cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bottom-up and top-down emotion generation: Implications for emotion regulation

Emotion regulation plays a crucial role in adaptive functioning and mounting evidence suggests that some emotion regulation strategies are often more effective than others. However, little attention has been paid to the different ways emotions can be generated: from the ‘bottom-up’ (in response to inherently emotional perceptual properties of the stimulus) or ‘top-down’ (in response to cognitive evaluations). Based on a process priming principle, we hypothesized that mode of emotion generation would interact with subsequent emotion regulation. Specifically, we predicted that top-down emotions would be more successfully regulated by a top-down regulation strategy than bottom-up emotions. To test this hypothesis, we induced bottom-up and top-down emotions, and asked participants to decrease the negative impact of these emotions using cognitive reappraisal. We observed the predicted interaction between generation and regulation in two measures of emotional responding. As measured by self-reported affect, cognitive reappraisal was more successful on top-down generated emotions than bottom-up generated emotions. Neurally, reappraisal of bottom-up generated emotions resulted in a paradoxical increase of amygdala activity. This interaction between mode of emotion generation and subsequent regulation should be taken into account when comparing of the efficacy of different types of emotion regulation, as well as when reappraisal is used to treat different types of clinical disorders.
Firearm prevalence and social capital.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown a correlation between measures of social capital and morbidity, mortality, and violent crime. This article examines the association across U.S. states between social capital (as measured by mutual trust and civic engagement) and firearm availability. METHODS: The analysis uses OLS to determine degrees of association across U.S. states. Measures of mutual trust come from responses to questions on the U.S. General Social Survey that “you can't be too careful in dealing with people,” and most people “would try to take advantage of you.” Measures of formal civic engagement come from responses to Lifestyle Survey questions concerning times volunteered, club meetings attended, community projects worked on, and church services attended. Informal civic engagement measures come from responses to number of times bowled, played cards, entertained at home, and gave or attended dinner parties, and number of greeting cards sent. The Lifestyle Survey also asked whether respondent believed whether “most people are honest.” The percentage of suicides from firearms, and the average percentage of suicides and homicides from firearms, are used as proxies for state firearm ownership rates. Control variables are the degree of urbanization, the rates of poverty, and the percentage of nonwhites in the state. RESULTS: Across the U.S. states, higher levels of firearm ownership are associated with significantly lower levels of mutual trust and civic engagement. CONCLUSION: While the analysis cannot show causation, states with heavily armed civilians are also states with low levels of social capital.
Signal transduction pathways: targets for chemoprevention of skin cancer.

Summary Chemoprevention can be defined as the use of substances to interfere with the process of cancer development. Although substantial progress has been made in elucidating the basis of carcinogenesis, further advances are needed to identify molecular and cellular targets for effective use of chemopreventive agents. Hundreds of compounds have been identified as potential chemopreventive agents. However, the safety and efficacy of each substance must be thoroughly investigated. Carcinogenesis is a multistage process in which numerous genes are affected. Many of these genes regulate important cellular functions, so they are prime targets for chemopreventive agents. A major focus of our work has been the elucidation of mechanism(s) explaining the anticancer actions attributed to several chemopreventive compounds, especially ‘natural compounds' that are considered safe because they are present in commonly consumed foods and beverages. Of particular interest are selected drugs (eg aspirin) and certain dietary factors (eg green and black tea, resveratrol) and their influence on cell-signalling events coinciding with skin cancer promotion. This overview describes recent work from our laboratory and others focusing on molecular mechanisms of selected chemopreventive compounds in growth-related signal transduction pathways and skin cancer.
Robust Video Stabilization Based on Particle Filter Tracking of Projected Camera Motion

Video stabilization is an important technique in digital cameras. Its impact increases rapidly with the rising popularity of handheld cameras and cameras mounted on moving platforms (e.g., cars). Stabilization of two images can be viewed as an image registration problem. However, to ensure the visual quality of the whole video, video stabilization has a particular emphasis on the accuracy and robustness over long image sequences. In this paper, we propose a novel technique for video stabilization based on the particle filtering framework. We extend the traditional use of particle filters in object tracking to tracking of the projected affine model of the camera motions. We rely on the inverse of the resulting image transform to obtain a stable video sequence. The correspondence between scale-invariant feature transform points is used to obtain a crude estimate of the projected camera motion. We subsequently postprocess the crude estimate with particle filters to obtain a smooth estimate. It is shown both theoretically and experimentally that particle filtering can reduce the error variance compared to estimation without particle filtering. The superior performance of our algorithm over other methods for video stabilization is demonstrated through computer simulated experiments.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Early Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with an estimated 173,000 new lung cancer cases and 156,300 deaths due to lung cancer in 2003 [1]. Eighty-five percent of these patients are diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), of which 15–20% will have early stage disease [2]. Treatment options for early stage NSCLC depend on patient factors, such as pulmonary reserve, to determine if a patient is a surgical candidate or not. Typically, standard “cut-off” medical guidelines for surgical resection of NSCLC include the following: baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) < 40% of predicted, post-operative predicted FEV1 < 30%, severely reduced diffusion capacity, baseline hypoxemia and/or hypercapnia, and exercise oxygen consumption < 50% predicted. For the relatively healthy patient, the traditional treatment of choice for Stage I (T1–2, N0, M0) NSCLC usually consists of radical surgery (lobectomy, pneumonectomy) resulting in an approximate 60% to 80% 5-year overall survival [3]–[5].
French intelligence and the fall of France, 1930–40

