cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
'Memory and molecular turnover,' 30 years after inception.

In 1984 Sir Francis Crick hypothesized that memory is recorded in the brain as reversible modifications to DNA and protein, but acknowledged that most biomolecules turn over too rapidly to account for long-term memories. To accommodate this possible paradox he modeled an enzymatic mechanism to maintain modifications on hemi-modified multimeric symmetrical molecules. While studies on the turnover of chromatin modifications that may be involved in memory are in their infancy, an exploration of his model in the light of modern epigenetics produced somewhat surprising results. The molecular turnover rates for two classes of chromatin modifications believed to record and store durable memories were approximated from experiments using diverse approaches and were found to be remarkably short. The half-lives of DNA cytosine methylation and post-translationally modified nucleosomal histones are measured in hours and minutes, respectively, for a subset of sites on chromatin controlling gene expression. It appears likely that the turnover of DNA methylation in the brain and in neurons, in particular, is even more rapid than in other cell types and organs, perhaps accommodating neuronal plasticity, learning, and memory. The machinery responsible for the rapid turnover of DNA methylation and nucleosomal histone modifications is highly complex, partially redundant, and appears to act in a sequence specific manner. Molecular symmetry plays an important part in maintaining site-specific turnover, but its particular role in memory maintenance is unknown. Elucidating Crick’s paradox, the contradiction between rapid molecular turnover of modified biomolecules and long-term memory storage, appears fundamental to understanding cognitive function and neurodegenerative disease.
Salmonella enterica Serovars Typhimurium and Dublin Can Lyse Macrophages by a Mechanism Distinct from Apoptosis

Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Dublin lysed primary bovine alveolar macrophages and immortalized J774.2 macrophage-like cells in the absence of either the morphological changes or DNA fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis. Macrophage lysis was dependent on a subset of caspases and an intact sipB gene.
Are laboratory-derived toxicity data for freshwater algae worth the effort?

Algal toxicity test results are increasingly being considered in the evaluation of the environmental safety of chemicals and effluents. The ability of the current standard toxicity test methods to provide data useful in the safety assessment process was reviewed. It was concluded that there are too few data supporting the environmental relevance of those results derived using the standard methods in their present format. The current algal toxicity data base shows that interspecific variation in response to chemicals is significant and that field-validation of most laboratory-derived results is lacking. Therefore, multiple test species should be used in algal toxicity tests and the biological significance of the recommended end points, including stimulation, needs definition before the results can be expanded to natural algal communities and be useful in predicting environmental impact.
An Estimation Theoretic Perspective on Image Processing and the Calculation of Optical Flow

Many problems of image processing and image sequence analysis involve both great computational complexity and the accommodation of noise and uncertainty through the indirect observation of quantities of interest. In this chapter we describe several aspects of an estimation theoretic approach to such problems. The vehicle for our development is the estimation of the apparent velocity field of a sequence of images. This apparent velocity field, known as the optical flow, appears as an important quantity in both the qualitative and quantitative analysis of image sequences. For example, knowledge of the optical flow is used in the detection of object boundaries and the segmentation of visual scenes [1, 2], the derivation of 3-D motion and structure [3, 4] and the compression of image sequences for efficient transmission [5, 6].
Induction of Kynureninase in Neurospora

Induction of kynureninase in a homogeneous population of mycelia in balanced growth was studied. Induced synthesis of enzyme was apparent 10 min after addition of inducers (tryptophan, kynurenine, and N-formylkynurenine). Experiments with cycloheximide-inhibited cells indicated that initiation of message transcription occurred about 4 min after addition of inducers. Lifetime of the message in the absence of inducer was of the order of 5 min. Experiments with mutants showed that N-formylkynurenine was the probable inducer of physiological importance.
Use of holography in medicine

Because of their high impact and sharpness, we believe that holograms make better teaching tools than conventional images, and one day will be common in medical texts and journals. To be maximally effective as teaching tools, in some instances there must be labels or arrows within the images. Although our main interest is to use holography as a teaching device, other investigators are already using it for diagnosis and treatment.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Glycosylated SV2A and SV2B mediate the entry of botulinum neurotoxin E into neurons.

Botulinum neurotoxin E (BoNT/E) can cause paralysis in humans and animals by blocking neurotransmitter release from presynaptic nerve terminals. How this toxin targets and enters neurons is not kno...
Comparison of B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients with heart failure with versus without mitral regurgitation.

