cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The L293 residue in transmembrane domain 2 of the 5-HT3A receptor is a molecular determinant of allosteric modulation by 5-hydroxyindole.

Abstract Allosteric modulation of ligand-gated ion channels can play important roles in shaping synaptic transmission. The function of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) type 3 (5-HT 3 ) receptor, a member of the Cys-loop ligand-gated ion channel superfamily, is modulated by a variety of compounds such as alcohols, anesthetics and 5-hydroxyindole (5-HI). In this study, the molecular determinants of allosteric modulation by 5-HI were explored in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells expressing the native 5-HT 3 receptor and HEK 293 cells transfected with the recombinant 5-HT 3A receptor using molecular biology and whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. 5-HI potentiated 5-HT-activated currents in both N1E-115 cells and HEK 293 cells, and significantly decreased current desensitization and deactivation. Substitution of Leu293 (L293, L15′) in the second transmembrane domain (TM2) with cysteine (L293C) or serine (L293S) abolished 5-HI modulation. Other mutations in the TM2 domain, such as D298A and T284F, failed to alter 5-HI modulation. The L293S mutation enhanced dopamine efficacy and converted 5-HI into a partial agonist at the mutant receptor. These data suggest that 5-HI stabilizes the 5-HT 3A receptor in the open state by decreasing both desensitization and 5-HT unbinding/channel closing; and L293 is a common site for both channel gating and allosteric modulation by 5-HI. Our observations also indicate existence of a second 5-HI recognition site on the 5-HT 3A receptor, which may overlap with the 5-HT binding site and is not involved in the positive modulation by 5-HI. These findings support the idea that there are two discrete sites for 5-HI allosteric modulation and direct activation in the 5-HT 3A receptor.
Membrane Binding by MinD Involves Insertion of Hydrophobic Residues within the C-Terminal Amphipathic Helix into the Bilayer

MinD binds to phospholipid vesicles in the presence of ATP and is released by MinE, which stimulates the MinD ATPase. Membrane binding requires a short conserved C-terminal region, which has the potential to form an amphipathic helix. This finding has led to a model in which the binding of ATP regulates the formation or accessibility of this helix, which then embeds in the membrane bilayer. To test this model, we replaced each of the four hydrophobic residues within this potential helix with tryptophan or a charged residue. Introduction of a negatively charged amino acid decreased membrane binding of MinD and its ability to activate MinC. In contrast, mutants with tryptophan substitutions retained the ability to bind to the membrane and activate MinC. Fluorescence emission spectroscopy analysis of the tryptophan mutants F263W, L264W, and L267W confirmed that these tryptophan residues did insert into the hydrophobic interior of the bilayer. We conclude that membrane binding by MinD involves penetration of the hydrophobic residues within the C-terminal amphipathic helix into the hydrophobic interior of the bilayer.
Intelligent vaccine design: Evolution of a principle

Vaccination is the most effective way to protect a host from infectious diseases. However, traditional vaccine development, which involves immunization with natural pathogens or pathogen products, is not effective against many human pathogens, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Indeed, attempts to immunize infants with formalin-inactivated RSV particles did not provide protection but rather led to the exacerbation of disease after subsequent RSV exposure. As a result, no safe vaccine exists for this important pathogen that can cause severe disease in infants and the elderly. Correia et al. have reported a major breakthrough toward the development of a safe RSV vaccine. The authors used state-of-the-art computational and structural biology approaches to develop artificial protein scaffolds that faithfully mimic a structural epitope in the RSV fusion (F) protein, a target of a clinically used prophylactic RSV antibody. These protein scaffolds were first designed through computational approaches to mimic the folding of the protein backbone around the structural epitope of RSV F. The authors then expressed the artificial protein scaffolds in Escherichia coli and immunized macaques. They observed that a number of protein scaffolds induced antibodies that can recognize the natural RSV F protein and the whole virus. Remarkably, the majority of the immunized macaques mounted neutralizing antibody responses, which were comparable with those that follow natural infection in patients. Neutralizing antibodies produced in macaques targeted the RSV F epitope, but their fine specificities differed from those of the known prophylactic antibody. Although these epitope-focused immunogens have a long way to go before they can be used as vaccines for human patients, the new data provide a proof of principle that in silico–generated artificial protein scaffolds with a neutralization epitope can induce neutralizing antibody responses against RSV. Because these protein scaffolds share only the structural epitope with RSV particles, immunization with them is unlikely to produce the vaccine-enhanced disease observed with the administration of formalin-inactivated RSV in the 1960s. In addition, artificial protein scaffolds focusing on conserved epitopes might be more potent than natural antigens for eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies reactive to multiple virus strains, because antibody responses during immunization with natural antigens are often dominated by strain-specific antibodies. Thus, these scaffold immunogens may represent promising, and safe, RSV vaccine candidates. Furthermore, the approach may be applied to improve vaccine designs for antigenically variable viruses such as HIV and influenza. B. E. Correia et al ., Proof of principle for epitope-focused vaccine design. Nature. 507 , 201–206 (2014). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.net/2014/03/15/proof-of-principle-for-epitope-focused-vaccine-design/
Contact inhibition of cell movement in living embryos of an annual fish, Nothobranchius korthausae: Its role in the switch from persistent to random cell movement

