cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of drag in insect hovering.

SUMMARY Studies of insect flight have focused on aerodynamic lift, both in quasi-steady and unsteady regimes. This is partly influenced by the choice of hovering motions along a horizontal stroke plane, where aerodynamic drag makes no contribution to the vertical force. In contrast, some of the best hoverers– dragonflies and hoverflies – employ inclined stroke planes, where the drag in the down- and upstrokes does not cancel each other. Here, computation of an idealized dragonfly wing motion shows that a dragonfly uses drag to support about three quarters of its weight. This can explain an anomalous factor of four in previous estimates of dragonfly lift coefficients, where drag was assumed to be small. To investigate force generation and energy cost of hovering flight using different combination of lift and drag, I study a family of wing motion parameterized by the inclined angle of the stroke plane. The lift-to-drag ratio is no longer a measure of efficiency, except in the case of horizontal stroke plane. In addition, because the flow is highly stalled, lift and drag are of comparable magnitude, and the aerodynamic efficiency is roughly the same up to an inclined angle about 60°, which curiously agrees with the angle observed in dragonfly flight. Finally, the lessons from this special family of wing motion suggests a strategy for improving efficiency of normal hovering, and a unifying view of different wing motions employed by insects.
The impact of the Advancing Social-communication And Play (ASAP) intervention on preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder

This study evaluates an intervention targeting social-communication and play skills (Advancing Social-communication And Play; ASAP) implemented by school staff in a public preschool setting. With increases in enrollment of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in school systems, establishing the effectiveness and feasibility of interventions implemented in school settings is important. In clinical settings, interventions targeting social-communication and play behaviors have increased these skills and impacted later language abilities. Results of this single-case design study indicated the ASAP intervention had a positive impact on social-communication and play skills for three preschoolers with ASD. All participants showed either increases in frequency or more stability in targeted behaviors. Social validity results provide additional support for the use of ASAP with preschoolers with ASD.
Why alien invaders succeed: support for the escape-from-enemy hypothesis.

Successful biological invaders often exhibit enhanced performance following introduction to a new region. The traditional explanation for this phenomenon is that natural enemies (e.g., competitors, pathogens, and predators) present in the native range are absent from the introduced range. The purpose of this study was to test the escape-from-enemy hypothesis using the perennial plant Silene latifolia as a model system. This European native was introduced to North America in the 1800s and subsequently spread to a large part of the continent. It is now considered a problematic weed of disturbed habitats and agricultural fields in the United States and Canada. Surveys of 86 populations in the United States and Europe revealed greater levels of attack by generalist enemies (aphids, snails, floral herbivores) in Europe compared with North America. Two specialists (seed predator, anther smut fungus) that had dramatic effects on plant fitness in Europe were either absent or in very low frequency in North America. Overall, plants were 17 times more likely to be damaged in Europe than in North America. Thus, S. latifolia's successful North American invasion can, at least in part, be explained by escape from specialist enemies and lower levels of damage following introduction.
Genetically-engineered whole-cell bioreporters on integrated circuits for environmental monitoring

A bioluminescent bioreporter integrated circuit (BBIC) biosensor for environmental monitoring is presented. The bioluminescent bioreporters are bacteria that can be genetically altered to achieve bioluminescence when in contact with a targeted substance. The bioreporters are placed on a microluminometer. The microluminometer includes integrated photodiodes and signal processing circuits and is realized in a standard CMOS process. The BBIC can detect luminescence from as few as 5000 fully induced Pseudomonas fluorescene 5RL bacteria and provides a integrated biosensor platform for environmental and food/water safety monitoring.
High-efficiency first-Stokes generation from XeF-pumped CH 4

An injection-locked multiline XeF laser was used to pump a high-pressure CH4 Raman cell with a large-f/number (narrow-angle) focusing geometry. Up to 223 mJ of first-Stokes output was obtained at a quantum efficiency of 62%. The Stokes beam produced was about 26 times the diffraction limit.
Giant tunneling magnetoresistance and spin polarization in tunnel junctions and spin injectors

Superconducting tunneling spectroscopy (STS) was used in this study to determine the spin polarization in tunnel junctions and spin injectors. STS showed that the polarization of the tunneling current from the 3d transition metal ferromagnets (FM) through amorphous aluminum oxide tunnel barriers is about 40 to 50% and is largely independent of the FM crystal structure and orientation. However, the same 3d transition metal ferromagnets and their alloys, when formed in the bcc crystal structure, and in conjunction with crystalline magnesium oxide tunnel barriers exhibit much higher tunneling spin polarization values of up to /spl sim/85%. Also, MgO based tunnel spin injectors for semiconductor spintronics was discussed.
Interface stress redistribution in FRP-strengthened reinforced concrete beams using a three-parameter viscoelastic foundation model