Abstract Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) occurs most often in patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with an adverse prognosis. Recently, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been validated as a marker of cardiac function and prognosis. We sought to assess the relation between functional MR and BNP levels in patients with HF, and hypothesized that MR is associated with higher BNP levels. In all, 201 patients admitted with the diagnosis of HF had a transthoracic echocardiogram and measurement of BNP levels within 48 hours. MR was graded as none/trace, mild, moderate, or severe using recently published guidelines of the American Society of Echocardiography. BNP was measured by a commercially available instrument (Biosite). The relation of MR to BNP was assessed using multivariable linear regression methods with a Tobin estimation to account for the truncation of BNP values at an upper limit of 1,300 pg/ml. Mean age of the patients was 67 ± 11 years. The median BNP level was 826 pg/ml. The etiology of HF was predominantly diastolic in 64 patients (32%); 137 patients (68%) had significant left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Mean LV ejection fraction was 37 ± 17%. MR was present in 112 patients (56%). After adjusting for clinical, hemodynamic, and echocardiographic variables, only LV ejection fraction (p = 0.016) and moderate or severe MR (p = 0.023) were significantly associated with BNP. When MR was grouped as any MR versus no MR, only LV ejection fraction (p = 0.017) and any degree of MR (p = 0.029) were significantly associated with BNP.
Characterization and Localization of Adenosine A2 Receptors in Bovine Rod Outer Segments

Previous work from this laboratory has shown that retinal adenosine A2 binding sites are localized over outer and inner segments of photoreceptors in rabbit and mouse retinal sections. In the present study, adenosine receptor binding has been characterized and localized in membranes from bovine rod outer segments (ROS). Saturation studies with varying concentrations (10-150 nM) of 5'-(N-[2,8-3H]ethylcarboxamido)adenosine ([3H]NECA) and 100 micrograms of ROS membrane protein show a single site with a KD of 103 nM and a Bmax of 1.3 pM/mg of protein. Cold Scatchards, which used nonradiolabeled NECA (concentrations ranging from 10 nM to 250 microM) in competition with a fixed amount of [3H]NECA (30 nM), demonstrated the presence of a low-affinity site (KD, 50 microM) in addition to the high-affinity site. To confirm the presence of A2a binding sites, saturation analyses with 2-p-(2-[3H]-carboxyethyl)phenylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamido adenosine (0-80 nM) also revealed a single population of high-affinity A2a receptors (KD, 9.4 nM). The binding sites labeled by [3H]NECA appear to be A2 receptor sites because binding was displaced by increasing concentrations of 5'-(N-methylcarboxamido)adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine. ROS were fractionated into plasma and disk membranes for localization studies. Receptor binding assays, used to determine specific binding, showed that the greatest concentration of A2 receptors was on the plasma membranes. Therefore, adenosine A2 receptors are in a position to respond to changes in the concentration of extracellular adenosine, which may exhibit a circadian rhythm.
Monte Carlo fluorescence microtomography.

Fluorescence microscopy allows real-time monitoring of optical molecular probes for disease characterization, drug development, and tissue regeneration. However, when a biological sample is thicker than 1 mm, intense scattering of light would significantly degrade the spatial resolution of fluorescence microscopy. In this paper, we develop a fluorescence microtomography technique that utilizes the Monte Carlo method to image fluorescence reporters in thick biological samples. This approach is based on an l0-regularized tomography model and provides an excellent solution. Our studies on biomimetic tissue scaffolds have demonstrated that the proposed approach is capable of localizing and quantifying the distribution of optical molecular probe accurately and reliably.
Numerical Investigation of the Aerodynamics and Stability of a Flared Afterbody for Axisymmetric Projectiles at Supersonic Speeds

Abstract : A parametric study has been conducted for eight similar axisymmetric, spin stabilized projectile shapes. The aerodynamic and stability parameters of flared projectile afterbodies at freestream Mach numbers of 2,3 and 4 and at an angle of attack of 2 deg have been determined. The projectiles under investigation has an ogive nose, a cylindrical midsection and one of three afterbodies: an extended cylinder, a boattail (conical frustum), and a boattail- flare (two conical frustums end to end). Total projectile lengths of 6 and 7 calibers have been studied. Finite difference solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations, the method of characteristics, and semi-empirical models are used to predict normal force, static pitching moment, total drag, Magnus moment, roll damping and pitch damping. Estimations of gyroscopic and dynamic stability parameters are then made. This study determined that the boattail-flare renders the ogive nose and cylindrical midsection projectile configuration more gyroscopically and dynamically stable than the conventional boattail afterbody. Results also showed that the boattail-flare afterbody decreases the Magnus moment but increases total drag therefore providing a stability advantage at the expense of reduced range. This stability advantage can be utilized in long spin- stabilized projectiles as well as long rod penetrators where fin stabilization has been replaced by a boattail-flare. Future work may be aimed at utilizing present computational techniques as a design tool in the use of a flared afterbody for stable, reduced range projectiles.
The End of the Cold War: Predicting an Emergent Property

Gaddis claimed that international relations theory failed to predict the Gulf War, the Soviet Union's collapse, and the cold war's end. Subsequently, he acknowledged that the expected utility model captures the logic behind complex adaptive systems such as the cold war international system. That model correctly predicted two of the events to which Gaddis pointed. Here, that model is used to simulate alternative scenarios to determine whether the cold war's end could have been predicted based only on information available in 1948. The simulations show a 68% to 78% probability that the United States would win the cold war peacefully given the conditions in 1948 and plausible shifts in the attentiveness of each state to security concerns over time. The analysis demonstrates a rigorous method for testing counterfactual histories and shows that the pro-American end to the cold war was an emergent property of the initial post-World War II conditions.
On-farm pork food safety: Attitudes and beliefs of swine practitioners

