cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adsorption of oxygen by heat-treated granular and fibrous activated carbons.

Abstract Three granular and one fibrous activated carbon with different physicochemical characteristics were subjected to heat treatment at 900 °C under vacuum or hydrogen flow. Subsequently, oxygen chemi- and physisorption isotherms were volumetrically obtained at 34 °C. Oxygen sorption experiments showed lower amounts of oxygen uptake by the H2-treated than by the vacuum-treated carbons, indicating that H2 treatment effectively stabilized the surfaces of various carbons tested in this study. At low pressures, from ∼0.001 to ∼5 mmHg, adsorption of oxygen was governed by irreversible chemisorption, which was well described by the Langmuir equation. At higher pressures oxygen uptake occurred as a result of physisorption, which was in agreement with Henry's law. Kinetic studies showed that oxygen chemisorption was affected by both carbon surface chemistry and porosity. The results indicated that oxygen chemisorption initially started in the mesopore region from the high energetic sites without any mass transfer limitation; thus a constant oxygen uptake rate was observed. Once the majority of these sites were utilized, chemisorption proceeded toward the less energetic sites in mesopores as well as all the sites located in micropores. As a result, an exponential decrease in the oxygen uptake rate was observed.
Olanzapine for the Treatment of Psychiatric Illness and Urticaria: A Case Report

Received September 3, 2013; revised March 16, 2014; accepted March 17, 2014. FromDepartment of Psychiatry, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Glen Oaks, NY. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Yankel J. Girshman, DO, Department of Psychiatry, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Glen Oaks, NY 11004; e-mail: ygirshman@nshs.edu & 2014TheAcademy of PsychosomaticMedicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Introduction
Urban climate effects of energy demand for space heating

In the course of studying the weather dependence of fuel requirements for space heating in buildings, extensive and detailed heat source data were developed for several urban areas. These data were subsequently used for validating urban temperature fields which were derived from an advective-thermodynamic model of urban mixing heights. Results include analyses of urban climate data for assessing model performance under varying weather conditions and for validation of model assumptions. Empirical functions for estimating stability and mixing heights in adjacent rural areas were also developed.
Alterations in neuronal transport but not blood-brain barrier transport are observed during gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) sedative/hypnotic tolerance

Purpose To investigate if γ-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) tolerance is mediated by alterations in GHB systemic pharmacokinetics, transport (blood brain barrier (BBB) and neuronal) or membrane fluidity.
Operating LISA as a Sagnac interferometer

A phase-locking configuration for LISA is proposed that provides a significantly simpler mode of operation. The scheme provides one Sagnac signal readout inherently insensitive to laser frequency noise and optical bench motion for a nonrotating LISA array. This Sagnac output is also insensitive to clock noise, requires no time shifting of data, nor absolute arm length knowledge. As all measurements are made at one spacecraft, neither clock synchronization nor exchange of phase information between spacecraft is required. The phase-locking configuration provides these advantages for only one Sagnac variable yet retains compatibility with the baseline approach for obtaining the other TDI combinations. The orbital motion of the LISA constellation is shown to produce a 14-km path length difference between the counterpropagating beams in the Sagnac interferometer. With this length difference a laser frequency noise spectral density of $1\mathrm{Hz}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ would consume the entire optical path noise budget of the Sagnac variables. A significant improvement of laser frequency stability (currently at $30\mathrm{Hz}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}})$ would be needed for full-sensitivity LISA operation in the Sagnac mode. Alternatively, an additional level of time-delay processing could be applied to remove the laser frequency noise. The new time-delayed combinations of the phase measurements are presented.
Inhibition of Human Cytochrome P450 3A4 by Cholesterol

Cholesterol has been shown to be hydroxylated at the 4β-position by cytochrome P450 3A4, and the reaction occurs in vivo (Bodin, K., Andersson, U., Rystedt, E., Ellis, E., Norlin, M., Pikuleva, I., Eggertsen, G., Bjorkhem, I., and Diczfalusy, U. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 31534–31540). If cholesterol is a substrate of P450 3A4, then it follows that it should also be an inhibitor, particularly in light of the high concentrations found in liver. Heme perturbation spectra indicated a Kd value of 8 μm for the P450 3A4-cholesterol complex. Cholesterol inhibited the P450 3A4-catalyzed oxidations of nifedipine and quinidine, two prototypic substrates, in liver microsomes and a reconstituted enzyme system with Ki ∼ 10 μm in an apparently non-competitive manner. The concentration of cholesterol could be elevated 4–6-fold in cultured human hepatocytes by incubation with cholesterol; the level of P450 3A4 and cell viability were not altered under the conditions used. Nifedipine oxidation was inhibited when the cholesterol level was increased. We conclude that cholesterol is both a substrate and an inhibitor of P450 3A4, and a model is presented to explain the kinetic behavior. We propose that the endogenous cholesterol in hepatocytes should be considered in models of prediction of metabolism of drugs and steroids, even in the absence of changes in the concentrations of free cholesterol.
Nerve conduction changes in patients with mitochondrial diseases treated with dichloroacetate.

