cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autonomic and Enteric Neurons: Cell Culture

Author(s): Lein, PJ; Fryer, AD | Abstract: © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Sympathetic cell culture is widely used for mechanistic studies of neurodevelopment, plasticity and neurotransmission. Other than chick ciliary ganglia, parasympathetic and enteric cultures are not as widely used, and have largely focused on electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of these cells. New procedures for culturing primary human autonomic neurons, and for co-culturing autonomic neurons with target tissue cells will increase the power of these models for addressing significant gaps in understanding of the cell biology and pharmacology of these neurons, the impact of which is underscored by the importance of autonomic nervous systems in regulating all major organ systems in vertebrates.
Relatos que no fueron: enunciación y mundos posibles en dos poemas infantiles

La literatura infantil, en su larga trayectoria, se ha beneficiado —a veces de manera libre e inconsciente, a veces forzada por las instituciones— con el establecimiento de formas architextuales que enfatizan algun u otro aspecto de la vida de los ninos. En este contexto, por un lado, la narrativa se ha desarrollado originariamente en su vinculo con la resolucion de problemas, lo que Bettelheim denominara “la lucha por el significado”. Por otro lado, la poesia infantil, unida en sus principios a la lirica aplicada —con exponentes como la cancion de cuna y la cancion de corro—, se caracteriza por presentar una situacion de enunciacion —mas o menos explicita— en la que se manifiesta una representacion de la infancia. Con el correr del tiempo, se ha ido independizando de las formas tradicionales, y, sin dejar de abrevar en ellas, ha buscado nuevos caminos, uniendose al libro ilustrado o al libro-album, y planteando, con juegos enunciativos propios, la posibilidad de una hibridacion con las caracteristicas semanticas y discursivas la narracion. Este es el caso de los poemas “Suplica” (Julio Alfredo Egea, en Nana para dormir munecas, 1965) y Cancion decidida (David Wapner y Cristian Turdera, 2003). Los subgeneros que atraviesan a cada obra —cancion de cuna y libro-album, respectivamente— se ven cuestionados, reformulados y enriquecidos. La poesia los tensa y flexibiliza, para dar cuenta de dos situaciones de enunciacion concretas. Ambas favorecen la aparicion de microestructuras narrativas, bajo el aspecto de mundos posibles, expresados por la subjetividad de un hablante lirico nino siempre deseante.
CXCL9 and CXCL10 are differentially associated with systemic organ involvement and pulmonary disease severity in sarcoidosis.

Abstract Background Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous inflammatory disease with limited blood markers to predict outcomes. The interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-inducible chemotactic cytokines (chemokines), CXCL9 and CXCL10, are both increased in sarcoidosis patients, yet they possess important molecular differences. Our study determined if serum chemokines correlated with different aspects of disease severity. Methods We measured CXCL9 and CXCL10 serum levels at initial study visits and longitudinally in sarcoidosis subjects using ELISA. We examined these chemokines’ relationships with pulmonary and organ involvement outcomes, their gene expression, peripheral blood immune cell populations, and immunosuppression use. Results Higher CXCL10 levels negatively correlated with FVC, TLC, and DLCO at subjects’ initial visit and when measured repeatedly over two years. CXCL10 also positively correlated with longitudinal respiratory symptom severity. Additionally, for every log10(CXCL10) increase, the risk of longitudinal pulmonary function decline increased 8.8 times over the 5-year study period (95% CI 1.6–50, p = 0.014, log10(CXCL0) range 0.84–2.7). In contrast, CXCL9 levels positively correlated with systemic organ involvement at initial study visit (1.5 additional organs involved for every log10(CXCL9) increase, 95% CI 1.1–2.0, p = 0.022, log10(CXCL9) range 1.3–3.3). CXCL10, not CXCL9, positively correlated with its own blood gene expression and monocyte level. Immunosuppressive treatment was associated with lower levels of both chemokines. Conclusions In sarcoidosis subjects, serum CXCL9 levels correlated with systemic organ involvement and CXCL10 levels strongly correlated with respiratory outcomes, which may ultimately prove helpful in clinical management. These differing associations may be due to differences in cellular regulation and tissue origin.
Suction adhesion in the gliding joint of a cephalopod.

