cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Lattice-Preserving Multigrid Method for Solving the Inhomogeneous Poisson Equations Used in Image Analysis

The inhomogeneous Poisson (Laplace) equation with internal Dirichlet boundary conditions has recently appeared in several applications ranging from image segmentation [1, 2, 3] to image colorization [4], digital photo matting [5, 6] and image filtering [7, 8]. In addition, the problem we address may also be considered as the generalized eigenvector problem associated with Normalized Cuts [9], the linearized anisotropic diffusion problem [10, 11, 8] solved with a backward Euler method, visual surface reconstruction with discontinuities [12, 13] or optical flow [14]. Although these approaches have demonstrated quality results, the computational burden of finding a solution requires an efficient solver. Design of an efficient multigrid solver is difficult for these problems due to unpredictable inhomogeneity in the equation coefficients and internal Dirichlet boundary conditions with unpredictable location and value. Previous approaches to multigrid solvers have typically employed either a data-driven operator (with fast convergence) or the maintenance of a lattice structure at coarse levels (with low memory overhead). In addition to memory efficiency, a lattice structure at coarse levels is also essential to taking advantage of the power of a GPU implementation [15,16,5,3]. In this work, we present a multigrid method that maintains the low memory overhead (and GPU suitability) associated with a regular lattice while benefiting from the fast convergence of a data-driven coarse operator.
Effect of Shear on Human Insulin in Zinc Suspension

Human insulin in zinc suspension was used as a model protein to test the effect of shear on the settling rate of proteins, a possible inference for protein denaturation. The rate of settling was determined directly in a spectrophotometer. Shear effects are important in retaining the activity of proteins and are present in bubble, foam, and droplet protein fractionation processes. A simple test, such as that conducted here, may even be useful for monitoring changes in protein structure caused by commercial shipping of the protein. The settling rate for insulin was continuously monitored in the original bottle by spectrophotometric absorbance changes as a function of time. A settling curve was determined following each shear experiment, which included shaking the “worked” insulin solution in a vortex mixer for different lengths of time. It was determined, when comparing long shaking times with short ones, that the initial settling rate was less for the long-term shaking of the insulin samples and greater for the short-term shaking. The secondary effects of light and heat, along with shaking, apparently did not produce differences from shaking alone.
Advanced Space Propulsion for the 21st Century

HE overriding goal of advanced space propulsion is to reduce the costs of doing space missions, and to enable totally new types of missions that basically could not be performed (even at essentially unlimited cost) with existing technology. For example, with Earth-launch costs on the order of $10,000 per kilogram (comparable to the current cost of gold!) of delivered payload, one important application of advanced propulsion is to reduce thecostofaccessto space(andtransportation oncein space), both in the initial Earth-launch vehicle and then in the in-space vehicles, by reducing the total mass (most of which is propellant) that must be launched from Earth. This can be achieved by either developing more efe cient, higher-performance (i.e., higher specie c impulse Isp/ propulsion technologies, or by reducing the propellant requirements by reducing dry mass, mission velocity 1V, and so on. (Note however that launch cost is strongly driven by launch frequency; 1 thus, some advanced propulsion concepts attempt to both improve performance and increase launch rate.) A second goal of advanced propulsion is the ability to perform previously “ impossible” missions. An example of an impossible mission is attempting an interstellar mission using chemical propulsion. No matter how large the rocket, no matter how many stages it has, you simply cannot achieve the speeds (typically at least 10%of the speed of light) required for a practical interstellar mission using a chemical propulsion system. More generally, it is not practical to performaspace mission wherethe mission 1V isgreater than afew (e.g., two to three) times the propulsion system’ s exhaust velocity Vexhaust or, equivalently, Isp. Ultimately,theperformanceofanyrocketislimitedbytheRocket
Transitioning students navigating engineering identities

How do transitioning underrepresented minority (URM) students evaluate their engineering ability? To investigate this question seven students in a summer pre-college program provided insight on their confidence in their abilities and were asked to recollect the experiences which helped them make sense of these developing identities. As part of a larger study to investigate the impact of a Midwestern University's Minority Engineering Program's (MEP) impact on the success of its participants, the objective of this component of the study is to qualitatively explore the experiences of Academic Boot Camp (ABC) participants throughout their first year in college. Participants of ABC are students who have been accepted to the University's college of engineering and intend to enroll at the University in the fall semester. ABC is a rigorous five week program which simulates the students' first semester course work to support the students' transition from high school to college. The purpose of this paper is to explore the diverse ways that URM students, who are transitioning into a college engineering program, perceive their confidence in their abilities using Figueiredo's (2008) quadrant of engineering epistemologies. In this study, the engineering epistemologies are also considered engineering identities. Based upon data gathered from the interviews and from the research team's interactions with the students, we can infer that their participation in the Academic Boot Camp supports the students' goals. For these students, goals typically include developing time management strategies, mastering course material, learning and exposing oneself to engineering skills and habits, successfully transitioning from high school to college and remaining true to one's identity. The findings from this study may not only provide qualitative support for the impact of the Minority Engineering Program and its Academic Boot Camp but may also provide insight into ways engineering educators can support the development of both the students' individual and engineering identities.
Changes in Free Amino Acid Content in ‘Jonagold’ Apple Fruit as Related to Branched-chain Ester Production, Ripening, and Senescence

