cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phagocytosis-mediated retroviral transduction: co-internalization of deactivated retrovirus and calcium-alginate microspheres by macrophages.

Background Efficiency of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer has been hampered by short retroviral half-life due to shedding of retroviral envelope proteins which is of utmost importance to the interaction between retrovirus and cell. Methods Calcium-alginate microspheres with average size of 780 nm were prepared by reverse emulsification and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and microelectrophoresis. To obtain deactivated retroviruses produced from 293 packaging cells, retrovirus-containing media were pre-incubated at 37 °C for 6, 12, 18, and 24 h, respectively. Murine J774A.1 macrophages were co-treated with Ca-alginate microspheres and deactivated retroviruses encoding the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) gene. Through phagocytosis, deactivated retroviruses and Ca-alginate microspheres were co-internalized into macrophages. After retroviral transduction for 24 and 48 h, the percentages of macrophages with eGFP expression were determined by bright-field and fluorescence microscopy. Results After 48-h incubation with Ca-alginate microspheres and deactivated retroviruses, phagosomes turned into large vacuoles occupied almost half of the cytoplasmic space. This was probably attributed to the erosion of Ca-alginate microspheres by destructive agents within vacuolar compartments and concomitant osmotic swelling. It was reasoned that deactivated retroviruses escaped such enlarged vesicles easily and underwent reverse transcription in the cytosol. The expression of eGFP in macrophages infected by retroviruses pre-incubated for 24 h in the presence of Ca-alginate microspheres was thereby augmented up to tenfold in comparison with the cells treated with 24-h deactivated retroviruses only. Conclusions Ca-alginate microspheres performed as auxiliary agents for the enhancement of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer efficiency even though retroviruses had been deactivated due to the loss of envelope proteins. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bit-Error Aware Lossless Compression of Waveform Data

In this letter, we propose simple bit-error aware lossless compression algorithms for compression and transmission of waveform data in noisy channels. The developed algorithms consist of two stages. The first stage applies linear prediction and the second stage uses the developed residue coder, bi-level block coding or interval entropy coding, in which we show how to choose the optimal coding parameters for compressing the residue sequence from the first stage. We only encode the linear prediction and bi-level block coding or entropy coding parameters using a forward error correction scheme such as (7,4) Hamming codes, leaving residue sequence or residue offset sequence as they are, in order to preserve the performance of compression ratio. Our experiments show that the developed algorithms achieve high compression ratios and the recovered waveforms have a good signal quality when the bit error rate is equal to or less than 0.001.
Economic Modernization in Imperial Russia: Purposes and Achievements

Historically, the forms of modern economic life were first extended to new areas from the small zone of Western Europe where they developed by two major means: the direct action of individuals and economic organizations from that zone, and the measures of innovating rulers intent upon modernizing the economic life of their countries. In Russia the outside action came first, beginning with the Chancellor expedition in the sixteenth century and expanding gradually over the subsequent century and a half. Only from the early eighteenth century did the monarch's initiative become the primary factor in economic innovation, but the combination of Muscovite autocratic power and the formidable will of Peter the Great made it from the beginning an irresistible force for change. By the late eighteenth century a new force was evident—the entrepreneurial initiative of Russian tradesmen and manufacturers. The prime movers of Russian economic modernization during the following century were now assembled.
PDCD10 (CCM3) regulates brain endothelial barrier integrity in cerebral cavernous malformation type 3: role of CCM3-ERK1/2-cortactin cross-talk

Impairment of brain endothelial barrier integrity is critical for cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) lesion development. The current study investigates changes in tight junction (TJ) complex organization when PDCD10 (CCM3) is mutated/depleted in human brain endothelial cells. Analysis of lesions with CCM3 mutation and brain endothelial cells transfected with CCM3 siRNA (CCM3-knockdown) showed little or no increase in TJ transmembrane and scaffolding proteins mRNA expression, but proteins levels were generally decreased. CCM3-knockdown cells had a redistribution of claudin-5 and occludin from the membrane to the cytosol with no alterations in protein turnover but with diminished protein–protein interactions with ZO-1 and ZO-1 interaction with the actin cytoskeleton. The most profound effect of CCM3 mutation/depletion was on an actin-binding protein, cortactin. CCM3 depletion caused cortactin Ser-phosphorylation, dissociation from ZO-1 and actin, redistribution to the cytosol and degradation. This affected cortical actin ring organization, TJ complex stability and consequently barrier integrity, with constant hyperpermeability to inulin. A potential link between CCM3 depletion and altered cortactin was tonic activation of MAP kinase ERK1/2. ERK1/2 inhibition increased cortactin expression and incorporation into the TJ complex and improved barrier integrity. This study highlights the potential role of CCM3 in regulating TJ complex organization and brain endothelial barrier permeability.
On Analytical Solutions for Non-Homogeneous Vasicek Equation with Time-Varying Parameters