The deep blastomeres of annual fish embryos emigrate from the blastodisc to wander as single cells, during epiboly and early dispersed stages, between the periblast and the enveloping layer cells. Time-lapse films of the deep blastomere movements were analyzed to determine whether the cells move persistently or randomly and whether or not they show contact inhibition of cell movement. Certain predictions which follow from the random-walk model (uniform distribution of intersegmental angles, exponential distribution of squared segmental lengths, and a straight-line plot – passing through the origin – of mean square displacement against time) were tested and, in general, found to apply to these deep blastomeres during dispersed phase 1 but not during epiboly stages. These results indicate that the cells tend to persist in their direction of movement during epiboly, but not during dispersed phase 1, when their movement is random. Upon completion of epiboly, there is a decrease in cell motility, as measured by the augmented diffusion constant, D*, and an increase in the average collision rate. Numerous cases of cell contact between deep blastomeres were observed (297 during epiboly and 167 during dispersed phase 1); in every case one or both cells changed their direction of movement. The role this contact inhibition might play in the persistent movement of epiboly and the random movement of dispersed phase 1 is discussed.
Poisoned Apples and Honeysuckles: The Medicinal Plants of Native America

Statistical analyses of a very large sample of uses of medicinal plants by Native Americans demonstrate a method by which we can determine which sorts of plants they were most or least likely to select for use as medicines. Comparison of the patterns of use of Poaceae (grasses), Ro-saceae (apples and others), and Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckles) suggests why some plants are of medicinal value and some are not and how people were able to gain this knowledge.
The Role of Direct Observation in the Assessment of Young Children

In this review I examine the role of play and assessment in the lives of young children. These two seemingly opposing constructs are first defined. Next, I address a particularly important form of assessment, “high stakes” assessment, and argue that if it must be used, we should use a variety of assessment methods. One such method that I discuss in great detail is the use of direct observations of children's play. Examples of reliable and valid inferences about children's social cognitive functioning made with this family of methods are provided. Two specific observational instruments (one for observing play in the classroom and one for observing play in the playground) are presented. Recommendations for their use by practitioners are made.
Complications of intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma.

Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to perform a systematic review of the published literature on complications of intra-arterial chemothrapy (IAC) for the treatment of retinoblastoma. Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed using the Pubmed database using the terms. Complications were divided into extraocular and intraocular. Results: A total of 117 articles were found using this Pubmed search method; 35 articles were selected for review as they describe specifical complications of IAC for retinoblastoma. A variety of extraocular and intraocular complications were reported and discussed. Discussion: IAC for the treatment of retinoblastoma is a technique that has been gaining popularity in recent years, but is not without complications. Continued research is warranted to further improve current techniques and delivery of chemotherapeutic agents into the eye.
The use of polymerase chain reaction assay to diagnose proliferative gill disease in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

To assess the potential of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay as a diagnostic tool in the detection of proliferative gill disease (PGD) in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), PCR assays were compared with the traditional diagnostic methods of gill wet mounts and histology. A PCR assay using primers for Aurantiactinomyxon ictaluri,the actinospore associated with PGD, was performed with tissues from fish from commercial ponds. Using histology as the ''gold standard,'' the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the PCR assay were all .90%. In comparison, the wet mount examinations had a lower sensitivity and specificity. Using the chi-square test and a test for strength of association, there was a significant, strong association between results obtained by PCR and those obtained by the other 2 methods. These results demonstrate that the PCR assay is a good diagnostic tool for the detection of PGD. Proliferative gill disease (PGD) occurs primarily in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). The disease is characterized by swelling and fragility of the gills ac- companied by a red-and-white mottled appearance, which led to the name hamburger gill disease for this syndrome. 11 Reported mortality rates from this disease in commercial catfish have ranged from 1% to 65% of catfish in affected ponds. 10,11
Leishmania salvage and remodelling of host sphingolipids in amastigote survival and acidocalcisome biogenesis.

