cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A phase I study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) with the gamma secretase (GS) inhibitor RO4929097 in combination with paclitaxel (P) and carboplatin (C) in women with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

1043 Background: Notch receptors are overexpressed in TNBC. Notch activation involves the cleavage of Notch ligand/receptor complex by GS. RO4929097 (RO) is an oral inhibitor of GS. We are conducting a phase I NCT trial of intermittent RO in combination with P and C in TNBC to determine the dose limiting toxicity (DLT) and the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of RO. Because RO induces CYP3A4/5, plasma P and RO are quantified in real time to ensure P AUC exposure is not decreased. Methods: Women ≥ 18 years with clinical stage II/III TNBC received C AUC=6 on day 1 and weekly P 80 mg/m2 in combination with RO on days 1-3, 8-10 and 15-17 for six 21-day cycles. The starting dose of RO was 10 mg and escalated according to the 3+3 rule. DLT was defined as grade ≥3 (G3) non-hematologic toxicity (n-HT), grade 4 (G4) thrombocytopenia (TCP) or G4 neutropenia (NP) during cycle#1 (c1). Plasma specimens were analyzed for PK by a validated LC-MS/MS assay. Results: 13 pts were enrolled. Two pts enrolled at 10 mg RO with C AU...
The Essential Goethe

Scholarly writing about Goethe in English is alive and well. Witness, for example, two recent critical essays that illuminatingly connect Goethe’s work to current popular writings: Shannon Russell’...
Pattern Inference & Model Discovery

The main objective of this chapter is to discuss the concept of pattern-based inference and the mechanism for inference model discovery. Pattern-based inference is model based. In other words, we need probability model(s) in order to conduct pattern-based inference. In chapter 10 we will discuss one kind of probability models — Bayesian networks. It has a graphical representation for the mathematical structure of the probability models.
Do the ‘brain dead’ merely appear to be alive?

The established view regarding ‘brain death’ in medicine and medical ethics is that patients determined to be dead by neurological criteria are dead in terms of a biological conception of death, not a philosophical conception of personhood, a social construction or a legal fiction. Although such individuals show apparent signs of being alive, in reality they are (biologically) dead, though this reality is masked by the intervention of medical technology. In this article, we argue that an appeal to the distinction between appearance and reality fails in defending the view that the ‘brain dead’ are dead. Specifically, this view relies on an inaccurate and overly simplistic account of the role of medical technology in the physiology of a ‘brain dead’ patient. We conclude by offering an explanation of why the conventional view on ‘brain death’, though mistaken, continues to be endorsed in light of its connection to organ transplantation and the dead donor rule.
Damage probability in laminated glass subjected to low velocity small missile impacts

The probability of damage at the impact site in the outer glass ply of laminated glass units subjected to low velocity small missile impacts is investigated. A dynamic, non-linear finite element analysis is applied to compute the stress response on impacts. Based on the cumulative damage theory, a damage factor is introduced and related to Weibull's distribution of probability to characterize the probability of damage. In conjunction with the finite element analysis, controlled experiments are conducted to determine the material constants appearing in the damage model and Weibull's distribution of probability. A parametric study involving impact velocity, glass ply thickness and interlayer thickness is presented.
Opposing California’s WaterFix: The Trump Administration and the Future of Environmental Advocacy

In October 2017, the Trump administration announced that it would not participate in a $17 billion ‘WaterFix’ plan to remake California’s water conveyance system by drilling two massive tunnels und...
Constitutional reform and new patterns of electoral violence: evidence from Kenya’s 2013 elections

In places prone to electoral violence, what effects can constitutional changes have on elites’ incentives to organise conflict? This article develops two hypotheses to address the above question. I...
From predictive methods to missing data imputation: an optimization approach

Missing data is a common problem in real-world settings and for this reason has attracted significant attention in the statistical literature. We propose a flexible framework based on formal optimization to impute missing data with mixed continuous and categorical variables. This framework can readily incorporate various predictive models including K- nearest neighbors, support vector machines, and decision tree based methods, and can be adapted for multiple imputation. We derive fast first-order methods that obtain high quality solutions in seconds following a general imputation algorithm opt.impute presented in this paper. We demonstrate that our proposed method improves out-of-sample accuracy in large-scale computational experiments across a sample of 84 data sets taken from the UCI Machine Learning Repository. In all scenarios of missing at random mechanisms and various missing percentages, opt.impute produces the best overall imputation in most data sets benchmarked against five other methods: mean impute, K-nearest neighbors, iterative knn, Bayesian PCA, and predictive-mean matching, with an average reduction in mean absolute error of 8.3% against the best cross-validated benchmark method. Moreover, opt.impute leads to improved out-of-sample performance of learning algorithms trained using the imputed data, demonstrated by computational experiments on 10 downstream tasks. For models trained using opt.impute single imputations with 50% data missing, the average out-of-sample R2 is 0.339 in the regression tasks and the average out-of-sample accuracy is 86.1% in the classification tasks, compared to 0.315 and 84.4% for the best cross-validated benchmark method. In the multiple imputation setting, downstream models trained using opt.impute obtain a statistically significant improvement over models trained using multivariate imputation by chained equations (mice) in 8/10 missing data scenarios considered.
Fine structural analysis of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the mouse inferior olivary complex

