cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minimization of short-term low-pressure membrane fouling using a magnetic ion exchange (MIEX®) resin

Two challenges to low-pressure membrane (LPM) filtration are limited rejection of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and membrane fouling by DOM. The magnetic ion exchange resin MIEX(®) (Ixom Watercare Inc.) has been demonstrated to remove substantial amounts of DOM from many source waters, suggesting that MIEX can both reduce DOM content in membrane feed waters and minimize LPM fouling. We tested the effect of MIEX pretreatment on the reduction of short-term LPM fouling potential using feed waters varying in DOM concentration and composition. Four natural and two synthetic waters were studied and a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane was used in membrane fouling tests. To evaluate whether MIEX removes the fractions of DOM that cause LPM fouling, the DOM in raw, MIEX-treated, and membrane feed and backwash waters was characterized in terms of DOM concentration and composition. Results showed that: (i) the efficacy of MIEX to reduce LPM fouling varies broadly with source water; (ii) MIEX preferentially removes terrestrial DOM over microbial DOM; (iii) microbial DOM is a more important contributor to LPM fouling than terrestrial DOM, relative to their respective concentrations in source waters; and (iv) the fluorescence intensity of microbial DOM in source waters can be used as a quantitative indicator of the ability of MIEX to reduce their membrane fouling potential. Thus, when ion exchange resin processes are used for DOM removal towards membrane fouling reduction, it is advisable to use a resin that has been designed to effectively remove microbial DOM.
Adaptive Control of a Flapping Wing Robot Inspired by Bat Flight

This paper describes the formulation of the equations of kinematics for a flapping wing robot inspired by observations of bats in flight, the derivation of the governing equations of motion for the robot, and the construction of an adaptive controller to track the observed flapping motion. The kinematics of the articulated flapping wings is represented using the Denavit-Hartenberg convention to facilitate a compact and simple description of the degrees of freedom of the robot that can be used by biologists to summarize assumptions on bat motion. The equations of motion of the bat robotic system are derived using Lagrange’s equations in which the virtual work of the pressure forces on the wings is calculated by assuming a quasi-steady approximation of the aerodynamic forces. The derived controller guarantees asymptotic convergence of the tracking error and derivative of the tracking error. Additionally, the convergence of estimates of the lift and drag acting on each wing section is established whenever standard persistency of excitation conditions hold.
iPad Apps for Creating in Your General Music Classroom

It is vitally important for students to be creating music from the youngest age, and in all general music class settings. Now that the National Standards have been revised (renamed the National Core Arts Standards) and creating has been elevated to one of three artistic processes, the creative activities of composing, arranging, and improvising are more essential and relevant than ever. Because iPads are engaging and dynamic teaching and learning tools that are increasingly prevalent in K–12 schools and preschool settings, this article provides guidance for teachers of general music to make informed technology choices for their classrooms. It features recommended apps, detailed descriptions of their use, teaching suggestions, and sample lesson plans.
Introduction to CIGRE 33/14.05 “Service Guide for Non-Gap Metal Oxide Lightning Arrester in HVDC Converter Station”

The major contents of CIGRE33/14.05 "Service guide for non-gap metal oxide lightning arrester in HVDC converter station" were introduced. The comparison with GB 11032—2000 (eqv IEC60099-4: 1991) " AC non-gap metal oxide lightning arrester" was carried out, which can know and understand about the differences between AC and DC lightning arrester for the reader.
Adaptive evolution and functional innovation of Populus-specific recently evolved microRNAs.

Lineage-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) undergo rapid turnover during evolution; however, their origin and functional importance have remained controversial. Here, we examine the origin, evolution, and potential roles in local adaptation of Populus-specific miRNAs, which originated after the recent salicoid-specific, whole-genome duplication. RNA sequencing was used to generate extensive, comparable miRNA and gene expression data for six tissues. A natural population of Populus trichocarpa and closely related species were used to study the divergence rates, evolution, and adaptive variation of miRNAs. MiRNAs that originated in 5' untranslated regions had higher expression levels and their expression showed high correlation with their host genes. Compared with conserved miRNAs, a significantly higher proportion of Populus-specific miRNAs appear to target genes that were duplicated in salicoids. Examination of single nucleotide polymorphisms in Populus-specific miRNA precursors showed high amounts of population differentiation. We also characterized the newly emerged MIR6445 family, which could trigger the production of phased small interfering RNAs from NAC mRNAs, which encode a transcription factor with primary roles in a variety of plant developmental processes. Together, these observations provide evolutionary insights into the birth and potential roles of Populus-specific miRNAs in genome maintenance, local adaptation, and functional innovation.
Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder)