Serial measurements of nerve conduction velocities and amplitudes were performed in 27 patients with congenital lactic acidemia over 1 year of sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) administration. Patients were treated with oral thiamine (100 mg) and DCA (initial dose of 50 mg/kg) daily. Nerve conduction velocity and response amplitude were measured in the median, radial, tibial, and sural nerves at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months, and plasma DCA pharmacokinetics were measured at 3 and 12 months. Baseline electrophysiologic parameters in this population were generally below normal but as a group were within 2 standard deviations of normal means. Although symptoms of neuropathy were reported by only three patients or their families, nerve conduction declined in 12 patients with normal baseline studies, and worsening of nerve conduction occurred in the two who had abnormalities at baseline. Peripheral neuropathy appears to be a common side effect during chronic DCA treatment, even with coadministration of oral thiamine. Nerve conduction should be monitored during DCA treatment.
Childhood stuttering and speech disfluencies in relation to children’s mean length of utterance: a preliminary study

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of utterance length and complexity relative to the children’s mean length of utterance (MLU) on stuttering-like disfluencies (SLDs) for children who stutter (CWS) and nonstuttering-like disfluencies (nonSLDs) for children who do not stutter (CWNS). Participants were 12 (3;1–5;11, years;months) children: 6 CWS and 6 age-matched (±5 months) CWNS, with equal numbers in each talker group (CWS and CWNS) exhibiting MLU from the lower to the upper end of normal limits. Data were based on audio–video recordings of each child in two separate settings (i.e., home and laboratory) during loosely structured, 30-min parent–child conversational interactions and analyzed in terms of each participant’s utterance length, MLU, frequency and type of speech disfluency. Results indicate that utterances above children’s MLU are more apt to be stuttered or disfluent and that both stuttering-like as well as nonstuttering-like disfluencies are most apt to occur on utterances that are both long and complex. Findings were taken to support the hypothesis that the relative “match” or “mismatch” between linguistic components of an utterance (i.e., utterance length and complexity) and a child’s language proficiency (i.e., MLU) influences the frequency of the child’s stuttering/speech disfluency. Educational objectives: The reader will learn about and be able to: (1) compare different procedures for assessing the relationship among stuttering, length and complexity of utterance, (2) describe the difference between relative and absolute measures of utterance length, (3) discuss the measurement and value of mean length of utterance and its possible contributions to childhood stuttering, and (4) describe how length and complexity influence nonstuttering-like disfluencies of children who stutter as well as the stuttering-like disfluencies of children who do not stutter.
Influence of Buoyancy on Convective Heat Transfer in Helicoidal Pipes

The combined effects of curvature and buoyancy forces on convective heat transfer in axially vertical and horizontal helicoidal pipes have been explored in this investigation. Distilled water and ethylene glycol were used as working fluids. It has been observed that natural convection causes the peripheral maximum Nusselt number location to shift from the outer coil wall to the bottom of the tube cross section in the vertical coil. In the horizontal coil, the axial temperature distribution becomes periodically wavy with the presence of natural convection. The three following heat transfer regimes have been observed from the local temperature and Nusselt number distributions in the experiment of vertical helicoidal pipes: 1) a regime in which centrifugal force is dominant, 2) a regime in which both the centrifugal and buoyancy forces are effective (mixed regime), and 3) a regime in which the buoyancy force is dominant. Furthermore, it has been found that natural convection enhances heat transfer significantly for high Prandtl number fluids (e.g., ethylene glycol), but its effect is minor on the average Nusselt number for low Prandtl number fluids (e.g., water).
Diffractive Interactions of Hadrons at High-Energies

Hadronic elastic scattering, inclusive diffraction dissociation and total cross sections are reviewed, with emphasis on phenomenological descriptions of experimental results.
Meniscal reconstruction: Present and future

Abstract Our treatment of meniscal pathology has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. What began with totalmeniscectomy is now ending with meniscal replacement. Basic science investigation of the preservation, healing, and function of meniscal replacement substitutes has shown that meniscal reconstruction is feasible and successful by various limited criteria. Clinical studies seem to suggest that the ideal candidate may be a young individual with early cartilage wear (grade I or II) who is ligamentously stable without articular incongruity. Surgical techniques using fresh-frozen and cryopreserved meniscal allograft have included open and arthroscopically assisted insertion techniques. Anchoring of the meniscal horns has been described using soft tissue, bone plugs or blocks, or a bony bridge connecting the anterior and posterior horns. Attempting to draw conclusions by comparing the results of the few preliminary studies that have been published is exceptionally difficult. Differences in patient selection, concomitant procedures, meniscal substitute selection, surgical technique, graft fixation, rehabilitation, and length of follow-up make this nearly impossible. Standardized methods for patient selection, operative technique, rehabilitation, and length of follow-up need to be determined to further define meniscal replacement techniques. It remains cautiously optimistic that meniscal replacement remains a treatment for the postmeniscectomy knee.
Application of a vectorized particle simulation in high-speed near-continuum flow