Results: Swine practitioners from 23 states, who had offices or practices in the USA, provided 243 usable surveys. Respondents found private practitioners or herd veterinarians most acceptable as auditors of onfarm food-safety practices. Most methods of certification for the auditor were acceptable. The AASP was the preferred group to evaluate and certify veterinarians as auditors. Respondents believed that the HACCP approach to food safety was effective for residue avoidance, but were mixed in their opinion about its effectiveness in preventing microbial contamination.
Monte Carlo simulation in SPECT: complete 3D modelling of source, collimator and tomographic data acquisition

A sophisticated SPECT (single-photon-emission computed tomography) simulation package has been developed, permitting full tomographic acquisition of data from physically realistic nonuniform and asymmetric 3-D source objects. The package is based on the Los Alamos code MCNP (Monte Carlo for Neutron-Photon transport), which has been extensively modified by the authors to allow complete collimator and source modeling and direct manipulation of the geometric and physical parameters of the nuclear medicine experiment. A brief description of the synthetic SPECT imaging system and its capabilities is presented. The code MCNP and details of the modifications that have been necessary in order to run MCNP for this application are provided. Preliminary experiments to verify the accurate modeling of the imaging situation are also described. Its ability to model two different collimator geometries (parallel-hole and cone-beam) and steps taken to verify the models are discussed. >
Negative Mood Regulation Expectancies and Conflict Behaviors in Late Adolescent College Student Romantic Relationships: The Moderating Role of Generalized Attachment Representations

The goal of this investigation was to specify associations among negative mood regulation expectancies, generalized attachment representations, and conflict tactics in a sample of college students involved in a romantic relationship. It was predicted that attachment representations would moderate associations between negative mood regulation expectancies and conflict management tactics. Participants were 130 college students involved in a steady romantic relationship. They were administered the Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1996), questionnaires that assessed negative mood regulation expectancies, and were observed for 15 min resolving conflict with their romantic partner. The results confirmed the hypotheses. For example, secure youth with high negative mood regulation expectancies displayed good conflict management behavior, whereas dismissing youth who reported high confidence displayed more undesirable behavior. Implications for future research are discussed.
Combustion Pathways of Biofuel Model Compounds: A Review of Recent Research and Current Challenges Pertaining to First-, Second-, and Third-Generation Biofuels

Abstract In this chapter, we present a review of recent research of interest to biofuel combustion. An overview of chemical kinetic mechanism development as it pertains to combustion chemistry is provided. We then discuss experimental and computational studies of the pyrolytic and oxidative pathways of model compounds of interest to the first-generation biofuels ethanol and biodiesel, along with an overview of current challenges in modeling these oxygenated compounds. We also describe experiments and calculations regarding reaction pathways of the small cyclic and bicyclic oxygenated systems used to model lignocellulosic (second-generation) biofuel chemistry, along with a summary of challenges in modeling these functionalized compounds. A general theme is the impact of the functional groups commonly found in first-generation and second-generation biofuels on thermochemistry and reaction pathways, compared with those of hydrocarbon fuels. We discuss recent progress with respect to third- and fourth-generation biofuels, as well as to biofuel combustion engineering challenges.
LA INTERDISCIPLINARIEDAD DENTRO DE LA FENOMENOLOGÍA

El reconocimiento de tendencias fenomenologicas en varias docenas de disciplinas fuera de la filosofia plantea la pregunta acerca del modo como puede definirse la fenomenologia en general antes de la especificacion segun la disciplina particular. A continuacion, tras un ensayo de respuesta a esta pregunta, se ofreceran algunas observaciones relativas a los posibles beneficios para la fenomenologia filosofica de los encuentros interdisciplinarios.
High-level asynchronous system design using the ACK framework

Designing asynchronous circuits is becoming easier as a number of design styles are making the transition from research projects to real, usable tools. However designing asynchronous "systems" is still a difficult problem. We define asynchronous systems to be medium to large digital systems whose descriptions include both datapath and control, that may involve non-trivial interface requirements, and whose control is too large to be synthesized in one large controller. ACK is a framework for designing high-performance asynchronous systems of this type. In ACK we advocate an approach that begins with procedural level descriptions of-control and datapath and results in a hybrid system that mires a variety of hardware implementation styles including burst-mode AFSMs, macromodule circuits, and programmable control. We present our views on what makes asynchronous high level system design different from lower level circuit design, motivate our ACK approach, and demonstrate using an example system design.
Induction of a retinoblastoma phosphatase activity by anticancer drugs accompanies p53-independent G1 arrest and apoptosis.