(1989). French intelligence and the fall of France, 1930–40. Intelligence and National Security: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 28-58.
Hydraulic conductivity and anatomy along lateral roots of cacti: changes with soil water status

SUMMARY To help understand root function for desert plants at different levels of water availability, cellular and water-conducting properties were examined for young lateral roots of Ferocactus acanthodes (Lem.) Britton & Rose and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. Hydraulic conductivity (Lp), radial conductivity (LR), and axial conductance (Kh) were determined for root segments in wet soil, during drought, and after rewetting. All three parameters increased with distance from the root tip under wet conditions and during drought for both species, with larger increases occurring under wet conditions. Lp decreased with drought duration up to 35 d for both species, due to dehydration of cortical cells, suberization of periderm, and embolism of xylem vessels; Lp and LB decreased more for O. ficus-indica, and Kh decreased more for F. acanthodes. The increase in Kh with distance from the root tip and the decrease with duration of drought were associated with the changes in the number of conducting xylem vessels. After 7 d of rewetting, new secondary lateral roots developed, enhancing water uptake, especially for O. ficus-indica. Rewetting also caused water uptake for primary lateral roots to return to approximately the original value under wet conditions, mainly because decreases in emboli led to recovery of axial flow.
Learning and Applying New Quality Improvement Methods to the School Health Setting

A school health registered nurse identified medication administration documentation errors by unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in a system of school health clinics in an urban setting. This nurse applied the Lean Six Sigma Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control process of improvement methodology to effectively improve the process. The UAP of medication administration documentation error rate improved from 68% to 35%. This methodology may be used by school nurses to collaboratively look at ways to improve processes at the point of care.
Investigating the Reliability of the Civics Component of the U.S. Naturalization Test

In this study, I investigated the reliability of the U.S. Naturalization Test's civics component by asking 414 individuals to take a mock U.S. citizenship test comprising civics test questions. Usi...
Yield Constant for Acanthamoeba polyphaga in Batch and Continuous Culture1

. A two-stage chemostat modified to accommodate the growth of adhesive organisms was used to determine the yield constant, Y, of a representative soil amoeba, Acanthamoeba polyphaga, utilizing as its prey Pseudomonas paucimobilis. The first stage consisted of a glucose-limited bacterial culture in steady state. The second stage consisted of a simplified predator-prey system, nongrowing bacteria serving as the limiting substrate for amoebae. A refined methodology to more accurately determine Y was developed, and Y for Acanthamoeba polyphaga in batch and continuous culture was determined to be 19.1%.
Characterization of a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase in the Limulus nervous tissue and its light regulation in the lateral eye.

Calcium (Ca2+) plays an integral role in the light response of the photoreceptors in both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. In the ventral eye of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, a flash of light delivered to a dark-adapted photoreceptor stimulates a rapid rise in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), which in turn mediates light adaptation. It has previously been demonstrated that in Limulus photoreceptors light, via Ca2+, activate s a calcium/calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM)-dependent protein kinase which increases the phosphorylation of arrestin. We now have identifie d biochemically, a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase (Ca2+/CaM PP ) in homogenates of the Limulus lateral and ventral eye, brain, and lateral optic nerve using as a substrate, a 32P-labeled peptide fragment of the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (RII). This protein phosphatase shares biochemical properties with calcineurin, a Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein phosphatase (type-2B). Its activity is enhanced by Ca2+, calmodulin and Mn2+; and is inhibited by mastoparan, a calmodulin antagonist, and a synthetic peptide corresponding to the autoinhibitory domain of mammalian calcineurin. Most importantly, light regulates the Ca2+/CaM PP activity in the lateral eye. While there is no difference in basal activity in long-term dark- or light-adapted preparations, Ca2+ enhances Ca2+/CaM PP activity only in long-term light-adapted eyes.
Galileo and the Indispensability of Scientific Thought Experiment

By carefully examining one of the most famous thought experiments in the history of science-that by which Galileo is said to have refuted the Aristotelian theory that heavier bodies fall faster than lighter ones-I attempt to show that thought experiments play a distinctive role in scientific inquiry. Reasoning about particular entities within the context of an imaginary scenario can lead to rationally justified conclusions that-given the same initial information-would not be rationally justifiable on the basis of a straightforward argument. 1 Argumentative reconstruction 1.1 The Elimination Thesis 1.2 Clarification of terminology 1.3 The negative argument and the positive argument 1.4 The Dispensability Thesis and the Derivativity Thesis 2 Galileo's thought experiment and its reconstruction 2.1 Galileo's thought experiment 2.2 Reconstruction of the Galileo case 2.3 Four ways out for the Aristotelian 2.4 What the reconstruction misses 3 Denying the Dispensability and Derivativity Theses 3.1 Rejecting reconstruction, what the thought experiment does 3.2 Rejecting the positive argument: what makes these beliefs new ? 3.3 Rejecting the negative argument, what makes these beliefs knowledge 3.4 Constructivism and the contrast with Norton and Brown 4 Conclusion
Evaluating the efficacy of tryptophan fluorescence and absorbance as a selection tool for identifying protein crystals

