cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of Nonpolar Amino Acid Functional Groups in the Surface Orientation-Dependent Adsorption of Natural and Synthetic Antifreeze Peptides on Ice

The aim of this study is to investigate the significance of nonpolar functional groups in the surface orientation-dependent adsorption of natural and synthetic antifreeze proteins (AFPs) on ice. We investigate using nanoliter osmometry, ice etching, and circular dichroism spectroscopy a series of nine designed α-helical peptides to probe the nature of their selectivity between the bipyramidal {201} and the secondary prismatic {210} faces of ice, identified earlier as the preferred faces for adsorption of winter flounder (WF) and shorthorn sculpin type I AFPs, respectively. Complementarities between the AFP’s surface features, comprised chiefly of nonpolar groups, and the well-defined sites on ice surface, allow close contact. Because our experimental studies demonstrate that the function of AFPs relies on participation of both polar and nonpolar residues in the ice surface adsorption, we carry out computational modeling to explore both kinds of contacts at the ice surface. On the basis of results of semi...
Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is activated by amiodarone metabolites.

Amiodarone (Cordarone, Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals) is a clinically available drug used to treat a wide variety of cardiac arrhythmias. We report here the synthesis and characterization of a panel of potential amiodarone metabolites that have significant structural similarity to thyroid hormone and its metabolites the iodothyronamines. Several of these amiodarone derivatives act as specific agonists of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). This result demonstrates a novel molecular target for amiodarone derivatives with potential clinical significance.
Development of an Online Orientation for an Instructional Technology Masters Program

Four graduate students were tasked with creating a real-world solution to a problem faced by the instructional technology masters program in which they were participating. While taking an online course in multimedia instructional product development, part of East Carolina University’s Masters of Science in Instructional Technology degree program, a team of students faced the challenges of being physically separated, lacking some software and hardware tools, and the relatively brief development period of a semester’s time, to produce supplemental instructional content for students new to the masters program. Working from locations scattered throughout North Carolina, the production team found the time and resources, and relied on the strengths of individual team members, to produce an online orientation for students new to the instructional technology masters program.
Meat sharing for coalitional support

In this paper, I review hypotheses about why hunters share meat, and I use quantitative data on meat transfers between households of Achuar, Quichua, and Zapara speakers in Conambo, an indigenous community of horticultural foragers in the Ecuadorian Amazon, to test them. I show that meat is distributed to political allies in Conambo and argue that meat is strategically transferred to recruit and maintain coalitional support in a political landscape where loyalties are shifting, crosscutting, and consequential. Additionally, I find clear evidence of kinship and reciprocity influences on meat transfers, with mixed support for tolerated theft, costly signaling, and showing-off influences. Postmarital residence is matrilocal, hunters have control over meat distribution, game is abundant, and coalitional membership and loyalties are unstable. These environmental and social variables may explain different patterns in meat sharing in Conambo than those found in previous studies.
On-line parameter estimation of permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motor drives

In comparison with the conventional synchronous reluctance machines, permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motor drives (PMa-SynRM) have offered better torque capabilities and power factors. In order to achieve maximum efficiency knowledge of the motor parameters is necessary to implement advanced control algorithms. Variation of motor parameters due to temperature and airgap flux has been reported in the literatures. Using off-line models for estimating the motor parameters is known as a computationally intensive method, especially when the effect of cross saturation is included in the models. Therefore in practical applications, on-line parameter estimation is favored to achieve a high performance control system. In this paper, a simple practical method for parameter estimation of PMa-SynRM is introduced. This method is capable of identifying the d- and q-axes inductances and the permanent magnet back-EMF
Maestro: data orchestration and tuning for OpenCL devices

As heterogeneous computing platforms become more prevalent, the programmer must account for complex memory hierarchies in addition to the difficulties of parallel programming. OpenCL is an open standard for parallel computing that helps alleviate this difficulty by providing a portable set of abstractions for device memory hierarchies. However, OpenCL requires that the programmer explicitly controls data transfer and device synchronization, two tedious and error-prone tasks. This paper introduces Maestro, an open source library for data orchestration on OpenCL devices. Maestro provides automatic data transfer, task decomposition across multiple devices, and autotuning of dynamic execution parameters for some types of problems.
Demonstration of BACE (β-secretase) phosphorylation and its interaction with GGA1 in cells by fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy

beta-Secretase (BACE) carries out the first of two proteolysis steps to generate the amyloid-beta peptides that accumulate in the senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Because most BACE activity occurs in endosomes, signals regulating its trafficking to these compartments are important to an understanding of AD pathogenesis. A DISLL sequence near the BACE C-terminus mediates binding of BACE to the VHS domains of Golgi-localized gamma-ear-containing ARF-binding (GGA) proteins, which are involved in the sorting of proteins to endosomes. Phosphorylation of the motif's serine residue regulates BACE recycling back to the cell surface from early endosomes and enhances the interaction of BACE with GGA proteins in isolated protein assays. We found that BACE phosphorylation influences BACE-GGA interactions in cells using a new fluorescence-resonance-energy-transfer-based assay of protein proximity, fluorescence lifetime imaging. Although serine-phosphorylated BACE was distributed throughout the cell, interaction of GGA1 with the wild-type protein occurred in juxtanuclear compartments. Pseudo-phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated BACE mutants remained localized with GGA1 in the Golgi body, but the latter mutation diminished the two proteins' FRET signal. Because BACE phosphorylated at serine residues can be identified in human brain, these data suggest that serine phosphorylation of BACE is a physiologically relevant post-translational modification that regulates trafficking in the juxtanuclear compartment by interaction with GGA1.
EVOLUTION OF AEDEAGAL PARAMERES OF ALEOCHARINE STAPHYLINIDS (COLEOPTERA: STAPHYLINIDAE: ALEOCHARINAE)

The structure of the parameres (lateral lobes) of aleocharine aedeagi was examined in detail, with special attention to the basal lineages. Paramere structure was compared in the context of a hypothesis of phylogeny of the basal lineages of the Aleocharinae and the Tachyporine Group of subfamilies. The ancestor of all contemporary aleocharines had parameres with the following characteristics: dorsobasal and ventrobasal lobes of more similar size than in extant higher aleocharines; dorsobasal lobe (condylite) continuous with distal lobe (not articulated); a striated velum (velar sac), extended from near the base of the dorsobasal lobe to near the apex of the distal lobe and derived from the dorsal surface of the distal lobe; distal arm entire, without articulations or independently movable parts; and four apical setae on the distal lobe, probably with the most apical and basal ones directed mediad and the two medial ones directed more-or-less laterad. In addition, each paramere was articulated with a separate condyle of the median lobe of the aedeagus near the middle of the condylite of the paramere, and the apices of the dorsobasal lobes of the two parameres articulated with each other substantially distal to the articulation with the median lobe of the aedeagus. The most parsimonious resolution of paramere evolution suggests that aleocharine parameres were derived from structures similar to those found in Trichophyinae, Phloeocharinae, and Olisthaerinae and that they are not de novo structures. Hypotheses about homologous regions between aleocharine parameres and those of these latter three groups are suggested.
Electronic structure of rare earth and actinide intermetallics: An overview

Abstract An overview is presented of some aspects of the current status of the theoretical determination of the electronic structure of rare earth and actinide intermetallics. It is intended to provide a framework and to set the stage for discussions of presentations during the rest of this Conference. The emphasis on the fundamental theoretical/computational problems which are involved in the challenge of describing theoretically the electronic structure of f electron systems.
Intergroup Anxiety: Theory, Research, and Practice

This article reviews studies of intergroup anxiety and places them in the context of a theoretical model that specifies categories of antecedents and consequences of intergroup anxiety. It is proposed that intergroup anxiety is comprised of three interrelated components: an affective component, a cognitive component, and a physiological component. The potential causes of intergroup anxiety include personality traits (e.g., social dominance orientation, attributional complexity), attitudes and related cognitions (e.g., negative expectations, stereotypes), personal experience (e.g., negative contact), and situational factors (e.g., the presence of linguistic barriers, structured vs. unstructured interactions). The potential consequences include attitudes and other cognitions (e.g., stereotypes, negative expectations), affect (e.g., fear, anger), and behavior (e.g., avoidance, negative behaviors). Theory and research on the reduction of intergroup anxiety (e.g., intergroup contact, direct or indirect cross-g...
Metoclopramide in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a quantitative systematic review of randomized, placebo-controlled studies.

Metoclopramide has been used for almost 40 yr to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). We have reviewed the efficacy and safety of metoclopramide for the prevention of PONV. A systematic search (MEDLINE, EMBASE, manufacturers' databases, hand searching, bibliographies, all languages, up to June 1998) was performed for full reports of randomized comparisons of metoclopramide with placebo in surgical patients. Relevant end-points were prevention of early PONV (within 6 h after operation), late PONV (48 h) and adverse effects. Combined data were analysed using relative benefit/risk and number-needed-to-treat/harm. In 66 studies, 3260 patients received 18 different regimens of metoclopramide, and 3006 controls received placebo or no treatment. There was no evidence of dose-responsiveness with oral, i.m., intranasal or i.v. metoclopramide in children and adults. In adults, the best documented regimen was 10 mg i.v. There was no significant anti-nausea effect. The numbers-needed-to-treat to prevent early and late vomiting were 9.1 (95% confidence intervals 5.5-27) and 10 (6-41), respectively. In children, the best documented regimen was 0.25 mg kg-1 i.v. The number-needed-to-treat to prevent early vomiting was 5.8 (3.9-11). There was no significant late anti-vomiting effect. Minor drug-related adverse effects (sedation, dizziness, drowsiness) were not significantly associated with metoclopramide. There was one adult who experienced extrapyramidal symptoms with metoclopramide.
17β-Estradiol Prevents Early-Stage Atherosclerosis in Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Deficient Female Mice