Abstract DNA-damaging agents induce accumulation of the tumor suppressor and G1 checkpoint protein p53, leading cells to either growth arrest in G1 or apoptosis (programmed cell death). The p53-dependent G1 arrest involves induction of p21 (also called WAF1/CIP1/SDI1), which prevents cyclin kinase-mediated phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (RB). Recent studies suggest a p53-independent G1 checkpoint as well; however, little is known about its molecular mechanisms. We report that induction of a protein-serine/threonine phosphatase activity by DNA damage signals is at least one of the mechanisms responsible for p53-independent, RB-mediated G1 arrest and consequent apoptosis. When two p53-null human leukemic cell lines (HL-60 and U-937) were treated with a variety of anticancer agents, RB became hypophosphorylated, accompanied with G1 arrest. This was followed immediately (in less than 30 min) by apoptosis, as determined by the accumulation of pre-G1 apoptotic cells and the internucleosomal fragmentation of DNA. Addition of calyculin A or okadaic acid (specific serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitors) or zinc chloride (apoptosis inhibitor) prevented the G1 arrest- and apoptosis-specific RB dephosphorylation. The levels of cyclin E- and cyclin A-associated kinase activities remained high during RB dephosphorylation, supporting the involvement of a chemotherapy-induced serine/threonine phosphatase(s) rather than p21. Furthermore, the induced phosphatase activity coimmunoprecipitated with the hyperphosphorylated RB and was active in a cell-free system that reproduced the growth arrest- and apoptosis-specific RB dephosphorylation, which was inhibitable by calyculin A but not zinc. We propose that the RB phosphatase(s) might be one of the p53-independent G1 checkpoint regulators.
Breast Cancer Metastasis Suppressor 1 Functions as a Corepressor by Enhancing Histone Deacetylase 1-Mediated Deacetylation of RelA/p65 and Promoting Apoptosis

The antiapoptotic transcription factor NF-kappaB is constitutively activated in many cancers and is important for cytokine-mediated progression and metastatic movement of tumors. Breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) is a metastasis suppressor gene whose mechanisms of action are poorly understood. In this report, we demonstrate that BRMS1 decreases the transactivation potential of RelA/p65 and ameliorates the expression of NF-kappaB-regulated antiapoptotic gene products. BRMS1 immunoprecipitates with the RelA/p65 subunit of NF-kappaB with protein-protein interactions occurring at the C terminus region of the rel homology domain but not at its known transactivation domains. Moreover, BRMS1 functions as a corepressor by promoting binding of HDAC1 to RelA/p65, where it deacetylates lysine K310 on RelA/p65, which suppresses RelA/p65 transcriptional activity. Selective small interfering RNA knockdown of BRMS1 confirms that chromatin-bound BRMS1 is required for deacetylation of RelA/p65, while enhancing chromatin occupancy of HDAC1 onto the NF-kappaB-regulated promoters cIAP2 and Bfl-1/A1. We observed in cells lacking BRMS1 a dramatic increase in cell viability after the loss of attachment from the extracellular matrix. Collectively, these results suggest that BRMS1 suppresses metastasis through its ability to function as a transcriptional corepressor of antiapoptotic genes regulated by NF-kappaB.
PURINOCEPTOR-COUPLED CL- CHANNELS IN MOUSE HEART : A NOVEL, ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY FOR CFTR REGULATION

1P2-purinoceptors couple extracellular ATP to the activation of a Cl− current (ICl,ATP) in heart. We studied the molecular mechanism and intracellular signalling pathways of ICl,ATP activation in mouse heart. 2Extracellular adenosine-5′-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATPγS; 100 μM) activated ICl,ATP in both atrial and ventricular myocytes. A specific PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide blocked the effect of ATPγS while a PKC activator, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) activated a current with identical properties to ICl,ATP. Maximal activation of ICl,ATP by ATPγS or PDBu occluded further modulation by the other agonist, suggesting that they may activate the same population of Cl− channels. 3Isoprenaline increased ICl,ATP pre-activated by ATPγS or PDBu, while isoprenaline or forskolin alone failed to activate any Cl− current in these myocytes. Adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphothionate, a PKA inhibitor, prevented ATPγS or PDBu activation of ICl,ATP. Thus, ICl,ATP is regulated by dual intracellular phosphorylation pathways involving both PKA and PKC in a synergistic manner similar to cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl− channels. 4Glibenclamide (50 μM) significantly blocked ICl,ATP activated by ATPγS or by the CFTR channel activator, levamisole. 5The slope conductance of the unitary ICl,ATP in cell-attached patches was 11·8 ± 0·3 pS, resembling the known properties of CFTR Cl− channels in cardiac myocytes. 6The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot analysis revealed CFTR mRNA expression in mouse heart. 7We conclude that ICl,ATP in mouse heart is due to activation of CFTR Cl− channels through a novel intracellular signalling pathway involving purinergic activation of PKC and PKA.
High magnetic fields in couplers of X-band accelerating structures

