cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Exegetical Argument for Civil Authority in the De Imperio of Hugo Grotius

Between 1614 and 1617, Hugo Grotius wrote a treatise entitled De imperio summarum potestatum circa sacra . Though the work was published much later (posthumously in 1647), it should be read in the context of Grotius’s involvement in the controversy associated with the Oath of Allegiance to James i and the conflict between Remonstrants and critics of the government in the 1610s. In De imperio , Grotius uses classical and contemporary sources to argue for government oversight of the churches. This article focuses on one biblical passage that figured prominently in the debate over state control of religion, Numbers 27:18–21. Grotius’s remarkable treatment of this passage shows how a leading figure in the Republic of Letters used the tools of historical and literary criticism to gain leverage in an ongoing hermeneutical debate, thus shedding light on the relation of irenicism to critical exegesis of the Bible.
Studies on HeLa cell nucleoli.

A primary role for the nucleolus in ribosome biogenesis has been well established and documented (1,2). It has been shown that the nucleolus, a well-characterized but variable nuclear morphological entity, represents the chromosomal location for the genes coding for ribosomal precursor RNA. In addition, the derivatives of this product, mature ribosomal RNA, and much of the enzymatic machinery for its synthesis, processing, and assembly with proteins are located within this nuclear organelle. While it is clear that the nucleolus functions as a site of ribosomal RNA synthesis, the capacity for other synthetic functions has not been shown. Despite a large pool of proteins, at least 80% of which are ribosomal, available evidence (3) now suggests that they are cytoplasmic in origin. Recently, several workers have shown that interruption of ribosomal RNA synthesis for even a few minutes stops the nucleolar appearance of ribosomal proteins (4–6). This implies yet another function for nucleoli, that of protein accumulation, requiring continued RNA synthesis.
Body Build and Tissue Composition in Pan paniscus and Pan troglodytes, with Comparisons to Other Hominoids

Pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus) have received a great deal of attention as a possible prototype for the African hominoid ancestor (Zihlman et al., 1978; Johnson, 1981; Latimer et al., 1981), but they are interesting for additional reasons. First, comparing body build and tissue composition between Pan paniscus and Pan troglodytes documents in detail the extent of morphological difference between the two species. Further comparison with Asian apes provides insights into the basic pongid adaptation and contributes to analysis of the correlation between body build and locomotor behavior. Finally, comparison with fossil and living hominids offers clues on the changing body build correlated with the origin of bipedal locomotion.
A neural network approach to enhance blade element momentum theory performance for horizontal axis hydrokinetic turbine application

Abstract Blade element momentum (BEM) theory is a commonly used tool to predict the performance of horizontal axis conversion systems, such as wind and water turbines. Moreover, BEM theory can be easily integrated into many optimization techniques to improve the turbine structure and performance reliability. BEM theory though conceptually simple has different sources of convergence issues. The main focus of this work was to introduce a computational intelligence technique, namely, multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural networks (NNs) to overcome the convergence issues regardless of their sources. To improve the BEM accuracy, NNs were also employed as a multivariate interpolation tool to calculate the lift and drag coefficients over an operational range of local Reynolds numbers. This technique was found to be easy to integrate into any modified BEM model such those account for blockage in channels. The BEM-NNs model was able to operate at a higher tip speed ratio, with no convergence problems, compared to other models. Integration of NNs as multivariate interpolation tool for hydrodynamic coefficient calculation further improved the power prediction compared to that when using a constant representative Reynolds number.
Aligning Audiovisual Features for Audiovisual Speech Recognition

Visual information can improve the performance of automatic speech recognition (ASR), especially in the presence of background noise or different speech modes. A key problem is how to fuse the acoustic and visual features leveraging their complementary information and overcoming the alignment differences between modalities. Current audiovisual ASR (AV-ASR) systems rely on linear interpolation or extrapolation as a pre-processing technique to align audio and visual features, assuming that the feature sequences are aligned frame-by-frame. These pre-processing methods oversimplify the phase difference between lip motion and speech, lacking flexibility and impairing the performance of the system. This paper addresses the fusion of audiovisual features with an alignment neural network (AliNN), relying on recurrent neural network (RNN) with attention model. The proposed front-end model can automatically learn the alignment from the data. The resulting aligned features are concatenated and fed to conventional back-end ASR systems. The proposed front-end system is evaluated with matched and mismatch channel conditions, under clean and noisy recordings. The results show that our proposed approach can relatively outperform the baseline by 24.9% with Gaussian mixture model with hidden Markov model (GMM-HMM) back-end and 2.4% with deep neural network with hidden Markov model (DNN-HMM) back-end.
Normal categorical perception to syllable-like stimuli in long term and in first episode schizophrenia

