cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of freshwater flow on abundance of estuarine organisms : physical effects or trophic linkages?

All ecosystems are influenced by physical forcing. Estuarine ecosystems respond most strongly on an interannual timescale to variability in freshwater flow. Several mechanisms for positive or negative flow effects on biological populations in estuaries have been proposed; however, positive effects appear to operate mainly through stimulation of primary production with effects propagating up the food web. In the northern San Francisco Estuary, abundance or survival of several common species of fish and shrimp varied positively with flow-in data through 1992. I re-examined these relationships and those of several additional taxa in an analysis of long-term (20 to 40 yr) mon- itoring data. The spread of the introduced clam Potamocorbula amurensis in 1987 provided an oppor- tunity to examine simultaneously the responses of estuarine species to flow and to changes in the food web. I separated variability into a flow response, a step change after 1987 and other sources of variability. Responses of fish and shrimp contrasted with those of lower trophic levels. All but 1 spe- cies of nekton responded positively to flow, only 2 had clear declines after 1987, and none of the rela- tionships changed in slope after 1987. In contrast with the higher trophic levels, chlorophyll a (chl a) and several species of zooplankton declined markedly after 1987, and had either weak responses to flow or responses that changed after 1987. Thus, the food web appears strongly coupled between benthos and plankton, and weakly coupled between zooplankton and fish, as has been found in other systems. More importantly, the variation with freshwater flow of abundance or survival of organisms in higher trophic levels apparently did not occur through upward trophic transfer, since a similar rela- tionship was lacking in most of the data on lower trophic levels. Rather, this variation may occur through attributes of physical habitat that vary with flow.
Molecular Properties of the Monoamine Oxidases

To understand the biological significance of a decreased platelet MAO activity in schizophrenia, it is important to answer many questions about the basic molecular properties of the enzyme. The past decade has witnessed a huge expansion of research in this area which has provided some of these answers. A wide variety of experimental evidence strongly supports the concept of two forms of MAO (types A and B) that are present in most tissues but in varying relative amounts. However, human platelets contain only the type B form of MAO. This review discusses what is known about the molecular properties of MAO, what questions remain unresolved, and the significance of both the answered and unanswered questions to understanding the measurement of platelet MAO activity in schizophrenic patients.
BODY MASS INDEX, NOT DYSLIPIDEMIA, IS AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR OF SURVIVAL IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

Abnormal energy metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an active area of research (reviewed by Dupuis et al.1). ALS patients lose weight as the disease progresses due to both dysphagia with decreased food intake and hypermetabolism, that is, increased energy expenditure. Recently, Dupuis et al. suggested that the abnormal energy balance in ALS is characterized by dyslipidemia and that the lipid ratio might be used as a separate prognostic marker.2 Subsequent studies regarding the role of lipid metabolism in ALS provided conflicting results. Chio et al. found no independent association between lipid levels and survival.3 Most recently, Dorst et al. reported prolonged life expectancy in ALS patients with hypercholesterolemia based on data from a German database.4 However, the association with hyperlipidemia was not significant after adjusting for body mass index (BMI) and age at onset. The aim of this study was to test whether cholesterol levels independently predict survival in a large series of ALS subjects. We hypothesized that cholesterol levels would change over time with disease progression and weight loss. Therefore, cholesterol levels were measured in 427 ALS subjects and they were measured repeatedly in a subset of subjects from three clinical trial databases.
Timing of Impairment and Health-Promoting Lifestyles in Women With Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to develop a substantive theory to explain how the timing of impairment in women's lives influenced health-promoting lifestyles among 45 women age 43 to 79 years with impairments of varying onset across the life course. From this grounded theory exploration, we suggest that women created health-related lifestyles that were comprised of changing abilities, roles, and rituals in support of perceived self. The ultimate goal of a healthy lifestyle was healthy aging, which was self-determination in the support of positive relationships. Environment and resources had direct influence on the perceived self. Our proposed substantive theory provides an understanding of how women develop a healthy lifestyle after the onset of permanent sensory or physical impairment. It also takes steps toward an understanding of how timing of impairment influences the perceptions women have of themselves and their health behaviors.
Evaluation of the Food Store Environment on and near the Campus of 15 Postsecondary Institutions

Abstract Purpose. This study evaluated the food stores on and near postsecondary campuses varying in institutional size. Design. The design of the study is an environmental audit survey. Setting. Fifteen U.S. postsecondary education institutions participated in this study between 2009–2011. Subjects. Eighty-one stores (44% grocery, 17% campus, and 39% convenience/drug) were evaluated. Measures. The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for Stores was modified to evaluate food stores. Analysis. Analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey B and t-tests assessed differences between store types and by institutional size. Results. Grocery stores had significantly higher scores than campus/convenience stores for healthy foods (19.5 ± 3.8 vs. 2.4 ± 1.7), and for the availability (19.5 ± 3.8 vs. 2.4 ± 1.7) and quality (5.9 ± 0.5 vs. 1.8 ± 2.2) of fruits/vegetables (p < .001). Healthy foods and beverages were significantly more expensive (−0.6 ± 3.4 vs. 0.9 ± 2.0; p < .031) than their less healthful alternatives in g...
Potential mechanisms whereby estrogens induce breast cancer in women