Summary Sphingolipids (SLs) play essential roles in most eukaryotes, but in the trypanosomatid protozoan Leishmania major their functions differ significantly. Previously we showed that null mutants defective in de novo sphingoid base synthesis ( spt2 - ) lacked SLs but grew well and retained lipid rafts while replicating as promastigotes in vitro . However, they experienced catastrophic defects in membrane trafficking on entry into stationary phase, and failed to differentiate to the infective metacyclic form. Here we showed this mutant retained the ability to enter macrophages silently and inhibit activation, although as expected most parasites were destroyed. However, in mouse infections, after a delay rapidly progressive lesions appeared, and purified amastigotes were fully virulent to macrophages and mice. Mass spectrometry of spt2 - amastigote lipids revealed the presence of high levels of parasite-specific inositol phosphorylceram- ides (IPCs) not synthesized by the mammalian hosts. Inhibitor studies showed that salvage occurs at the level of complex SLs, suggesting that parasites carry out 'headgroup' remodelling. Additionally, we describe a new defect of the spt2 - promastigotes
Statistics of Penetration Depth of Photons Re-Emitted From Irradiated Tissue

Abstract We derive some statistical properties of photons emitted from bulk tissue that has been irradiated by a continuous beam of laser light. The properties include the distribution and moments of the depth reached by a photon, conditional on its having reached the surface at a (dimensionless) distance, ϱ, from the point of entry of the beam into the tissue. Theoretical predictions are made on the basis of a lattice random-walk model and are checked by simulations of the light penetration problem for a more realistic continuum model.
Downregulation of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I by Human Ubiquitin Ligases Related to Viral Immune Evasion Proteins

Poxviruses and gamma-2 herpesviruses share the K3 family of viral immune evasion proteins that inhibit the surface expression of glycoproteins such as major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), B7.2, ICAM-1, and CD95(Fas). K3 family proteins contain an amino-terminal PHD/LAP or RING-CH domain followed by two transmembrane domains. To examine whether human homologues are functionally related to the viral immunoevasins, we studied seven membrane-associated RING-CH (MARCH) proteins. All MARCH proteins located to subcellular membranes, and several MARCH proteins reduced surface levels of known substrates of the viral K3 family. Two closely related proteins, MARCH-IV and MARCH-IX, reduced surface expression of MHC-I molecules. In the presence of MARCH-IV or MARCH-IX, MHC-I was ubiquitinated and rapidly internalized by endocytosis, whereas MHC-I molecules lacking lysines in their cytoplasmic tail were resistant to downregulation. The amino-terminal regions containing the RING-CH domain of several MARCH proteins examined catalyzed multiubiquitin formation in vitro, suggesting that MARCH proteins are ubiquitin ligases. The functional similarity of the MARCH family and the K3 family suggests that the viral immune evasion proteins were derived from MARCH proteins, a novel family of transmembrane ubiquitin ligases that seems to target glycoproteins for lysosomal destruction via ubiquitination of the cytoplasmic tail.
Time reversal with the FDTD method for microwave breast cancer detection

The feasibility of microwave breast cancer detection with a time-reversal (TR) algorithm is examined. This algorithm is based on the finite-difference time-domain method, and compensates for the wave decay and, therefore, is suitable for lossy media. In this paper, we consider a two-dimensional breast model based on magnetic resonance imaging data, and examine the focusing abilities of a TR mirror comprised of an array of receivers with a single ultra-wideband pulse excitation. In order to resolve small 3-mm-diameter tumors, a very short duration pulse is necessary, and this requirement may restrict the applicability of the system due to hardware limitations. We propose a way to overcome this obstacle based on the observation that the amplitude and phase information of the tumor response is sufficient to achieve focusing. The robustness of the TR algorithm with respect to breast inhomogeneities is demonstrated, and the good performance of the method suggests it is a promising technique for microwave breast cancer detection.
Dynamics and control of thin film surface microstructure in a complex deposition process

In this work, a complex deposition process, which includes two types of macromolecules whose growth behaviors are very different, is investigated. This deposition process is influenced byboth short- and long-range interactions. The studyof this process is motivated byrecent experimental results on the growth of high- dielectric thin films using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. A multicomponent kinetic Monte-Carlo (kMC) model is developed for the deposition. Both single- and multi-component cases are simulated and the dependence of the surface microstructure of the thin film, such as island size and surface roughness, on substrate temperature and gas phase composition is studied. The surface morphologyis found to be stronglyinfluenced bythese two factors and growth regimes governed byshort- and long-range interactions are observed. Furthermore, two kMC model-based feedback control schemes which use the substrate temperature to control the final surface roughness of the thin film are proposed. The closed-loop simulation results demonstrate that robust deposition with controlled thin film surface roughness can be achieved under a kMC estimator-based proportional integral (PI) feedback controller in the short-range interaction dominated growth regime, while a kMC model-predictive controller is needed to control the surface roughness in the long-range interaction dominated growth regime. 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
An adaptive mesh refinement technique for the analysis of shear bands in plane strain compression of a thermoviscoplastic solid