Abstract Schizophrenia is associated with deficits in language processing that are evident even at first-episode. However, there is debate as to how early in the processing stream the linguistic deficits appear. We measured categorical processing of artificial syllables that varied in voice-onset time (VOT), and how sensory biasing impacts categorical perception. VOT varied in 5 ms increments from 0 ms (strong /ba/) to 40 ms (strong /pa/). Participants chose whether a syllable sounded more like /ba/ or /pa/. Twenty-two individuals with long-term schizophrenia (Sz) were compared to 21 controls (HCSz), and 17 individuals at their first-episode of schizophrenia (FE) were compared to 19 controls (HCFE). There were three conditions: equiprobable – each syllable had an equal probability of being presented; /ba/−biased – 0 ms VOT (strong /ba/) presented 70% of the time; /pa/−biased – 40 ms VOT (strong /pa/) presented 70% of the time. All groups showed categorical perception and category shifts during biased conditions. Sz and FE were statistically indistinguishable from controls in the point of categorical shift, slope of their response function, and the VOT needed to reliably perceive /pa/. Together, this suggests intact ability to map acoustic stimuli to phonetic categories when based on timing differences in voiced information, both early and late in the disease.
Several Applications of the Direct Method of Liapunov

Abstract The stability of ordinary differential equations is studied using the direct method of Liapunov. The form of the equation utilized is = f(x) + g(x, t). Linear bounds are obtained on the components of the vector g(x, t) which are sufficient to assure that the above equation has the same stability properties as the equation = f(y). The restrictions on the form of g(x, t) required for the Aizerman problem are relaxed by considering only those bounds for which a Liapunov function is known. The bounds are also less restrictive than the similar bounds reported by Hahn, because a set of linear forms are used instead of a fixed pair of linear forms. These bounds are obtained through the use of a special symmetry requirement. The use of normal coordinates in the construction of Liapunov functions for constant coefficient linear equations is discussed in connection with obtaining bounds for the linear case f(x) = Ax. The determination of sets of bounds for the linear case is formulated as a set of eigenvalue problems. Several examples are carried out to illustrate the application of the technique of linear bounds to control system design.
Compression of porous aluminum: combined ultrasonic and microtomography measurements with lattice-Boltzmann permeability simulations

Combined ultrasonic and X-ray microtomography measurements in situ at high pressure, in conjunction with lattice-Boltzmann simulations, enabled simultaneous investigation several physical parameter...
Identifying and measuring network-based relational uncertainty: Looking outside of the dyadic bubble:

Previous research has explored both relational uncertainty and the importance of partners’ social networks in the development of close relationships. Combining these concepts would better facilitat...
Assessments of Otolaryngology Resident Operative Experiences Using Mobile Technology: A Pilot Study.

ObjectivesSurgical education has shifted from the Halstedian model of “see one, do one, teach one” to a competency-based model of training. Otolaryngology residency programs can benefit from a fast...
Review Essay of Gender Challenges (Volumes 1, 2 and 3), by Bina Agarwal

Bina Agarwal is a development economist who has authored several influential books; a scholar of such calibre and renown that an introduction is redundant. In Gender Challenges, she treats us to a ...
American Red Cross and the World Trade Center

Dr. Bernadine Healy was the president of the American Red Cross when the terrorist attacks took place on September 11, 2001. In the aftermath, the American Red Cross implored the American public for donations of money to help those affected by these attacks. This is not an unusual or unreasonable request from this charitable organization, which provides assistance and relief to victims of disasters. The difference in this case study rests within the management of the $564 million collected. Rather than distributing all the donated money to victims of the attacks, Healy created the Liberty Disaster Relief Fund to create a blood reserve/storage system and saved $200 million of the donations for future disasters. Healy would be forced to resign by her board. This case study looks at both sides of this debate: Was Healy being a responsible steward of the money, or did she mislead the American public? Subscribe to JNEL
Are Probiotics the New Calcium and Vitamin D for Bone Health

Calcium and vitamin D supplementation is recommended for patients at high risk of fracture and/or for those receiving pharmacological osteoporosis treatments. Probiotics are micro-organisms conferring a health benefit on the host when administered in adequate amounts, likely by influencing gut microbiota (GM) composition and/or function. GM has been shown to influence various determinants of bone health. In animal models, probiotics prevent bone loss associated with estrogen deficiency, diabetes, or glucocorticoid treatments, by modulating both bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblast. In humans, they interfere with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, and calcium intake and absorption, and slightly decrease bone loss in elderly postmenopausal women, in a quite similar magnitude as observed with calcium ± vitamin D supplements. A dietary source of probiotics is fermented dairy products which can improve calcium balance, prevent secondary hyperparathyroidism, and attenuate age-related increase of bone resorption and bone loss. Additional studies are required to determine whether probiotics or any other interventions targeting GM and its metabolites may be adjuvant treatment to calcium and vitamin D or anti-osteoporotic drugs in the general management of patients with bone fragility.
Random Evolutions (RE)