This paper deals with a theoretical research for non-homogeneous Vasicek equation with time-varying parameters. The exact analytical solution is obtained by establishing parameter variables function technique. The mathematical technique employed in this paper also has the significance in studying some other problems in finance theory.
Students' sense-making with visual data in small-group argumentation

Argumentation is a key component of scientific practice. It involves a dialectical balance of opposition and agreement, requiring negotiation and affording conceptual change through the co-construction of understandings. In classroom science inquiry with complex visual data representations, argumentation is an essential discourse structure through which students make sense of data and domain concepts. This study analyzed the argumentation practices of middle school students conducting an earth science inquiry project using data visualization tools. Analysis of spoken and gestural interactions during small-group work of one group of students in each of three classrooms revealed three common modes in which students employed visual data in argumentation: (1) using data-referenced talk and gesture to challenge authoritative positioning; (2) using gesture to participate in argumentation with incomplete conceptual vocabulary; and (3) using argumentation about data as a means of co-constructing the goals of academic tasks.
Does Informative Advertising Increase Market Price? An Experimental Investigation

Does informative advertising increase price or does it decrease price? The answer to this empirical question is mixed and not conclusive, despite its significance for public policy and marketing. Using the tools of experimental economics, we seek answer to this empirical question in this paper. Our experiments constitute the first laboratory test of the effect of informative advertising in a horizontally differentiated market. Study 1 shows that informative advertising can lead to higher prices if consumer valuations are low. Study 2, on the other hand, points to the possibility that informative advertising can lead to lower prices if consumer valuations are high. Thus, these studies provide evidence on the causal relationship between price and advertising and more importantly clarify the conditions under which we may observe divergent results. Furthermore, our experimental analysis is the first to study competition involving multiple firms (n = 7) in a horizontally differentiated market using the spokes framework.
Intraneural ganglion in superficial radial nerve mimics de quervain tenosynovitis.

Intraneural ganglions are nonneoplastic, mucinous cysts located within the epineurium of peripheral nerves. There have been ∼400 case reports of intraneural ganglia, the majority of which involve the peroneal nerve.1 These lesions are rare in the upper extremity, and the most commonly involved nerve in the upper extremity is the ulnar nerve. These lesions are generally associated with neurologic symptoms including numbness, paresthesias, radiating pain, or motor weakness.1 2 3 4 The pathogenesis of intraneural ganglions remains controversial. The predominant theory is the unifying articular (synovial) theory. The fundamental principles of this theory are that fluid dissects from a joint along an articular nerve branch and follows the path of least resistance within the nerve sheath.5 6 7 8 Given the high percentage of patients with associated antecedent trauma in the lower extremity, the theory concludes that an atypical joint due to trauma, degeneration, or congenital abnormality may predispose a patient to develop an intraneural ganglion. However, 40% of the reported cases do not have this intra-articular connection.1 2 9 There is currently one reported case of an intraneural ganglion cyst of the superficial radial nerve. In that case report, the patient presented with symptoms classic for intraneural ganglion, including radiating pain and paresthesias in the distribution of the superficial radial nerve.10 In contrast, we report a case of a patient who had an intraneural ganglion cyst of the superficial radial nerve and presenting symptoms that mimicked de Quervain tenosynovitis.
TECHNOLOGY REVIEW: GRAPH THEORY SMARTPHONE APPS

We consider how two graph theory smartphone apps can be used in the classroom. Examples include showing that two graphs are isomorphic, that a graph is planar, that a graph is not planar by use of ...
Accelerated barrier optimization compressed sensing (ABOCS) reconstruction: Performance evaluation for cone-beam CT

Compressed sensing (CS) enables accurate CT image reconstruction from low-dose measurements, due to the sparsifiable feature of most CT images using total variation (TV). The CS reconstruction is formulated as either a constrained problem to minimize the TV objective within a small data fidelity error, or an unconstrained problem to minimize the data fidelity error with TV regularization. However, the conventional solutions to the above two formulations are either computationally inefficient or involved with inconsistent regularization parameter tuning. In this work, we propose an optimization algorithm for cone-beam CT (CBCT) CS reconstruction which overcomes the above two drawbacks. The data tolerance is well estimated using the measured data, as most of the projection errors are from Poisson noise. We adopt the TV optimization framework with data fidelity as constraints. To accelerate the convergence, we first convert such a constrained optimization using a barrier method into a similar form to the conventional TV-regularization reconstruction but with an automatically adjusted penalty weight. The problem is then solved efficiently by gradient projection. The proposed algorithm is referred to as Accelerated Barrier Optimization for CS (ABOCS). As demonstrated on Shepp-Logan and head phantoms, ABOCS achieves consistent performances using the same parameters on scans with different datasets, while the TV-regularization method needs a large-scale tuning on the penalty weight. ABOCS also requires less computation time than ASDPOCS in Matlab by more than 10 times. ABOCS is further accelerated on GPU to reconstruct a 3D Shepp-Logan volume of 256×256×256 voxels in less than 20 mins using 10% projections, and the image quality is comparable to that of the full-view FDK reconstruction. We propose ABOCS for CBCT reconstruction. As compared to other published CS-based algorithms, our method has attractive features of fast convergence and consistent parameter setting for different datasets.
vTrack: Envisioning a Virtual Trackpad Interface through mm-level Sound Source Localization for Mobile Interaction