Trichotillomania is characterized by the repetitive pulling out of one's own hair leading to hair loss and possibly functional impairment. Trichotillomania has been documented in the medical literature since the 19th century. Prevalence studies suggest that trichotillomania is a common disorder (point prevalence estimates of 0.5%–2.0%). Although grouped with the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-5, trichotillomania is distinct from OCD in many respects. For example, the treatment of trichotillomania generally employs habit reversal therapy and medication (n-acetylcysteine or olanzapine), both of which are quite different from those used to treat OCD. Conversely, some first-line treatments used for OCD (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) appear ineffective for trichotillomania. This article presents what is known about trichotillomania and the evidence for a variety of treatment interventions.
A 2D diffusion-reaction CdTe solar cell simulator that includes active defects and grain boundaries

We have developed a 2D diffusion-reaction simulator suitable for modeling CdTe solar cells that contain active defects. It utilizes a self-consistent numerical scheme in which the device is mapped onto a finite element mesh. To demonstrate its versatility, we apply the simulator to the problems of defect migration during the annealing process and the extraction of current-voltage characteristics and quantum efficiencies. Our simulator also includes grain boundaries which are known to play an important role in CdTe devices as they strongly affect the migration of defects such as chlorine (Cl).
Assessment of metal contamination in the biota of four rivers experiencing varying degrees of human impact

Urbanization, agriculture, and other land transformations can affect water quality, decrease species biodiversity, and increase metal and nutrient concentrations in aquatic systems. Metal pollution, in particular, is a reported consequence of elevated anthropogenic inputs, especially from urbanized areas. The objectives of this study were to quantify metal (Cu, Al, Cd, Ni, and Pb) concentrations in the waters and biota of four streams in South Georgia, USA, and relate metal concentrations to land use and abiotic and biotic stream processes. Additionally, macrophytes, invertebrates, and fish were identified to assess biodiversity at each site. Metal concentrations in the three trophic levels differed among sites and species, correlating to differences in land use surrounding the rivers. The highest metal concentrations (except Al) were found in the streams most impacted by urbanization and development. Al concentrations were highest in streams surrounded by land dominated by forested areas. Metal content in macrophytes reflected metal concentrations in the water and was at least three orders of magnitude higher than any other trophic level. Despite metal concentration differences, all four streams contained similar water quality and were healthy based on macroinvertebrate community structure. This study provides insight into the impact of urbanization and the fate and effects of metals in river ecosystems with varying degrees of anthropogenic impact.
Synthesis and Electrospraying of Nanoscale MOF (Metal Organic Framework) for High-Performance CO 2 Adsorption Membrane.

We report the sonochemical synthesis of MOF (metal organic framework) nanoparticles of 30–200 nm in size and electrospraying of those particles on electrospun nanofibers to process a MOF-attached nanofibrous membrane. This membrane displayed significant selectivity towards CO2 and capacity of adsorbing with 4000–5000 ppm difference from a mixed gas flow of 1% CO2 and 99% N2. Applying ultrasonic waves during the MOF synthesis offered rapid dispersion and formation of crystalline MOF nanoparticles in room temperature. The MOF nanoparticles of 100–200 nm in size displayed higher surface area and adsorption capacity comparing to that of 30–60 nm in size. Nanofibrous membrane was produced by electrospinning of MOF blended PAN solution followed by electrospraying of additional MOF nanoparticles. This yielded uniform MOF deposition on nanofibers, occurred due to electrostatic attraction between highly charged nanoparticles and conductive nanofibers. A test bench for real-time CO2 adsorption at room temperature was built with non-dispersive Infrared (NDIR) CO2 sensors. Comparative tests were performed on the membrane to investigate its enhanced adsorption capacity. Three layers of the as-produced membranes displayed CO2 adsorption for approximately 2 h. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the membrane showed the thermal stability of the MOF and PAN up to 290 and 425 °C, respectively.
The problem of multimodality: what data-driven research can tell us about online writing practices

This article investigates the writing mode, multimodal aspects, and folksonomic elements of digital composition gathered from a WordPress-based ePortfolio platform.* Focusing on the student perspective, data was gathered through both surveys of first year students and text analysis of digital compositions in order to produce quantitative results that can be replicated and aggregated. This research demonstrates the impact of assignment design and platform affordances on student composition practices. Results show that incoming students do not fit the "digital native" myth, nor are they prepared to engage in digital scholarship at the college level without significant guidance and specific requirements that scaffold digital work.
The Problem with Inference for Juvenile Defendants