The environment of individual tryptophans in known protein structures and the effectiveness of four commercial robotic UV microscopes to illuminate tryptophan-containing protein crystals by either tryptophan fluorescence (epi-illumination) or absorbance (transmission) are evaluated. In agreement with other studies, tryptophan residues are found on average to be largely buried in protein structures (with ∼84% of their surface area buried) and to be surrounded by partially polar microenvironments (with ∼43% of their surface area covered by polar residues), which suggests an inherent degree of fluorescence signal quenching. In bacterial genomes, up to one-third (∼18.5% on average) of open reading frames are deficient in tryptophan. In the laboratory, because of the attenuation of UV light by the media commonly used in sitting-drop and hanging-drop crystallization trials, it was often necessary to simplify the light path by manually removing or inverting the supporting media. Prolonged exposure (minutes) to UV light precipitates some protein samples. The absorbance spectra of many commercially available media in crystallization trials are presented. The advantages of using tryptophan absorbance over fluorescence for characterizing crystals are discussed.
Comparison of the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Oral and Written Retellings and Passage Review as Strategies for Comprehending Text.

The purpose of this study was to compare the instructional effectiveness and efficiency of oral retelling, written retelling, and passage review comprehension strategies on third-grade students' accuracy and rate of answering reading comprehension questions. A modified alternating treatment design was used to compare the effects of oral retelling, written retelling, and passage review strategies. Each strategy occurred within the context of repeated readings with phrase drill error correction. This study extended previous research findings by examining the effects of oral and written retelling as strategies for improving both literal and inferential comprehension and by investigating the efficiency of retelling procedures. Findings revealed that students' accuracy in answering reading comprehension performance was better under both retelling conditions than the passage review condition. The oral retelling coupled with repeated readings and phrase drill error correction was the most efficient instructional method for answering comprehension questions correctly. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of an mHealth Medication Regimen Self-Management Program for African American and Hispanic Uncontrolled Hypertensives

African Americans and Hispanics have disproportionate rates of uncontrolled essential hypertension (EH) compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. Medication non-adherence (MNA) is the leading modifiable behavior to improved blood pressure (BP) control. The Smartphone Medication Adherence Stops Hypertension (SMASH) program was developed using a patient-centered, theory-guided, iterative design process. Electronic medication trays provided reminder signals, and Short Message Service [SMS] messaging reminded subjects to monitor BP with Bluetooth-enabled monitors. Motivational and reinforcement text messages were sent to participants based upon levels of adherence. Thirty-eight African-American (18) and Hispanic (20) uncontrolled hypertensives completed clinic-based anthropometric and resting BP evaluations prior to randomization, and again at months 1, 3 and 6. Generalized linear mixed modeling (GLMM) revealed statistically significant time-by-treatment interactions (p < 0.0001) indicating significant reductions in resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) for the SMASH group vs. the standard care (SC) control group across all time points. 70.6% of SMASH subjects vs. 15.8% of the SC group reached BP control (< 140/90 mmH) at month 1 (p < 0.001). At month 6, 94.4% of the SMASH vs. 41.2% of the SC group exhibited controlled BP (p < 0.003). Our findings provide encouraging evidence that efficacious mHealth, chronic disease, medical regimen, self-management programs can be developed following principles of patient-centered, theory-guided design.
Experiment on Pattern Evolution in the 2-D Mixing Layer

The first detailed, quantitative study of the 2-D mixing layer was completed by Liepmann and Laufer in 1947. They described this technologically important flow in terms of the variation of the mean velocity and various mean fluctuation intensities. The measurements were of high quality, and have scarcely been improved upon in the intervening forty years. Yet they give very little fundamental understanding of the structure of the flow. What has changed within the past twenty years is the increased concern with process in turbulent flows. Today turbulent flows are perceived to contain identifiable structure. The interaction of structure is the turbulent process. Thus process attempts to provide a dynamical description of the flow, and is a more ambitious undertaking than a simple description of the state of the flow.
Synthesis at the Speed of Codons

The possibility that different mRNA sequences encoding identical peptides are translated dissimilarly has long been of great interest. Recent work by Yu and co-workers provides striking evidence that mRNA sequences influence the rate of protein synthesis, and lends support to the emerging idea that mRNA sequence informs protein folding.
Is There Any Fundamental Connection Between Man and the Universe