Touchscreens on mobile devices allow intuitive interactions through haptic communication, but their limited workspace confines user experiences. In this paper, we envision a virtual trackpad interface that tracks user input on any surface near the mobile device. We adopt acoustic signal as the only medium used for the interaction, which can be handled by lightweight signal processing using inexpensive sensors on mobile devices. In our vTrack prototype, the peripheral device simply emits inaudible acoustic signals through a loudspeaker, while the receiving device performs sound source localization by leveraging a multi-channel microphone array. We build a fingerprint-based localization model using various cues, such as time difference of arrival, angle of arrival, and power spectrum density of the audio signal. The vTrack system integrates the frequency difference of arrival incurred by the Doppler shift to track the sound source in motion. Finally, the position estimations are fed into the extended Kalman filter to reduce errors and smooth the output. We implement our system on Android devices and validate its feasibility. Our extensive experiments show that vTrack achieves millimeter-level accuracy in the moving sound source scenario.
The Ethics of ‘Gun-Free Zones’

I argue that location-specific gun bans (commonly known as “gun-free zones”) are typically unjust. If there is a right to carry firearms outside of one’s home, then the state cannot prohibit gun owners from carrying their firearms into certain areas without assuming a special duty of protecting those whom it coercively disarms. This task is practically impossible in most of the areas where guns are commonly banned. Gun owners should therefore be allowed to carry their guns in most public places, including college campuses.
Magnetic exchange coupling through superconductors: A trilayer study

The possibility of magnetic exchange coupling between two ferromagnets (F) separated by a superconductor (S) spacer is analyzed using the functional integral method. For this coupling to occur three prima facie conditions need to be satisfied. First, an indirect exchange coupling between the ferromagnets must exist when the superconductor is in its normal state. Second, superconductivity must not be destroyed due to the proximity to ferromagnetic boundaries. Third, roughness of the F/S interfaces must be small. Under these conditions, when the superconductor is cooled to below its critical temperature, the magnetic coupling changes. The appearance of the superconducting gap introduces a new length scale (the coherence length of the superconductor) and modifies the temperature dependence of the indirect exchange coupling existent in the normal state. The magnetic coupling is oscillatory both above and below the critical temperature of the superconductor, as well as strongly temperature-dependent. However, at low temperatures the indirect exchange coupling decay length is controlled by the coherence length of the superconductor, while at temperatures close to and above the critical temperature of the superconductor the magnetic coupling decay length is controlled by the thermal length.
Using habitat suitability models to predict changes in seagrass distribution caused by water management practices 1

Habitat suitability (HS) models can help elucidate the relationship between organisms and their environment and simulate the potential impacts of human activities on species distributions. Here, we developed HS models for Thalassia tes- tudinum and Halodule wrightii, two seagrasses found in Biscayne Bay (Florida, USA). These species are mostly found in nearshore habitats of the bay that are highly susceptible to changes in water quality because of their proximity to the city of Miami and activities and projects associated with the restoration of the Florida Everglades . The HS models parameterized with data collected at >900 sites highlighted salinity as a key factor determining habitat suitability for these seagrass spe- cies. Thalassia's suitable habitat was associated with higher, more stable salinity compared with that of Halodule, which was associated with lower salinity and shallower depths. Both species benefited under a simulated scenario of increased freshwater flow, but Halodule's suitable habitat increased by 71% compared with that of Thalassia's, which exhibited only an 18% increase. HS models such as those described here provide spatial modeling tools that can contribute science-based input into the management of coastal resources within an adaptive management framework.
Second Somatosensory Cortex and Related Areas

Some of the first electrophysiological studies on somatosensory cortex of cats found that more than one cortical region could be activated by somatosensory stimuli (Adrian, 1941; Marshall et al., 1941). Adrian (1941) initially recognized that the “second” somatic receiving zone was a distinctly separate entity. He suggested, however, that this second representation may have been a special adaptation “for sheathing and unsheathing” claws in cats as a comparable second representation was not found by him in dogs or monkeys. Woolsey and coworkers (Woolsey, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1958; Woolsey and Fairman, 1946; Woolsey and Wang, 1945) were able to demonstrate, with evoked potential recording techniques, that a “second” somatic area existed in a variety of animals including many that did not have claws and that clawless parts of the body, like the face (Woolsey and Wang, 1945), were also represented in SII. Subsequent studies have repeatedly shown the presence of this second cortical region in a vast array of animal species (Table I). This “duality” of somatosensory representations, which appears to be a “general principle of cortical organization” (Woolsey, 1947), has been extended to include the idea that multiple cortical areas exist for each of the major sensory systems. In general, the terminology adopted to describe these multiple areas has been to assign numbers to each region according to the historical order of its discovery; this numbering does not imply primacy. Indeed, one of the important unresolved issues remains the determination of the unique contributions of each of the somatosensory cortical areas to sensory-motor behavior.
Race and sex differences in ambulatory blood pressure measures among HIV+ adults