An efficient particle simulation technique, developed for use on vector architecture based supercomputers for studying hypersonic rarefied gas flows is employed to simulate the complex wake generated by Mach six flow over a 10 deg half-angle wedge for freestream Reynolds numbers of 1780 and 3560. Data obtained are compared against higher Reynolds number experimental results. Simulations utilized as many as 10 to the 5th computational cells and 10 to the 7th simulated particles having power-law interaction potentials. A code performance of 1.8-2.4 microsec of Cray-2 CPU time to process a single particle per timestep is achieved. Diffuse adiabatic and isothermal wedge surface models are used in this investigation. Although the wedge geometry is two-dimensional, the simulation incorporates a width-wise direction, resulting in a three-dimensional computation.
Spline solutions to L1 extremal problems in one and several variables

Let a = x0 < s1 < ‘. -< x,,, = h be a fixed partition of the closed interval [a, 61 and let 0’ be the closed flat in the Sobolcv space P,*(a, b), 1 :g n ‘:: 171 -I- 1, defined by the interpolation to specified values ri at the points xi , i = 0, I ,..., ITT. If then the minimization problem (I) does not, in general, have an interpolating solution in the class Wn~l(a, b). More generally, if U is a closed flat in a Banach space A’, and R is a continuous linear mapping of X onto Y with finite-dimensional null space, then it is possible that inf{i/ Ru I( Y: ZI E Uj is not attained in U; for example, if Y is not reflexive. In his recent paper [6], Holmes has discussed, with a both a literature survey and new results, the technique of embedding such optimization problems in dual spaces. By considering the extended problem of minimizing (1 R**p iiy.* over the flat JU in X* *. where J denotes the natural injection of X into X**, Holmes has shown that a solution ‘p exists in JU, achieving the same norm extremal value as in the original problem under a natural poisedness hypothesis. Thus, the problem has a solution in the sense of roffe and Tihomirov [7]. In this paper we shall discuss concrete ways in which such problems can be extended to possess natural solutions. In particular, for the problem (l), we expand the class JP,l(a, b) to include functions whose nth derivatives
Curcumin and neurodegenerative diseases: a perspective.

Introduction: Curcumin, a dietary polyphenol found in the curry spice turmeric, possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and an ability to modulate multiple targets implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic illness. Curcumin has shown therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Areas covered: This article highlights the background and epidemiological evidence of curcumin's health benefits and its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile. Curcumin's ability to counteract oxidative stress and inflammation and its capacity to modulate several molecular targets is reviewed. We highlight the neuroprotective properties of curcumin including pre-clinical evidence for its pharmacological effects in experimental models of AD and PD. The bioavailability and safety of curcumin, the development of semi-synthetic curcuminoids as well as novel formulations of curcumin are addressed. Expert opinion: Curcumin possesses thera...
Risk factors for blunt thoracic aortic injury in children

Abstract Background/Purpose Because blunt thoracic aortic injury is rare in children, a high index of suspicion is needed to identify this injury. The purpose of this study was to use a large national trauma database to define the risk factors for blunt thoracic aortic injury in children. Methods Using the National Trauma Database, the authors compared patient demographics, mechanism of injury, and associated injuries between children sustaining blunt trauma with and without a thoracic aortic injury. Factors independently associated with this injury were identified using multivariate methods. Results Among 26,940 children with a blunt mechanism of injury, 34 (0.1%) children sustained a thoracic aortic injury, 14 (41%) of whom died. Thoracic aortic injuries were independently associated with age, injury sustained as an occupant in a motor vehicle crash, and severe injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale value of ≥3) involving the head, thorax (other than aorta), abdomen, and lower extremities. Conclusions Older children involved in a motor vehicle crash with severe head, torso, and lower extremity injuries are a group at high risk for injury to the thoracic aorta. These easily identifiable risk factors may facilitate more rapid identification of this rare and potentially fatal injury.
Sensitivity of Fisher's exact test to minor perturbations in 2 x 2 contingency tables

The two tailed Fisher's exact P value is extremely sensitive to small perturbations in 2 x 2 contingency tables. An example indicates that a 1 per cent increase in the denominator of one treatment group results in a 32 per cent drop in the exact P value, but a mere 0.1 per cent decrease in the treatment success rate. This is equivalent to the increase in significance obtained by a 20 per cent increase in the sample size of both treatments without changing the observed success rates. This drop results from small changes in the probabilities of unobserved events. A systematic evaluation of 920 pairs of similar contingency tables shows that these fluctuations occur frequently over a wide range of sample sizes and significance levels. Doubling the one tailed exact P value provides a more consistent measure of inferential strength. We discuss various chi-squared continuity corrections.
Workshop - rubrics: Start to finish

