cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MinDE-Dependent Pole-to-Pole Oscillation of Division Inhibitor MinC in Escherichia coli

By inhibiting FtsZ ring formation near the cell ends, the MinC protein plays a critical role in proper positioning of the division apparatus in Escherichia coli. MinC activity requires that of MinD, and the MinE peptide provides topological specificity by suppressing MinC-MinD-mediated division inhibition specifically at the middle of the cell. We recently presented evidence that MinE not only accumulates in an FtsZ-independent ring structure at the cell’s middle but also imposes a unique dynamic localization pattern upon MinD in which the latter accumulates alternately in either one of the cell halves in what appears to be a rapidly oscillating membrane association-dissociation cycle. Here we show that functional green fluorescent protein-MinC displays a very similar oscillatory behavior which is dependent on both MinD and MinE and independent of FtsZ. The results support a model in which MinD recruits MinC to its site of action and in which FtsZ ring assembly at each of the cell ends is blocked in an intermittent and alternate fashion.
Hemodynamic study of different angled end‐to‐side anastomoses

This study assessed the postoperative microvascular hemodynamics in end-to-side arterial anastomoses of varied angles in order to determine whether the angle of the anastomosis affects arterial flow. Thirty male rats were divided into three groups of ten. Carotid to carotid end-to-side anastomoses were performed with anastomotic angles of 45, 90, and 135 degrees. Postoperative flow was assessed using high frequency pulsed Doppler ultrasound (HFPDU) at 30 and 120 min postoperatively. Measurements at 30 min demonstrated significant differences in flow, with the 45 degrees grafted vessels utilizing 56.5% of total carotid flow, and the 90 degrees and 135 degrees anastomoses appropriating 46.5% and 43.2% of flow, respectively (comparing 45 degrees to both 90 degrees, P < 0.05, and 135 degrees, P < 0.002). The change from baseline in 45 degrees and 90 degrees groups dissipated over a 2 hr postoperative period, but flow in the grafted vessels in the 135 degrees group continued well below 50% at 39.9% (comparing to both 45 degrees and 90 degrees, P < 0.001), thereby displaying a significant difference in the postoperative arterial flow of varied angled microanastomoses.
Effect of microbial phytase and citric acid on phosphorus bioavailability, apparent metabolizable energy, and amino acid digestibility in distillers dried grains with solubles in chicks

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of OptiPhos phytase and citric acid for releasing the P that is not bioavailable in distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The effect of OptiPhos phytate on AME(n) and amino acid digestibility was also determined. New Hampshire x Columbian chicks were fed experimental diets from 8 to 21 d of age. For Experiment 1, a basal P-deficient diet contained 40% DDGS plus supplemental amino acids, and DDGS was the only source of P. The basal diet was then supplemented with 1,000 or 10,000 phytase units (FTU)/kg of OptiPhos phytase or with 0.2% of P from KH2PO4. In Experiment 2, a slope-ratio chick growth and tibia ash assay used a P-deficient soybean meal basal diet, and it was found that the bioavailability of P in DDGS was 67%. For Experiment 3, a P-deficient basal diet with 30% DDGS plus supplemental amino acids was supplemented with 0.05 or 0.1% P from KH2PO4, with 3% citric acid, or with 1,000 or 10,000 FTU/kg of OptiPhos phytase. In Experiment 1, both 1,000 and 10,000 FTU/kg of phytase increased tibia ash but had no effect on AME(n). Both 10,000 phytase units (FTU)/kg of phytase and supplemental P increased digestibility of amino acids. In Experiment 3, supplemental phytase and citric acid increased tibia ash (mg/tibia), and it was estimated that phytase and citric acid could release from 0.04 to 0.07% P from DDGS. In terms of bioavailability coefficients, the bioavailability of the P in DDGS was increased from 62 to 72%. These results indicate that phytase and citric acid increase the bioavailability of P in DDGS, but phytase at 1,000 FTU/kg had no consistent effect on AME(n) and amino acid digestibility.
Short- and Long-Term Earthquake Forecasts for California and Nevada

We present estimates of future earthquake rate density (probability per unit area, time, and magnitude) on a 0.1-degree grid for a region including California and Nevada, based only on data from past earthquakes. Our long-term forecast is not explicitly time-dependent, but it can be updated at any time to incorporate information from recent earthquakes. The present version, founded on several decades worth of data, is suitable for testing without updating over a five-year period as part of the experiment conducted by the Collaboratory for Study of Earthquake Predictability (CSEP). The short-term forecast is meant to be updated daily and tested against similar models by CSEP. The short-term forecast includes a fraction of our long-term one plus time-dependent contributions from all previous earthquakes. Those contributions decrease with time according to the Omori law: proportional to the reciprocal of the elapsed time. Both forecasts estimate rate density using a radially symmetric spatial smoothing kernel decreasing approximately as the reciprocal of the square of epicentral distance, weighted according to the magnitude of each past earthquake. We made two versions of both the long- and short-term forecasts, based on the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) and Preliminary Determinations of Epicenters (PDE) catalogs, respectively. The two versions are quite consistent, but for testing purposes we prefer those based on the ANSS catalog since it covers a longer time interval, is complete to a lower magnitude threshold and has more precise locations. Both forecasts apply to shallow earthquakes only (depth 25 km or less) and assume a tapered Gutenberg-Richter magnitude distribution extending to a lower threshold of 4.0.
The use of a narrative story stem technique with maltreated children: Implications for theory and practice