Climbing fiber afferents to the cerebellum, from the inferior olivary complex, have a powerful excitatory effect on Purkinje cells. Changes in the responsiveness of olivary neurons to their afferent inputs, leading to changes in the firing rate or pattern of activation in climbing fibers, have a significant effect on the activation of cerebellar neurons and ultimately on cerebellar function. Several neuropeptides have been localized in both varicosities and cell bodies of the mouse inferior olivary complex, one of which, calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), has been shown to modulate the activity of olivary neurons. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the synaptic relationships of CGRP-containing components of the caudal medial accessory olive and the principal olive of adult mice, using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The vast majority of immunoreactive profiles were dendrites and dendritic spines within and outside the glial boundaries of synaptic glomeruli (clusters). Both received synaptic inputs from non-CGRP labeled axon terminals. CGRP was also present within the somata of olivary neurons as well as in profiles that had cytological characteristics of axons, some of which were filled with synaptic vesicles. These swellings infrequently formed synaptic contacts. At the LM level, few, if any, CGRP-immunoreactive climbing fibers, were seen, suggesting that CGRP is compartmentalized within the somata and dendrites of olivary neurons and is not transported to their axon terminals. Thus, in addition to previously identified extrinsic sources of CGRP, the widespread distribution of CGRP within olivary somata and dendrites identifies an intrinsic source of the peptide suggesting the possibility of dendritic release and a subsequent autocrine or paracrine function for this peptide within olivary circuits.
Structure of the Cell Covering

Scales from all species consist of a base plate and a posterior upturned rim (Figs. 2.1–2.2). The base plate is most often perforated with minute pores, referred to as base plate pores, although in a few species the pores are inconspicuous and perhaps lacking (e.g. Sectio Papillosae). Base plate pores may be spaced evenly over the scale, lie concentrated in certain regions (e.g. the posterior of the shield) or be lacking altogether from specific areas (e.g. flanges). For most species the dome is devoid of such pores. The posterior margin of the scale is upturned and bent (recurved) back over the scale forming a rim (Figs. 2.1–2.2). Posterior rims may be narrow or quite broad and usually encircle about one-half of the perimeter of the scale. The posterior rim usually extends an equal distance around both sides of the scale, however, for scales of some species (e.g. M. retrorsa) and often for scales positioned close to the ends of the cell, the rim may extend further along one margin (usually the right margin) resulting in an asymmetric design. The degree to which the rim overlaps the scale is herein referred to as the canopy of the rim (Fig. 2.2). The end of the scale with the rim is referred to as the proximal end, whereas the front end is designated as the distal end.
Tomographic imaging with wireless sensor networks

This paper discusses (a) the design and implementation of the integrated radio tomographic imaging (RTI) interface for radio signal strength (RSS) data obtained from a wireless sensor network (WSN) (b) the use of model-driven methods to determine the extent of regularization to be applied to reconstruct images from the RSS data, and (c) preliminary study of the performance of the network.
Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model Host to Monitor the Candida Infection Processes

C. elegans has several advantages as an experimental host for the study of infectious diseases. Worms are easily maintained and propagated on bacterial lawns. The worms can be frozen for long term storage and still maintain viability years later. Their short generation time and large brood size of thousands of worms grown on a single petri dish, makes it relatively easy to maintain at a low cost. The typical wild type adult worm grows to approximately 1.5 mm in length and are transparent, allowing for the identification of several internal organs using an affordable dissecting microscope. A large collection of loss of function mutant strains are readily available from the C. elegans genetic stock center, making targeted genetic studies in the nematode possible. Here we describe ways in which this facile model host has been used to study Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen that poses a serious public health threat.
Resources aren’t everything, but they do help: assessing local TV health news to deliver substantive and useful health information

Background This study explores how different station characteristics, especially organizational resources, influence local health news reporting. While some studies have identified general trends i...
Comparison of Three-Level and Two-Level Converters for AFE Application

