cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cavity induced modulation of K a -band radar signals

Anechoic chamber measurements were made of sniper rifles and surrogates from 25.0 GHz to 40.0 GHz at 5 MHz steps utilizing a stepped-frequency, horizontally linearly polarized (HH) bistatic radar. It was found that a modulation was induced on the reradiated signal when illuminating the rifles near on-boresight. Further analysis of the data led to the development of a model comprised of a linear decomposition of the targets into 3 coherently summable reradiators: a long cylinder, a perforated disk, and a resonant cavity. The cavity induced modulation (CIM) which was found in the measurements can be used to locate and detect sniper rifles and other cavities. Additional measurements were made in a clutter environment at an Air Force test range at ranges up to 100 meters which confirmed the existence and detectability of the CIM.
Sudden Hearing Loss Following a Traumatic Head Injury: A Case Study

This is a case study of a 40-year-old male with a sudden profound sensorineural hearing loss experienced secondary to a skull fracture incurred during a violent assault. Following the acute phase o...
Guild Designations and Testing for Effects of Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Outbreaks on Native Lepidopteran Communities: A Comment on Work and McCullough (2000)

The effects of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), defoliation on tree growth and mortality have received considerable attention since it was introduced into North America. Indeed, L. dispar may be considered the most economically destructive defoliator of trees in the eastern deciduous forest association, causing significant decreases in radial growth of crown foliage and potentially large increases in mortality of its preferred hosts (Muzika and Liebhold 1999, reviewed in Davidson et al. 1999). Less well studied, however, are the potential interactions between the non-native L. dispar and other native forest herbivores (Liebhold et al. 1995, Wagner et al. 1996, Redman and Scriber 2000). Recently, Work and McCullough (2000) compared the lepidopteran communities of two eastern deciduous forest associations to test for potential negative effects of gypsy moth defoliation on native moth species. The authors reported two major findings: (1) changes in species composition of lepidopteran communities in oak-dominated forests (i.e., ELTP 20 sites of the authors) were correlated with gypsy moth population fluctuations (although the specific patterns varied among years), and (2) species of oak-feeding Lepidoptera appeared to be negatively affected during outbreak years of L. dispar . In support of their second finding, Work and McCullough (2000) classified 227 moth species into feeding guilds and performed indicator analysis on their data to assess whether variation in feeding guild membership was related to severity of gypsy moth defoliation. Thus, the strength of Work and McCullough's claim that oak-feeding Lepidoptera were negatively affected by the gypsy moth hinges on the accuracy of their guild classification, and whether their classification defines functionally important (in terms of their hypotheses) species assemblages. Here, we provide evidence that the guild classification of Work and McCullough (2000) was flawed. Furthermore, we suggest how these flaws might impair the statistical detection of significant …
Aging and stem cell renewal

Adult or organ stem cells present in mammalian organ systems are essential for the maintenance and repair of these organs throughout adult life. This key function of adult stem cells requires precise coordination of highly regulated molecular signaling to ensure proper cellular, tissue, and organ homeostasis. Such coordination deteriorates with age and consequentially, adult stem cells in the aged organism do not regenerate tissue damaged by stress, injury or attrition as efficiently as in the young. The molecular mechanisms associated with deficits in organ stem cell function with advancing age are for the most part unknown. Nonetheless, recent studies are beginning to shed light on the processes involved in stem cell aging, particularly in adult skeletal muscle stem cells, namely satellite cells. In this chapter, the current mechanisms believed to contribute to stem cell aging are reviewed, focusing on satellite cells and comparing them to hematopoietic stem cells as these cell types offer interesting perspectives regarding extrinsic versus intrinsic aging programs. Undoubtedly, knowledge of how organ stem cells change with advancing age will help in understanding the aging process itself and might provide novel therapeutic venues for the enhancement of tissue regeneration.
Unsteady swirling flow in an enclosed cylinder with reflectional symmetry

A numerical investigation of the multiple stable solutions found in confined swirling flows is presented. The flows consist of fluid in a completely filled cylinder driven by the constant corotation of the two end walls. When reflectional symmetry at the cylinder half‐plane is imposed, the flow corresponds to that in a cylinder of half the height driven by the bottom end wall, with the top surface being flat and stress‐free. Comparisons with available experiments in this case are made and the observed toroidal recirculation zones attached to the free surface are described in terms of secondary motions induced by the bending of vortex lines. Calculations are also presented where the reflectional symmetry is not imposed and the possibility of the flow breaking this symmetry is discussed.
Difficulties inherent in the restoration of dynamically reactive brain systems

The responses displayed by an injured or diseased nervous system are complex. Some of the responses may effect a functional reorganization of the affected neural circuitry. Strategies aimed at the restoration of function, whether or not these involve transplantation, need to recognize the innate reactive capacity of the nervous system to damage. More successful strategies will probably incorporate, rather than ignore, the adaptive responses of the compromised neural systems.
Racial/Ethnic Differences Affecting Adherence to Cancer Screening Guidelines Among Women.