Estrogen is atheroprotective and a high-affinity ligand for both known estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ. However, the role of the ERα in early-stage atherosclerosis has not been directly investigated and is incompletely understood. ERα-deficient (ERα−/−) and wild-type (ERα+/+) female mice consuming an atherogenic diet were studied concurrent with estrogen replacement to distinguish the actions of 17β-estradiol (E2) from those of ERα on the development of early atherosclerotic lesions. Mice were ovariectomized and implanted with subcutaneous slow-release pellets designed to deliver 6 or 8 μg/day of exogenous 17β-estradiol (E2) for a period of up to 4 months. Ovariectomized mice (OVX) with placebo pellets (E2-deficient controls) were compared to mice with endogenous E2 (intact ovaries) and exogenous E2. Aortas were analyzed for lesion area, number, and distribution. Lipid and hormone levels were also determined. Compared to OVX, early lesion development was significantly (p 90% reduction by exogenous E2. Compared to OVX, a decline in lesion number (2- to 4-fold) and lesser predilection (~4-fold) of lesion formation in the proximal aorta also occurred with E2. Lesion size, development, number, and distribution inversely correlated with circulating plasma E2 levels. However, atheroprotection was independent of ERα status, and E2 athero-protection in both genotypes was not explained by changes in plasma lipid levels (total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). The ERα is not essential for endogenous/exogenous E2-mediated protection against early-stage atherosclerosis. These observations have potentially significant implications for understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms and timing of estrogen action in different estrogen receptor (ER) deletion murine models of atherosclerosis, as well as implications to human studies of ER polymorphisms and lipid metabolism. Our findings may contribute to future improved clinical decision-making concerning the use of hormone therapy.
Biosynthetic Enzymes of Unusual Microbial Sugars

The biological importance of proteins and nucleic acids in the natural world is undeniable, and research efforts on these macromolecules have often overshadowed those directed at carbohydrates. It is now known, however, that carbohydrates not only play roles in energy storage and plant cell wall structure, but are also intimately involved in such processes as fertilization, the immune response, and cell adhesion. Indeed, recent years have seen an explosion in research efforts directed at uncovering and understanding new sugar moieties. The dideoxysugars and trideoxysugars, which are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, fungi, and plants, represent an especially intriguing class of carbohydrates. They are found, for example, on the lipopolysaccharides of some Gram-negative bacteria or on antibacterial agents such as erythromycin. Many of them are formed from simple monosaccharides such as glucose-6-phosphate or fructose-6-phosphate via a myriad of enzymatic reactions including acetylations, aminations, dehydrations, epimerizations, reductions, and methylations. In this review we focus on the recent structural investigations of the bacterial N-acetyltransferases and the PLP-dependent aminotransferases that function on nucleotide-linked sugar substrates.
Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia: a Review

We review the genetics and pathophysiology of familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL), a mildly symptomatic genetically heterogeneous autosomal trait. The minority of human FHBL is caused by truncation-specifying mutations of the APOB gene on chromosome 2. In seven families, linkage to chromosome 2 is absent, linkage is instead to chromosome 3 (3p21). In others, linkage is absent to both APOB and to 3p21. Apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) levels are approximately 25% of normal, instead of the 50% expected based on the presence of one normal allele due to reduced rates of production. The presence of the truncating mutation seems to have a "dominant recessive" effect on apoB-100 secretion. Concentrations of apoB truncations in plasma differ by truncation but average at approximately 10% of normal levels. Lipoproteins bearing truncated forms of apoB are cleared more rapidly than apoB-100 particles. In contrast with apoB-100 particles cleared primarily in liver via the LDL receptor, most apoB truncation particles are cleared in renal proximal tubular cells via megalin. Since apoB defects cause a dysfunctional VLDL-triglyceride transport system, livers accumulate fat. Hepatic synthesis of fatty acids is reduced in compensation. Informational lacunae remain about genes affecting fat accumulation in liver, and the modulation of liver fat in the presence apoB truncation defects.
Functionals and associated random variables

In this and the next two sections we consider a M. C. {x n ,n≧0} on (Ω, ℱ, P) with the state space I forming a recurrent class. Thus for almost all ω∈Ω, the sequence {x n (ω),n≧0} contains an infinite number of every state i∈I. By discarding a set of probability zero we may and we shall assume that this is indeed true for all ω∈Ω without exception.
Imaging Biomarker Applications in Oncology Drug Development