In this chapter we consider the general theory of Random Evolutions Definitions and classification of RE will be given Martingale methods in RE and their applications to the limit theorems for RE will be considered Among limit theorems for RE we study averaging, merging, diffusion approximation, and normal deviations of RE, and rates of convergence in the limit theorems Also we consider various evolutionary equations which arise in the theory of RE, namely, random operator equations of an evolutionary kind, and deterministic operator equations for expectations of the solutions of such equations.
Influence of pedestrian-to-vehicle technology on drivers’ response and safety benefits considering pre-crash conditions

Abstract Pedestrian-to-vehicle (P2V) technology may offer a promising approach to reducing pedestrian crashes. However, its influences on both driver response and safety benefits have been little studied in previous research, particularly in regard to the variation of influences between different pre-crash scenarios. To investigate these influences, this study designed three pre-crash scenarios based on pedestrian crash contributing factors identified from crash reports, and collected 44 drivers’ driving simulator experiments’ data. The results clarified how using P2V technology to warn drivers of an impending collision improves safety by causing a series of changes for both brake operation and braking profile. These series of changes were further demonstrated to vary between scenarios. The study showed that P2V technology may be particularly useful in scenarios in which a pedestrian’s crossing intention is unclear; specifically, in this type of scenario, the P2V warning had changed the braking process from a panic brake of “slow reaction-hard brake” to a comfortable brake of “quick reaction-gentle brake.” In addition, the P2V warning may be less effective in “low-risk” level scenarios where a driver is confident that he/she can handle the situation through a more conservative evasive action and don’t need to react strongly to a warning. Moreover, depending on the pre-crash scenario, the P2V warning may be mostly beneficial for drivers who had a crash/citation in the past five years and working-aged drivers.
Use of Model-Based Compartmental Analysis and Theoretical Data to Further Explore Choice of Sampling Time for Assessing Vitamin A Status in Groups and Individual Human Subjects by the Retinol Isotope Dilution Method.

BACKGROUND An optimal blood sampling time for application of the retinol isotope dilution (RID) method for predicting vitamin A total body stores (TBS) (i.e., vitamin A status) has not been established. OBJECTIVES Objectives were to identify sampling times that provide accurate estimates of TBS by RID in groups and individuals by applying compartmental modeling to data for theoretical adults and children. METHODS We selected previously generated hypothetical adults and children (20 per group) that had a wide range of assigned values for TBS and vitamin A kinetic parameters. We used the Simulation, Analysis and Modeling software to simulate individual kinetic responses; then we calculated geometric mean values for the RID equation coefficients and each individual's plasma retinol specific activity at various times, using those values to predict group mean and individual subject TBS. Predicted values for TBS were compared with assigned values. RESULTS Accurate estimates of group mean TBS were obtained at all sampling times from 1 to 30 d in both adults and children. For individuals, correlations between RID-predicted TBS and assigned values increased with time in the adults (R2 = 0.80 at day 14, 0.96 at day 21, and 0.99 at day 28); a similar trend was observed for the children, with R2 = 0.82 at day 7 and increasing to 0.97 at days 21 and 28 (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS Although no single, unique time provided the most accurate prediction of TBS for all individuals within these groups, applying the RID method at 21 or 28 d yielded predictions that were within 25% of assigned values for 90% or 95% of adults, respectively; corresponding values for children were 80% from 10 to 20 d, and 85% at 21 and 28 d. For most subjects, early times (<14 d for adults and <10 d for children) provided less accurate predictions.
Working towards better births for all

The Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services supports all maternity service users to navigate the system as it exists and campaigns for a system which truly meets the needs of all
Cisplatin Ototoxicity: Examination of the Impact of Dosing, Infusion Times, and Schedules In Pediatric Cancer Patients.

Background Sensorineural hearing loss is a well-known side effect of cisplatin (CDDP). There is limited research on the effect of dosing, infusion times, and schedules of cisplatin administration and their impact on hearing loss. Methods A retrospective review of 993 pediatric patients' medical and audiological charts from August 1990 to March 2015 was conducted using stringent inclusion criteria to characterize patients with hearing loss. 248 of these patients received CDDP. Of these, 216 patients had sufficient CDDP infusion data to assess for sensorineural hearing loss attributable to CDDP and its associated risk factors. Chart reviews were performed to extract clinical data including CDDP dosing information. Demographic and clinical characteristics were summarized by descriptive statistics, and univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to examine the relationship between hearing loss and specific parameters of cisplatin administration (amount infused per dose, prescribed infusion time, total number of doses, number of doses per cycle, number of cycles, cumulative cisplatin exposure). Stepwise variable selection procedure was performed in the multivariate model building to extract the best subset of risk factors for the prediction of hearing loss and worsening ototoxicity grade using an established ototoxicity grading scale from the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP). Results A total of 153 patients with complete medical and audiologic data were evaluable for analysis. Hearing loss was identified in 72.6% of the patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that age [OR=0.90 (0.84-0.97), p-value=0.0086], radiation to any part of the body, [OR=3.20 (1.29-7.93), p-value=0.012], amount infused per dose (mg/m2) [OR=1.018 (1.002-1.033), p-value=0.029], and cumulative cisplatin exposure (mg/m 2) [OR=1.004 (1-1.008), p-value=0.027] were associated with hearing loss. Similar associations were also found between these risk factors and worsening SIOP grade. Conclusion In one of the largest studies examining the influence of CDDP dosing and schedules on hearing loss, we found the amount of CDDP infused per dose is a significant risk factor. Considerations in designing regimens that reduce the amount of CDDP infused per dose may reduce the risk of hearing loss. Randomized prospective trials are needed.
Migraine/Headache Surgery