ABSTRACT We have discovered features of the nuchal joint in the squid, Doryteuthispealeii, that are unique compared with moveable joints in other animals. The joint9s function is unclear but it allows the head to glide toward and away from the mantle. The head glides along the joint with ease yet disarticulating the joint perpendicular to the axis of movement requires considerable force. After disarticulation, the joint components can be repositioned and full function restored immediately. Thus, an unknown attachment mechanism prevents the joint from being disarticulated yet permits gliding. We show that the joint was formed by the articulation of the nuchal cartilage and a heretofore-undescribed organ that we named the nuchal ‘joint pad’. The joint pad is composed predominantly of muscle, connective tissue and cartilage organized into two distinct regions: a ventral cartilaginous layer and a dorsal muscular layer. Disarticulating the nuchal joint at a displacement rate of 5 mm s−1 required 1.5 times greater stress (i.e. force per unit area) than at 1 mm s−1. The force required to disarticulate the joint increased with nuchal cartilage area0.91 and with nuchal cartilage length1.88. The stress required to shear the nuchal joint was nearly three orders of magnitude lower than that required to disarticulate the joint. Stimulation of the joint pad dorso-ventral musculature resulted in significantly greater shear force required to move the joint (P=0.004). Perforating the nuchal cartilage decreased the stress required to disarticulate the joint to nearly zero. The results support the hypothesis that suction is the attachment mechanism.
Contributions of joint mechanics and neural control to the generation of torque during movement

Completing motor tasks that require contact is dependent on an ability to regulate the relationship between limb motions and interaction forces with the environment. This can be achieved by exploiting the mechanical properties of a limb or through active regulation of joint torques through changes in muscle activation. Leveraging the mechanical properties of a joint might simplify neural control when they are matched to the functional requirements of a task. The purpose of this study was to determine if humans change their control strategy, relying on limb mechanics rather than regulated muscle activation, when feasible. This was accomplished by measuring ankle impedance and muscle activation strategies in three tasks requiring joint torques to: oppose movement, assist movement, or remain constant during movement. We found that subjects produced more torque due to impedance and less torque due to muscle activation in the torque-oppose task, the only task that could feasibly be completed through impedance modulation. These results demonstrate that people do leverage the mechanical properties of a joint to complete certain task, lessening the need for precisely timed muscle contractions.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and other forms of neuromodulation for substance use disorders: Review of modalities and implications for treatment

Given the high prevalence of individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder, along with the elevated rate of relapse following treatment initiation, investigating novel approaches and new modalities for substance use disorder treatment is of vital importance. One such approach involves neuromodulation which has been used therapeutically for neurological and psychiatric disorders and has demonstrated positive preliminary findings for the treatment of substance use disorder. The following article provides a review of several forms of neuromodulation which warrant consideration as potential treatments for substance use disorder. PubMed, PsycINFO, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science were used to identify published articles and clinicaltrials.gov was used to identify currently ongoing or planned studies. Search criteria for Brain Stimulation included the following terminology: transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, theta burst stimulation, deep brain stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, trigeminal nerve stimulation, percutaneous nerve field stimulation, auricular nerve stimulation, and low intensity focused ultrasound. Search criteria for Addiction included the following terminology: addiction, substance use disorder, substance-related disorder, cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamine, alcohol, nicotine, tobacco, smoking, marijuana, cannabis, heroin, opiates, opioids, and hallucinogens. Results revealed that there are currently several forms of neuromodulation, both invasive and non-invasive, which are being investigated for the treatment of substance use disorder. Preliminary findings have demonstrated the potential of these various neuromodulation techniques in improving substance treatment outcomes by reducing those risk factors (e.g. substance craving) associated with relapse. Specifically, transcranial magnetic stimulation has shown the most promise with several well-designed studies supporting the potential for reducing substance craving. Deep brain stimulation has also shown promise, though lacks well-controlled clinical trials to support its efficacy. Transcranial direct current stimulation has also demonstrated promising results though consistently designed, randomized trials are also needed. There are several other forms of neuromodulation which have not yet been investigated clinically but warrant further investigation given their mechanisms and potential efficacy based on findings from other studied indications. In summary, given promising findings in reducing substance use and craving, neuromodulation may provide a non-pharmacological option as a potential treatment and/or treatment augmentation for substance use disorder. Further research investigating neuromodulation, both alone and in combination with already established substance use disorder treatment (e.g. medication treatment), warrants consideration.
Comorbidity and severity-of-illness risk adjustment for hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection using data from the electronic medical record

Objective: To determine whether electronically available comorbidities and laboratory values on admission are risk factors for hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HO-CDI) across multiple institutions and whether they could be used to improve risk adjustment. Patients: All patients at least 18 years of age admitted to 3 hospitals in Maryland between January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2018. Methods: Comorbid conditions were assigned using the Elixhauser comorbidity index. Multivariable log-binomial regression was conducted for each hospital using significant covariates (P < .10) in a bivariate analysis. Standardized infection ratios (SIRs) were computed using current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) risk adjustment methodology and with the addition of Elixhauser score and individual comorbidities. Results: At hospital 1, 314 of 48,057 patient admissions (0.65%) had a HO-CDI; 41 of 8,791 patient admissions (0.47%) at community hospital 2 had a HO-CDI; and 75 of 29,211 patient admissions (0.26%) at community hospital 3 had a HO-CDI. In multivariable regression, Elixhauser score was a significant risk factor for HO-CDI at all hospitals when controlling for age, antibiotic use, and antacid use. Abnormal leukocyte level at hospital admission was a significant risk factor at hospital 1 and hospital 2. When Elixhauser score was included in the risk adjustment model, it was statistically significant (P < .01). Compared with the current CDC SIR methodology, the SIR of hospital 1 decreased by 2%, whereas the SIRs of hospitals 2 and 3 increased by 2% and 6%, respectively, but the rankings did not change. Conclusions: Electronically available patient comorbidities are important risk factors for HO-CDI and may improve risk-adjustment methodology.
Fate of transition metals in PO4-based in vitro assays: equilibrium modeling and macroscopic studies.