At present, drug development is a long and costly process with an unacceptably high failure rate. As a result, both the Food and Drug Administration and the pharmaceutical industry have shown interest in using biomarkers of clinical response. Biomarker imaging is noninvasive, allows serial data collection, and lessens interpatient variability because each individual can serve as his or her own control. The only imaging biomarker currently accepted as a surrogate for clinical response is tumor shrinkage for accelerated approval. The imaging biomarker,18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) and positron emission tomography (PET), is widely used clinically to assess response to therapy and, in some cases, correlates better with prolonged survival than tumor shrinkage. Other biomarkers, such as hemodynamic biomarkers, have been used in early clinical trials as a means to assess bioactivity within hours or days of the start of treatment and to determine drug dose in subsequent trials. Many others have found applications in assessing bioactivity in preclinical stages of drug development. With further validation, many of these imaging biomarkers could become valuable in measuring response to therapy much faster than present methods. In addition, pharmacokinetic imaging will provide both clinical and preclinical data on uptake, distribution, and excretion of drug candidates.
MAC layer support for group communication in wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we investigate the problem of providing efficient communication primitives across domains of wireless sensor network (WSN) applications. We argue both qualitatively and quantitatively that group communication among sensors of geographic proximity is one of the basic building blocks of many WSN applications. Furthermore, group communication awareness needs to be embedded and implemented at the MAC layer due to the broadcast nature of wireless medium. We devise a MAC protocol, called LGC-MAC to enable efficient single-hop one-to-many and many-to-one communication. We present case studies of two example applications, acoustic target tracking and propagation of information with feedback using LGC-MAC and demonstrate that LGC-MAC can improve the response time, alleviate channel contention and provide better fault tolerance to packet collisions and wireless errors
Herbicide efficacy, leaf structure, and spray droplet contact angle among Ipomoea species and smallflower morningglory

Abstract Greenhouse and laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate responses of ivyleaf morningglory, pitted morningglory, palmleaf morningglory, and smallflower morningglory to several herbicides in relation to leaf structure, epicuticular wax, and spray droplet behavior. Two- to four-leaf stage plants of each species were highly susceptible to acifluorfen, bentazon, bromoxynil, glufosinate, and glyphosate. However, at the five- to eight-leaf stage, these species were less susceptible, and control was herbicide specific. Spray droplets of these five herbicides had a higher contact angle on ivyleaf morningglory than the other three species with a few exceptions. Stomata and glands were present on both adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces of all species, and palmleaf morningglory and smallflower morningglory had more of these than did the other two species. Trichomes were present on all species except palmleaf morningglory. Epicuticular wax mass was highest in ivyleaf morningglory (57 μg cm−2) and lowest i...
Resistance of Cemented Carbides to Sliding Abrasion: Role of Binder Metal

Cemented carbides of the WC-Co, WC-FeNi and TiC-MoNi families were studied. Laboratory abrasion test results for hard and soft abrasives were compared with SEM studies of removal mechanisms and with hardness and Palmquist crack resistance data.
Calibration of a simple cone-penetration model for snow

Abstract Numerical studies using the Material Point Method (MPM) have been conducted recently to model snow penetration tests for fine-grained and coarse-grained snows using small cones with diameters ranging from 2.5 mm to 4 mm, and cone half-angles between 15° and 45°. Although numerical studies have gained physical insight of these tests, due to the lengthy computation time needed for the MPM simulations, it is not feasible to use these simulations to develop a stochastic model to assess the large variations of the mechanical properties of snow typically shown in tests. In this paper, we present a simple and efficient physics-based analytical model based on equilibrium and a cavity expansion solution upon which a stochastic model is built to obtain calibrated material parameters for a Drucker–Prager (DP) model such that prediction of the model can be made. Sensitivity analysis of the analytical model indicates that cohesion and interfacial shear (friction) factor contribute significantly to the penetration hardness whereas the friction angle has little contribution. The calibrated material parameters are similar to those estimated via the MPM simulations. The quality of the stochastic model, when compared with test data, was assessed using four interval-based validation metrics with good results.
Autologe Verfahren zur Therapie von Gefäßinfektionen

Die Entwicklung einer tiefen Infektion nach gefasrekonstruktiven Eingriffen stellt den Supergau in der Gefaschirurgie dar und erfordert neben einer klinikabhangigen differenzierten Diagnostik ein situations- und stadiengerechtes gezieltes, fruhes und aggressives Vorgehen. Neben der maximalen systemischen und lokalen Infektionsbekampfung hilft in vielen Fallen die lokale Rekonstruktion unter Verwendung autologen Materials in Kombination mit mittelfristig resorbierbarem Nahtmaterial. Dieses Verfahren wird als autologe Rekonstruktion bezeichnet. Fur alle Infektionslokalisationsbereiche steht eine Palette von autologen Rekonstruktionsverfahren zur Verfugung, um adaquat und effektiv therapieren zu konnen. Damit wird in den meisten Fallen die Durchblutungssituation gesichert, Zeit gewonnen und das Leben und die Extremitat der Patienten erhalten. Hochste Prioritat haben die Bekampfung der Infektion sowie der Erhalt des Lebens und der Extremitat des Patienten. Im Stadium der tiefen Infektion ist es bereits als Erfolg anzusehen, wenn der Status quo ante nach Infektionsausheilung wieder erreicht werden kann. Nach entsprechendem zeitlichem Intervall kann dann immer noch wieder unter den Maximen der Gefaschirurgie reinterveniert werden.
Sequential feature selection for detecting buried objects using forward looking ground penetrating radar

