cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating the limits of SOAP performance for scientific computing

The growing synergy between Web Services and Grid-based technologies will potentially enable profound, dynamic interactions between scientific applications dispersed in geographic, institutional, and conceptual space. Such deep interoperability requires the simplicity, robustness, and extensibility for which SOAP was conceived, thus making it a natural lingua franca. Concomitant with these advantages, however is a degree of inefficiency that may limit the applicability of SOAP to some situations. We investigate the limitations of SOAP for high-performance scientific computing. We analyze the processing of SOAP messages, and identify the issues of each stage. We present a high-performance SOAP implementation and a schema-specific parser based on the results of our investigation. After our SOAP optimizations are implemented, the most significant bottleneck is ASCII/double conversion. Instead of handling this using extensions to SOAP we recommend a multiprotocol approach that uses SOAP to negotiate faster binary protocols between messaging participants.
Analysis of a 3D recursive filtering edge detector for extracting muscle fiber orientation

We implement two recursive filtering and hysteresis thresholding algorithms. The first algorithm (RHT) is proposed by Monga and Deriche (1991) and the second algorithm is a recursive filtering and hysteresis multilevel hysteresis thresholding algorithm (RHMT). The algorithms are implemented on 3D images of thigh muscles. The RHT method is effective and involves fewer calculations than many other algorithms, but the choice of thresholds poses a problem. To get the most optimal thresholds, the hysteresis thresholding has to be run a few times. The RHT method has been modified to a multilevel hysteresis thresholding method in which the thresholding is done iteratively over a range of thresholds. The result is a group of multiple thresholded edge images, which take lesser time compared to multiple runs of the RHT algorithm. The average of the resultant output gradient images of the iterations of the RHMT algorithm can be taken as the most effective edge detected image. Results of this method and the original method on some 3D images are presented.
Antennal Cleaning, Arousal and Visual Interneurone Responsiveness in a Locust

1. In unrestrained locusts, in which responsiveness of the descending contralateral movement detector (DCMD) unit fluctuates after the initial habituation, spontaneous or induced antennal cleaning has a very high probability of coinciding with low DCMD responsiveness. 2. First visual stimuli which coincide with cleaning still evoke an undiminished DCMD response, which in turn does not interrupt cleaning; the two are not mutually inhibitory. Their inverse probability of occurrence must derive from a common factor(s) with reciprocal effects. 3. Lesions to the CNS which decrease sensory input increase the probability of grooming reflexes, similar to antennal cleaning, and decrease the probability of high DCMD responsiveness. 4. The main factor affecting DCMD responsiveness is known to be neural, driven (probably directly) by a variety of sensory inputs. The responsible system thus appears to affect also the otherwise unrelated activity of antennal cleaning. 5. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis of a general arousal system in the insect CNS, deriving from sensory input and influencing several aspects of nervous function and behaviour. 6. Passive movement of the head brings about recovery of DCMD response, due the recruitment of a new peripheral visual pathway. Movement of the head during antennal cleaning does not do this. Proprioceptive reafference therefore plays no role. 7. As the DCMD is not inhibited during cleaning (2), the CNS therefore seems to compensate for the shift on the retina of a familiar stimulus; as first visual responses are high during cleaning, this mechanism does not operate for unfamiliar stimuli. The implications of this are discussed, and it is suggested that the site-specific habituation properties of the afferent pathways to the DCMD could provide an appropriate ‘memory’ for this integration.
Performance of a demand assignment packet switch for terrestrial and satellite networks

The authors consider a packet switch with demand time-slot assignment capability, to be used in terrestrial or satellite networks. The proposed approach attempts to optimize switch performance by scheduling a maximum number of packets within frames of fixed length, while unscheduled packets remain in buffers to be scheduled in subsequent frames. Delay analysis has been carried out under the assumption that an optimum algorithm has been utilized for this purpose. The analysis provides packet delays by finding the average number of schedule attempts before the packet is transmitted. Performance results indicate that this approach offers high throughput and low packet delays when the switch operates at heavy load. The maximum switch throughput approaches 0.9. An algorithm which can be used for the switch operation is also proposed. This algorithm maximizes the number of packets scheduled within the frame of fixed length. This is done by extracting the minimum amount of traffic from the traffic matrix so that the remaining traffic can be scheduled within one frame. >
Precipitation Kinetics of the Titanium Isopropoxide Hydrolysis Reaction

The precipitation product of the titanium isopropoxide (TiPT) hydrolysis reaction was followed using photon correlation spectroscopy. This technique followed the mean size of the precipitate as the reaction progressed, as well as giving an indication of the number of particles being produced. From this analysis, the induction time for the onset of nucleation, nucleation rate (or the rate of particle production) and mean growth rate were correlated with reactant concentrations. In the concentration ranges studied, it was found that the induction time was a very strong inverse function of the reactant concentrations. Both nucleation rate and average growth rate were found to increase very rapidly as reactant concentration increased, with the TiPT concentration being more important. This reaction was also followed using absorbance spectrophotometry in the 500 to 320 nm range. After mixing of the reactants, an absorbance peak was seen between 330 and 335 nm, depending on the conditions. This peak increased slowly during the induction period and then increased rapidly after the onset of nucleation due to the increasing turbidity.
Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio is Associated with Adverse Long Term Outcomes in Heart Failure Patients

