cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Porous Structures from Fibrous Proteins for Biomedical Applications

Porous protein structures render biomaterials similar to their natural counterparts, extracellular matrices (ECMs), regarding both structure and material. Proteins in fibrous form have attracted considerable attention for fabrication of porous structures, as ECMs are composed of nanoscale protein fibers oriented randomly in three dimensions. Pores or voids created by random arrangements of the fibers provide spaces for cells to grow and spread. Fibrous structures could further facilitate cell attachment and guide cellular development and signaling. As technical difficulties have been gradually tackled, developing fibrous proteinous structures as biomaterials are arousing more interests. Micro- and nanofibrous structures have been developed from animal proteins, e.g., collagen, fibroin, keratin, and plant proteins, e.g., zein, soyprotein, and wheat gluten, via wet spinning, electrospinning, phase separation and other approaches. However, proteins as biomaterials usually suffer from inferior water stability, fast degradation, and poor mechanical properties. To circumvent these problems, crosslinking approaches have been applied, or synthetic polymers have been incorporated to improve the performance properties of proteins in aqueous environments.
An Acoustic Image Sensor Using a Transmit-Receive Array

A preliminary model of a novel acoustic image sensor which utilizes a multiplexed area array of transducers operating in a transmit-receive mode has been developed. The major components of the system include: 1) an acoustic lens for focusing the transmitted energy of an array element on the corresponding object element, 2) an area or two-dimensional array of acoustic transducers formed within a monolithic wafer of piezoelectric ceramic material; 3) an array of silicon monolithic integrated circuits located immediately adjacent to the piezoelectric array; each integrated circuit performs the transmit/receive multiplexing for several transducer array elements; 4) an analogue signal processor consisting of high power transmit circuitry as well as sensitive receiver circuitry including preamplifiers, swept gain amplifiers and function generators, filters, gain compressors and detectors; 5) a digital controller which permits a) any single array element or any row or column of array elements to operate in the A-scan mode, b) any row or column of array elements to operate in the B-scan mode or c) the full array of elements to operate in the C-scan mode; and 6) a display subsystem consisting of a cathode ray display and interface circuitry which provides an M-scan mode and interpolation in the C-scan mode. The image sensor operates at an acoustic frequency of 3.5 MHz and is intended for use in medical diagnostics.
Mixing things up: How blocking and mixing affect the processing of codemixed sentences:

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions:The goal of this study is to determine if the way in which codemixed sentences are presented during experimental lab sessions affects the way they are...
Flexible high efficiency battery-ready PV inverter for rooftop systems

Integration of energy storage with a grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) generation system in conventional residential and commercial applications uses legacy PV power electronics topologies. This paper presents a novel solar PV power electronics system which allows a seamless integration of energy storage with partial power processing technique. In the proposed topology, a dual active bridge DC-DC converter is applied to configure partially-rated power electronics system with bi-directional power flow, galvanic isolation, a high voltage boosting gain, and results in high conversion efficiency. The proposed topology is explained in detail and analyzed with the quantitative approach to verify the improvement of system efficiency and power density in the DC-DC power conversion unit: 99.5% efficiency and 3.3kW rated power for 7.5kW PV and 2.5kW battery system. Also, the steady-state operation of the proposed universal optimizer is verified through the controller hardware-in-the-loop test.
Comparison of Three Clinical Trial Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Multivariate Analysis of Changes in Metabolic Profiles and Adaptive Behavior.

Several studies associate autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pathophysiology with metabolic abnormalities related to DNA methylation and intracellular redox homeostasis. In this regard, three completed clinical trials are reexamined in this work: treatment with (i) methylcobalamin in combination with low-dose folinic acid, (ii) tetrahydrobiopterin, and (iii) high-dose folinic acid for counteracting abnormalities in the folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism (FOCM) and transsulfuration (TS) pathways and also for improving ASD-related symptoms and behaviors. Although effects of treatment on individual metabolites and behavioral measures have previously been investigated, this study is the first to consider the effect of interventions on a set of metabolites of the FOCM/TS pathways and to correlate metabolic changes with behavioral improvements across several studies. To do so, this work uses data from one case-control study and the three clinical trials to develop multivariate models for considering these aspects of treatment. Fisher discriminant analysis is first used to establish a model for distinguishing individuals with ASD from typically developing controls, which is subsequently evaluated on the three treatment data sets, along with one data set for a placebo, to characterize the shift of FOCM/TS metabolism towards that of the typically developing population. Treatment with methylcobalamin plus low-dose folinic acid and, separately, treatment with tetrahydrobiopterin significantly shifted the metabolites towards the values of the control group. Contrary to this, treatment with high-dose folinic acid had a lesser, though still noticeable, effect whilst the placebo group showed marginal, but not insignificant, variations in metabolites. A second analysis is then performed with nonlinear kernel partial least squares regression to predict changes in adaptive behavior, quantified by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Composite, from changes in FOCM/TS biochemical measurements provided by treatment. Incorporating the 74 samples receiving any treatment, including placebo, into the regression analysis yields an R2 of 0.471 after cross-validation when using changes in six metabolic measurements as predictors. These results are suggestive of an ability to effectively improve pathway-wide FOCM/TS metabolic and behavioral abnormalities in ASD with clinical treatment.
Characterizing the innate and adaptive responses of immunized mice to Bordetella pertussis infection using in vivo imaging and transcriptomic analysis