SiC-MOSFET based 2-level converters can be a promising topology for Active Front End (AFE) application in electric drives. The possibility of high switching frequency will make the grid filters smaller. Grid filters are used for EMC and power quality issues. However, there are practical limitations for increasing the switching frequency such as dead time in the gating signals, sampling requirements, and electro-magnetic interference (EMI) considerations, besides the need for high frequency magnetic material for the LCL line filter. However, 3-level converters provide the opportunity to switch at a lower frequency and also reduce the filter size compared to a 2-level IGBT converter. Three-level converters can be built using low voltage rated modules with lower switching losses and reduced cost compared to SiC based 2-level converters. In this paper, a comparison between 3-level converters and 2-level converters is presented focusing on power loss, filter size and application benefits.
Implementation of Project Oriented Problem Based Learning in the Analog Electronics Course

This paper introduces the teaching and learning strategies adopted in Analog Electronics course for the Second Year BTech (Electronics and Telecommunication). The work focuses on the planned Teaching Activities (TA) and adaptation of the best Teaching Methods (TM) to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The paper highlights the advantages of Project oriented problem based learning (POPBL). It was found that the students who followed POPBL learned to acquire some of these specialized skills via. team work, communication skills, decision-making, analytical, leadership and good interpersonal skills.
Junior High School Students' Achievement Goals, Social Goals, and Self-Reported Persistence in Physical Education Settings.

This study utilized a 2 × 2 achievement goal model to explore a relationship between achievement goals and social goals, and how these goals are associated with junior high school students’ self-re...
Climate Change and Nutrient Loading in the Western Lake Erie Basin: Warming Can Counteract a Wetter Future.

In the past 20 years, Lake Erie has experienced a resurgence of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia driven by increased nutrient loading from its agriculturally dominated watersheds. The increase in p...
Baseline Craving Strength as a Prognostic Marker of Benefit from Smartphone App-Based Mindfulness Training for Smoking Cessation

Mindfulness training for smoking cessation may work by lessening the association between craving and smoking. However, no studies have tested whether baseline craving may be an indicator of individual smokers who might benefit more from receiving mindfulness training. This study evaluated baseline craving strength and frequency as treatment moderators in a randomized controlled trial for smoking cessation comparing mobile (smartphone-based) mindfulness training plus ecological momentary assessment (MMT-EMA) to ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Participants included 325 adult smokers (71.7% female; 81.4% White; mean age = 41.27). Craving strength and frequency were assessed with the Craving Experiences Questionnaire. Smoking was measured as cigarettes per day (CPD) at baseline and six-month follow-up. Moderated regression models were conducted. There was a significant interaction between treatment group and craving strength, but not craving frequency, in the prediction of smoking. Follow-up analyses indicated that baseline craving strength predicted benefit from receiving MMT-EMA, such that higher craving strength at baseline was significantly associated with greater reductions in CPD from baseline to six months in the MMT-EMA group, but not in the EMA group. Findings suggest that baseline craving strength may be a prognostic marker of benefit from smartphone app-delivered mindfulness training for smoking cessation. Future work is warranted for understanding baseline craving as a moderator of mindfulness training for smoking cessation.
Exercise normalizes alveolar exosomes in smoke-exposed mice

Pulmonary and circulating extracellular vesicles (EV), including exosomes, are increased by cigarette smoking and implicated in COPD pathogenesis. Exercise, a component of pulmonary rehabilitation, increases circulating EVs and anti-inflammatory signaling. The effect of exercise on smoke-induced EV release and immunomodulation is not known. 40 C57BL mice were exposed to air or daily cigarette smoke (10 cigarettes/day) for 4 months. At 4 months, 10 from each group ran for 1 hour while others rested; within 20 min serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected. CD63+/TSG101+ EVs were isolated by immunoprecipitation and quantified by nanoparticle tracking analysis. Inflammatory markers were measured in serum EVs by multiplex. Smoke increased EVs in serum (38%) and BALF (72%). In smoke-exposed mice, exercise further increased EVs in serum (25%), but reduced EVs in BALF (58%) (Figure). Smoke reduced (p Smoking increased circulating and alveolar EVs and altered exercise-induced inflammatory signaling within circulating EVs. One exercise bout normalized alveolar EV concentration, and increased circulating EVs. This suggests a potential benefit of exercise on EV-associated alveolar pathogenesis. Support: TRDRP 28FT-001
Chapter 17 – Milk Protein Gels