Long-term exposure to estradiol is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women. The data supporting this conclusion include: measurements of plasma total and free estradiol, estrone, and estrone sulfate and the aromatase substrate testosterone in postmenopausal women; the effect of oophorectomy before age 35; the effect of early menarche and late menopause; the relationship between bone density and breast cancer risk; and the role of menopausal hormone therapy on risk. However, the mechanisms responsible for estradiol-induced carcinogenesis are not firmly established. The prevailing theory postulates that estrogens increase the rate of cell proliferation by stimulating estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated transcription, thereby increasing the number of errors occurring during DNA replication. An alternative theory suggests that estradiol is metabolized to quinone derivatives, which directly remove base pairs from DNA through a process called depurination. Error-prone DNA repair then results in point mutations. We postulate that both processes act in an additive or synergistic fashion. If correct, aromatase inhibitors would block both processes, whereas anti-estrogens would only inhibit receptor-mediated effects. Our initial studies demonstrated that depurinating catechol-estrogen metabolites are formed in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture. We then utilized an ERKO animal model that allows dissociation of ER-mediated function from the effects of estradiol metabolites, and demonstrated formation of genotoxic estradiol metabolites. We also examined the incidence of tumors formed in these ERα knockout mice bearing the Wnt-1 transgene. The absence of estradiol induced by castration markedly reduced the incidence of tumors and delayed their onset. Re-administration of estradiol to castrate animals induced tumors in a dose-responsive fashion. To ensure that all ER functionality was lacking, we administered fulvestrant and demonstrated that estrogen still induced breast tumors in these animals. On aggregate, our results support the concept that metabolites of estradiol may act in concert with ER-mediated mechanisms to induce breast cancer. These findings support the possibility that aromatase inhibitors might be more effective than anti-estrogens in preventing breast cancer. Data from four clinical studies have now suggested that fewer contralateral breast cancers occur in women treated with aromatase inhibitors in the adjuvant setting than with tamoxifen. Taken together, our data provide experimental support for a genotoxic role for estradiol in hormonal carcinogenesis.
Review of stability properties of neural plasticity rules for implementation on memristive neuromorphic hardware

In the foreseeable future, synergistic advances in high-density memristive memory, scalable and massively parallel hardware, and neural network research will enable modelers to design large-scale, adaptive neural systems to support complex behaviors in virtual and robotic agents. A large variety of learning rules have been proposed in the literature to explain how neural activity shapes synaptic connections to support adaptive behavior. A generalized parametrizable form for many of these rules is proposed in a satellite paper in this volume [1]. Implementation of these rules in hardware raises a concern about the stability of memories created by these rules when the learning proceeds continuously and affects the performance in a network controlling freely-behaving agents. This paper can serve as a reference document as it summarizes in a concise way using a uniform notation the stability properties of the rules that are covered by the general form in [1].
Fail-safe ion chamber errant beam detector tailored for personnel protection

A description is given of a fail-safe ion chamber system designed to be part of the personnel safety system (PSS) for the Los Alamos Neutron Scattering Center (LANSCE) at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. It protects the occupants of experiment areas from large radiation doses caused by errant beam conditions during beam transport from the proton storage ring to the LANSCE neutron spallation target. The layered system consists of three types of highly reliable detector systems: a current limiter system located in the beam line, a neutron detector system located in experimental areas, and an ion chamber system located on the walls of the beam line tunnels. The ion chamber system is capable of shutting off the beam in less that 0.5 s, resulting in a worst-case personnel exposure of 0.005 Gys (0.5 rd). >
Remote Sensing of Heat‐Related Health Risks: The Trend Toward Coupling Socioeconomic and Remotely Sensed Data

Heat-related death is considered the number one weather-related cause of mortality throughout the world. There is growing concern that, heat waves, the primary meteorological phenomena responsible, will become more intense and numerous in the near future. Provided with this growing hazard the responsibility for mitigation, early detection and warning rests with emergency response agencies as well as academic researchers. Numerous tools exist in the present time to model very complex relationships that truly define vulnerability to such impending disasters. However, compared to other disasters (i.e. flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc.) heat-related effects have not been thoroughly investigated in a geospatial framework. It seems likely that such approaches will provide significant benefit to the vulnerable communities and to policy makers responsible for planning. These approaches involve the usage of multiple sensor data (multi-sensor data fusion) coupled with socioeconomic characteristics to truly capture the fabric of social vulnerability. Evidence is growing that these approaches are beginning to have an impact in forecasting and planning for heat-related health disasters.
Simple identity-based cryptography with mediated RSA

