cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
When Does Increasing Mobilization Effort Increase Turnout? Evidence from a Field Experiment on Reminder Calls

When does increasing mobilization effort increase turnout? Recent experiments find second calls containing a reminder to vote increase turnout beyond an initial contact. We argue existing studies c...
Cytotoxicity of α-Helical, Staphylococcus aureus PSMα3 Investigated by Post-Ion-Mobility Dissociation Mass Spectrometry.

Our knowledge of amyloid formation and cytotoxicity originating from self-assembly of α-helical peptides is incomplete. PSMα3 is the only system where high-resolution X-ray crystallography and toxi...
Using Thermodynamic Availability to Predict the Transitional Film Reynolds Number between the Jet and Sheet Modes in Falling Liquid between Horizontal Tubes

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a theoretical framework -based on thermodynamic availability- that directly predicts the transitional film Reynolds numbers between the jet and sheet modes of falling films on horizontal tubes. The prediction of the prevailing flow mode is important for the design and operation of falling film heat and mass exchangers. The proposed model accounts for fluid properties as well as tube geometry (diameter and spacing). The transitional film Reynolds numbers calculated using the proposed model were validated against 52 experimental measurements from the literature. More than 73 % of the results from the proposed model are within ± 25 % from their respective experimental values. Moreover, the proposed model has a mean absolute percentage error of 20.4 % which is lower than the 30.4% obtained by the widely-used empirical model ( Re = a ( Ga ) b ), for the same validation data. The proposed model offers a convenient tool for predicting the mode transitions, provides insight into the role of availability in the mode transitions, and has the potential of integration with other models (e.g. mode-based heat transfer models, evaporator models, and chiller or desalination system models).
Simultaneous Analog Computing using Multi-Frequency Inverse-Designed Metamaterial Platforms

Here we introduce inverse-designed structures for inverting several matrices at the same time by exploiting multi-frequency design. We demonstrate possibilities of feasible designs for up to four different mathematical kernels that can be inverted simultaneously.
In Situ Decarboxylation-Pressurized Hot Water Extraction for Selective Extraction of Cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa. Chemometric Approach

Isolation of the therapeutic cannabinoid compounds from Cannabis Sativa L. (C. Sativa) is important for the development of cannabis-based pharmaceuticals for cancer treatment, among other ailments. The main pharmacological cannabinoids are THC and CBD. However, THC also induces undesirable psychoactive effects. The decarboxylation process converts the naturally occurring acidic forms of cannabinoids, such as cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), to their more active neutral forms, known as cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The purpose of this study was to selectively extract cannabinoids using a novel in situ decarboxylation pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) system. The decarboxylation step was evaluated at different temperature (80–150 °C) and time (5–60 min) settings to obtain the optimal conditions for the decarboxylation-PHWE system using response surface methodology (RSM). The system was optimized to produce cannabis extracts with high CBD content, while suppressing the THC and CBN content. The identification and quantification of cannabinoid compounds were determined using UHPLC-MS/MS with external calibration. As a result, the RSM has shown good predictive capability with a p-value < 0.05, and the chosen parameters revealed to have a significant effect on the CBD, CBN and THC content. The optimal decarboxylation conditions for an extract richer in CBD than THC were set at 149.9 °C and 42 min as decarboxylation temperature and decarboxylation time, respectively. The extraction recoveries ranged between 96.56 and 103.42%, 95.22 and 99.95%, 99.62 and 99.81% for CBD, CBN and THC, respectively.
Toward More General Embeddings for Protein Design: Harnessing Joint Representations of Sequence and Structure

Protein embeddings learned from aligned sequences have been leveraged in a wide array of tasks in protein understanding and engineering. The sequence embeddings are generated through semi-supervised training on millions of sequences with deep neural models defined with hundreds of millions of parameters, and they continue to increase in performance on target tasks with increasing complexity. We report a more data-efficient approach to encode protein information through joint training on protein sequence and structure in a semi-supervised manner. We show that the method is able to encode both types of information to form a rich embedding space which can be used for downstream prediction tasks. We show that the incorporation of rich structural information into the context under consideration boosts the performance of the model by predicting the effects of single-mutations. We attribute increases in accuracy to the value of leveraging proximity within the enriched representation to identify sequentially and spatially close residues that would be affected by the mutation, using experimentally validated or predicted structures.
Topology Morphing Control Strategies for Full-bridge LLC Converter

Wide soft switching operation range, high frequency operation, and simple control strategy are the main characteristics for LLC converter. Thus, it has been widely used in industry. In particular, renewable energy systems, like photovoltaic (PV) and fuel cell, require wide voltage gain range application, which is challenging for traditional LLC converters since wide switching frequency variation range is necessary. To narrow down the switching frequency operation range, in this paper, the topology morphing control strategies for full-bridge LLC converter are investigated. The traditional full-bridge LLC converter can operate as half-bridge mode or frequency doubler operation mode by simply modifying the gate signals. Then, the converter voltage gain is doubled when compared with traditional full-bridge converter, and only half of the switching frequency operation range is required to cover the same voltage gain range. Operational principles, comparative analysis, and experimental validation are presented.
Diode Lasers and their Application to Spectroscopy