Abstract Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis) is the causative agent of pertussis (whooping cough). Since the 1990s, pertussis has re-emerged in the United States despite an estimated 95% vaccine coverage. Our goal was to characterize neutrophil responses and gene expression profiles of murine lungs in the context of vaccination and B. pertussis challenge. We utilized a bioluminescent neutrophil mouse model (NECre luc) to track neutrophil recruitment. NECre luc mice were immunized with whole cell vaccine (WCV), acellular vaccine (ACV), or a truncated adenylate cyclase toxoid (RTX) vaccine. Neutrophil recruitment was measured in live mice across time and corroborated by flow cytometry and other data. WCV immunized mice showed signs of neutrophilia in response to B. pertussis challenge. Mice immunized with either ACV or WCV cleared the challenge infection; however immunization with RTX alone was not protective. RNA sequencing revealed distinctive gene expression profiles for each immunization group. We observed an increase in expression of genes associated with responses to infection, and changes in expression of distinct genes in each vaccine group, providing a complex view of the immune response to B. pertussis infection in mice. This study suggests that combination of immunological analysis with transcriptomic profiling can facilitate discovery of pre-clinical correlates of protection for vaccine development.
Document Practice as Insight to Digital Infrastructures of Distributed, Collaborative Social Scientists

The objective of this study is to understand scholarly research practice in virtual, distributed collaborations by focusing on the flow of documents among the participants and to advance design guidance for supporting improved document practice across distributed collaborative platforms. To do so, we develop a theoretical framework on document practice highlighting the sociotechnical role of documents in digital infrastructure. This mixed-methods study will first conduct semi-structured interviews to understand document practices. The second phase of the study will collect trace data of documents as a way to understand how they change over time. In this poster, we report on the analysis of twelve interviews from social scientists working in virtual collaborations. Initial findings show that social scientists organize their documents and scholarly work on emergent digital infrastructures. Although not ideal, emergent digital infrastructures provide stability for collaboration across time and space.
Estimates of Blood Lead Levels (BLLs) for Children in Coastal Madagascar: Accounting for Dietary Uptake of Lead (Pb)

Thousands of households in coastal Madagascar that employ pitcher-pump systems to provide water for domestic use may be at risk for harmful exposure to lead (Pb), which leaches from locally manufactured pump system components. The Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic model (IEUBK) can predict blood lead levels (BLLs) in exposed children, thereby characterizing potential health risks. However, it is unclear if the existing methodology of the IEUBK accounts adequately for dietary Pb contributions from contaminated cooking water. Therefore, aims of this study are (1) to develop a method for modifying the IEUBK to account for contaminated cooking water, (2) to quantitatively estimate the importance of dietary Pb uptake (relative to other routes of Pb exposure) in coastal Madagascar, and (3) to estimate BLLs of children in that area, accounting for dietary uptake. Results show that if the Pb concentration in household drinking and cooking water is low (≤ 4 µg/L), Pb in cooking water is not a major route of exposure; predicted BLLs in children are low regardless of whether the dietary component is modified. However, the importance of dietary intake increases with water concentration: if the household aqueous Pb concentration increases from 4 to 24 µg/L, corresponding to the 90th percentile concentration measured in a field campaign, then the estimated dietary contribution to total Pb uptake can exceed 50%. Based on median measured Pb concentrations (11 µg/L), 7–14% of children in households using pitcher-pump systems in coastal Madagascar would present with BLLs > 5 µg/dL (i.e., levels implicated in developmental health issues); however, this number could exceed 90% in households or communities where the water concentration is particularly high. An important conclusion is that the IEUBK should be modified when applied to a developing-world context, where preparation of a starch food staple like rice may present considerable Pb exposure; omitting dietary uptake in cooking water potentially ignores the dominant route of Pb exposure.
Nicotinamide Augments the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Resveratrol through PARP1 Activation