In this paper, we present a general framework for evaluating the performance characteristics of block cipher structures composed of S-boxes and Maximum Distance Separable (MDS) mappings. In particular, we examine nested Substitution-Permutation Networks (SPNs) and Feistel networks with round functions composed of S-boxes and MDS mappings. Within each cipher structure, many cases are considered based on two types of S-boxes (i.e., 4×4 and 8×8) and parameterized MDS mappings. In our study of each case, the hardware complexity and performance are analyzed. Cipher security, in the form of resistance to differential, linear, and Square attacks, is used to determine the minimum number of rounds required for a particular parameterized structure. Because the discussed structures are similar to many existing ciphers (e.g., Rijndael, Camellia, Hierocrypt, and Anubis), the analysis provides a meaningful mechanism for seeking efficient ciphers through a wide comparison of performance, complexity, and security.
Synchrotron radio emission from Uranus and Neptune

Abstract A number of charged-particle radiation belt models for Uranus and Neptune are postulated, and the synchrotron emission spectrum for each is calculated over the frequency range 18.75 to 2400 MHz. Although no radio observations of these planets exist at frequencies below 1400MHz, available observations are used in conjunction with the synchrotron calculations to establish a rough upper limit to the size and strength of the planets' magnetic field strength and radiation belt intensity. The magnitude of synchrotron radio emission expected in many of the models is within the detection range of several existing ground-based telescopes, at decimetric and metric wavelengths.
Identification and Characterization of UK-201844, a Novel Inhibitor That Interferes with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp160 Processing

More than 10 6 compounds were evaluated in a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) high-throughput antiviral screen, resulting in the identification of a novel HIV-1 inhibitor (UK-201844). UK-201844 exhibited antiviral activity against HIV-1 NL4-3 in MT-2 and PM1 cells, with 50% effective concentrations of 1.3 and 2.7 μM, respectively, but did not exhibit measurable antiviral activity against the closely related HIV-1 IIIB laboratory strain. UK-201844 specifically inhibited the production of infectious virions packaged with an HIV-1 envelope (Env), but not HIV virions packaged with a heterologous Env (i.e., the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein), suggesting that the compound targets HIV-1 Env late in infection. Subsequent antiviral assays using HIV-1 NL4-3/IIIB chimeric viruses showed that HIV-1 Env sequences were critical determinants of UK-201844 susceptibility. Consistent with this, in vitro resistant-virus studies revealed that amino acid substitutions in HIV-1 Env are sufficient to confer resistance to UK-201844. Western analysis of HIV Env proteins expressed in transfected cells or in isolated virions showed that UK-201844 inhibited HIV-1 gp160 processing, resulting in the production of virions with nonfunctional Env glycoproteins. Our results demonstrate that UK-201844 represents the prototype for a unique HIV-1 inhibitor class that directly or indirectly interferes with HIV-1 gp160 processing.
Do conspecific cues affect follicular development in the female leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius)

Sexually reproducing organisms must process and respond to internal and external stimuli to successfully synchronize physiological and behavioural processes involved in reproduction. One such cue is an individual's social environment. Interactions with conspecifics affect a female's reproductive activity by inducing, suppressing, and/or accelerating reproductive processes. For example, many studies support the theory that the presence of a same-sex conspecific may suppress an animal's reproductive physiology, whereas an opposite-sex conspecific may stimulate an animal's reproductive physiology. The present study determined whether exposure to a conspecific male or female affects the onset of follicular development in sexually-experienced female leopard geckos ( Eublepharis macularius ). The data show that follicular growth was not affected by whether female geckos were housed next to a male conspecific, a female conspecific, or isolated from conspecifics. In addition, the number of days until the initiation of follicular development of female geckos was not affected by whether the females were housed in the presence of a conspecific or in isolation. The results are discussed within the theoretical framework of the effects of social cues on the reproductive physiology of females and the limited empirical data about such effects in squamate lizards.
First images of America : the impact of the New World on the Old

First Images of America is a broad and imaginative effort to come to terms with the relationship between Renaissance Europe and the variety of consequences resulting from the discovery of America. These manifold links and the congeries of questions surrounding them have never been treated with the scope concentrated here. Traditionally, scholars have found the subject a difficult 'fit' because they are reluctant to overemphasize the importance of America against the primary focus of activity within Europe. Discoveryhistory enjoyed popularity in this country at the beginning of the twentieth century when it was interpreted as an introductory stage to an emerging nationhood. This method of inquiry proved deterministic and single-minded to the next generation of researchers and the subject itself faded rapidly. Yet from other perspectives, questions of reciprocal influence remained active, and this monumental two-volume work provides a statement of current research focused across several disciplines. The book grew out of the conference arranged in early 1975 by the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Anyone who has tried a hand at organizing a conference can be envious of the vast range of themes and personalities which Fredi Chiappelli was able to assemble and from which he was able to extract articles with astonishing speed. The arrangement of articles progresses from theoretical and practical implications of the discovery of America on literature, government, theology, and art in the first volume to an object-oriented treatment of books, language, social conditions, and scientific endeavor in the second volume. The approach and consistency of the articles differs greatly, as must be expected from a publication with fifty-five contributors. It is difficult to uncover a subject left out. If anything, the problem is rather the opposite-that transitions are non-existent and readers must make their own comparisons. This is to suggest that synthesis might have been attempted between chapters or in an introduction/conclusion. As it stands, the opening essays by Charles Trinkaus and John Elliott are only related indirectly to the issues presented in the text. Trinkaus succinctly REVIEWS 115
Shy-Drager syndrome: recognition and management.