Abstract Background: Race/ethnicity has been shown to modify the effects between obesity and cancer screening among women. The purpose of this article is to update the literature with recent data to examine how the association between different characteristics, including body mass index (BMI), and cancer screening compliance varies by race/ethnicity in a national sample of women. Materials and Methods: Three cycles of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) were combined for this cross-sectional study. Weighted descriptive statistics were evaluated using chi-square tests. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated associations between women with underweight or normal ( 30) BMIs and cancer screening concordant with guidelines (Papanicolaou [Pap] testing ≤3 years, ages 21+ years; mammography ≤2 years, ages 40+ years) in analyses stratified by race/ethnicity. We also assessed variance between racial/ethnic groups in how age, income, and insurance status w...
Thlaspi alliaceum L. (Brassicaceae): An Exotic, Invasive Annual Rapidly Spreading in Pennsylvania, Together with the First Collections of This Species in North America.

ABSTRACT Thlaspi alliaceum L. (Brassicaceae) is a weedy, annual, European species of ruderal habitats known from 14 states in the eastern USA. It first was collected in North America in 1947 in Pennsylvania, although most references cite a 1956 collection from North Carolina. The species now has been vouchered in 23 Pennsylvania counties. Populations frequently consist of thousands of individuals. Despite its frequency, Thlaspi alliaceum is underreported in published works on the Pennsylvania flora.
Further studies on the effects of amygdaloid stimulation and ablation on hypothalamically elicited attack behavior in cats.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the studies affiliated to the effects of amygdaloid stimulation and ablation on hypothalamically elicited attack behavior in cats. This facilitation is observed in 5 cats with bilateral amygdaloid lesions involving the border region between the magnocellular basal nucleus and the lateral nucleus. Evidence on the role of the amygdala in the integration of aggressive behavior is contradictory and confusing. However, most investigators agree that an important function of the amygdala is a modulatory one, modulating the activity of the hypothalamus in particular. Electrical stimulation in the magnocellular portion of the basal amygdaloid nucleus and in the anterior and medial portions of the lateral amygdaloid nucleus generally suppressed hypothalamically elicited attack behavior in cats. Stimulation in the dorsolateral portion of the posterior part of the lateral nucleus facilitated the attack behavior. Lesions in the same region of the amygdala in which stimulation generally suppressed attack produced a facilitation of the hypothalamically elicited attack response.
Anomalous evolution of microstructure and crystallographic texture during indentation

Abstract The present work combines orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) and visco-plastic self-consistent framework based numerical simulation to study evolution of microstructure and crystallographic texture during indentation of copper. It was seen that anomalous microstructure evolution characteristics involving accelerated grain fragmentation and refinement resulted in ultra-fine grains at low equivalent strains within a zone close to the interface of the indenter. Sources of acceleration in refinement were found in enhanced local crystallographic rotation rates manifesting through micro-scale strain-path changes in pathlines leading into the zone near the interface. These strain path changes were shown to result from heterogeneous accommodation of deformation across mechanically harder/softer micro-zones prevalent in copper despite absence of a harder second phase. The micro-zones were recognized using Taylor factor analysis by coupling in-situ characterization of deformation fields with OIM. In addition to accelerated refinement, zones near the interface of the indenter also exhibited cube textures as opposed to shear-type textures elsewhere in the specimen, confirming a hitherto unknown heterogeneity in the geometry of deformation mechanics imposed during indentation.
Equitable Apportionment: Recent Cases and Continuing Trends

The author reviews many of the recent cases involving the issue of equitable apportionment of estate taxes and urges states to adopt a bright-line approach to increase the application of equitable apportionment as the default rule.
Perception, Cognition, and Language

It is well established by now that certain areas of the cerebral cortex serve as the primary recipients of sensory information, and that another area, the primary motor cortex, is synaptically close to the lower motor circuits. In other words, these areas differ from other parts of the cortex in that they are specialized for particular and rather immediate sensory or motor functions. You will also recall that within the primary sensory and motor areas there are subregions that are dedicated to a particular part of the receptive surface or a particular muscle. This areal specialization in the cerebral cortex is an example of a principle of cortical organization that is commonly referred to as the localization of function. It means simply that not all of the cortex participates equally in every brain function; certain areas appear to be specialized to contribute more than other areas to particular brain computations. It is also the case that the cortices of the two hemispheres are functionally asymmetrical; each side has its limitations and particular capabilities, and a number of cerebral functions are lateralized to a greater or lesser degree.
Spoken French in Louisiana in the 1990S: an update

L'article est une mise a jour d'un texte de 1976 traitant de l'usage du francais en Louisiane, d'apres des recensements entre 1940 et 1970. Les recensements de 1980 et de 1990 ont permis de tester la validite de la formule d'erosion linguistique prevue dans l'article original. L'etude montre que le nombre de francophones de Louisiane est arrive en dessous d'un seuil critique necessaire pour la viabilite de la langue
Effect of thyrocalcitonin, administered during peritoneal lavage, on removal of bone salts and their radioisotopes.