Forward looking ground penetrating radar (FLGPR) has the benefit of detecting objects at a significant standoff distance. The FLGPR signal is radiated over a large surface area and the radar signal return is often weak. Improving detection, especially for buried in road targets, while maintaining an acceptable false alarm rate remains to be a challenging task. Various kinds of features have been developed over the years to increase the FLGPR detection performance. This paper focuses on investigating the use of as many features as possible for detecting buried targets and uses the sequential feature selection technique to automatically choose the features that contribute most for improving performance. Experimental results using data collected at a government test site are presented.
Impact of gas property on gas drive in extremely low permeability oil reservoir—A case study of Block Fang48 in Daqing Oilfield

Block Fang48 in Daqing Oilfield is an extremely low permeability oil reservoir. Physical modeling of long core displacement has been performed by using displacing media such as water, CO2, N2 and natural gas to determine the impact of gas type on development response of such reservoirs. The result shows that, Block Fang48 has low water injection capacity, water breaks through in an early time, and water-cut rises rapidly. In gas drive, under the same condition, CO2 and natural gas drives have higher recovery factor, oil draining rate and gas injection capacity than N2 drive, while with producing gas-oil ratio lower than that of N2 drive. Therefore, the optimal method of gas drive for developing Fang48 is CO2 flooding; the next is natural gas drive. As CO2 is corrosive to equipments, anti-corrosive measures shall be considered when selecting CO2 flooding.
Relation between prognosis and pre-operative inflammation biomarkers in early-stage cervical carcinoma

Objective To study the relation between early- stage cervical carcinoma and pre- operative inflammation biomarkers. Method Sixty-eight patients with early-stage cervical carcinoma, who underwent surgery in our hospital, were enrolled and grouped as stable disease group(SD group; n = 56) and progressive disease group(PD group; n = 12) based on individual disease conditions during follow up. The levels of pre-operative CRP(C-reactive protein), ratio of NLR(neutrophil- lymphocyte) and PLR(platelet- lymphocyte) in the two groups were compared,and significant measurement was evaluated in respect of PFS. Result NLR ratio is the only measurement correlating with PFS(P 0.05), with a median NLR of 3.2, and a range of 0.25- 43.30. The median of PFS was 68 months in the lower NLR group(NLR 3.2), compared with 43 months in the higher NLR group(≥ 3.2)(P = 0.015). Conclu Conclusion Pre-operative NLR may be a biomarker to assess the PFS of early-stage cervical carcinoma, higher NLR indicates a worse prognosis.
Erythropoietin treatment in peritoneal dialysis patients.

The availability of recombinant EPO has greatly improved the lives of patients with end-stage renal disease. Knowledge is still accumulating regarding the use and effects of EPO in patients on PD, and several critical questions remain to be answered: 1. At what hematocrit level and when in the predialysis or dialysis course should EPO be started in PD patients? Recent studies by Golper suggest that the concomitant initiation of EPO and PD results in an increased hematocrit response compared to starting EPO after PD has been initiated for some time (63). 2. What is the best route of administration of EPO in PD patients? It is apparent that i.v., SC, and IP EPO can be effective in this population if utilized properly. The goal should be to tailor the route to the needs of the patient. Perhaps the daily SC route, for example, might be best for minimizing hypertension because of the slow, steady rise of hematocrit, while the IP route would be best tolerated by children (33,64). 3. What should the target hematocrit level be? This may vary depending on which organ function is being assessed. For the whole patient data are not currently available on appropriate hematocrit targets to maximize oxygen utilization, but near normal levels have recently been reported to be safe and beneficial (65-67). 4. What are the end-organ effects of anemia and its correction in PD patients? There is a dearth of information in this area for PD as well as HD patients. Additional research of this kind will increase our understanding of the pathophysiology of anemia as well as uremia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Open-heart surgery in von Willebrand's disease

The case is presented of a hemophilia carrier, also affected by von Willebrand's disease, who underwent aortic valve replacement. The clinical and laboratory findings of von Willebrand's disease (prolonged bleeding time, low factor VIII, and abnormal platelet activity) are discussed, and a protocol for management of patients with low factor VIII levels (such as hemophilia carriers and subjects with hemophilia A or von Willebrand's disease) undergoing open-heart surgery is proposed. Our case proves that corrective cardiac surgery in similar circumstances is feasible so long as adequate levels of factor VIII are maintained.
Targeting the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in the Retina With a Gene-Delivered Secretable and Cell-Penetrating Peptide.