Introduction: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio has been associated with adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes, increased arterial stiffness and increased risk short-term mortality in patients with acute heart failure. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio on long term outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure.Methods: 1579 heart failure undergoing coronary angiogram were enrolled. Absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte count was assessed on enrolment and (N/L) ratio was calculated. Patient were grouped quintiles based on levels of (N/L) ratio. Kaplan Meir analysis was used to assess 5 year mortality. Results: In our population (age 66 611, Male 65%, DM 38%, HTN 79%, MI 55%), mean absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were 4.7 6 2.2 x10cells/micro Liter and 1.5 6 0.7 x10cells/micro Liter respectively. Median (IQR) (N/L) ratio was 3.1 (2.2-4.7)%. Positive correlation was found between (N/ L) ratio and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (R50.25, p!0.001). Patients with increased (N/L) ratio had significantly increased 5 year mortality (log rank !0.001, Figure). Conclusion: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is associated with increased 5 year mortality in heart failure patients.
Influence of planning time and treatment complexity on radiation therapy errors

Abstract Purpose Radiation treatment planning is a complex process with potential for error. We hypothesized that shorter time from simulation to treatment would result in rushed work and higher incidence of errors. We examined treatment planning factors predictive for near-miss events. Methods and materials Treatments delivered from March 2012 through October 2014 were analyzed. Near-miss events were prospectively recorded and coded for severity on a 0 to 4 scale; only grade 3-4 (potentially severe/critical) events were studied in this report. For 4 treatment types (3-dimensional conformal, intensity modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy [SBRT], neutron), logistic regression was performed to test influence of treatment planning time and clinical variables on near-miss events. Results There were 2257 treatment courses during the study period, with 322 grade 3-4 near-miss events. SBRT treatments had more frequent events than the other 3 treatment types (18% vs 11%, P = .04). For the 3-dimensional conformal group (1354 treatments), univariate analysis showed several factors predictive of near-miss events: longer time from simulation to first treatment ( P = .01), treatment of primary site versus metastasis ( P P P = .002). However, on multivariate regression only pediatric versus adult patient remained predictive of events ( P = 0.02). For the intensity modulated radiation therapy, SBRT, and neutron groups, time between simulation and first treatment was not found to be predictive of near-miss events on univariate or multivariate regression. Conclusions When controlling for treatment technique and other clinical factors, there was no relationship between time spent in radiation treatment planning and near-miss events. SBRT and pediatric treatments were more error-prone, indicating that clinical and technical complexity of treatments should be taken into account when targeting safety interventions.
On the Order Reduction of Linear Functional Observers

This paper analyzes a new algorithm presented in [1] for designing a linear functional observer with arbitrary eigenvalues. It proves that the order of the observer in [1] is a reduction (depending on the problem) of a maximum order m=(? l +...+? p - p), where ? i , i=l,...,p are the descending ordered observability indices of the system (A, C) and p is the number of the functionals. Therefore, the design algorithm in [1] is general for all cases in the design of both the functional observers as well as the state observers which can be regarded now as a special case of the functional observer.
Motion planning for a three-stage multilumen transoral lung access system

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death, and early-stage diagnosis is critical to survival. Biopsy is typically required for a definitive diagnosis, but current low-risk clinical options for lung biopsy cannot access all biopsy sites. We introduce a motion planner for a multilumen transoral lung access system, a new system that has the potential to perform safe biopsies anywhere in the lung, which could enable more effective early-stage diagnosis of lung cancer. The system consists of three stages in which a bronchoscope is deployed transorally to the lung, a concentric tube robot pierces through the bronchial tubes into the lung parenchyma, and a steerable needle deploys through a properly oriented concentric tube and steers through the lung parenchyma to the target site while avoiding anatomical obstacles such as significant blood vessels. A sampling-based motion planner computes actions for each stage of the system and considers the coupling of the stages in an efficient manner. We demonstrate the motion planner's fast performance and ability to compute plans with high clearance from obstacles in simulated anatomical scenarios.
A Simple Method for Determining Lift and Drag on a Wing

A technique has been developed to determine the lift and induced drag coefficients across the span of a finite wing utilizing a limited amount of experimental data. The method uses measurements from pairs of pressure ports at selected chordwise and spanwise locations and it is independent of the configuration. Constants required to calculate the lift and induced drag are obtained from two dimensional theoretical code. The technique was applied to a wall mounted wing with an aspect ratio of 5.6, which included taper, twist and aileron deflections. The data calculated using the method gave detailed information across the span of the wing for different configurations. Force balance data were also acquired for the same configurations and comparisons show a very good agreement for a wide range of conditions.
Weak coupling and dipole bands in 191 Pb