Abstract External bonding of FRP plates or sheets has become a popular method for strengthening reinforced concrete structures. Stresses along the FRP–concrete interface are critical to the effectiveness of this technique because high stress concentration along the FRP–concrete interface can lead to the FRP debonding from the concrete beam. In this study, a novel analytical solution has been developed to predict the interface stress redistribution of FRP-strengthened reinforced concrete beams induced by the viscoelastic adhesive layer. Both the FRP plate and the RC beam are modeled as Timoshenko’s beams, connected through the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is modeled as a three-parameter viscoelastic foundation (3PVF) using Standard Linear Solid model. The 3PVF model satisfies the equilibrium equation of the adhesive layer and the zero shear-stress boundary condition at the free edge. Closed-form expressions of the time-dependent interface stresses and deflection of the beam are obtained using Laplace transform. Finite element analysis is also conducted to verify the analytical solution using a subroutine UMAT based on the Standard Linear Solid model. Numerical results suggest that the stress concentrations within the FRP–concrete interface relax with time. The axial force in the FRP plate also reduces with time due to the creep of the adhesive layer. However, this relaxation is limited to a small zone close to the end of the FPR plate.
Multi-level concatenated block coded modulation schemes

In such a scheme the inner codes are block modulation codes and the outer codes are generally block codes with code symbols from some Galois fields. If the inner codes, outer codes, and the level of concatenation are properly chosen, very good performance can be achieved with high spectral efficiency and large coding gain. Two specific schemes are proposed. Simulation studies show that these perform very well and achieve significant real coding gains over uncoded reference modulation systems. >
Acute exercise attenuates cardiac autonomic regulation in hypertensive rats.

Abstract Dynamic exercise may be used as a safe, therapeutic approach to reduce sympathetic nerve activity at rest and thus may be beneficial for individuals with hypertension. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that a single bout of mild to moderate dynamic exercise would decrease cardiac sympathetic tonus at rest. We designed two experimental protocols to test this hypothesis in male spontaneously hypertensive rats. In protocol 1 (n=6) cardiac sympathetic tonus and parasympathetic tonus were determined before and after a single bout of dynamic exercise. We developed protocol 2 (n=5) to determine the component of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the postexercise reduction in heart rate. Rats were instrumented with catheters inserted into the descending aorta for measurements of arterial pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate and into the jugular vein for infusion of drugs. A single bout of mild to moderate dynamic treadmill exercise (12 m/min, 10% grade for 42±1 minutes, representing approximately 74% to 79% of maximal heart rate) resulted in a postexercise reduction in mean arterial pressure (163±7 to 149±5 mm Hg; P 1 -adrenergic receptor blockade significantly enhanced the postexercise reduction in heart rate, and muscarinic-cholinergic receptor blockade did not affect the postexercise decrease in heart rate until 20 minutes after exercise. These results demonstrate that (1) sympathetic tonus and parasympathetic tonus are attenuated after a single bout of dynamic exercise and (2) the reduction in sympathetic tonus and parasympathetic tonus mediated cardiodeceleration during the early recovery period.
ZnO Thin Film Transistors for Flexible Electronics

In flexible electronics, plastic substrates can limit processing temperatures to less than 100° C. Consequently, most semiconductors, including amorphous silicon, may be incompatible with temperature-sensitive plastic substrates. While organic semiconductors may seem well suited to this particular application niche, their stability is questionable and their mobility is often low (∼0.1 cm2/V-s). In this paper we show that ZnO is a promising semiconductor candidate for flexible electronics, because thin film transistors can be fabricated at room temperature with higher mobility (> 1 cm2/V-s) and high on/off ratio (> 104).
INHIBITION OF DIMETHYLBENZANTHRACENE-INDUCED ADRENAL CORTICAL NECROSIS.

7,12-Dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA), a carcinogenic polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon, has been shown to cause selective necrosis in the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex in young adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. This selective necrosis was attributed to the remarkable steric similarity between DMBA and hydroxycorticosteroids. It follows logically that the concomitant administration of compounds sterically similar to DMBA should lead to inhibition of the necrosis caused by the latter. The present paper reports the prevention of adrenal necrosis due to DMBA by the concurrent administration of 2 compounds, 2-methyl-l,2-bis-(3-pyridyl)-l-propanone(methopyrapone, Metopirone), and 3-(1,2,3,4- tetrahydro-l-oxo-2-naphthyl) -pyridine (Ciba Su-9055), both of which bear steric resemblance to DMBA. The possible mechanisms of action involved are discussed. (Endocrinology 74: 284, 1964)
One-step purification of recombinant proteins using a nanomolar-affinity streptavidin-binding peptide, the SBP-Tag.