Resveratrol (RSV) and nicotinamide (NAM) have garnered considerable attention due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. NAM is a transient inhibitor of class III histone deacetylase SIRTs (silent mating type information regulation 2 homologs) and SIRT1 is an inhibitor of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase-1 (PARP1). The debate on the relationship between RSV and SIRT1 has precluded the use of RSV as a therapeutic drug. Recent work demonstrated that RSV facilitates tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS)-dependent activation of PARP1. Moreover, treatment with NAM is sufficient to facilitate the nuclear localization of TyrRS that activates PARP1. RSV and NAM have emerged as potent agonists of PARP1 through inhibition of SIRT1. In this study, we evaluated the effects of RSV and NAM on pro-inflammatory macrophages. Our results demonstrate that treatment with either RSV or NAM attenuates the expression of pro-inflammatory markers. Strikingly, the combination of RSV with NAM, exerts additive effects on PARP1 activation. Consistently, treatment with PARP1 inhibitor antagonized the anti-inflammatory effect of both RSV and NAM. For the first time, we report the ability of NAM to augment PARP1 activation, induced by RSV, and its associated anti-inflammatory effects mediated through the induction of BCL6 with the concomitant down regulation of COX-2.
Beyond the Ligand: Extracellular and Transcellular G Protein–Coupled Receptor Complexes in Physiology and Pharmacology

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) remain one of the most successful targets of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs. GPCR research has predominantly focused on the characterization of the intracellular interactome's contribution to GPCR function and pharmacology. However, emerging evidence uncovers a new dimension in the biology of GPCRs involving their extracellular and transcellular interactions that critically impact GPCR function and pharmacology. The seminal examples include a variety of adhesion GPCRs, such as ADGRLs/latrophilins, ADGRBs/brain angiogenesis inhibitors, ADGRG1/GPR56, ADGRG6/GPR126, ADGRE5/CD97, and ADGRC3/CELSR3. However, recent advances have indicated that class C GPCRs that contain large extracellular domains, including group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR4, mGluR6, mGluR7, mGluR8), γ-aminobutyric acid receptors, and orphans GPR158 and GPR179, can also participate in this form of transcellular regulation. In this review, we will focus on a variety of identified extracellular and transcellular GPCR-interacting partners, including teneurins, neurexins, integrins, fibronectin leucine-rich transmembranes, contactin-6, neuroligin, laminins, collagens, major prion protein, amyloid precursor protein, complement C1q-likes, stabilin-2, pikachurin, dystroglycan, complement decay-accelerating factor CD55, cluster of differentiation CD36 and CD90, extracellular leucine-rich repeat and fibronectin type III domain containing 1, and leucine-rich repeat, immunoglobulin-like domain and transmembrane domains. We provide an account on the diversity of extracellular and transcellular GPCR complexes and their contribution to key cellular and physiologic processes, including cell migration, axon guidance, cellular and synaptic adhesion, and synaptogenesis. Furthermore, we discuss models and mechanisms by which extracellular GPCR assemblies may regulate communication at cellular junctions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) continue to be the prominent focus of pharmacological intervention for a variety of human pathologies. Although the majority of GPCR research has focused on the intracellular interactome, recent advancements have identified an extracellular dimension of GPCR modulation that alters accepted pharmacological principles of GPCRs. Herein, we describe known endogenous allosteric modulators acting on GPCRs both in cis and in trans.
Influence of Cell Wall Polysaccharides on Structure and Mechanics of Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is a group of cocci bacteria that highly contributes to oral decay. In cases of high potency, it can cause plaque build-up, impaired speech, difficulty chewing, and cavity formation, which contribute to over half of the dental visits in the United States. In severe cases where a biofilm develops on a dental implant, patients will experience pain, swelling, and potential loosening or loss of the titanium implant. S. mutans are also highly resistant to antibiotics, which makes the infections both persistent and difficult to treat. As poor oral hygiene continues to be a global epidemic, it is important to study and characterize the mechanics of the bacteria to develop therapeutic targets to alleviate S. mutans infections. One possible target is modifications of the cell wall. Recent literature suggests that alterations to the biosynthesis pathways of cell wall polysaccharides could lead to new opportunities for therapeutics. The cell wall of S. mutans is high-functioning and complex. It consists of multiple peptidoglycan layers, wall teichoic acid (WTA) containing surface glycopolymers, and a polysaccharide capsule. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in combination with fluorescent laser scanning confocal imaging, we compare cell wall deformation with mutants defective in WTA. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy of both wild type S. mutans and mutant strains reveal differences in surface morphology. Our long-term goal is to determine mechanical and structural properties of bacterial cell walls that contribute to antibiotic resistance in order to preferentially regulate such properties.
Do Personal Beliefs and Values Affect an Individual’s 'Fraud Morality'? Evidence from the World Value Survey

We introduce the concept of fraud morality, validate such conceptualization by prior studies in economics and criminology as well as by our own independent tests, and explore the relationship of fraud morality with numerous cultural attributes using data from the World Values Survey. Applying partial least squares path modeling, we find that people with stronger self-enhancing (self-transcending) values exhibit lower (higher) fraud morality. Further, respondents who believe in the importance of hard work exhibit higher fraud morality, and such beliefs mediate the relationship between locus of control and fraud morality. Finally, we find that people prone to traditional gender stereotypes demonstrate lower fraud morality and document subtle differences in the influence of these cultural attributes across age and gender groups. Our study contributes to research on the fraud triangle, accounting ethics, and corporate governance.
Simultaneous Facility Location and Path Optimization in Static and Dynamic Networks