Semiconductor diode lasers are emerging as important tools for the future of laser spectroscopy and precision optical measurements. The technology of diode lasers has advanced considerably in the past few years as has their availability. Because these lasers are practical, efficient and inexpensive they will open many research possibilities. Their low cost is particularly significant for laboratories with limited budgets. The impact of diode lasers on atomic and molecular spectroscopy will be profound, and is just beginning.
Mapping concurrent applications onto architectural platforms

Embedded system designers are faced with an expanding array of challenges 1in both application and architecture design. One challenge is the task of modelling heterogeneous concurrent applications. Another is the task of finding a programming model for heterogeneous multiprocessor architectural platforms. Compounding each of these challenges is the task of implementing heterogeneous applications on heterogeneous architectures. We believe that the key problem underlying each of these challenges is the modelling of concurrency, and the key to modelling concurrency is to capture concurrent communication formally in models of computation. This chapter broadly outlines a disciplined approach to the design and implementation of communication structures in embedded applications. Our approach combines the Network-on-Chip paradigm with the models of computation paradigm. We use models of computation to capture the communication requirements of an application as well as to abstract the capabilities of a communication architecture. Then, application requirements and architectural capabilities are matched using a discipline based on Network-on-Chip principles. In this chapter we describe this approach and present a case study where a Click network routing application is implemented on a multiprocessor architecture using this discipline.
Using Genetic Programming to Identify Tradeoffs in Self-Stabilizing Programs: A Case Study

We focus on the use of genetic programming to identify trade-offs between closure and convergence properties of a stabilizing program. Closure property characterizes the behavior in the absence of faults whereas convergence property characterizes the recovery from an arbitrary state to a legitimate state. We describe how genetic programming (GP) can be applied to identify a trade-off for the behaviors in the absence of faults and in the presence of faults. This approach uses BDD (Binary Decision Diagram) based techniques. Subsequently, we use two objectives: closure and maximum convergence time and utilize NSGA-II (a multi-objective optimization algorithm) to identify the trade-off between the performances. We use the classic K-state token ring program to illustrate the trade-off and run experiments for three different approaches: (1) where we only consider trade-off based on process 0, (2) where only consider trade-off based on non-zero processes, and (3) where we consider both trade-offs. Several interesting results are found such as, special process (marked N -- 3 in the K-state program) plays a critical role in providing the trade-off, while process 1 is the least important.
Interactive Software for Spectral Assignment

A new interactive computer software package for eigenvalue/eigenvector assignment using constant state feedback is described. The packge consists of ten subprograms, each associated with a specific design objective, accessible from a main control program. Using this package, primary design objectives of assigning eigenvalues and approximating eigenvectors are first achieved. Then secondary design objectives, including modification of specific eigenvector components, reduction in specified elements of the feedback gain matrix, and reduction in eigensystem sensitivity to changes in plant parameters, are addressed. These secondary objectives are achieved by a systematic modification of the assigned eigenvectors in a small region about the initial assignment. In addition, the program implements the use of spectral assignment procedures with reduced-order system models. Program modes are described and illustrated by numerical examples.
Cesarean section in twin pregnancy

T H E early history of cesarean section in twin pregnancy suffers from the same lack of clarity which beclouds the whole history of the operation. Scholars still argur whether references in the Talmud to delivery by yoze dofan mean that women in that era were delivered by cesarean section. The Talmud, the transcription of the Jewish oral law (Mishnah) which had grown up in the thousand years after the Bible and the commentary upon it (Gemara) , was written during the second to sixth centuries, A.D. According to Hebraic scholars, the two words yore dofan should be translated by the phrase “a cut in the loin.” The two most important Talmudic references to this mode of delivery are concerned with the laws of purification and primogeniture. The Rabbis questioned whether purification, the taking of the ritual bath 40 days after the birth of a male and 80 days after the birth of a female, was to be carried out when delivrry was accomplished through yozt’ dofan. Obviously the woman must have been alive when the “cut in the loin” was made and she also must have survived the procedure. otherwise there would be no concern about puerperal purification. The second reference to yoze Rabbis dofan is germane to our topic. The argued whether the first of malt
Coordination of first responders under communication and resource constraints

This paper discusses the application of distributed constraint optimization to coordination in disaster management situations under sub-optimal network conditions. It presents an example system for the problem of shelter assignment and outlines some of the challenges and future research directions that must be addressed before real-world deployment of distributed constraint optimization becomes a reality.
Teams and Teamwork: A Foundation