We describe the use of the SBP-tag, a new streptavidin-binding peptide, for both the one-step purification and the detection of recombinant proteins. The SBP-tag sequence is 38 amino acids long and binds to streptavidin with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 2.5 nM. We demonstrate that a single-step purification of SBP-tagged proteins from bacterial extract yields samples that are more pure than those purified using maltose-binding protein or the His-tag. The capacity of the immobilized streptavidin used to purify SBP-tagged proteins is about 0.5 mg per milliliter of matrix, which is high enough to isolate large quantities of proteins for further study. Also, the elution conditions from the streptavidin column are very mild and specific, consisting of the wash buffer plus biotin. This combination of high-affinity, high-yield, mild elution conditions, and simplicity of use makes the SBP-tag suitable for high-throughput protein expression/purification procedures, including robotically manipulated protocols with microtiter plates. Additionally, the SBP-tag can be used for detection since a wide variety of streptavidin-conjugated fluorescent and enzymatic systems are commercially available. We also present a new, rapid, method for the measurement of protein-protein, protein-peptide, or protein-small molecule equilibrium dissociation constants that require as little as 1 fmol of labeled protein. We call this method the spin-filter binding inhibition assay.
Occupational prestige and sex typing in the collective conscience

Previous work has shown that prestige is the only factor that is consistently employed in individuals' perceptions of the occupational structure. Is is argued that these results are in part an artifact of the methods. Using direct paired comparison estimates of differences between occupations and metric MDS to analyze the data, it is shown that perceptions are highly multidimensional. The data also show that prestige and sex typing are salient features in the collective conscience of respondents. Implications for occupational choice research are discussed.
Wafered Versus Baled Alfalfa Hay for Milk Production

Summary Wafers produced by a field-waferer were compared to baled hay when fed to milk cows. Two sizes of wafers, 1½ and 5 8 -inch square, each essentially cuboidal in shape, were used. The consumption of each size wafer was approximately equal; however, daily consumption of wafers averaged 5.2 lb per cow more than consumption of baled hay when the hay was hand-fed to individual cows in stanchions. When fed ad libitum to groups of cows, all three types of hay were consumed at higher levels, but an average of 6.7 lb more wafers than baled hay were eaten per cow daily. Milk production measured during the trial with individual feeding averaged 1.8 lb more 4% FCM daily per cow on wafers than on baled hay. There was no significant effect upon per cent milk fat or solids-not-fat.
The importance of the ontogenetic niche in resource-associated divergence: evidence from a generalist grasshopper.

Geographic variation in resource use can produce locally adapted populations that exhibit genetic and phenotypic divergence. In the bird-winged grasshopper (Schistocerca emarginata5 (lineata)), we investigate whether genetic data exist in accordance with geographic variation in resource (host) use and coloration. In Texas, juvenile grasshoppers feed almost exclusively on one of two host plants, Rubus trivialis (Rosaceae) or Ptelea trifoliata (Ru- taceae), whereas adults of both forms are dietary generalists and consume many plants from unrelated families. Along with differences in juvenile feeding, differences in a density-dependent color polyphenism are concordant with genetic (mitochondrial DNA) variation among eight populations of the bird-winged grasshopper. Forms feeding on R. trivialis and those feeding on P. trifoliata represent monophyletic lineages according to phylogenetic analysis and maximum- likelihood tests of two alternative phylogeographic hypotheses for geographic variation in host use. Character-state optimization of host-plant acceptability on a phylogeny containing S. emarginata and outgroup taxa indicates that populations consuming R. trivialis gave rise to populations consuming P. trifoliata. Juvenile grasshoppers that consume P. trifoliata acquire deterrence against predation, suggesting that enemy-free space facilitated this host shift. In extant populations, adaptations stemming from alternative resource use during ontogeny present possible barriers to gene exchange. This study represents the first demonstration of resource-associated divergence in an otherwise generalist insect that exhibits temporal variation in resource use, characterized as developmental changes in host specialization. Our findings suggest that exploitation of different resources may have unexplored significance for generalist species that compartmentalize specialization to particular life stages.
Prechylomicron transport vesicle: isolation and partial characterization

The intestine is able to regulate its output rate of chylomicrons, the major intestinal triacylglycerol (TG) transport vehicle. We have proposed that a vesicle, transporting the developing chylomic...
Reducing Power Consumption in Data Centers by Jointly Considering VM Placement and Flow Scheduling

Two important components that consume the majority of IT power in data centers are the servers and the Data Center Network (DCN). Existing works fail to fully utilize power management techniques on the servers and in the DCN at the same time. In this paper, we jointly consider VM placement on servers with scalable frequencies and flow scheduling in the DCN, to minimize the overall system’s power consumption. Due to the convex relation between a server’s power consumption and its operating frequency, we prove that, given the number of servers to be used, computation workloads should be allocated to severs in a balanced way, to minimize the power consumption on servers. To reduce the power consumption of the DCN, we further consider the flow requirements among the VMs during VM allocation and assignment. Also, after VM placement, flow consolidation is conducted to reduce the number of active switches and ports. We notice that, choosing the minimum number of servers to accommodate the VMs may result in high power consumption on servers, due to servers’ increased operating frequencies. Choosing the optimal number of servers purely based on servers’ power consumption leads to reduced power consumption on servers, but may increase power consumption of the DCN. We propose to choose the optimal number of servers to be used, based on the overall system’s power consumption. Simulations show that, our joint power optimization method helps to reduce the overall power consumption significantly, and outperforms various existing state-of-the-art methods in terms of reducing the overall system’s power consumption.
Dose dependence of helium bubble formation in nano-engineered SiC at 700 °C