Grading rubrics are an assessment mechanism that helps instructors and students focus attention on the important aspects of an assignment. A rubric also makes your grading easier and more consistent. There are many rubrics available for generic activities, such as, making a presentation, or writing a report. For a rubric to provide the most benefits for student learning and the instructorpsilas teaching, the instructor should create it specifically for the course assignment. This workshop covers several topics on rubrics: the elements of a rubric, methods to design rubrics with and without student involvement, and how to apply them within your courses. In the first part of the workshop, the discussion of rubrics will be interspersed with attendees working in small groups to collaboratively create a rubric. Additional discussion will describe how to apply rubrics for grading and accreditation assessment purposes. Finally in the remaining time, each participant, or group of colleagues, can begin to develop a rubric for a specific course assignment.
Surface characterization with ion‐induced desorption and multiphoton resonance ionization

It is known that high-molecular-weight, thermally labile molecules can be desorbed intact using keV ion beams. This knowledge has led to numerous applications of fast atom bombardment and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) by mass spectrometric detection of the desorbed ions. Here we show that these measurements can be enhanced significantly by using resonance-enhanced laser ionization to softly ionize the neutral component of the desorbed flux. This experimental configuration can produce sensitivity improvements of several orders of magnitude over SIMS while adding a certain degree of selectivity to the ionization process itself. Examples of this performance will be presented using a wide variety of molecules, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organic polymers, molecular salts and biologically important molecules. Results from model systems to complex samples are discussed, along with their implications for submicron molecular imaging using this technique.
Correlates of Quality of Life in Rural Patients With Heart Failure

Background—There is abundant research indicating poor physical, psychological, and social functioning of patients with chronic heart failure (HF), a reality that can lead to poor health-related quality of life (QoL). Little is known about the experience of rural patients with HF. Methods and Results—This study was part of a randomized clinical trial titled Rural Education to Improve Outcomes in Heart Failure (REMOTE-HF) designed to test an education and counseling intervention to improve self-care in patients with HF. We evaluated 612 rural patients. Multiple validated questionnaires were administered to assess patient perceptions of health and health literacy. Baseline factors were collected and compared with baseline QoL measures only. Patients’ health-related QoL was assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure scale. The data were analyzed using a general linear model to test the association of various patient characteristics with QoL in rural patients with HF. Patients were 65.8 (+12.9) yea...
Application of thin-layer chromatography to the quantitation of plasma neutral lipids and free fatty acids.

Neutral lipids and free fatty acids were extracted from plasma and separated on thin-layer chromatoplates coated with silica gel G. The plates were charred by heating after spraying with dichromate-sulfuric acid, and then evaluated densitometrically. Plasma analyses obtained by this procedure were compared with parallel determinations performed by established chemical technics.
Cross-cultural differences and sexual risk behavior of emerging adults.

Purpose: The authors examined population-specific risk factors that increase emerging adults’ risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including the human papillomavirus (HPV). Design and Method: A cross-sectional sample of 335 diverse, emerging adults ages 18 to 24 years was recruited from a health center at a large university in the Southeastern United States. The mean age was 20.6 ± 1.9 years, majority were females (74.0%), and 61.0% were Hispanic. Results: Findings revealed inconsistent condom use, reasons for not using condoms, and a need for more culturally specific intervention strategies. Discussion and Conclusions: Healthcare providers should identify culturally specific reasons for inconsistent condom use, examine cultural and geographic differences in sexual risk behaviors among groups and communities, and modify communication, educational programs, and interventions accordingly. Implications for Practice: By adopting a multicultural approach to the control of STIs, nurses can ...
Ascent to Priesthood: The Making of an Afa Priest

Ascent to Priesthood: The Making of an Afa Priest. 1981. Produced by Eddie Iron and Soji Oyisan. Color, 90 minutes. For distribution information contact Peter Igho, Nigerian Television Authority-National Production, P.M.B. 12005, Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria.
Loop-based interconnect modeling and optimization approach for multi-GHz clock network design

An efficient loop-based interconnect modeling methodology is proposed for multi-GHz clock network design. High frequency effects, including inductance and proximity effects are captured. The results are validated through comparisons with electromagnetic simulations and measured data taken from a Power4 chip.
Causality in Message-Based Contract Violations: A Temporal Logic "Whodunit"

Interface contracts are sets of constraints specifying valid exchanges of messages between two or more peers. A contract violation occurs when one of the peers fails to fulfil one of these constraints and emits a message that is not a valid continuation of a message "trace". In some cases, the message that directly exposes the violation turns out to be the last of a succession of forced moves, while the "root cause" of the violation resides earlier in the trace and may emanate from a different peer. We formally define the notion of causality for interface contracts expressed in a first-order extension of Linear Temporal Logic. In particular, we show how the detection of root causes reduces to satisfiability solving of a precise set of formulae. An experimental setup shows how causality can be analyzed automatically on a pre-recorded message trace.
Apoptosis-induced release of mature sterol regulatory element-binding proteins activates sterol-responsive genes.