SummaryThe effect of porcine thyrocalcitonin has been studied in the rat using an experimental system which produces a high rate of bone resorption. The technique utilized was that of peritoneal lavage with a calcium- and phosphate-free rinse. The hormone extracted from thyroid glands was administered either as a single injection following the third hour of lavage, or as multiple injections administered at intervals of 2 to 3 hrs. Thyrocalcitonin produced a marked suppression in removal rates of calcium, phosphate and their radioisotopes. It was also effective in animals parathyroidec-tomized 12 hours prior to lavage, though the recovery in these animals was slower than in those with intact parathyroid glands.Also, in all cases, the removal of radioactive isotopes administered 2 or more weeks prior to use of the animals was suppressed to a greater degree than those recently administered. Magnesium removal was not affected by administration of thyrocalcitonin. These studies support the conclusion that the ...
Effect of treatment on longevity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Continuous control of the pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats at systolic levels of 90-100 mm Hg with antihypertensive agents significantly prolonged their life span. The mean survival time in control animals was 73 weeks as compared to 96 weeks in treated SHR (P less than .0005) with 11% of the latter surviving to approximately 3 yr of age. Cardiovascular lesions were limited almost exclusively to the control rats. The general health, body weight and reproductive functions of the experimental animals remained normal throughout the drug treatment. These results indicate that by preventing the rise in blood pressure and consequent cardiovascular complications the life span of the SHR may be prolonged to that of the normal albino rat.
EFFECTS OF THIRTY YEARS HYBRIDIZATION ON THE TOADS BUFO AMERICANUS AND BUFO WOODHOUSII FOWLERI AT BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA.

Toads are especially useful for the study of evolution because: (1) they have extensive geog,raphic ranges and broad areas of overlap involving a variety of environmental conditions; (2) their mating behavior, especially call, can be studied easily; (3) laboratory hybridization is easily accomplished; (4) natural hybridization is frequent and (5) populations are relatively large. A. IP. Blair (1941) was among the first to recognize the usefulness of toads in studying speciation. He investigated morphological variation, isolating mechanisms and hybridization of Bufo aMnericanus and B. woodhousii fowleri in Bloomington, Indiana at Griffy Reservoir and found that these two species hybridize in the laboratory and produce fertile offspring. Blair also observed 9.4% interspecific matings (calculated from 1940 unpublished data) and collected 8.6% hybrid individuals (calculated from 1941 published data of individuals, 639 classified to sIpecies and 60 not readily classified). He suggested that this hybridization resulted from "human activities such as the clearing of forests and damming, of streams (which) may have so altered the ecological conditions as to affect the degree of isolation amona toad species" (Blair, 1941). Blair's morphological data are interesting because they are measurements of characters on two species which were hybridizing. A restudy of these populations might be expected to show the results of thirty years of population interaction.
Visible Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution from Water Catalyzed by A Molecular Cobalt Complex

An approximately planar tetradentate polypyridine ligand, 8-(1″,10″-phenanthrol-2″-yl)-2-(pyrid-2′-yl)quinoline (ppq), has been prepared by two sequential Friedlander condensations. The ligand readily accommodates Co(II) bearing two axial chlorides, and the resulting complex is reasonably soluble in water. In DMF the complex shows three well-behaved redox waves in the window of 0 to −1.4 V (vs SHE). However in pH 7 buffer the third wave is obscured by a catalytic current at −0.95 V, indicating hydrogen production that appears to involve a proton-coupled electron-transfer event. The complex [Co(ppq)Cl2] (6) in pH 4 aqueous solution, together with [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 and ascorbic acid as a sacrificial electron donor, in the presence of blue light (λmax = 469 nm) produces hydrogen with an initial TOF = 586 h–1.
Imago dialogues: Treatment enhancement with EMDR

The goal of Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT) is to have a healing connection form within the couple relationship. Some tools for achieving such connection include the Couples-dialogue and the Parent-Child dialogue. Despite the effectiveness of these interventions, it seems that some past childhood hurts and traumas remain unprocessed within the brain of certain individuals, thus inhibiting intimacy. By implementing Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) in tandem with IRT, clients who are stuck within these communication enhancement exercises are often able to establish a healing connection, thus further repairing past childhood wounds. Case studies have been included to illustrate the effectiveness of such integration.
Data Processing of Test Code of Hydraulic Turbines Control Systems

Data authenticity and reliability of hydraulic turbine control system tests are important bases for the correct assessment of safe operation of a hydro-generating unit. A research is done on the use of adaptive weighted point of post-filtering and adaptive point weighted smoothing filter in the middle of the trial data processing,and the use of data before and after processing for parameter identification in the Gongboxia 4th unit Electro-hydraulic servo system. Research result shows that the method can effectively deal with turbine control system test data.
A Fast Algorithm for Sparse PCA and a New Sparsity Control Criteria.