A human being appears for us in two aspects, whose connection is unknown to us: as a physical process and as an object with a mental domain. In this note, we discuss a problem if the mental domain is subordinate to physical laws.
The Iowa Historical Records Survey, 1936-1942

Now is an appropriate time, with the bill for a National Historic Records Program currently before the Congress, to look back upon a previous national attempt to arrange, describe, and preserve state and local records. This federal program was the Works Progress Administration's Historical Records Survey, one of the white-collar relief projects of the 1930's. Born of the demands for employment in the depression years, it lasted until the Second World War took workers from manuscript repositories and shuttled them into defense plants. Some archivists and historians regard the Historical Records Survey as one of the most useful federal projects of the Roosevelt years. On the other hand, contemporary critics saw it as a prime example of New Deal boondoggle and make-work. To judge which image is correct, evaluation is needed of the project's operations on both state and national levels. Such evaluations surely will point to both errors and excellences which advocates of a National Historic Records Pro-
Comparison of CT and MRI-Based Clinical Target Volume Contours at the Time of Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer

Purpose We prospectively compared computed tomography (CT)- and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) contours at the time of brachytherapy for cervical cancer in an effort to identify patients who may benefit most from MRI-based planning.
Special Procedures: Intravenous Sedative Interviews, Hoover Test, and Hypnosis

test, and hypnosis are some of the specialized techniques useful in the consultation-liaison (CL) setting for rapid diagnosis of potential psychological factors affecting a physical condition and for behavioral control of pain and anxiety. This chapter presents an example of an IV sedative interview using lorazepam and describes the procedure in detail, and discusses the Hoover test and the indications, precautions, and procedure of hypnosis in the CL setting.
T‐Wave Alternans, Heart Rate Turbulence, and Ventricular Ectopy in Standard versus Daily Hemodialysis: Results from the FHN Daily Trial

Background Hemodialysis (HD) patients are at high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). HD 6-times/week (6x/wk) may reduce SCD risk compared to usual 3-times/week HD (3x/wk) by mechanisms unknown. T-wave alternans (TWA), heart rate turbulence (HRT), and ventricular ectopy (VE) are elevated in HD patients, but their response to 6x/wk HD has not been assessed. Methods Baseline and 1-year Holter recordings were analyzed from enrollees in the Frequent Hemodialysis Network Daily Trial, a randomized trial comparing 3x/wk to 6x/wk in 245 chronic HD patients. TWA, HRT, and VE were assessed using MARS software. Results Sixty-eight patients (34 with 6x/wk) had complete baseline and 1-year Holter recordings. Mean age was 50 ± 13 years and 38% were female. Maximum TWA in the 3x/wk and 6x/wk groups were 52.4 μV at baseline and 51.2 μV at 1-year versus 54.0 and 49.9 μV, respectively (P = 0.28). The proportion of abnormal HRT (scores of 1 or 2) in the 3x/wk group decreased from 65% to 56% at 1-year versus 53% to 53% in the 6x/wk group (P = 0.58). Mean %VE changed from 1.6% to 2.9% in the 3x/wk group from baseline to 1-year and from 2.1% to 3.7% in the 6x/wk group (P = 0.85). Conclusions There were no significant differences in HRT or VE at 1-year in chronic HD patients randomized to 6x/wk versus 3x/wk and a trend in TWA reduction. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the impact and mechanisms of SCD in HD.
Gate-tunable Transparent Conducting Oxide Plasmonics

I will present the use of low-loss active materials, transparent conducting oxides, to demonstrate an efficient plasmonic modulation that operates via MOS field-effect dynamics, and an plasmonic resonant structure that can tune the optical dispersion.
Determination of three microcystins in Taihu Lake by solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography

Objective:To determine of the microcystins LR,RR and YR in Taihu Lake by solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography.Methods:The microcystins intra-cellular and ecto-celluar in the water samples were enriched by C18 SPE,seperated with C18 column with acetonitrile-water(42∶58,v/v)-0.08%TFA as mobile phase and detected at 238 nm.Results:The liner range was 0.01 μg/ml～1.00 μg/ml for MC-LR,RR and YR;the detection limit(LOD) was 0.005 μg/L～0.01 μg/L;the recoveries ranged from 81.3% to91.6% and the relative standard deviation(RSD) was 0.95%～2.95%.Conclusion: This method was convenient,fast,sensitive and practical,which can be used for the detection of microcystins LR,RR and YR in Taihu Lake water.
Measurements of intracellular concentrations of oxygen: experimental results and conceptual implications of an observed gradient between intracellular and extracellular concentrations of oxygen.