Much of criminal law relies on proof by inference. In criminal law, fact finders untangle not only what happened, but why it happened. It is answering the “why” question that places an act and its result on the legal spectrum of liability. To reach that answer, the fact finder must engage in an interpretive act, considering not only what can be seen or heard, but the significance of that testimony or physical evidence in real world contexts – the world in which they occurred but also the fact finder’s own world. Recent developments in neuroscience suggest that in the context of juvenile defendants, this moment of interpretation is fraught with particular risks. The emergence of fMRI technology has provided significant insights into adolescent brain development and its effect on adolescent thought processes. As a result, scientists (and courts) recognize that adolescent actors are more likely to engage in risky behavior, fail to properly comprehend long term consequences and over value reward. In short, science has proven what most long suspected: kids think and react differently than do adults. Although criminal law has long accounted for this difference procedurally – most evidently in the creation of an independent juvenile justice system – there has been little exploration of its significance in the realm of substantive criminal law. This Article argues that what is known of adolescent brain development suggests that adult fact finders are poorly positioned to accurately assess a juvenile defendant’s state of mind, because adults lack the perspective of those whose actions and words they seek to interpret – juvenile defendants. Rather than asking fact finders to perform the impossible task of placing themselves in the adolescent’s mind, substantive criminal law should instead acknowledge the difference in perspective and permit evidentiary presentation and jury instructions akin to defenses that rely on the defendant’s actual, as opposed to imagined, perspective.
Response of Premixed Stoichiometric Oxy Flames to Strain: Role of Chemistry and Transport

This study investigates stoichiometric premixed CH4/O2/CO2 flames. Our recent studies show that these oxy flames behave differently under turbulent versus laminar conditions, with the extinction st...
Longitudinal development of thalamic and internal capsule microstructure in autism spectrum disorder.

The thalamus is a key sensorimotor relay area that is implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is unknown how the thalamus and white-matter structures that contain thalamo-cortical fiber connections (e.g., the internal capsule) develop from childhood into adulthood and whether this microstructure relates to basic motor challenges in ASD. We used diffusion weighted imaging in a cohort-sequential design to assess longitudinal development of the thalamus, and posterior- and anterior-limbs of the internal capsule (PLIC and ALIC, respectively) in 89 males with ASD and 56 males with typical development (3-41 years; all verbal). Our results showed that the group with ASD exhibited different developmental trajectories of microstructure in all regions, demonstrating childhood group differences that appeared to approach and, in some cases, surpass the typically developing group in adolescence and adulthood. The PLIC (but not ALIC nor thalamus) mediated the relation between age and finger-tapping speed in both groups. Yet, the gap in finger-tapping speed appeared to widen at the same time that the between-group gap in the PLIC appeared to narrow. Overall, these results suggest that childhood group differences in microstructure of the thalamus and PLIC become less robust in adolescence and adulthood. Further, finger-tapping speed appears to be mediated by the PLIC in both groups, but group differences in motor speed that widen during adolescence and adulthood suggest that factors beyond the microstructure of the thalamus and internal capsule may contribute to atypical motor profiles in ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 450-462. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay summary Microstructure of the thalamus, a key sensory and motor brain area, appears to develop differently in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Microstructure is important because it informs us of the density and organization of different brain tissues. During childhood, thalamic microstructure was distinct in the ASD group compared to the typically developing group. However, these group differences appeared to narrow with age, suggesting that the thalamus continues to dynamically change in ASD into adulthood.
Pyruvate-Fortified Fluid Resuscitation Improves Hemodynamic Stability While Suppressing Systemic Inflammation and Myocardial Oxidative Stress After Hemorrhagic Shock

ABSTRACTObjectives: To determine whether controlled resuscitation with pyruvate-fortified Ringer’s (PR) solution vs. conventional lactate Ringer’s (LR) more effectively stabilizes mean arterial pressure (MAP) and suppresses myocardial inflammation postresuscitation. Methods: Goats were hemorrhaged (255 ± 22 ml) to lower MAP to 48 ± 1 mmHg. Next, the right femoral vessels were occluded for 90 min to model tourniquet application. Beginning at 30 min occlusion, LR or PR was infused iv at 10 ml/min for 90 min. The femoral occlusions were released at 60 min infusion. Results: At 4 h postocclusion, MAP (mmHg) was increased in PR (59 ± 4) vs. LR (47 ± 3) resuscitated goats (p < 0.05). PR also more effectively augmented circulating HCO3- and total base excess. Nitrosative stress, detected in myocardium 4 h after LR resuscitation, was suppressed by PR. Finally, PR prevented the increase in circulating neutrophils that accompanied LR resuscitation. Conclusions: Relative to LR, resuscitation with PR more effectively...
Prototyping methods and constraints for small-to-medium sized enterprises in East Africa

Abstract Prototyping is integral to the design process for all projects, but particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In resource-constrained contexts, designers must operate under unique constraints and opportunities. This study investigates the methods, constraints, and impacts on design outcomes of prototyping in seven design and manufacturing SMEs in East Africa. Results from a site visit to a Rwandan partner company as well as interviews with the engineering teams of the other organizations are presented. Practitioners reported that the main intent of prototyping in this context is to develop functional prototypes with increasing fidelity through a highly iterative process. This process was limited by constraints to manufacturing inputs, capabilities, and modeling predictions. These constraints contributed to increases in the time and cost for each iteration. Thus, results indicate that there may be a mismatch between the highly iterative method chosen and the constraints of the operating context.
Numerical simulations of surface effect ship in waves