The formation and properties of the main types of milk protein gels are described, that is, casein gels made with rennet or acid, heat-induced whey protein gels, and gels made by a combination of approaches. The impact of various factors on these gelation properties is discussed. Recent key advances are highlighted, including the use of high pressure, exopolysaccharides, and transglutaminase cross-linking of proteins, and new insights are given into the ubiquitous use of thermal processing to alter the texture of these gels.
Alloplastic Temporomandibular Joint Reconstruction for Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of alloplastic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) total joint replacement (TJR) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Materials and Methods All patients with a formal diagnosis of JIA requiring a TMJ patient-specific TJR between 2010 and 2018 at The University of Texas–Health at San Antonio were retrospectively analyzed. To be included, patients must have had a formal diagnosis of JIA, complete records, and TMJ reconstruction with the TMJ Concepts patient-specific total joint prosthesis (TMJ Concepts, Ventura, CA). Clinical data acquisition was required at a minimum of 12 months after surgery (longest follow-up [LFU]). Subjective and objective analyses were performed using a 10-point visual analog scale at the preoperative and LFU time points. Surgical data at the perioperative and LFU time points were recorded for comparison. Results Twenty patients with JIA met the inclusion criteria. The mean visual analog scale measurements for facial pain, TMJ pain, jaw function, diet, and disability were all significantly reduced at LFU. The maximal interincisal opening with pain was increased from 33.5 mm preoperatively to 44 mm at LFU, and the mean maximal interincisal opening without pain was increased from 31.1 mm preoperatively to 43 mm at LFU. None of the patients had complications from their TMJ TJR. Conclusions Alloplastic TMJ reconstruction is a safe and efficacious treatment option for the surgical management of end-stage TMJ disease in JIA patients.
Effect of life stage and pesticide exposure on the gut microbiota of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens L

Pesticides commonly contaminate the aquatic environments inhabited by mosquito juveniles. However, their role in shaping the mosquito microbiota is not well understood. We hypothesized that environmentally relevant concentrations of atrazine, permethrin and malathion will mediate a shift in the mosquito gut bacterial community structure due to their toxic effect on the aquatic bacterial communities, and reduce mosquito gut bacterial diversity by enriching pesticide-degrading bacterial communities over susceptible taxa. Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16 S rRNA gene was used to characterize the microbial communities of larval and adult stages of the two mosquito species and the water samples from microcosms treated with each of the pesticides, separately. Bacterial community composition differed by sample type (larval stage vs. adult stage) and water sampling date (day 3 vs. day 7), but not by pesticide treatment. In larval stages, bacterial OTU richness was highest in samples exposed to malathion, intermediate in permethrin, and lowest in controls. Bacterial richness was significantly higher in larval stages compared to adult stages for all treatments. This study provides a primer for future studies evaluating mosquito microbial responses to exposures to chemical pesticides and the possible implications for mosquito ecology.
Crossroads in the renaissance of rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries

Abstract Aqueous zinc batteries dominate the primary battery market with alkaline chemistries and recently have been rejuvenated as rechargeable devices to compete for grid-scale energy storage applications. Tremendous effort has been made in the past few years and improved cyclability has been demonstrated in both alkaline, neutral, and mild acidic systems. In this review/perspective, we will elucidate the merits of rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries through side-by-side comparison to Li-ion batteries, examine the challenges and progress made in the pursuit of highly rechargeable alkaline and mild acidic batteries, and finally provide a holistic forward look at the technology. The focus is placed on static closed cell designs, while flow batteries and open systems like zinc-air batteries will not be included due to space constraint.
Governing International Rivers: Polycentric Politics in the Mekong and the Rhine

Contents: 1. Governance and International Rivers 2. Polycentricity of World Politics 3. Institutional Evolution in the Mekong and the Rhine 4. Multilayer Environmental Governance in the Rhine 5. Influence of Non-state Actors in Governance of the Rhine 6. Issues, Interests and Actors in the Pak Mun Dam Project 7. Influence of Non-state Actors on Pak Mun Dam 8. Polycentric Environmental Governance References Index
Equity in the Academy? Examining Cyberbullying Victimization and Conflict Resolution Across Sexual and Gender Identity During COVID-19

Decades of research have examined bullying victimization during the K-12 years of schooling; yet limited research has explored cyberbullying victimization at the university level, and even fewer studies have examined cyberbullying of SGM (sexual and/or gender minority) individuals in higher education. As reliance on technology has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, university members may have encountered increased victimization experiences. This report aims to expand the literature on SGM cyberbullying victimization and resource utilization in higher education. Findings resulted from a mixed-methods survey of 231 respondents (185 students, 28 staff, 18 faculty) at a large, research-intensive university in the northeast United States. In general, cyberbullying victimization was not attributed to one’s sexual or gender identity, and occurred primarily through educational communication tools (e.g., email) and social media; a majority of cyberbullying instances went unacknowledged by supervisors or campus resources. Though community members were aware of institutional conflict resolution resources, many of the reported instances were not resolved. Future research should focus on how cyberbullying in higher education continues to change as reliance on information and communication technology increases.
Political machines: a framework for studying politics in social machines