Purpose Oxidative stress has been linked to several ocular diseases, initiating an inflammatory response that increases tissue injury. The Nrf2 transcription factor regulates expression of antioxidant genes and is tightly regulated by Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1 (Keap-1). We evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector delivering an Nrf2-derived peptide that binds Keap-1. Methods The sequence of the Nrf2 peptide was fused to a cell-penetrating peptide (Tat-peptide) sequence (TatNrf2mer). The effects of lentiviral-delivered TatNrf2mer were studied in vitro. Transcript (quantitative [q] RT-PCR) and protein levels (ELISA and immunofluorescence) were quantified. Cell viability was measured by MTT and Cell Titer assays. The AAV vectors were packaged with the TatNrf2mer fused to secretable green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the small chicken β actin promoter. The protective effects of this vector were evaluated in a model of RPE oxidative injury and in a mouse model of uveitis after intravitreal injection. Results Expression of TatNrf2mer peptide induced antioxidant gene expression, blocked IL-1β secretion, and protected cells from oxidative injury. In mice, TatNrf2mer expression partially protected photoreceptor function based on ERG responses and optical coherence tomography measurements in the sodium iodate (NaIO3) model. Furthermore, sGFP-TatNrf2mer expression decreased IL-1β and IL-6 in the NaIO3-treated mice, and resulted in a 54% decrease in the number of inflammatory cells in the vitreous body of the endotoxin-induced uveitis mouse model. Conclusions The intravitreally delivered AAV-TatNrf2mer has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in widely-used models of ocular injury, suggesting it also could be useful in ocular diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammasome activation.
RHIC 100 GeV Polarized Proton Luminosity

A big problem in RHIC 100 GeV proton run 2009 was the significantly lower luminosity lifetime than all previous runs. It is shown in this note that the beam intensity decay in run 2009 is caused by the RF voltage ramping in store. It is also shown that the beam decay is not clearly related to the beam momentum spread, therefore, not directly due to the 0.7m. β* Furthermore, the most important factor regarding the low luminosity lifetime is the faster transverse emittance growth in store, which is also much worse than the previous runs, and is also related to the RF ramping. In 100 GeV proton run 2012a, the RF ramping was abandoned, but the β* was increased to 0.85m, with more than 20% loss of luminosity, which is not necessary. It is strongly suggested to use smaller β* in 100 GeV polarized proton run 2015/2016
Assays for Pten-Induced Novel Kinase 1 (PINK1) and Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2), Kinases Associated with Parkinson’s Disease

PTEN-induced novel kinase 1 (PINK1) and leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are two protein kinases associated with recessive and dominant forms of parkinsonism, respectively. Mutations in PINK1 cause loss of protein function whereas mutations in LRRK2 are less easily de fi ned but, in some cases, may cause increased kinase activity. Furthermore, LRRK2 kinase activity is being explored as a therapeutic target in PD. Therefore, in both the cases of PINK1 and LRRK2, measuring kinase activity is important but is complicated by the problem that convincing physiological substrates of the two proteins have not yet been found. In this chapter, we will describe in detail the protocols we use in our lab to measure activity and related functions of these two kinases.
Anomalous Nernst Effect in the Dirac Semimetal Cd3As2

Dirac and Weyl semimetals display a host of novel properties. In ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{3}{\mathrm{As}}_{2}$, the Dirac nodes lead to a protection mechanism that strongly suppresses backscattering in a zero magnetic field, resulting in ultrahigh mobility ($\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{7}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}\text{ }{\mathrm{V}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$). In an applied magnetic field, an anomalous Nernst effect is predicted to arise from the Berry curvature associated with the Weyl nodes. We report the observation of a large anomalous Nernst effect in ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{3}{\mathrm{As}}_{2}$. Both the anomalous Nernst signal and transport relaxation time ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{\mathrm{tr}}$ begin to increase rapidly at $\ensuremath{\sim}50\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{K}$. This suggests a close relation between the protection mechanism and the anomalous Nernst effect. In a field, the quantum oscillations of bulk states display a beating effect, suggesting that the Dirac nodes split into Weyl states, allowing the Berry curvature to be observed as an anomalous Nernst effect.
Factors Associated with Fever in Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background Fever is common in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We sought to identify predictors of fever in patients hospitalized with ICH, and compare infectious fever with noninfectious fever. Methods A retrospective review on consecutive spontaneous ICH patients from April 2009 to March 2010 was performed. Fever was defined as temperature 100.9°F or higher and attributed to infectious versus noninfectious etiology, based upon the National Healthcare Safety Network criteria. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression model were used to determine factors associated with fever and with infection. Results Among the 351 ICH patients, 136 (39%) developed fever. Factors associated with fever included mean ICH volume, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), external ventricular drain (EVD) placement or surgical evacuation, positive microbial cultures, longer length of stay (LOS), and higher in-hospital mortality. Among patients with fever, 96 (71%) were noninfectious and 40 (29%) were infectious. Infectious fever was associated with higher LOS. Noninfectious fever was associated with higher in-hospital mortality. In multivariable analysis, ICH volume (OR = 1.01, P = .04), IVH (OR = 2.0, P = .03), EVD (OR = 3.7, P P P = .004), EVD (OR = 4.86, P = .01), and surgical evacuation (OR = 4.77, P = .04) correlated with prolonged LOS when dichotomized using a median of 15 days. Conclusions Fever is common in ICH patients and is not associated with a clear infectious etiology in the majority of patients. Patients with noninfectious fever have higher in-hospital mortality, but survivors have shorter LOS. Further studies are warranted to better understand fevers in ICH.
Harnessing molecular photon upconversion at sub-solar irradiance using dual sensitized self-assembled trilayers