The relationship among the free amino acid content, the expression of genes related to branched-chain amino acid metabolism {branched-chain aminotransferase (BCAT), a-keto acid decarboxylase (pyruvate decarbox- ylase (PDC)), and threonine deaminase (TD)}, and the production of branched-chain (BC) esters during ripening and senescence in 'Jonagold' apple fruit (Malus ·domestica) was studied. Eighteen amino acids were measured by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The content for all amino acids changed with devel- opmental stage and some shared similar patterns of accumulation/diminution. The pattern for isoleucine differed from all other amino acids, increasing more than 20-fold during the ripening process. The onset of the increase was concomitant with the onset of increasing ethylene and BC ester production and the content remained elevated even during senescence. The elevated isoleucine levels are consistent with an increase in the flux through the pathway leading to the formation and degradation of the isoleucine precursor a-keto-b-methylvalerate, which is used for production of BC esters containing 2-methylbutanol and 2-methylbutanoate moieties. Unexpectedly, the content of threonine, the amino acid from which isoleucine is thought to be derived in plants, did not change in concert with isoleucine, but rather declined somewhat after ripening was well underway. Patterns in the expression of some, but not all, of the putative BCAT and PDC genes appeared to reflect the rise and fall in ester formation; however, the expression of putative TD genes did not change during ripening. The patterns in gene expression and amino acid content are interpreted to suggest that the synthesis of a-keto-b-methylvalerate and isoleucine during apple ripening may depend on an as yet uncharacterized pathway that bypasses threonine, similar to the citramalate pathway found in some bacteria.
Bladder Pain Syndrome and Sexuality

The pain associated with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and comorbid conditions may alter the sexual response, resulting in frequent complaints of decreased arousal, decreased libido, difficulty with orgasm or anorgasmia, and less frequent sexual encounters. Psychological factors, whether primary or secondary, such as fear, anxiety, and depression tend to exacerbate the problem, leaving the patient and his or her partner with decreased sexual interest, feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and increased depression.
PKCα regulates TMEM16A-mediated Cl - secretion in human biliary cells

TMEM16A is a newly identified Ca2+-activated Cl− channel in biliary epithelial cells (BECs) that is important in biliary secretion. While extracellular ATP stimulates TMEM16A via binding P2 recepto...
Rubber Flow in an Internal Mixer

Abstract A number of experimental studies have improved understanding of rubber flow in internal mixers. Freakley and Van Idris obtained flow patterns and areas of fill by photographing through a transparent end plate of a small internal mixer during rubber mixing. White and Min obtained additional information by videotaping through transparent end plates and body sides of a small internal mixer during rubber mixing. Sata and associates used observations of flow of polymer solutions in a transparent Banbury mixer to help optimize rotor design. Freakley and Van Idris, Freakley and Patel, and Toki and associates used responses from pressure sensors installed in the body of Banbury mixers to infer the fill and flow directions during rubber mixing. Here we report findings based on direct examination of the contents of a Brabender mixer removed after curing in place so as to limit further flow after stopping mixing. The technique used is basically the same as that employed in the past to determine flow pattern...
Book Review - at Best an Inexact Science: Delimiting the Legal Contours of Specific Learning Disability Eligibility Under Idea (Reviewing Perry a. Zirkel, the Legal Meaning of Specific Learning Disability for Special Education Eligibility (Council for Exceptional Children, 2006))

Special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has been all the rage in education law in recent years. Last Term alone, the United States Supreme Court decided two IDEA cases, one involving burden of proof issues in due process hearings concerning the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE), the other concerning whether prevailing parents are able to be reimbursed for non-attorney expert fees under the IDEA fee-shifting provision. Additionally, the most comprehensive amendments to IDEA in seven years, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEIA), went into effect on July 1, 2005, making many important changes to existing special education law doctrine. More recently, final regulations to these new IDEIA amendments have been adopted. At the same time that special education law has generally enjoyed increased prominence, there continue to be special education legal issues that are not receiving the attention that they merit. Case in point: specific learning disability (SLD) eligibility determinations. Consider for a moment that almost 50% of children currently eligible for special education and related services under IDEA qualify for such services under this SLD eligibility category. That means that some 3 million children (representing nearly 6% of the total enrollment in American public schools) have been determined to have specific learning disabilities and are receiving additional educational services to assist them in achieving their full educational potential. This Book Review examines Perry Zirkel's new book, The Legal Meaning of Specific Learning Disability for Special Education Eligibility, which for the first time provides a thorough-going synthesis of the legal requirements for SLD eligibility by parsing the federal statutory and regulatory language of IDEA with regard to SLD and establishes a decisional framework to analyze previously-decided cases. Although Zirkel should be commended for filling in a conspicuous gap in the law of special education, this Review makes two additional suggestions of further studies that can be undertaken in this area in order to start the process of fashioning prescriptions to improve the SLD eligibility legal framework.
Kidney Disease Progression in Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease

Objective To define glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline, hypertension (HTN), and proteinuria in subjects with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) and compare with 2 congenital kidney disease control groups in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children cohort. Study design GFR decline (iohexol clearance), rates of HTN (ambulatory/casual blood pressures), antihypertensive medication usage, left ventricular hypertrophy, and proteinuria were analyzed in subjects with ARPKD (n = 22) and 2 control groups: aplastic/hypoplastic/dysplastic disorders (n = 44) and obstructive uropathies (n = 44). Differences between study groups were examined with the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results Annualized GFR change in subjects with ARPKD was −1.4 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (−6%), with greater decline in subjects age ≥10 years (−11.5%). However, overall rates of GFR decline did not differ significantly in subjects with ARPKD vs controls. There were no significant differences in rates of HTN or left ventricular hypertrophy, but subjects with ARPKD had a greater percent on ≥3 blood pressure medications (32% vs 0%, P P P Conclusions This study reports rates of GFR decline, HTN, and proteinuria in a small but well-phenotyped ARPKD cohort. The relatively slow rate of GFR decline in subjects with ARPKD and absence of significant proteinuria suggest that these standard clinical measures may have limited utility in assessing therapeutic interventions and highlight the need for other ARPKD kidney disease progression biomarkers.
Laboratory and Greenhouse Evaluations of Insecticides and Insect Growth Regulators for Control of Foliar and Root Infesting Mealybugs

Laboratory results indicated that acephate, oxydemetonmethyl, and the growth regulator, kinoprene, were highly toxic to adult Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni-Tozzetti) and Phenacoccus solani Ferris. Methoprene and Ro 10-3108 (75% 2-ethyl-3-[3-ethyl-5-(4-ethylphenoxy) – pentyl]-2-methyloxirane (cis/trans) and 25% 2-ethyl-3-[5-(4-ethylphenoxy)-2,3-dimethylpentyl]-2-methyloxirane (cis/trans) were less toxic but reduced reproduction. In greenhouse tests, acephate, oxydemetonmethyl, and kinoprene suppressed populations of both mealybug species and prevented crop damage. Methoprene did not control greenhouse populations; Ro 10-3108 reduced populations but not quickly enough to prevent unsightly damage. Overall reductions of Rhizoecus floridanus Hambleton by kinoprene and Ro 10-3108 were comparable to the insecticides, acephate and oxamyl. Oxydemetonmethyl and Ro 20-3600 (6,7-epoxy-3-methyl-7-ethyl-1-[3,4-(methylenedioxy) phenoxy]-2- cis / trans -octene) proved less effective.
A Study of the Mechanism of the Increase in Cardiac Output Induced by Isopropylarterenol Hydrochloride (Isuprel).

SummaryThe effect of Isuprel on MABP, CO and TPR has been investigated in the anesthetized dog in which the effect of the drug on HR is allowed to occur, as well as in the anesthetized dog in which electrically induced atrial or ventricular tachycardia is initiated before and maintained throughout period of action of the drug to prevent the increase in heart rate normally induced by the drug. Under the circumstances of drug dosage, rate of the induced tachycardia as well as control values of HR and CO, the effect of the drug on CO and TPR is essentially the same, whether the effect of the drug on HR is permitted or prevented.
A NUMERIC CACULATED METHOD OF RNG K - ε EQUATIONS FROM CRUDE AND GAS MIXTED TRANSFER BUBBLY TURBULENCE

RNG K-e model from crude and gas mixed-transfer bubbly turbulence is a series of partial differential equation group, which is calculated difficultly. And at present, accuracy analytic solution is not existed. According to partial differential equation group's trait, a calculated method of numeric solution was advanced. For simplifying model, currency differential equation form is first built and discrete process, because pressure grads term had difficulty in discrete momentum equation, an interlaced grid technology was adopted only to discrete momentum equation. Finally, Numeric calculation was done to all discrete equations by simple method. This new calculated method, conducted in the paper, is easy to be programmed calculation and used in crude and gas mixed-transfer flow numeric analysis, such as layered flow, annular flow and slug flow, etc.
Spatially Compact Neural Clusters in the Dorsal Striatum Encode Locomotion Relevant Information

Summary An influential striatal model postulates that neural activities in the striatal direct and indirect pathways promote and inhibit movement, respectively. Normal behavior requires coordinated activity in the direct pathway to facilitate intended locomotion and indirect pathway to inhibit unwanted locomotion. In this striatal model, neuronal population activity is assumed to encode locomotion relevant information. Here, we propose a novel encoding mechanism for the dorsal striatum. We identified spatially compact neural clusters in both the direct and indirect pathways. Detailed characterization revealed similar cluster organization between the direct and indirect pathways, and cluster activities from both pathways were correlated with mouse locomotion velocities. Using machine-learning algorithms, cluster activities could be used to decode locomotion relevant behavioral states and locomotion velocity. We propose that neural clusters in the dorsal striatum encode locomotion relevant information and that coordinated activities of direct and indirect pathway neural clusters are required for normal striatal controlled behavior. Video Abstract
The relative importance of tree and stand properties in susceptibility to spruce beetle outbreak in the mid-20th century