Sparse principal component analysis (PCA) imposes extra constraints or penalty terms to the standard PCA to achieve sparsity. In this paper, we first introduce an efficient algorithm for finding a single sparse principal component (PC) with a specified cardinality. Experiments on synthetic data, randomly generated data and real-world datasets show that our algorithm is very fast, especially on large and sparse data sets, while the numerical quality of the solution is comparable to the state-of-art algorithm. Moreover, combining our algorithm for computing a single sparse PC with the Schur complement deflation scheme, we develop an algorithm which sequentially computes multiple PCs by greedily maximizing the adjusted variance explained by them. On the other hand, to address the difficulty of choosing the proper sparsity and parameter in various sparse PCA algorithms, we propose a new PCA formulation whose aim is to minimize the sparsity of the PCs while requiring that their relative adjusted variance is larger than a given prespecified fraction. We also show that a slight modification of the aforementioned multiple component PCA algorithm can also find sharp solutions of the latter formulation.
Mechanistic role of cytochrome P450 (CYP)1B1 in oxygen-mediated toxicity in pulmonary cells: A novel target for prevention of hyperoxic lung injury.

Abstract Supplemental oxygen, which is routinely administered to preterm infants with pulmonary insufficiency, contributes to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in these infants. Hyperoxia also contributes to the development of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in adults. The mechanisms of oxygen-mediated pulmonary toxicity are not completely understood. Recent studies have suggested an important role for cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A1/1A2 in the protection against hyperoxic lung injury. The role of CYP1B1 in oxygen-mediated pulmonary toxicity has not been studied. In this investigation, we tested the hypothesis that CYP1B1 plays a mechanistic role in oxygen toxicity in pulmonary cells in vitro. In human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B, hyperoxic treatment for 1–3 days led to decreased cell viability by about 50–80%. Hyperoxic cytotoxicity was accompanied by an increase in levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by up to 110%, and an increase of TUNEL-positive cells by up to 4.8-fold. Western blot analysis showed hyperoxia to significantly down-regulate CYP1B1 protein level. Also, there was a decrease of CYP1B1 mRNA by up to 38% and Cyp1b1 promoter activity by up to 65%. On the other hand, CYP1B1 siRNA appeared to rescue the cell viability under hyperoxia stress, and overexpression of CYP1B1 significantly attenuated hyperoxic cytotoxicity after 48 h of incubation. In immortalized lung endothelial cells derived from Cyp1b1-null and wild-type mice, hyperoxia increased caspase 3/7 activities in a time-dependent manner, but endothelial cells lacking the Cyp1b1 gene showed significantly decreased caspase 3/7 activities after 48 and 72 h of incubation, implying that CYP1B1 might promote apoptosis in wild type lung endothelial cells under hyperoxic stress. In conclusion, our results support the hypothesis that CYP1B1 plays a mechanistic role in pulmonary oxygen toxicity, and CYP1B1-mediated apoptosis could be one of the mechanisms of oxygen toxicity. Thus, CYP1B1 could be a novel target for preventative and/or therapeutic interventions against BPD in infants and ALI/ARDS in adults.
Learning From K-5 Teachers Who Think Aloud

ABSTRACTAn essential element in teaching children to effectively comprehend text is the use of teacher-led think-alouds. The overarching objective of this study was to explore how to better prepare early career teachers to conduct think-alouds in their classrooms. Data from 31 teachers consisted of (1) questionnaires, (2) lesson plans, (3) lesson transcripts, and (4) written reflections. Teachers made significant growth in the quantity and quality of reading comprehension strategies they incorporated. Discussion focuses on the challenges the participants encountered when thinking aloud. Finally, suggestions for supporting teachers in effectively thinking aloud are provided.
AN ENERGY RESPONSIVE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING DESIGN FOR FLORIDA: A CASE STUDY OF THE AWARD WINNING DESIGN DEVELOPED FOR THE FIRST PASSIVE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN COMPETITION SPONOSRED BY THE FLORIDA SOLAR ENERGY CENTER

ABSTRACT The Florida Solar Energy Center's First Passive Residential Design Competition (1979) attempted to develop passive techniques for energy efficient homes particularly responsive to the hot humid climate of Florida. This competition winning design developed an energy responsive flexible housing system adaptable to the variation of Florida climates, community planning alternatives, site opportunities and constraints, functional needs, and personal preferences.
Risk Factors for Sleep-Related Infant Deaths in In-Home and Out-of-Home Settings.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Multiple environmental risk factors are associated with sleep-related infant deaths. Little is known about differences in risk factors for deaths occurring in-home and out-of-home. We sought to compare risk factors for in-home and out-of-home infant deaths. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of sleep-related infant deaths from 2004 to 2014 in the National Child Fatality Review and Prevention database. The main exposure was setting (in-home versus out-of-home) at time of death. Primary outcomes were known risk factors: sleep position, sleep location (eg, crib), objects in the environment, and bed sharing. Risk factors for in-home versus out-of-home deaths were compared using the χ 2 test and multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS: A total of 11 717 deaths were analyzed. Infants who died out-of-home were more likely to be in a stroller/car seat (adjusted odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.1–3.4; P P P = .02). Bed sharing was less common out-of-home (adjusted odds ratio, 0.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.6–0.7; P CONCLUSIONS: Sleep-related infant deaths in the out-of-home setting have higher odds of having certain risk factors, such as prone placement for sleep and location in a stroller/car seat, rather than in a crib/bassinet. Caregivers should be educated on the importance of placing infants to sleep supine in cribs/bassinets to protect against sleep-related deaths, both in and out of the home.
Minimum energy per bit for Gaussian broadcast channels with common message and cooperating receivers