The Intracellular concentration of oxygen ([O2]) is the pertinent parameter for most physiological, pathophysiological, and therapeutic considerations, but it seldom is measured directly. This paradox is explained by a combination of a lack of awareness and a lack of methodology. The literature is quite mixed in regard to the occurrence of significant gradients between the intracellular and extracellular compartments. Everyone agrees, of course, that there must be some gradient because oxygen enters from the outside of the cell and is consumed inside the cell, principally by the mitochondria. The disagreements are in regard to the size of the gradient, with arguments being made on theoretical grounds that there should or should not be a significant gradient. There also are some experimental reports of indirect measures of intracellular oxygen concentrations and these, like the theoretical reports, have quite variable conclusions with reports of both no significant gradients and relatively large gradients (1–11).
Population Structure During the Collapse of the Moche (AD 200–850): A Comparison of Results Derived From Deciduous and Permanent Tooth Trait Data From San José de Moro, Jequetepeque Valley, Perú

Abstract Population structure analyses based upon deciduous tooth traits for 55 subadults from Middle Moche (550–700), Late Moche (700–850), and Terminal (AD 850–950) period graves at San Jose de Moro, Jequetepeque Valley, Peru, are reported here. The three temporal subadult samples considered here produced an unbiased Fst = 0.037 (S.E. = 0.038) and are highly correlated with results derived from permanent dentitions from the same site (r = 0.997; p = .001) and are similar to the regional population structure analysis and biodistance results reported by Sutter and Castillo (2015) , which indicate that biological distances between the three temporal samples increase through time as do indicators for extralocal gene flow into the Jequetepeque Valley. Based upon these results we suggest that population structure estimates derived from deciduous dentitions are useful and represent a largely underutilized form of data.
Torture Documentaries and Taxi to the Dark Side (Alex Gibney, 2007)

Documentary film’s images of torture bear an affective charge enhanced by the genre’s ‘representation of reality’ (Nichols, 1991). In this way, Taxi to the Dark Side (Alex Gibney, 2007) uses the documented homicide of an Afghan taxi driver in Bagram prison as the focus for interviewing Bagram prison guards and interrogators, as well as for investigating US government policy and the legal and social/psychological issues around torture. The film incorporates dramatic re-enactments and many still images taken by photojournalists on the political or war beat in conjunction with a detective story structure. The narrative investigates the story of one man’s homicide in Bagram Prison by tracing ever-widening circles of cause and effect until it arrives at the larger crime of US government-sponsored torture. This essay examines the film’s visual style, its use of witnesses, the kind of data we have gathered on torture, and the limits of that data. As the news or political leaders proffer brief narratives about torture, the public discussion of the issue too often conveys a deceptive temporal finitude and assurance. In contrast, documentaries, scholarship, and Internet archives have created an expanding archive related to this crucial social issue, constantly reinterpreting events and culpability, and feeding into anti-torture activism in essential ways.
Open-Capsule Budesonide for Refractory Celiac Disease.

Objectives:Refractory celiac disease (RCD) is a rare condition often associated with poor prognosis. Various immunosuppressive medications (IMs) have been used with modest success. We describe outcomes in patients treated with open-capsule budesonide (OB), including those for whom IM treatment faile
Bartonella Species, an Emerging Cause of Blood-Culture-Negative Endocarditis

Since the reclassification of the genus Bartonella in 1993, the number of species has grown from 1 to 45 currently designated members. Likewise, the association of different Bartonella species with human disease continues to grow, as does the range of clinical presentations associated with these bacteria. Among these, blood-culture-negative endocarditis stands out as a common, often undiagnosed, clinical presentation of infection with several different Bartonella species. The limitations of laboratory tests resulting in this underdiagnosis of Bartonella endocarditis are discussed. The varied clinical picture of Bartonella infection and a review of clinical aspects of endocarditis caused by Bartonella are presented. We also summarize the current knowledge of the molecular basis of Bartonella pathogenesis, focusing on surface adhesins in the two Bartonella species that most commonly cause endocarditis, B. henselae and B. quintana. We discuss evidence that surface adhesins are important factors for autoaggregation and biofilm formation by Bartonella species. Finally, we propose that biofilm formation is a critical step in the formation of vegetative masses during Bartonella-mediated endocarditis and represents a potential reservoir for persistence by these bacteria.
Suppression of Oligomer Formation and Formation of Non‐Toxic Fibrils upon Addition of Mirror‐Image Aβ42 to the Natural l‐Enantiomer

Racemates often have lower solubility than enantiopure compounds, and the mixing of enantiomers can enhance the aggregation propensity of peptides. Amyloid beta (Aβ) 42 is an aggregation-prone peptide that is believed to play a key role in Alzheimer's disease. Soluble Aβ42 aggregation intermediates (oligomers) have emerged as being particularly neurotoxic. We hypothesized that the addition of mirror-image d-Aβ42 should reduce the concentration of toxic oligomers formed from natural l-Aβ42. We synthesized l- and D-Aβ42 and found their equimolar mixing to lead to accelerated fibril formation. Confocal microscopy with fluorescently labeled analogues of the enantiomers showed their colocalization in racemic fibrils. Owing to the enhanced fibril formation propensity, racemic Aβ42 was less prone to form soluble oligomers. This resulted in the protection of cells from the toxicity of l-Aβ42 at concentrations up to 50 μm. The mixing of Aβ42 enantiomers thus accelerates the formation of non-toxic fibrils.
Transient simulation of electrical machines using time decomposition method

A new HPC technology was developed in terms of the domain decomposition along time-axis, namely time decomposition method (TDM), to solve all time steps (or a subdivision of all time steps) simultaneously to achieve better scalability, instead of solving a transient problem sequentially one time-step by one time-step. For practical applications, we further introduced two TDM models: one is the Periodic TDM Model for steady-state simulation if the nature of physical problem is periodic; the other is the General TDM Model for general transient applications without the constraint of periodicity.
Small Ca2+ releases enable hour-long high-frequency contractions in midshipman swimbladder muscle.