Tree susceptibility to potentially lethal agents is determined not only by attributes of individual trees, but also by neighborhood effects at a range of scales. For example, effects of disturbances on individual trees are often contingent on the size, configuration, and other properties of neighboring trees. Wildfires can modify postfire properties of individual trees as well as of entire forest stands, both of which can affect subsequent ecological processes, including subsequent disturbances. In recent years, much has been learned about how disturbances interact, but numerous questions concerning underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. For example, the relative importance of forest properties at different spatial scales in determining how fires affect forest susceptibility to subsequent disturbances is not well understood. This study explicitly compares the relative importance of tree vs. fine-scale neighborhood effects (e.g., stand properties at <7 m radii), on susceptibility to a 1940s' spruce beetle outbreak. Attributes of individual trees and of stand structure were spatially reconstructed at five 250-m2 sites that were partly burned in the late 19th century and then affected by spruce beetle outbreak in the 1940s. Random Forest models and classification trees were used to compare the relative importance of variables for susceptibility to spruce beetle attack. Individual tree properties (diameter at breast height and age) were the most important predictors of susceptibility to the outbreak across all sites combined and at each of the sites individually. In contrast, neighborhood effects were poor predictors of susceptibility. This study suggests wildfires reduce susceptibility to outbreaks primarily by reducing the size of postfire live trees and only secondarily by modifying stand structure. One implication of this is that management strategies that aim to modify stand structure over large areas in order to reduce susceptibility to spruce beetle outbreaks may be unnecessarily intensive.
The Prognostic Value of Thrombocytosis Associated with Non Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

Non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most common cause of cancer related death in US. During its clinical course patients may develop paraneoplastic syndromes such as thrombocytosis, which has been found in 17–21% patients with lung cancer. Thrombocytosis is associated with extensive disease and a poor prognosis. The objective of this study was to characterize the prognostic value of thrombocytosis in patients with NSCLC. A retrospective study of inpatient and outpatient medical records at a large, midwestern, urban medical center was performed. Medical records from patients containing a new diagnosis of non small cell lung carcinoma based on ICD-9 codes from 1994 to 2000 were reviewed. Patients with a prior history of malignancy, less than 6 months of follow-up, or without an assessment of their platelet count were excluded. All records were reviewed for the following: TNM stage, histologic type by WHO criteria, and survival. Laboratory data was obtained prior to invasive diagnostic procedures, and thrombocytosis was defined as a platelet count > 400 K/uL. Survival was calculated by Kaplan Meier curves and the difference in survival curves was tested by log rank test. Thrombocytosis was observed in 113/858 patients (13.2 %). The group with thrombocytosis in comparison with the group without thrombocytosis had a significantly lower mean age at diagnosis (63 y vs 67 y, p<0.001), hemoglobin (11.6 mg/dl vs 13.0 mg/dl, p<0.001) and advanced stages were more frequent, TNM III and IV (79.8% vs 66.2%, p=0.007). No difference was observed between histologic types. 5 year survival was lower in patients with thrombocytosis (4% vs 18%, p <0.001). Thrombocytosis in patient with non small cell lung carcinoma is associated with advanced stages of the disease and poor survival. ![Figure][1] 5 Year survival non smell cell lung cancer [1]: pending:yes
AT-RvD1 Promotes Resolution of Inflammation in NOD/ShiLtJ mice.

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by diminished secretory function of the exocrine glands. Treatments for hyposalivation are limited to the use of saliva substitutes and medications that provide only temporary relief. In light of the high degree of need and the limitations of current therapies, development of alternative treatments to restore functioning is essential. Resolvins (Rv), which are highly potent lipid mediators, offer a viable alternative for better treating inflammatory diseases such as SS. The goal of this study was to determine whether systemic preventive treatment with Aspirin-triggered RvD1 (AT-RvD1) reduces inflammation and preserves secretory functioning in NOD/ShiLtJ SS-like mice. Our results indicate that systemic treatment with AT-RvD1 diminishes the progression of the disease in salivary epithelium from female mice as follows: (a) improves secretory function, (b) reduces pro-inflammatory molecule gene expression, (c) increases anti-inflammatory molecule gene expression and (d) induces M2 macrophage polarization. Finally, AT-RvD1 decreases lymphocytic infiltration into the salivary glands when used with small doses of the steroid, dexamethasone, and promotes the tissue healing process.
Vacancy concentration and diffusion in order-disorder alloys