Shy-Drager syndrome is an uncommon disorder in which the patient experiences progressive autonomic failure. It is a multisystem degenerative disease that involves the central autonomic, cerebellar, basal ganglia, pyramidal, or spinal motor neurons. The mean age of onset is 55 years. A male predominance is noted, with a 2 or 3:1 ratio. About 11 percent of patients with orthostatic hypotension have Shy-Drager syndrome. The disease is progressive, and patients die 7 to 20 years after the onset of neurologic symptoms. The syndrome was first noted in 1925, when Bradbury and Eggleston 1 published a paper on 3 patients with postural hypotension and unchanging pulse rate. Shy and Drager2 provided the first comprehensive clinical and pathologic details of central nervous system involvement in this disorder. We report 1 patient with cholinergic dysfunction and orthostatic hypotension. The diagnosis of this rare neurological disease in our patient was made through a work-up in a geriatric assessment unit.
Analysis of lens cell fate and eye morphogenesis in transgenic mice ablated for cells of the lens lineage

Transgenic mice carrying the diphtheria toxin A gene driven by mouse gamma 2-crystallin promoter sequences manifest microphthalmia due to ablation of fiber cells in the ocular lens. Here we map ablation events in the lens by crossing animals hemizygous for the ablation construct with transgenic mice homozygous for the in situ lacZ reporter gene driven by identical gamma 2-crystallin promoter sequences. By comparing the spatial distribution of lacZ-expressing cells and the profile of gamma-crystallin gene expression in the lenses of normal and microphthalmic offspring, the contributions of specific cell types to lens development were examined. The results suggest that phenotypically and developmentally distinct populations of lens fiber cells are able to contribute to the lens nucleus during organogenesis. We also show that dosage of the transgene and its site of integration influence the extent of ablation. In those mice homozygous for the transgene and completely lacking cells of the lens lineage, we show that the sclera, cornea, and ciliary epithelium are reduced in size but, otherwise, reasonably well formed. In contrast, the anterior chamber, iris, and vitreous body are not discernible while the sensory retina is highly convoluted and extensively fills the vitreous chamber.
Analysis of Micro-Porosity Defect and Remedial Measures in Crankshaft (Ductile Iron) – A Case Study

This paper presents analysis of Micro-Porosity defect in product Crankshaft - Ductile cast iron (FCD 700/2), which has been carried out at one of Automotive Foundry Company in Malaysia. Systematic analyses like cause-effect diagram and defect diagnostic study approach were carried out to understand the root causes of the micro-porosity. From the data analysis there are two significant factors are identified that affect the formation of micro-porosity, they are mold factor and metal factor. Four remedial countermeasures have been proposed to prevent micro-porosity; increase squeezes pressure at molding machine, control sand moisture, increase radius at edge of mold, and reduce Magnesium (Mg) content. Result of the trials showed substantial reduction of micro-porosity defect in crankshaft (casting). The company has accepted the countermeasure and incorporated in the standard operation procedure.
A method for removing intravascular clots from embalmed human specimens.

SummaryClots were removed from the blood vessels of embalmed human specimens by perfusing them with a proteolytic-detergent-aqueous solution. Large, medium, and small arteries were subsequently injected with one of the following media: radiopaque, latex, plastic, or ink solutions to demonstrate the course, size, and connections of the vessels. Histologic sections indicate that the perfusate for cleansing the vessels had no detectable microscopic effect on the fixed tissue in their walls.
Simple Disposable Midstream Urine Specimen Separator and Collector

A unique, simple, disposable, urine fraction collector which automatically obtains a contaminant-free midstream urine specimen while the patient urinates continuously is described. The sterilized collector consists of two plastic bags attached to a firm oval plastic inlet ring. It is so constructed that the inner bag can receive only a predetermined initial fraction of the stream. The inner bag then automatically moves away from the inlet ring and closes its entry in a recess of the larger outer bag. The outer bag continues to receive the contaminant-free midstream fraction which is then available for subsequent microbiologic as well as other laboratory studies. Effective monitoring of both the initial and the midstream fractions of the urinary stream are readily achieved.
Utility of the Personality Assessment Inventory for Detecting Malingered ADHD in College Students