Maltreatment can impact the earliest stages of development during which time patterns of emotion regulation and attachment begin to be established (Carlson, Cicchetti, Barnett, & Braunwald, 1989b; Cicchetti, Ganiban, & Barnett, 1991). These disruptive patterns are problematic for early moral development and are likely to play a role in the development of conduct disorders (Aber & Cicchetti, 1984). Thus, maltreated children are clearly in a high-risk situation. To examine emotion regulation, internal representations of relationships, and early moral development, the use of a play narrative story stem technique (Bretherton, Ridgeway, & Cassidy, 1990; Buchsbaum & Emde, 1990) with maltreated children and a nonmaltreated disadvantaged comparison group of children is described. Representative case examples from each group are used to illustrate the effectiveness of this technique for eliciting themes about family relationships, conflicts, and their resolution or lack thereof as well as defenses and coping styles. The potential usefulness of this paradigm for clinical assessment and intervention are discussed.
Analog filter design using GRAYCE simulation package

Summary form only given. Passive and active bandpass filters of the second-order maximally flat type were designed and simulated. Designs using ideal elements were studied in textbooks. The present project emphasized the design using nonideal elements. The simulation program GRAYCE was used as an aid for the design. >
A stereotaxic atlas of the brain of the three‐day‐old domestic chick

Preparation of a stereotaxic atlas of the brain of the 3-day-old domestic chick was prompted by the widespread use of chicks in behavioral and pharmacological research. The atlas is comprised of 26 frontal plates extending from the frontal pole to the level of the hypoglossal nucleus, and one sagittal plate at lateral 0.4 mm. Marking lesions were used to ascertain coordinates, the brains were embedded in albumin and sections cut at 36 mmu. The brain sections were stained with cresyl violet for nuclei and with hematoxylin for fibers. Unstained brain sections were used as a guide in drawing the plates to correct for shrinkage and distortion. The use of the atlas for research purposes for one year, plus test lesions targeted for specific brain structures, indicates the atlas is accurate to within 0.5 mm.
Unfree Labour under Capitalism: A Contradiction in (Useful) Terms:

Is free labour under capitalism a contradiction in terms? Two aspects of this long-debated question are considered. One is the divide between the libertarian insistence on individual freedom and the socialist contention of proletarian class unfreedom. Is there a viewpoint free of judgments or valuations as to what is or is not interesting or valuable about any given view of freedom? We argue that the Rawlsian original position defines a value-free benchmark of maximal freedom from which the degree of unfreedom under any set of social rules can be assessed. While negative individual freedom and class unfreedom are not incompatible, ‘free labour under capitalism’ has got to be a contradiction in terms. But capitalism classically defined is production by doubly ‘free’ labour which sharply distinguishes it from forms of ‘unfree’ labour that constitute its pre-history. This raises both conceptual and substantive empirical questions defining the second divide we consider, between Marx’s view linking capitalism ...
Molecular level studies of polymer behaviors at the water interface using sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy

Industrial plastics, biomedical polymers and numerous other polymeric systems are contacted with water for everyday functions and after disposal. Probing the interfacial molecular interactions between widely used polymers and water yields valuable information that can be extrapolated to macroscopic polymer/water interfacial behaviors so scientists can better understand polymer bio-compatibility, hygroscopic tendencies and improve upon beneficial polymer behavior in water. There is an ongoing concerted effort to elucidate the molecular level behaviors of polymers in water by using sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG). SFG stands out for its utility in probing buried interfaces in situ and in real time without disrupting interfacial chemistry. Included in this review are SFG water interfacial studies performed on poly(methacrylate) and (acrylate)s, poly(dimethyl siloxane)s, poly(ethylene glycol)s, poly(electrolyte)s and other polymer types. The driving forces behind common water/polymer interfacial molecular features will be discussed as well as unique molecular reorientation phenomena and resulting macroscopic behaviors from microscopic polymer rearrangement. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013
Dynamic Performance Simulation of Long-Span Bridge under Combined Loads of Stochastic Traffic and Wind