Transition metals are thought to be among the most toxic components in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) due to their role in catalyzing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. We show that precipitation of the transition metals Fe(II), Fe(III), and Mn(II) are thermodynamically favored in phosphate-based assays used to measure the oxidative potential (OP) – a surrogate for toxicity – of PM. Fe and Mn precipitation is likely to occur at extremely low metal concentrations ( 100 μM) with visible precipitates provide quasi-validation of the thermodynamic modeling. Oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) is likely to be rapid in all in vitro OP assays, transforming Fe to a much less soluble form. Fe precipitates are likely to increase the rate of precipitation of other metals and possibly induce co-precipitation. These results have direct relevance for all PO4-based assays; the implications for studies of PM toxicity are discussed.
Laser synthesis of uncapped palladium nanocatalysts

Abstract We report the synthesis of uncapped ‘naked’ palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) through the facile and green route of femtosecond laser reduction in liquid using two different precursors: potassium tetrachloropalladate (K2PdCl4) and palladium nitrate (Pd(NO3)2). Stabilization of the Pd precursor by lowering the pH enabled the synthesis of PdNPs in the sub-5 nm range. Laser synthesis using both precursors generated ultrasmall spherical NPs with average diameters of 1.2 nm and 3.1 nm for the nitrate and chloride precursors, respectively. An additional population of anisotropic large particles with nanopopcorn and nanoflower morphologies observed in electron microscopy images appears to result from the aggregation of the ultrasmall PdNPs. The PdNPs are efficient catalysts for Suzuki cross-coupling reactions and for the reduction of para-nitrophenol by sodium borohydride in water. The excellent catalytic activity of our laser-generated PdNPs is attributed to the ligand-free structure and small particle sizes generated through laser reduction in liquid.
Imaging of the Genitourinary Tract in Females

A detailed working knowledge of normal and abnormal female pelvic anatomy is necessary for the proper evaluation of pelvic organ prolapse. However, even the most experienced gynecologist or urologist may have difficulty distinguishing among prolapsing organs competing for introital space. Accurate identification of all aspects of vaginal prolapse and pelvic floor relaxation are vital, not only to permit adequate surgical planning, but also to reduce the risk of recurrent prolapse. Radiographic evaluation of the woman with pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic floor relaxation should be viewed as a valuable extension of the physical examination. Urography, voiding cystography, dynamic colpocystodefecography, and MRI are each useful for the evaluation of pelvic prolapse and pelvic floor relaxation. Magnetic resonance imaging will continue to have an increasingly important role, because of its superior visualization of fluid-filled viscera and soft tissues, and the ability to simultaneously visualize all important pelvic organs without the need for patient preparation or instrumentation, or exposure to ionizing radiation.
Thermoset–matrix composites for lightweight automotive structures

Abstract This chapter presents an overview of the materials, properties, and manufacturing processes for thermoset matrix composites used for automotive applications. It also reviews the applications of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoset matrix composites in automobiles.
Technology Integration: Making Critical Choices in a Dynamic World

The concept of technology integration studying technology integration the drivers of project performance problem-solving foundations managing technological change building technology integration capability integrating technology and market streams rethinking R&D in a chaotic world appendices - technical analysis of processor modules, regression analysis.
Anti-Müllerian Hormone concentration levels in maternal plasma during the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) drops rapidly in pregnancy but Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) has not been shown to drop until about 12 weeks. Since the follicles that secrete AMH are thought to be FSH independent, AMH levels should slowly decline in the absence of FSH because when the follicles reach FSH dependence, they would die off. A study has presented data that suggests a decline in AMH levels suddenly starts at 12 weeks gestation. The present study agrees with a decline in AMH after the first trimester. There is a sharp decline in AMH at 12-16 weeks gestation indicating that the follicular development is actively suppressed, not passively lost because of a drop in FSH. It appears that pregnancy may be a unique situation in regards to AMH.
Prevalence of motor abnormalities among healthy 5-year-old children