This paper considers a three-terminal communication problem with one source node which broadcasts a common message to two destination nodes over a wireless medium. The destination nodes can cooperate over bidirectional wireless links. We study the minimum energy per information bit for this setup when there is no constraint on the available bandwidth. The physical link between any pair of nodes is affected by additive white Gaussian noise and circularly symmetric fading. The channel states are assumed to be not known at the transmitters. We show information-theoretic converse bounds on the minimum possible energy expenditure per information bit. These bounds are then compared against the achievable energy per bit using a decode-and-forward scheme which is shown to be weaker than the converse bounds by a factor of at most two for all cases of channel gains. For many cases of channel gains, decode-and-forward achieves the minimum energy per bit exactly. For the cases where the performance of decode-and-forward does not meet the converse bounds, we propose another scheme based on estimate-and-forward, assuming only phase-fading which is known at the receivers. For the particular cases of symmetric channel gains, we show that estimate-and-forward improves upon decode-and-forward, and is weaker than the converse bounds by at most a factor of 1.74.
Cell-graphs: image-driven modeling of structure-function relationship

Cell-graph construction methods are best served when physics-driven and data-driven paradigms are joined.
Four quadrant and zero speed sensorless control of a switched reluctance motor

A four-quadrant sensorless controller for switched reluctance motor (SRM) drives is presented in this paper. The drive system with appropriate turn-on and turn-off angles for each operating quadrant delivers excellent dynamic performance over a wide speed range including zero speed. The problems associated with practical implementation especially at low and zero speeds have been addressed and overcome with engineering solutions. Experimental results for a 1-kW SRM obtained on a dSPACE-based system are presented along with useful guidelines for practical implementation.
Transnational Capital and the Politics of Global Supply Chains

In the latest phase of globalization, transnational corporations based in the U.S. have worked closely with U.S. foreign policymakers to secure favorable foreign direct investment provisions within U.S. domestic legislation and within U.S. trade agreements. These interactions between transnational firms and the U.S. state have provided many of the preconditions for an expansion of foreign direct investment connected to capital liberalization and the growth of global supply chains from the 1980s to the present. This relationship is best conceptualized as representing a “transnational interest bloc,” whose policy objectives are incorporated within investment provisions in US-backed trade and investment agreements.
Temporal structure/function variation in cultured differentiated human nasal epithelium associated with acute single exposure to tobacco smoke or E-cigarette vapor.

AbstractObjective: Mucociliary clearance sustains a baseline functionality and an “on demand” capability to upregulate clearance upon irritant exposure involving mucus hypersecretion and accelerated ciliary beat frequency (CBF) modulated by nitric oxide (NO). This study characterized these elements as well as cellular and exogenous NO concentrations subsequent to a single exposure to tobacco smoke (TS) or e-cigarette vapor (EV) on cultured human airway epithelium.Materials and methods: Air–liquid interface (ALI) airway epithelial cultures per nonsmoking human subjects were subjected to single TS or EV exposures. Measures of ciliary function and secretion were performed and cellular and exogenous NO concentrations under control and experimental conditions were assessed.Results: Both TS and EV exposures resulted similar patterns of decline in CBF within 1 min of the completion of exposure followed by a gradual return often exceeding baseline within 1 h. Post-exposure examination of exposed cultures suggeste...
Initiation of Positive Streamer Corona in Low Thundercloud Fields

Formation of filamentary gas discharge forms, commonly referred to as streamers, is one of the conditions required for initiation and subsequent propagation of lightning leaders. It is quantitatively demonstrated that streamers can be initiated under thunderstorm conditions when two precipitation particles cause an enhancement of the electric field by passing in close vicinity of each other. Conditions for avalanche to streamer transition are documented using a model of two spherical hydrometeor particles placed in uniform ambient field. The results are presented in scaled form using similarity relations for gas discharges and can be applied for a wide range of thunderstorm conditions, including different air pressures, electric fields and particle dimensions.
Periadolescent Maturation of GABAergic Hyperpolarization at the Axon Initial Segment