The motion dynamics of a surface effect ship (SES) operating in waves are complex due to the strong interactions among the vehicle, bow and stern seals, air cushions, and free surface. This paper presents a time-domain dynamic simulation capability for SES in waves. The numerical method was developed in the framework of the Large Amplitude Motion Program (LAMP), which has traditionally been used for displacement hull forms. The focus of this paper is on the air cushion model, the seal/bag model, overall SES dynamic simulation system development, and validation of the numerical results against available experimental data.
When It Rains It Pours: The Long-Run Economic Impacts of Salt Iodization in the United States

Abstract In 1924, the Morton Salt Company began nationwide distribution of iodine-fortified salt. Access to iodine, a key determinant of cognitive ability, rose sharply. We compare outcomes for coh...
Prediction of Fish Biomass, Harvest, and Prey-Predator Relations in Reservoirs

ABSTRACT Regression analyses of the effect of total dissolved solids on fish standing crops in 166 reservoirs produced formulas with coefficients of determination of 0.63 to 0.81. These formulas provide indexes to average biotic conditions and help to identify stressed aquatic environments. Simple predictive formulas are also presented for clupeid crops in various reservoir types, as clupeids are the fishes most frequently impinged or entrained at southern power plants. A method of calculating the adequacy of the available prey crop in relation to the predator crop is advanced to further aid in identification of perturbed prey populations. Assessment of stress as reflected by changes in sport fishing success can also be approached by comparison of the predicted harvest potential with actual fish harvest data. Use of these predictive indexes is recommended until more elaborate models are developed to identify power plant effects.
Michèle Valerie Cloonan. The Monumental Challenge of Preservation: The Past in a Volatile World .

Michele Cloonan’s wide-ranging study of cultural heritage preservation opens with the premise that preservation is an unavoidably complex endeavor. Collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches are needed to confront threats to heritage, whether from war and genocide, resource limitations, business interests, or apathy. Cloonan—current professor and dean emerita at the Simmons School of Library and Information Science, and a former conservator, preservation librarian, and special collections curator—takes an expansive view of monuments, including in her definition not only physical edifices but also texts, artworks, collections, natural landscapes, and intangible heritage. In doing so, she emphasizes the highly contextual nature of preservation, which has social, historical, and political valences. These influences, along with legal, technological, and financial factors, shape understandings of what constitutes preservation and what can and should be preserved in any given set of circumstances.
Burden of Psychiatric Illness in Patients with ESKD

Although outcomes are slowly improving for patients with ESKD receiving maintenance dialysis, they continue to be notable for exceptionally high rates of hospitalization and mortality ([1][1]). Adults receiving maintenance dialysis continue to experience approximately two hospital admissions and 12
Emerging investigator series: polymeric nanocarriers for agricultural applications: synthesis, characterization, and environmental and biological interactions

Polymeric nanoparticles represent one major class of nanomaterials that has been proposed to improve the sustainability of agricultural operations by delivering organic agrochemicals such as pesticides more efficiently. Polymeric nanoparticles can improve efficiency through improved targeting and uptake, slow release, and lower losses of the chemicals, while also conferring the benefits of biodegradability and biocompatibility. This review provides a tutorial to environmental nanotechnology researchers interested in initiating research on the development and application of polymeric nanocarriers for delivery of agrochemicals, including pesticides and growth promoters for crops and antibiotics for livestock. In particular, this review covers the wider suite of methods that will be required beyond those typically used for inorganic metal or metal oxide nanoparticles, including synthesis of custom polymeric nanocarriers and characterization and tuning of agrochemical loading and release profiles. Benefits of polymeric nanocarriers are then discussed in terms of the physicochemical properties and fate and transport behaviors that contribute to higher efficiency and lesser environmental impacts compared to traditional (non-nano) formulations. Finally, opportunities for environmental nanotechnology researchers to collaborate with material scientists, microbiologists, and agricultural scientists to optimize the development of polymeric nanocarriers for agriculture are discussed.
Milk Peptides Survive In Vivo Gastrointestinal Digestion and Are Excreted in the Stool of Infants.