This chapter shares important insights, as well as tips and tricks, on migraine surgery, to help surgeons achieve successful outcomes. Several topics are discussed including patient selection (PAINS, pain sketches, nerve blocks, silent occipital neuralgia), technical details (exploration of nerve entrapment directly at the pain site, approach to all frontal triggers through an upper blepharoplasty incision), and postoperative pain management.
Prevalence, Serotype, and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella on Broiler Carcasses Postpick and Postchill in 20 U.S. Processing Plants

The objective of this study was to measure the effect of broiler processing on the prevalence, serotype, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of salmonellae. Twenty U.S. commercial processing plants representing eight integrators in 13 states were included in the survey. In each of four replications, 10 carcasses from one flock were collected at rehang and 10 more carcasses were collected at postchill; each carcass was sampled by whole-carcass rinse. Salmonella organisms were isolated from carcass rinses by standard cultural techniques, serotypes were determined, and the resistance to 15 antimicrobials was measured. Overall, Salmonella was detected on 72% of carcasses at rehang (ranging from 35 to 97%) and on 20% of carcasses postchill (ranging from 2.5 to 60%). In every instance, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in Salmonella prevalence was noted between rehang and postchill. The four most common serotypes, accounting for 64% of all Salmonella isolates, were Kentucky, Heidelberg, Typhimurium, and Typhimurium var. 5-; most isolates of Kentucky (52%), Heidelberg (79%), and Typhimurium (54%) serotypes were susceptible to all antimicrobial drugs tested. However, only 15% of the Typhimurium var. 5- isolates were pansusceptible; more than one-half of the isolates of this serotype were resistant to three or more drugs. No isolate of any serotype exhibited resistance to amikacin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. These data demonstrate that although processing lessens carcass contamination with Salmonella, antimicrobial-resistant isolates may still be present.
Dopant selection rules for extrinsic tunability of HfO x RRAM characteristics: A systematic study

Recently, resistive random access memory (RRAM) has been explored as a promising technology for applications including on-chip memories, 3D-FPGA and neuromorphic computing systems. For systems with RRAM integration, it is beneficial to have better control of device characteristics to provide large design space and advanced functionalities. For example, in order to mimic the human nervous system with a complex hierarchy, it is desirable to develop multiple, well-separated RRAM characteristics on a single chip. However, intrinsic tuning of device parameters is subject to process restrictions and performance trade-off. In this paper, we present the first systematic approach to understand and utilize the doping effects for tuning RRAM characteristics. HfOx-based RRAM devices with 5 different dopants are fabricated to demonstrate the substantial tunability of key parameters including forming voltage, SET voltage and ON/OFF ratio. To explain the experimental observations, detailed ab initio calculations are performed to model the dopant-vacancy and dopant-filament interactions. The effects of 12 candidate dopants on forming and switching processes are analyzed to provide universal guidelines for dopant selection. Based on the improved tunability, novel design methodologies are further proposed to enable high-performance and multi-level RRAM devices.
Gas-Phase Metal Ion Chemistry: Summary of the Panel Discussion

Investigation of the properties and reactions of transition metal ions and metal-containing compounds continues to represent one of the most active research areas in contemporary gas phase ion chemistry. The rapid growth of this field has been inspired by an increased need for basic physical data for inorganic and organometallic species, and by the rich and fascinating reactivity which bare atomic metal ions and metal-ion fragments have shown with simple organic compounds. The family of experimental methods used to study gas phase metal ion chemistry has grown steadily over the last decade, and now includes guided-ion beam instruments, flowing afterglows, high pressure mass spectrometers, and multiple sector instruments, in addition to the ICR and FT-ICR methods which fostered the early development of the field. Notable recent advances in gas phase metal ion chemistry include the measurement of highly precise absolute bond energies for metal-hydrogen, metal-alkyl and metal-oxygen bonds using ion-beams, thermal energy ion-molecule reactions and photodissociation; increased activity involving transition metal negative ion chemistry; the development of means to study novel metal cluster ions, including homonuclear and heteronuclear clusters ranging in size from two to twenty metal atoms; and formation and study of reactive metal ion complexes with intermediate ranges of coordinative unsaturation (12–16 electrons).
Overproduction of SecA Suppresses the Export Defect Caused by a Mutation in the Gene Encoding the Escherichia coli Export Chaperone SecB