Neuronal chloride levels are developmentally regulated. Early in life, high intracellular concentrations support chloride efflux and depolarization at GABAergic synapses. In mouse, intracellular chloride decreases over the first postnatal week in the somatodendritic compartment, eventually supporting mature, hyperpolarizing GABAergic inhibition. In contrast to this dendritic switch, it is less clear how GABAergic signaling at the axon initial segment (AIS) functions in mature pyramidal cells, as reports of both depolarization and hyperpolarization have been reported in the AIS past the first postnatal week. Here, we show that GABAergic signaling at the AIS of prefrontal pyramidal cells, indeed, switches polarity from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing but does so over a protracted periadolescent period. This is the most delayed maturation in chloride reversal in any structure studied to date and suggests that chandelier cells, which mediate axo-axonic inhibition, play a unique role in the periadolescent maturation of prefrontal circuits.
Mental Models and Social Media Personas: a Case of Amateur Palaeontologists

This study explores social palaeontology - an inclusive and collaborative form of science occurring across digital habitats. The purpose was to: 1) examine conceptualisations of amateurs via expressed mental models and 2) use the unified media-user typology (MUT) to explore any relationship between these models and social media persona. Data collection involved a survey, modelling task and interview. Findings reveal that persona was demonstrated in subtle ways, offering limited evidence for a relationship between persona and mental model. Sequential models were most common, but more so for advanced personas. Expertise development was expressed through the number of conventions used during modelling. However, the degree of inaccuracy suggests a lack of metacognitive awareness, implying that any increase in expertise with persona was not conveyed as such. The results bolster the capacity to design community-centred social spaces and inform understanding of science learning and the utility of MUT as a predictive tool.
Study of Brain Neurochemistry Utilizing Rapid Inactivation of Brain Enzyme Activity by Heating with Microwave Irradiation

ABSTRACT To study the concentration and interrelationships of neurochemicals in the brain with minimal interference from artifacts, endogenous enzymic and chemical reactions must be quickly stopped with minimal deviation from physiological conditions. With an appropriately designed instrument, microwave radiation can impart sufficient heat to rapidly denature the enzymes in situ , thus minimizing the perturbation of concentrations of neurochemicals. Furthermore, the denaturation process hardens the brain tissue and gross dissection becomes easier and more precise. For optimum denaturation, the instrument must distribute microwave energy as uniformly as possible over the area to be studied. Unless heating is properly accomplished, a temporal gradient in denaturation will exist. This distribution is of critical importance in the inactivation of enzymes which require high temperatures for denaturation; with inadequate instruments small areas of the brain may be heated above 100°C and pressure displacement of the brain will distort regional anatomy. The use of the E-field to concentrate heat provides the most rapid heating with the least power but also results in overheating the primary area of deposition. It can be used where even distribution may be less critical, that is, in the study of substrates with easily inactivated enzymes. In general, the use of the more widely dispersed H-field is preferable. Through use of microwave inactivation, it has been demonstrated that rapid inactivation of enzymes is necessary for accurate studies of acetylcholine, choline, dopamine, GABA, and cyclic AMP in the central nervous system, in addition to high turnover rate metabolic intermediates such as ATP, ADP, and AMP. It has also been used to study the rapid alterations in the central nervous system that occur during state transitions in sleep. Additionally, microwave irradiation has been successfully used to abruptly coagulate blood to allow quantitation of blood volumes which change rapidly in regions of the brain of mice. The microwave inactivation technique satisfies the criteria for valid sample acquisition better than other current techniques and provides the means to study the ephemeral neurochemistry of the central nervous system of small animals with minimal trauma and stress
Purification and characterization of two proteins with inorganic pyrophosphatase activity from Desulfovibriovulgaris: Rubrerythrin and a new, highly active, enzyme

The inorganic pyrophosphatase activity of a soluble extract from the strict anaerobe, sulfate-reducing, Desulfovibriovulgaris, is readily resolved into two peaks. After purification, two active proteins with very dissimilar properties are obtained. One is the non-heme iron-containing rubrerythrin, with a specific activity of 350 pyrophosphate hydrolyzed, min−1, mg protein−1. The other, a protein of Mr = 39,000, with a specific activity of 12,000.
African-American families, urban space, and the meaning of community life

Le Near West Side de Chicago, au debut du 20 eme siecle, etait en meme temps un espace d'ancienne implantation afro-americaine et de migrations recentes, notamment de populations blanches. Retracant quelques aspects de la vie urbaine de Lake Street, l'A. se propose de decrire la vie d'un quartier ordinaire a travers ses institutions, et d'analyser la construction et la signification de la vie communautaire des Afro-americains. Il tente d'identifier les elements qui ont donne un sens a cet espace particulier et qui en ont fait une communaute noire parmi une population diversifiee. A travers cet exemple, l'A. se propose d'explorer de nouvelles approches pour comprendre la construction des communautes, dans le contexte de l'espace urbain. Centrant son analyse sur l'idee de potentialite et de communaute en train de se faire, il veut eviter une approche statique de la communaute, et propose de la considerer comme un processus en mutation permanente. Si les changements interactifs entre la communaute et l'espace urbain se sont parfois fait dans un contexte de violence, ils ont cependant donne de nouvelles significations a la ville, faisant des Afro-americains des participants actifs dans la construction de la vie urbaine.
Extensional Theories and Rewriting