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) can identify phenotypes that cannot be measured in the clinic. Determining race and sex disparities in ABPM measures among HIV+ individuals may improve strategies to diagnose and treat hypertension in this high-risk population. We compared ABPM measures between 24 African-American and 25 white HIV+ adults (36 men and 13 women). Awake systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were similar in African-Americans and whites. After multivariable adjustment, sleep SBP and DBP were 9.7 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 4.7, 14.8) and 8.4 mm Hg (95% CI: 4.3, 12.5) higher, respectively, among African-Americans compared with whites. After multivariable adjustment, SBP and DBP dipping ratios were 5.2% (95% CI: 1.7%, 8.7%) and 6.1% (95% CI 2.0%, 10.3%) smaller among African-Americans compared with whites. After multivariable adjustment, awake and sleep SBP and DBP were higher in men compared to women. There was no difference in SBP or DBP dipping ratios comparing men and women. The prevalence of awake masked hypertension was 42% in men versus 17% in women, and the prevalence of sleep masked hypertension was 57% among African-Americans versus 18% among whites. These data suggest that ABPM measures differ by race and sex in HIV+ adults.
Schritt 2: Hat das Auswirkungen auf mein Geschäft?

Nachdem wir den Blick nach ausen gerichtet haben, stellen sich nun die Fragen danach, was die Ausensicht fur mein Unternehmen bedeutet und welche Handlungsfelder daraus abgeleitet werden konnen.
Optimal Design of Experiments

(1995). Optimal Design of Experiments. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 93-94.
The PITSLRE protein kinase family.

A family of p34cdc2 related protein kinases, the PITSLRE kinases, is generated by alternative splicing and promoter utilization from three duplicated and tandemly linked genes on human chromosome 1p36.3, which is frequently deleted during the late stages of tumorigenesis. PITSLRE mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity are induced during Fas receptor- and glucocorticoid-mediated apoptosis of human T cells. Several PITSLRE isoforms are specific targets of proteolysis during apoptosis, generating an enzymatically active 50 kDa isoform. Inhibition of this protease activity blocks PITSLRE processing and enzyme activation, as well as apoptosis. Thus, PITSLRE kinases may be integral downstream components of apoptotic signal transduction pathway(s). Furthermore, PITSLRE genes, and their products, are physically altered in human neuroblastoma tumors, suggesting that they may be tumor suppressors.
Thermomechanics of axially moving webs in roll-to-roll manufacturing processes

Abstract Understanding the thermomechanics of flexible, axially moving webs subject to heat flux is important for ensuring process stability and product quality in roll-to-roll (R2R) flexible electronics manufacturing and nano-manufacturing. These applications include processes such as drying, curing, heat annealing, laser processing, plasma processing, functional printing, etc. A mathematical model for predicting the temperature and stress distributions in an axially moving web under arbitrary shape of heat flux is presented, including axial transport, heat conduction, convective heat transfer, and thermal radiation. A MATLAB based nonlinear finite element code is developed to predict the temperature and stress fields during such processes. The experimentally measured temperature distribution in moving paper and PET webs subject to heating from an IR laser source is compared with theoretical predictions to validate the computational approach. Such computational models are expected to aid in the development of a range of R2R processes where temperature gradients and stress fields can influence the product quality or lead to mechanical instabilities such as wrinkling or excessive web vibration.
The cost of cancer care: there is more than one elephant in the room.

The current system rations care in an irrational way. This irrational rationing is going to worsen, for the costs of the current system are simply not sustainable nor are they justifiable by almost any metric used.
Current Status of in Vitro Fertilization and Reimplantation

The birth of baby Louise Brown in July 1978 was truly a dramatic event. Although it was the result of many years of intensive research, the event itself was a milestone in man’s ability to work with nature. To some, in vitro fertilization and reimplantation represents a Pandora’s box of “brave new world” reproduction: of oocyte donors and rental wombs. To others, it means a future chance, and I emphasize future and chance, of parenthood for the thousands of women who are sterile because of irrevocably damaged Fallopian tubes.
Introduction to the Special Issue: International Research on Areca Nut and Betel Quid Use.