We have developed an adaptive mesh refinement technique that generates elements such that the integral of the second invariant of the deviatoric strain-rate tensor over an element is nearly the same for all elements in the mesh. It is shown that the finite element meshes so generated are effective in resolving shear bands, which are narrow regions of intense plastic deformation that form in high strain-rate deformation of thermally softening viscoplastic materials. Here we assume that the body is deformed in plane strain compression at a nominal strain-rate of 5000 sec-1, and model a material defect by introducing a temperature perturbation at the center of the block.
Methanol-Related Deaths in Ontario

Objective: Methanol poisoning accounts for several deaths annually in the province of Ontario. Our study was aimed at identifying the associated epidemiological factors for fatal outcomes following methanol poisoning in order to develop preventative strategies. Methods: The records of the Ontario Provincial Coroner's Office were reviewed retrospectively for all poison-related, alcohol-related, and chronic alcohol use-related deaths for the period of January 1, 1986 to December 31, 1991. Age, gender, reason for ingestion (accidental or intentional), and source of methanol for each victim were recorded. Results: There were 43 fatalities during this period, 39 males and 4 females with a mean age of 45 years (range 18–80). Suicide attempts accounted for 21 (49%) cases while the remaining 22 (51%) deaths were classified as accidental. Fourteen (64%) of these 22 patients consumed products labeled as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol as a substitute for ethanol. In 3 cases, the accidental ingestion was the direct r...
Analysis of the Typicalness of Supported Employment Jobs, Natural Supports, and Wage and Integration Outcomes

Natural support has become a well-recognized concept to both practitioners and federal regulators. Although qualitative and descriptive information about natural supports is available, there is no commonly accepted definition and little quantitative documentation. Nonetheless, the notion of "natural supports" remains a potentially viable strategy toward improving supported employment outcomes. In this study the relation between employment features and outcomes for employees with disabilities in relation to natural support was investigated as was the extent to which the experiences of people with disabilities mirror typical employment conditions experienced by people without disabilities.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hyperosmolar Nonketotic Syndrome

The term diabetes (a siphon, in Greek) was coined by Aretaeus the Cappadocian during the second century AD as a description of the polyuria that accompanies this disease. He graphically described the illness as “a melting down of the flesh and limbs into urine,” associated with an unquenchable thirst, nausea, vomiting, and rapid death (1). Even before Aretaeus, Egyptian physicians writing in the Papyrus Ebers described polyuria that, in retrospect, may have been the osmotic diuresis of diabetes mellitus. Thomas Willis (1621–1675), namesake of the Circle of Willis, noted the sweet taste of the urine and attributed the increasing incidence of diabetes in England to “good fellowship and gusling down chiefly of unalloyed wine.” Matthew Dobson, during the later half of the eighteenth century, published a case report of a young man with diabetes and performed experiments on the urine, finding both protein and sugar. He observed the patient’s serum and noted that it was also sweet and rather opaque. A prominent physician, Adolph Kussmaul, recognized that the hyperpnea of diabetic patients in coma was neither due to a primary lung disease nor associated with lack of oxygen; the respiratory pattern of these patients now bears his name. Several years later (1889,1890), Oskar Minkowsky induced diabetes mellitus in dogs by removal of the pancreas (2). During this century, our understanding of the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and, as a consequence, the management of the disease has grown substantially due to contributions by researchers studying the clinical and basic biochemical aspects of the illness.
Counterproductive Work Behaviour Among Academic and Administrative Staff and Its effect on the Organizational Effectiveness.

This article examines the impact of counterproductive work behaviours of academic and administrative staffs on the effectiveness of an educational institution. Results showed that the perpetrators of deviant acts were individual actors and groups who were influenced by personal and organizational factors. Employee behaviours were intentional and geared towards harming the institution for personal benefits and reprisal. These intentional behaviours were targeting specific victims such as the institution, students, other key stakeholders, and the community. The nature and execution of behaviours were divided into categories stemming from misuse of organization’s time and resources, poor attendance and work quality, and unfair work practices. Consequences of these deviant acts led to organizational ineffectiveness in the form of poor students’ services, quality control issues, low students’ intake and retention, and bad institutional reputation - leading to the conclusion that the institution is toxic and not functioning according to it guiding principles and norms.
Correlates of gun-carrying among adolescents in south Louisiana.