Excited states in the nucleus ${}^{191}\mathrm{Pb}$ have been investigated by in-beam \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray spectroscopic techniques using the Gammasphere array. The reaction ${}^{173}\mathrm{Yb}{(}^{24}\mathrm{Mg},6n)$ at a beam energy of 134.5 MeV was used to populate states of ${}^{191}\mathrm{Pb}.$ The level scheme of ${}^{191}\mathrm{Pb}$ has been extended up to 5.1 MeV excitation energy and spin $45/2.$ The lower part (below $\ensuremath{\approx}2.3\mathrm{MeV}$) presents the general features common in all odd-mass Pb isotopes, i.e., spherical states built on the ${13/2}^{+}$ isomer, with bandlike structures that follow weak-coupling expectations. In the upper part of the level scheme two dipole bands are observed with bandhead energies of $\ensuremath{\sim}2.512$ and 2.291 MeV. A comparison of dipole band 1 with the strongest negative-parity dipole bands in the heavier odd-mass Pb isotopes reveals striking similarities. The spherical states are interpreted as the coupling of the ${i}_{13/2}$ neutron hole to the yrast states in the even-mass ${}^{192}\mathrm{Pb}$ core. The dipole bands are interpreted as $M1$ cascades which arise from the coupling of two protons in high-$j$ orbitals above the $Z=82$ gap to neutron holes in the ${i}_{13/2}$ orbital.
“Wet” Versus “Dry” Folding of Polyproline

When the all-cis polyproline-I helix (PPI, favored in 1-propanol) of polyproline-13 is introduced into water, it folds into the all-trans polyproline-II (PPII) helix through at least six intermediates [Shi, L., Holliday, A.E., Shi, H., Zhu, F., Ewing, M.A., Russell, D.H., Clemmer, D.E.: Characterizing intermediates along the transition from PPI to PPII using ion mobility-mass spectrometry. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 136, 12702-12711 (2014)]. Here, we show that the solvent-free intermediates refold into the all-cis PPI helix with high (>90%) efficiency. Moreover, in the absence of solvent, each intermediate appears to utilize the same small set of pathways observed for the solution-phase PPII → PPI transition upon immersion of PPIIaq in 1-propanol. That folding in solution (under conditions where water is displaced by propanol) and folding in vacuo (where energy required for folding is provided by collisional activation) occur along the same pathway is remarkable. Implicit in this statement is that 1-propanol mimics a "dry" environment, similar to the gas phase. We note that intermediates with structures that are similar to PPIIaq can form PPII under the most gentle activation conditions-indicating that some transitions observed in water (i.e., "wet" folding, are accessible (albeit inefficient) in vacuo. Lastly, these "dry" folding experiments show that PPI (all cis) is favored under "dry" conditions, which underscores the role of water as the major factor promoting preference for trans proline. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
Berkeley's Demonstration of God

Berkeley's demonstration of God is not philosophically the most important part of his Principles of Human Knowledge. But a close understanding of this demonstration helps one realize just how clearly Berkeley saw, or was willing to see, the logical consequences of those tenets of the Principles which have proven important in the course of philosophy. A step by step analysis of the proof also discloses how much of his philosophical and religious heritage, some of it inimical to his tenets, Berkeley carried into this revolutionary document.
Altered SIRT4 Expression Is Associated with Lewy Body Pathology (P01.209)

Objective: We conducted a gene expression study to survey members of the sirtuin family in postmortem brains that met neuropathologic criteria for the diagnosis of Parkinson9s disease (PD) and diffuse Lewy body dementia (DLB). Background Sirtuins have emerged as therapeutic targets to treat age-related diseases. The expression profile of sirtuins has only recently been examined postmortem in neurodegenerative disorders. Recent discoveries of small-molecule and protein modulators of sirtuin deacetylation activity have validated their potential as therapeutics to alter disease progression. Design/Methods: Sirtuin expression analysis was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in postmortem brain. We surveyed seven sirtuin (SIRT1-7) gene products in the caudate and insular cortex sampled from age-matched non-neurologic control subjects (N = 10), PD (N = 9) and DLB subjects (N = 9). Results: In PD, only SIRT4 expression was significantly changed in the caudate (fold change (FC) = 2.1, p=0.01) when compared with controls, but not in the insular cortex. In DLB cases, a synucleinopathy with more widespread cortical involvement, SIRT4 upregulation was robust in both the caudate and insula (FC = 2.4, p=0.003). We confirmed that SIRT4 was elevated in a second independent cohort of PD and control subjects (n = 17; FC = 2.0, p=0.0006). Taken together, the results demonstrate that SIRT4 dysregulation maybe a marker of Lewy body disease, since there was no trend observed for the other members of the sirtuin family. Conclusions: SIRT4 is a mitochondrial sirtuin involved in regulating OXPHOS capacity in response to caloric restriction. Although inhibition of SIRT2 has been shown to modify inclusion morphology in a cellular model of Parkinson9s disease, this member of the sirtuin family is unaffected in human brain. SIRT4 downregulation has been associated with increased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity, suggesting a role for this member of the sirtiun family in synucleinopathies. Supported by: Funded by the Francis and Morris McGowan Trust (DCM). Disclosure: Dr. Luca has nothing to disclose. Dr. Garamszegi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Eldick has nothing to disclose. Dr. Singer has received personal compensation for activities with Ipsen, Allergan, Merz, and Lundbeck. Dr. Singer has received research support from Schwarz Pharma, Synosia, Allergan, Astellas, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr. Mash has nothing to disclose.
Context clues: the importance of stem cell-material interactions.