The prevalence of motor examination abnormalities among a general pediatric population is unknown. We determined the frequency of motor abnormalities noted at five years of age during a neurologic examination by a child neurologist. As part of a follow-up study of neonatal jaundice in a population of 106,627 births, we randomly selected 419 five-year-old children as healthy controls, of whom 168 consented. Child neurologists blinded to the children’s history performed standard neurologic examinations to determine the presence of definite or subtle motor abnormalities. Standardized data on motor and cognitive function were also obtained. Among eight (5%) children diagnosed with a definite motor abnormality, the most common finding was corticospinal tract dysfunction (four unilateral, two bilateral). Two children demonstrated hypotonia and hyporeflexia, one of whom also exhibited proximal weakness. An additional 12 (7%) children were noted to have subtle motor findings that were not clearly abnormal, such as subtle incoordination, mild dystonic posturing, tremor, posting, or hyperreflexia. Children with definite or subtle motor findings were more likely to receive an abnormal score on the Motor Performance Checklist (57% vs. 32%, P = 0.02). There was also a trend towards these children having a lower mean verbal IQ compared to children with normal motor examinations (95.3 vs. 102.1, P = 0.07). Motor examination abnormalities in otherwise healthy 5-year-old children may be more common than previously thought. However, the proportion of children with motor examination abnormalities who have an unrecognized neurologic disorder remains unknown.
Excitotoxicity in the Enteric Nervous System

Glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, is also an excitatory neurotransmitter in the enteric nervous system (ENS). We tested the hypothesis that excessive exposure to glutamate, or related agonists, produces neurotoxicity in enteric neurons. Prolonged stimulation of enteric ganglia by glutamate caused necrosis and apoptosis in enteric neurons. Acute and delayed cell deaths were observed. Glutamate neurotoxicity was mimicked by NMDA and blocked by the NMDA antagonist d-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoate. Excitotoxicity was more pronounced in cultured enteric ganglia than in intact preparations of bowel, presumably because of a reduction in glutamate uptake. Glutamate-immunoreactive neurons were found in cultured myenteric ganglia, and a subset of enteric neurons expressed NMDA (NR1, NR2A/B), AMPA (GluR1, GluR2/3), and kainate (GluR5/6/7) receptor subunits. Glutamate receptors were clustered on enteric neurites. Stimulation of cultured enteric neurons by kainic acid led to the swelling of somas and the growth of varicosities (“blebs”) on neurites. Blebs formed close to neurite intersections and were enriched in mitochondria, as revealed by rhodamine 123 staining. Kainic acid also produced a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in cultured enteric neurons at sites where blebs tended to form. These observations demonstrate, for the first time, excitotoxicity in the ENS and suggest that overactivation of enteric glutamate receptors may contribute to the intestinal damage produced by anoxia, ischemia, and excitotoxins present in food.
Factors Influencing Migraine Recurrence After Infusion and Inpatient Migraine Treatment in Children and Adolescents

Objective To evaluate factors that influence migraine recurrence after outpatient infusion or inpatient treatment for intractable migraine. Background Recurrence of migraine after acute treatment in an infusion center or an inpatient setting is not well documented in children and adolescents. Given the multifactorial pathogenesis of migraines, multiple factors may influence migraine recurrence. It has been reported that treatment with steroids may reduce the risk of migraine recurrence. The efficacy of steroids as a therapeutic adjunct has not been established. Studies in the adult population have yielded conflicting results. Methods This study is a retrospective chart review of patients presenting for treatment of an intractable migraine to the outpatient infusion unit or inpatient unit at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). Data collected included: age, gender, location of treatment (outpatient, inpatient), migraine duration, diagnosis, severity, the addition of steroids to treatment protocols, and recurrence of migraine at 48 and 72 hours after discharge. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact tests, logistic regression with backward elimination for variable selection, and least squares means slicing with associated odds ratios. Results Charts from 207 pediatric patients were analyzed. Using logistic regression analysis: location, gender, diagnosis, and age were all found to be significant predictors of migraine recurrence (P < .05). Patients treated in the inpatient setting were significantly less likely to experience recurrence compared to patients treated in an outpatient infusion unit (OR = 0.32; 95% CI 0.17-0.61, P = .0002). Male patients with a diagnosis of episodic migraine were significantly less likely to experience recurrence than male patients with chronic migraine (OR 0.17; 95% CI 0.04-0.73; P = .0074). The inclusion of steroids in this study population showed no significant reduction in migraine recurrence. The probability of recurrence decreased with age for episodic migraine patients, while the probability increased with age for chronic migraine patients. Conclusions Recurrence is an important consideration when treating intractable migraines. Age, gender, diagnosis, and location of treatment correlate with migraine recurrence, but the inclusion of steroids does not. Considering these factors in the management of migraines may improve the outcome of these patients and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Evaluation of Tc-99 MAA dose reduction in patients with pulmonary hypertension