Abstract Knowledge of radiation-induced helium bubble nucleation and growth in SiC is essential for applications in fusion and fission environments. Here we report the evolution of microstructure in nano-engineered (NE) 3C SiC, pre-implanted with helium, under heavy ion irradiation at 700 °C up to doses of 30 displacements per atom (dpa). Elastic recoil detection analysis confirms that the as-implanted helium depth profile does not change under irradiation to 30 dpa at 700 °C. While the helium bubble size distribution becomes narrower with increasing dose, the average size of bubbles remains unchanged and the density of bubbles increases somewhat with dose. These results are consistent with a long helium bubble incubation process under continued irradiation at 700 °C up to 30 dpa, similar to that reported under dual and triple beam irradiation at much higher temperatures. The formation of bubbles at this low temperature is enhanced by the nano-layered stacking fault structure in the NE SiC, which enhances point defect mobility parallel to the stacking faults. This stacking fault structure is stable at 700 °C up to 30 dpa and suppresses the formation of dislocation loops normally observed under these irradiation conditions.
These lit areas are undeveloped: Delimiting China's urban extents from thresholded nighttime light imagery

Abstract Nighttime light imagery is a powerful tool to study urbanization because it can provide a uniform metric, lit area, to delimit urban extents. However, lit area is much larger than actual urban area, so thresholds of digital number (DN) values are usually needed to reduce the lit area. The threshold varies greatly among different regions, but at present it is still not very clear what factors impact the changes of the threshold. In this study, urban extent by province for China is mapped using official statistical data and four intercalibrated and geometrically corrected nighttime light images between 2004 and 2010. Lit area in the imagery for most provinces is at least 94% greater than the official amount of urban area. Regression analyses show a significant correlation between optimal thresholds and GDP per capita, and larger thresholds more commonly indicate higher economic level. Size and environmental condition may explain a province’s threshold that is disproportionate to GDP. Findings indicate one threshold DN is not appropriate for multiple (adjacent) province urban extent mapping, and optimal thresholds for one year may be notably different than the next. Province-level derived thresholds are not appropriate for other geographic levels. Brightness of nighttime lights is an advantage over imagery that relies on daylight reflection, and decreases in brightness indicate faster growth in the horizontal direction than the vertical. A province’s optimal threshold does not always maintain an increase with population and economic growth. In the economically developed eastern provinces, urban population densities decreased (and this is seen in the brightness data), while urban population increased.
The Differentiation of Fecal Streptococci by Their Fermentative Reactions in Carbohydrate Media

The use of fermentative reactions of die streptococci in carbohydrate media for tracing out the systematic relationships within this group of organisms was first suggested by Gordon1 in 1904. His suggestions were further worked out and elaborated by Houston2 in the following year and by Andrewes and Horder3 in 1906. The two last-named observers made a careful study of the records of the cultures which had been isolated by Gordon and Houston, and of a number of strains isolated by themselves from a large variety of sources. From the results of their observations they divided the group streptococci into seven sub-groups or species which they considered to be the main types or type centers about which the more variable forms were clustered. The first of these types fermented saccharose, salicin, and coniferin, and is referred to by them as Str. equinus. The second type, for which they proposed the name, Str. mitis, fermented saccharose, lactose, and salicin. The third type, Str. pyogenes, also fermented saccharose, lactose, and saHcin but exhibited some minor variations of morphology and pathogenic properties. The fourth type, Str. sallvarius, fermented saccharose, lactose, and raffinose. The fifth type, Str. anginosus, fermented saccharose and lactose. The sixth type, Str. fecalis, fermented saccharose, lactose, salicin, coniferin, and mannite. The seventh type, which corresponded to the pneumococcus, fermented saccharose, lactose, raffinose, and inulin. Andrewes and Horder also pointed out the scarcity of lactose fermenting strep-
Minimum-scattering superabsorbers

Absorption and scattering are inherently related, as it is not possible to absorb power without creating a far-field shadow. We show, however, that properly overlapped resonant modes in a suitably designed system may in principle lead to arbitrarily large absorption levels, while at the same time minimizing the total scattering. We discuss the fundamental limits on scattering and absorption of an arbitrary receiving system and envision a composite nanoparticle that demonstrates the concept of a minimum-scattering superabsorber, with potential applications in energy harvesting, sensing, and imaging.
Design Study Comparison of Plain Finned Versus Louvered Finned-Tube Condenser Heat Exchangers