SecB is a cytosolic protein required for rapid and efficient export of particular periplasmic and outer membrane proteins in Escherichia coli. SecB promotes export by stabilizing newly synthesized precursor proteins in a nonnative conformation and by targeting the precursors to the inner membrane. Biochemical studies suggest that SecB facilitates precursor targeting by binding to the SecA protein, a component of the membrane-embedded translocation apparatus. To gain more insight into the functional interaction of SecB and SecA, in vivo, mutations in the secA locus that compensate for the export defect caused by the secB missense mutation secBL75Q were isolated. Two suppressors were isolated, both of which led to the overproduction of wild-type SecA protein. In vivo studies demonstrated that the SecBL75Q mutant protein releases precursor proteins at a lower rate than does wild-type SecB. Increasing the level of SecA protein in the cell was found to reverse this slow-release defect, indicating that overproduction of SecA stimulates the turnover of SecBL75Q-precursor complexes. These findings lend additional support to the proposed pathway for precursor targeting in which SecB promotes targeting to the translocation apparatus by binding to the SecA protein.
Solid-state 13C NMR and synchrotron SAXS/WAXS studies of uniaxially-oriented polyethylene

We report solid-state (13)C NMR and synchrotron wide-and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments (WAXS, SAXS) on metallocene linear low density polyethylene films (e.g., Exceed™ 1018 mLLDPE; nominally 1MI, 0.918 density ethylene-hexene metallocene copolymer) as a function of uniaxial draw ratio, λ. Combined, these experiments provide an unambiguous, quantitative molecular view of the orientation of both the crystalline and amorphous phases in the samples as a function of draw. Together with previously reported differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gas transport measurements, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), optical birefringence, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) as well as other characterization techniques, this study of the state of orientation in both phases provides insight concerning the development of unusually high barrier properties of the most oriented samples (λ=10). In this work, static (non-spinning) solid-state NMR measurements indicate that in the drawn Exceed(TM) films both the crystalline and amorphous regions are highly oriented. In particular, chemical shift data show the amorphous phase is comprised increasingly of so-called "taut tie chains" (or tie chains under any state of tautness) in the mLLDPE with increasing draw ratio - the resonance lines associated with the amorphous phase shift to where the crystalline peaks are observed. In the sample with highest total draw (λ=10), virtually all of the chains in the non-crystalline region have responded and aligned in the machine (draw) direction. Both monoclinic and orthorhombic crystalline peaks are observed in high-resolution, solid-state magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR measurements of the oriented PE films. The orientation is comparable to that obtained for ultra-high molecular weight HDPE fibers described as "ultra-oriented" in the literature. Furthermore, the presence of a monoclinic peak in cold-drawn samples suggests that there is an appreciable internal stress associated with the LLDPE. The results are confirmed and independently quantified by Herman's Orientation Function values derived from the WAXS measurements. The degree of orientation approaches theoretically perfect alignment of chains along the draw direction. We deduce from this observation that a high fraction of the non-crystalline chains are either tie chains that directly connect adjacent lamellae or are interlocking loops from adjacent lamellae. In either case, the chains are load-bearing and are consistent with the idea of "taut tie chains". We note that transmission electron micrographs recorded for the ultra-oriented Exceed showed the lamellae are often appreciably thinner and shorter than they are for cast or blown Exceed 1018. Combined with higher crystallinity, the thinner lamellae statistically favor more tie chains. Finally, the remarkably large decrease in permeability of the λ=10 film is primarily attributed to the high degree of orientation (and loss of entropy) of the amorphous phase.
Association of endosperm reduction with parental imprinting in maize.

ABSTRACT Among 38 reciprocal translocations between the maize B chromosome and the proximal region of the long arm of chromosome 10 were six interchanges associated with reduced endosperm development. These six have breakpoints that are the most proximal of the set and constitute a graded series with those broken nearer the centromere which have the most abnormal phenotypes. The group of six defines three major regions that produce the endosperm effects. The remaining 32 translocations reduce kernel size very slightly, suggesting the presence of a fourth region distal to all break-points.—The affected class of kernels lacks a paternally derived representative of that segment of 10L translocated to the B centromeric element (B10 chromosome; 10 10 B10). An accompanying class of kernel in which the paternal B10 chromosome is duplicated in the endosperm (10 10 10B B10 B10) is normal. Kernels of the same endosperm constitution synthesized by introducing both 10 and B10 maternally, however, are defective, resembling 10 10 10B. Maternal B109s are therefore unable to compensate for the absence of a paternal B10. Clearly expression of the 10L genes involved supports normal endosperm growth only following pollen transmission.
Immunochemical Characterization of Plaque Mutants of Simian Virus 40

Analysis of large and small plaque mutants of simian virus 40 using antisera prepared against each has revealed quantitative and possibly qualitative antigenic differences for each plaque type. A sensitive micro radioisotope precipitation test permitted evaluation of immunochemical similarities and differences of capsid antigens by inhibition of precipitation.
Case of Small Vessel Disease Associated with COL4A1 Mutations following Trauma