Increasing the accelerating gradient is an important issue for linear accelerators. Among phenomena that limit the gradient is rf breakdown in accelerating structures. Breakdowns have been frequently observed in coupler cells of accelerating structures and have been attributed to the electrical field enhancement noted in simulations. Several solutions have been proposed to reduce this enhancement. For example, increasing the group velocity in the coupler and adjacent cells, and shaping of the coupler cell to reduce maximum surface electric fields below the fields in the structure. Little attention was paid to enhancement of the magnetic field in the couplers although the possibility of damage due to pulse heating. The limit imposed by rf pulse heating and thermal fatigue was discussed, but the connection between the high rf magnetic field and coupler breakdowns was realized only recently in high gradient experiments with traveling wave (TW) and standing wave (SW) 11.4 GHz accelerating structures. These experiments are part of extensive experimental and theoretical program underway at SLAC, FNAL and KEK to develop structures that reliably meet the Next Linear Collider and Japanese Linear Collider (NLC/JLC) requirement of 50 MV/m loaded (65 MV/m unloaded) gradient operation.
Perceived Value Of Educational Hypermedia: An Exploratory Study

This paper explores the idea of perceived value of educational hypermedia by extending prior research in advertising and information systems. It proposes that the value of a course support site comes from both its information content and users’ experience when they visit the site. The cognitive antecedents of a site ’s perceived value include perceived informativeness, perceived entertainment and perceived irritation. Through a field study using a course companion site and the subsequent data analysis via structural equation modeling (SEM), this study confirms that learners appreciate informative content in an entertaining format in accessing Internet-based course support. Findings of this study will help researchers and educators better understand the cognitive dimensions that enhance the perceived value of a learning technology.
Problems Associated with Assessment of the Effects of Diet, Antacids, and Anticholinergic Agents on Gastric and Duodenal Acidity, as Measured by the Glass Electrode in situ

l, 2 with the glass electrode for the continuous measurement of the acidity of the contents of the stomach and duodenum were primarily concerned with extraneous factors that might influence such records. In these early studies concentration of acid in the stomach and duodenum was recorded under basal conditions and after stimulation. In addition, the effects of commonly used antacids were noted, although these were not reported. The rather minor pH responses to antacids that we observed have not been completely confirmed by others. 3-11 Differences in instrumentation, principally the use of electrode shields and pumps, may account for some of the differences between our findings and the results of these investiga­ tors, whose studies deserve careful review. Aspiration studies have in some instances l2 - l4 shown only small changes in pH after the administration of antacids and are more in agreement with our findings. The purpose of this paper is to describe the changes in intragastric and intra­ duodenal pH during the use of diet, antacids, and anticholinergic drugs in the treatment of patients with duodenal ulcer.
Pulmonary vascular morphology as an imaging biomarker in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) have morphologic changes to the pulmonary vasculature. These include pruning of the distal vessels, dilation of the proximal vessels, and increased vascular tortuosity. Advances in image processing and computer vision enable objective detection and quantification of these processes in clinically acquired computed tomographic (CT) scans. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the pulmonary vasculature were created from the CT angiograms of 18 patients with CTEPH diagnosed using imaging and hemodynamics as well as 15 control patients referred to our Dyspnea Clinic and found to have no evidence of pulmonary vascular disease. Compared to controls, CTEPH patients exhibited greater pruning of the distal vasculature (median density of small-vessel volume: 2.7 [interquartile range (IQR): 2.5-3.0] vs. 3.2 [3.0-3.8]; P = 0.008), greater dilation of proximal arteries (median fraction of blood in large arteries: 0.35 [IQR: 0.30-0.41] vs. 0.23 [0.21-0.31]; P = 0.0005), and increased tortuosity in the pulmonary arterial tree (median: 4.92% [IQR: 4.85%-5.21%] vs. 4.63% [4.39%-4.92%]; P = 0.004). CTEPH was not associated with dilation of proximal veins or increased tortuosity in the venous system. Distal pruning of the vasculature was correlated with the cardiac index (R = 0.51, P = 0.04). Quantitative models derived from CT scans can be used to measure changes in vascular morphology previously described subjectively in CTEPH. These measurements are also correlated with invasive metrics of pulmonary hemodynamics, suggesting that they may be used to assess disease severity. Further work in a larger cohort may enable the use of such measures as a biomarker for diagnostic, phenotyping, and prognostic purposes.
The National Defense Authorization Act of 2012: Battlefield Earth

This paper demonstrates that, even as troops in Iraq and Afghanistan come home and al-Qaeda becomes increasingly weak and ineffectual, the scope of civil liberties in America to contract. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, which authorizes the indefinite military detention of U.S. Citizens arrested on U.S. soil, is explained within the context of the advancing general curtailment of basic freedoms.
In-situ measurement of relative motion during ultrasonic spot welding of aluminum alloy using Photonic Doppler Velocimetry