Enhanced fins are widely used in residential air conditioning system finned-tube condenser designs. While this heat transfer augmentation technique increases the heat transfer coefficient in the heat exchanger, it also increases the air side frictional pressure drop. These two effects compete with each other, making it difficult to determine the relative goodness between plain fin versus enhanced fin designs with realistic constraints. In the past, this design tradeoff has been largely determined by experimental trial and error or heuristic figures of merit. No studies are available showing the effect of fin augmentation on overall system performance under consistent cost and frontal area constraints. The residential air conditioning system model calculates all component and system performance parameters. The condenser design requires the specification of approximately ten design parameters. A search method is used to vary these ten parameters and reach an optimum design based on a COP (efficiency) figure-of-merit with condenser cost and other appropriate constraints. It was found that when optimized, louvered fin designs always show better system performance than the optimum plain fin design for the cases studied. However a decrease in system efficiency can result if louvers are merely added to a plain fin optimum design.© 2003 ASME
A Case Study of Monozygotic Twins Apparently Homozygous for a Novel Variant of UDP-Galactose 4'-epimerase (GALE) : A Complex Case of Variant GALE.

Epimerase deficiency galactosemia is an autosomal recessive disorder that results from partial impairment of UDP-galactose 4′-epimerase (GALE), the third enzyme in the Leloir pathway of galactose metabolism. Clinical severity of epimerase deficiency ranges from potentially lethal to apparently benign, likely reflecting the extent of GALE enzyme impairment, among other factors. We report here a case study of monozygotic twins identified by newborn screening with elevated total galactose and normal galactose-1P uridylyltransferase (GALT). Follow-up testing revealed partial impairment of GALE in hemolysates but near-normal activity in lymphoblasts; molecular testing identified a missense substitution, R220W, apparently in the homozygous state. The twins were treated with dietary galactose restriction for the first 18 months of life. During this time, independent testing revealed concurrent diagnoses of Williams Syndrome in both twins, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in one. Expression studies of R220W-hGALE in a null-background strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae demonstrated a very limited impairment of V max for UDP-galactose (UDP-Gal) and K m for UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine (UDP-GalNAc), but a galactose challenge in vivo failed to uncover any evidence of impaired Leloir function. Similarly, both twins demonstrated normal hemolysate galactose-1-phosphate (Gal-1P) levels following normalization of their diets at 18 months of age. While these studies cannot rule out a negative consequence from some cryptic GALE impairment in a specific tissue or developmental stage, they suggest that the substitution, R220W, is mild to neutral, so that any GALE impairment in these twins is likely to be peripheral and therefore unlikely to be the cause of the negative outcomes observed.
The effect of blood volume on venous pressure in cardiac tamponade.

Summary The effect of blood volume on venous pressure in cardiac tamponade was studied in 9 healthy dogs. In the hypovolemic state, some degree of elevation of venous pressure occurred, but the value obtained was frequently within the normal range. Increased blood volume produced accentuation of the elevation of venous pressure resulting from cardiac tamponade. It is suggested that blood volume determinations should be obtained before a normal venous pressure is used to rule out cardiac tamponade.
Rhetorical Commonsense and Child Molester Panic—A Queer Intervention

This article considers how contemporary representations of child molesters in scholarly, political, and popular culture participate in projects that revolve around the recuperation of heteronormativity. I argue that these multimodal obsessions with child molestation displace the resilience of entrenched homophobic fears, prejudices, and dispositions, giving the lie to the commonplace that the political advance of same-sex marriage in the United States signals the apotheosis of gay rights. My analysis focuses on two representative popular and scholarly texts: the long-running television series Law and Order: SVU and a scholarly article about the Jerry Sandusky case published in jac. The former capitalizes on a combination of stranger and familiar child molester figures, reflecting a mix of popular sex panic mythology and social reality. The latter reenacts this combination, so the discourse about the Sandusky case becomes imbricated in the convergences between mythology and social reality that characterize...
Voices in Videoconferencing: Technology Integration in Teacher Education Courses

This manuscript describes the efforts of several instructors who incorporated videoconferencing in their teacher education courses at two large universities in the southeastern United States. Professors preparing teachers to teach elementary and middle school examined their interactive videoconference experiences linking preservice teachers with students in real classroom settings. Three projects are described. The first project involved “teleobservation” whereby professors co-taught with K-6 classroom teachers while preservice teachers observed. The second project focused on a middle-grades English Language Arts professor whose preservice teachers observed middle school students in real time. In the third project, a university professor served as a live audience for an elementary Reader’s Theatre performance. The lessons learned through the evaluation of these three projects are discussed.
Recent Results on Stability of Planar Detonations