Areca or betel nut, the fruit of a type of palm, Areca catechu, contains a number of psychoactive alkaloids, which have stimulating effects on the autonomic nervous system (Chu, 2001). As a result,...
An Effective and Application-Specific Evaluation of Low-k Dielectric Integration Integrity using Copper Pillar Shear Testing

Mechanical integrity of low-k dielectrics continues to be an important focus for advanced semiconductor devices. In wafer fabs, while great efforts are made to control individual processing steps, in some cases the overall mechanical quality of the finished silicon dies is not effectively monitored. As a result, defects such as cohesive fracture or interfacial delamination may only manifest themselves during component backend assembly, system board manufacturing and/or field deployment, bringing significant potential disruption and impact to production, product quality, and delivery fulfillment. As silicon and package sizes continue to grow, chip-packaging interaction becomes more significant and the effects of low-k defects also grow as a result. Therefore, it would be of great value to have a quantitative understanding of low-k integrity quality as early as possible, ideally at the wafer or bare die level. The adoption of Cu pillars on fine-pitch flip chips has provided an opportunity for such a purpose. Mechanical tests such as shear testing on individual Cu pillars can be performed, and the response data can be an indicator of the integration quality of the low-k stack. In this study we present results of Cu pillar shear testing on both known-bad and known-good wafer lots of the same device. Response data including load-distance curves and ultimate fracture strength are analyzed and presented. In addition, finite element models have been developed to simulate the test structure and shear testing process. Effects of multiple contributing factors to the shear testing response are evaluated and the results are compared with real shear testing results.
Generalized Inverses and Solutions to Systems of Linear Equations

Throughout this book we will discover that in order to obtain “good” estimators of the elements of β (or functions thereof) under a linear model, and for other purposes as well, we need to solve various systems of linear equations of the general form $$\displaystyle \mathbf {A}\mathbf {x}=\mathbf {b}. $$ Here A is a specified n × m matrix called the coefficient matrix, b is a specified n-vector called the right-hand side vector, and x is an m-vector of unknowns. Any vector of unknowns that satisfies the system is called a solution. A solution may or may not exist.
Old Wine in a New Bottle: How to Teach the Comparative Politics of the Middle East with Fiction

U.S. undergraduates often hold ill-informed and stereotypical perceptions about the Middle East. While theories of comparative politics can help undergraduates gain a more nuanced view of the regio...
Structure and Thermoelectric Properties of New Quaternary Tin and Lead Bismuth Selenides, K1+xM4-2xBi7+xSe15 (M = Sn, Pb) and K1+xSn5-xBi11+xSe22

We present the structure and thermoelectric properties of the new quaternary selenides K1+xM4-2xBi7+xSe15 (M = Sn, Pb) and K1-xSn5-xBi11+xSe22. The compounds K1+xM4-2xBi7+xSe15 (M= Sn, Pb) crystallize isostructural to A1+xPb4-2xSb7+xSe15 with A = K, Rb, while K1-xSn5-xBi11+xSe22 reveals a new structure type. In both structure types fragments of the Bi2Te3-type and the NaCl-type are connected to a three-dimensional anionic framework with K+ ions filled tunnels. The two structures vary by the size of the NaCl-type rods and are closely related to β-K2Bi8Se13 and K2.5Bi8.5Se14. The thermoelectric properties of K1+xM4-2xBi7+xSe15 (M = Sn, Pb) and K1-xSn5-xBi11+xSe22 were explored on single crystal and ingot samples. These compounds are narrow gap semiconductors and show n-type behavior with moderate Seebeck coefficients. They have very low thermal conductivity due to an extensive disorder of the metal atoms and possible “rattling” K+ ions.
Characterization of field-effect mobility at optical frequency by microring resonators

A novel characterization method is proposed to extract the optical frequency field-effect mobility (μop,FE) of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) materials by a tunable silicon microring resonator with a heterogeneously integrated titanium-doped indium oxide (ITiO)/SiO2/silicon metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) capacitor. By operating the microring in the accumulation mode, the quality factor and resonance wavelength shift are measured and subsequently used to derive the μop,FE in the ultra-thin accumulation layer. Experimental results demonstrate that the μop,FE of ITiO increases from 25.3 to 38.4 cm2⋅V−1⋅s−1 with increasing gate voltages, which shows a similar trend as that at the electric frequency.
Drivers of Carbon Price Adoption in Wealthy Democracies: International or Domestic Forces?:

Is carbon price adoption in wealthy democracies driven more by international or domestic forces? Event history analyses reveal that carbon price adoption is more likely in countries with less fossi...
Privately Ordered Fiduciaries

There exists a disconnect in corporate law between the outsized role officers play in managing the corporation and the scant attention these actors receive in statutes and case law. Out of the doctrinal void, a proposal by the ABA’s Officer Liability Task Force has emerged. Seizing on the private ordering movement in corporate law, the Task Force proposes contractual means for addressing the uncertainty surrounding the duties of officers. The Task Force’s proposal extends private ordering in a radical new direction, taking aim at bedrock principles of corporate law – fiduciary duties and the business judgment rule. This article takes a deep dive into the issue of private ordering corporate officer fiduciary obligations and liability. Specifically, this article addresses questions like: Should officer duties be a product of contract or common law? What is the foundational basis for officer fiduciary obligations? What are the bounds, if any, for private ordering of this nature? How does officer private ordering fit within the broader scheme of privately ordered fiduciaries across business organizations? What are some of the possible ways of structuring fiduciary duties and the business judgment rule via contract? The goal of this article is twofold. First, to provide guidance regarding the viability and drafting considerations for corporate actors considering contractually structuring officer duties. Second, to engage in a discussion of the broader normative implications for corporate law if officer fiduciary duties and liabilities become dominated by private ordering.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Self-Reported Vision Disability among the Elderly in Malaysia: Findings from National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2018.