Abstract Ultrasonic Spot Welding (USW) is a solid-state welding process widely used for light metal joining. Improved understanding of the bonding mechanism for USW aluminum alloys is essential for achieving sound joints. In the present study, the relative motion of the sonotrode, aluminum specimens, and anvil in USW is investigated using an in-situ velocity measurement technique, Photonic Doppler Velocimetry (PDV). The relative motion analysis is correlated to destructive testing results, including lap-shear tensile testing and weld microstructure characterization, to understand and quantify bond formation during USW. The results indicate that four bonding stages are present: a slip stage, slip–stick transition stage, stick stage, and over-welding stage. In particular, the end of the stick stage, marked by the sonotrode tip and foils vibrating at the same velocity, is essential to achieve peak bond strength as well as a fracture mode change from “interfacial failure” to “nugget pull-out”.
Pivotal Teaching Interactions for Children with Autism

This article discusses effective teaching interactions in the treatment of autism with a focus on pivotal target behaviors. Specifically, in behaviorally oriented intervention approaches, our resea...
Benjamin Rush, MD: assassin or beloved healer?

Benjamin Rush, MD (1745–1813), was not only the most well known physician in 18th-century America, he was also a patriot, philosopher, author, lecturer, fervent evangelist, politician, and dedicate...
Effect and Mode of Action of Tartrates in the Human Body.

Though tartrates have long been used in medicine, and grapes and grape products, the chief sources of tartrates are common foods, there is still much difference of opinion as to the effect and mode of action of tartrates in the human body. Among the unsettled questions are: 1. Are tartrates absorbed from the intestine? 2. If absorbed, are they oxidized in the tissues? 3. Are they alkalinizing? 4. If alkalinizing, how is this effect produced? Solis-Cohen and Githens,1 Blatherwick,2 Post,3 and others believe tartrates are alkalinizing, the basis of their belief evidently being the idea of absorption and oxidation. Pickens and Hetler,4 Wood,5 Simpson,6 Rose,7 and others are on the contrary side of the alkalinizing question. Sollmann,8 McGuigan9 and others take a middle ground.We can not tell whether tartrates are absorbed from the human intestine or not; but if they were absorbed in the case of any of our experimental subjects they were evidently oxidized, for we found no tartrates in the urine after their i...
Identification and Localization of Toxic Elements in Normal Human Lung Macrophages

AbstractThe elemental content of pulmonary macrophages obtained by bronchopulmonary lavage from 13 healthy adult volunteers was assessed. Subcellular localization of elements was accomplished using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis in the scanning transmission microscope. Silicon, aluminum, iron, and sulfur were identified and localized to subcellular particles. These observations indicate that the elemental content of alveolar macrophages lavaged from living individuals can be determined by microanalysis and that the alveolar macrophages of normal persons retain potentially toxic elements.
Sensitivity of mice to endotoxin after vaccination with BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin).

Summary1. It is shown that a single intravenous injection of BCG in mice induces a state of hyperreactivity to bacterial endotoxin. The LD50 for E. coli lipopolysaccharide is decreased from 357 μg in controls to 6 or 7 μg in BCG vaccinated animals. This change appears around the 5th day after vaccination. 2. Trehalose dimycolate, a component derived from virulent tubercle bacilli induces a similar state of hyperreactivity to endotoxin upon single or repeated injections.
Court Systems: Sharii'ah Law and Courts

Today, more so than in previous history, the term Sharii’ah has entered the popular conscious through the news media, entertainment, literary fiction, and political hyperbole. The usage is rarely favorable and is identified with extremism, intolerance, and repression. Yet, for over a fifth of the world’s inhabitants, from the Atlantic to the Walls of China, and in Europe and the Americas, Sharii’ah is about freedom and justice, about equality and social responsibility and alleviating the human condition. As argued by intellectuals, it is not Islam or Sharii’ah that need reforming, but rather the human element. This chapter defines the dimensions of Sharii’ah as represented by its sources and as understood by many Muslims and why it has a role in contemporary society providing a viable legal framework for justice.
The Amazon Rubber Boom, 1850-1920

Barbara Weinstein. This is a full-scale account of one of the most epic "boom and bust" cycles in Latin American history-the Amazon rubber trade's 7o-year dominance of the Brazilian economy. Broken by the successful cultivation of rubber trees by the British in Southeast Asia, the long period of vigorous economic activity in the rubber trade left the basic structure of Amazonian society relatively unchanged. One of the author's main concerns is to explore why rubber exports did not generate substantial growth in either the industrial or the agricultural sectors. She also considers the impact of political decentralization and regionalism on the economy, draws comparisons with the coffee boom in Sao Paulo, and traces the consequences of the rubber economy's collapse on the social, political, and economic life of the region. $29.50
In Silico Pharmacology for Carthamus tinctorius L,Paeonia anomala L and Caulis et Folium Ligustici Wallichii of Xuefuzhuyu Decoction in Promoting Blood Circulation