Objective: The purpose of the current study is to examine the utility of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) for detecting feigned ADHD in college students. Method: A sample of 238 undergraduate students was recruited and asked to simulate ADHD (ADHD simulators) or respond honestly (controls) on the PAI. Archival data (n = 541) from individuals diagnosed with clinical ADHD, no diagnosis, learning disorder, mood/anxiety, comorbid ADHD-mood/anxiety, or suspect effort were used. Results: Few individuals scored above the cutoffs on PAI validity scales. When alternative cutoff scores were examined, cutoffs of ≥77 on the Negative Impression Management (NIM) scale, ≥3 on the Malingering Index (MAL), and ≥1 on the Rogers Discriminant Function (RDF) yielded excellent specificity in all groups and sensitivities of .33, .30, and .20, respectively. Conclusion: Individuals who were asked to simulate ADHD easily manipulate the PAI; however, alternative cutoff scores proposed for PAI validity indices may improve ...
Community Service Learning as Critical Curriculum: Promoting International Students' Second Language Practices

Grounded in the whole person perspective of language learners and the concepts of investment and L2 socialization, this qualitative study explores how community service learning (CSL) contributes to international students' L2 practices and identity development. This study finds that CSL creates “a pedagogical contact zone” outside the formal language classroom in which students are exposed to authentic L2 practices and discourse acquisition. CSL is a critical curriculum for students' learning, repositioning, cooperating, and empowering. It transforms the multiple spaces of students' worlds and connects the boundaries between university and community and between foreign culture and American culture. CSL promotes students' L2 practices and positions in the community as worthy cultural and social beings. This study advocates that CSL is a legitimate language practice. It offers students an alternative discourse, community contact, and an invitation to reading and understanding the world. Suggestions for curr...
Exponentially Correlated Wave Functions for Four-Body Systems

Abstract This contribution surveys the current status of analytical methods based on the use of exponentially correlated wave functions for atom-like four-body problems. The topics reviewed include the history of the research area, Hylleraas wave functions, basic notions of correlated-orbital formulations, separation of external and internal (shape) coordinates, basic matrix-element formulas and recursive methods for their evaluation, and expressions for the kinetic and potential energies. Included is an overview of the results that have been obtained to date.
Oil Sands Energy Intensity Assessment Using Facility-Level Data

The energy intensity and fugitive emissions of oil sands extraction are modeled using detailed public data sets to provide more accurate estimates of energy use. Facility-level energy consumption and environmental emission data are collected on a monthly basis for 24 operating oil sands projects (7 mining projects and 17 in situ projects) over the periods of 2005–2012 (for mining projects) and 2009–2012 (for in situ projects). This is the most detailed data set used to date for greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment from the oil sands and relies entirely on data from government data sets. Monthly facility-level data are aggregated into four pathways, depending upon the mode of primary extraction (i.e., mining or in situ) and the type of product exported [i.e., bitumen or synthetic crude oil (SCO)]. Large variability is found among pathways and between projects within each pathway. Energy intensity ranges from 0.1 GJ/GJ of bitumen for mining projects to 0.4 GJ/GJ of SCO for in situ projects. Month-to-month variab...
Is there a SERM in your menopause toolkit

Over the past 3 decades, compounds called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have been developed that block the estrogen receptor in some tissues (estrogen receptor antagonists) or stimulate the estrogen receptor in other tissues (estrogen receptor agonists). This Practice Pearl focuses on SERMs that clinicians can use for menopausal patients.
Facilitating reintegration for military service personnel, veterans, and their families: An introduction to the special issue

As service members return from active duty and, in some cases, exit the military, they face a process of reintegration (also referred to as community reintegration) as they seek to resume participation in their life roles as civilians. Facilitating this dynamic process of reintegration for service members, veterans, and their families-including outlining potential strategies for supporting this return to civilian life and its demands, roles, and responsibilities-is the focus of this Special Issue. Reintegration has been framed as a national priority (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2015) and has been a point of emphasis of efforts at federal, state, and local levels. As the articles in this issue suggest, multiple public, private, and voluntary systems and the communities to which service members, veterans, and their families return can help influence their health outcomes and, ultimately, their reintegration. (PsycINFO Database Record
An Iterative Bézier Method for Fitting Beta-sheet Component of a Cryo-EM Density Map.

Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) is a powerful technique to produce 3-dimensional density maps for large molecular complexes. Although many atomic structures have been solved from cryo-EM density maps, it is challenging to derive atomic structures when the resolution of density maps is not sufficiently high. Geometrical shape representation of secondary structural components in a medium-resolution density map enhances modeling of atomic structures. We compare two methods in producing surface representation of the β-sheet component of a density map. Given a 3-dimensional volume of β-sheet that is segmented from a density map, the performance of a polynomial fitting was compared with that of an iterative Bezier fitting. The results suggest that the iterative Bezier fitting is more suitable for β-sheets, since it provides more accurate representation of the corners that are naturally twisted in a β-sheet.
Abstract 513: Control of Lysosome Trafficking and Autophagic Flux by Acid Sphingomyelinase in Coronary Arterial Myocytes: Protective Role in Atherosclerosis

Autophagy occurs in a variety of mammalian cell via several stages of cellular activity including induction, autophagosome (AP) formation, and autophagic flux (i.e. docking and fusion of APs with lysosomes and breakdown of autophagic vesicles). Despite extensive studies on APs formation, so far little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating autophgic flux. Since ceramide, a hydrolysis product of sphingomyelin by lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase (Asm), is implicated in the control of lysosome function in coronary arterial myocytes (CAMs). The present study tested the hypothesis that Asm is critical for AP fusion with lysosomes in CAMs and thereby protects mice from atherosclerosis. By Western blotting and flow cytometry, proatherogenic stimulation of wild type (Asm +/+ ) CAMs with 7-ketocholesterol (7K) was found to significantly enhance LC3B expression by 4.6 folds and increase AP positive cells from 6.7% to 20%. Such increases in LC3B expression and AP positive cells were augmented in CAMs with Asm siRNA or CAMs from Asm gene deficient mice (Asm -/- ). After overexpression of GFP-LC3B (AP marker) and RFP-Lamp1 (lysosome marker), 7K-induced fusion of APs with lysosomes, an indicator for the formation of autophagolysosomes (APLs) was abolished in Asm -/- CAMs compared to Asm +/+ CAMs, which was further confirmed by flow cytometry of late autophagy using acridine orange. Consistently, an autophagy degrading protein, p62, was accumulated upon proatherogenic stimulation in Asm -/- CAMs, but not in Asm +/+ CAMs. In whole animal experiments, Asm -/- mice but not Asm +/+ mice on the Western diet exhibited atherosclerotic phenotype, namely, arterial wall thickening, lipid deposition, CAM dedifferentiation and extracellular matrix deposition. In coronary arterial wall of Asm -/- mice, there was tremendous APs accumulation and p62 aggregation and inclusion in the muscle layer. These data together indicate that the control of lysosome trafficking and fusion by Asm or its product is essential to a normal autophagic flux in CAMs and that the deficiency of Asm control of autophagic flux may be an important pathogenic mechanism of atherogenesis in coronary arteries.
A study of using search engine page hits as a proxy for n-gram frequencies

The idea of using the Web as a corpus for linguistic research is getting increasingly popular. Most often this means using Web search engine page hit counts as estimates for n-gram frequencies. While the results so far have been very encouraging, some researchers worry about what appears to be the instability of these estimates. Using a particular NLP task, we compare the variability in the n-gram counts across different search engines as well as for the same search engine across time, finding that although there are measurable differences, they are not statistically significantly different for the task examined.
AC calorimetry of H2O at pressures up to 9 GPa in diamond anvil cells

If successfully developed, calorimetry at tens of GPa of pressure could help characterize phase transitions in materials such as high-pressure minerals, metals, and molecular solids. Here, we extend alternating-current calorimetry to 9 GPa and 300 K in a diamond anvil cell and use it to study phase transitions in H2O. In particular, water is loaded into the sample chambers of diamond-cells, along with thin metal heaters (1 μm-thick platinum or 20 nm-thick gold on a glass substrate) that drive high-frequency temperature oscillations (20 Hz to 600 kHz; 1 to 10 K). The heaters also act as thermometers via the third-harmonic technique, yielding calorimetric data on (1) heat conduction to the diamonds and (2) heat transport into substrate and sample. Using this method during temperature cycles from 300 to 200 K, we document melting, freezing, and proton ordering and disordering transitions of H2O at 0 to 9 GPa, and characterize changes in thermal conductivity and heat capacity across these transitions. The tec...
The Restraint and Seclusion of Students With a Disability: Examining Trends in U.S. School Districts and Their Policy Implications

Restraint and seclusion are possible aversive responses to problematic student behavior used in some public schools, most commonly on students with a disability. Considerable recent attention has b...
3D bioprinting using stem cells

Recent advances have allowed for three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies to be applied to biocompatible materials, cells and supporting components, creating a field of 3D bioprinting that holds great promise for artificial organ printing and regenerative medicine. At the same time, stem cells, such as human induced pluripotent stem cells, have driven a paradigm shift in tissue regeneration and the modeling of human disease, and represent an unlimited cell source for tissue regeneration and the study of human disease. The ability to reprogram patient-specific cells holds the promise of an enhanced understanding of disease mechanisms and phenotypic variability. 3D bioprinting has been successfully performed using multiple stem cell types of different lineages and potency. The type of 3D bioprinting employed ranged from microextrusion bioprinting, inkjet bioprinting, laser-assisted bioprinting, to newer technologies such as scaffold-free spheroid-based bioprinting. This review discusses the current advances, applications, limitations and future of 3D bioprinting using stem cells, by organ systems.
Prostate Cancer Patient Characteristics Associated With a Strong Preference to Preserve Sexual Function and Receipt of Active Surveillance