This paper offers five stages of teamwork. The premise is that no level of teamwork is necessarily better than another. What is most important is whether the level of teamwork meets the needs of the team members and the job the team needs to do. Sets of statements characteristic of the five levels help teams diagnose their level of teamwork. The paper also proposes and explains a definition of teamwork as a process of partnering with a distinct group of individuals to accomplish an objective meaningful to all and ends with a discussion of the increasing importance of teamwork in an ever more complex business environment.
A survey to determine the knowledge of military members about the hazards of tobacco use, and a resulting tobacco‐hazard education project

Abstract A questionnaire and an intraoral examination were administered to 340 U.S. Navy personnel in order to ascertain the use of tobacco and its effect within the oral cavity. The rate of tobacco use among these military personnel was about twice that of the general public. About 45% of the patients were not well informed of the systemic or intraoral hazard of tobacco usage. With a need for tobacco‐hazard awareness documented, an educational project was designed and administered to over 4,000 military and civilian participants. This education program has now been expanded to train health care professionals so that they can perform their own tobacco‐hazard education with patients and small groups.
Integral Theory and the Search for Earthly Emancipation

This article responds to two recent pieces by Timothy Rutzou in an effort to push forward a fruitful dialogue between critical realism (CR) and integral theory (IT). The intention is not a philosophical defence of integral theory; there are far more capable people to attempt a philosophical defence (or surrender). Rather the aim here is to help push forward the development of dialectical critical realism (DCR). Rutzou’s critique centres on four themes: (1) in what way is critical realism a metatheory, (2) integral theory often commits the epistemic fallacy, (3) integral theory is explicitly committed to ontological monovalence and (4) integral theory is ‘a quasi-scientific-religious holistic worldview’. I largely accept Rutzou’s metatheoretical comment and criticisms. I will briefly expand on each of these issues and then suggest that none of Rutzou’s criticisms are fatal to a constructive engagement between integral theory and critical realism. It is a bit awkward to be defending the importance of transpersonal psychology with a theorist who is currently working on rethinking the question of ‘miracles’. Rutzou does accept my claim that integral theory offers to dialectical critical realism (1) psychological theories of human development, (2) cultural anthropology and (3) transpersonal psychology. Thus I am a bit perplexed with the tone of criticism. His tone suggests that the criticisms lodged against IT are fatal. Yet his conclusion is that engagement between IT and CR should take place. Rutzou should clarify his position and explain why the criticisms are not fatal.
Opioid Peptides Inhibit Excitatory But Not Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission in the Rat Dorsal Motor Nucleus of the Vagus

Opioid peptides produce gastrointestinal inhibition and increase feeding when applied to the brainstem. The present studies were designed to determine the actions of opioid peptides on synaptic transmission within the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) and the localization of mu-opioid receptors. Whole-cell recordings were made from identified gastrointestinal-projecting DMV neurons in thin brainstem slices of the rat. Electrical stimulation of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius evoked EPSCs and IPSCs. In all neurons tested, methionine (Met)-enkephalin (0.003-30 microm) inhibited the peak amplitude of the EPSCs. The effect was prevented by naloxone (1 microm) as well as by naloxonazine (0.2 microm). An increase in the ratio of the evoked paired pulses indicated that the inhibition was attributable to actions at presynaptic receptors. This presynaptic inhibitory action was mimicked by [d-Ala(2), N-Me-Phe(4), Gly(5)-ol]-enkephalin (0.1 microm) and the analgesic dipeptide kyotorphin (10 microm) but not by cyclic[d-Pen(2), d-Pen(5)]-enkephalin (1 microm) and trans-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide methanesulfonate (1 microm). In contrast, the amplitude of evoked IPSCs was not altered either by Met-enkephalin or by any of the opioid receptor-selective agonists. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that nerve terminals apposing DMV neurons showed immunoreactivity to mu-opioid receptors colocalized with glutamate immunoreactivity but not glutamic acid decarboxylase immunoreactivity. These results suggest that within the DMV, mu-opioid receptors are present on the nerve terminals of excitatory but not inhibitory inputs to GI motoneurons. Such specificity may imply that the central inhibitory action of opioid peptides on gastrointestinal function targets selected pathways.
Foreign Ownership Rules and Domestic Firm Globalization in India

This study examines whether the influence of foreign ownership helps domestic firms in an emerging market economy, India, globalize their operations. The extent of operations globalization is captured as exporting behavior, which is measured as the ratio of export sales to total sales. Foreign ownership is categorized according to the control exercisable at different levels of ownership by foreign shareholders. The degree of control a foreign shareholder employs is determined by the institutional structure of the environment firms operate in. The results show that, after controlling for a variety of firm and environment-specific factors, only when property rights devolve unequivocally to foreign owners do domestic firms display the higher export orientation which is consonant with the process of globalization of their operations.
A Comparative Study of NBTI and PBTI (Charge Trapping) in SiO2/HfO2 Stacks with FUSI, TiN, Re Gates