Photon upconversion via triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA-UC) is an intriguing strategy to potentially increase maximum solar cell efficiencies from 33% to greater than 43%. TTA-UC has been incorporated into a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) but the low solar energy conversion efficiency can be attributed, at least in part, to the relatively narrow absorption features of the sensitizer molecule. Here we incorporate multiple sensitizers into a TTA-UC DSSC using bilayer and trilayer self-assembly via metal ion linkages. The sensitizers' complementary absorption features increase broad-band light absorption and work cooperatively to achieve peak TTA-UC efficiency at sub-solar irradiance (<1 sun or <100 mW cm−2). The trilayer DSSC, with high sensitizer density and directional energy transfer cascade towards the charge seperation interface, exhibited the highest efficiency yet reported for harvesting low energy light in an integrated TTA-UC solar cell (1.2 × 10−3%).
Performing the Real and Its Lack: the dialectical performances of Slavoj Žižek in The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema and The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology

This essay focuses on the dialectics of The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema (2006) and The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology (2012). I argue both films translate into a dialectical encounter between cinema and performance. Each documentary’s filmic texture offers a look at the shifting ideologies of the screened stage and critical theory. Both films use Jacques Lacan and Slavoj Žižek as intermediary figures between elusive psychoanalytic/materialist ideas and performance. The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema does it in a glossy, beautifully filmed documentary, whereas The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology presents itself as its poor doppelganger. I propose here looking at the dialectical nature of both films through Žižek’s performances: one of them evincing presentness and one a terrifying void. I will argue that through this lack and through the dialectic between the two, ideologies of cinema and performance emerge. The dialectic of Žižek’s performances and Fiennes’ films reveals the relationship between materialism and Lacanian psychoanalytic thought as well as the relationship between performance and cinema. Performance and cinema are entangled and when encountered in the two documentaries they offer something new leading to, as Žižek would say when discussing The Matrix (1999), “A third pill!”
History of Substance Abuse Research in the United States

Research on substance abuse has a long history in the United States. This chapter seeks to examine the development of the field, beginning with the latter part of the nineteenth century to present. While establishing an accurate historical timeline for the field’s development during this period is somewhat difficult, there are some clear chronological benchmarks that can be reasonably ascertained, with important methodological advancements generally mirroring methodological improvements shaping and advancing the field of epidemiology overall. Other factors have also influenced the science of addiction research. Specifically, the field of substance abuse research in the U.S. has been shaped by social and political understandings of addiction, which have shifted over time between more criminological standpoints to medical/disease orientations. Choice of orientation has had important implications for scholarly productivity, as well as the speed of advancement of the science. While not necessarily linear, historical advancements in research methods have built upon one another, greatly expanding our understanding of addiction and informing policy and practice solutions.
Presentation of the 2016 Paleontological Society Medal to Richard A. Fortey

Richard Fortey is one of the world’s leading paleontologists. His research is remarkable for its breadth, covering topics as diverse as Paleozoic biostratigraphy and biogeography (with a focus on the Ordovician), the evolutionary history and biology of trilobites and graptolites, and the diversification of major groups during the Cambrian explosion. He has made major contributions to the use of faunal evidence for reconstructing the former position of the Paleozoic continents. He has led efforts to correlate the Ordovician across the world. He is a leading authority on trilobites. He used arthropod relationships and morphology to quantify disparity following the Cambrian radiation and compare it to that today. He has published more than 200 scientific papers as well as numerous other articles and books, and his work continues to have a major impact on the development of biostratigraphy and paleobiology. He has served as president of the Palaeontological Association, the Geological Society of London, and the Palaeontographical Society. Richard Fortey led a revolution in trilobite systematics, providing new characters, particularly those relating to the hypostome, and generating …
Uncommon but Dramatic Responses to Treatment