Abstract By means of the partition function formalism, the average vacancy concentration can be expressed as an expansion in the moments of the energy. Retaining only the first term in the expansion and expressing the energy in terms of nearest neighbor pairwise interactions is equivalent to a Bragg-Williams theory of vacancy concentration. It is found that both sub-lattices of a (50-50) AB alloy contain the same number of vacancies, and the probability that a site is vacant is given in the usual way by the Boltzmann factor containing a formation energy. This formation energy, however, is an increasing quadratic function of the long-range order parameter. The average jump frequency can also be written as an expansion in moments, and the equivalent of the Bragg-Williams approximation leads to a migration energy that is also an increasing quadratic function of the long-range order. The average jump frequencies of the two types of atoms in a binary alloy are not the same but differ in a manner determined by the interatomic energies at the saddle point and at the normal positions. If the diffusion coefficient is taken as proportional to the product of the average jump frequency and the average vacancy concentration, it is found that a plot of In D vs. 1 T must be corrected by a factor quadratic in the long-range order parameter in order to become linear. This is again equivalent to neglecting higher moments. An analysis of the experimental data for β-brass shows that the present theory is successful within the limits of experimental error.
Oncology Qualified Clinical Data Registry: A Patient-Centered, Symptom-Focused Framework to Guide Quality Improvement .

The Oncology Nursing Society is the steward of seven patient-centered, symptom-focused custom quality measures that have been codified into electronic format to facilitate extraction of data from the electronic health record. Because quality measurement is the cornerstone of the Quality Payment Program for providers in the pay-for-value framework, oncology nurses must be engaged in the quality measurement and improvement activities within their practice sites. .
Expected Response Functions

Item response theory makes use of what are sometimes referred to as item response functions. Such a function is actually a probability density function (pdf) for the response of an individual to a test item, given the values of certain parameters, classified as item parameters and person parameters (or abilities). In testing, there is typically a calibration phase, in which item parameters are estimated and abilities are ignored. This is followed by an application phase, in which abilities are estimated while conditioning on the estimated values of the item parameters. A Bayesian alternative to treating the item parameters as known quantities involves replacing item response functions with another class of pdfs, referred to as expected response functions (ERFs). The latter take the uncertainty regarding item parameters into account for purposes of estimating abilities. This chapter provides a formal description of ERFs and briefly illustrates their application to the Rasch model for binary item responses.
Drp1/Fis1 interaction mediates mitochondrial dysfunction, bioenergetic failure and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.

// Amit U. Joshi 1 , Nay L. Saw 2 , Mehrdad Shamloo 2 and Daria Mochly-Rosen 1 1 Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA 2 Behavioral and Functional Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA Correspondence to: Daria Mochly-Rosen, email: mochly@stanford.edu Keywords: mitochondrial dysfunction; Alzheimer’s disease; Drp1; P110; patient-derived fibroblasts Received: October 03, 2017 Accepted: November 26, 2017 Published: December 22, 2017 ABSTRACT Mitochondrial dynamics, involving a balance between fusion and fission, regulates mitochondrial quality and number. Increasing evidence suggests that dysfunctional mitochondria play a role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We observed that Drp1 interaction with one of the adaptors, Fis1, is significantly increased in Aβ-treated neurons and AD patient-derived fibroblasts. P110, a seven-amino acid peptide, which specifically inhibits Drp1/Fis1 interaction without affecting the interaction of Drp1 with its other adaptors, attenuated Aβ 42 -induced mitochondrial recruitment of Drp1 and prevented mitochondrial structural and functional dysfunction in cultured neurons, in cells expressing mutant amyloid precursor protein (KM670/671NL), and in five different AD patient-derived fibroblasts. Importantly, sustained P110 treatment significantly improved behavioral deficits, and reduced Aβ accumulation, energetic failure and oxidative stress in the brain of the AD mouse model, 5XFAD. This suggests that Drp1/Fis1 interaction and excessive mitochondrial fission greatly contribute to Aβ-mediated and AD-related neuropathology and cognitive decline. Therefore, inhibiting excessive Drp1/Fis1-mediated mitochondrial fission may benefit AD patients.
Multinuclear Magnetic Resonance and Mutagenesis Studies of Structure-Function Relationships in [2Fe-2S] Ferredoxins

Iron-sulfur proteins are present in virtually all living organisms. Their function is to transfer electrons to various partners. They have iron and sulfur in their chromophore and rather low molecular weights (5 to 25 kDa). They usually have the same ratio of iron to sulfur except for rubredoxin which has only one iron ligated by four cysteine residues. Several cluster classes have been identified in iron-sulfur proteins, including [1Fe], [2Fe-2S], [4Fe-4S], and [3Fe-4S] types (Figure 1). Some iron-sulfur proteins contain more than one cluster of a given type or of different types. [2Fe-2S] ferredoxins contain two high-spin ferric ions that are antiferromagnetically coupled resulting a total spin number of zero in the oxidized state; thus they are EPR1 silent. Population of higher electronic states, however, makes the cluster paramagnetic at room temperature (and at all temperature studied by NMR). Upon reduction, one of the two ferric ions (Fe3+) is changed to a ferrous ion (Fe2+), and the other remains ferric. Reduced [2Fe-2S] ferredoxins have a total spin number of one-half and produce an EPR signal. [4Fe-4S] cluster types have three possible oxidation states: 3Fe3+-Fe2+, 2Fe3+-2Fe2+, and Fe3+-3Fe2+. Typically in iron-sulfur proteins, only two of the three states are easily accessible: the first two as in high-potential iron-sulfur proteins (HiPIPs) or the last two as in [4Fe-4S] ferredoxins. We have recently investigated three different [2Fe-2S] ferredoxins by NMR spectroscopy: Anabaena 7120 vegetative ferredoxin, Anabacna 7120 heterocyst ferredoxin, and human placental ferredoxin. The first two are plant-type ferredoxins from a cyanobacterium, and the last is vertebrate-type ferredoxin. Open image in new window Figure 1. Four different cluster types appearing in iron-sulfur proteins. The first three involve ligation of the cluster to four cysteinc residues of the protein chain. One cysteine is absent in the fourth cluster type. (A) One Fe ligated by four cysteines; (B) [2Fe-2S] cluster; (C) [4Fe-4S] cluster; (D) [3Fe-4S] cluster.
A Chinese Declaration of the Rights of Women