In the majority of episodes of fatal interpersonal violence, the weapon used is a firearm. Amid frequent reports of youths carrying weapons, including firearms, we conducted a case-control study to identify risk factors for being charged with gun-carrying and gun-carrying, per se, among adolescents in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Cases were defined as incidents of gun-carrying among adolescents 6 hours per day, and to be African American. After the effect estimates were adjusted in conditional logistic regression modeling, case subjects were more likely than non-gun-carrying control subjects to report adult-male unemployment among households with adult men, using marijuana, and watching television > 6 hours per day (OR = 8.6, 95% CI = 1.2, 61,2; OR = 11.7, 95% CI = 2, 70.2; and OR = 6.5, 95% CI = 0.8, 51.9, respectively). Gun-carrying control subjects were significantly more likely than non-gun-carrying control subjects to report their school not safe, having seen a shooting, using marijuana, and having fired a gun (OR = 9, 95% CI = 1, 82.1; OR = 7, 95% CI = 1.3, 38.2; OR = 6.8, 95% CI = 1.8, 25.5; and OR = 17, 95% CI = 1.8, 156.6, respectively). We found that gun-carrying was very common, and that adolescent youths who carry guns were more likely to have familiarity with guns and experience with or perception of an unsafe environment. Together, these lead to the conclusion that gun-carrying is a common response of youths who live in a risky environment, who do not have the social support to learn how to deal effectively with that risk, and who have access to guns, which they think may provide them with some protection.
Analysis of Numerical Simulation Database for Acoustic Radiation from High-Speed Turbulent Boundary Layers

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of Mach 6 turbulent boundary layer with nominal freestream Mach number of 6 and Reynolds number of Reτ ≈ 460 are conducted at two wall temperatures (Tw/Tr = 0.25, 0.76) to investigate the generated pressure fluctuations and their dependence on wall temperature. It is shown that the mean flow predictions and computed frequency spectrum of wall-pressure fluctuations are in good agreement with the measurements in the Boeing/AFOSR Mach 6 Quiet Tunnel at Purdue University. Simulations indicate that the influence of wall temperature on pressure fluctuations is largely limited to the near-wall region, with the characteristics of wall-pressure fluctuations showing a strong temperature dependence. Wall temperature has little influence on the propagation speed of the freestream pressure signal. The freestream radiation intensity compares well between wall-temperature cases when normalized by the local wall shear; the propagation speed of the freestream pressure signal and the orientation of the radiation wave front show little dependence on the wall temperature.
Theory of Quantum Plasmon Resonances in Doped Semiconductor Nanocrystals

Doped semiconductor nanocrystals represent a new type of quantum plasmonic material with optical resonances in the infrared. These nanocrystals are fundamentally different from the metal nanoparticles because the electron density in a semiconductor can be tuned over a wide interval. Using the DFT-based time-dependent formalism, we computed the absorption spectra of doped quantum dots as a function of the number of carriers in the dot. The dynamic properties of doped quantum dots undergo an interesting transition from the size-quantization regime to the classical regime of plasmon oscillations. We demonstrated this quantum-to-classical transition for both self-doped copper chalcogenide dots and impurity-doped II–VI nanocrystals. We also showed that the plasmon frequency and electron density in the dot depend on the type of doping, which can be bulk-like or surface-like. The results obtained in this study can be used to predict and describe optical properties of a variety of semiconductor nanocrystals with ...
Seeing is believing: Dynamic changes in renal epithelial autophagy during injury and repair

Ischemic injury to the kidneys is a prevalent clinical problem, contributing importantly to chronic kidney disease. Yet, underlying molecular mechanisms are elusive. To address the possible role of autophagy, we engineered a novel strain of mice harboring a ubiquitously expressed CAG-RFP-EGFP-LC3 transgene. Using this tool, we examined the post-ischemic kidney and detailed the dynamics of renal tubular epithelial autophagy. In addition, we defined the role of MTOR in the resolution of autophagy during epithelial survival and kidney repair.
Influencing factors of drug treatment compliance among patients w ith HIV / AIDS in Jinan city of China

Objective To understand the status of drug treatment compliance among patients with HIV /AIDS and to explore the influencing factors. Methods A questionnairy w as used to survey the compliance of all patients w ith HIV / AIDS receiving drug treatment in Jinan city. The collected data w ere analyzed by univariate and binary logistic regression model. Results A total of 184 valid questionnaires w ere completed and the compliance rate w as 78. 80%. Multivariate analysis show ed tw o protective factors,including the aw areness of AIDS antiretroviral therapy know ledge and the reminding of taking medicine,w ith odds ratios of 0. 138( 95% CI: 0. 038-0. 502) and 0. 293( 95% CI: 0. 086-0. 996) respectively. The risk factors included drug-side effects or missing drugs and their odds ratios w ere 5. 061( 95% CI: 1. 693-15. 132) and 8. 283( 95% CI: 1. 739-39. 439) respectively. Conclusion The appropriate measures based on the above factors should be taken seriously to improve the patients' compliance of drug treatment.
Surgery of the eyelids