Introduction Disability has adverse effects on health, wellbeing, and life quality. Vision disorder is one of the top-ranked causes of disability in the elderly population. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with vision disability among the elderly in Malaysia. Methodology. Data collection from National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2018 was obtained. This survey focused on elderly health by using two-stage stratified cluster sampling design. The Washington Group Extended Question Set on Functioning (WG ES-F) was used to determine the vision disability. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 utilizing a complex sample design with multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine the prevalence and associated factors to vision disability. Results A total of 3,977 elderly completed the vision disability questionnaire. The overall prevalence of vision disability among those who were 60 years old and above was 4.5%. Multiple logistic regression revealed that no formal education (AOR: 6.69, 95% CI: 1.52, 29.49), only primary education (AOR: 4.26, 95% CI: 1.01, 18.03), unemployed/retiree or homemaker (AOR: 3.25, 95% CI: 1.79, 5.89), hypertension (AOR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.00, 2.09), and malnourished elderly (AOR: 2.84, 95% CI: 1.76, 461) had higher odds for having vision disability. Conclusion The findings suggest that a low education level, unemployment, hypertension, and malnourishment are significant risk factors for VD among Malaysia's elderly. Strengthening awareness campaigns to increase VD awareness and provide high-quality rehabilitation services must target specific groups, such as the elderly with a low level of education and the unemployed. Empower primary healthcare providers with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the quality of eye care delivery and expand eye screening in settling VD issues nationally.
Nayatani, Yoshinobu 1927–2009

Yoshinobu Nayatani was a Japanese color scientist who made significant contributions to the development of color appearance models and contributed diligently to the color research community. He was born in 1927 and passed away on May 29, 2009, in Hyogo prefecture in Japan [1].
CaMKIIδ post-translational modifications increase affinity for calmodulin inside cardiac ventricular myocytes.

Abstract Persistent over-activation of CaMKII (Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent protein Kinase II) in the heart is implicated in arrhythmias, heart failure, pathological remodeling, and other cardiovascular diseases. Several post-translational modifications (PTMs)—including autophosphorylation, oxidation, S-nitrosylation, and O-GlcNAcylation—have been shown to trap CaMKII in an autonomously active state. The molecular mechanisms by which these PTMs regulate calmodulin (CaM) binding to CaMKIIδ—the primary cardiac isoform—has not been well-studied particularly in its native myocyte environment. Typically, CaMKII activates upon Ca-CaM binding during locally elevated [Ca]free and deactivates upon Ca-CaM dissociation when [Ca]free returns to basal levels. To assess the effects of CaMKIIδ PTMs on CaM binding, we developed a novel FRET (Forster resonance energy transfer) approach to directly measure CaM binding to and dissociation from CaMKIIδ in live cardiac myocytes. We demonstrate that autophosphorylation of CaMKIIδ increases affinity for CaM in its native environment and that this increase is dependent on [Ca]free. This leads to a 3-fold slowing of CaM dissociation from CaMKIIδ (time constant slows from ~0.5 to 1.5 s) when [Ca]free is reduced with physiological kinetics. Moreover, oxidation further slows CaM dissociation from CaMKIIδ T287D (phosphomimetic) upon rapid [Ca]free chelation and increases FRET between CaM and CaMKIIδ T287A (phosphoresistant). The CaM dissociation kinetics–measured here in myocytes–are similar to the interval between heartbeats, and integrative memory would be expected as a function of heart rate. Furthermore, the PTM-induced slowing of dissociation between beats would greatly promote persistent CaMKIIδ activity in the heart. Together, these findings suggest a significant role of PTM-induced changes in CaMKIIδ affinity for CaM and memory under physiological and pathophysiological processes in the heart.
Lacroix, Patrick. John F. Kennedy and the Politics of Faith

John Kennedy said in the late 1950s, “there is an old saying in Boston that we get our religion from Rome and our politics at home” (Carty 2004, 71). As this quotation suggests, Kennedy carefully a...
Crosstalk Logic Circuits with Built-in Memory

Memory and Logic computing beyond Von Neumann architecture is of paramount importance in Artificial Intelligence data-intensive applications. To this end, we propose a novel concept of Logic with Built-in Memory. We intend to combine Crosstalk logic, a novel computing method that harnesses deterministic interference between interconnect metal lines for logic calculations, with data storage elements to generate neoteric Crosstalk circuits capable of storing the state of the computed data. In this paper, we present how Crosstalk Computing can be leveraged to implement basic and complex circuits with built-in memory at 16 nm technology node. We show a range of circuits and discuss both logic and memory characteristics through circuit simulations. In addition, we discuss comparison results with equivalent CMOS circuits. Our results indicate a 32% reduction in transistor count for a full adder (FA) circuit with respect to CMOS at 16nm. The average power for a FA is 3μW and the maximum propagation delay is 58 ns.
How Does the Type of Expected Evaluation Impact Students’ Self-Regulated Learning?