Slender long-span bridges exhibit unique features which are not present in short and medium-span bridges such as higher traffic volume, simultaneous presence of multiple vehicles, and sensitivity to wind load. For typical buffeting studies of long-span bridges under wind turbulence, no traffic load was typically considered simultaneously with wind. Recent bridge/vehicle/wind interaction studies highlighted the importance of predicting the bridge dynamic behavior by considering the bridge, the actual traffic load, and wind as a whole coupled system. Existent studies of bridge/vehicle/wind interaction analysis, however, considered only one or several vehicles distributed in an assumed usually uniform pattern on the bridge. For long-span bridges which have a high probability of the presence of multiple vehicles including several heavy trucks at a time, such an assumption differs significantly from reality. A new "semideterministic" bridge dynamic analytical model is proposed which considers dynamic interactions between the bridge, wind, and stochastic "real" traffic by integrating the equivalent dynamic wheel load EDWL approach and the cellular automaton CA traffic flow simulation. As a result of adopting the new analytical model, the long-span bridge dynamic behavior can be statistically predicted with a more realistic and adaptive consideration of combined loads of traffic and wind. A prototype slender cable-stayed bridge is numerically studied with the proposed model. In addition to slender long-span bridges which are sensitive to wind, the proposed model also offers a general approach for other conventional long-span bridges as well as roadway pavements to achieve a more realistic understanding of the structural performance under probabilistic traffic and dynamic interactions.
Do more with less: a surgery directed institutional model for resident central line training

Abstract Background Simulation training can improve proficiency in central line placement, but it is expensive and resource intensive. The authors developed a 3-phase approach to central venous catheter placement training, including an online module, mannequin-based simulation using a single faculty member, followed by department directed clinical observation. The hypothesis was that standardizing institutional central venous catheter placement training would maintain training efficiency and reduce faculty and resource demands. Methods Preintervention and postintervention assessments of the trainees' performance were collected to evaluate program effectiveness. Program surveys were collected to evaluate residents' satisfaction and comfort with the procedure. Resource utilization was compared between the period before program implementation and the 2 following years. Results Mean pretest to posttest scores for the online module improved significantly from 7.0 to 8.4 in 2010 and from 7.1 to 8.4 in 2011. Video evaluation demonstrated significant improvement across all postgraduate year levels. Surveys revealed high resident satisfaction and increased procedural confidence. Overall resource costs and faculty requirements decreased. Conclusions A standardized training program for an entire institution can maintain quality while being more cost effective than traditional central venous catheter placement training.
The relative performance of various cup anemometers in a gusty wind

Wind data collected during the Great Plains Turbulence Field Experiment of 1953 are used to study the relative performances of various types of cup anemometers subjected to air flow of known gustiness. Scatter diagrams which relate differences in the indicated mean speeds of two anemometers to gustiness are prepared. Although the instruments compared represent a wide range of moments of inertia, no relationship between gustiness and anemometer performance is noted. This result is examined in light of Schrenk's parameter which describes anemometer performance.
Problems, Process, and Promise: Reflections on a Collaborative Approach to the Solution of the Minority Teacher Shortage

This paper describes the work of a nine-college consortium that aimed to address the minority teacher shortage. First, the consortium's beginnings, aims, and activities are presented. Then the collaborative process is analyzed in terms of nine factors that have been identified in the litera ture as contributors to effective collaboration: (a) commitment of institutional officials, (b) mu tual needs and interests, (c) clarity about goals, roles, and control, (d) sufficient time, (e) energy, (f) effective communication, (g) resources, (h) leadership, and (i) ongoing evaluation. The analy sis resulted in the identification of three additional factors that support successful collaboration: (a) levels of collaboration, (b) continual redefinition, and (c) avoidance of interinstitutional conflicts.
Global Prevention of All Folic Acid-Preventable Spina bifida and Anencephaly by 2010

Folic acid-preventable spina bifida and anencephaly are pandemic, affecting 225,000 children a year. These birth defects are as preventable as polio. As we near the eradication of polio, it is time to make the commitment to global prevention of all folic acid-preventable spina bifida and anencephaly (FA-P SBA) by 2010. Folic acid fortification of centrally processed foods, such as wheat and corn flour, could immediately prevent all of these birth defects for much of the world’s population. These fortification programs will also help adults by increasing serum folate concentration, eradicating folate deficiency anemia, providing human genome stability and reducing homocysteine serum concentration, which will probably prevent heart attacks and strokes, and may prevent colon cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Where there is no centrally processed and distributed food to fortify, intense efforts must be made to increase consumption of synthetic folic acid through vitamin supplements. Geneticists can play a major role in preventing FA-P SBA by helping to create the political will in each country to implement fortification and supplement programs to eliminate disease caused by the current pandemic of folate deficiency.
A study of discriminative feature extraction for i-vector based acoustic sniffing in IVN acoustic model training

Recently, we proposed an i-vector approach to acoustic sniffing for irrelevant variability normalization based acoustic model training in large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR). Its effectiveness has been confirmed by experimental results on Switchboard- 1 conversational telephone speech transcription task. In this paper, we study several discriminative feature extraction approaches in i-vector space to improve both recognition accuracy and run-time efficiency. New experimental results are reported on a much larger scale LVCSR task with about 2000 hours training data.
Contracts and Middleware for Safe SOA Applications