Understanding the processes by which stem cells give rise to de novo tissues is an active focus of stem cell biology and bioengineering disciplines. Instructive morphogenic cues surrounding the stem cell during morphogenesis create what is referred to as the stem cell microenvironment. An emerging paradigm in stem cell bioengineering involves “biologically driven assembly,” in which stem cells are encouraged to largely define their own morphogenesis processes. However, even in the case of biologically driven assembly, stem cells do not act alone. The properties of the surrounding microenvironment can be critical regulators of cell fate. Stem cell–material interactions are among the most well-characterized microenvironmental effectors of stem cell fate and establish a signaling “context” that can define the mode of influence for morphogenic cues. Here we describe illustrative examples of cell–material interactions that occur during in vitro stem cell studies, with an emphasis on how cell–material interacti...
Precious: directed by Lee Daniels, with screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher. Based on the novel Push, by Sapphire. Produced by Lee Daniels, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Heller, and Tyler Perry. Santa Monica, CA: Lion's Gate Entertainment, 2009

The film Precious presents the fearless narrative of an adolescent girl who has endured chronic physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. This harrowing tale of trauma and survival exceeds our expecta...
CYTOMORPHOLOGICAL studies of the ASCOGENOUS HYPHAE IN FOUR SPECIES OF CHAETOMIUM

The genus Chaetomium was established by Kunze in 1817. Corda in 1837 improved the original description by the discovery of asci in the centrum, but he did not understand the true nature of the ascus. He did recognize, however, that it was in some way responsible for supporting the spores. Zopf contributed a well-illustrated monograph describing ten species in 1881, and Chivers recognized 28 distinct spe? cies in 1915. The form of the perithecial hairs was used as the major separation character by the early workers. Skolko and Groves in 1948 suggested that the shape and size of the perithecium and spores, in addition to the conspicuous characteristics of the perithecial hairs, provide a more practical basis for species classification. By 1953 Skolko and Groves recognized 53 species, and Ames in 1961 described 85 dis? tinct Chaetomium species. Despite the large number of species in the genus and the fact that most grow readily in culture and produce abundant perithecia, few studies have been made of the ascogenous cells.
Analysis of the risk factors of Schistosoma japonicum infection of mobile populations returned from schistosomiasis endemic areas in the Three Gorges Reservoir areas

Objective To analyze the risk factors of infection with Schistosoma japonicum in the mobile populations returning from schistosomiasis endemic areas in the Three Gorges Reservoir areas(TGR).Methods The mobile populations returned from the schistosomiasis endemic areas in 6 counties of the middle part of TGR were investigated.Each subject was interviewed and information was recorded.2～3 ml venous blood was collected and analyzed by ELISA assay.Results 1 940 subjects were investigated in 2007-2009.The Geometric Mean of OD value(OD-value) of anti-schistosome antibody level was 0.017 6.Results from the multivariate stepwise regression analysis indicated that there was a significant correlation between infection and the education of the individual(t=3.738 9,P0.05),floating reasons(t=4.094 5,P0.05),the working province(t=3.821 9,P0.05),endemic type(t=3.157 4,P0.05),occupations(t=3.007 1,P0.05),the frequency of returning to their home(t=4.539 1,P0.05) and home cities(t=11.683 0,P0.05),the reasons of contacting river water(t=3.033 2,P0.05),the awareness of schistosomiasis prevention(t=2.236 4,P0.05) and the year of survey(t=6.689 2,P0.05).Conclusion The risk factors affecting schistosomiasis infection in the mobile populations returning from schistosomiasis endemic areas were identified.The monitoring system of schistosomiasis should be improved and health education should be given to the target populations in order to prevent infection of S.japonicum in the TGR.
AIDS Sentinel Surveillance Results of Female Sex Workers in Dazhou City,2010-2013

Objective To investigate the HIV / AIDS related knowledge and behaviors as well as the prevalence of HIV among female sex workers( FSW) in Dazhou,and provide evidences for formulating further intervention measures. Methods Questionnaire survey was conducted among 4 811 FSW during 2010-2013,and serum anti-HIV,anti-HCV and syphilis test was conducted on each respondents. Results From 2010 to 2013,the awareness rate of AIDS related knowledge was 92. 5%,93. 5%,95. 3% and 98. 3%,respectively,with annual difference( χ2= 47. 12,P 0. 01). The rate of consistent condom usage in the recent month was 64. 8%,70. 7%,74. 0% and 82. 9%,respectively,with annual difference( χ2= 105. 17,P0. 01). The proportion of FSW received peer education were respectively 24. 3%,48. 5%,46. 0% and 40. 8%,respectively( χ2= 178. 20,P 0. 01),with annual difference. Conclusion In Dazhou,the awareness rate of AIDS related knowledge is high,while the condom consistent usage as well as peer education is low. AIDS intervention should be intensified and the coverage should be expanded.
Identification and characteristics of Vibrio cholerae O139 strains in one patient from Shandong Province of China in 2013