Educators adopt a variety of methods to evaluate their students. However, little is known about the impact of an expected evaluation on students’ study decisions. To investigate this issue, students self-paced their study of a multimedia lesson and expected to teach the material (Experiments 1–4), take a broadly-defined test (Experiment 1), a multiple-choice test (Experiment 2), an essay test (Experiments 2, 3, and 4), an oral test (Experiment 4), or to write a paper (Experiment 3). Importantly, students did not actually teach, take a multiple-choice test, an oral test, or write a paper. All students took a comprehension test, and in Experiments 3 and 4, they also self-reported reasons for their study decisions. Students who expected a socially-demanding evaluation (to teach or take an oral test) spent substantially longer studying than did students expecting other evaluations. Additionally, internal meta-analyses revealed that students who expected to teach obtained higher comprehension scores relative to students expecting other evaluations, which was driven by enhanced free-recall.
Blockchain Technology and Intellectual Property – A Basic Introduction

Blockchain technology is predicted to have a major impact on the intellectual property (IP) ecosystem. More and more projects are being launched, both in the public and private sector. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has built up a Blockchain Task Force and is preparing a new WIPO Standard to encompass all types of IP rights and the entire IP lifecycle; the German Government published a strategy paper on blockchain with a chapter on applications in the creative arts sector; a European Blockchain Service Infrastructure is being built up; the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) established an Anti-Counterfeiting Forum as part of the broader EU strategy to create a blockchain ecosystem and now has its own blockchain for trademarks and designs in the EU. Furthermore, LVMH, with brands such as Louis Vuitton, developed its own blockchain to track luxury goods; Kodak started a blockchain initiative for image rights management; music and film streaming are offered on blockchain platforms; sports clubs discuss micro-licensing of their IP rights; digital fashion is created for distribution using blockchain. Moreover, news abounds of blockchain-based non-fungible tokens (NFTs) representing basically everything imaginable – both digital and physical – in the IP ecosystem, to track the origin of art and all manner of products. However, interestingly enough, as early as 2012 a whitepaper was published linking the idea of smart property by Nick Szabo and digital collectibles to blockchain and at the same time introducing the first kind of NFTs, coloured coins. The developments in the blockchain space, including in the area of IP, are progressing at a rapid pace, both from a technological and a value perspective. For example, the value of crypto art traded on blockchain from 2018 to 2020 was estimated at about 15 million US Dollar (with about 8.2 million US Dollar worth of crypto artwork in December 2020 ). In March 2021, the most expensive piece of artwork linked to an NFT in history was sold by Mike Winkelmann (Beeple) for 42,329.453 Ether, at the time worth 69,346,250 million US Dollar. The NFT marketplace OpenSea has set and then beat daily records several times, reaching a new peak of 322,982,301 million US Dollar of trading volume on 29 August 2021. Nevertheless, many applications for IP matters are still in their infancy. The reason for this might lay, aside from the rather complex technological details, in uncertainties about their regulation and legal standing in court, such as the recognition of a legal binding smart contract. Therefore, the article introduces the very basic features of blockchain technology and blockchain-based IP applications. The article then dives into concrete IP use cases that are currently offered and developed on the market. It also gives a general overview of opportunities and existing challenges for the IP ecosystem. The legal perspective is mainly a German and European one.
Crystals of the Arp2/3 complex in two new space groups with structural information about actin‐related protein 2 and potential WASP binding sites

Co-crystals of the bovine Arp2/3 complex with the CA motif from N-WASP in two new space groups were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The crystals in the orthorhombic space group P212121 contained one complex per asymmetric unit, with unit-cell parameters a = 105.48, b = 156.71, c = 177.84 A, and diffracted to 3.9 A resolution. The crystals in the tetragonal space group P41 contained two complexes per asymmetric unit, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 149.93, c = 265.91 A, and diffracted to 5.0 A resolution. The electron-density maps of both new crystal forms had densities for small segments of subdomains 1 and 2 of Arp2. Both maps had density at the binding site on Arp3 for the C-terminal EWE tripeptide from N-WASP and a binding site proposed for the C motif of N-WASP in the barbed-end groove of Arp2. The map from the tetragonal crystal form had density near the barbed end of Arp3 that may correspond to the C helix of N-WASP. The noise levels and the low resolution of the maps made the assignment of specific molecular structures for any of these CA peptides impossible.
Clinical experience with generic levetiracetam in people with epilepsy.

