized iCMs using immunostaining, genetic, and electrochemical analysis and iECs through immunostaining and alignment analysis to ensure their functionality, and then seeded these cells sequentially into the MOC device. We showed that iECs could be cultured within the microfluidic device without losing their phenotypic lineage commitment, and align with the flow upon physiological level shear stresses. We were able to incorporate iCMs within the device in a spatially controlled manner with the help of photocrosslinkable polymers. The iCMs were shown to be viable and functional within the device up to 7 days, and were integrated with the iECs. The iCMs and iECs in this study were derived from the same hiPSC cell line, essentially mimicking the myocardium of an individual human patient. Such devices are essential for personalized medicine studies where the individual drug response of patients with different genetic backgrounds can be tested in a physiologically relevant manner.
Recreational Postrelease Mortality of Lake Trout in Lakes Superior and Huron

AbstractThe effectiveness of fishing regulations that result in the release of some angler-caught fish depends on accurate knowledge of the postrelease mortality of those individuals. In the Laurentian Great Lakes, Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush are a major component of recreational fisheries; across large regions of the lakes, they are managed with length limit and daily quota regulations assuming a 15% postrelease mortality rate. Due to concerns regarding the accuracy of that rate, we conducted a tagging study to estimate Lake Trout postrelease mortality in Lakes Superior and Huron, and we examined environmental and fishing factors that influenced the return rates of tagged fish. The basic study design was to compare tag return rates between two groups: (1) a treatment group comprising fish that were caught and released by anglers; and (2) a control group comprising fish that were caught via trap net and released. Tag return rates for the angler-caught group were evaluated in relation to depth of captu...
Restoration of Biodiversity, Overview

Where habitats have lost populations of native species, there is potential for reintroducing diverse genotypes, species, and assemblages. Biodiversity is best restored by enhancing remnant ecosystems, where soils, microbial communities, and native biota are still intact. In more degraded sites, abiotic and biotic limitations constrain restoration efforts. Highly degraded sites require major changes, which favor commonly occurring, aggressive species, often exotics. Rare species likely require specific microsites or unique establishment opportunities. Continual, long-term management is necessary in altered landscapes, where novel conditions prevail. Strategic landscape plans would prioritize sites for preservation, reintroductions, ecosystem restoration, and novel plantings.
Macrophage-like nanoparticles concurrently absorbing endotoxins and proinflammatory cytokines for sepsis management

Sepsis, resulting from uncontrolled inflammatory responses to bacterial infections, continues to cause high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Currently, effective sepsis treatments are lacking in the clinic, and care remains primarily supportive. Here we report the development of macrophage biomimetic nanoparticles for the management of sepsis. The nanoparticles, made by wrapping polymeric cores with cell membrane derived from macrophages, possess an antigenic exterior the same as the source cells. By acting as macrophage decoys, these nanoparticles bind and neutralize endotoxins that would otherwise trigger immune activation. In addition, these macrophage-like nanoparticles sequester proinflammatory cytokines and inhibit their ability to potentiate the sepsis cascade. In a mouse Escherichia coli bacteremia model, treatment with macrophage mimicking nanoparticles, termed MΦ-NPs, reduced proinflammatory cytokine levels, inhibited bacterial dissemination, and ultimately conferred a significant survival advantage to infected mice. Employing MΦ-NPs as a biomimetic detoxification strategy shows promise for improving patient outcomes, potentially shifting the current paradigm of sepsis management.
FDA Approval Summary: Lenalidomide as Maintenance Therapy After Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

On February 22, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for the use of lenalidomide as maintenance therapy after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) for patients with multiple myeloma. The approval was based on evidence from two randomized, blinded trials of maintenance lenalidomide versus placebo in patients with myeloma who had undergone auto-HSCT along with a third trial of lenalidomide versus no therapy. Each of the trials demonstrated superior progression-free survival for the patients treated with lenalidomide. The effect on overall survival was mixed, with one trial showing longer overall survival and another showing no effect. Subgroup analysis suggested better results for patients with International Staging System stage I or II disease compared with stage III disease. Safety evaluation did not reveal any new safety concerns. More second primary malignancies were observed in the lenalidomide arm compared with the placebo arm. The FDA concluded that lenalidomide maintenance showed a favorable benefit-to-risk ratio when used as maintenance therapy after auto-HSCT. Implications for practice Prior to this approval, there were no U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved maintenance therapies for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who have undergone autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT). Maintenance therapy with lenalidomide after auto-HSCT in patients with MM demonstrated an approximately 15- to 18-month advantage in progression-free survival compared with placebo at the time of the primary analysis. Patients treated with lenalidomide also appeared to have a survival advantage compared with patients treated with placebo. Because of the high rate of relapse of MM in patients following auto-HSCT and because MM is a serious and often fatal disease, these results appear to be clinically meaningful.
Soft Data Analytics with Fuzzy Cognitive Maps: Modeling Health Technology Adoption by Elderly Women

Modeling how patients adopt personal health technology is a challenging problem: Decision-making processes are largely unknown, occur in complex, multi-stakeholder settings, and may play out differently for different products and users. To address this problem, this chapter develops a soft analytics approach, based on Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCM) that leads to adoption models that are specific for a particular product and group of adopters. Its empirical grounding is provided by a case study, in which a group of women decides whether to adopt a wearable remote healthcare monitoring device. The adoption model can simulate different product configurations and levels of support and provide insight as to what scenarios will most likely lead to successful adoption. The model can be used by product developers and rollout managers to support technology planning decisions.