2205 Objectives SNM Procedure Guidelines states that a pulmonary perfusion scan is performed using 1-4mCi (200-500k particles) of Tc-99 MAA which block less than 1 in 1,000 pulmonary arterioles. Reduction of Tc-MAA dose to 100–200k particles should be considered in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PAH) to reduce risks of adverse reactions. This study was done to determine the standard practice of how hospitals screen patients for PAH and whether dose modification is practiced. Methods A survey was administered to various hospitals across the United States to determine the standard practice used when performing pulmonary perfusion imaging. Responses were collected and recorded. Results Twenty-six hospitals responded. Forty-six percent of the hospitals do not reduce the dose of Tc-MAA in patients with PAH. Data collected from hospitals that do modify the dose for patients with PAH varied by the following: dilution of dose, reduction in number of particles, or separate kit preparation. Patient records and discussion with physician was used to determine history of pulmonary hypertension. Conclusions Hospitals where dose modification is practiced screen the patient for pulmonary hypertension by review of patient’s records or physician consultation. More than half of the hospitals surveyed modify MAA doses for patients with pulmonary hypertension. If dose modification is performed, the procedure varied per hospital. The difference in protocols warrants a review as to what the standard protocols should be.
Discovering perceptions of personal social networks through diagrams

By examining diagrams created by study participants, we can gain insight into their perceptions of their personal social networks. In this study, we found that participants made use of both position and distance to differentiate the roles of those in their networks and express intimacy. This work has implication for both the elicitation and visualization of social networks.
Günter Figal’s Hermeneutics

This article offers a survey of some main ideas in Gunter Figal’s hermeneutics as he presents them in his recent Gegenstandlichkeit: Das Hermeneutische und die Philosophie [Objectivity: The Hermeneutical and Philosophy]. Figal promises a new approach to the philosophical study of hermeneutics in this work that would advance beyond Gadamer, Heidegger, and others in significant respects. His project opens out from the belief that hermeneutical experience is guided by exteriority; such experience is directed toward and sustained by what stands outside the subject and its sphere, or, as he develops this idea, by what is objective (das Gegenstandliche). His orientation toward this sense of objectivity leads him to establish a notion of hermeneutical philosophy based on novel views of interpretation and understanding. This discussion reveals that hermeneutical philosophy belongs in the world, taken as hermeneutical space organized by the dimensions of freedom, language, and time. His hermeneutics culminates in an elucidation of human life as it is lived in this space.
Photosynthetic water oxidation: binding and activation of substrate waters for O–O bond formation

Photosynthetic water oxidation occurs at the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of Photosystem II (PSII). The OEC, which contains a Mn4CaO5 inorganic cluster ligated by oxides, waters and amino-acid residues, cycles through five redox intermediates known as Si states (i = 0–4). The electronic and structural properties of the transient S4 intermediate that forms the O–O bond are not well understood. In order to gain insight into how water is activated for O–O bond formation in the S4 intermediate, we have performed a detailed analysis of S-state dependent substrate water binding kinetics taking into consideration data from Mn coordination complexes. This analysis supports a model in which the substrate waters are both bound as terminal ligands and react via a water-nucleophile attack mechanism.
The relation between visual imagery mediators and recall

Three hypotheses are discussed as explanations for the result that pairs of concrete nouns are more easily remembered than are pairs of abstract nouns: the imagery hypothesis, the familiarity hypothesis, and the concreteness hypothesis. Two experiments are reported in which the degree of visual imagery associated with the components of paired associate items was not indicative of the degree of visual imagery experienced during their learning or with the accuracy with which they were recalled. It was found that pairs of related abstract nouns were rated higher in imagery and familiarity than were pairs of unrelated concrete nouns, but recall of the higher imagery pairs was poorer. The concreteness hypothesis is discussed as the best explanation for the results. The concreteness hypothesis proposes that people learn to associate the labels of concrete objects by using their real-world knowledge of the potential relations between categories of objects. Dual coding theory and schema theory are also discussed as explanations for mediation learning, and the issue of visual imagery as an epiphenomenon is addressed.
Learning L2 Vocabulary through Extensive Reading: A Measurement Study

Many language courses now offer access to simplified materials graded at various levels of proficiency so that learners can read at length in their new language. An assumed benefit is the development of large and rapidly accessed second language (L2) lexicons. Studies of such extensive reading (ER) programs indicate general language gains, but few examine vocabulary growth; none identify the words available for learning in an entire ER program or measure the extent to which participants learn them. This article describes a way of tackling this measurement challenge using electronic scanning, lexical frequency profiling, and individualized checklist testing. The method was pilot tested in an ER program where 21 ESL learners freely chose books that interested them. The innovative methodology proved to be feasible to implement and effective in assessing word knowledge gains. Growth rates were higher than those found in earlier studies. Research applications of the flexible corpus-based approach are discussed.
Family building: A social psychological study of fertility decisions