Type I males of the Pacific midshipman fish ( Porichthys notatus ) vibrate their swimbladder to generate mating calls, or “hums,” that attract females to their nests. In contrast to the intermittent calls produced by male Atlantic toadfish ( Opsanus tau ), which occur with a duty cycle (calling time divided by total time) of only 3–8%, midshipman can call continuously for up to an hour. With 100% duty cycles and frequencies of 50–100 Hz (15°C), the superfast muscle fibers that surround the midshipman swimbladder may contract and relax as many as 360,000 times in 1 h. The energy for this activity is supported by a large volume of densely packed mitochondria that are found in the peripheral and central regions of the fiber. The remaining fiber cross section contains contractile filaments and a well-developed network of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and triadic junctions. Here, to understand quantitatively how Ca 2+ is managed by midshipman fibers during calling, we measure (a) the Ca 2+ pumping-versus-pCa and force-versus-pCa relations in skinned fiber bundles and (b) changes in myoplasmic free [Ca 2+ ] (Δ[Ca 2+ ]) during stimulated activity of individual fibers microinjected with the Ca 2+ indicators Mag-fluo-4 and Fluo-4. As in toadfish, the force–pCa relation in midshipman is strongly right-shifted relative to the Ca 2+ pumping–pCa relation, and contractile activity is controlled in a synchronous, not asynchronous, fashion during electrical stimulation. SR Ca 2+ release per action potential is, however, approximately eightfold smaller in midshipman than in toadfish. Midshipman fibers have a larger time-averaged free [Ca 2+ ] during activity than toadfish fibers, which permits faster Ca 2+ pumping because the Ca 2+ pumps work closer to their maximum rate. Even with midshipman’s sustained release and pumping of Ca 2+ , however, the Ca 2+ energy cost of calling (per kilogram wet weight) is less than twofold more in midshipman than in toadfish.
Annual and Perennial Alleyway Cover Crops Vary in Their Effects on Pratylenchus penetrans in Pacific Northwest Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus).

Cover crops can provide many benefits to agroecosystems, such as lessening soil erosion and increasing water infiltration. However, cover crop use is not common in established red raspberry ( Rubus idaeus ) fields in the Pacific Northwest. Raspberry growers are concerned about resource competition between the cover crop and raspberry crop, as well as increasing population densities of the plant-parasitic nematode Pratylenchus penetrans , which has a wide host range and has been shown to reduce raspberry plant vigor and yield. A 2-yr study was conducted in an established ‘Meeker’ raspberry field in northwest Washington to evaluate the effects of nine alleyway cover crops, mowed weed cover, and the industry standard of bare cultivated soil on P. penetrans population dynamics, raspberry yield, and fruit quality. The host status for P. penetrans of cover crops included in the field experiment, as well as Brassica juncea ‘Pacific Gold’ and Sinapis alba ‘Ida Gold’, was also evaluated in greenhouse experiments. In the field experiment, P. penetrans population densities did not increase in alleyway cover crop roots over time or in alleyway soil surrounding cover crop roots (means range from 0 to 116 P. penetrans /100 g of soil) compared with the bare cultivated control (means range from 2 to 55 P. penetrans /100 g of soil). Pratylenchus penetrans populations did not increase over time in raspberry grown adjacent to alleyways with cover crops (means range from 1,081 to 6,120 P. penetrans /g of root) compared with those grown adjacent to bare cultivated soil alleyways (means range from 2,391 to 5,536 P. penetrans /g of root). Raspberry grown adjacent to bare cultivated soil did not have significantly higher yield or fruit quality than raspberry grown adjacent to cover crops in either year of the experiment. In the greenhouse assays, ‘Norwest 553’ wheat and a perennial ryegrass mix were poor hosts for P. penetrans , whereas ‘Nora’ and ‘TAM 606’ oat and ‘Pacific Gold’ and ‘Ida Gold’ mustard were good hosts. These results support the idea that the potential benefits of alleyway cover crops outweigh the potential risk of increasing P. penetrans population densities and do not compromise raspberry yield or fruit quality.
Properties of Triheteromeric N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptors Containing Two Distinct GluN1 Isoforms