With this case report, we would like to heighten the awareness of clinicians about COL4A1 as a single-gene disorder causing cerebral small vessel disease and describe a previously unreported pathogenic missense substitution in COL4A1 (p.Gly990Val) and a new clinical presentation. We identified a heterozygous putatively pathogenic mutation of COL4A1 in a 50-year-old female with a history of congenital cataracts and glaucoma who presented with multiple diffusion-positive infarcts and areas of contrast enhancement following mild head trauma. We believe that this presentation of multiple areas of acute brain and vascular injury in the setting of mild head trauma is a new manifestation of this genetic disorder. Imaging findings of multiple acute infarcts and regions of contrast enhancement with associated asymptomatic old deep microhemorrhages and leukomalacia in adults after head trauma should raise a high suspicion for a COL4A1 genetic disorder. Radiographic patterns of significant leukoaraiosis and deep microhemorrhages can also be seen in patients with long-standing vasculopathy associated with hypertension, which our patient lacked. Our findings demonstrate the utility of genetic screening for COL4A1 mutations in young patients who have small vessel vasculopathy on brain imaging but who do not have significant cardiovascular risk factors.
Sirolimus therapy of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is associated with nephrotoxicity.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of sirolimus in treating patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), we performed a phase 2, open-label clinical trial. Inclusion criteria were adults and children 13 years and older with biopsy-proven idiopathic FSGS, proteinuria with protein of 3.5 g/d or greater while on angiotensin antagonist therapy, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 or greater (≥0.50 mL/s), and failure to achieve sustained remission with at least 1 immunosuppressive agent. Eligible patients received sirolimus doses adjusted to achieve trough levels of 5 to 15 ng/mL during the first 4 months and 10 to 20 ng/mL for the subsequent 8 months. The primary outcome was decrease in proteinuria, expressed as complete remission (protein 2 (0.87 ± 0.25 mL/s), and median baseline proteinuria with protein of 6.6 g/d (interquartile range, 4.2 to 9.4). Five patients had received cyclosporine. No patient experienced a complete or partial remission. Sirolimus therapy was stopped prematurely in 5 patients for the following reasons: (1) precipitous decrease in GFR in 4 patients after 7 to 9 months of therapy with a greater than 2-fold increase in proteinuria in 3 patients and (2) hypertriglyceridemia with triglyceride levels greater than 1,600 mg/dL (>18 mmol/L) at 5 months in 1 patient. Because of a rapid decrease in GFR with worsening proteinuria, the protocol was closed to further recruitment. We conclude that sirolimus may be associated with nephrotoxicity in some patients with FSGS, particularly those with prolonged disease duration and prior cyclosporine therapy.
Solution structure and dynamics of LuxU from Vibrio harveyi, a phosphotransferase protein involved in bacterial quorum sensing.

The marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi controls its bioluminescence by a process known as quorum sensing. In this process, autoinducer molecules are detected by membrane-bound sensor kinase/response regulator proteins (LuxN and LuxQ) that relay a signal via a series of protein phosphorylation reactions to another response regulator protein, LuxO. Phosphorylated LuxO indirectly represses the expression of the proteins responsible for bioluminescence. Integral to this quorum sensing process is the function of the phosphotransferase protein, LuxU. LuxU acts to shuttle the phosphate from the membrane-bound proteins, LuxN and LuxQ, to LuxO. LuxU is a 114 amino acid residue monomeric protein. Solution NMR was used to determine the three-dimensional structure of LuxU. LuxU contains a four-helix bundle topology with the active-site histidine residue (His58) located on α-helix C and exposed to solution. The active site represents a cluster of positively charged residues located on an otherwise hydrophobic protein face. NMR spin-relaxation experiments identify a collection of flexible residues localized on the same region of LuxU as His58. The studies described here represent the first structural characterization of an isolated, monomeric bacterial phosphotransferase protein.
Temperature-conditional nuclear mutation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii decreases the CO2/O2 specificity of chloroplast ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

The Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Dangeard) temperature-conditional mutant 68-11AR is phenotypically indistinguishable from the wild type at the permissive temperature (25°C), but has greatly reduced photosynthetic ability and requires acetate for growth at the restrictive temperature (35°C). The mutant strain is deficient in ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco, EC 4.1.1.39) holoenzyme when grown at 35°C. This decrease in the level of enzyme appears to be due to degradation of assembled holoenzyme rather than to a reduction in the synthesis of enzyme subunits. When grown at 25°C, the mutant has a substantial amount of Rubisco. Enzyme purified from 25°C-grown mutant cells was found to have a 16% decrease in the CO2/O2 specificity factor when compared to the wild-type enzyme. This alteration was accompanied by changes in the kinetic constants for both carboxylation and oxygenation. Although the Rubisco active site is located on the chloroplast-encoded large subunit, genetic analysis showed that the 68-11AR strain arose from a nucleargene mutation. The two nuclear genes that encode the Rubisco small subunits (rbcS1 and rbcS2) were cloned from mutant 68-11AR and completely sequenced, but no mutation was found. Analysis of restriction-fragment length polymorphisms also failed to detect linkage between mutant and rbcS gene loci. These results indicate that nuclear genes can influence Rubisco catalysis without necessarily encoding polypeptides that reside within the holoenzyme.
Prognostic significance of cytomorphology in the cutaneous t-cell lymphomas