In the age of ubiquitous computing and artificially intelligent applications, social machines serves as a powerful framework for understanding and interpreting interactions in socio-algorithmic ecosystems. Although researchers have largely used it to analyze the interactions of individuals and algorithms, limited attempts have been made to investigate the politics in social machines. In this study, I claim that social machines are per se political machines, and introduce a five-point framework for classifying influence processes in socio-algorithmic ecosystems. By drawing from scholars from political theory, I use a notion of influence that functions as a meta-concept for connecting and comparing different conceptions of politics. In this way, I can associate multiple political aspects of social machines from a cybernetic perspective. I show that the framework efficiently categorizes dimensions of influence that shape interactions between individuals and algorithms. These categories are symbolic influence, political conduct, algorithmic influence, design, and regulatory influence. Using case studies, I describe how they interact with each other on online social networks and in algorithmic decision-making systems and illustrate how the framework is able to guide scientists in further research.
Effect of granular activated carbon and other porous materials on thermal decomposition of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: Mechanisms and implications for water purification.

Abstract Thermal treatment is routinely used to reactivate the spent granular activated carbon (GAC) from water purification facilities. It is also an integral part of sewage sludge treatment and municipal solid waste management. This study presents a detailed investigation of the fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and one PFAS alternative (GenX) in thermal processes, focusing on the effect of GAC. We demonstrate that the thermolysis of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and GenX can occur at temperatures of 150‒200 °C. Three temperature zones were discovered for PFOA, including a stable and nonvolatile zone (≤90 °C), a phase-transfer and thermal decomposition zone (90‒400 °C), and a fast decomposition zone (≥400 °C). The thermal decomposition began with the homolysis of a C‒C bond next to the carboxyl group of PFCAs, which formed unstable perfluoroalkyl radicals. Dual decomposition pathways seem to exist. The addition of a highly porous adsorbent, such as GAC or a copolymer resin, compressed the intermediate sublimation zone of PFCAs, changed their thermal decomposition pathways, and increased the decomposition rate constant by up to 150-fold at 250 °C. The results indicate that the observed thermal decomposition acceleration was linked to the adsorption of gas-phase PFCA molecules on GAC. The presence of non-activated charcoals/biochars with a low affinity for PFOA did not accelerate its thermal decomposition, suggesting that the π electron-rich, polyaromatic surface of charcoal/GAC played an insignificant role compared to the adsorbent's porosity. Overall, the results indicate that (1) substantial decomposition of PFCAs and GenX during conventional thermal GAC/sludge/waste treatment is very likely, and (2) the presence or addition of GAC or other highly porous materials can accelerate thermal PFAS decomposition and alter decomposition pathways.
RT-METER: a real-time, multi-layer cyber-power testbed for resiliency analysis

In this work, we present a Real-Time, Multi-layer cybEr-power TestbEd for the Resiliency analysis (RT-METER) to support power grid operation and planning. Developed cyber-power testbed provides a mechanism for end-to-end validation of advanced tools for cyber-power grid monitoring, control, and planning. By integrating a host of features across three core layers-physical power system, communication network, and monitoring/control center with advanced tools,---the testbed provides a platform to model and simulate rich and diverse cyber-power grid scenarios and generating realistic sensors, system, and network data. These data are subsequently used in validating advanced tools to assist operators during complex and challenging scenarios, which is essential for the successful operation of the future grid. We detail a suite of algorithmic tools validated using the developed testbed and the generated realistic grid data.
Denial of Service: A Growing Underrated Threat

In the modern Internet age the use of networking for resources and services has become routine in everyone's daily life. Whether it is accessing one's social media, online banking, using cloud-based applications, or even simply resolving host names through DNS, relying on another company's resources has become the norm. However, when an attacker restricts our access to these resources through a Denial-of-Service attack, it not only affects our daily life, but affects the business providing the resources. While DoS prevention services exist, the size and frequency of these attacks is increasing every year. This paper addresses the issue of DoS and DDoS attacks, presents examples of major attacks, and presents how the Internet of Things is making these attacks worse. The first goal of this paper is to emphasize on the growing risk of Denial-of-Service attacks and to present how different types of attacks can be and were used against a business network and operations. The second goal is to present how these attacks can be performed with ease and how the Internet of Things is playing a major role in these attacks. The result of the study is a suggestion of two approaches to take against these attacks: mitigating amplification attacks and hardening IoT devices.
Post-translational modification patterns on β-myosin heavy chain are altered in ischemic and non-ischemic human hearts