Background Men with early-stage prostate cancer have multiple options that have similar oncologic efficacy but vary in terms of their impact on quality of life. In low-risk cancer, active surveillance is the option that best preserves patients' sexual function, but it is unknown if patient preference affects treatment selection. Our objectives were to identify patient characteristics associated with a strong preference to preserve sexual function and to determine whether patient preference and baseline sexual function level are associated with receipt of active surveillance in low-risk cancer. Methods In this population-based cohort of men with localized prostate cancer, baseline patient-reported sexual function was assessed using a validated instrument. Patients were also asked whether preservation of sexual function was very, somewhat, or not important. Prostate cancer disease characteristics and treatments received were abstracted from medical records. A modified Poisson regression model with robust standard errors was used to compute adjusted risk ratio (aRR) estimates. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results Among 1194 men, 52.6% indicated a strong preference for preserving sexual function. Older men were less likely to have a strong preference (aRR = 0.98 per year, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.97 to 0.99), while men with normal sexual function were more likely (vs poor function, aRR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.39 to 1.82). Among 568 men with low-risk cancer, there was no clear association between baseline sexual function or strong preference to preserve function with receipt of active surveillance. However, strong preference may differnetially impact those with intermediate baseline function vs poor function (Pinteraction = .02). Conclusions Treatment choice may not always align with patients' preferences. These findings demonstrate opportunities to improve delivery of patient-centered care in early prostate cancer.
Effect of the block-spin configuration on the location of βc in two-dimensional Ising modelsin two-dimensional Ising models

We consider the nearest neighbor Ising model on the 2D square lattice and divide the lattice into 2 by 2 blocks. Each block is assigned one spin value (1 or −1) and these block spin values are kept fixed. We then impose the majority rule and look at the effect on the phase transition that was present in the original unconstrained spin system. We find that for the checkerboard block-spin configuration, Monte Carlo simulations show thatβc is close to 1, which, compared to the original nearest neighbor Isingβc = 0.44..., shows that the critical temperature has been reduced by more than one half. For none of the other 11 block-spin configurations that we have considered is there any indication of a phase transition in the constrained system of original spins.
An Evolutionarily Informed Study of Moral Psychology

This chapter outlines a theory for how the fundamentals of moral behavior—altruism and punishment—evolved as biologically beneficial predispositions. It draws a distinction between mechanisms directed at regulating one’s own behavior (what he calls “inward-facing mechanisms”) and those directed at changing others’ behavior (“outward-facing mechanisms”). It is argued that consideration of each of these types of mechanisms is necessary, in order to fully appreciate the evolutionary dynamics that shaped the core of human morality. The theory developed shows why the empirical and theoretical study of morality can be so difficult—because the ultimate reasons behind a moral decision might often be unknown even to the person who makes it.
Qualifications v. logic and data: Excluding conduct disorders from the SED definition.

(1992). Qualifications v. Logic and Data: Excluding Conduct Disorders from the SED Definition. School Psychology Review: Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 23-28.
Oxide Degradation Mechanisms in MOS Transistors

The hot-carrier induced degradation of MOS transistors is caused by the injection of high-energy electrons and holes into the gate oxide region near the drain. The “damage” is in the form of localized oxide charge trapping and/or interface trap generation, which gradually builds up and permanently changes the oxide-interface charge distribution [1],[2]. In this chapter, the hot-carrier injection mechanisms leading to oxide damage in MOSFET devices will be reviewed, and the physical principles of charge trapping and interface trap generation will be briefly discussed. A thorough understanding of the processes which are responsible for the long-term degradation of device characteristics is naturally the first prerequisite for building accurate simulation models and for evaluating the device-level and circuit-level damages associated with these processes. Related issues, such as the localization of the oxide damage, the dependence of the degradation mechanisms upon various operating conditions and temperature, and the effects of the oxide damage upon device characteristics, will also be examined. Most of the following discussion is focussed on nMOS transistors, for which the hot-carrier effects have been observed to be more significant than for pMOS transistors. Hot-carrier effects in pMOS transistors will also be examined, however, since experimental evidence suggests that the degradation in submicrometer pMOS transistors may no longer be negligible [3].
Cytoplasmic Inheritance of Chloramphenicol Resistance in Mammalian Cells

Chloramphenicol (CAP) resistance was the first cytoplasmic drug resistance marker to be described for mammalian cells. CAP and a variety of structurally related analogs (Fig. 1) are potent inhibitors of both bacteria and mammalian cells. Inhibition of bacterial growth is rapid, but inhibition of mammalian cell replication requires several generations (Spolsky and Eisenstadt, 1972; Bunn et al., 1974; D. C. Wallace et al., 1975).
Noisy matrix completion using alternating minimization