This position paper concerns formal methods for developing safe service-oriented architectures (SOAs) with support for resource management. We seek an approach to building such SOAs based on the specification of service requirements as declarative contracts, and the enforcement of these contracts at the level of the middleware. Using hierarchical containers that provide the necessary middleware services, we expect to guarantee certain safety properties by construction and raise the level of model abstraction for verifying other necessary properties.
Ecosystem Function Measurement, Aquatic and Marine Communities

Investigations of ecosystem function in fresh and saltwater have been dominated by two major themes. The themes originate in two different ways of thinking about biological production. Biological processes can be regarded either as conduits for the flow of mass and energy across trophic levels, or as the mechanisms by which individuals and populations maintain their existence. These processes include photosynthesis, mineral nutrient uptake, gathering of food, and extracting nutrition from it, as well as life history patterns, behavior, and survival strategies.
Epigenetic basis for psychological stress-induced IFNg production in women diagnosed with breast cancer

Breast cancer diagnosis results in psychological stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis with profound effects upon the immune system, which can contribute to cancer progression. We previously reported stress-induced immune dysregulation to be mediated by epigenetic processes, specifically histone modification. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) nuclear intensity and localization of the repressive histone epigenetic mark H3K27me3 in the context of cytoplasmic production of IFN-gamma in PBMCs derived from women diagnosed with breast cancer. Findings revealed that compared to cancer-free women, women diagnosed with breast cancer reported increased levels of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and depressive mood (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression), each of which correlated with increased cortisol and increased IFN-gamma production. Further, compared to cancer-free women, women diagnosed with cancer exhibited decreased detection of H3K27me3 in both the natural killer cell bright and dim populations; as well as reduced localization of H3K27me3 to the heterochromatic nuclear periphery of the cell populations. These data show that stress-induced elevations in IFN-gamma production are associated with reduced levels of repressive epigenetic marks and with reduced localization of those marks to heterochromatic regions of the nucleus. In summary, these results demonstrate a mechanistic linkage among stress perception, depressive mood, and IFN-gamma, a proinflammatory cytokine associated with tumor progression.
Adults' Insensitivity to Developmental Changes in Children's Ability to Report When and How Many Times Abuse Occurred.

In legal settings, children are frequently asked to provide temporal information about alleged abuse, such as when it occurred and how often. Although there is a sizeable body of work in the literature regarding children's ability to provide such information, virtually nothing is known about how adults evaluate the veracity of that information. This omission is especially noteworthy given that adults' evaluations are critical to the progression and outcome of legal cases. We examined adults' perceptions of children's reports of temporal details regarding alleged sexual abuse. We varied both children's age (6 vs. 11 years) and how certain children were when providing such details to assess whether adults were sensitive to changes in how children of different ages typically talk about temporal information. With regard to credibility, adults were insensitive to children's age, perceiving younger and older children who reported temporal details with confidence as more credible than those who reported information tentatively. Normative developmental trends, however, would suggest that, with age, children are often tentative when reporting true temporal details. With regard to perceptions of children's accuracy in reporting temporal information, adults found younger children who were confident to be the most accurate. Regarding guilt judgments, adults rated defendants as having a higher degree of guilt when children were confident in reporting temporal details. The findings have implications for juror decision-making in cases of alleged sexual abuse in which children report when or how often abuse occurred. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Innovative SOFC Hybrid Based Prime Supply for Telecom Applications

Telecom companies worldwide are investigating the option of producing the power needed onsite with fuel cells, while staying grid-connected to use the grid, where available, as backup power in case of an emergency only. Among the available technical options, DC based backup power systems have had huge success in telecom markets, thanks to the higher efficiency than the AC power systems, because of fewer conversion cycles required for energy storage. The proposed work assesses a natural gas operated SOFCNa- NiCl2 battery hybrid system, both electronically and thermally integrated. A hybrid system combining a 0.5 kW SOFC and a 4.5 kW Na-NiCl2 has been experimentally evaluated.
Surface plasmon-enhanced nanopillar photodetectors.