N-Methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamate receptors mediate excitatory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system and play critical roles in many neuronal processes. The physiologic roles of NMDA receptors are shaped by their functional properties, which are highly dependent on subunit composition. Most NMDA receptors are assembled from two GluN1 and two GluN2 subunits, but diversity in subunit composition is made possible by eight GluN1 splice variants (i.e., isoforms) and four distinct GluN2 subunits (GluN2A-D). We demonstrate using Forster resonance energy transfer and fluorescence lifetime imaging that GluN1-1a and GluN1-1b isoforms, which include or lack residues encoded by exon 5, form triheteromeric GluN1-1a/GluN1-1b/GluN2A (1a/1b/2A) and GluN1-1a/GluN1-1b/GluN2B (1a/1b/2B) receptors. We describe the selective expression of NMDA receptors containing two different GluN1 isoforms, and show that triheteromeric 1a/1b/2A and 1a/1b/2B receptors exhibit intermediate deactivation kinetics and pharmacological properties compared with the respective diheteromeric GluN1-1a/GluN1-1a/GluN2 and GluN1-1b/GluN1-1b/GluN2 receptors. These results highlight the intriguing possibility that neurons can finely tune NMDA receptor signaling by shifting the ratio of expressed GluN1-1a and GluN1-1b isoforms. Furthermore, we evaluate the contribution of channel pore residues to magnesium block and calcium permeability. These data point to the asymmetric contribution of pore residues in GluN1 and GluN2 to magnesium block, and reveal that a single copy of pore residues from GluN3 subunits strongly attenuates magnesium block and calcium permeability of NMDA receptors. Thus, the selective expression of NMDA receptors containing two distinct GluN1 isoforms provides new opportunities to study functional properties relevant to neuronal receptors.
Peptides from legumes with antigastrointestinal cancer potential: current evidence for their molecular mechanisms

Legume seeds of the Fabaceae family are known to contain bioactive compounds with anticancer potential. Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is one of the most common types of cancer closely related to dietary habits. Molecular mechanisms by which peptides from legumes exert their anticancer effect have been only partially elucidated such as the interaction with matrix metalloproteases, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA damage. There are still several gaps in knowledge by which these peptides exert their antiproliferative activity. This review summarizes recent evidence (2014–2017) of anti-GI cancer potential from legumes-derived peptides. In this manuscript, our focus was on peptides or proteins from legumes. Lectins are excluded since their mechanism of action has been extensively discussed and reviewed.
Comet Pond II: Synergistic Intersection of Concentrated Extraterrestrial Materials and Planetary Environments to Form Procreative Darwinian Ponds

In the “comet pond” model, a rare combination of circumstances enables the entry and landing of pristine organic material onto a planetary surface with the creation of a pond by a soft impact and melting of entrained ices. Formation of the constituents of the comet in the cold interstellar medium and our circumstellar disk results in multiple constituents at disequilibrium which undergo rapid chemical reactions in the warmer, liquid environment. The planetary surface also provides minerals and atmospheric gases which chemically interact with the pond’s organic- and trace-element-rich constituents. Pond physical morphology and the heterogeneities imposed by gravitational forces (bottom sludge; surface scum) and weather result in a highly heterogeneous variety of macro- and microenvironments. Wet/dry, freeze/thaw, and natural chromatography processes further promote certain reaction sequences. Evaporation concentrates organics less volatile than water. Freezing concentrates all soluble organics into a residual liquid phase, including CH3OH, HCN, etc. The pond’s evolutionary processes culminate in the creation of a Macrobiont with the metabolically equivalent capabilities of energy transduction and replication of RNA (or its progenitor informational macromolecule), from which smaller organisms can emerge. Planet-wide dispersal of microorganisms is achieved through wind transport, groundwater, and/or spillover from the pond into surface hydrologic networks.
Arterial Stiffness in Hypertension: an Update.

To update and review novel insights into the mechanisms, measurements, and therapeutic approaches to arterial stiffness. Arterial (e.g., vascular) stiffness has been shown over time to prognosticate for cardiovascular and kidney outcomes. In this context, there has been increased interest behind the mechanisms that drive arterial stiffness beyond aging and interest in how to apply newer technologies in measurement of arterial stiffness. Pulse wave velocity has been the gold standard for measurement but industry has been innovating to improve measurement with use of single-point PWV as well as pharmacologic approaches with anti-hypertensives and oral hypoglycemic agents. Emerging data on the role of the mineralocorticoid receptor, the endothelial sodium channel (EnNaC), and uric acid in arterial stiffness are promising a number of potential therapies. Newer techniques of measuring PWV for arterial stiffness and novel therapies may soon lead to better outcomes from hypertension complications.
Non-adhesive alginate hydrogels support growth of pluripotent stem cell-derived intestinal organoids