We describe recent analytical and numerical results on stability and behavior of viscous and inviscid detonation waves obtained by dynamical systems/Evans function techniques like those used to study shock and reaction diffusion waves. In the first part, we give a broad description of viscous and inviscid results for 1D perturbations; in the second, we focus on inviscid high-frequency stability in multi-D and associated questions in turning point theory/WKB expansion.
Realizing business components, business operations and business services

Business components are founded on the notion that complex business organizations can be decomposed into discrete into self-functioning logical units. Decomposing an enterprise into business components facilitates a logical understanding of business design and can be leveraged to provide finer levels of detailed analysis on how it operates. This involves a range of improvements, from evaluating and validating business organization structures, extending to ways of expressing dynamic relationships among business components, and finally, influencing the IT application base and infrastructure that realize the business intent
Older Age- and Health-related Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Background The burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the older population is increasing. Older-onset disease is associated with reduced use of immunosuppressive medications. In addition, older patients may be more vulnerable to the effect of disease-related symptoms and consequently may experience worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared with younger patients. Methods This prospective study included a cohort of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis recruited from a single center. All patients completed the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) and the short form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire yielding general physical health (PCS) and mental health component scale subscores (MCS). Patients older than 60 years were compared with those younger than 60 years using multivariable regression analysis. Results Our study included 1607 patients, among whom 186 were older than 60 at the time of assessment. Older patients were more likely to have isolated colonic disease and less likely to use immunosuppressive therapy. On multivariable analysis, older patients with IBD had higher SIBDQ (2.34, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-3.87) and SF-12 mental subscores (3.78, 95% confidence interval, 2.26-5.30), but lower physical HRQoL (-1.80, 95% confidence interval, -3.21 to -0.38). There was no difference in the SIBDQ and PCS scores between older patients and newly diagnosed IBD or with established disease. Conclusions Older age was associated with modestly higher SIBDQ and mental HRQoL scores, but lower physical HRQoL. Comprehensive care of the older patient with IBD should include assessment of factors impairing physical quality of life to ensure appropriate interventions.
Bioreactor scale up and protein product quality characterization of piggyBac transposon derived CHO pools

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells remain the most popular host for the production of biopharmaceutical drugs, particularly monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), bispecific antibodies, and Fc-fusion proteins. Creating and characterizing the stable CHO clonally-derived cell lines (CDCLs) needed to manufacture these therapeutic proteins is a lengthy and laborious process. Therefore, CHO pools have increasingly been used to rapidly produce protein to support and enable preclinical drug development. We recently described the generation of CHO pools yielding mAb titers as high as 7.6 g/L in a 16 day bioprocess using piggyBac transposon-mediated gene integration. In this study, we wanted to understand why the piggyBac pool titers were significantly higher (2-10 fold) than the control CHO pools. Higher titers were the result of a combination of increased average gene copy number, significantly higher messenger RNA levels and the homogeneity (i.e. less diverse population distribution) of the piggyBac pools, relative to the control pools. In order to validate the use of piggyBac pools to support preclinical drug development, we then performed an in-depth product quality analysis of purified protein. The product quality of protein obtained from the piggyBac pools was very similar to the product quality profile of protein obtained from the control pools. Finally, we demonstrated the scalability of these pools from shake flasks to 36L bioreactors. Overall, these results suggest that gram quantities of therapeutic protein can be rapidly obtained from piggyBac CHO pools without significantly changing product quality attributes. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:534-540, 2017.
Correlation between NF-κB signal pathway-mediated caspase-4 activation and Kawasaki disease

The aim of the study was to investigate the role and mechanisms of action of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-mediated caspase-4 activation in the induction of inflammatory cytokines during Kawasaki disease (KD) and coronary artery endothelial cell injury. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from KD patients and healthy controls and cultured. Double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in activated PBMC-conditioned culture media. To establish a culture model for human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs), we employed KD patient-origin PBMC culture-conditioned media to induce HCAEC transformation and detected the nuclear activation of NF-κB p65 and intracellular caspase-4 protein concentrations using western blot analysis. We also investigated the nuclear transfer of NF-κB p65 using immunofluorescence, as well as HCAEC interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β secretion using ELISA. Finally, we investigated HCAEC apoptosis using using Annexin V/PI double staining. After PBMCs were stimulated in vitro, TNF-α secretion was significantly higher in the KD group versus controls (P<0.01). HCAEC cells treated with supernatant conditioned by cells from KD patients showed a significant elevation of NF-κB p65 and caspase-4 protein expression versus HCAEC cells treated with supernatant conditioned by control cells (P<0.01). Similarly, IL-6 and IL-1β secretion, as well as apoptotic rate, were significantly elevated (P<0.01). SN50, an NF-κB inhibitor, significantly attenuated caspase-4 expression, secretion of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, as well as HCAEC apoptosis in cells treated with KD patient PBMC-conditioned media. NF-κB can induce the generation of various inflammatory factors including IL-6 and IL-1β, mediate the expression of caspase-4 in HCAEC cells, and affect apoptosis and injury of HCAEC cells. Therefore, the expression of caspase-4, mediated by NF-κB signal pathway, plays a critical role in KD.
Zinc oxide nanorod integrated microdevice for multiplex virus detection