We demonstrate nanopillar- (NP) based plasmon-enhanced photodetectors (NP-PEPDs) operating in the near-infrared spectral regime. A novel fabrication technique produces subwavelength elongated nanoholes in a metal surface self-aligned to patterned NP arrays that acts as a 2D plasmonic crystal. Surface plasmon Polariton Bloch waves (SPP-BWs) are excited by the metal nanohole array resulting in electric field intensity “hot spots” in the NP. The NP periodicity determines the peak responsivity wavelength while the nanohole asymmetry produces polarization-dependent coupling of the SPP-BW modes. Resulting photodetectors have 0.28 A/W responsivity peaked at 1100 nm at a reverse bias of −5 V. Designs for further increasing the optical coupling efficiency into the nanopillar are explored. This technology has potential applications for plasmonically enhanced focal plane arrays and plasmonic photovoltaics.
Simultaneous care for parents and care for children among mid-life British women and men

This article investigates care provided to parents and parents-in-law by mid-life adults with dependent children at home. Data from the General Household Survey are used first to estimate the prevalence of this 'two-way' care over the past decade, and second to develop forecasts of two-way care for a generation of women who have just finished their childbearing years. Having a higher education qualification is associated with later ages both of caring for parents and of having children at home. Increasingly late first childbearing, however, points towards a potentially greater caring 'squeeze' for higher-qualified women, with a little over 1 in 10 at age 45 projected to be caring for a parent while still having a child under 18 in the household.
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and the cardiovascular system.

OBJECTIVE: To show that angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors benefit the cardiovascular system to a greater extent than other antihypertensive agents. DATA EXTRACTION: An extensive literature search has shown that ACE inhibitors can induce regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, which may improve systolic and/or diastolic function in the left ventricle; increase in arterial compliance; and improve clinical signs of congestive heart failure and reduce mortality in patients with severe heart failure. In addition, ACE inhibitors have either a neutral or a beneficial effect on blood lipids and lipoproteins. These agents also have potential anti-ischaemic and anti-arrhythmic activity but do not depress resting cardiac function. CONCLUSION: ACE inhibitors are uniquely valuable first-line antihypertensive agents, especially in patients with cardiovascular risk.
MeCP2 deficiency results in robust Rett-like behavioural and motor deficits in male and female rats

Since the identification of MECP2 as the causative gene in the majority of Rett Syndrome (RTT) cases, transgenic mouse models have played a critical role in our understanding of this disease. The use of additional mammalian RTT models offers the promise of further elucidating critical early mechanisms of disease as well as providing new avenues for translational studies. We have identified significant abnormalities in growth as well as motor and behavioural function in a novel zinc-finger nuclease model of RTT utilizing both male and female rats throughout development. Male rats lacking MeCP2 (Mecp2ZFN/y) were noticeably symptomatic as early as postnatal day 21, with most dying by postnatal day 55, while females lacking one copy of Mecp2 (Mecp2ZFN/+) displayed a more protracted disease course. Brain weights of Mecp2ZFN/y and Mecp2ZFN/+ rats were significantly reduced by postnatal day 14 and 21, respectively. Early motor and breathing abnormalities were apparent in Mecp2ZFN/y rats, whereas Mecp2ZFN/+ rats displayed functional irregularities later in development. The large size of this species will provide profound advantages in the identification of early disease mechanisms and the development of appropriately timed therapeutics. The current study establishes a foundational basis for the continued utilization of this rat model in future RTT research.
More Cases of Ranking Abnormalities when some MCDM Methods are used

Chapter 9 presented an evaluation of the AHP, the revised AHP, the WPM, and the TOPSIS methods in terms of two evaluative criteria. Another evaluation was presented in Chapter 10 for the AHP and the revised AHP methods. The issue of evaluating MCDM methods is a controversial one in the decision analysis / decision making communities. This chapter is partially based on some recent developments that are presented in [Triantaphyllou, 2000] and are related to the evaluation of MCDM methods. The present chapter continues on the same subject and presents some new ranking abnormalities when the AHP and some of its variants are used.
Stable Transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto on the Outer Banks of North Carolina

Summary The spirochaete (Borrelia burgdorferi) associated with Lyme disease was detected in questing ticks and rodents during a period of 18 years, 1991–2009, at five locations on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) was collected at varied intervals between 1991 and 2009 and examined for B. burgdorferi. The white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), house mouse (Mus musculus) marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris), marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) and six-lined racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus) were live-trapped, and their tissues cultured to isolate spirochaetes. Borrelia burgdorferi isolates were obtained from questing adult I. scapularis and engorged I. scapularis removed from P. leucopus, O. palustris and S. floridanus. The prevalence of B. burgdorferi infection was variable at different times and sites ranging from 7 to 14% of examined questing I. scapularis. Mitochondrial (16S) rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis from 65 adult I. scapularis identified 12 haplotypes in two major clades. Nine haplotypes were associated with northern/Midwestern I. scapularis populations and three with southern I. scapularis populations. Sixteen isolates obtained from tick hosts in 2005 were confirmed to be B. burgdorferi by amplifying and sequencing of 16S rRNA and 5S-23S intergenic spacer fragments. The sequences had 98–99% identity to B. burgdorferi sensu stricto strains B31, JD1 and M11p. Taken together, these studies indicate that B. burgdorferi sensu stricto is endemic in questing I. scapularis and mammalian tick hosts on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Prepare and Support Our Chief Health Strategists on the Front Lines.