We present a framework for solving simultaneously the problems of facility location and path optimization in static and dynamic spatial networks. In the static setting, the objective is to determine facility locations and transportation paths from each node to the destination via the network of facilities such that the total cost of commodity transportation is minimized. This is an NP-hard problem. We propose a novel stage-wise viewpoint of the paths which is instrumental in designing the decision variable space in our framework. We use the maximum entropy principle to solve the resulting optimization problem. In the dynamic setting, nodes and destinations are dynamic. We design an appropriate control Lyapunov function to determine the time evolution of facilities and paths such that the transportation cost at each time instant is minimized. Our framework enables quantifying attributes of the facilities and transportation links in terms of the decision variables. Consequently, it becomes possible to incorporate application specific constraints on individual facilities, links, and network topology. We demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed framework through extensive simulations.
The Award Process

Congratulations. You have received your priority score and percentile, and, in consultation with your Program Officer, you have responded to your summary statement. Your Program Officer has now informed you that your proposal was approved as part of the second level review by the institute advisory council.
Moving Online: A Pilot Clinical Trial of the Changing Talk Online Communication Education for Nursing Home Staff.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Staff-resident communication is a critical part of nursing home (NH) care. Reducing elderspeak and increasing person-centered communication has been shown to reduce behavioral symptoms experienced by persons living with dementia. An online version of a successful classroom-based communication-training program that reduced staff elderspeak and resident behavioral symptoms was evaluated. The objective of this study was to establish feasibility and determine the preliminary effects of the online program in preparation for a national pragmatic clinical trial. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Seven NHs were randomized to immediate intervention or wait-list control conditions. The NHs were provided with the web-based training program that staff individually accessed. Primary outcomes were knowledge scores and communication ratings of a video-recorded interaction, using pre- to posttraining comparisons. RESULTS Knowledge increased from a mean pretest score of 61.9% (SD = 20.0) to a mean posttest score of 84.6% (SD = 13.5) for the combined group. Knowledge significantly improved between Time 1 and Time 2 for the immediate intervention participants (p < .001), but not for the wait-list control participants (p = .091), and this difference was statistically significant (p < .001). Ability to recognize ineffective, inappropriate, nonperson-centered, and elderspeak communication improved after training (p < .001). The magnitude of improvement in communication recognition was comparable to that of the original classroom format. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS The adapted communication intervention was feasible and improved knowledge and communication. Online instruction can improve access to quality education and is an effective means to improve dementia care by overcoming barriers to in-person training. Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT03849937.
Maximizing the impact of emerging photonic switches at the system level

Photonic switches promise to have a large impact on future HPC and datacenter networks. However, even if we assume ideal zero-energy photonic switches, we cannot achieve significant system-wide benefits if we do not change the rest of the system architecture. This motivates co-design between emerging photonic switches and the rest of the system in order to adapt the system network to best make use of unique features of photonic switches, as well as tailor photonic switches to better support system-wide trends such as resource disaggregation. In this paper, we discuss the architectural impact of several properties of photonic switches. For each, we provide an overview of what system-level capabilities they enable, how they can be adapted to support ongoing trends, and what other synergistic advancements would produce a better system-wide improvement. In this way, we illustrate the potential benefit of closer collaboration between the photonic and architecture communities.
Does the Association Between Hemoglobin A1c and Risk of Cardiovascular Events Vary by Residential Segregation? The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study.

OBJECTIVE To examine if the association between higher A1C and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among adults with and without diabetes is modified by racial residential segregation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The study used a case-cohort design, which included a random sample of 2,136 participants at baseline and 1,248 participants with incident CVD (i.e., stroke, coronary heart disease [CHD], and fatal CHD during 7-year follow-up) selected from 30,239 REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study participants originally assessed between 2003 and 2007. The relationship of A1C with incident CVD, stratified by baseline diabetes status, was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for demographics, CVD risk factors, and socioeconomic status. Effect modification by census tract-level residential segregation indices (dissimilarity, interaction, and isolation) was assessed using interaction terms. RESULTS The mean age of participants in the random sample was 64.2 years, with 44% African American, 59% female, and 19% with diabetes. In multivariable models, A1C was not associated with CVD risk among those without diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] per 1% [11 mmol/mol] increase, 0.94 [95% CI 0.76–1.16]). However, A1C was associated with an increased risk of CVD (HR per 1% increase, 1.23 [95% CI 1.08–1.40]) among those with diabetes. This A1C-CVD association was modified by the dissimilarity (P CONCLUSIONS Higher A1C was associated with increased CVD risk among individuals with diabetes, and this relationship was more pronounced at higher levels of residential segregation among African American adults. Additional research on how structural determinants like segregation may modify health effects is needed.
England und Wales