It is well established that during the execution of the apoptotic cascade, activated caspase 3 releases sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBP) from the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum in a proteolytic reaction that is distinct from their normal sterol-dependent activation. However, it is not known whether these transcription factors are capable of activating sterol-responsive genes under such conditions. The construction of SRE expression vectors has permitted characterization of the apoptotic activation of SREBP. Cell lines stably expressing the plasma membrane marker CD32, or GFP, under the control of the SRE promoter were shown to modulate SRE gene expression on the basis of the levels of available sterols. However, during the induction of apoptosis, expression of CD32 and GFP was highly induced, even in the presence of ample sterols. Apoptotic induction of sterol-regulated genes was due to activation of caspase 3 and was impervious to treatment with sphingomyelinase, indicating that activation of SRE genes during apoptosis is sterol independent. Further characterization of this apoptotic response indicated that sterol-regulated genes are activated at an early stage in the apoptotic cascade, preceding the externalization of phosphatidylserine on the plasma membrane of apoptotic cells. These results suggest that activation of sterol-responsive genes early during apoptosis may play a role in the proper execution of this program. —Higgins, M. E., and Y. A. Ioannou. Apoptosis-induced release of mature sterol regulatory element-binding proteins activates sterol-responsive genes. J. Lipid Res. 2001. 42: 1939–1946.
Characterization of compaction sources

Ion generation can be accomplished in a number of ways including through field ion desorption and surface flashover. Both of these methods hold promise as exceptionally compact ion sources for numerous applications.
Containing costs and containing bugs: are they mutually exclusive?

BACKGROUND: The overall health care costs for managing patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in U.S. hospitals is burdensome. While pharmacy costs comprise only a minor proportion of these costs, hospital length of stay (LOS) is the greatest contributor. Infections due to antimicrobial-resistant pathogens are also associated with increased overall health care cost. Therefore, strategies that aim to minimize antimicrobial resistance and reduce hospital LOS may have the greatest impact in reducing overall health care costs in managing patients with CAP. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how antimicrobial resistance can impact health care costs associated with CAP and review strategies to minimize the risk of resistance development while promoting appropriate antimicrobial therapy (including optimized dosing) and decreasing hospital LOS. SUMMARY: Antimicrobial resistance can increase the risk of clinical failure and result in higher overall health care costs. Further development of antimicrobial resistance during therapy should, therefore, be minimized. This can be achieved through optimized antimicrobial dosing strategies— using a higher dose of concentration-dependent agents or prolonged infusion of time-dependent agents—that increase the probability of attaining pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic targets for eradication of the pathogen and hence successful clinical outcomes. Decreasing LOS must be a priority when attempting to reduce hospital costs. Active intravenous-to-oral switch therapy has been shown to effectively reduce LOS. Appropriate short-course regimens may also offer the opportunity for effective treatment while reducing or eliminating unnecessary antimicrobial exposure that not only reduces the potential for drug-related adverse events, but may also minimize the selection of resistant organisms. CONCLUSION: Clinical failure and antimicrobial resistance can significantly increase the cost of managing patients with CAP, primarily by increasing LOS. Therefore, strategies should be employed to minimize the risk of resistance development and reduce LOS. These include early appropriate therapy, optimized dosing based on pharmacodynamic principles, and efficient IV-to-PO switch therapy when appropriate.
Disability Prevalence According to a Class, Race, and Sex (CSR) Hypothesis

Disability has been shown to be related in definite ways to social class. In modern industrial societies, disability is influenced by and has the potential to contribute to the production and reproduction of social inequality. However, markers of social stratification processes are sometimes ignored determinants of health. A Class, Race, Sex (CRS) hypothesis is presented to argue that a "low-education disadvantage"; "racial-minority disadvantage"; and "female disadvantage" will compound to affect the risks for being disable. In particular, the CRS hypothesis posits that class is more important than race and the latter more than sex when predicting presence or severity of disability. The cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults between the ages of 45 and 64 uses data from the American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) 2008-2012 file. By using 3,429,523 individuals-which weighted equal to 61,726,420-the results of the study suggest the CRS hypothesis applies to both Non-Latino-Blacks and Non-Latino-Whites. There is a "male disadvantage" exception for Non-Latino-Whites. Decreasing between-group differences in health may be achieved by making the age-health association at lower socioeconomic stratum similar to that of the upper socioeconomic strata.
Angular Motion in a Spherically Symmetric Field