Threshold voltage (Vt) of a field effect transistor (FET) is observed to shift with stressing time and this stress induced V t shift is an important transistor reliability issue. Vt shifts that occur under negative gate bias is referred as NBTI and those that occur under positive bias is referred as PBTI or charge trapping. In this paper, we present a comparative study of NBTI and PBTI for a variety of FETs with different dielectric stacks and gate materials. The study has two parts. In part I, NBTI and PBTI measurements are performed for FUSI NiSi gated FETs with SiO2 SiO2/HfO2 and SiO2/HfSiO as gate dielectric stacks and the results are compared with those for conventional SiON/poly-Si FETs. The main results are: (i) NBTI for SiO 2/NiSi and SiO2/HfO2/NiSi are same as those conventional SiON/poly-Si FETs; (ii) PBTI significantly increases as the Hf content in the high K layer is increased; and (iii) PBTI is a greater reliability issue than NBTI for HfO2/NiSi FETs. In part II of the study, NBTI and PBTI measurements are performed for SiO2/HfO2 devices with TiN and Re as gates and the results are compared with those for NiSi gated FETs. The main results are: (i) NBTI for SiO 2/HfO2/TiN and SiO2/HfO2/Re pFETs are similar with those observed for NiSi gated pFETs; and (ii) PBTI in TiN and Re gated HfO2 devices is much smaller than those observed for SiO2/HfO2/NiSi. In summary for SiO2/HfO2 stacks, NBTI is observed to be independent of gate material whereas PBTI is significantly worse for FUSI gated devices. Consequently, HfO2 FETs with TiN and Re gates exhibit over all superior transistor reliability characteristics in comparison to HfO2/FUSI FETs
Flexibility Meets Variability: A Multiagent Constraint Based Approach for Incorporating Renewables into the Power Grid

This paper outlines a new approach to creating value from the Smart Grid by incorporating individual households into the response system that must be deployed to accommodate increasingly large sources of intermittent renewable power. We propose a framework that couples agent-based AI techniques with envelope methods. Envelope methods provide a unified mathematical framework to model intermittent renewable resources, conventional dispatchable resources, demand side response, and storage. The overall goal of our system is to develop a distributed autonomous agent architecture that is able to facilitate market transactions among load serving entities, residential consumers, conventional merchant power producers, and intermittent power producers.
Separation and size determination of human serum lipoproteins by agarose gel filtration

A method is described for the separation of the three major classes of human serum lipoproteins by gel filtration on columns of 4 and 6% agarose gel. After calibration of the columns, the elution volumes of the lipoproteins were used to calculate the molecular sizes and molecular weights of these macromolecules. The technique was employed to demonstrate aggregation of low density lipoprotein following partial delipidation, partial proteolysis, or mild heat denaturation. Agarose gel filtration shows promise as a useful method for the isolation, purification, and characterization of lipoproteins.
Modification of the properties of some polyblends and reinforced polymers

Abstract In the present paper we shall deal with: (a) Polyblends made of a polyurethane (PU) based on a polyether and diphenyl-methane-diisocyanate and an acrylic terpolymer (AT) system and, (b) glass fibre reinforced poly-(organosiloxane), (SR). We now report some differential scanning calorimetry (d.s.c.) measurements and the effect of thermal cycling exposure on these polymers. Stress-strain tests were done on an Instron universal testing machine. The modification of the properties on the polymers after blending and reinforcing respectively are discussed. At certain ratio PU to AT the behaviour of the polyblend to thermal cycling exposure is better than that of PU. The presence of the reinforcing agent in the silicone polymer significantly improves its mechanical and thermal properties.
Technique Evolution, Learning Curve, and Outcomes of 200 Robot-Assisted Gastric Bypass Procedures: a 5-Year Experience

Background We evaluate our 5-year experience, evolution of technique, and clinical outcomes with robot-assisted RYGB. Methods Two hundred consecutive patients who underwent robot-assisted RYGB at our center were included. Among them, 118 patients underwent a hybrid robot-assisted laparoscopic RYGB (LRRYGB), and 82 patients underwent a totally robotic RYGB (TRRYGB). Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, operative parameters, conversions, morbidity, mortality, and excess weight loss were analyzed. Results Most of the patients (88 %) were female with a mean age of 41.9 years and mean BMI of 46.6 kg/m(2). The outcomes of patients who underwent LRRYGB (n = 118) were compared to those who underwent TRRYGB (n = 82). The mean operative time in TRRYGB group was 170.9 ± 51.4 min which was significantly lower than LRRYGB group (216 ± 54.1 min). The mean operative time for the last 100 patients was significantly lower than that for the first 100 patients. The excess weight loss (EWL) was 58.3 % at 6 months, 67.7 % at 1 year, 71.6 % at 2 years, and 65 % at 3 years. There were three conversions to open, three reoperations and four readmissions. There were no anastomotic leak, major bleed, gastrojejunostomy stricture, or mortality seen in our series. Conclusions Use of robot assistance to perform RYGB is safe and may reduce the associated complications, namely, anastomotic leak, gastrojejunostomy (GJ) stricture, and hemorrhage. Excess weight loss at 2 years after RRYGB is comparable to laparoscopic RYGB.
Angelina Grimké: Asceticism, Millenarianism, and Reform