Technology development for point-of-care viral pathogen detection is critical for early diagnosis of infectious diseases, and rapid and effective disease intervention. In this paper, we present the development of a zinc oxide nanorod-integrated microdevice for highly sensitive and specific detection of avian influenza virus. This multiplexed immunofluorescence platform takes two advantages of the zinc oxide nanorods. On one hand, the 3D morphology of zinc oxide nanorods efficiently increases the effective surface area for monoclonal antibodies and decreases the diffusion distance between antibody and pathogens. On the other hand, the unique optical property of the translucent randomly ordered zinc oxide nanorod surface enhances fluorescence detection by 30–70%. We demonstrated the detection limit of the H5N2 avian influenza virus could be lowered down to 3.6×103 EID 50 /mL (EID50: 50% embryo infectious dose), which was about 22 times more sensitive than conventional ELISA assay tested under the same conditions. We further designed the microfluidic biosensor platform to detect multiple viruses simultaneously by spatial encoding of capture antibodies. One prominent feature of the device is that the captured H5N2 avian influenza virus can be released by simply dissolving zinc oxide nanorods under slightly acidic environment for subsequent off-chip analyses. As a whole, this platform provides a powerful tool for rapid detection of multiple pathogens, which may extent to the other fields for low-cost and convenient biomarker detection.
Who uses mobile apps to meet strangers: The roles of core traits and surface characteristics

ABSTRACTDigital space continues to be a popular venue for meeting new people. However, little is known about who uses mobile context-aware social networking apps to initiate new relationships. This study investigates the roles of individual core traits and surface characteristics in the adoption of social discovery features on WeChat, a mobile social networking app in China. Analysis of survey data collected from 213 WeChat users finds the core traits of agreeableness and neuroticism to be negatively related to the use of these social discovery features. The surface characteristic of sensation seeking is positively related to the use of social discovery features, while the surface characteristic of loneliness is not. Based on the findings, directions for future research and implications for app developers and marketers are suggested.
Crystal Structure Evolution and Notable Thermal Expansion in Hybrid Perovskites Formamidinium Tin Iodide and Formamidinium Lead Bromide.

The temperature-dependent structure evolution of the hybrid halide perovskite compounds, formamidinium tin iodide (FASnI3, FA+ = CH[NH2]2+) and formamidinium lead bromide (FAPbBr3), has been monitored using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction between 300 and 100 K. The data are consistent with a transition from cubic Pm3m (No. 221) to tetragonal P4/mbm (No. 127) for both materials upon cooling; this occurs for FAPbBr3 between 275 and 250 K, and for FASnI3 between 250 and 225 K. Upon further cooling, between 150 and 125 K, both materials undergo a transition to an orthorhombic Pnma (No. 62) structure. The transitions are confirmed by calorimetry and dielectric measurements. In the tetragonal regime, the coefficients of volumetric thermal expansion of FASnI3 and FAPbBr3 are among the highest recorded for any extended inorganic crystalline solid, reaching 219 ppm K–1 for FASnI3 at 225 K. Atomic displacement parameters of all atoms for both materials suggest dynamic motion is occurring in the...
A Summary of the Argument to Date and of How It Will Develop Regarding Events in 2005–2010

This chapter summarizes the argument to date and how it will develop regarding 2005–2010. Putin removes key Yeltsin-era figures, arrests the politically ambitious oil oligarch Khodorkovsky, and shifts towards a state-dominated and partly state-run economy. The siloviki are encouraged and support Putin. But from Putin’s viewpoint they also become a potential limitation on his power. So he takes preemptive action. Deliberately but silently, he promotes the creation of two main factions, and, in the same way, creates conflicts between them. This leads to a barely concealed war. They make secret reports to Putin against each other. The war is most intensive in 2003–2004 and 2006–2007. Thus Putin becomes the uniquely qualified balancer and mediator, and is essential to the functioning of the whole oligarchy. Together with lesser conflicts of similar type, the silovik war and Putin’s role constitute the essence of the political-economic system.
Toward a mechanistic understanding of Feo-mediated ferrous iron uptake