Background Human milk peptides released by gastrointestinal proteases have been identified with bioactivities that can benefit the infant but must first reach their respective sites of activity. Peptides in the stool either survived to or were released inside the intestinal tract, and thus had the opportunity to exert bioactivity there. However, it is unknown whether any milk peptides, bioactive or not, can survive in the stool of infants. Objective The aim of this study was primarily to identify milk peptides in infant stool samples and secondarily test the hypotheses that the milk peptide profiles of stools are different between preterm infants at different days of life and between preterm and term infants. Methods Infant stool samples were collected from 16 preterm infants ( 34 weeks gestational age) at 8 or 9 DOL. Milk peptides were isolated from the stool samples and identified using tandem MS. The peptide counts and abundances were compared between infant groups. Results In total, 118 exclusively milk-derived peptides from the caseins and α-lactalbumin were present in the stool samples, including some peptides with known or potential bioactivity. The remaining 8014 identified peptides could be derived either from milk or endogenous proteins. Although many individual milk peptides were significantly different between preterm infants at 8/9 and 21/22 DOL and between preterm and term infants, total peptide abundance and count were similar for all 3 groups. Conclusions This is the first study to confirm the survival of milk peptides in the stool of infants. Some of the peptides had potential bioactivities that could influence infant gut development. These results are important to understand the physiological relevance of human milk peptides to the infant.
Prostate Cancer Surveillance Counterpoint: USA

Aside from the NCCN guidelines described in the primary chapter, no guidelines exist for the follow-up of patients after treatment for prostate cancer. What follows here is what is commonly done in our urology practice and likely in most urology practices in the United States. Patient follow-up is guided by risk stratification for risk of recurrence.
‘The greatest love stories on Earth?’: the ethics of community in social documentaries

In the documentary Occupy Love (2012), the filmmaker proposes social movements can be love stories. Taking the filmmaker’s claim seriously, this article questions whether social documentaries can b...
Dual-Purpose Metal Inter-layer Via Utilization in Monolithic Three-Dimensional (M3D) Integration

Monolithic three-dimensional integrated circuit (M3D-IC) technology can potentially improve transistor density, performance and power efficiency for future IC designs. To attain maximum benefits of M3D-IC technology, the silicon footprint overhead caused by metal inter-layer via (MIV) should be reduced because MIV passes through the silicon. In this paper, we present dual-purpose MIV utilization where MIV serves two purposes: 1. interconnect and 2. device terminal. The active devices that are formed by using MIV such as MIV-based capacitor and MIV-based transistor are studied in detail. We demonstrate the advantage of these dual-purpose MIV-based device utilization in on-chip circuits by implementing an inverter. Simulation results suggest that the inverter designed with our approach occupies 13844 nm2 silicon area. The silicon area utilization of the inverter is reduced by up to 24% compared with the conventional transistor-level implementation of inverter in M3D-IC process by utilizing MIV-based transistor.
The Turing Test and the Legal Process

The author proposes a novel thought-experiment, the "Turing litigation game." Specifically, we propose replacing the existing arcane and archaic systems of civil and criminal procedure with a simple and probabilistic litigation game resembling the Turing Test from the world of computer science. The remainder of this paper is thus divided in four parts. Following this brief introduction, Part 1 provides some background by describing the original Turing Test and explaining how the Turing Test resembles the process of adjudication. Part 2 then describes our proposed Turing litigation game and identifies the conditions for implementing this alternative approach to litigation, while Part 3 introduces the possibility of probabilistic verdicts (as opposed to the traditional system of binary verdicts). Part 4 concludes.
Urbanization, informal governance and refugee integration in Egypt

How does urban migrant and refugee settlement occur in face of national inaction on immigration policy? This paper focuses on recent migration to Cairo, a Global South megacity that is home to migr...
Water and Security

The connections between a clean and accessible water supply for consumption and sanitation is a relatively new field of research. Prior to this recognition, scholars and policy analysts associated security with the protection of a nation’s borders and populations. Security implied a nation’s safety in military and diplomatic terms. In recent decades, however, experts became aware that water and food security were essential to a nation’s stability. But with climate change prompting new weather extremes, such as flooding and/or drought, populations are leaving their homes in large numbers, disrupting the economic and social stability of host nations. Another source of water insecurity are developments occurring on transboundary rivers, including the Nile River Basin and the watersheds of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Remembrances of a Honey Bee Biologist.

Thomas Seeley's research has focused on analyzing the collective intelligence and natural lives of honey bees. This account describes how the author encountered honey bees as a boy and became a beekeeper; how he switched his career path from medicine to biology to study the behavior and social life of honey bees; and how he focuses on understanding how a honey bee colony functions when it lives in the wild, rather than in a beekeeper's hive. He has shown how a honey bee colony works as a single decision-making unit to adaptively allocate its foragers among flower patches and to choose its nesting site in a hollow tree. These findings buttress the view that, in some social insect species, the colony is a group-level vehicle of gene survival. Beyond his research, he has written three books to synthesize these findings for biologists and share these discoveries with beekeepers. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Entomology, Volume 67 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Narcan Distribution in Treatment Facilities in New York State

The Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services have recently augmented program rules and regulations to include mandatory staff trainings to safely administer Narcan in opioid overdose situations [1]. Staff is given Narcan, a prescription to possess the medication, and a card verifying training completion. Narcan is effective for preventing death when individuals are overdosing from opiates and is not harmful if Narcan is mistakenly administered for other types of overdoses [2].
Activin A Mediates Growth Inhibition and Cell Cycle Arrest through Smads in Human Breast Cancer Cells

The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of growth factors is responsible for a variety of physiologic actions, including cell cycle regulation. Activin is a member of the TGF-β superfamily that inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Activin functions by interacting with its type I and type II receptors to induce phosphorylation of intracellular signaling molecules known as Smads. Smads regulate transcription of many genes in a cell- and tissue-specific manner. In this study, the role of activin A in growth regulation of breast cancer cells was investigated. Activin stimulated the Smad-responsive promoter, p3TP, 2-fold over control in T47D breast cancer cells. Activin inhibited cellular proliferation of T47D breast cancer cells after 72 hours, an effect that could be abrogated by incubation with the activin type I receptor inhibitor, SB431542. Activin arrested T47D cells in the G 0 -G 1 cell cycle phase. Smad2 and Smad3 were phosphorylated in response to activin and accumulated in the nucleus of treated T47D cells. Infection of T47D cells with adenoviral Smad3 resulted in cell cycle arrest and activation of p3TP-luciferase, whereas a adenoviral dominant-negative Smad3 blocked activin-mediated cell cycle arrest and gene transcription. Activin maintained expression of p21 and p27 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors involved in cell cycle control, enhanced expression of p15, reduced cyclin A expression, and reduced phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. Smad3 overexpression recapitulated activin-induced p15 expression and repression of cyclin A and Rb phosphorylation. These data indicate that activin A inhibits breast cancer cellular proliferation and activates Smads responsible for initiating cell cycle arrest.
UAS Conflict-Avoidance Using Multiagent RL with Abstract Strategy Type Communication

The use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the national airspace is of growing interest to the research community. Safety and scalability of control algorithms are key to the successful integration of autonomous system into a human-populated airspace. In order to ensure safety while still maintaining efficient paths of travel, these algorithms must also accommodate heterogeneity of path strategies of its neighbors. We show that, using multiagent RL, we can improve the speed with which conflicts are resolved in cases with up to 80 aircraft within a section of the airspace. In addition, we show that the introduction of abstract agent strategy types to partition the state space is helpful in resolving conflicts, particularly in high congestion.
Characterization of the Rheb-mTOR Signaling Pathway in Mammalian Cells: Constitutive Active Mutants of Rheb and mTOR

Rheb (Ras homolog enriched in brain) is a GTPase conserved from yeast to human and belongs to a unique family within the Ras superfamily of GTPases. Rheb plays critical roles in the activation of mTOR, a serine/threonine kinase that is involved in the activation of protein synthesis and growth. mTOR forms two distinct complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. While mTORC1 is implicated in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, and cell size in response to amino acids and growth factors, mTORC2 is involved in actin organization. However, the mechanism of activation is not fully understood. Therefore, studies to elucidate the Rheb-mTOR signaling pathway are of great importance. Here we describe methods to characterize this pathway and to evaluate constitutive active mutants of Rheb and mTOR that we recently identified. Constitutive activity of the mutants can be demonstrated by the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) and eIF4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) both in vivo and in vitro after starving cells for amino acids and growth factors. In addition, formation and activity of mTORC1 and mTORC2 can be measured by immunoprecipitating these complexes and carrying out in vitro kinase assays. We also describe a protocol for rapamycin treatment, which directly inhibits mTOR and can be used to investigate the mTOR signaling pathway in cell growth, cell size, etc.
XIMKON: An Expert Simulation and Control Program

Artificial intelligence (AI) and object-oriented techniques are applied to the development of XIMKON, an expert software system for simulation and control engineering of dynamic processes. As an enhancement to a broad FORTRAN base of control design tools, XIMKON incorporates the principles of AI planners and advanced user interface technologies in an effort to automate the procedures involved in modeling, analysis and synthesis of control systems. This paper describes the current state of XIMKON and discusses early results of its implementation for process control applications.
Ethnic disparities in type 2 diabetes: pathophysiology and implications for prevention and management.