The subject of this little talk is the author of a novel entitled Flowers in the Mirror (镜花缘). His name is Li Ju-chen (李汝珍); and according to my calculation he was probably born about 1760 and died about 1830. He was a native of Peking: in 1782 his elder brother Li Ju-huang became an official in Haichou in the province of Kiangsu, and the family moved to Haichou where our author came in close contact with a number of southern scholars who apparently had much influence over his literary and intellectual development. The famous scholar Ling Ting-kan (1757–1809) was then residing in Haichou, and became his teacher in literature and phonetics. As far as we know, Li Ju-chen spent at least 23 years in the province of Kiangsu. It is not certain whether he and his family ever returned to Peking in later years.
Somatic Embryogenesis in Daylily (Hemerocallis)

Daylilies (Hemerocallis species and cultivars) are herbaceous perennials much sought after for their showy albeit very short-lived blooms. The mature plant is comprised of fans (ramets) consisting of an underground stem (rhizome), an expansive fibrous or fibrous-tuberous root system, and strap-shaped leaves. Axillary buds can be forced to yield vegetative separations. The deciduous or evergreen foliage consists of sheathed-at-the-base, heavily ribbed leaves which when mature (Fitter and Krikorian 1985; Smith et al. 1989) are long and two- ranked. Flowers are borne on a scape, often branched and largely leafless but with bracts, and shoot propagules (“proliferations”). Flower buds per scape may vary from around 5 to 20 (Wilkins 1985).
First example of Rh:-32,-46 red cell phenotype

The red cells of a white male blood donor typed as Rh:-1, -2, -3,w4,w5,6,-17,w19,-31,-32,-34, and -46. Although the donor has no history of transfusion, his serum contains an alloantibody that is weakly reactive with most red blood cells (RBCs) tested. Only Rhnull and D-- RBCs are nonreactive. Reactivity is enhanced with ficin- or papain-treated RBCs and is unaffected by AET or DTT treatment of the RBCs. Previously described Rh:-46 RBCs have been of deletion types D--, D, and Rhnull, or Rh:32. In three multitransfused patients, the Rh46 antigen was temporarily suppressed and the phenotype eventually reverted to normal. This is the first report of RBCs of the Rh:-32,-46 phenotype that are not of a rare Rh deletion or Rhnull type. In addition, the Rh:w5,w19,-31,-34 phenotype is rarely found in whites.
Chapter 1 - A Personal Perspective on the Early Years of General Circulation Modeling at UCLA

This chapter provides a personal perspective on the early years of general circulation modeling at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and serves as a memoir in the evolution of ideas in the history of general circulation modeling at UCLA, with references to the history of numerical modeling of the atmosphere. Periods of early general circulation models (GCM) are reviewed, covering their prelude and the “epoch-making” first phase. The chapter also focuses on the history during the pre-UCLA period, and the work at UCLA on the “Arakawa Jacobian.” The development of the “Mintz-Arakawa model,” which belongs to the first generation of the UCLA general circulation models, is also reviewed. The “magnificent” second phase in the general history of numerical modeling of the atmosphere and the different generations of the UCLA general circulation model are developed during this phase. The development of the early GCMs stimulated the meteorological community to look into the feasibility of a global observation and analysis experiment. The chapter also discusses in detail the evolution of the generations for selected modeling aspects, which are vertical differencing, horizontal differencing, formulation of planetary boundary layer processes, and formulation of moist processes.
Bringing Reality T.V. into the Classroom: A Semester-Long Amazing Race

In developing a more student centered and engaging approach to teaching an introductory tourism course, the reality television show The Amazing Race was incorporated into the curriculum. Students i...
Gorham-Stout disease of the mandible: case report and review of literature of a rare type of osteolysis.