Current scholarship surrounding Angelina Grimke rests on an idealized construction of her personal and intellectual development. Her papers, however, reveal a more complex person, plagued by depression and driven by an ascetic temperament. Consequently, Grimke's 1843 millenarian obsessions may speak more fully to her intellectual character than her abolitionism and feminism.
Microfluidic Strategies for Design and Assembly of Microfibers and Nanofibers with Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Applications

Fiber-based materials provide critical capabilities for biomedical applications. Microfluidic fiber fabrication has recently emerged as a very promising route to the synthesis of polymeric fibers at the micro and nanoscale, providing fine control over fiber shape, size, chemical anisotropy, and biological activity. This Progress Report summarizes advanced microfluidic methods for the fabrication of both microscale and nanoscale fibers and illustrates how different methods are enabling new biomedical applications. Microfluidic fabrication methods and resultant materials are explained from the perspective of their microfluidic device principles, including co-flow, cross-flow, and flow-shaping designs. It is then detailed how the microchannel design and flow parameters influence the variety of synthesis chemistries that can be utilized. Finally, the integration of biomaterials and microfluidic strategies is discussed to manufacture unique fiber-based systems, including cell scaffolds, cell encapsulation, and woven tissue matrices.
Recall and organization in memory as a function of rate of presentation and individual differences in test anxiety

Subjects differing in test anxiety participated in a free recall experiment using a list of words that could be organized by associates or rhymes. The words were presented at either a 1-sec or a 6-sec rate, with related words presented consecutively in input. Compared to low-anxiety subjects, high-anxiety subjects recalled fewer rhyming words and had fewer rhyme clusters, but there was no difference for recall of associates or associative clustering. High anxiety seemed to be more debilitating for women than for men. The results suggest an interpretation of the high-anxiety cue-utilization deficit in terms of the distinction between “elaborative” and “maintenance” rehearsal.
Advances of Cancer Therapy by Nanotechnology

Recent developments in nanotechnology offer researchers opportunities to significantly transform cancer therapeutics. This technology has enabled the manipulation of the biological and physicochemical properties of nanomaterials to facilitate more efficient drug targeting and delivery. Clinical investigations suggest that therapeutic nanoparticles can enhance efficacy and reduced side effects compared with conventional cancer therapeutic drugs. Encouraged by rapid and promising progress in cancer nanotechnology, researchers continue to develop novel and efficacious nanoparticles for drug delivery. The use of therapeutic nanoparticles as unique drug delivery systems will be a significant addition to current cancer therapeutics.
The Child Anxiety Impact Scale: Examining Parent- and Child-Reported Impairment in Child Anxiety Disorders

The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity of both the Child and Parent version of the Child Anxiety Impact Scale (CAIS) using data obtained from the Child/Adolescent Anxiety Multimodal Study (Walkup et al., 2008). The CAIS child and parent versions measure anxiety-related functional impairment in school, social, and family domains. Participants were 488 children ages 7 to 17 (M age = 10.7, SD = 2.8 years) enrolled as part of the CAMS study across 6 sites and their primary parent or caregiver. Families participated in a structured diagnostic interview and then completed the CAIS along with other measures. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the a priori three-factor structure (school, social, and home/family) for the CAIS parent- and CAIS child-report was a reasonable fit, with a comparative fit index of .88 and root mean square error of approximation of .05. Internal consistency was very good for total score and subscales of bo...
The effect of subsidized imports on domestic industry: a comparison of market structures

Abstract This paper examines whether injury suffered by a domestic industry from subsidized imports depends on the type of competition that exists between domestic and foreign firms. Five alternative types of competitive behavior are considered, including Cournot and Bertrand competition, and perfectly competitive behavior. The principal finding is that subsidized exports cause relatively more than under perfect competition than under oligopoly. Another result suggests that competitive industries are more sensitive to subsidies than oligopolies. In particular, a perfectly competitive industry is at least three times more sensitive to subsidies than even a Bertrand oligopoly.
Pulmonary care of the critically ill

Summary In managing the patient requiring ventilatory support, the clinician must exercise vigilance to avoid unnecessary complications. The most obvious of these include barotrauma (pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema), hypovolemic hypotension, pneumonia, hypoventilation, and atelectasis. However, the clinician also must be concerned with more subtle, but nonetheless significant factors, such as oxygen toxicity and volutrauma, that may aggravate underlying lung injury. Additionally, the development of unrecognized dynamic hyperinflation, or auto-PEEP, may compromise the clinician's ability to allow adequate exhalation in the patient receiving mechanical ventilatory support. For these reasons, communication between the physician and the respiratory therapy and nursing personnel who provide care for the mechanically ventilated patient is essential. Attention to the patient's plateau airway pressure, inspired oxygen concentration, and flow mechanics is as necessary to the care of the patient as vital signs, physical examination, and chest roentgenograms.
Career Concerns and Mobility Motivations of Orchestra Musicians

This paper offers a theoretical and empirical stance towards careers and professional socialization as subjective experience. Focusing on the problematic features of mobility, entrapment, and organ...
Outcomes after rehabilitation for adults with balance dysfunction.