The task of matrix completion involves estimating the entries of a matrix, M ∈ ℝm×n, when a subset, Ω ⊂{(i,j):1≤i≤m,1≤j≤n} of the entries are observed. A particular set of low rank models for this task approximate the matrix as a product of two low rank matrices, M = UVT, where U ∈ ℝm×k and V ∈ ℝn×k and k ≪ min {m,n}. A popular algorithm of choice in practice for recovering M from the partially observed matrix using the low rank assumption is alternating least square (ALS) minimization, which involves optimizing over U and V in an alternating manner to minimize the squared error over observed entries while keeping the other factor fixed. Despite being widely experimented in practice, only recently were theoretical guarantees established bounding the error of the matrix estimated from ALS to that of the original matrix M. In this work we extend the results for a noiseless setting and provide the first guarantees for recovery under noise for alternating minimization. We specifically show that for well conditioned matrices corrupted by random noise of bounded Frobenius norm, if the number of observed entries is O(k7n log n), then the ALS algorithm recovers the original matrix within an error bound that depends on the norm of the noise matrix. The sample complexity is the same as derived in [7] for the noise-free matrix completion using ALS.
Homo Ritualis: Hindu Ritual and its Significance for Ritual Theory , by Axel Michaels

Homo Ritualis: Hindu Ritual and its Significance for Ritual Theory, by Axel Michaels. New York: Oxford University Press, 2016. xviii + 372 pp., $105.00 (hb), $39.95 (pb). ISBN 978-0-190-26263-X (hb), ISBN 978-0-190-26263-1 (pb).
A simple system for symptom assessment in pediatric palliative care patients with cancer: A preliminary report.

81Background: Systematic symptom assessment is not a standard of care in children with cancer. Many well-known symptom assessment tools are lengthy or difficult to integrate into a daily pediatric ...
The Śrī Maṅkala Vināyakar Satsaṅg Group: Religious Practice and Middle-Class Status in Tamil Nadu, South India

This article presents an organized group of middle-class, multicaste Hindu housewives living in the suburbs of Madurai, Tamil Nadu—the Śrī Maṅkala Vināyakar Satsaṅg (SMVS) Group. Hindu satsaṅg groups are common throughout India and revolve primarily around devotional singing, although the word satsaṅg also denotes a grouping/community specifically organized around a guru and their students. Using my experiences participating in and observing this specific satsaṅg group and its practices, I demonstrate how caste, class, and Hindu religious practice intersect in contemporary urban Tamil Nadu. Through an examination of how religious knowledge is shared and learned in the SMVS Group, I show that what are viewed as high-caste Hindu performances of piety (for example, Sanskrit recitation) are formative in many Hindu women’s perceptions and constructions of their middle-class identities. Further, I highlight the study of multicaste women’s social networks, both urban and rural, as a nuanced and valuable lens through which to study middle-class identity in India.
14.7 A Modular Hybrid LDO with Fast Load-Transient Response and Programmable PSRR in 14nm CMOS Featuring Dynamic Clamp Tuning and Time-Constant Compensation

Complex SoCs in scaled CMOS processes integrate a large variety of digital, SRAM and noise-sensitive mixed-signal/analog circuit blocks such as PLLs, wireline/wireless/RF transceivers, sensor front-ends, etc. The on-die low-dropout regulators (LDO) used for fine-grain DVFS of digital and memory blocks must respond fast to large load transients to minimize voltage droops/overshoots without using large decoupling caps, while minimizing power overheads over a wide operating range. The noise-sensitive analog circuits, on the other hand, need LDOs that provide sufficiently high power supply rejection (PSR) and minimal output voltage ripple, while maximizing current efficiency. Fast and scalable digital (DLDO) [1], analog-assisted digital (AA-DLDO) [2]–[3] and hybrid (HLDO) [4] analog-digital LDOs targeted for digital and memory blocks, as well as high-PSRR analog LDOs (ALDO) [5] optimized specifically for analog circuits have been recently reported.
Advances in CdMnTe Nuclear Radiation Detectors Development

Cadmium manganese telluride (CdMnTe) is one of the tertiary compounds of cadmium telluride (CdTe) that has shown great promise in the detection of X-rays and gamma-rays at room temperature without cryogenic cooling. While cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) wide band gap semiconductor has been widely researched and developed to high resolution detector, CdMnTe has comparatively received less effort in development. It is however expected that a more homogeneous CdMnTe crystal with lesser defects than CdZnTe will be easier to grow since the segregation coefficient of Mn in CdTe is closer to unity than that of Zn. This paper briefly reviews the material properties and growth techniques for CdMnTe and presents progress in the development of CdMnTe detectors. Three successive Bridgman growths of CdMnTe resulted in detector grade crystals.