Phosphorylation and acetylation of sarcomeric proteins are important for fine-tuning myocardial contractility. Here, we used bottom-up proteomics and label-free quantification to identify novel post-translational modifications (PTMs) on beta-myosin heavy chain ({beta}-MHC) in normal and failing human heart tissues. We report six acetylated lysines and two phosphorylated residues: K34-Ac, K58-Ac, S210-P, K213-Ac, T215-P, K429-Ac, K951-Ac, and K1195-Ac. K951-Ac was significantly reduced in both ischemic and non-ischemic failing hearts compared to non-diseased hearts. Molecular dynamics simulations show that K951-Ac may impact stability of thick filament tail interactions and ultimately myosin head positioning. K58-Ac altered the solvent exposed SH3 domain surface - known for protein-protein interactions - but did not appreciably change motor domain conformation or dynamics under conditions studied. Together, K213-Ac/T215-P altered loop 1s structure and dynamics - known to regulate ADP-release, ATPase activity, and sliding velocity. Our study suggests that {beta}-MHC acetylation levels may be influenced more by the PTM location than the type of heart disease since less protected acetylation sites are reduced in both heart failure groups. Additionally, these PTMs have potential to modulate interactions between {beta}-MHC and other regulatory sarcomeric proteins, ADP-release rate of myosin, flexibility of the S2 region, and cardiac myofilament contractility in normal and heart failure hearts.
The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor as a Model PAS Sensor

Abstract Proteins containing P ER- A RNT- S IM (PAS) domains are commonly associated with environmental adaptation in a variety of organisms. The PAS domain is found in proteins throughout Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya and often binds small-molecules, supports protein-protein interactions, and transduces input signals to mediate an adaptive physiological response. Signaling events mediated by PAS sensors can occur through induced phosphorelays or genomic events that are often dependent upon PAS domain interactions. In this perspective, we briefly discuss the diversity of PAS domain containing proteins, with particular emphasis on the prototype member, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). This ligand-activated transcription factor acts as a sensor of the chemical environment in humans and many chordates. We conclude with the idea that since mammalian PAS proteins often act through PAS-PAS dimers, undocumented interactions of this type may link biological processes that we currently think of as independent. To support this idea, we present a framework to guide future experiments aimed at fully elucidating the spectrum of PAS-PAS interactions with an eye towards understanding how they might influence environmental sensing in human and wildlife populations.
Imaging Foreign Bodies: Ingested, Aspirated, and Inserted

Foreign bodies can gain entrance to the body through several mechanisms, ie, ingestion, aspiration, and purposeful insertion. For each of these common entry mechanisms, this article examines the epidemiology, clinical presentation, anatomic considerations, and key imaging characteristics associated with clinically relevant foreign bodies seen in the emergency department (ED) setting. We detail optimal use of multiple imaging techniques, including radiography, ultrasonography, fluoroscopy, and computed tomography to evaluate foreign bodies and their associated complications. Important imaging and clinical features of foreign bodies that can alter clinical management or may necessitate emergency intervention are discussed.
A Generalized Likelihood Ratio Control Chart for Monitoring the Process Mean Subject to Linear Drifts

This article considers the problem of monitoring a normally distributed process variable when a special cause may produce a time-varying linear drift in the mean. The design and application of a generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) control chart for drift detection are evaluated. The GLR drift chart does not require specification of any tuning parameters by the practitioner and has the advantage that, at the time of the signal, estimates of both the change point and the drift size are immediately available. An equation to accurately approximate the control limit is provided. The performance of the GLR drift chart is compared with that of other control charts such as a standard cumulative sum chart and a cumulative score chart designed for drift detection. We also compare the GLR chart designed for drift detection with the GLR chart designed for sustained shift detection because both of them require only a control limit to be specified. In terms of the expected time for detection and in terms of the bias and mean squared error of the change-point estimators, the GLR drift chart has better performance for a wide range of drift rates relative to the GLR shift chart when the out-of-control process is truly a linear drift. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanized, Direct Digital-Control Pipette for Automation of Ultramicro Chemcial Analyses

A basic direct digital-control(DDC) pipette has been developed for the automation of ultramicro chemical analysis. The new pipette is an electromechanical device, which consists of an electronic preset-indexer, a stepping motor, a screw slide assembly, a syringe barrel equipped with a dedicated displacement rod of uniform diameter. The fluid volume is measured in relation to length of the displacement rod. With the DDC pipette, one has the unique ability to control electromechanically the movement of the displacement rod in precise increments of 3.17 µm. To measure a specific volume of fluid, the number of incremental movements required by the displacement rod to equal the desired volume is dialed into decade dials. Precision studies showed that the DDC pipette was capable of measuring 1 µl of fluid with a precision better than 0.5%. With slight modifications, the basic DDC pipette can be converted into an automatic sample-diluting system.
The Constitutionality of Campaign Finance Legislation: After Buckley v. Valeo