This article reviews the most common pediatric oculoplastic conditions and addresses clinical evaluation as well as medical and surgical management. The complex issues of amblyopia and special considerations for eyelid surgery in children are discussed. A step-by-step approach is used in the treatment of many common pediatric oculoplastic conditions, including congenital blepharoptosis and lid margin defects. Surgical options are explored and clinical examples are provided.
Behavior Changes Across Time and Between Populations in Open-Ended Learning Environments

Open-ended computer-based learning environments OELEs can be powerful learning tools in that they help students develop effective self-regulated learning SRL and problem solving skills. In this study, middle school students used the SimSelf OELE to build causal models to learn about climate science. We study their learning and model building approaches by calculating a suite of behavioral metrics derived using coherence analysis CA that are used as features on which to group students by their type of learning behavior. We also analyze changes in these metrics over time, and compare these results to results from other studies with a different OELE to see determine generalizable their findings are across different OELE systems.
VitisPathways: gene pathway analysis for V. vinifera

Pathway enrichment analysis of genetic and proteomic data is fraught with multiple testing and other interpretive issues. A web-based tool, VitisPathways, was developed to simplify the process of pathway analyses for Vitis researchers while maintaining statistical robustness. Because enrichment analysis tools outside of pathway analysis have shown non-regularity to multiple test corrections, simulations were used to assess the degree of regularity in Vitis knowledgebases and its impact on interpretation. This tool is freely available and can be an aide to hypothesis generation in transcriptomic studies of Vitis .
ER Fluid Inks: A Rainbow of Possibilities

The concept of using electrorheological (ER) fluids as inks originated with the design of several electroviscous recording devices some 25 years ago.1,2 The colored, ER active pigments used in these early inks included carbon black, copper phthalocyanine derivatives (Skyline Blue & Monstral Green B), flavanthrone (Indofast yellow toner), quinacridone (Quindo Magenta), 3,4,9,10-bis(n,n′-(p-methoxyphenyl)-imido)perylene (Indofast Brilliant Scarlet toner), and 1,2,5,6-di-(c,c′-diphenyl)thiazole anthraquinone. In addition to utilizing colored pigments in an ink, the possibility of coloring conventional ER fluids (i.e., those prepared by W. Winslow3, etc.) through the addition of dyes also was suggested.1,4 Examples of the oil soluble dyes used to colorize known ER fluids included Oil Yellow AB, Oil Red, Oil Blue G Extra and Oil Black.
To be or not to be unionized? A social dilemma perspective on worker decisions to support union organizing

Abstract A worker's decision whether or not to support union organizing remains a critical and timely issue for American workers. We draw on the union organizing, organizational psychology, and social dilemma literatures to offer new insight into a worker's decision whether or not to support union organizing efforts. In particular, we highlight three specific conditions – social uncertainty, environmental uncertainty, and exposure – that make the decision whether or not to support union organizing a social dilemma, and describe how these should be expected to vary by union organizing stage. We also examine the effects of key contingencies: management opposition that exacerbates, and strategic union efforts that counteract, the effects of social dilemmas. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of viewing union organizing from a social dilemma perspective.
Using virtual reality and game technology to assist command and control

Recent improvements in virtual reality hardware have brought this technology to the point where easily-obtained commercial equipment can conceivably provide an affordable and relatively unexplored alternative to the traditional monitor and keyboard view of the tactical space. In addition, commercially available game engines provide several advantages for tactical applications. Using these technologies, we have created a concept of a low-cost display that allows for real-time immersive planning and strategy, with suggestions for further exploration.
Childhood vaccines in Uganda and Zambia: Determinants and barriers to vaccine coverage.

Abstract Background Improving childhood vaccine coverage is a priority for global health, but challenging in low and middle-income countries. Although previous research has sought to measure determinants of vaccination, most has limitations. We measure determinants using a clearly-defined hypothetical model, multi-faceted data, and modeling strategy that makes full use of the hypothesis and data. Methods We use linked, cross-sectional survey data from households, health facilities, patients and health offices in Uganda and Zambia, and Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling to quantify the proportion of variance in childhood vaccination that is explained by key determinants, controlling for known confounding. Results We find evidence that the leading determinant of vaccination is different for different outcomes. For three doses of pentavalent vaccine, intent to vaccinate (on the part of the mother) is the leading driver, but for one dose of the vaccine, community access is a larger factor. For pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, health facility readiness is the leading driver. Considering specifically-modifiable determinants, improvements in cost, facility catchment populations and staffing would be expected to lead to the largest increase in coverage according to the model. Conclusions This analysis measures vaccination determinants using improved methods over most existing research. It provides evidence that determinants should be approached in the context of relevant outcomes, and evidence of specific determinants that could have the greatest impact in these two countries, if targeted. Future studies should seek to improve our analytic framework, apply it in different settings, and utilize stronger study designs. Programs that focus on a particular determinant should use these results to select an outcome that is appropriate to measure their effectiveness. Vaccination programs in these countries should use our findings to better target interventions and continue progress against vaccine preventable diseases.
Solution and gas phase evidence of anion binding through the secondary bonding interactions of a bidentate bis-antimony(III) anion receptor