Objective: In this article,the in silico pharmacology in promoting blood circulation for Carthamus tinctorius L,Paeonia anomala L and Caulis et Folium Ligustici Wallichii of Xuefuzhuyu Decoction was investigated,and the multi-target compound effects were explained at the molecular level.Method: Using computer aided drug design(CADD),virtual screening and database search technologies were carried out to search the molecule database that inhibit promoting blood circulation related targets.Result: there were 88,18,59,3 compound molecules respectively that showed potential biological inhibition with the four targets Thrombin,Thromboxane A2 receptor(TXA2R),plasminogen activator inhibitor 1(PAI-1)and coagulation factor IXa.Among which compound safflomin A could inhibit the four targets and the results were in vitro validated.Conclusion: Our research gave a molecular description of multi-target compound effects and In silico pharmacology for Carthamus tinctorius L,Paeonia anomala L and Caulis et Folium Ligustici Wallichii of Xuefuzhuyu Decoction.Besides,the research showed hint for clinical application and in-depth study for Xuefuzhuyu Decoction.
Thrombotic microangiopathy and human immunodeficiency virus in the era of eculizumab

Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) include thrombotic thromobocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Among these conditions, atypical HUS is now recognized to be a disease of alternative complement pathway dysregulation. Eculizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the complement protein C5 and prevents the cleavage of C5 to C5a and C5b. Eculizumab has been used as a novel treatment for complement-mediated TMA. We present a case of a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection who developed TMA and was successfully treated with eculizumab. The effect of long-term treatment with this new medication is unknown, and further studies are needed to establish guidelines in the management of this condition.
Laboratory and Field Reservoir Evaporation Reduction Investigations Being Performed by the Bureau of Reclamation

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the laboratory and field reservoir evaporation reduction investigations being performed by the Bureau of Reclamation. Many tests performed by the Bureau and other investigators have established the fact that the use of hexadecanol as a reservoir evaporation retardant will not produce any undesirable effects from a public health, water quality, or fish and wildlife point of view. Thus, hexadecanol was then chosen as a typical material for a large scale hydrologic and economic field evaluation. Under all of the field conditions experienced, because of losses primarily due to the wind, some daily, or more frequent, replacement of the film is required. Studies have indicated that the use of monolayers for evaporation reduction holds considerable promise for the conservation of part of the vast quantities of water now being lost by evaporation. The need for this research is illustrated by the fact that an estimated 11.5 million acre-ft. of water are lost each year by evaporation from large lakes and reservoirs in the West. This is enough water to supply the average annual domestic needs of 46 million people.
Enzyme activities in tissues of clinically normal Large White pigs. Variations with age and sex.

The activities of eight enzymes (glutamate dehydrogenase, sorbital dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, x-hydroxy butyrate dehydrogenase, Y-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase) were determined in tissue homogenates of liver, kidney, spleen, lung, small intestine, cardiac muscle and skeletal muscle, from 15 Large White pigs of three different ages (1.5 weeks, 18–22 weeks and 113 weeks). The results showed that variation in tissue enzyme concentration due to differences in sex is minimal. Variation due to differences in age, however, appears to be of greater importance, particularly when considering young animals. These age differences may affect the interpretation of plasma enzyme changes due to tissue damage, and the use of additional enzyme assays as an aid to interpretation in these cases is advisable.
Parent Experience of Care and Decision Making for Children Who Snore.

Importance Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is prevalent and has an impact on the physical and behavioral health of children. Adenotonsillectomy (AT), the primary treatment, is subject to unexplained variation in utilization, which may be reduced by improving physician-patient communication and decision quality for this elective procedure. Objective To identify factors are associated with parental experience and decision making in pediatric SDB and AT surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants In this qualitative study, parents of children with prior SDB evaluation participated in semistructured, audiorecorded interviews. Open-ended questions regarded experiences of having a child with SDB, communication with pediatric clinicians and surgeons, and experiences with AT surgery. Recordings were transcribed and analyzed for emergent themes using grounded theory methodology. Eleven parents of children ages 2 to 17 years who had previously been diagnosed or treated for SDB were identified via purposive sampling and interviewed between January and April 2015. Interviews were conducted at locations convenient for the participants and separate from the pediatric clinic. A goal of this study was to ascertain how parents perceived sharing decisions with their physicians. Main Outcomes and Measures Themes of parental experiences and treatment decision-making processes with pediatric SDB. Results Overarching themes were inclusive of (1) clinical factors of SDB and AT and (2) clinician interpersonal behaviors and communication. Parents described an urgency that led them to seek evaluation or treatment, including fear that the child would stop breathing, or behavioral and/or cognitive delays. Parents often viewed surgery as a “last resort” and had explored alternate therapies prior to seeing the surgeon. Nearly all parents feared anesthesia more than AT surgery itself. Parents described satisfaction when physicians provided them with options, engaged their child in conversation, depicted SDB visually, and were responsive or accessible to questions. Parents regarded a trusting relationship with their pediatrician, confidence in the surgeon, and inclusion in decision making as important. Conclusions and Relevance While clinical factors were influential for decision making, interpersonal factors helped parents feel comfortable and influenced their overall experience. Shared decision making, in which parents receive evidence-based information allowing them to accurately perceive risks, benefits, and alternatives about SDB treatment in the setting of trusting clinician-family relationships, may reduce parental decision conflict and improve decision quality toward AT surgery.
Teaching the brain through games — Medulla