Aus der Vergangenheit ist man gewohnt, dass sich Juristen die Rechtsgeschichte auf Grundlage des heutigen Rechts vorstellten, gepragt von der Annahme eines einheitlichen Staatsrechts und der Vorherrschaft von Normen uber Praktiken sowie von Rechtsformen uber Herangehensweisen. Das fuhrte oft zu einer mit der allgemeinen Geschichte unstimmigen Rechtsgeschichte, weil sie zu sehr auf eine triumphalistische Auffassung des Rechts ausgerichtet war. In den letzten Jahrzehnten wurde dies in Frage gestellt. Neuere wissenschaftliche Ansatze zur Rechtsgeschichte brachten eine Vielzahl von Fachleuten – darunter Philosophen, Soziologen, Anthropologen, Kriminologen – dazu, Entwicklungen und Veranderungen des Rechts in ihrer Einbettung in Gesellschaftssysteme neu zu analysieren. Was Konfliktlosung im fruhneuzeitlichen England betrifft, ist insbesondere das Strafrecht ein bedeutender Schwerpunkt. Seit den 1970er-Jahren stellt man enge Verbindungen zur Sozial- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte her.
In type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide reduced HbA1c vs. semaglutide.

SOURCE CITATION Frias JP, Davies MJ, Rosenstock J, et al. Tirzepatide versus semaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2021;385:503-15. 34170647.
Efficient deblocking and optimal quantizer selection for video transcoding

In bit rate reduction video transcoding, blockness in the transcoded result can become a major problem. Previous works have shown that deblocking can be achieved by recomputing some of the DCT coefficients. However, in video transcoding, these DCT coefficients are subject to a requantization process, which may render the deblocking ineffective. We propose to consider deblocking in conjunction with the requantization process therefore accelerating the transcoding processes. In addition, the method also motivates a design of an optimized quantizer selection algorithm that boosts the deblocking capability of the video transcoder.
The impact of beam forming on the performance of an on-board output buffer

Communication satellites frequently employ downlink spot beams to gain efficiency and flexibility. This process may change the output buffering behavior of a packet switch because of the extra overhead involved in beam?forming (the dwell setup time). This paper investigates the effect of dwell setup time on the output buffer design. Four theoretical models, including single buffer systems, multiple buffer systems with fixed beam forming pattern, multiple buffer systems with adaptive beam forming pattern and multiple buffer systems with fixed time allocation, are considered. Analytical queuing solutions are obtained for all the cases except for the exhaustive and gated adaptive multiple buffer systems, in which only the state transition equations are given. NASA's proposed MCSPS (Multi?channel Communication Signal Processing Satellite) architecture is used as a numerical example.
Modeling of tritium transport in lithium aluminate fusion solid breeders

Lithium aluminate is a candidate tritium-breeding material for fusion reactor blankets. One of the concerns with using LiAlO/sub 2/ is tritium recovery from this material, particularly at low operating temperatures and high fluences. The data from various tritium release experiments with ..gamma..-LiAlO/sub 2/ and related materials are reviewed and analyzed to determine under what conditions bulk diffusion is the rate-limiting mechanism for tritium transport and what the effective bulk diffusion coefficient should be. Steady-state and transient models based on bulk diffusion are developed and used to interpret the data. Design calculations are then performed with the verified models to determine the steady-state inventory and time to reach equilibrium for a full-scale fusion blanket.
PBCOPSO: A Parallel Optimization Algorithm for Task Scheduling in Cloud Environment

Objectives: Cloud environment requires scheduling of independent tasks with the available resources to minimize the total execution time and to optimize the resource utilization in cloud environment. Methods: Evolutionary algorithms are widely used to find the suboptimal solution of a problem. This work adopts a parallel approach that considers Bee Colony Optimization (BCO) in parallel with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for cloud task scheduling. The proposed approach is named as Parallel Bee Colony Optimization Particle Swarm Optimization (PBCOPSO). Findings: The results show that the proposed approach minimizes Makespan with optimized resource utilization. It is observed that the proposed method improved resource utilization by an average of 5.0383% when compared with Min-Min algorithm and by an average of 3.7243% when compared with Improved Bee Colony Optimization (IBCO). Novelty of the Study: The proposed hybrid PBCOPSO enables improved search in the solution space due to the parallel execution of BCO and PSO leading to better final solution quality and lower execution time. Conclusion: Thus two metrics namely makespan and resource utilization are evaluated and an optimal task to resource mapping is achieved with hybridization.
Revolution in GPCR signalling: opioid receptor heteromers as novel therapeutic targets: IUPHAR Review 10