Decision theory, coupled with a hierarchically arranged questionnaire format, is discussed as a possible approach to the prediction of birth planning decisions. The empirical success of the scheme is examined in terms of interrelating attitudes, behavioral intention, desired family size, and birth planning behavior.
Application of an index of biotic integrity for dunal, palustrine wetlands: emphasis on assessment of nonpoint source landfill effects on the Grand Calumet Lagoons

Abstract Using a newly modified index of biotic integrity for assessing biological integrity of fish communities in dunal, palustrine wetlands, we assessed the non-point source influence of an industrial landfill on the Grand Calumet Lagoons. The landfill is primarily an iron and steel manufacturer's slag waste. No sensitive species, hybrids, headwater species, and either few or no simple lithophilic spawning species were collected from any of the sites in the Grand Calumet Lagoons. Species catch-per-unit of effort varied significantly between reaches in the Middle Lagoon and the West Lagoon. The most disturbed areas were adjacent to the industrial landfill and along the southern shore near the outflow from the West Lagoon. Near- and far-field stations possessed similar numbers of species and relative abundance. The near-field stations showed an increase in tolerant species, a higher proportion of omnivores and carnivores, and a lower environmental quality rating of ‘poor-very poor’. The far-field sites were classified as having ‘fair’ biological integrity and showed an increase in relative abundance, proportion of sensitive species, and an increase in simple lithophils. The loss of biological integrity in the West Pond was not accurately predicted using the modified index of biotic integrity, even though it was rated as extremely degraded by the biological diversity indices. Fish communities were negatively impacted by proximity to the landfill.
γ-Hydroxyalkenals are oxidatively cleaved through Michael addition of acylperoxy radicals and fragmentation of intermediate β-hydroxyperesters

Oxidative cleavage of arachidonate (C(20)) and linoleate (C(18)) phospholipids generates truncated C(8) or C(12) gamma-hydroxyalkenal phospholipids as well as C(5) or C(9) carboxyalkanoate phospholipids, which are abundant in atherosclerotic plaques. The gamma-hydroxyalkenals promote foam cell formation by scavenger receptor CD36-mediated endocytosis. The carboxyalkanoates are potent regulators of endothelial cell functions that may promote atherogenesis. We now report an unexpected biosynthetic interconnection; the carboxyalkanoates can be generated through oxidative cleavage of the gamma-hydroxyalkenals with the loss of three carbons. This unprecedented transformation is shown to involve Michael addition of an acylperoxy radical and fragmentation of the resulting beta-hydroxyperester.
Energy efficient approach with integrated key management scheme for wireless sensor networks: c.2.2 [network protocols]

Two-tier topology makes good candidate for making clusters in wireless sensor networks. So we have considered a heterogeneous 2-tier topology to route the data securely among nodes in the sensor network. Initially, after deploying two types of nodes low-end and high-end nodes in the area of interest we divide the given area into clusters. A multilevel approach is used to partition and adjust the nodes in the clusters in a sophisticated manner that the performance of Improved Tree routing is improved. Researchers mainly focus on routing the data efficiently and effectively in the sensor network. Only a few considered integrating security in the design of a routing protocol. We have also made an effort to make Improved Tree routing secure by integrating pairwise key management scheme in it. Through simulations it is shown that given approach performs better than some of the existing protocols.
Increased medial tibial slope in teenage pediatric population with open physes and anterior cruciate ligament injuries

Purpose Variations in bony morphology have been associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk. The primary aim of this study was to compare the tibial slope in the teenage pediatric population with open physes, with and without ACL injury. The secondary aims were to compare the notch width index (NWI) and determine the influence of gender and age on tibial slope and NWI.
The impact of simulated super pressure balloon data on regional weather analyses and forecasts

This paper highlights results from a series of observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) designed to assess the impact of assimilating data from a hypothetical network of constant density, super pressure balloons on regional weather analyses and forecasts over the continental U.S. These super pressure balloons would be carried passively by the wind at various levels in the atmosphere taking measurements of pressure, temperature, moisture, and wind velocity similar to other Lagrangian drifters that have been used in meteorology for nearly 50 years. The super pressure balloons or probes are envisioned to be the main component of a new observing system called Global Environmental Micro Sensors (GEMS). The novel aspect of the GEMS system is the integration of micro and eventually nanotechnology to develop probes with significantly lower mass, size, and cost. Given these attributes, thousands of probes could be deployed for research and operational missions thereby greatly expanding the amount of in situ observations, especially over data sparse oceanic regions. As part of a multi-year feasibility study on the GEMS system, modeling and simulation were used extensively to study probe deployment, dispersion, and data impacts using OSSEs. The OSSEs were designed to mimic an operational regional forecast cycle by running a series of 48 h forecasts initialized using a four-dimensional data assimilation scheme. Results showed statistically significant improvements of temperature, dew point, and vector wind over forecasts assimilating only conventional in situ surface, upper air, and aircraft observations. Sensitivity experiments indicated that the OSSEs produced nearly identical forecast impacts with a 90% reduction in the amount of data assimilated. This result is important in defining the requirements for system and probe cost.
Off-Time Pubertal Timing Predicts Physiological Reactivity to Postpuberty Interpersonal Stress.