Joseph Fanfarelli is Assistant Professor of Digital Media at the University of Central Florida, and studies the design and development of educational games. His primary research interest involves integrating techniques from the fields of psychology and game design to create more effective and engaging learning games.
Beyond grasping - perceiving affordances across various stages of cognitive development

The concept of “affordance” has typically represented the relationship between human perceivers and their environment. Affordance perception, representation, and inference are central to commonsense reasoning, tool-use and creative problem-solving in artificial agents. Existing approaches to representing affordances have focused on its physical aspects, relying on either static ontologies or statistical formalisms to extract relationships between physical features of objects, actions and the corresponding effects of their interaction. These approaches fail to provide flexibility with which to reason about affordances through various developmental stages, where they are more influenced by changing context, social norms, historical precedence, and uncertainty. We develop a formal rules-based logical representational format coupled with an uncertainty-processing framework to reason about cognitive affordances in a more general manner than shown in the existing literature. Our framework, which is retained through cognitive development, allows agents to make deductive and abductive inferences about functional and social affordances. We demonstrate our approach with an example, and show that an agent can successfully reason through situations that involve a tight interplay between various social and functional norms.
The Wehrmann in Eisen: nailed statues as barometers of Habsburg social order during the First World War

Beginning in early 1915, large nailed statues appeared across Austria-Hungary. These statues, which were carved of wood and covered in nails, took different forms. The most common was a shield or m...
Fantastic lactations: fiction and kinship in the French Middle Ages

ABSTRACT Among the many representations of cross-species suckling in medieval French literature, two fourteenthcentury examples are remarkable for their portrayals of fantastic creatures that nurse human infants. In Le conte du papegau (The Tale of the Parrot), a unicorn suckles a motherless child, and in Tristan de Nanteuil (Tristan of Nanteuil), a siren nurses a child abandoned at sea. The substitution of a fantastic creature for the wild animal that more commonly suckles an abandoned child emphasizes the fictionality of the episode. This emphasis on the fictional and the fantastic opens a moment of reflection in which the relationships defined through suckling come under consideration. Fantasy disrupts the conventional representation of kinship bonds based on blood and introduces symbolic relationships based on shared milk; cross-species nursing defines cross-species kinships.
Practitioners' preference: which project planning components offer the most promise?

This research was designed to uncover top planning components as determined by current project management practitioners. A qualitative analysis was conducted involving 58 project managers representing diverse professional years of experience, project sizes, and industries. Various planning components were deemed to be value-adding including the top four which were (in descending order): WBS, scope planning, risk management and stakeholder management. Key findings from the content analysis produced 'themes' which seem to support this ranking. These planning components and associated themes were: a) WBS - 'structure' and 'accountability'; b) scope planning - 'clarity' and 'reflectiveness'; c) risk management - 'uncertainties' and 'insurance'; d) stakeholder management - 'identification' and 'influence'.
Pilot Single-Blind Trial of AbobotulinumtoxinA in Oromandibular Dystonia

Oromandibular dystonia (OMD) causes involuntary movements of masticatory and lingual muscles impairing eating, speaking, and swallowing. Treatment options are limited. The objective of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of abobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNTA) in OMD. A dose-finding study (phase 1) followed by a single session, prospective, single-blind trial (phase 2) was carried out. OMD subjects were evaluated at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Muscles injected were tailored to individual symptoms using EMG guidance, but the aboBoNTA dose for each muscle was pre-specified based on phase 1 results. Evaluations were Global Dystonia Rating Scale (GDS), Unified Dystonia Rating Scale (UDRS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) improvement and severity, and quality of life (OMDQ-25). Adverse events were monitored. The lowest dosage in phase 1 resulted in adverse effects in two of three patients and thus was used in phase 2. In phase 2, adverse effects were observed in 50% of subjects including dysphagia, voice change, and soft palate weakness. Most were mild. Significant improvement was seen in quality of life (OMDQ-25), speech (BFMq21), and change in GDS, UDRS, CGI severity assessed by the unblinded investigator, but not in blinded video ratings. We conclude that aboBoNTA therapy in this study was associated with improved quality of life and was generally well tolerated in OMD, but occurrence of dysphagia dictated the importance of using low genioglossus dosing. Face to face assessment appears to be more sensitive than video assessment for change in OMD severity. Consideration of the disability in OMD places constraints on traditional placebo-control trial design. Development of novel trial designs is warranted.