GPCRs can interact with each other to form homomers or heteromers. Homomers involve interactions with the same receptor type while heteromers involve interactions between two different GPCRs. These receptor–receptor interactions modulate not only the binding but also the signalling and trafficking properties of individual receptors. Opioid receptor heteromerization has been extensively investigated with the objective of identifying novel therapeutic targets that are as potent as morphine but without the side effects associated with chronic morphine use. In this context, studies have described heteromerization between the different types of opioid receptors and between opioid receptors and a wide range of GPCRs including adrenoceptors, cannabinoid, 5-HT, metabotropic glutamate and sensory neuron-specific receptors. Recent advances in the field involving the generation of heteromer-specific reagents (antibodies or ligands) or of membrane-permeable peptides that disrupt the heteromer interaction are helping to elucidate the physiological role of opioid receptor heteromers and the contribution of the partner receptor to the side effects associated with opioid use. For example, studies using membrane-permeable peptides targeting the heteromer interface have implicated μ and δ receptor heteromers in the development of tolerance to morphine, and heteromers of μ and gastrin-releasing peptide receptors in morphine-induced itch. In addition, a number of ligands that selectively target opioid receptor heteromers exhibit potent antinociception with a decrease in the side effects commonly associated with morphine use. In this review, we summarize the latest findings regarding the biological and functional characteristics of opioid receptor heteromers both in vitro and in vivo.
Comparison of Clonidine Response in the Treatment of Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with and without Comorbid Tic Disorders

Abstract Objective Clonidine has been suggested as an alternative pharmacotherapy for patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbid tic disorders. To examine the efficacy of clonidine in this population of children, the use of clonidine in the treatment of children with ADHD with and without comorbid tic disorders was examined in a retrospective chart review of 54 children over a 4-year period. Method Treatment was administered openly to these patients in a Pediatric Psychopharmacology Clinic, and response was assessed using clinical global improvement measures. Results Clonidine treatment resulted in improvement in both the ADHD (39/54; 72%) and tic symptoms (18/24; 75%) groups. The findings suggested that the children with ADHD with comorbid tic disorders (23/24; 96%) have a more frequent positive behavioral response to clonidine than children with ADHD without comorbid tic disorders (16/30; 53%). Conclusions This report provides further support of a role for clonidine in the treatment of children with ADHD, particularly for those with comorbid tic disorders.
Anomalous high-temperature hopping in metal hydrides.

Recent NMR T/sub 1/ data on metal hydrides and earlier data on PbF/sub 2/ indicate the jump rate of hopping protons or fluorine ions decreases with increasing temperature at high temperature. This behavior is attributed to strong repulsions at the saddle point which increase with temperature as vibrational amplitudes increase. It consequently becomes harder to move through the saddle point at elevated temperature. Model potentials are used to obtain agreement with the data.
Fusion cross sections for four heavy-ion entrance channels leading to the Na 23 compound nucleus

Excitation functions for the yields of residual nuclei from the $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$+$^{16}\mathrm{O}$ and $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$+$^{14}\mathrm{N}$ reactions have been measured for $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ and $^{14}\mathrm{N}$ laboratory bombarding energies of 12 to 34 MeV and 15 to 63 MeV, respectively. Beginning at Coulomb barrier energies, we find that the total fusion cross section diverges from the total reaction cross section obtained from optical model fits to elastic scattering data. This indicates that the process responsible for fusion cross section limitations in this mass region begins near the Coulomb barrier and becomes progressively more important as the bombarding energy is increased. Comparison of the critical angular momenta deduced from the total fusion cross sections for these and two previously investigated entrance channels which form the $^{23}\mathrm{Na}$ compound nucleus, $^{11}\mathrm{B}$+$^{12}\mathrm{C}$ and $^{10}\mathrm{B}$+$^{13}\mathrm{C}$, rules out a compound nucleus limitation at these energies. A systematic study of fusion cross sections in this mass and energy region, together with the results of a previous study of the light particles produced in the $^{11}\mathrm{B}$+$^{12}\mathrm{C}$ and $^{10}\mathrm{B}$+$^{13}\mathrm{C}$ reactions, suggests that competition for entrance channel flux by reactions producing light particles with projectilelike velocities is primarily responsible for the fusion cross section limitations.
The Seneca Babcock Business Plan: A Case Study in Using Service Learning to Meet the AICPA Core Competencies

In this article, the author explains the trend toward service-learning projects in higher education and justifies their use in the field of accounting. He describes a service-learning project that was used to directly address the development of the competencies listed in the Core Competency Framework created by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The project involves designing a business plan for a local community seeking to request and distribute grant funds for the rehabilitation of existing owner-occupied property in the area. Components of the service-learning project address all three categories of competencies: functional, personal, and broad business perspective competencies.
It takes a village to manage the 21st century reference department