We have seen how rotation of a linear system of particles is modeled by a single particle of reduced mass μ traveling around the center of mass of the system. The probability per unit volume that the model particle is distance r from the center, with colrtitude θ from the axis of rotation and azimuthal angle ϕ about this axis, is given by the product [Ψ(r, θ, ϕ)]*Ψ(r, θ, ϕ).
Gene duplication at an isocitrate dehydrogenase locus in Scaphiopus

Spadefoot toads of the subgenus Scaphiopus have two isocitrate dehydrogenase loci, with no intergenic interaction between them. Toads of the subgenus Spea have three Idh loci, with intergenic enzymes formed between two of them, providing strong evidence for their homology and the origin of one through a duplication process. The Idh phenotype of interspecific hybrids is consistent with the theory of a gene duplication.
Effects of Auricular Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Experimental Pain Threshold

This study was conducted to examine the effects of high intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at auricular acupuncture points on experimental pain threshold. Forty-five healthy adult male and female subjects were assigned randomly to one of two treatment groups or to a control group. Subjects in the two treatment groups received high intensity TENS to either appropriate or inappropriate (placebo) acupuncture points on one ear. Experimental pain threshold at the ipsilateral wrist was determined with a painful electrical stimulus before and after ear stimulation. Only the group receiving stimulation of appropriate ear acupuncture points exhibited a significant increase (p less than .01) in experimental pain threshold after ear stimulation. The comparable placebo and control groups, again, did not exhibit significant pretest-posttest differences in experimental pain threshold. The results suggest that, if applied accurately, auricular TENS can increase pain threshold. Further research is needed to assess the effects of this technique on patient groups.
The evolution of human cooperation

We argue that cooperation is instinctual. Human cooperation conferred advantages to individuals in the ancestral environment in which evolution occurred. Explanations of the evolution of cooperation for any species (human, pre-human, and non-human) have to be consistent with the biological, physiological, and environmental constraints that existed in the ancestral environment during which evolutionary selection occurred. Our explanation is consistent with: (1) the anatomical evolution of humanity; (2) the paleontological and chronological evidence; and (3) modern biology.
Evaluation of the API 20C for Identification of Yeasts

The API 20C reactions were compared with the results of conventional methods for identifying yeasts using 45 strains. There was a 98% (44/45) correlation between the two methods in the identification of the yeasts. Individual fermentation tests ranged from 89 to 100% correlation, with an average agreement of 96.7%. The assimilation tests ranged from 85 to 100% correlation, with an overall agreement of 97.3%. The two methods had 91% agreement for cycloheximide resistance. The results of this limited study indicate that the API 20C may prove to be an acceptable substitute for conventional carbohydrate fermentation and assimilation tests.
On unions and intersections of nested families of cones

We prove that the union and the intersection of a nested family of cones in $${\mathbb {R}}^n$$ (not necessarily convex or with a common apex) also are cones.
Design and Characterization of a Synthetically Accessible, Photodegradable Hydrogel for User-Directed Formation of Neural Networks

Hydrogels with photocleavable units incorporated into the cross-links have provided researchers with the ability to control mechanical properties temporally and study the role of matrix signaling on stem cell function and fate. With a growing interest in dynamically tunable cell culture systems, methods to synthesize photolabile hydrogels from simple precursors would facilitate broader accessibility. Here, a step-growth photodegradable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel system cross-linked through a strain promoted alkyne–azide cycloaddition (SPAAC) reaction and degraded through the cleavage of a nitrobenzyl ether moiety integrated into the cross-links is developed from commercially available precursors in three straightforward synthetic steps with high yields (>95%). The network evolution and degradation properties are characterized in response to one- and two-photon irradiation. The PEG hydrogel is employed to encapsulate embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons (ESMNs), and in situ degradation is ex...
An unregulated regulator: Vasa expression in the development of somatic cells and in tumorigenesis.

Abstract Growing evidence in diverse organisms shows that genes originally thought to function uniquely in the germ line may also function in somatic cells, and in some cases even contribute to tumorigenesis. Here we review the somatic functions of Vasa, one of the most conserved “germ line” factors among metazoans. Vasa expression in somatic cells is tightly regulated and often transient during normal development, and appears to play essential roles in regulation of embryonic cells and regenerative tissues. Its dysregulation, however, is believed to be an important element of tumorigenic cell regulation. In this perspectives paper, we propose how some conserved functions of Vasa may be selected for somatic cell regulation, including its potential impact on efficient and localized translational activities and in some cases on cellular malfunctioning and tumorigenesis.
Cerebral oxygen reactivity in the dog.