Substantive regulations of the private financing of election campaigns generally fall into one or more of three categories: (1) restrictions on the contributions that can be made to election campaigns; (2) restrictions on campaign expenditures that candidates and those under their control can make; and (3) restrictions on independent campaign expenditures, i.e., expenditures relating to campaigns by those not under the control of a candidate. In its 1976 decision Buckley v. Valeo, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the constitutional validity of each of these three kinds of regulations in response to a facial challenge to Congress's 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. The Court held that the monetary contribution limits contained in those amendments were constitutional, but that the amendments' monetary limits on both candidate and independent campaign expenditures violated the First Amendment.Almost everyone who has commented on Buckley in the quarter century since it was decided agrees with at least part of the Court's decision. There is strong disagreement, however, about which part of the decision is correct. This article argues that the Buckley Court was correct in holding that reasonable campaign contribution limits are constitutional and incorrect in holding that campaign expenditure limits are unconstitutional. The Court majority failed to recognize that, while campaign expenditure limits probably cannot be justified by the same legitimate and powerful reasons that support campaign contribution limits, they can be justified by other equally legitimate and powerful reasons.
Glacial limits in the middle and southern Rocky mountains, U.S.A., south of the Yellowstone ice cap

Publisher Summary This chapter includes the mapped limits for glacial deposits of the Middle and Southern Rocky Mountains of the USA except Yellowstone National Park and the immediately adjacent ranges in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Map units include: (1) the maximum limits of Pleistocene glaciation, (2) the limits of Pinedale glaciation, (3) the limits of Bull Lake glaciation, and (4) the limits of deposits that are presently thought to correlate to the European Younger Dryas climate event. Few map units that are identified in this region unequivocally correspond to the early-middle Wisconsin period. Numbers discussed in superscript refer to localities that are important to the Quaternary interpretations of this region and the location of each is indicated on the accompanying map. The chapter also discusses that the model for the glacial succession in Rocky mountain region was established. Early mapping recognized deposits that corresponded to two alpine glaciations in many ranges. Later maps delineated deposits that corresponded to three glaciations. It reviews that each of these glaciations subsequently has been subdivided, with subdivisions based on relative age and numeric age-data. It identified deposits corresponding to three Pleistocene glaciations in the Wind River Range: the Pinedale, Bull Lake, and Buffalo drifts.
Učinek probiotikov pri preprečevanju okužb pri otrocih

Several well-designed randomized controlled trials confirmed the beneficial effects of certain probiotic strains in specific clinical indications. One indication, which is of special interest for pediatricians, is the prevention of infections in children. Children who are especially prone to infections, in developed countries, are hospitalized children and children who attend day care centers. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarize all currently available randomized controlled trails and meta-analysis on the role of different probiotic strains in the prevention of gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infection in hospitalized children and children attending day care centers.
Cosmology inspired design of biomimetic tissue engineering templates with gaussian random fields

Tissue engineering integrates the principles of engineering and life sciences toward the design, construction, modification and growth of biological substitutes that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function. The structural integrity and ultimate functionality of such tissue analogs is defined by scaffolds- porous, three-dimensional "trellis-like" structures that, on implantation, provide a viable environment to regenerate damaged tissues. The orthogonal scaffold fabrication methods currently employed can be broadly classified into two categories: (a) conventional, irreproducible, stochastic techniques producing reasonably biomorphic scaffold architecture, and (b) rapidly emerging, repeatable, computer-controlled techniques producing straight edged "contra naturam" scaffold architecture. In this paper, we present the results of the first attempt in an image-based scaffold modeling and optimization strategy that synergistically exploits the orthogonal fabrication techniques to create repeatable, biomorphic scaffolds with optimal scaffold morphology. Motivated by the use of Gaussian random fields (GRF) to model cosmological structure formation, we use appropriately ordered and clipped stacks of GRF to model the three-dimensional pore-solid scaffold labyrinths. Image-based metrology, fabrication and mechanical characterization of these scaffolds reveal the possibility of enabling the previously elusive deployment of promising benchside tissue analogs to the clinical bedside.
Optimal allocation of robotic wind turbine inspectors in a wind farm

Wind turbines play an important role in producing clean energy and reducing pollution, but they can fail during the operation due to various types of faults and environment uncertainties. Therefore, one of the key problems in wind energy systems is the resilient control to achieve their high reliability. To reach this goal, we first design a resilient controller by incorporating faults into the wind turbine model. Second, we utilize various kinds of robotic wind turbine inspectors (RWTI) that can detect different types of faults to support the resilient control. Then, we formulate an RWTI allocation problem which aims to minimize the damage due to faults in a wind farm. We quantify the damage by computing the control cost under faults, and also take the probability of fault occurrence into account. The solution to this optimization problem yields an optimal dispatching strategy of RWTIs in a wind farm, and enhances the resiliency of the wind energy system.
Isolation and properties of poliovirus minus strand ribonucleic acid.