Reference services at Oregon State University's Valley Library have undergone several reorganizations in response to institutional changes, shifting service needs and patron demands. Part of this history includes training for and functioning in team-based management. We have now evolved to a management model that utilizes workgroups and an advisory and coordinating council to assist in running the department. We find this model provides flexibility, sharing of the workload and professional development opportunities, all of which are essential in today's tumultuous reference environment. We will describe the functioning, potential hazards and multiple advantages of this model.
On the formation of coalitions in infinite player games

Abstract This paper investigates the problem of determining when an infinite player game can be partitioned into countably many stable coalitions. An example is given of asuperadditive scalar measure game for which this is not possible and several positive results are presented. The final section of the paper takes up the problem of when a process of successive coalition formation can eventually lead to a division of all available resources. A theorem and a counterexample are presented for countable player games and the positive result is applied to the vector measure games considered earlier in the paper.
We’re warmer (they’re more competent): I-sharing and African Americans’ perceptions of the ingroup and outgroup

Researchers currently know very little about how African Americans regard themselves and their salient outgroup (i.e., European Americans). The current study examines how experiences with individual ingroup and outgroup members affect these evaluations on two key dimensions in intergroup research: warmth and competence. In particular, the study asks what effect I-sharing (i.e., sharing a subjective experience) with an African American or a European American has on African Americans' perceptions of the warmth and competence of their ingroup and outgroup. Results revealed an ingroup preference on the dimension of warmth when participants had I-shared with a fellow African American but not when they had I-shared with a European American. No such ingroup preference emerged on the dimension of competence. Instead, participants exhibited an outgroup preference on this dimension after I-sharing with a European American. The discussion entertains possible explanations for these differential effects of I-sharing on judgments of the ingroup and outgroup.
Does Statin Use Improve Pneumonia Outcomes

Despite medical advances, pneumonia remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients in developed countries. It is therefore not surprising that much research has been devoted to improving outcomes associated with this condition. Traditionally thought of as lipid-lowering agents, the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (hereafter referred to as statins) have "pleiotropic" effects of clinical relevance. Several studies have reported an association between statin use and improved health outcomes, including those associated with pneumonia. While many of these are limited by their retrospective or observational methodology, the finding that statin use may improve pneumonia outcomes is tantalizing and worthy of further exploration. Our review of the literature found several potential mechanisms by which statins could influence the course of bacterial pneumonia. For instance, statins directly attenuate inflammation and inflammatory markers, are antioxidative and immunomodulatory, and exert in vitro antibacterial effects on microbial pathogens. On the other hand, statin use is also thought to be a surrogate marker for better health and may simply be a confounding variable when it comes to pneumonia. This article explores some of the potential mechanisms by which statin therapy may impact the course of pneumonia. In addition, we review the clinical studies both supporting and arguing against such an effect.
Maternal inheritance and the evaluation of oxidative phosphorylation diseases

Mitochondrial DNA is more susceptible than nuclear DNA to mutations. Mitochondrial mutations have been associated with a range of disorders, some of which can be inherited maternally as well as by mendelian patterns. The oxidative phosphorylation diseases are a group of such disorders characterised by a complex phenotype; the Kearns-Sayre syndrome, for example, can include cardiac abnormalities, diabetes mellitus, cerebellar ataxia, and deafness. An understanding of the genetic and biochemical basis of these disorders will help in the adoption of a systematic approach to their diagnosis and to patient management.
Development of structure in a society with a dominance relation when new members are added successively.

A society with a dominance relation is considered to be built up by starting with a small society and adding new members in succession. As each member is added he engages in contests with each of the older members to determine the dominance relation between them. The probability that the older member dominates is considered to depend on the size of the society and linearly on the older members score. A recurrence relation for the hierarchy index is derived. The approach of the society to a hierarchical structure is considered for various special cases of this probability. Reasonable assumptions concerning this dominance probability are shown to lead to structures close to the hierarchy. If the new member dominates all the older ones below a certain rank, and is dominated by all those above this rank, then the hierarchy will persist if it is the initial structure, or the structure will tend to hierarchy as the size increases, if it is not the initial structure.
Computation of barrier transmission probabilities from two-dimensional real-valued approximate quantum trajectories

Abstract A new, fast, approximate quantum trajectory method was developed for solving multi-dimensional barrier transmission problems. The arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) moving frame of reference was used, to avoid the isochrone search problem. Accurate transmission probabilities were found for wide-barrier problems using the 5th order Derivative Propagation Method (DPM). Real-valued trajectories were used both to carry flux to the barrier maximum, and to carry density to the transmitted side of the barrier, with correct results. Mixed results were found for other barrier cases and lower orders of the DPM.
Phonon-limited lifetimes of electrons in Pd.