Objective To identify strains isolated from one cholera case in Jining of Shandong Province,China in 2013 and to study their drug resistance and etiological characteristics. Methods Samples from watery diarrhea and cooking utensils were cultured and isolated to get individual bacterial colonies. Gram's staining,O1 / O139 group serum agglutination and biochemical reaction were performed and virulence genes,antibiotic resistance profiles and related resistance genes were determined. Molecular subtyping was carried out by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis( PFGE). Results All the 3 strains isolated from watery diarrhea and cooking utensils were identified as V. cholerae O139 strains and their PFGE patterns were exactly identical. Cluster analysis also showed that the PFGE pattern of the 3 strains was similar to that of one V. cholerae O139 strain separated from Jining in 2005 with a homology of 93. 3%. The 3 strains harbored virulence genes,hlyA,ctxAB,toxR,tcpI,rtxA and tcpA,and antibiotic-resistance genes,intI1,intI4 and sxt. Besides, they were all resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,kanamycin and doxycycline,and sensitive to other 8 kinds of antibiotics. Conclusion This cholera was caused by infection of V. cholerae O139 strain with a strong virulence and multi-drug resistance from cooking utensils. Strains of V. cholerae exist in environment all the time,so prevention and control of cholera still need consistent efforts.
Coping and resiliency enhancement program (CARE): a pilot study for interpreters in cancer care

Objective There is a growing demand for interpreters in the cancer setting. Interpreters, the link to quality care for limited English proficiency patients, face many psychosocial stressors in their work. This project assessed interpreters' experiences of stress and piloted a resiliency program to help interpreters cope with stressors. Methods From 2013 to 2014, we pilot tested a targeted resiliency program with interpreters from three Boston-based hospitals. In Phase 1, we conducted five focus groups (n = 31) to identify interpreters' psychosocial needs. In Phase 2, we developed and tested a 4-h group program with 29 interpreters (response rate = 90%; 69% female, 54% Hispanic, 85% born outside of the U.S.). Results Phase 1. Stressors were patient-based (seeing young patients decline), interactions with medical team (unsure of role), and systems-based (appointment unpredictability). Phase 2. At baseline interpreters reported low abilities to cope with stress (measured by the Measure of Current Status (MOCS-A)). At 4-week follow-up we found improvements in job satisfaction (p = .02; Cohen's d = .41) and declines in sick days (p = .08; Cohen's d = .38). Stress reactivity (MOCS-A) improved; specifically participants reported feeling more assertive about their needs (p = .10; Cohen's d = .30) and more able to relax at will (p = .10; Cohen's d = .35)—important mechanisms to lower distress. Conclusions We piloted a resiliency program for medical interpreters in cancer care. We found that interpreters experience distress and have low coping skills. This program resulted in improved work factors and stress reactivity. Future research should include further implementation and testing in a larger, randomized trial. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of a Generic Lexical Semantic Resource in Information Extraction

We have created an information extraction system that allows users to train the system on a domain of interest. The system helps to maximize the effect of user training by applying WordNet to rule generation and validation. The results show that, with careful control, WordNet is helpful in generating useful rules to cover more instances and hence improve the overall performance. This is particularly true when the training set is small, where F-measure is increased from 65% to 72%. However, the impact of WordNet diminishes as the size of training data increases. This paper describes our experience in applying WordNet to this system and gives an evaluation of such
Inhibition of brain P-450 arachidonic acid epoxygenase decreases baseline cerebral blood flow

Arachidonic acid (AA) is metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 (P-450) epoxygenase pathway to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) in the brain parenchymal tissue and perivascular astrocytes. EETs dilate cerebral microvessels and enhance K+ current in cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells. In the current study, the effect of a subdural administration of miconazole, an inhibitor of P-450 epoxygenase, on microvascular perfusion of rat cerebral cortex was evaluated using laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) Baseline cerebral blood flow (CBF) decreased by 29.7 +/- 7.3% (n = 5) after administration of 20 microM miconazole into the subdural space for 30 min. Responses of CBF to sodium nitroprusside and 5-hydroxytryptamine were unaltered by miconazole treatment. Administration of vehicle alone in time-control experiments had no effect on CBF. In other experiments, the effects of miconazole on the metabolism of [14C]AA by cultured rat astrocytes and on nitric oxide synthase activity in homogenates of rat brain were examined. Miconazole inhibited conversion of AA to EETs by cultured astrocytes but had no effect on the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline by homogenates of rat brain. These results implicate endogenous P-450 epoxides of AA in the regulation of basal blood flow in cerebral microcirculation.
Co-evolution of Sensor Morphology and Behavior