In this retrospective study, the degree of differentiation of atypical lymphoid cells was assessed in pretreatment cutaneous biopsy specimens from 248 patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome) and the findings were correlated with the subsequent therapeutic results. Overall, patients with a predominance of cells with hyperchromatic nuclei (well-differentiated lymphoid cells) in cutaneous infiltrates responded better to treatment with improved survival rates than patients with infiltrates composed predominantly of cells with pale vesicular nuclei (poorly differentiated lymphoid cells). Infiltrates with a predominance of poorly differentiated lymphoid cells were observed primarily in patieets with advanced (tumor) stages of disease. However, comparison of the therapeutic results achieved for the two cytomorphologic patterns in patients at comparable stages of advanced disease did not reveal significant differences, indicating that the presence of poorly differentiated cells in large proportions does not have additional prognostic implications beyond those obtained from usual staging procedures. We speculate that the atypical cells with large, pale vesicular nuclei found in lesions of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma are not a more malignant cell population but rather evolve from more hyperchromatic cellular forms, perhaps a byproduct of malignant dedifferentiation.
Patient-physician communication about end-of-life care for patients with severe COPD.

Since patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) infrequently discuss treatment preferences about end-of-life care with physicians, the goal of the present study was to identify which specific areas of communication about end-of-life care occur between patients with severe COPD and their physicians, and how patients rate the quality of this communication. A total of 115 patients with oxygen-dependent COPD, identified in pulmonary clinics in three hospitals and through an oxygen delivery company, were enrolled in this study. A 17‐item quality of communication questionnaire (QOC) was administered to patients, along with other measures, including satisfaction with care. The patients reported that most physicians do not discuss how long the patients have to live, what dying might be like or patients9 spirituality. Patients rated physicians highly at listening and answering questions. Areas patients rated relatively low included discussing prognosis, what dying might be like and spirituality/religion. Patients9 assessments of physicians9 overall communication and communication about treatment correlated well with the QOC. Patients9 overall satisfaction with care also correlated significantly with the QOC. In conclusion, this study identifies areas of communication that physicians do not address and areas that patients rate poorly, including talking about prognosis, dying and spirituality. These areas may provide targets for interventions to improve communication about end-of-life care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Future studies should determine the responsiveness of these items to interventions, and the effect such interventions have on patient satisfaction and quality of care.
Motoneuron cell death in the developing lumbar spinal cord of the mouse

Motoneuron cell death in the lumbar lateral motor column of the mouse embryo and neonate was examined to determine the timing and position of cell death with respect to events occurring in the limb. Counts of motoneurons in histological sections of the entire lumbar lateral motor column were made in mice ranging in age from 12 1/2 days of embryonic development to 20 days of neonatal life. Between 13 and 18 days of embryonic development, 67% of the motoneurons initially present in the motor column die, or approximately 3350 out of 5000 cells. Peak motoneuron cell death occurs at 14 days. No cell death occurs during the first neonatal weeks when polyneuronal muscle fiber innervation is lost. Counts of the total number of cells present at 18 days were similar to those previously reported for adult mice, suggesting that all motoneuron cell death has occurred by the end of prenatal development. In a few 13- to 14-day mouse embryos, the hindlimbs were totally filled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to define the boundaries and size of the lateral motor population which projects to the limb at early stages. Counts of HRP labeled motoneurons in selected lumbar cord segments were close to the total number of lateral motoneurons in the same segments. As the HRP injections were made prior to or at the onset of cell death, these observations indicate that many cells which die have sent axons into the limb.
Knowing where you are

Although I have never been in combat or served in the military, like most other civilians I have grown up pulled by the gravitational fields of recent and long past wars. Combatants and direct civilian victims of war surely bear the bulk of the suffering and trauma, and the heaviest burden of memory. But it is a sad mark of modem warfare that its energies have grown so powerful that they infiltrate ordinary civilian experience.
Requirements Analyses to Support a Material Information Model for Sustainability