Until the present day, U.S. health care systems have adopted various measures to maximize cost savings. It has been well known to encourage or have mandatory requirements to use cheaper, generic drugs instead of their branded counterparts (Andermann et al., 2007). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed generic medications that have shown short-term bioequivalence to be granted product license. However, bioavailability may be different from branded counterparts because of the use of other chemicals that are used to make generic medications (Borgheini, 2003). Generic medications must have the same dose and form as the brand name and must have been studied and determined to have equivalent bioavailability of the brand name (Andermann et al., 2007). Notwithstanding, variation of generic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) versus name brand AEDs can be highly problematic among people with epilepsy (PWE). This has led to a debate on the appropriateness of generic substitution of AEDs to generic compounds. Because of the potential for poor clinical outcomes with generic AEDs, several agencies (UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Andermann et al., 2007) and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) (Borgheini, 2003) have instituted policies to discourage the substitution of generic AEDs from brand name due to the potentially negative consequences such as increased monitoring costs and loss of seizure control. Other countries have implemented stricter guidelines in dealing with generic AEDs. In Sweden the Medical Products Agency instituted a policy that certain AEDs (lamotrigine, carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproic acid, gabapentin) cannot be switched from brand name to generic (Borgheini, 2003; Andermann et al., 2007). The Italian Chapter of the International League Against Epilepsy instituted a policy that patients who are in seizure remission or with well-controlled seizure activity on a brand name AED, should not be switched from branded to generic medication (Perucca et al., 2006). Confirmatory observations lend support to the concerns involving generic AEDs. Recent studies have noted high switch back rates, loss of seizure control, increased toxicity, and increased health care utilization costs associated with generic AEDs (Andermann et al., 2007; LeLorier et al., 2008; Kesselheim 2010; Labiner et al., 2010; Sethi et al., 2010). Given these findings of poor outcomes, the AAN has instituted guidelines in 2006 opposing generic substitution of AEDs without attending/physician approval (Liow et al., 2007). Nevertheless, other organizations such as the FDA promote interchangeability with generic and branded AEDs. To our knowledge, none of the recent studies specifically investigated the potential consequences associated with Keppra or generic levetiracetam (LEV). The purpose of our study is to measure the proportion of PWE who switch back from generic to branded LEV required due to poor clinical outcomes directly associated with the generic compound.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy: Structure Determination of Proteins and Nucleic Acids

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful biophysical technique that facilitates determination of the three-dimensional structure and interactions of proteins and nucleic acids in solution. A set of NMR experiments identifies spectral signatures corresponding to specific atoms on individual residues in the molecule and determines their order in the primary sequence. Distance and angular relationships are subsequently measured and utilized to supplement standard force-fields used in molecular dynamics (MD)-based protocols to obtain high-resolution structural models. Structure determination is aided by molecular biology and biochemistry to generate samples optimally labelled with NMR-active isotopes; by improvement in the design of NMR instrumentation to allow spectral signatures to be recorded with high sensitivity; by development of efficient techniques to manipulate nuclear spins at the quantum level; and by generation of advanced computer algorithms that allow rapid processing, manipulation and storage of large quantities of NMR data. Key Concepts: Solution NMR is an excellent spectroscopic technique for the determination of the three-dimensional structure of biomolecules at near-physiological conditions. The abundance of chemical and structural information available from NMR spectra derives from the ability to selectively manipulate specific nuclei by customizable sequences of radio-frequency pulses in a large static magnetic field. NMR signals report on the variety of chemical environments experienced by nuclei in biomolecules through unique spectral signatures. The repertoire of information-rich NMR experiments has been expanded by the ability to enrich biomolecules with NMR-active nuclei taking advantage of advances in molecular biology and biochemistry. Nuclear spins in biomolecules form magnetically coupled networks, with characteristic spectral profiles that can be manipulated to extract angular, orientational and distance information for calculation of three-dimensional structural models. Keywords: NMR; proteins; nucleic acids; three-dimensional structure
Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction: A Clinicopathologic Report and Biopsy Technique

Primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) of adults is a clinical syndrome of unknown cause, and the histopathology of the nasolacrimal duct has not been substantially studied. A technique of excisional biopsy of the soft tissue contents within the nasolacrimal canal during external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is presented. No complications were associated with the biopsy technique in 14 cases. Two cases of lacrimal obstruction secondary to sarcoidosis and leukemia were discovered in biopsies of patients with the clinical syndrome of PANDO, demonstrating the value of routine biopsy during DCR. Biopsies revealed a spectrum of changes that correlated with duration of symptoms. Early cases revealed active chronic inflammation along the entire length of the narrowed nasolacrimal duct. Intermediate cases revealed focal resolution of the inflammatory process with fibrosis, while late cases showed fibrous obliteration of the entire duct. Although the first event in primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction remains uncertain, clinicopathologic correlation suggests that compression of the duct by inflammatory infiltrates and edema precedes clinical chronic dacryocystitis.