Abstract Poliovirus minus strands were purified from double-stranded polio ribonucleic acid. The minus strands have a base ratio complementary to that of the viral ribonucleic acid and are not infectious.
Hand Gestures in Disambiguating Types of You Expressions in Multiparty Meetings

The second person pronoun you serves different functions in English. Each of these different types often corresponds to a different term when translated into another language. Correctly identifying different types of you can be beneficial to machine translation systems. To address this issue, we investigate disambiguation of different types of you occurrences in multiparty meetings with a new focus on the role of hand gesture. Our empirical results have shown that incorporation of gesture improves performance on differentiating between the generic use of you (e.g., refer to people in general) and the referential use of you (e.g., refer to a specific person or a group of people). Incorporation of gesture can also compensate for limitations in automated language processing (e.g., reliable recognition of dialogue acts) and achieve comparable results.
Application and evaluation of entomopathogens for control of pest insects in mint

Peppermint (Mentha piperita), native spearmint (M. spicata), and Scotch spearmint (M. cardiaca) are grown commercially for their essential oils. Essential oils, which are produced in leaf glands primarily on the lower leaf surface, contain volatile terpenes and sesquiterpenes that produce the unique flavoring for candy, chewing gum, toothpaste, medicines and other products. The oil, initially recovered by on-farm steam distillation, is further processed and blended to produce oils to meet specifications requested by product manufacturers.
Alfvén waves as a possible source of long-duration, large-amplitude, and geoeffective southward IMF

The southward component (Bs) of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is a strong driver of geomagnetic activity. Well-defined solar wind structures such as magnetic clouds and corotating interaction regions are the main sources of long-duration, large-amplitude IMF Bs. Here we analyze IMF Bsevents (t> 1 h, Bz<−5nT) unrelated with any well-defined solar wind structure at 1 AU using ACE spacecraft observations from 1998 to 2004. We find that about one third of these Bs events show Alfvenic wave features; therefore, those Alfven waves in the solar wind are also an important source of long-duration, large-amplitude IMF southward component. We find that more than half of the Alfven wave (AW)-related Bs events occur in slow solar wind (Vsw < 400 km/s). One third of the AW-type Bsevents triggered geomagnetic storms, and half triggered substorms.
The influence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the gut microbiome

The composition of the gut microbiome with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has not been fully characterized. Drug use within the past 30 days was ascertained in 155 adults, and stool specimens were submitted for analysis. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated in logit models to distinguish the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) by medication class. The type of medication had a greater influence on the gut microbiome than the number of medications. NSAIDs were particularly associated with distinct microbial populations. Four OTUs (Prevotella species, Bacteroides species, family Ruminococcaceae, and Barnesiella species) discriminated aspirin users from those using no medication (AUC = 0.96; 95% CI 0.84-1.00). The microbiome profile of celecoxib users was similar to that of ibuprofen users, with both showing enrichment of Acidaminococcaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. Bacteria from families Propionibacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Puniceicoccaceae and Rikenellaceae were more abundant in ibuprofen users than in controls or naproxen users. Bacteroides species and Erysipelotrichaceae species discriminated individuals using NSAIDs plus proton-pump inhibitors from those using NSAIDs alone (AUC = 0.96; 95% CI 0.87-1.00). Bacteroides species and a bacterium of family Ruminococcaceae discriminated individuals using NSAIDs in combination with antidepressants and laxatives from those using NSAIDs alone (AUC = 0.98; 95% CI 0.93-1.00). In conclusion, bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract reflect the combinations of medications that people ingest. The bacterial composition of the gut varied with the type of NSAID ingested.
The genetic and developmental basis of an exaggerated craniofacial trait in East African cichlids

The evolution of an exaggerated trait can lead to a novel morphology that allows organisms to exploit new niches. The molecular bases of such phenotypes can reveal insights into the evolution of unique traits. Here, we investigate a rare morphological innovation in modern haplochromine cichlids, a flap of fibrous tissue that causes a pronounced projection of the snout, which is limited to a single genus (Labeotropheus) of Lake Malawi cichlids. We compare flap size in our focal species L. fuelleborni (LF) to homologous landmarks in other closely related cichlid species that show a range of ecological overlap with LF, and demonstrate that variation in flap size is discontinuous among Malawi cichlid species. We demonstrate further that flap development in LF begins at early juvenile stages, and scales allometrically with body size. We then used an F2 hybrid mapping population, derived via crossing LF to a close ecological competitor that lacks this trait, Tropheops "red cheek" (TRC), to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) that underlie flap development. In all, we identified four loci associated with variation in flap size, and for each the LF allele contributed to a larger flap. We next cross-referenced our QTL map with population genomic data, comparing natural populations of LF and TRC, to identify divergent polymorphisms within each QTL interval. Candidate genes for flap development are discussed. Together, these data indicate a relatively simple and tractable genetic basis for this morphological innovation, which is consistent with its apparently sudden and saltatory evolutionary history. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 662-670, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.