This research tests the co-evolvability of sensor morphology and behavior as a function of the sensing modality (scent versus touch). The results show that the evolved sensor morphology and behavior are tightly coupled and influenced by sensor type and environment. Implying that co-evolution of physical morphology, behavior, and sensor morphology can generate better performance than using fixed sensor morphologies, but that this is often a more difficult task than evolving physical morphology for a fixed behavior or vice versa.
Control of Transmembrane Protein Diffusion within the Postsynaptic Density Assessed by Simultaneous Single-Molecule Tracking and Localization Microscopy

Postsynaptic transmembrane proteins are critical elements of synapses, mediating trans-cellular contact, sensitivity to neurotransmitters and other signaling molecules, and flux of Ca and other ions. Positioning and mobility of each member of this large class of proteins is critical to their individual function at the synapse. One critical example is that the position of glutamate receptors within the postsynaptic density (PSD) strongly modulates their function by aligning or misaligning them with sites of presynaptic vesicle fusion. In addition, the regulated ability of receptors to move in or out of the synapse is critical for activity-dependent plasticity. However, factors that control receptor mobility within the boundaries of the synapse are not well understood. Notably, PSD scaffold molecules accumulate in domains much smaller than the synapse. Within these nanodomains, the density of proteins is considerably higher than that of the synapse as a whole, so high that steric hindrance is expected to reduce receptor mobility substantially. However, while numerical modeling has demonstrated several features of how the varying protein density across the face of a single PSD may modulate receptor motion, there is little experimental information about the extent of this influence. To address this critical aspect of synaptic organizational dynamics, we performed single-molecule tracking of transmembrane proteins using uPAINT over PSDs whose internal structure was simultaneously resolved using PALM. The results provide important experimental confirmation that PSD scaffold density protein strongly influences the mobility of transmembrane proteins. Tracking a protein with a cytosolic domain that does not bind PSD-95 still was slowed in regions of high PSD-95 density, suggesting that crowding by scaffold molecules and perhaps other proteins is sufficient to stabilize receptors even in the absence of binding. Because numerous proteins thought to be involved in establishing PSD structure are linked to disorders including autism and depression, this motivates further exploration of how PSD nanostructure is created. The combined application uPAINT-PALM should be invaluable for distinguishing the interactions of mobile proteins with their nanoenvironment both in synapses and other cellular compartments.
Genomic Amplifications Cause False Positives in CRISPR Screens

Summary: In CRISPR-based screens for essential genes, Munoz and colleagues and Aguirre and colleagues show that gene-independent targeting of genomic amplifications in human cancer cell lines reduces proliferation or survival. The correlation between CRISPR target site copy number and lethality demonstrates the need for scrutiny and complementary approaches to rule out off-target effects and false positives in CRISPR screens. Cancer Discov; 6(8); 824–6. ©2016 AACR. See related article by Munoz et al., [p. 900][1] . See related article by Aguirre et al., [p. 914][2] . [1]: /lookup/volpage/6/900?iss=8 [2]: /lookup/volpage/6/914?iss=8
Psychology and Catholicism: Contested Boundaries

In this study of psychology and Catholicism, Kugelmann aims to provide clarity in an area filled with emotion and opinion. From the beginnings of modern psychology to the mid-1960s, this complicated relationship between science and religion is methodically investigated. Conflicts such as the boundary of 'person' versus 'soul', contested between psychology and the Church, are debated thoroughly. Kugelmann goes on to examine topics such as the role of the subconscious in explaining spiritualism and miracles; psychoanalysis and the sacrament of confession; myth and symbol in psychology and religious experience; cognition and will in psychology and in religious life; humanistic psychology as a spiritual movement. This fascinating study will be of great interest to scholars and students of both psychology and religious studies but will also appeal to all of those who have an interest in the way modern science and traditional religion coexist in our ever-changing society.
Health, Behavior, and Optimal Aging: A Life Span Developmental Perspective

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the behavioral and psychosocial factors that influence the rate from a life span developmental perspective. Some factors are aging accelerators―they appear to hasten decline in specific organ systems and/or more general physiological processes. These include health behavior habits, such as smoking and obesity; and personological factors, such as hostility, depression, and anxiety. Other factors, less well understood, appear to decelerate the rate of aging or to promote healthy aging, including exercise, diets low in saturated fats and high in antioxidants, and, perhaps, psychosocial factors such as social support, sense of control, and emotional balance. A preliminary model of optimal aging is proposed that reflects a life span developmental perspective more closely than other theories of successful aging.
High-power, CW millimeter-wave amplifiers and oscillators