Gorham–Stout disease (GSD) is a rare form of osteolysis, the aetiology and pathogenesis of which remains controversial to this date. Although more than 200 cases of GSD have been reported so far, this disease continues to go undiagnosed in the initial stages owing to its varied clinical presentations and rarity. Through this case report of GSD in a 3-year-old boy, we discuss the slow progression of the disease over a period of 13 years. The literature review is also done with an emphasis on the role of an oral and maxillofacial radiologist in understanding the disease at its incipient stage.
Building a Social Justice Narrative for Public Health

Public health is the place where science, policy, politics, and activism converge. Each public health issue is a snapshot where we can see the unfolding of the collective processes that define who ...
Why Johnny Can't Unsubscribe: Barriers to Stopping Unwanted Email

A large proportion of email messages in an average Internet user's inbox are unwanted commercial messages from mailing lists, bots, and so on. Although such messages often include instructions to unsubscribe, people still struggle with stopping unwanted email. We investigated the user experience of unsubscribing from unwanted email messages by recruiting 18 individuals for via a lab study followed by semi-structured interviews. Based on unsubscribing practices of the study participants, we synthesized eight common unsubscription mechanisms and identified the corresponding user experience challenges. We further uncovered alternative practices aimed at circumventing the need to unsubscribe. Our findings reveal frustration with the prevailing options for limiting access to the self by managing email boundaries. We apply our insight to offer design suggestions that could help commercial providers improve the user experience of unsubscribing and provide users more control over the email they receive.
A Bacterial Signaling Network Controls Antibiotic Resistance by Regulating Anaplerosis of 2-oxoglutarate

Antibiotic resistance has become a global threat. In addition to acquiring resistance via horizontal gene transfer, bacteria can evade killing by temporarily modifying their cell envelope to prevent antibiotic-bacterial interactions. A critical gap in knowledge is how bacteria balance the metabolic needs of altering the cell envelope with the constant need to generate energy. Cross-regulation between two signaling networks in Escherichia coli increases resistance to positively charged antibiotics. We show that increased resistance is supported by metabolic re-wiring controlled by the QseB transcription factor. QseB controls the increase in 2-oxoglutarate required for lipid A modification, by upregulating three anaplerotic pathways that feed acetyl Co-A, succinate and fumarate into the TCA cycle. Exogenous addition of 2-oxoglutarate restores antibiotic resistance in the qseB deletion mutant. Antibiotic resistant clinical isolates bear mutations within QseB-mediated anaplerotic pathways. These findings are significant, because they uncover a previously unknown mechanism of metabolic control of antibiotic resistance.
Book Review - Banking Regulation in Israel: Prudential Regulation Versus Consumer Protection

This book review of "Banking Regulation in Israel - Prudential Regulation versus Consumer Protection," analyses the book's treatment of the Israeli financial system, and examines the country's prudential regulation as well as consumer protection laws. In particular, the review focuses on the book's focus on the interrelations between prudential regulation and consumer protection, and the different issues that arise from the delicate task of attempting to find a balance between them.
Screening for Children's Chronic Health Conditions and Their Strengths and Difficulties in Primary Care.

OBJECTIVE This study explores parents' perceptions of their child's health status and their strengths and difficulties using 2 validated instruments in primary care settings. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2018 and October 2019. Parents of children aged 2 to 18 years completed the Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) screener and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) as well as demographics. The CSHCN uses 5 questions to identify children with chronic health conditions. Three subgroups were created: children with no chronic health condition (NCHC), chronic health condition with no functional limitations (NFLs), and chronic health condition with functional limitations (FLs). Higher SDQ scores indicate higher degrees of a factor. Associations between CSHCN subgroups and SDQ scores, controlling for demographics, were analyzed with multiple linear regressions. RESULTS In total, 970 parents' surveys (87.9% completed surveys) were included in this analysis: 76.4% of respondents were married, 56.4% had an annual household income ≥$50,000%, and 61.7% were employed full time; 53.0% of the index children were males, 72.1% were White, and 61.4% had private insurance. Mean (SD) total SDQ scores across the 3 CSHCN subgroups were significantly different (NCHC, 7.7 [4.8]; NFL, 12.6 [6.6]; FL, 16.0 [6.7], p < 0.001). The mean SDQ prosocial scores were higher in the NCHC subgroup (p < 0.001), as hypothesized. The SDQ means for the 3 subgroups remained significantly different after controlling for demographics. CONCLUSION Children with FLs had significantly higher total SDQ scores than children in the other 2 subgroups, which may aid clinicians in the early identification of children who would benefit from behavioral health resources.
Impact of dedicated women's outreach workers (WOWs) on recruitment of women in ACTG clinical studies.

Background: Despite efforts by the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) to enroll representative numbers of diverse women, participation in ACTG studies in the United States remains largely white and ...
System-Technology Codesign of 3-D NAND Flash-Based Compute-in-Memory Inference Engine