AbstractBrain tissue oxygen reactivity is a measure of the increase in tissue oxygen pressure (PtO2) relative to an increase in arterial oxygen pressure (PtO2). Clinical studies show that PtO2 reactivity is increased after cerebral injury. However, the impact of patient ventilation on these measures is not known. We determined whether changes in end tidal carbon dioxide pressure (ETCO2) would affect PtO2 reactivity in dogs. After a craniotomy, a Neurotrend probe that measures PtO2 was inserted into the cerebral cortex of eight dogs. PtO2 reactivity was measured at five concentrations of inspired oxygen (room air, 40%, 60%, 80%, 95%) at three levels of ETCO2 (20 mmHg, 40 mmHg, 60 mmHg) in random order. PtO2 reactivity at ETCO2 of 20 mmHg was 0.2 and increased to 0.3 when ETCO2 was 40 mmHg and 0.4 when ETCO2 was 60 mmHg (p < 0.05). These results show that PtO2 reactivity increases from hypocapnia to normocapnia. It is important to consider the ventilation state of each patient when evaluating PtO2. Neurol R...
The simplicity of legislation and the unruly practice

A recent assessment of the Dutch law pertaining to incompetent patients and their guardians suggests that physicians are uncertain about assessing their patients' decision-making capacities, as well as about determining what the proper role and position of the incompetent patient's guardian should be. In light of the fact that the uncertainty mentioned above has been a persistent finding in the assessment of the implementation of legislation ever since the introduction of the Medical Contract Act, the question arises as to how to account for the discrepancy between legal norms and prevailing practice. Conducting studies other than legal assessments, such as those utilising participant observation, could shed some light on this issue and may reveal that future interventions in the implementation of legal norms pertaining to incapacity and representation could better adopt a 'practice-based' rather than a 'law-based' approach.
Corporate Cash Piles and Falling Interest Rates

Bernanke blamed the global savings glut for the relatively low yields on longer-term US Treasuries in 2004, singling out the savings of emerging economies. Bernanke omitted, however, that US corporate demand for US Treasuries was at least as large. It would be more apt to speak of a corporate savings glut, especially because emerging market’s savings consist also for a large part of corporate savings. Also, it is too simple to blame foreign capital inflows for the housing bubble as causality runs from rising house prices to the deterioration of the current account, not the other way around. More importantly, there is a long-term trend toward lower interest rates that is, foremost, the result of the shift in income from labor to capital.
A physical scattering model of repeat-pass InSAR correlation for vegetation

A physical scattering model of repeat-pass InSAR correlation over forested areas is derived by accounting for the changes in the dielectric properties and positions of the scatterers in the scene between overpasses. This derivation is based on the discrete representation of a sparse random medium (such as forest canopy) along with the solution to the Foldy–Lax multiple scattering equations. In addition to taking into account the random motion of scatterers, which has been investigated in previous work, the derived repeat-pass InSAR correlation model in this paper includes the effects of moisture-induced dielectric fluctuations. This is accomplished by incorporating a separate correlation profile that takes into account these fluctuations into the framework. Once constructed, the mathematical formulation of this scattering model is cast into a modified version of the Random Volume over Ground model such that it can separately take into account dielectric fluctuations in the ground and volume components. Th...
Abstract A081: Chemical biology of microbial metabolite targets in host immunity

Microbiota generates unique metabolites to modulate host immunity associated with pathogen resistance and inflammatory diseases, but the specific factors and mechanisms of actions are not well understood. To the end, the Hang and Mucida laboratories have recently identified a secreted peptidoglycan hydrolase, SagA, from E. faecium that generates uniquely active muropeptides that enhance host epithelial barrier integrity and resistance to enteric pathogens in worms and mice. The molecular targets of SagA-generated muropeptides are still unknown and will be addressed using chemical biology and proteomics approaches. Here, we report progress towards the synthesis of SagA-generated muropeptide chemical probes for target identification of specific protein receptors and signaling pathways. Elucidation of SagA-muropeptide protein targets should reveal new pathways to modulate host immunity and inflammation-associated diseases and cancer. Citation Format: Yen-Chih Wang. Chemical biology of microbial metabolite targets in host immunity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A081.
M2FED: Monitoring and Modeling Family Eating Dynamics: Poster Abstract

The obesity epidemic is the primary cause of recent increases in heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases that place an untenable strain on healthcare and public health. One of the primary behavioral causes, i.e. dietary intake, is a behavior that science has had little success in understanding, much less affecting. Current behavioral science suggests that family eating dynamics (FED) have high potential to impact child and parent dietary intake and obesity rates. In contrast to traditional obesity related approaches that focus on dietary intakes (e.g., what and how much is being eaten), FED based approaches focus on family mealtime and home food environment (e.g., who is eating, when, where, with whom, interpersonal stress) for modeling behavior and providing feedback that has potential for successful behavior modification. This poster briefly presents M2FED, an integrated system for monitoring and modeling FED. The system is under development, and it consists of in-situ and wearable sensors, and smartphones that collect synchronized real-time FED data used to iteratively develop dynamic, contextualized FED models.
Grave effects of a specific immune therapy