About two and one-half years ago a programme was initiated in our Laboratories to devise efficient high-power millimeter-wave generators. It was believed that ultimate practical utilization of these devices dictated the use of low voltage and made achievement of maximum efficiency and minimum weight of prime concern. Air cooling was also specified for the same reason. Cw operation was chosen because it was believed that the problems in this mode were more severe than those in pulsed devices and also that many of the early applications of millimeter waves might be in cw communications systems. Although some consideration was given toother approaches, it was decided very early that the linear beam or O-type of distributed interaction tubes offered the most promise of realizing our obj ecti ves.
Presymptomatic Diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis 2

The clinical spectrum of neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) at the time of presymptomatic DNA diagnosis in at-risk first-degree relatives in five families were studied at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, and the Neurofibromatosis Institute, La Crescenta, CA.
Use of Text Maps to Improve the Reading Comprehension Skills among Students in High School with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of text mapping as a strategy for improving the reading comprehension skills, of four high school students with emotional and behavioral disord...
Of Progressive Property and Public Debt

Debt is property, and, because of this, property law has a lot to say about how debts are resolved. Indeed, property law is deeply woven into the fabric of the bankruptcy process — a fact that has been woefully neglected by many scholars. The ability to provide debtors with relief and the ability of creditors to demand protections from discharge or diminished payments are both concepts that are intimately tied to property law. However, despite the doctrinal workings of property law in this context, from a theoretical standpoint property law has been underutilized. This is particularly true, as this Article asserts, in the public insolvency context — when governments go broke. Instead of being relegated to a mere mechanical (and normatively side-lined) status, I argue that property theory, particularly that arising out of the progressive property movement, has much to say about public debt crises and the resolution of the different interests at play between debtors and creditors. In order to contextualize this argument, I use the Puerto Rican debt crisis as a lens through which to understand how progressive property theory should be used to reform the way property law has been interpreted in the context of public debt emergencies.
Humanizing Developmental Science to Promote Positive Development of Young Men of Color

Stevenson (chapter “Dueling Narratives: Racial Socialization and Literacy as Triggers for Re-Humanizing African American Boys, Young Men, and Their Families”) provides a compelling scientific framing of critical issues and important findings for a humanized narrative for understanding, supporting, and facilitating successful development of boys of color. The purpose of this chapter is to bring my perspective as a developmental scientist with an ecological orientation to augment his suggestions. Three areas of work and critical analysis are highlighted: humanizing intervention evaluation, humanizing developmental pathways research narratives, and humanizing the developmental scientist. Critical theoretical and methodological principles, and opportunities for pursuing excellent developmental research and sounder action, are suggested. The intent is to move from the current impoverished and deficient state of understanding of young men of color to an empathic and more useful one.
Estimating Reliabilities Following Purely Sequential Sampling from Exponential Populations

This problem stems from already implemented sequential minimum risk point estimation methodologies for a scale parameter or for comparing two scale parameters in exponential distributions. We move on to address the estimation problem for the reliability parameter in a one-sample scenario. We investigate both invariance (of fixed-sample-size MLE) -based estimators as well as those depending upon bias-corrected forms using already gathered sequential data and the stopped sample size. While we derive important guidance from Mukhopadhyay et al. (1997), the present investigation is significantly broader in scope. The merits of the proposed estimators are critically examined through simulation. These ideas are subsequently extended to the two-sample problem where our goal is to estimate how many times more likely it is for an observation from one population to “survive” beyond time point t, compared with another population. Twelve estimators are developed and compared. Again, performances of both biased and bias-corrected estimators based on sample means from already gathered sequential data and the stopped sample sizes are investigated via simulation. Some real data examples are included.
Hospital Ownership of Nursing Homes and Readmission Rates: An RDT and TCE Approach

Prevention of inpatient hospital readmission is a salient issue for US hospitals that participate in the Medicare program because of Affordable Care Act (ACA) reforms that financially penalize hosp...
Student Apathy as Defined by Secondary Agricultural Education Students

Student motivation continues to be a source of concern for educators. This phenomenological study captured the voices of secondary agriculture students as they shared their perspectives and experiences surrounding student apathy. Four focus group interviews were conducted at four central California high schools with distinguished agriculture programs. The following question guided the research: What experience do secondary agriculture students have with student apathy in their academic environments? Findings suggest student apathy is born of personal choice and grown through mediocre teaching, archaic assessment and the absence of learning purpose. Recommendations suggest students, teachers, the local school and teacher educators form a unified front to combat the phenomenon through purposeful and consistent action.
The genus Potimirim in Central America (Crustacea, Atyidae)

El examen de machos de Potimirim glabra mostro que esta especie y P. brasiliana son identicas. Por otro lado, no se encontro relacion proxima entre P. americana y las otras especies conocidas. P. mexicana se encuentra en la Vertiente Atlantica de Costa Rica. Por ultimo se discute la biologia y distribucion de P. glabra en Costa Rica.
Developmental regulation of potassium channels and the impact on neuronal differentiation.