Human intestinal organoids (HIOs) represent a powerful system to study human development and are promising candidates for clinical translation as drug-screening tools or engineered tissue. Experimental control and clinical use of HIOs is limited by growth in expensive and poorly defined tumor-cell-derived extracellular matrices, prompting investigation of synthetic ECM-mimetics for HIO culture. Since HIOs possess an inner epithelium and outer mesenchyme, we hypothesized that adhesive cues provided by the matrix may be dispensable for HIO culture. Here, we demonstrate that alginate, a minimally supportive hydrogel with no inherent cell adhesion properties, supports HIO growth in vitro and leads to HIO epithelial differentiation that is virtually indistinguishable from Matrigel-grown HIOs. Additionally, alginate-grown HIOs mature to a similar degree as Matrigel-grown HIOs when transplanted in vivo, both resembling human fetal intestine. This work demonstrates that purely mechanical support from a simple-to-use and inexpensive hydrogel is sufficient to promote HIO survival and development.
SOLAR HEAT TECHNOLOGIES: ADVANCES AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

ABSTRACT A wide range of solar technologies capable of delivering thermal energy at temperatures from 30°C to 600°C and above have been developed. Active solar technologies, which encompass the low end of this temperature range (30°C–120°C), have been technically proven for water and space heating applications, and, where economical, have gained a measure of commercial success. Promising active solar cooling technologies have also been introduced, but remain largely developmental. Solar thermal technologies, which encompass the temperature range from 100°C and above, have been demonstrated in applications ranging from industrial process heating to utility electricity generation. Distributed and central receiver solar thermal systems have been constructed capable of generating electricity in the multimegawatt range. This paper reviews the recent advances and future prospects for both active solar and solar thermal technologies. Although based largely on the United States experience, solar technology developments from other nations are also included.
Theory of Membrane CO2 Transport with Equilibrium Reaction

In the past two decades there has been considerable interest in CO2-selective liquid membranes (1–9). Over fifteen years ago prototypes thousands of times more permeable to carbon dioxide than to oxygen were reported (10). Systems have been explored more recently which employ an electrical field to pump CO2, in the form of bicarbonate ion, up its chemical potential gradient (11). Still, no commercial applications are known to the authors.
Serpins from an insect, Manduca sexta.

Members of the serpin superfamily have been identified in several invertebrate species, primarily as proteins in the hemolymph of animals from the phylum Arthropoda9. Serpin cDNAs have been cloned from horseshoe crabs14,15, a crayfish13, two species of lepidopteran insects6,10,17,20,24, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster 3, trematodes from the genus Schistosoma 2, and from a parasitic nematode25. The presence of serpins with differing proteinase inhibitory activities in the hemolymph of horseshoe crabs and insects suggests that serpins may function in several physiological processes in invertebrates, as they do in mammals. The number of invertebrate species vastly exceeds the number of vertebrates, with far greater biological diversity. Thus, it may be predicted that as biochemical studies on invertebrates progress, a large number of serpins with diverse activities and functions will be discovered. In our research on serpins from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, we have identified a family of serpins with different inhibitory activities, and a unique serpin gene structure for generating reactive site diversity.
Using Quality of Life Information to Rationally

Sophisticated planning systems now readily provide the treatment planner with an increasing number of competing treatment plans. There is, however, no generally accepted method to compare and rank these competing treatment plans. A “realistic” approach utilizing decision analysis tools to rank treatment plans based on quality adjusted life years (QALY) expectancy was developed. The decision analysis methods were applied to the concept of uncomplicated tumor control probability (UTCP). The expected outcome for an anticipated course of radiation was described as a series of probabilities: alive, free of disease without complication; alive with disease; alive with complication, etc. For each of these states of health, a utility can be assigned based on published work or empirical estimates. The total QALYs for a particular treatment plan represent the product of duration-weighted states of health. The formalism for UTCP was generalized to incorporate the total QALY (UTCPQALY) for a particular treatment.
Proceedings of the Military Modeling & Simulation Symposium

Welcome to the Spring Simulation Multi-Conference 2013 (SpringSim'13) in San Diego, CA. As the General Chair of this year's SpringSim, it is an honor and privilege to be your host for these exciting four days of activities driven and organized by the various members of our society. Despite challenges in the worldwide economy and the overall decrease of funding for travel and conferences, the interest in Modeling and Simulation (M&S) and its applications is still high enough to ensure a challenging and interesting program. From the opening tutorial day where international experts are providing their knowledge to our community to the presentation of peer-reviewed papers, invited special topic presentations, and expert panel discussions the chairs of our symposia did their best to provide an outstanding choice. Without the work of these volunteers, SpringSim would not have been possible.
An Ancient Frenemy

Humans have been using fire for cooking and warmth since time immemorial. Today, open fires that burn solid fuels such as wood, coal or dung remain widespread in developing countries. While many people noticed this practice, it was one man, quite belatedly, who thought about the possible health consequences of exposure to the particulate matter in the resulting smoke. Kirk Smith spent most of his career researching the health risks to women and children of breathing smoke from these fires and evaluating approaches to reduce exposure and limit health consequences. In the last decade his work has led to widespread programs in India, where indoor fires may cause about one million deaths each year, to incentivize replacing solid fuel combustion with liquid petroleum gas. Using lpg greatly reduces exposure to particulate matter and is likely to reduce adverse health outcomes. The story of how hard it was to begin to address this issue and how long it took is instructive for anyone considering addressing major public health problems today.