Based on 2000 census data, ethnic minorities constitute approximately 25% of the overall population of the United States, and the population of minority groups has been increasing at a faster rate than the general U.S. population. Compared with caucasians, persons from minority ethnic groups suffer disproportionately from type 2 diabetes and its long-term complications. Acute complications of diabetes occur with varying frequencies in the different demographic groups, but there are indications that the rate of hospitalization for diabetic ketoacidosis and nonketotic coma may be higher among certain minority populations. Genetic and lifestyle factors likely account for the increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes among ethnic minorities. However, the increase in morbidity and mortality from diabetes may be the result, in part, of socioeconomic factors. Pathophysiologically, several studies have documented a higher prevalence of insulin resistance in minority groups, even after correction for obesity and lifestyle factors. These findings underscore the need for a more aggressive approach to diabetes management in high-risk populations. Behavioral and pharmacologic interventions that reduce insulin resistance have profound beneficial effects in African-American patients and subjects with diabetes from other ethnic groups. Indeed, much of the ethnic difference in morbidity from diabetic complications disappears when caucasians and non-caucasians are treated to identical degrees of glycemic control.
Gibbs-Donnan Equilibrium Potentials

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that the Gibbs–Donnan (G–D) equilibrium occurs because of the large impermeant charged macromolecules, such as proteins, inside the cell. The G–D equilibrium does not require energy for its establishment; that is, it is passive. This contrasts with the normal resting potential of the cell, which requires active ion transport and use of metabolic energy, to establish large ionic electrochemical gradients. The G–D potential is usually less than -20mV, whereas the resting potential is considerably greater. In G–D equilibrium, all permeable ions are in equilibrium across the membrane, whereas this is not true for the normal resting potential. When equilibrium is established, the product of the concentrations of the permeant ions inside the cell is equal to that outside the cell, and the concentrations of the anions and cations outside the cell are equal. The gains in cations and anions inside the cell are also equal to each other. From these required conditions, the equation is solved algebraically to give the final concentrations at equilibrium, and from this, the calculated potential difference across the membrane.
Ag out-surface diffusion in crystalline SiC with an effective SiO2 diffusion barrier

For applications of tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles in high temperature reactors, release of radioactive Ag isotope (110mAg) through the SiC coating layer is a safety concern. To understand the diffusion mechanism, Ag ion implantations near the surface and in the bulk were performed by utilizing different ion energies and energy-degrader foils. High temperature annealing was carried out on the as-irradiated samples to study the possible out-surface diffusion. Before and after annealing, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) measurements were employed to obtain the elemental profiles of the implanted samples. The results suggest little migration of buried Ag in the bulk, and an out-diffusion of the implanted Ag in the near-surface region of single crystal SiC. It is also found that a SiO2 layer, which was formed during annealing, may serve as an effective barrier to reduce or prevent Ag out diffusion through the SiC coating layer.
Vertebrobasilar arterial occlusions in children

Three children with angiographically confirmed, sudden thrombosis involving the vertebro basilar arterial system are presented. Ten previously reported cases are reviewed with particular regard to possible etiologies. Vertebral artery trauma at the atlantoaxial level is suspected as one important cause.
Experiences with developing a computer security information assurance curriculum

Attacks on the computing infrastructure have gained prominence as the world harnessed the business transaction capability of the Internet in the last few years. Denial of service attacks and viruses cripple systems, making them unavailable to users and often destroying data. Information theft allows the thief to assume false identities, steal trade secrets and classified information, and perform transactions with accounts owned by others. There is a shortage of skilled computer security professionals capable of reducing vulnerabilities in computing systems.This paper describes the process of creating a computer security and information assurance (CSIA) curriculum Bachelors degree. The process begins with determining goals, followed by developing a plan of action and ends with determining a curriculum consisting of new computer science and interdisciplinary synthesis courses.
Use of Nutrition Standards to Improve Nutritional Quality of Hospital Patient Meals: Findings from New York City’s Healthy Hospital Food Initiative

Abstract Background Most hospital patient meals are considered regular-diet meals; these meals are not required to meet comprehensive nutrition standards for a healthy diet. Although programs exist to improve nutrition in hospital food, the focus is on retail settings such as vending machines and cafeterias vs patient meals. New York City's Healthy Hospital Food Initiative (HHFI) provides nutrition standards for regular-diet meals that hospitals can adopt, in addition to retail standards. Objective This study was undertaken to describe regular-diet patient menus before and after implementation of the HHFI nutrition standards. Design The study involved pre- and post- menu change analyses of hospitals participating in the HHFI between 2010 and 2014. Participants/setting Eight New York City hospitals, selected based on voluntary participation in the HHFI, were included in the analyses. Main outcome measures Nutritional content of regular-diet menus were compared with the HHFI nutrition standards. Statistical analyses performed Nutrient analysis and exact Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for the analysis of the data. Results At baseline, no regular-diet menu met all HHFI standards, and most exceeded the daily limits for percentage of calories from fat (n=5), percentage of calories from saturated fat (n=5), and milligrams of sodium (n=6), and they did not meet the minimum grams of fiber (n=7). Hospitals met all key nutrient standards after implementation, increasing fiber (25%, P P P P P P P P Conclusions Regular diet menus did not comply with the HHFI nutrition standards at baseline. Using the HHFI framework, hospitals significantly improved the nutritional quality of regular-diet patient menus. The standards were applied across hospitals of varying sizes, locations, menu types, and food service operations, indicating feasibility of this framework in a range of hospital settings.
Nitrous oxide flux from a shrub-steppe ecosystem: Sources and regulation