Due to its ultrahigh density and commercially matured fabrication technology, 3-D NAND flash memory has been proposed as an attractive candidate of inference engine for deep neural network (DNN) workloads. However, the peripheral circuits require to be modified with conventional 3-D NAND flash to enable compute-in-memory (CIM), and the chip architectures need to be redesigned for an optimized dataflow. In this work, we present a design of 3-D NAND-CIM accelerator based on the macro parameters from an industry-grade prototype chip. The DNN inference performance is evaluated using the DNN+NeuroSim framework. To exploit the ultrahigh density of 3-D NAND flash, both inputs and weights mapping strategies are introduced to improve the throughput. The benchmarking on the VGG network was performed across the technological candidates for CIM, including SRAM, resistive random access memory (RRAM), and 3-D NAND. Compared to the similar designs with SRAM or RRAM, the result shows that the 3-D NAND-based CIM design can achieve not only 17%–24% chip size but also 1.9–2.7 times more competitive energy efficiency for 8-bit precision inference. Inference accuracy drop induced by 3-D NAND string current drift and variation is also investigated. No accuracy degradation by current variation was observed with the proposed input mapping scheme, while accuracy drops sensitive to the current drift, which implies that some compensation schemes are needed to maintain the inference accuracy.
The Role of the Message Convergence Framework in Medical Decision Making

This study investigated numerous complexities in medical decision making among obstetricians treating high-risk or complex pregnancies. Obstetricians in a southeastern state (N = 28) were interviewed using a guide based on the framework of message convergence. The study assessed how the physicians manage uncertainty surrounding patient care and engage in medical decision making in the midst of either unclear evidence or competing messages. As a result, the study found that message convergence plays a notable role in the obstetricians’ clinical decision making. Conclusions and practical recommendations are provided, and theoretical extensions to the message convergence framework in the clinical and communicative practices of the physicians are also advanced.
Multivariable isoperformance methodology for precision opto-mechanical systems

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2001.
Intraventricular electrogram morphology: effect of increased heart rate with and without accompanying changes in sympathetic tone

The accompanying variations in sympathetic tone on the morphological characteristics of the intracardiac signal was investigated in 25 patients. Electrogram morphology was analyzed using correlation waveform analysis during sinus rhythm and during passages of accelerated heart rate which was maintained either by atrial overdrive pacing or by infusion of epinephrine or isoproterenol. Results indicate that the intraventricular electrogram morphology tends to remain stable during increases in heart rate alone but that heart rate increases caused by alpha - and/or beta -agonism may produce modest morphologic changes. This finding suggests that techniques designed for morphologic signal analysis which have been proposed for future implantable antitachycardia devices may require periodic updating of the sinus rhythm template during deviations in heart rate. >
Examining information behavior through social networks: An interdisciplinary review

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the post‐1996 literature of information science and other disciplines for the application of social network theory and social network analysis to research that provides an understanding of information environments.Design/methodology/approach – The literature review involved a content analysis of 373 articles retrieved from five electronic journal databases offering broad disciplinary coverage, and a selection of nine peer‐reviewed electronic access journals in information science. Each database was limited to academic or peer reviewed journals and searched using two query phrases: social network theory (SNT) and social network analysis (SNA).Findings – The paper demonstrates the growth of interest by information science and other disciplines in research that applies social network theory and utilizes social network analysis, indicating what research approaches and major focus trends differentiate the disciplines.Research limitations/implications – The searc...
The Effect of Inositol Hexaphosphate on the Kinetics of CO and O2 Binding by Human Hemoglobin

Abstract The binding of inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) to oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) was investigated by gel filtration and stopped flow kinetic methods. The stoichiometry of the complex is 1 IHP per hemoglobin tetramer in 0.05 m 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,2',2''-nitrilotriethanol (pH 7.0) containing 0.11 m NaCl and appears to approach 2 IHP per tetramer when the ionic strength is reduced to 0.01. The dissociation constant for the IHP-oxy-Hb complex is of the order of 10-6 m. Kinetic experiments conducted over a wide range of concentrations of oxy-Hb suggest, in addition, that the liganded hemoglobin dimer does not bind IHP. The complex of IHP with deoxyhemoglobin also exhibits a stoichiometry of 1 organic phosphate molecule per hemoglobin tetramer; the dissociation constant was not measured but must be less than 10-8 m based on the large inhibitory effect of IHP on oxygen binding and the high affinity of oxy-Hb for IHP. The kinetics of oxygen and carbon monoxide binding were examined in the presence of IHP; the rate constant for the dissociation of oxygen from fully saturated oxy-Hb was doubled from about 50 sec-1 to 100 sec-1 when IHP was added to phosphate-free hemoglobin, whereas in the case of carbon monoxide, the comparable dissociation rate constant increased from 0.019 sec-1 to 0.032 sec-1. Partial photodecomposition of oxy-Hb and carbon monoxide hemoglobin in the presence and absence of IHP demonstrated that the intermediate species Hb4X3 binds ligand with rate constants of 5 x 106 m-1 sec-1 and 33 x 106 m-1 sec-1, respectively (X = oxygen), whereas the corresponding rate constants for carbon monoxide are 1.4 x 106 m-1 and 7.4 x 106 m-1 sec-1. IHP was also found to induce kinetic heterogeneity in the reaction of deoxyhemoglobin with carbon monoxide which was not present in hemoglobin free of phosphates. This heterogeneity is most prominent at wave lengths near the Soret isosbestic region of the deoxy and carbon monoxide spectra and presumably reflects phosphate-induced kinetic differences between the α and β chains of hemoglobin.