The solution and gas phase halide binding to a bis-antimony(iii) anion receptor was studied. This new class of anion receptors utilizes the strong Sb-centered secondary bonding interactions (SBIs) that are formed opposite to the polar Sb-O primary bond. 1H NMR titration data were fitted statistically to binding models and solution-phase binding energetics were extracted, while the formation of anion-to-receptor complexes was observed using ESI-MS. Density functional theory calculations suggest that their affinity towards binding halide anions is mitigated by the strong explicit solvation effect in DMSO, which gives insights into future designs that circumvent direct solvent binding and are anticipated to yield tighter and perhaps more selectivity in anion binding.
Transitional Female Sacrum: Dimensions, Alterations in Dorsal Pelvic Structure, and Potential Obstetric Implications.

Objectives The space available within the female pelvis is determined by the morphology of all bony components constituting the pelvic skeleton. Although several studies have investigated the impact of hip-bone structural variations in on parturition, the potential effects of commonly occurring lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) variations have been underreported. This descriptive morphometric study reports dimensions of the female sacrum associated LSTV variations and suggests their probable mechanistic effects on normal labor. Methods One hundred and twelve female osteological sacral specimens with LSTV were examined for the type of transitional anomaly. Position, height, and surface areas of the auricular surfaces, interauricular distances, sacral heights, S1 body width and upper surface areas, and articulating areas of S1 facets were measured and compared with data from non-transitional samples. Results Female LSTV predominantly presented as accessory L5-S1 articulations (unilateral and bilateral) and degrees of lumbarization (separation of the first sacral segment). Since some of these alterations were found to be significantly associated with changes in sacral size, these features, in conjunction with cranial shift of the auricular surfaces, may be associated with overall in dorsal pelvic dimensions. Conclusions Structural alterations identified in female LSTV sacrum may change dorsal pelvic dimensions and thus, the availability of dorsal pelvic space, potentially altering the biomechanics of normal labor.
Abstract P4-10-19: Disparities in use of adjuvant radiotherapy following lumpectomy among California regions

Background Women undergoing lumpectomy for invasive breast cancer typically receive radiotherapy (RT) to reduce risk of recurrence. Previous studies have reported disparities in the utilization of RT by race, socioeconomic status (SES), and age. In this study, we evaluate whether various sociodemographic factors are associated with use of RT in the different regions of California. Methods Utilizing data from the California Cancer Registry, the authors identified cases of women whose first primary invasive breast cancer was diagnosed between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2012, whose primary surgery was breast conserving surgery, and for whom information was complete (n = 71,767). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine whether demographic factors (SES, race, payer status, age) were significantly associated with use of RT following lumpectomy (p Results In three out of eight regions in California, black race was associated with decreased odds of RT use (San Francisco, OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.68-0.92; Desert Sierra, OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.58-0.90; Los Angeles, OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.70-0.87). In Sacramento and Los Angeles regions, lower socioeconomic status was associated with declined odds of RT use. Age (70 years or older) was also associated with lower likelihood of RT use across all regions. Conclusions Even after accounting for payer status, racial and socioeconomic disparities persist in the use of RT. These disparities, previously documented in the time period of 2000-2007, have not disappeared. Hispanic race was not shown to be associated with decreased odds of RT use in Los Angeles, contrary to the results of a previous study. Women aged 70 years or older are less likely to receive RT. Citation Format: Huang RJ, Mukhtar RA, Alvarado M. Disparities in use of adjuvant radiotherapy following lumpectomy among California regions [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-10-19.
E-cigarettes can emit formaldehyde at high levels under conditions that have been reported to be non-averse to users

E-cigarette aerosol emission studies typically focus on benchmarking toxicant levels versus those of cigarettes. However, such studies do not fully account for the distinct chemical makeup of e-liquids and their unique properties. These approaches often conclude that there are fewer and lower levels of toxins produced by e-cigarettes than by cigarettes. In 2015, we reported the discovery of new hemiacetals derived from the reaction of formaldehyde and the e-liquid solvents. The main finding was that they constituted a significant proportion of potentially undetected formaldehyde. Moreover, unlike gaseous formaldehyde, the hemiacetals reside in the aerosol particulate phase, and thus are capable of delivering formaldehyde more deeply into the lungs. However, the findings were criticized by those claiming that some of the results were obtained under conditions that are averse to vapers. A “reinvestigation” of our study was recently published addressing this latter issue. However, this reinvestigation ignored major details, including no mention of the formaldehyde hemiacetals. Herein, we isolated both gaseous formaldehyde and formaldehyde hemiacetals at an intermediate power level claimed, in the “reinvestigation”, to be relevant to “non-averse,” “normal” usage. The results were that both gaseous formaldehyde and formaldehyde from hemiacetals were produced at levels above OSHA workplace limits.
Numerical Simulation of Richards Equation: Current Approaches and an Alternate Perspective