Abstract Badke MB, Shea TA, Miedaner JA, Grove CR. Outcomes after rehabilitation for adults with balance dysfunction. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:227–33. Objectives To assess balance, dynamic gait, and dynamic visual acuity outcomes after a vestibular and balance rehabilitation program and to determine which variables were significantly associated with improved balance and ambulation. Design Retrospective case series. Setting Outpatient setting at a tertiary care facility. Participants Twenty patients who were seen for vestibular and balance therapy between July 1999 and June 2000. Interventions A customized exercise program was developed for each patient according to the results of the assessment and included the following interventions, as indicated: gaze stabilization, balance and gait training, and habituation exercises. Main outcome measures The Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Visual Acuity Test (DVAT), and computerized posturography (Sensory Organization Test [SOT]). Results The mean change scores for the DGI showed significant improvement for both patients with peripheral vestibular dysfunction and patients with central balance disorders. For the central balance disorders group, the BBS score also showed significant improvement. No difference was noted for pretherapy and posttherapy SOT scores between groups. The total group appeared to show an average improvement of more than 2 lines on the visual acuity chart on the clinical DVAT. Patients who were 66 years or older were 1.5 times more likely to score less than 20 on the DGI, and those whose pretherapy vertical dynamic visual acuity was 20/80 or worse were 1.3 times more likely to score less than 20 on the DGI. Conclusions Patients showed functional improvements in balance, visual acuity, and gait stability after balance and vestibular physical therapy. Age and pretherapy vertical dynamic visual acuity score influenced dynamic gait outcome after a balance rehabilitation program.
Structural and catalytic diversity within the amidohydrolase superfamily.

The amidohydrolase superfamily comprises a remarkable set of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of a wide range of substrates bearing amide or ester functional groups at carbon and phosphorus centers. The most salient structural landmark for this family of hydrolytic enzymes is a mononuclear or binuclear metal center embedded within the confines of a (β/α)8-barrel structural fold. Seven variations in the identity of the specific amino acids that function as the direct metal ligands have been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The metal center in this enzyme superfamily has a dual functionality in the expression of the overall catalytic activity. The scissile bond of the substrate must be activated for bond cleavage, and the hydrolytic water molecule must be deprotonated for nucleophilic attack. In all cases, the nucleophilic water molecule is activated through complexation with a mononuclear or binuclear metal center. In the binuclear metal centers, the carbonyl and phosphoryl groups o...
Regulation by cAMP of Post-translational Processing and Subcellular Targeting of Endothelial Nitric-oxide Synthase (Type 3) in Cardiac Myocytes

Cardiac myocytes express the nitric-oxide synthase isoform originally identified in endothelial cells, termed eNOS or NOS3, where it plays a role in regulating myocyte responsiveness to both adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic autonomic nervous system agonists. eNOS in endothelial cells has been shown to undergo extensive post-translational processing, and in cardiac myocytes as well as endothelial cells, eNOS has been shown to be targeted to plasmalemmal caveolae, a process that is dependent on myristoylation and palmitoylation. Other post-translational modifications essential for the correct subcellular targeting of eNOS have not been described previously. We demonstrate, using [35S]methionine pulse-chase experiments, that native eNOS in adult rat ventricular myocytes is initially translated as a nonpalmitoylated 150-kDa isoform, which is associated with cytosolic and intracellular membrane-enriched fractions. This is subsequently processed to a palmitoylated 135-kDa isoform, which is found only in a sarcolemma-enriched membrane fraction. Forskolin, an agent that elevates intracellular cAMP, rapidly inhibited processing of the 150-kDa isoform to the 135-kDa isoform and transport of eNOS to the sarcolemma, effects paralleled by protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation of the larger eNOS isoform. Forskolin also decreased palmitoylation of the 135-kDa isoform, although it did not accelerate depalmitoylation of sarcolemmal eNOS, as determined by pulse-chase experiments with [3H]palmitate. Thus, post-translational processing of a 150-kDa isoform of myocyte eNOS appears to be necessary for intracellular trafficking of the enzyme to sarcolemmal caveolae. Both the post-translational processing and subcellular targeting of eNOS appear to be modified by changes in intracellular cAMP, an effect that may have important implications for cardiac myocyte responsiveness to autonomic agonists in vivo.
Dynamics and fluidity of amyloid fibrils: a model of fibrous protein aggregates.