Large effects in moderate to large studies are typically insensitive to small and moderate unobserved biases, but the concept of a ‘large effect’ is vague. What if most subjects are not much affected by treatment, but a small fraction, perhaps 10% or 20% of subjects, are strongly affected? On average, such an effect may be small, but not at all small for the affected fraction. Is such an effect insensitive to small and moderate unobserved biases?
Comminution of porous solids using steam

ABSTRACT Explosive comminution provides an alternative method to the traditional crushing and grinding techniques for achieving size reduction. As far back as 1870, the method was used on processes that cooked fibrous materials under pressure and disintegrated the resulting pulp by allowing it to discharge at intervals into a low-pressure region. The method was later developed to be used as a unit operation in the process industries to pulverize a number of materials, such as wood pulp, cereals, glass and fused quartz. The applicability of explosive shattering to various ores was also studied extensively by U.S. Bureau of Mines investigators. A number of novel approaches are being investigated for the production of premium, low ash, low sulfur fuel from coal. The possibility of utilizing explosive comminution as a low cost means of producing coal with mean particle size on the order of 15 microns was explored. At such particle sizes, a high degree of splitting of organic and inorganic matter is obtained. A high degree of desulfurization may be possible using this process. Reduction of sulfur content in coal prior to combustion is potentially important in controlling noxious emissions and acid rains. The explosive comminution of Illinois No. 6 coal (Burning Star mine) was performed with steam in a batch reactor. Parametric studies were conducted to investigate the effects of key variables, such as temperature (347°C–506°C), pressure (2,400 psig – 5,000 psig), coal slurry concentration (14%–15%), and heating rate, on both the particle size reduction and the desulfurization. Data on particle size reduction and SEM (scanning electron microscopy) micrographs provided evidence that the thermoplastic properties (softening, swelling, etc.) probably played a major role in explosive comminution. Coal was comminuted most effectively at temperatures in the plastic range. Volume mean particle size was typically reduced from 90 μm to the range of 15–40 μm by treatment; using lump coal feed resulted in an even finer product. Sulfur was removed as H2S fell in the range of 6%–15%, but it could not be determined if any organic sulfur was removed.
Pushing the easy button: special operations forces, international security, and the use of force

In the “golden age of special operations,” elite forces have become a “go-to” form of military power. While special operations security practitioners have paid considerable attention to the increas...
Patient-Provider Communication Disparities by Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Trends from the US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2006–2015

Individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) have worse healthcare access and report lower quality of care compared to individuals who are proficient in English. Policy efforts to improve patient-provider communication for LEP individuals have been going on for decades but linguistic disparities persist. To describe trends in patient-provider communication by limited English proficiency (LEP) from 2006 to 2015. We estimated interrupted time series models for three measures of patient-provider communication, testing for differences in both means (intercepts) and trends (slopes) before and after 2010 and differences in differences by English proficiency. A nationally representative sample of the US non-institutionalized population with at least one office-based medical visit from the 2006–2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (N = 27,001). Patient-provider communication is measured with three variables indicating whether individuals reported that their providers always explained things in a way that was easy to understand, showed respect for what they had to say, and listened carefully. Although patient-provider communication improved for all groups over the study period, before 2010, it was getting worse among LEP individuals and disparities in patient-provider communication were widening. After 2010, patient-provider communication improved for LEP individuals and language disparities by English proficiency either narrowed or remained the same. For example, between 2006 and 2010, the percent of LEP individuals reporting that their provider explained things clearly declined by, on average, 1.4 percentage points per year (p value = 0.102); after 2010, it increased by 3.0 percentage points per year (p value = 0.003). Our study sheds light on trends in patient-provider communication before and after 2010, a year that marked substantial efforts to reform the US healthcare system. Though patient-provider communication among LEP individuals has improved since 2010, linguistic disparities persist and constitute a formidable challenge to achieving healthcare equity, a long-standing US policy goal.
Folkvine.org: Arts-Based Research on the Web

Folkvine.org is a website that presents seven Florida folk artists, three guidebooks, and several scholarly bobble heads that make commentary on humanities topics, the artists, and their work. This article analyzes the website as an arts-based research project. Topics covered address issues of representation, translation, learning processes, and ethnography. An attempt is made to articulate what Folkvine.org actually is and what this project and other collaborative media-based projects might mean to our future in terms of re-creating our world and the way in which we understand it.
Case 19-2019: A 38-Year-Old Woman with Abdominal Pain and Fever

A Woman with Abdominal Pain and Fever A 38-year-old woman with a history of Crohn’s disease was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain and fever. She reported 7 months of progressive sy...