An introduction is presented in which the author discusses an article in the journal dealing with a framework for the competencies of America's public health practitioners as of 2017, and it mentions how to prepare and support chief public health strategists in the U.S.
A Novel Approach to the Production of Plant-Derived Hydrolysates Yields Medium Supplements with Enhanced Performance in Cell Culture Systems

Certain factors related to the processing of protein hydrolysates produced by the proteolytic digestion of a given raw material may have limiting or negative effects on the performance of the final product in eukaryotic cell systems. Application of a novel approach to the digestion and processing of plant-derived raw materials yields high-quality hydrolysates, with increased lot-to-lot consistency and enhanced performance characteristics, for use in eukaryotic biopharmaceutical production systems.
Qualitative Foundation Rock Wedge Stability Evaluation Performed for Green Peter Dam, Oregon

Green Peter Dam is a concrete gravity structure located in west-central Oregon within the Willamette River Valley Basin. A risk assessment identified continuous and adversely oriented low-angled shears underlying portions of the foundation that could potentially facilitate instability of one or more monoliths during earthquake loading. Conceptually, a potential foundation rock wedge could form with a shear zone as its sliding surface and joints as the side planes. This wedge, which has otherwise been stable under static conditions, could feasibly be displaced and/or shifted during seismic ground shaking resulting in significant structural damage and/or breach of the dam. A qualitative evaluation was performed to characterize the geomechanical conditions and geometry of movement (i.e. kinematics) of the dam-foundation system associated with rock wedges. The study revealed that wedges could indeed be formed by adversely oriented and intersecting rock mass discontinuities but concluded that the displacement geometry and geologic conditions suggest that the wedges would likely be stable under even large probabilistic seismic loading. While no concrete dams are known to have failed due to seismic loading, an increased knowledge of higher seismicity in the Pacific Northwest region warranted a careful evaluation to assure the risks of foundation rock wedge deformation is well-characterized, and that our level of confidence in the available data is acceptable to better constrain the potential risk posed by this failure mode. This paper summarizes the background, findings, and results of the preliminary and qualitative dam-foundation system stability evaluation that was performed for Green Peter Dam.
Raman spectroscopy for forensic purposes: Recent applications for serology and gunshot residue analysis

Abstract The realm of forensics is scientifically complex with multiple disciplines utilizing a plethora of analytical techniques to identify, detect, and differentiate between countless types of evidence for solving crimes. The rapid, highly-selective, and nondestructive method of Raman spectroscopy (RS) has shown continued promise for analysis of many types of forensic samples. The incorporation of chemometrics further enhances the specificity of RS, and offers the opportunity of automatic data analysis and estimation of error rates, which are important requirements for modern forensic tools. Applications of RS in forensic serology and for the analysis of gunshot residue (GSR) were chosen for this review since RS promises significant advancement of these areas for practical forensics. The studies included here, particularly with the utilization of portable instrumentation, support how crucial RS is to the field of forensic science, and should help facilitate its incorporation for routine sample analysis in the near future.
Author Correction: Targeted gadofullerene for sensitive magnetic resonance imaging and risk-stratification of breast cancer.

In the original version of this Article, the penultimate sentence of the Abstract incorrectly read ‘The dose of the contrast agent for effective molecular MRI is only slightly lower than that of ZD2-Cy5.5 (0.5 µmol kg−1) in fluorescence imaging.’ The correct version states ‘higher’ in place of ‘lower’. This error has been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
The ecosystem services of animal microbiomes

Microbiologists often evaluate microbial community dynamics by formulating functional hypotheses based on ecological processes. Indeed, many of the methods and terms currently used to describe animal microbiomes derive from ecology and evolutionary biology. As our understanding of the composition and functional dynamics of "the microbiome" grows, we increasingly refer to the host as an ecosystem within which microbial processes play out. Even so, an ecosystem service framework that extends to the context of the host has thus far been lacking. Here, we argue that ecosystem services are a useful framework with which to consider the value of microbes to their hosts. We discuss those "microbiome services" in the specific context of the mammalian gut, providing a context from which to develop new hypotheses and to evaluate microbial functions in future studies and novel systems.
Moral Reasoning and Christian Faith

A Politics-Religion Attitude Scale and the Defining Issues Test were administered to students at a midwestern state university to ascertain differences in stage of moral reasoning between those who...
Automatic Responses of Crop Stocks and Policies Buffer Climate Change Effects on Crop Markets and Price Volatility

Abstract Climate change has the potential to affect crop prices and price volatility. However, the economic models used in prior assessments largely do not include known, automatic, stabilizing factors. Crop storage can stabilize prices and U.S. crop policy tends to provide support that moves opposite prices. We quantify effects of circa 2050 climate forcing on the inter-annual variability of U.S. Corn Belt corn and soybean yields using statistical crop models and climate scenarios from regional and global climate models. Climate change generally reduces mean yields and increases the inter-annual variability of yields in the Midwestern U.S. Using these yield impacts and an economic model with automatic market stabilizers, we find only modest increases in price volatility. Although individual producers and states are negatively affected by the yield reductions, the aggregate effect for all corn and soybean producer returns can be positive because of price increases. Moreover, agricultural policies based on price levels or revenue variation offset some of the impacts of market variation on farm income. Our results differ from other recent results and temper concerns that increasing climate instability necessarily translates to greater uncertainty about agricultural commodity uses, including as food and biofuels, in the near future.
Imaging Techniques for the Assessment of Ectopic Fat in Liver and Skeletal Muscle