Autoimmune diseases typically result from the actions of only a few immune cells. Approaches to treat these diseases have generally been unable to specifically target only the harmful immune cells and instead have relied on treatments that broadly suppress immune function. An approach to alter immunity against only specific, targeted antigens that are seen by disease-causing cells would be preferred and could be expected to have fewer side effects; however, most autoimmune diseases involve multiple antigens that drive pathology, making it difficult to develop and assess a single target. Using a model of Graves’ disease, in which targeting of the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R) by autoantibodies is the sole pathogenic interaction, Rapoport and colleagues have explored the potential of an antigen specific immune therapy. To advance their studies, the group developed a spontaneous model of Graves’ disease in which the disease-susceptible murine stain NOD.Hb4 transgenically expressed the human TSH-R; this spontaneous model is more similar to the disease process in humans than previously studied “induced” models. The A-subunit of the hTSH-R was used as the antigen-specific treatment in a fashion similar to an allergy shot. In nontransgenic animals, antigen injection induced antibodies, but these antibodies were not pathogenic. This deviation of the immune response to nonpathogenic specificities is thought to be one mechanism of disease protection. However, injection of transgenic animals substantially increased the production of pathogenic antibodies, which stimulated thyroid activity in an ex vivo assay. The authors suggest that the transgenic expression of the hTSH-R may influence B lymphocyte development to produce more reactive precursors that respond pathologically to the antigen injection. This study points to the significant risks of antigen exposure during autoimmune disease progression. This same antigen injection had some capacity to prevent Graves’ disease when given before immune activation in an induced model, suggesting that antigen-specific immune therapy may become harmful as the immune response progresses. In addition, the authors found expression of significant levels of the hTSH-R in the transgenic thymus. How thymic hTSH-R alters the development of regulatory and effector T cells that modulate the B cell response is an important area for further investigation. Understanding the roles played by lymphocyte responders and their interactions may enable improved, safer design of antigen-specific therapy to realize the goal of tolerance induction. B. Rapoport et al. , Critical differences between induced and spontaneous mouse models of Graves’ disease with implications for antigen-specific immunotherapy in humans. J. Immunol. 10.4049/jimmunol.1601393 (2016). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/early/2016/11/08/jimmunol.1601393.abstract
Of Suicide and Falling Stones: Finitude, Contingency, and Corporeal Vulnerability in (Judith Butler’s) Spinoza

This paper juxtaposes Judith Butler's reading of Spinoza with the commonly-received, originally Deleuzian, presentation of Spinoza as the "anti-Hegel" or as the presentation of "positivity" against Hegelian "negativity." Working via the key commentary by Pierre Macherey in Hegel ou Spinoza, I argue that, once we no longer are compelled to read Spinoza as Hegel's negation or opposite, the way is open to see a Spinoza who is profoundly concerned with human fragility and finitude. the Spinoza that emerges presents a more cautious, but also potentially more generous, approach to emancipatory politics. To put the point too schematically, readings of the affirmative Spinoza tend to develop the importance of conatus as resistance, at the expense of developing an understanding of the importance of limitations imposed by our own finitude. It seems to me that much of Butler’s thought can be read as bringing those elements together. How do we understand conatus, and marshal it as resistance, given the inevitability of finitude and constraint as factors that structure the desires through which we actually live?
Mathematics Discourse Communities: Language Ideologies and Urban Mathematics Teaching With Latinas/os

This case explores how a monolingual teacher, embedded in a large urban school context, saw and understood her role in supporting emergent bilingual learners’ development of mathematics discourse. ...
Focusing metasurface quantum-cascade VECSEL

A terahertz quantum-cascade vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) is demonstrated using an active focusing metasurface. This enables a hemispherical cavity with flat optics, which exhibits an excellent beam pattern and higher stability than a plano-plano cavity.
Unmasking Rare, Large-Amplitude Motions in D2-Tagged I-·(H2O)2 Isotopomers with Two-Color, Infrared-Infrared Vibrational Predissociation Spectroscopy.

We describe a two-color, isotopomer-selective infrared–infrared population-labeling method that can monitor very slow spectral diffusion of OH oscillators in H-bonded networks and apply it to the I–·(HDO)·(D2O) and I–·(H2O)·(D2O) systems, which are cryogenically cooled and D2-tagged at an ion trap temperature of 15 K. These measurements reveal very large (>400 cm–1), spontaneous spectral shifts despite the fact that the predissociation spectra in the OH stretching region of both isotopologues are sharp and readily assigned to four fundamentals of largely decoupled OH oscillators held in a cyclic H-bonded network. This spectral diffusion is not observed in the untagged isotopologues of the dihydrate clusters that are generated under the same source conditions but does become apparent at about 75 K. These results are discussed in the context of the large-amplitude “jump” mechanism for H-bond relaxation dynamics advanced by Laage and Hynes in an experimental scenario where rare events can be captured by foll...