The semi-arid shrub-steppe is the largest grassland-type ecosystem of North America and may make significant contributions to the global atmospheric N2O budget. However, little information is available concerning sources and regulation of N2O flux in this ecosystem. Experiments were made to determine the relative importance of nitrification, denitrification and abiotic sources to total N2O flux and to investigate the factors regulating N2O flux rates from an undisturbed shrub-steppe ecosystem. The contributions to N2O flux by nitrification and denitrification were estimated using acetylene (10 Pa) to selectively inhibit N2O production by nitrifiers. Abiotic sources of N2O were evaluated using sterilized soil. Factors limiting N2O production were evaluated by monitoring N2O flux rates from soil-cores amended with combinations of NO3−-N, NH4+-N, soluble C and water. The effect of wet-dry cycles on N2O flux was determined by wetting field dry soil to field capacity and monitoring N2O flux rates, soil NH4+-N, NO3−-N and water content throughout a drying period. Our results showed that nitrification accounts for 61–98% of the N2O produced from soil at water contents below saturation and that denitrification is the primary N2O source at saturated water contents. No detectable N2O was produced by abiotic sources. In intact soil cores N2O flux rates were found to be most limited by water and N availability. Wetting of dry soil resulted in a pulse of N2O flux due to increased N availability. It is likely that this ecosystem exhibits relatively low N2O flux rates for much of the year due to low soil moisture and inorganic N contents. Since soil moisture content is generally well below field capacity in this ecosystem, nitrification must be the dominant N2O source. These results suggest that conditions favorable for substantial N2O production in shrub-steppe ecosystems probably exist only at times following precipitation events.
Automatic navigation of wall following mobile robot using Adaptive Resonance Theory of Type-1

Abstract The automatic navigation of wall following robot is playing important role in various real world tasks such as underwater exploration, unmanned flight, and in automotive industries based on its computational complexity. In this work, a novel navigation approach based on biologically inspired neural network, known as “Adaptive Resonance Theory-1” which was proposed by Carpenter and Grossberg, has been implemented and investigated for navigation of wall following mobile robots. The proposed navigation algorithm is successfully tested with three sensor reading datasets obtained from clockwise navigation of SCITOS G5 mobile robot. Test decision accuracy (%), and simulation time were used as performance analysis parameters for the proposed algorithm and it has been found that the present work can achieve 99.59% of maximum decision accuracy.
Serum gastrin concentrations following oral bethanechol with and without a meal.

The present study was performed to test the effect of oral bethanechol (B) on endogenous gastrin release, both basally and in association with the physiologic stimulus of a protein meal. Serum gastrin levels were obtained from 10 normal subjects following: (1) an oral placebo; (2) an oral dose of 25 mg of B; (3) a 100-g protein meal plus placebo; and (4) a 100-g protein meal plus 25 mg of B. Following B or placebo there were no significant changes in basal serum gastrin levels of 98.7±29.3 (±se) pg/ml and 82.4±12.3 pg/ml, respectively. Significant increases of serum gastrin occurred after the protein meal (P<0.01) and after the protein meal combined with B. The gastrin levels thus obtained were significantly greater than basal values but not different from each other. It is proposed that LES pressure increases following B are not due to the release of endogenous gastrin as shown by the absence of increases in basal serum gastrin levels and failure to augment the gastrin release of a physiologic stimulus.
Proptosis with acute oculomotor and abducens nerve palsies.

Objective To determine whether orbital axial proptosis occurs in the affected eye of patients with acute oculomotor or abducens nerve palsy. Materials and methods In this prospective, cross-sectional survey, the Hertel instrument was used to measure the amount of axial protrusion in 26 consecutive patients with complete or severe acute oculomotor nerve palsy and 27 consecutive patients with complete or severe acute abducens nerve palsy. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the amount of relative proptosis of the affected eye in the patient groups with that of 40 control subjects. The absolute amount of the interocular difference in axial protrusion of the normal eyes was used to determine control values. The proportion of patients and control subjects with relative proptosis greater than 1 mm was compared using Fisher's exact test. Results There was no significant difference in the degree of relative proptosis of the affected eye of patients with oculomotor nerve palsy or abducens nerve palsy as compared with the control eyes. Likewise, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with relative proptosis greater than 1 mm in either the oculomotor nerve palsy group or the abducens nerve palsy group as compared with the control group. Conclusions Acute oculomotor or abducens nerve palsy does not produce any significant amount of orbital axial proptosis in the affected eye, at least as measured clinically using the Hertel instrument. Acute neurogenic ophthalmoplegia rarely causes relative proptosis greater than 1 mm.