We investigated associations between retrospectively assessed timing of pubertal development, interpersonal interactions, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity to an interpersonal stress task in 110 young adult women. Participants provided salivary cortisol samples at points prior and subsequent to a video-taped conflict discussion with their romantic partner. Participants also provided subjective global ratings of their discussion on dimensions of conflict and support. For earlier developing girls, higher levels of interpersonal conflict were associated with greater physiological stress in anticipation of the discussion task and less physiological recovery following the discussion. In contrast, for later developing girls, low levels of conflict were associated with greater anticipatory stress and less physiological recovery. These findings have implications for understanding the influence of off-time pubertal development on the life time development of young women.
Cryogenic Technology in the Nuclear Rocket Program

Nuclear rocket development problems have resulted primarily from the stringent operational requirements of designing a reactor with optimized parameters of core temperature, rapid start-up capability, ability to withstand extreme temperature gradients, and minimum weight. Disasterous consequences resulting from the entrance of appreciable amounts of liquid hydrogen in the reactor core during start up was feared. Efforts to program the start-up such as to increase the reactor power simuitaneously with the flow rate to prevent two- phase hydrogen from entering the reactor core were attempted. The heat input into the propellant was adjusted as it progressed sequentially through the various portions of the reactor such that the hydrogen entering the reactor core remained well above its critical temperature (33 deg K) during the period that the core inlet pressure was c the critical pressure of hydrogen (12.9 atm). A set of hydrodynamic and heat transfer equations were developed using the transport properties and heat transfer data for fluid hydrogen to produce the necessary start-up program for the reactor. Tests prove that it is possible to start up a reactor on liquid hydrogen. (H.G.G.)
A recruitment theory of simple behavior

A statistical theory of choice is developed using a sequential sampling assumption. Response latency distributions for certain simple reaction-time situations are derived and tested. Both response probability and response latency measures are developed for a two-alternative judgment situation and the relationship between the two measures explored. The sampling parameter is proposed as a means of representing incentive conditions in choice situations and ROC curves are obtained by appropriate manipulations of this parameter. A solution to the overlap problem in simple discrimination-learning situations is also derived.
Measurements of Pre-Breakdown Currents in Dielectrics With a Cathode-Ray Tube

1. A method has been developed for photographing repeating traces on a cathode-ray tube which measure current in liquid and solid dielectrics with slowly increasing unidirectional voltage up to within two milliseconds of breakdown. The range of current sensitivity is from 10?8 amperes up. Current values at time intervals closer to the breakdown point could be measured by increasing the speed of motion of the film and decreasing the sweep interval. The probability of catching fast transient of the order of one microsecond duration is only 2 per cent (ratio of sweep time to sweep interval). 2. In liquids, the evidence so far obtained leads to the tentative conclusion that the final breakdown current increases from a substantially steady value to failure in fractions of a microsecond. This indicates that the final breakdown mechanism is electronic. 3. In liquids, it appears also that the pre- breakdown ionic current may be unrelated to the breakdown electronic current since the breakdown gradient appears to be affected more by the electrode surface conditions than by the ionic conductivity of the liquid. 4. In polystyrene and polyvinyl formal only one record was obtained showing any pre-breakdown current greater than 10?8 amperes up to within two milliseconds of failure at breakdown gradients of the order of 2.5 × 106 volts per centimeter.
In-situ feature extraction of large scale combustion simulations using segmented merge trees

The ever increasing amount of data generated by scientific simulations coupled with system I/O constraints are fueling a need for in-situ analysis techniques. Of particular interest are approaches that produce reduced data representations while maintaining the ability to redefine, extract, and study features in a post-process to obtain scientific insights. This paper presents two variants of in-situ feature extraction techniques using segmented merge trees, which encode a wide range of threshold based features. The first approach is a fast, low communication cost technique that generates an exact solution but has limited scalability. The second is a scalable, local approximation that nevertheless is guaranteed to correctly extract all features up to a predefined size. We demonstrate both variants using some of the largest combustion simulations available on leadership class supercomputers. Our approach allows state-of-the-art, feature-based analysis to be performed in-situ at significantly higher frequency than currently possible and with negligible impact on the overall simulation runtime.
The strategic effects of a merger upon supplier interactions

We consider how a merger between two naturally differentiated dealers affects their interactions with a common supplier and identify conditions under which the merger can increase or decrease the combined net worth of the two firms. Among other things, we find that the attractiveness of merging depends upon the extent to which end demand can be stimulated by either an upstream supplier or the dealers. Specifically, the greater the supplier's ability to invest in stimulating end demand, the more likely it is that the naturally differentiated firms will be better off operating independently than merging. On the other hand, if the greatest opportunities for stimulating demand are through the service that is provided by the dealers, then merging their operations will be more attractive. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007
Assessment of lysyl oxidase variants by urea gel electrophoresis: evidence against disulfide isomers as bases of the enzyme heterogeneity.