The prevalence of obesity worldwide has prompted the development of noninvasive imaging techniques to monitor excessive accumulation of fat. Noninvasive methods to quantify liver and skeletal muscle fat may be used to assess efficacy and safety endpoints in drug development. Multiple imaging methods have been proposed to measure the amount fat in the liver. The leading methods for quantifying liver fat are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), as these techniques are capable of estimating the hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF), a generalizable, standardized measurement that is reproducible across sites and scanner manufacturers, models, and software. Other techniques, such as computed tomography, ultrasound, and MR techniques that measure uncorrected signal fat fraction rather than PDFF, are confounded by biological, physical, or technical factors. In muscle, the only noninvasive method to gain widespread acceptance is MRS as it is the only technique that can differentiate the fat that accumulates inside skeletal muscle cells (intramyocellular lipid (IMCL)) from the fat that accumulates between skeletal muscles and between skeletal muscle cells.
Life Events that Endanger Wealth

As you go through life, you sometimes experience events that endanger or threaten the amount of wealth that you have accumulated. We have already discussed the importance of obtaining an individual disability income policy in the event of physical disability, and we will discuss how to plan for your own possible mental incapacity later in this chapter. Specifically, however, we identify important planning considerations with respect to six potentially financially devastating life events, including divorce, the loss of a job for an extended period of time, the death of a spouse or life partner, a parent incurring a debilitating condition, caring for a developmentally disabled child, and physical or mental incapacity.
Trends in phytoremediation of radionuclides

Phytoremediation, a novel plant-based remediation technology, is applied to a variety of radionuclide-contaminated sites all over the world. Phytoremediation is defined as the use of green plants to remove pollutants from the environment or to render them harmless. Current status of several subsets of phytoremediation of radionuclides is discussed: (a) phytoextraction, in which high biomass radionuclide-accumulating plants and appropriate soil amendments are used to transport and concentrate radionuclides from the soil into the above-ground shoots, which are harvested with conventional agricultural methods, (b) rhizofiltration, in which plant roots are used to precipitate and concentrate radionuclides from polluted effluents, (c) phytovolatilization, in which plants extract volatile radionuclides from soil and volatilize them from the foliage and (d) phytostabilization, in which plants stabilize radionuclides in soils, thus rendering them harmless. It is shown that phytoremediation is a fast developing field and the phytoremediation of radionuclides might soon become an integral part of the environment management and risk reduction process.
Investigation of plasmonic based nanocomposite thin films for high temperature gas sensing

Plasmonic based thin metal oxide films embedded with Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been employed as sensing materials for detection of H 2 and CO 2 gases at high temperature and an oxygen free environment. Applications of this sensing technology include solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) as well as high temperature harsh environments which might be oxidizing or reducing in nature. In situ detection of H 2 , CO 2 , CO, CH 4 , and water vapor at the inlet stream of solid oxide fuel cell is important for its efficient operation. Existing sensors have several prominent limitations such as poor dynamic range, poor stability, slow response time, and inability to accurately detect one or several gases of interest in the presence of numerous interferences and contaminants. Materials with good sensitivity, selectivity and thermal stability for rapid reliable detection and monitoring of gases is still a necessity. In this work, the localized surface plasmon response (LSPR) of AuNPs embedded in metal oxide is investigated for detection of H 2 and CO 2 . Firstly, CeO 2 supported AuNP sample is employed for percent level detection of H 2 and CO 2 . The study is extended to H 2 sensing in a CO 2 / N 2 carrier gas as well as CO 2 sensing in a H 2 / N 2 carrier gas. Additionally, H 2 pretreatment and increased temperature showed a signature response for CO 2 on Au-CeO 2 film. These sensors should complement existing instruments in situations when multi-point or distributed measurements are needed and as such sensors with demonstrated stability, selectivity and sensitivity will ensure a series of parallel measurements for enhanced system control.
Clients' Experiences of Telepractice for Stuttering

Purpose The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences and perspectives of clients who stutter who are receiving telepractice treatment. Method Five adult participants (19–68 years old...
Occupational Mobility and Lifetime Earnings

People?s occupations have a significant amount of information about their wages. However, because people?especially young workers?go through multiple occupations and employment statuses during their working lives, we find that their occupations at a young age do not predict their lifetime earnings well. When educational attainment and gender are considered, we find that across education-gender groups the differences in lifetime earnings are even larger than the differences in average occupational wages: Workers in high-wage education-gender groups (men with college degrees, for example) work more (at the extensive margin) and are more likely to have higher-paying occupations.
Postpartum haemorrhage requiring embolisation of a hypertrophied round ligament artery.