Materials, and therefore material selections, influence the sustainable impact of a product from beginning to end-of-life. With improved access to material information, product designers can attain newfound insight into the sustainability implications of their design decisions. Insight to lifecycle tradeoffs requires access to both upstream and downstream information at design time. This access can be facilitated by information transparency between the different information representations assumed by a product throughout its lifecycle. A well-constructed Material Information Model (MIM) can provide the necessary access, and therefore the desired insight.In this paper we present an initial set of requirements that a MIM for sustainability must support to provide the desired design-time information access. Using these requirements as guidelines, we then analyze several information representations currently available for information management at various stages of the lifecycle. We compare and contrast the extent to which these representations meet the information needs of the MIM, using example implementations as guidelines. We discuss the level to which information synthesis may be achieved given the varying degrees to which the MIM requirements are met. Finally, we introduce where synthesis challenges lie and the steps required to overcome them.© 2013 ASME
The effects of fetal adrenalectomy at 110 days gestational age on AVP and CRH mRNA expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of the ovine fetus

AVP and CRH produced in the parvocellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) have both been implicated in the regulation of anterior pituitary ACTH synthesis and secretion. In sheep, fetal ACTH secretion increases around 120 days gestational age (dGA). Little is known about adrenal regulation of AVP and CRH immediately prior to this critical period. We investigated the effects of adrenalectomy and subsequent cortisol (F) administration on PVN AVP and CRH mRNA in the fetal sheep PVN at 109-125 dGA. At 109-113 dGA, fetal sheep adrenals were removed (ADX)(n = 8); or sham surgery performed (CONT)(n = 4). From day 6 post ADX, maternal plasma cortisol and fetal plasma ACTH and cortisol levels were determined daily by radioimmunoassays. From day 7 post ADX, cortisol (4 micrograms/min) was continuously infused intravenously to four ADX fetuses (ADX + F). Fetal hypothalami were collected at 123-125 dGA, and studied by in-situ hybridization and quantitative autoradiography for AVP and CRH mRNA. Plasma cortisol levels remained low in CONT and ADX fetuses (< 4.9 ng/ml), while during cortisol infusion to ADX + F fetuses, plasma F increased to 16.4 +/- 2.2 and 22.3 +/- 3.2 ng/ml (mean +/- S.E.M.) on day 10 and 13, respectively. Plasma ACTH levels increased significantly in ADX compared with CONT fetuses. This ACTH increase was completely suppressed in ADX + F fetuses. AVP mRNA abundance in the whole PVN was the same in all three groups, however, a separate analysis of AVP mRNA abundance in parvocellular and magnocellular regions of the PVN revealed that AVP mRNA in the parvocellular PVN showed a significant increase in ADX and suppression in ADX + F fetuses when compared to CONT. AVP mRNA in the magnocellular PVN remained unchanged. PVN CRH mRNA expression was augmented in ADX and suppressed in ADX + F when compared to CONT fetuses. We conclude that in fetal sheep at 109-125 dGA: AVP and CRH mRNA abundance in the parvocellular region of the PVN are increased by adrenalectomy and that cortisol inhibits this increase.
Vibrational Spectroscopy and Theory of Fe+(CH4)n(n= 1-4)†

Vibrational spectra are measured for Fe+(CH4)n (n = 1−4) in the C−H stretching region (2500−3200 cm−1) using photofragment spectroscopy. Spectra are obtained by monitoring CH4 fragment loss following absorption of one photon (for n = 3, 4) or sequential absorption of multiple photons (for n = 1, 2). The spectra have a band near the position of the antisymmetric C−H stretch in isolated methane (3019 cm−1), along with bands extending >250 cm−1 to the red of the symmetric C−H stretch in methane (2917 cm−1). The spectra are sensitive to the ligand configuration (η2 vs η3) and to the Fe−C distance. Hybrid density functional theory calculations are used to identify possible structures and predict their vibrational spectra. The IR photodissociation spectrum shows that the Fe+(CH4) complex is a quartet, with an η3 configuration. There is also a small contribution to the spectrum from the metastable sextet η3 complex. The Fe+(CH4)2 complex is also a quartet with both CH4 in an η3 configuration. For the larger clus...
Nonresponsiveness of cerebral p53-MDM2 functional circuit in newborn rat pups rendered IUGR via uteroplacental insufficiency.

Severe uteroplacental insufficiency causes cerebral apoptosis in the fetus. Moderate uteroplacental insufficiency causes intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and increases the risk of postnatal n...
Long-Distance Interval Training following Pre-Cooling with an Ice Vest

This study evaluated how preparing for an interval workout, while wearing a cooling vest, affects core temperature (Tc), heart rate (HR), and interval time in long-distance runners. Nineteen male collegiate cross-country runners exercised under two different conditions: (a) wearing a Nike PreCool™ ice vest for one hour prior to the workout (30 minutes resting with the vest and 30 minutes while performing their warm-up); and (b) a control condition utilizing a traditional warm-up. Subjects performed 8 × 1000 m intervals. HR and Tc were measured prior to warm-up, immediately before the first interval, and after each interval. Tc measured before the first interval was significantly lower in the vest condition (difference = 0.37° ± 0.2°C). Differences persisted through the sixth interval. Differences in HR and interval times were nonsignificant between conditions for all intervals. Wearing an ice vest prior to and during warm-up effectively lowers Tc during long-distance interval training.