This paper is an attempt to develop a unifying algebraic framework for extensional theories capturing formally the informal concept of extensionality, as well as a generic automated proving technique, called extensional rewriting, that can be instantiated and then used to prove equational properties in various particular extensional theories.
Plasmon-exciton coupling in photosystem I based biohybrid photoelectrochemical cells

The light-induced property of photosystem I (PSI) has been utilized to convert solar energy to electrical energy in photoelectrochemical cells. Here we provide new results on the relationship between surface plasmon generation (SPG) efficiency of nanoslits and the experimentally obtained photocurrent by immobilizing PSI on the gold nanoslit electrode surfaces regarding different nanoslit widths. The photocurrent increases with the increment of SPG efficiency. This finding can be attributed to the phenomenon of plasmon–exciton coupling effect on the PSI in the nanoslits. The enhancement of photocurrent generation is discussed on the basis of plasmonic light trapping and plasmon-induced resonance energy transfer. [The original abstract for this article contains (characters/images) that cannot be displayed here. Please click on the link below to read the full abstract and article.]
Case 26-2018: A 48-Year-Old Man with Fever, Chills, Myalgias, and Rash

A Man with Fever, Chills, Myalgias, and Rash A 48-year-old man presented with fever, chills, myalgias, and diarrhea. On evaluation, he had generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, diffuse r...
NATIONAL TRENDS IN PULMONARY EMBOLISM MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES: SHIFTING PARADIGMS

Data regarding the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE), its management and outcomes remains limited over the last decade. The aim of our study was to review the national rates of PE and its outcomes. We performed a 12 year (2004-2015) analysis of the National Inpatient Sample database. Patients
Bubble Talk: Open-source Interactive Art Toolkit for Metaphor of Modern Digital Chat

In this art project, the ephemeral and intangible aspects of human's communication are represented by soap-bubble. The shapeless, intangible, and insubstantial speech - once the speech is shouted out through speaker's mouth it disappears unless someone hears it immediately, or even it is heard, the message will be forgotten as time goes - is transferred to a semi-tangible yet still fleeting bubble. The bubble machine that we created provides person-to-person and person-to-space interaction. The machine has a iris mechanism that varies its outlet size reacting to the participant's speech pattern as if it tries to talk something. Once the participant pauses, the machine blows out various sizes of bubble. The floating bubble represents the subtle state of a message from interpersonal communications that lies in the middle of real and digital world. Also, it creates a certain delay until it pops, which is a metaphor of our behavior that we often delay to send out text-messages through chatting apps. We believe that anyone can be an artist. By open-sourcing the details of fabrication process and materials, we want to encourage people to build the machine, interact with it at any locations, and use and modify it as a art tool for realizing their own ideas whether it is for art or not.
Biomarkers reveal abrupt switches in hydroclimate during the last glacial in southern California

Abstract Reconstructions of past hydroclimate provide a means to understand precipitation responses to global ocean-atmosphere climate dynamics beyond the scope of that in the instrumental record. Late glacial climate was characterized by abrupt variability in ice and ocean dynamics, however the implications for hydroclimate are not as well known. Here we present organic geochemical proxy evidence for precipitation isotopes based on plant leaf wax hydrogen isotopic compositions (δDwax) and temperature proxy evidence based upon the branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs), that derive from the membrane lipids of bacteria, each extracted from a sedimentary archive in Lake Elsinore, California spanning 32–9 ka. We add proxy evidence for vegetation and salinity from additional biomarker analyses and compare to prior pollen and sedimentological evidence from the same core. Our record indicates a strong deglacial warming of 10 °C in Lake Elsinore (beginning at 14.5 ka) that accompanied a D-enrichment of precipitation of +90‰ and more C4 vegetation (12–10 ka), after a cold, wet and C3-dominated phase (20–14.5 ka), indicating winter-dominated precipitation during the Last Glacial Maximum and Heinrich Stadial 1. During the late glacial (32–20 ka) we find abrupt variability, with precipitation isotopic shifts (∼70‰) that are independent of temperature swings implicating changes in storm track, rather than local temperature as drivers of the precipitation isotope signal. Temperature is however not irrelevant for hydroclimate: we find extreme warmth at 29.4 ka and 26.8 ka, the latter coincident with existing reports of an extended dry period (27.5–25.5 ka), suggesting a long hot and dry interlude during the generally cooler glacial period. We compare δDwax with speleothem δ 18 O from Nevada, also within the winter-dominated precipitation region. Our results corroborate the Last Glacial Maximum and deglacial signals, and fill gaps revealing storm-track instability from 32–20 ka, however the pacing and magnitude of the biomarker signals merit cautious interpretation.
3D bioprinted mammary organoids and tumoroids in human mammary derived ECM hydrogels