Voltage-dependent potassium channels have a remarkable ubiquity, diversity, and importance in a wide variety of cell types. Recent progress in understanding their susceptibility to modulation by extracellular and intracellular agents and advances in the elucidation of their molecular structure have been the subject of several reviews (Rudy, 1988; jan and Jan, 1989). The present focus is prompted by emerging observations that expression of these channels in developing systems is regulated and of functional significance to subsequent differentiation of both rapid signaling capability and expression of other neuronal phenotypes.
Flow: The Joy of Reading

A few years ago someone sent me a picture of the school in Csikszentmihayt, which is the village from which my family comes. It was a close-up of the gate to the school. It’s a nice old wooden gate with a carved inscription at the top. I looked at it closely; it read in Hungarian, “A tudas gyokerei keseruek, de gyumolcsei edesek,” which I’m sure you know what it means, but for those who don’t know Hungarian, it means, “The roots of knowledge are bitter, but their fruits are sweet.” And I realize that all my professional life I have been trying to disprove that saying. In other words, not only in Hungary, but also all over the world, the assumption is that knowledge is bitter.
Inhibition of G protein-coupled receptor signaling by expression of cytoplasmic domains of the receptor.

The third intracellular domain (3i) of G protein-coupled receptors plays a major role in the activation of G proteins. Alterations in this region of the receptor can affect receptor/G protein coupling efficiency and specificity. We recently reported (Luttrell, L. M., Cotecchia, S., Ostrowski, J., Kendall, H., Lefkowitz, R.J. (1993) Science 259, 1453-1457) that coexpression of the 3i domain of the alpha 1B adrenergic receptor (AR) (alpha 1B3i) specifically inhibited alpha 1BAR-mediated inositol phosphate production, with no effect on D1A dopamine receptor (D1ADR)-mediated cAMP production. Similarly, expression of the 3i domain of D1ADR (D1A3i) inhibited D1ADR-mediated cAMP production but did not affect alpha 1BAR-mediated inositol phosphate accumulation. This suggests that peptides derived from a G protein-coupled receptor might serve as antagonists of receptor/G protein interactions. The present studies were performed to test the generality as well as the specificity of this phenomenon. The effect of expression of the second intracellular domain (2i), the 3i domain, and the fourth intracellular domain (4i) of alpha 1BAR on second messenger generation mediated by the alpha 1BAR, the M1 muscarinic cholinergic receptor (M1AChR), and the D1ADR was examined. Although the alpha 1B2i domain had no effect on receptor/G protein coupling for any receptor tested, the alpha 1B3i domain inhibited signaling mediated by alpha 1BAR and M1AChR but not by D1ADR, while the alpha 1B4i domain inhibited signaling mediated by each of the receptors. To investigate the generality of 3i domain-induced inhibition of receptor activity further, the 3i domains of two Gq-coupled receptors (alpha 1BAR and M1AChR) and two Gi-coupled receptors (alpha 2AAR and M2AChR) were tested for effects on the second messenger generation mediated by each of the four receptors. In each case, the homologous 3i domain caused significant inhibition (40-60%), while the 3i domain of the receptor coupled to the same G protein also decreased receptor/G protein coupling. In contrast, receptor/G protein coupling appeared unaffected by expression of 3i domains derived from receptors coupled to different G proteins. The alpha 1B3i domain-provoked inhibition of homologous receptor signaling was surmountable at high receptor density, and assays using a phorbol response element/reporter gene construct detected a weak enhancement of basal second messenger generation in cells expressing the alpha 1B3i domain alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The Impact of Incomplete Nursing Home Transfer Documentation on Emergency Department Care

Abstract Objectives Emergency department (ED) clinicians rely on the accuracy of written communication when assessing needs of nursing home (NH) residents. This study aimed to review the completeness of NH transfer documentation according to expected core components, as guided by the INTERACT 4.0 quality improvement tool. We also describe the association between patient or facility characteristics and transfer documentation completeness, as well as establish whether information gaps in NH-ED transfer documentation were associated with hospital admission. Design Retrospective study using 2 abstractors blinded to the study aims. Setting and Participants 474 records from NH residents transferred to the 3 EDs of Rhode Island's largest health care system from September 2015 to September 2016. Measures NH-ED transfer documentation completeness was reviewed according to the expected core items of transfer documentation, guided by the INTERACT 4.0 quality improvement tool. We used multivariable linear regression with random effects to assess factors associated with NH-ED transfer documentation completion and logistic regression with random effects to assess the relation between information gaps and hospital admission. Results Of the 474 NH-ED transfer visits, mean patient age was 76 years; 43% were male, 14% were nonwhite, and 34% had dementia. NH-ED transfer documents were present for 97% of visits, and an average 11.9 of 15 INTERACT core items were complete. Usual mental status and reason for transfer were absent for 75% of patients, whereas functional status was absent for 80%. The multivariable model showed that a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score (coefficient 0.08, standard error 0.04, P = .03) was associated with more complete documentation. More complete documentation was associated with greater likelihood of hospital admission (adjusted odds ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.18). Conclusions/implications Usual mental and functional status and the reason for transfer are often missing in NH-ED transfer documents and should be incorporated into standardized transfer forms.