A gravida 4 para 1021, 41-year-old woman postcaesarean section at 39 weeks and 1 day with clinically significant haemorrhage required embolisation of unique uterine arterial collaterals. She had persistent haemorrhage after initial bilateral uterine artery embolisation, and on further investigation she was found to have a hypertrophied right round ligament artery. Once successful embolisation of this abnormal right round ligament artery was completed using a combination of Gelfoam and coils, haemostasis was achieved. She had rapid clinical improvement, no complications and no further admissions on postprocedural follow-up over a year and a half later.
Do Global Financial, Oil and Gold Volatility Shocks Affect the GCC Stock Markets?:

AbstractThis study employed the non-structural VAR econometrics approach to examine the impact of Global Oil (OVX), Financial (VIX), and Gold (GVZ) volatility indices on GCC stock markets using a d...
Incidence and Impact of Variant Celiacomesenteric Vascularization and Vascular Stenosis on Pancreatic Surgery Outcomes: Personal Experience.

Ischemic complications after pancreatic surgery can raise postoperative mortality from 4 to 83 per cent. Variants in vascular anatomy play a major role in determining such complications, but they h...
The Enthymemes of Supporting President Trump: Explaining the Association Between Structural Location, Supporting the President, and Agreeing With Online Extremism:

Does hateful rhetoric appeal to supporters of President Trump? Prior studies link sexism, racism, Islamophobia, anti-immigrant sentiment, and intolerant forms of Christianity to supporting or votin...
Challenging our understanding of youth sport specialization: an examination and critique of the literature through the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s Person-Process-Context-Time Model

The examination of youth sport specialization and athlete participation pathways have been sustained lines of inquiry among multiple branches of the sport sciences. The common consensus in scholarl...
Cultural competence and cultural humility: a complete practice

Diversity is a complex concept comprised of many intersecting positions an individual may hold in society (e.g., gender, sexuality, (dis)ability, age, religion). Social work practitioners need cult...
Exceptional points in a time-delayed parity-time symmetric system

The purpose of this paper is to examine the behavior of exceptional points (EPs) in a time delayed anti-parity-time symmetric system composed of two delay-coupled semiconductor lasers (SCLs). Starting from a pseudo-2x2 rate equation model for the lasers’ electric fields we analyze the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the system’s effective Hamiltonian and numerically search for EPs. Recent experimental work has suggested that the EP landscape in this system may be significantly different from the typical anti-PT dimer due to the time delay. Exceptional points in these PT dimers mark global phase changes from overall oscillatory behaviour to exponential growth/decay; in contrast, the time delay renders our effective Hamiltonian infinite-dimensional and allows for more than one EP. Specifically, we numerically demonstrate that by tuning the delay time or coupling strength our time delayed system may exhibit one, two, or zero EPs.
Impact of Nonlordotic Sagittal Alignment on Short-term Outcomes of Cervical Disc Replacement

OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcomes of cervical disc replacement (CDR) in patients with nonlordotic alignment. METHODS Patients who underwent CDR were retrospectively reviewed and divided into 3 cohorts: (1) neutral/lordotic segmental and C2-7 Cobb angle (L), (2) nonlordotic segmental Cobb angle, lordotic C2-7 Cobb angle (NL-S), and (3) nonlordotic segmental and C2-7 Cobb angle (NL-SC). Radiographic and patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) were compared. RESULTS One-hundred five patients were included (L: 37, NL-S: 30, NL-SC: 38). A significant gain in segmental lordosis was seen in all cohorts at < 6 months (L: -1.90° [p = 0.007]; NL-S: -5.16° [p < 0.0001]; NL-SC: -6.00° [p < 0.0001]) and ≥ 6 months (L: -2.07° [p = 0.031; NL-S: -6.04° [p < 0.0001]; NL-SC: -6.74° [p < 0.0001]), with greater lordosis generated in preoperatively nonlordotic cohorts (p < 0.0001). C2-7 lordosis improved in the preoperatively nonlordotic cohort (NL-SC: 8.04°) at follow-up of < 6 months (-4.15°, p = 0.003) and ≥ 6 months (-6.40°, p = 0.003), but not enough to create lordotic alignment (< 6 months: 3.89°; ≥ 6 months: 4.06°). All cohorts showed improvement in Neck Disability Index, visual analogue scale (VAS) neck, and VAS arm, without significant difference among groups in the amount of improvement ( ≥ 6-month PROMs follow-up = 69%). CONCLUSION In patients without major kyphotic deformity, CDR has the potential to generate and maintain lordosis and improve PROMs in the short-term, and can be an effective treatment option for patients with nonlordotic alignment.