Abstract Quasiparticle lifetimes 1/τ k are calculated for electrons on the Fermi surface (FS) of Pd using the rigid muffin tin model. Results are presented for the Γ-centered and the open sheets.
NUMERICAL PREDICTIONS OF HEAT TRANSFER AND FLUID FLOW CHARACTERISTICS FOR SEVEN DIFFERENT DIMPLED SURFACES IN A CHANNEL

Heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics for seven different dimpled surfaces on one surface of a channel are predicted numerically using version 6.1.18 of FLUENT. The turbulent model employed is a realizable κ–ϵ model without a wall function. The different dimples investigated are spherical dimples, tilted cylinder dimples, cylinder dimples, in-line triangular dimples, reverse in-line triangular dimples, staggered triangular dimples, and reverse staggered triangular dimples. Results show the existence of a centrally located vortex pair and vortex pairs near the spanwise edges of each dimple for the three circular dimple types, which augment local magnitudes of eddy diffusivity for momentum and eddy diffusivity for heat. Advection of reattaching and recirculating flows from locations within the spherical-type dimple cavities, as well as strong instantaneous secondary flows and mixing within the vortex pairs, are especially apparent. For the four triangular types of dimples, only one primary flow circu...
Meeting the challenge of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Acute Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is the most frequent cause of flaccid paralysis in otherwise healthy adults. Here, learn how the health care team can best meet the needs of patients with this challenging, mysterious condition.
Fourier transform vibrational circular dichroism as a decisive tool for conformational studies of peptides containing tyrosyl residues

Previous UV–circular dichroism (UV–CD) and NMR studies showed that Ac-AAAAAAAEAAKA-NH2 has an α-helical structure in 50% (v/v) aqueous trifluoroethanol. Replacement of Ala1 to Ala6 with Tyr results in spectra that show an apparent loss of helicity in the same solvent. This apparent loss of helicity could be attributed to the coupling of the tyrosyl side chain chromophore with the backbone amide. However, such electronic coupling does not affect the vibrational CD (VCD) spectra. The VCD spectra of the peptides with tyrosyl residues were identical to that of the peptide containing no Tyr, which shows the same α-helical structure. Because it is now clear that Tyr replacement does not change the backbone conformation of peptides, UV–CD measurements should be complemented by VCD to determine the secondary structure when electronic effects can disturb the UV–CD spectrum of the inherent structure. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Biospectroscopy) 72: 21–24, 2003
Review: several drugs, especially triptans, are effective for pain relief in acute migraine.

Source Citation Oldman AD, Smith LA, McQuay HJ, Moore RA. Pharmacological treatments for acute migraine: quantitative systematic review. Pain. 2002 Jun;97:247-57. 12044621 (All 2002 articles were r...
Risks for infection in patients with asthma (or other atopic conditions): is asthma more than a chronic airway disease?

Most of the research effort regarding asthma has been devoted to its causes, therapy, and prognosis. There is also evidence that the presence of asthma can influence patients' susceptibility to infections, yet research in this aspect of asthma has been limited. There is additional debate in this field, with current literature tending to view the increased risk of infection among atopic patients as caused by opportunistic infections secondary to airway inflammation, especially in patients with severe atopic diseases. However, other evidence suggests that such risk and its underlying immune dysfunction might be a phenotypic or clinical feature of atopic conditions. This review argues (1) that improved understanding of the effects of asthma or other atopic conditions on the risk of microbial infections will bring important and new perspectives to clinical practice, research, and public health concerning atopic conditions and (2) that research efforts into the causes and effects of asthma must be juxtaposed because they are likely to guide each other.
Calculation of protein extinction coefficients from amino acid sequence data

Quantitative study of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions in solution requires accurate determination of protein concentration. Often, for proteins available only in "molecular biological" amounts, it is difficult or impossible to make an accurate experimental measurement of the molar extinction coefficient of the protein. Yet without a reliable value of this parameter, one cannot determine protein concentrations by the usual uv spectroscopic means. Fortunately, knowledge of amino acid residue sequence and promoter molecular weight (and thus also of amino acid composition) is generally available through the DNA sequence, which is usually accurately known for most such proteins. In this paper we present a method for calculating accurate (to +/- 5% in most cases) molar extinction coefficients for proteins at 280 nm, simply from knowledge of the amino acid composition. The method is calibrated against 18 "normal" globular proteins whose molar extinction coefficients are accurately known, and the assumptions underlying the method, as well as its limitations, are discussed.
Enteral access in home care

Enteral nutrition is the delivery of nutrients through the gastrointestinal tract. For those patients who cannot or will not swallow, an enteral access device (EAD) is required. Some of these devices can be passed through the oral or nasal cavity into the stomach or small bowel. Alternatively, the devices can be percutaneously placed by an endoscopist or a radiologist into the stomach or small bowel. Knowledge of the appropriate use of these devices, the appropriate maintenance management of these devices, and the appropriate treatment of EAD-related complications is essential for the clinician to understand in order to provide effective nutrition therapy.