A previous experimentally defined model for the fibril formed from the core residues of the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides of Alzheimer's disease, 10YEVHHQKLVFFAEDVGSNKGAIIGLM, Aβ(10−35) using spectroscopic and scattering analyses reports on the average structure, benefiting immensely from the homogeneous assembly of Aβ(10−35). However, the energetic constraints that contribute to fibril dynamics and stability remain poorly understood. Here we perform molecular dynamics simulations to extend the structural assignment by providing evidence for a dynamic average ensemble with transient backbone H-bonds and internal solvation contributing to the inherent stability of amyloid fibrils.
Blood-brain barrier: recent developments and clinical correlations.

Aβ= : amyloid β; ABC= : ATP-binding cassette; AD= : Alzheimer disease; AQP4= : aquaporin 4; BBB= : blood–brain barrier; CAM= : cell adhesion molecule; cAMP= : cyclic adenosine monophosphate; EAAT= : excitatory amino acid transporters; GTP= : guanosine triphosphate; HIF-1= : hypoxia-inducible factor–1; JAM= : junction-associated molecules; LRP= : low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein; MMP= : matrix metalloproteinase; MS= : multiple sclerosis; NMO= : neuromyelitis optica; RAGE= : receptor for advanced glycosylation end-product; SLC= : soluble carrier; TGF= : transforming growth factor; TNF= : tumor necrosis factor; VE= : vascular endothelial; VEGF= : vascular endothelial growth factor; ZO= : zonula occludens Neural survival and signaling within the CNS require a highly controlled microenvironment that depends on the normal function of a neurovascular unit, which includes several interacting structures, including capillary endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, and neuronal processes (figure 1). The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic component of this unit and is a key interface for molecular exchange between the blood and the brain interstitial fluid. The endothelial cells that form the BBB are characterized by the presence of tight junctions, the polarized expression of membrane transporters and receptors responsible for the active transport of nutrients and efflux of potentially toxic substances, and the presence of enzymes that target neurotransmitters or their precursors. All these cells participate in reciprocal interactions that are critical for local regulation of blood flow, BBB permeability, homeostasis of the neuronal microenvironment, synaptic remodeling, neurogenesis, and angiogenesis. Impaired BBB function contributes to the pathophysiology of a wide range of neurologic disorders, including traumatic, vascular, inflammatory, neoplastic, toxic-metabolic, and degenerative disorders. The pathophysiologic mechanisms include disruption of tight junctions, altered transport of molecules, inflammatory responses, impaired astrocyte function, and brain hypoperfusion. However, the normal BBB may reduce the CNS bioavailability of potentially useful therapeutic agents. Thus, the BBB constitutes an important therapeutic target. The structure and multiple functions of the BBB and their involvement in neurologic disorders have been extensively reviewed.1,–,12 Figure 1 Neurovascular unit and molecular components of the physical blood–brain barrier (BBB) The BBB is an integral part of the neurovascular unit, which includes brain endothelial cells, pericytes, and smooth muscle cells; astrocytes; neuronal terminals; and circulating white blood cells interacting with the vessel wall. All these different cell types express a wide variety of receptors, ion channels, and transporters and their close proximity with each other allows for effective paracrine interactions. The BBB acts as a physical barrier because of the presence of …
Recognizing and Treating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in College Students

Traditionally diagnosed in children, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is now regarded as a life span condition. The academic difficulties experienced by children and adolescents with ADHD have been observed to continue into young adulthood. Treatment outcome studies demonstrate that behavioral and pharmacotherapeutic interventions can be beneficial in improving ADHD symptoms such as inattention, and so facilitate academic performance in young adults with ADHD. This review discusses how ADHD leads to academic underperformance, the warning signs of undiagnosed ADHD, and the potential impact interventions can have on adult academic impairment.
Materials science progress and challenges in superconductors

Abstract Some of the accomplishments and problems remaining for the fabrication of superconductors into useful configurations are discussed. The high current densities that will be needed in many applications have only been achieved in epitaxial thin films grown on oxides of SrTiO 3 and MgO. It is very difficult to grow superconductors with a high current density on other insulators, semiconductors or metals. It will be necessary for us to do this in order to integrate superconductors into microelectronic circuits. The critical current density J c in sintered polycrystalline bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O is very low, and considerable work is needed to eliminate defects at the grain boundaries before a significant improvement in J c can be expected in sintered bulk solids. A significant improvement in J c has been achieved in bulk materials with melt texturing. Ribbon-type wires have been produced which have a moderate J c . In general, however, we are just beginning to learn to fabricate the new high T c materials into the configurations that will be necessary for commercial applications.
Funding of research in vascular surgery-related topics

Abstract Medicine, at an increasing pace and to a great degree, owes its impressively rapid progress to extensive research both in the basic as well as in the clinical domain. Funding for research and development is undoubtedly a crucial contributing factor for the advancement of sciences, especially those that rely more on rapidly evolving and expensive new technologies, like medicine and biomedical sciences in general.
Chemical, Sensory and Microbiological Properties of Cured Pork and Turkey Ham Products

Cured hams prepared with various blends of pork and turkey were investigated. No difference in cooking yield was found. Product containing 50% or more turkey meat was lower (P < 0.05) in fat than blends containing predominantly pork. The presence of turkey thigh meat resulted in higher (P < 0.01) pH and TBA values compared to blends containing all pork. Total pigment and nitroso pigment values increased (P < 0.05) as the amount of turkey meat increased in the formulation. Consumer sensory panelists found no significant preferential difference between blends. Storage effects revealed only minor changes in pH, TBA values, and microbiological profiles over the 9 wk storage period.
Determinants of revenues in the motion picture industry.