Virtually all organisms require iron and have evolved to obtain this element in free or chelated forms. Under anaerobic or low pH conditions commonly encountered by numerous pathogens, iron predominantly exists in the ferrous (Fe2+) form. The ferrous iron transport (Feo) system is the only widespread mechanism dedicated solely to bacterial ferrous iron import, and this system has been linked to pathogenic virulence, bacterial colonization, and microbial survival. The canonical feo operon encodes for three proteins that comprise the Feo system: FeoA, a small cytoplasmic β-barrel protein; FeoB, a large, polytopic membrane protein with a soluble G-protein domain capable of hydrolyzing GTP; and FeoC, a small, cytoplasmic protein containing a winged-helix motif. While previous studies have revealed insight into soluble and fragmentary domains of the Feo system, the chief membrane-bound component FeoB remains poorly studied. However, recent advances have demonstrated that large quantities of intact FeoB can be overexpressed, purified, and biophysically characterized, revealing glimpses into FeoB function. Two models of full-length FeoB have been published, providing starting points for hypothesis-driven investigations into the mechanism of FeoB-mediated ferrous iron transport. Finally, in vivo studies have begun to shed light on how this system functions as a unique multicomponent complex. In light of these new data, this review will summarize what is known about the Feo system, including recent advancements in FeoB structure and function.
Avoiding and Managing Complications in PCL Reconstruction

Injury to the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) occurs at a lower incidence than does injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). In a prospective analysis of 222 patients presenting to a regional trauma center with acute hemarthrosis of the knee, Fanelli found that the incidence of PCL injury in the cohort was 38%.1,2 Only 3.5% of the PCL injuries were isolated injuries, emphasizing the need for complete and accurate diagnosis of all associated injuries. The true incidence of PCL injuries is likely underestimated, as many will go undiagnosed due to the often innocuous appearance of isolated PCL injuries. An isolated PCL injury usually occurs after a posteriorly directed force on a flexed knee.3 The patient often will present with a mild effusion and pain localized to the posterior aspect of the knee. They often can bear weight acutely but do so with a flexed knee gait, thus avoiding terminal extension.3 There will often be a complaint of pain with deep flexion, squatting, or kneeling.4 With a low-grade injury the patient often does not complain of instability or mechanical symptoms and is able to continue to compete without recognizing deficit. Historically, grade I and grade II (less than 10 mm posterior translation) PCL injuries have been successfully managed with nonoperative treatment.3,4 Grade III injuries (>10 mm translation) and combined injuries are usually managed with operative reconstruction of the PCL and associated injuries.
Anatomical relationships of dopaminergic and GABAergic systems with the GnRH-systems in the septo-hypothalamic area. Immunohistochemical studies.

Immunohistochemical double staining for gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) reveals in the septo-preopticdiagonal band complex of the rat brain close spatial associations between GnRH-immunoreactive perikarya and TH and GAD immunoreactive fibers. In the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis, no close spatial relationships could be observed between TH-or GAD-positive fibers and the GnRH-containing system. In contrast, in the median eminence substantial overlap exists in the distribution of GnRH with TH and GAD containing nerve fibers. This overlap is most intense for TH throughout the lateral palisade zone, while for GAD it is more restricted to the outermost portion of the external palisade zone. The results suggest that dopamine and GABA influence GnRH secretion via axosomatic contacts in the septo-preoptic-diagonal band complex, as well as via axo-axonic interactions in the median eminence, while no such interactions seem to exist in the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis. Since dopaminergic cell bodies in the ventral hypothalamus are closely apposed by GnRH and GAD containing fibers, the existence of feedback circuits among GnRH, dopamine and GABA systems is proposed.
Prolonged pain reducing effect of sodium hyaluronate-carboxymethyl cellulose solution in the selective nerve root block (SNRB) of lumbar radiculopathy: a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND The pattern of linear graph schematized by visual analogue scale (VAS) score displaying pain worsening between 2 days and 2 weeks after selective nerve root block (SNRB) is called rebound pain. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine if sodium hyaluronate and carboxymethyl cellulose solution (HA-CMC sol) injection could reduce the occurrence of rebound pain at 3 days to 2 weeks after SNRB in patients with radiculopathy compared with injection with corticosteroids and local anesthetics alone. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Double blinded randomized controlled clinical trial. PATIENT SAMPLE A total of 44 patients (23 of 24 patients in the Guardix group and 21 of 24 patients in the control group) who finished the follow-up session were subjects of this study. OUTCOME MEASUREMENT Patients were asked to write down their average VAS pain scores daily for 12 weeks. Functional outcomes were assessed by Oswestry Disability Index, Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire , and Short Form-36. METHOD A cocktail of corticosteroids, 1% lidocaine, 0.5% Bupivacaine, and 1 mL of normal saline was used for the control group whereas a cocktail of corticosteroids, 1% lidocaine, 0.5% Bupivacaine, and 1 mL of HA-CMC solution was used for the G group. Study participants were randomized into one of two treatment regimens. They were followed up for 3 months. RESULTS VAS score at 2 weeks after the procedure was 4.19±1.32 in the control group, which was significantly (p CONCLUSIONS Compared with conventional cocktail used for SNRB, addition of HA-CMC sol showed effective control of rebound pain at 3 days to 2 weeks after the procedure.