Abstract Methods for the copurification and rapid assessment of the protein profiles corresponding to the multiple variants of bovine aortic lysyl oxidase are described. The individual variants do not resolve from each other by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate but are resolved by gel electrophoresis in 8 m urea, thus providing a new method for their detection independent of enzyme assay. Alkylation of the purified mixture of the variants with iodoacetamide after reduction with dithiothreitol identified three disulfides per 32,000-Da monomer. Urea gel electrophoresis revealed that the heterogeneity of lysyl oxidase persists after reduction and alkylation, indicating that disulfide isomers are not the bases of the enzyme heterogeneity.
Geomorphology: An ephemeral gorge

The topography of the Earth's surface can be read as an archive of past climatic and tectonic upheavals. Field data reveal how a bedrock gorge may be erased within a human lifetime, taking with it the evidence of a major earthquake.
What's new in global pediatric emergency medicine?

Purpose of review Interest in the areas of global health and international emergency medicine has increased dramatically in recent years. This article discusses some of the knowledge gained in these areas, particularly as it pertains to the delivery of pediatric emergency care in resource-limited settings. Recent trends Advances in global health have come in many forms, including an increase in the quality and number of training programs available, the development of clinical guidelines and protocols that are locally applicable, attempts to decrease inequities in the delivery of and access to care and an increase in the sharing of knowledge through partnerships and electronic media. Summary Tremendous advances have been made in global health but there are still major obstacles to overcome. One of the areas that have yet to receive much attention is the delivery of pediatric emergency care. By working with our colleagues around the world and disseminating what we have learned, we can improve emergency care for all children.
A signal-agnostic compressed sensing acquisition system for wireless and implantable sensors

A signal-agnostic compressed sensing (CS) acquisition system is presented that addresses both the energy and telemetry bandwidth constraints of wireless sensors. The CS system enables continuous data acquisition and compression that are suitable for a variety of biophysical signals. A hardware efficient realization of the CS sampling demonstrates data compression up to 40x on an EEG signal while maintaining low perceptual loss in the reconstructed signal. The proposed system also simultaneously relaxes the noise and resolution constraints of the analog front end (AFE) and ADC by nearly an order of magnitude. The CS sampling hardware is implemented in a 90 nm CMOS process and consumes 1.9 µW at 0.6 V and 20 kS/s.
Simultaneous Determination of Low Parts-per-Billion Level Pb and as in Waters Using Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

A simple method is described for the simultaneous determination of low parts-per-billion levels of As and Pb in waters. The method is based on the preconcentration of analytes by adsorbing them onto hydrous ferric hydroxide (HFO) impregnated into the 13 mm diameter area at the center of 32 mm diameter circular disks cut from Whatman filter papers. The adsorbed analytes are determined by using thin-layer energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The X-ray intensity of As and Pb adsorbed onto HFO is linearly proportional to the concentration up to ∼80 μg/L. The precision of the method is ∼0.5-5%, and the method detection limit for Pb and As in seawater is 0.63 and 0.21 μg/L, respectively. The method was validated by analyzing the certified reference materials SLRS-3 (riverine water), CASS-4 (nearshore seawater), and NASS-5 (offshore seawater) for As. The adsorption characteristics of Pb, As(III), As(V), Se(IV), Se(VI), and Hg onto the HFO impregnated disks, the interspecies adsorption effects, and the use of the standard addition method to compensate for matrix effects are also presented.
Talk to transformers: An empirical study of device communications for the FREEDM system

The smart grid is a brand new power system that incorporates power infrastructures with information technologies. In the smart grid, power devices are interconnected to facilitate various intelligent applications via ubiquitous communications between devices. Currently, communications between equipments are mainly enabled by a centralized supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. An interesting question is whether such SCADA systems and corresponding protocols can be readily used in the smart grid to satisfy performance requirements of intelligent applications. To address these issues, in this paper, we establish a monitoring system for a Solid State Transformer (SST) in a micro smart grid, Green Hub, to measure achieved delay performances in a really deployed system. Based on our results, we verify that the widely-used SCADA system shows satisfactory performances to meet requirements defined in Green Hub for device monitoring and control. Besides the performance evaluation, we also intend to share our implementation experiences and highlight several significant remarks for the future design of the communication architecture in the smart grid.