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues is an important mediator of cell function. Moreover, understanding cellular dynamics within their specific tissue context is also important for developmental biology, cancer research, and regenerative medicine. However, robust in vitro models that incorporate tissue-specific microenvironments are lacking. Here we describe a novel mammary-specific culture protocol that combines a self-gelling hydrogel comprised solely of ECM from decellularized rat or human breast tissue with the use of our previously described 3D bioprinting platform. We initially demonstrate that undigested and decellularized mammary tissue can support mammary epithelial and tumor cell growth. We then describe a methodology for generating mammary ECM extracts that can spontaneously gel to form hydrogels. These ECM hydrogels retain unique structural and signaling profiles that elicit differential responses when normal mammary and breast cancer cells are cultured within them. Using our bioprinter, we establish that we can generate large organoids/tumoroids in the all mammary-derived hydrogel. These findings demonstrate that our system allows for growth of organoids/tumoroids in a tissue-specific matrix with unique properties, thus providing a suitable platform for ECM and epithelial/cancer cell studies. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Factors within extracellular matrices (ECMs) are specific to their tissue of origin. It has been shown that tissue specific factors within the mammary gland's ECM have pronounced effects on cellular differentiation and cancer behavior. Understanding the role of the ECM in controlling cell fate has major implications for developmental biology, tissue engineering, and cancer therapy. However, in vitro models to study cellular interactions with tissue specific ECM are lacking. Here we describe the generation of 3D hydrogels consisting solely of human or mouse mammary ECM. We demonstrate that these novel 3D culture substrates can sustain large 3D bioprinted organoid and tumoroid formation. This is the first demonstration of an all mammary ECM culture system capable of sustaining large structural growths.
β-arrestin-dependent ERK signaling positively correlates with reduced anxiety-like and conditioned fear-related behavior in mice

Exposure to anxiety- or fear-invoking stimuli initiates a convergence of executive actions orchestrated by multiple proteins and neurotransmitters across the brain. Dozens of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been linked to regulation of fear and anxiety. GPCR signaling involves canonical G protein pathways but may also engage downstream kinases and effectors through β-arrestin scaffolds. Here, we investigate whether β-arrestin signaling can regulate anxiety-like and fear-related behavior. Using the δ-opioid receptor (δOR) as a model GPCR, we found that β-arrestin 2-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) in the dorsal hippocampus and the amygdala are critical for δOR agonist-induced anxiolytic-like effects. In contrast, G protein-mediated δOR signaling was associated with decreased ERK1/2 activity and increased fear-related behavior. Our results also indicate unique contributions for β-arrestin isoforms in modulation of anxiety-like and fear-related behavior. Overall, our findings highlight the significance of non-canonical β-arrestin signaling in the regulation of emotions.
Electrochemical response of various metals to oxygen gas bubbling in molten LiCl–Li 2 O melt

The electrochemical response of several alloys (stainless steel 316, Hastelloy C276, Inconel 600, and tantalum) was investigated in molten LiCl–Li2O (1 wt%) at 923 K while bubbling oxygen gas into the molten salt. Tafel and zero resistance ammeter (ZRA) electrochemical methods were used to measure electrochemical effects of oxidation processes at the surface of each alloy. The Tafel method required approximately 15 min and was, thus, applied only in intervals between periods of oxygen bubbling in the salt. ZRA measurements were made in real time, while the O2 was actively being bubbled into the salt. This method recorded both open circuit potential of the alloy relative to a Ni/NiO reference electrode and current between the alloy and the galvanically coupled platinum plate that served as the counter electrode. Both open circuit potential and galvanic oxidation current started to increase at the initiation of oxygen flow. Based on the observed oxidation current trend, it was inferred that the metals in order of increasing resistance to oxidation in molten LiCl–Li2O are as follows: tantalum < SS-316 < Inconel 600 < Haynes C276. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated formation of an oxide layer of thickness 560–3370 nm that correlates with the galvanic oxidation current measurements.
Antibiotics and antifungals in silicone oil.

Antimicrobials may be injected into silicone oil-filled eyes with endophthalmitis, but the interaction with oil is unclear. The purpose of the experiment is to determine whether vancomycin, amikacin, and amphotericin B mix with silicone oil. Using the relative proportions of the human eye, 4 ml of 1000 centistokes silicone oil was centrifuged with 0.1 ml of vancomycin 1 mg/0.1 ml, amikacin 0.4 mg/0.1 ml, or amphotericin B 5 µg/0.1 ml in vitro and eluted. The aqueous was immediately analyzed with a liquid chromatographer/mass spectrometer and after 24 h. Within 24 h, a mean of 26.9 μmol/L of vancomycin, 0 nmol/L of amikacin, and 0 nmol/L of amphotericin B were recovered. When the concentrations of amikacin and amphotericin B were increased 100-fold, 0 nmol/L of amikacin and 75.7 µmol/L of amphotericin B were recovered. Vancomycin and amphotericin B partially mixed with the silicone oil. Amikacin was not recovered from the antibiotic–silicone oil mixture.