This article examines the determinants of revenue in the motion picture industry. The sample consists of 435 films released during 1965 to 2010. This study finds that the main actor or actress and director in a movie are the most likely determinants of whether or not a movie is a box office success. Further, if the production budget is high and the running time is longer, the probability of success is much greater.
Review : Instrumentation for the rheological characterization of foods/Instrumentación para la caracterización reológica de alimentos

The rheometer, which measures the associated torque at controlled deformation, or, alternately, the associated deformation at controllable known torque, is an essential tool in food rheological stu...
The formal aspects of structured modeling

Structured modeling is an approach to the development of a new generation of computer-based modeling environments. This paper, which is part of a series, presents a formal development of the definitions and theory of structured modeling.
Alpha-energy and mass analyses of plutonium from a single sample mount

A method is described for the preparation of an electrodeposited mount of plutonium that makes possible the performance of both alpha-energy and mass measurements on the single mount. Plutonium concentration and isotopic composition are obtained from the measurement data.
Toward the detection of cellular copper(II) by a light-activated fluorescence increase.

A new type of Cu2+ fluorescent sensor, coucage, has been prepared with a photosensitive nitrophenyl group incorporated into the backbone of a coumarin-tagged tetradentate ligand. Coucage provides a selective fluorescence response for Cu2+ over other biologically relevant metal ions. Coordination of Cu2+ dims the fluorescence output until irradiation with UV light cleaves the ligand backbone, which relieves the copper-induced quenching to provide a turn-on response. Experiments in live MCF-7 cells show that coucage can be used for detecting changes in intracellular Cu2+ upon the addition of excess exogenous copper. If improvements can be made to increase its affinity for copper, this new type of turn-on sensor could be used as a tool for visualizing the cellular distribution of labile copper to gain insight into the mechanisms of copper trafficking.
Asymmetry of the effective visual field in reading.

In three experiments, subjects’ eye movements were recorded as they read from a computer-controlled CRT. The amount of information available to the left and right of the fixation point was varied in order to determine the characteristics of the effective visual field in reading. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated that readers do not obtain useful information during a fixation more than 3 or 4 letters to the left of their fixation point. The results of Experiment 3 indicated that the effective visual field does not extend any further to the left than the beginning of the word currently fixated, independent of the number of letters available to the left of fixation. When combined with the results of other research on the perceptual span in reading, the results of these experiments indicate that the effective visual field extends from the beginning of the currently fixated word (but no further than 4 characters to the left of fixation) up to about 15 characters to the right of fixation.
Axon tracts guide zebrafish facial branchiomotor neuron migration through the hindbrain

Appropriate localization of neurons within the brain is a crucial component of the establishment of neural circuitry. In the zebrafish hindbrain, the facial branchiomotor neurons (FBMNs) undergo a chain-like tangential migration from their birthplace in rhombomere (r) 4 to their final destination in r6/r7. Here, we report that ablation of either the cell body or the trailing axon of the leading FBMN, or ‘pioneer’ neuron, blocks the migration of follower FBMNs into r5. This demonstrates that the pioneer neuron and its axon are crucial to the early migration of FBMNs. Later migration from r5 to r6 is not dependent on pioneer neurons but on the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF), a bundle of axons lying ventral to the FBMNs. We find that MLF axons enter r5 only after the pioneer neuron has led several followers into this region; the MLF is then contacted by projections from the FBMNs. The interactions between FBMNs and the MLF are important for migration from r5 to r6, as blocking MLF axons from entering the hindbrain can stall FBMN migration in r5. Finally, we have found that the adhesion molecule Cdh2 (N-cadherin) is important for interactions between the MLF and FBMNs, as well as for interactions between the trailing axon of the pioneer neuron and follower FBMNs. Interestingly, migration of pioneer neurons is independent of both the MLF and Cdh2, suggesting pioneer migration relies on independent cues.
Cognitive consequences of sociodramatic play and exploration training for economically disadvantaged preschoolers.

SUMMARY Cognitive consequences of play and exploration were examined by assigning 36 economically disadvantaged preschoolers to one of three treatment conditions: sociodramatic play training, exploration training, and free-play control. Post-treatment assessment revealed distinctly differential consequences of the three conditions. Play training enhanced: (a) sociodramatic activity; (b) imaginativeness; and (c) comprehension and production of sequentially organized information. Exploration trained subjects gave more accurate and detailed descriptions of concrete stimuli, both as they examined them and from memory. Free-play opportunities did not enhance performance on any of the 21 dependent measures employed.