The transient flow of water in saturated-unsaturated media is described by a nonlinear parabolic partial differential equation, familiarly known as Richards equation. Numerical solution of Richards equation is often beset with difficulties related to stability, convergence, and verification, particularly when water saturations are low and when material heterogeneities exist. It is suggested that these difficulties arise largely due to the fact that conventional numerical technical techniques based on finite differences and finite elements do not take into account the nature of the local flow geometry in estimating fluxes. Nor do they recognize that the Darcy-Buckingham equation, in the presence of gravity, heterogeneities or nonuniform flow geometry, is an implicit statement relating flux to the potential distribution between two surfaces of equal potential. Moreover, for an elemental volume in a transient nonlinear system, capacitance has to be defined in an operational sense, being specifically associated with a chosen location of observation within the elemental volume. Finally, in order to compute fluxes accurately, the time-averaging factor has to be made a function of space and of time. Theoretical discussions are provided to demonstrate how these ideas may be synthesized to solve the problem of transient flow in a flow tube of non uniform cross sectional area.
Single-Delay Proportional-Retarded (PR) Protocols for Fast Consensus in a Multi-Agent System

Abstract This paper investigates a derivative-free control scheme called the single-delay Proportional-Retarded (PR) protocol to achieve fast consensus in a multi-agent system (MAS) with double-integrator agent dynamics. The PR protocol intentionally introduces a delay in the feedback loop to create a derivative-like mechanism that relies only on position measurements, thus providing high reactivity on the system while mitigating undesirable noise effects. The main result shows how the PR parameters must be tuned, subject to the MAS topology, to effectively place the spectral abscissa of the collective dynamics at a desired locus with the purpose of achieving fast consensus.
Number gestures predict learning of number words.

When asked to explain their solutions to a problem, children often gesture and, at times, these gestures convey information that is different from the information conveyed in speech. Children who produce these gesture-speech "mismatches" on a particular task have been found to profit from instruction on that task. We have recently found that some children produce gesture-speech mismatches when identifying numbers at the cusp of their knowledge, for example, a child incorrectly labels a set of two objects with the word "three" and simultaneously holds up two fingers. These mismatches differ from previously studied mismatches (where the information conveyed in gesture has the potential to be integrated with the information conveyed in speech) in that the gestured response contradicts the spoken response. Here, we ask whether these contradictory number mismatches predict which learners will profit from number-word instruction. We used the Give-a-Number task to measure number knowledge in 47 children (Mage = 4.1 years, SD = 0.58), and used the What's on this Card task to assess whether children produced gesture-speech mismatches above their knower level. Children who were early in their number learning trajectories ("one-knowers" and "two-knowers") were then randomly assigned, within knower level, to one of two training conditions: a Counting condition in which children practiced counting objects; or an Enriched Number Talk condition containing counting, labeling set sizes, spatial alignment of neighboring sets, and comparison of these sets. Controlling for counting ability, we found that children were more likely to learn the meaning of new number words in the Enriched Number Talk condition than in the Counting condition, but only if they had produced gesture-speech mismatches at pretest. The findings suggest that numerical gesture-speech mismatches are a reliable signal that a child is ready to profit from rich number instruction and provide evidence, for the first time, that cardinal number gestures have a role to play in number-learning.
Practices and Policies in the U.S. Health Care System that Are Scientifically and Ethically Unjustifiable: They Should Not and Cannot Persist

This chapter continues identification and analysis of medical practices and policies that are very costly and should not be allowed to persist because they are unethical, either because they are unjustified on scientific grounds or because of violation of justice and hence, unethical. Such activities and policies in the U.S. healthcare system contribute enormously to over diagnosis, over medication, and mistaken diagnoses and treatments. The evidence for what brings all of this about is abundantly documented in this chapter.
The evidence-base for computer-based speech therapy for childhood speech sound disorders is somewhat limited1

Q (1) What is the overall efficacy of computer-based treatment programs for children who present with speech sound disorders?(2) Are there differences in treatment gains as a function of specific s...
The ability of CNS vital signs to detect coached sandbagging performance during concussion baseline testing: a randomized control trial.

Objective: Despite widespread use of baseline neurocognitive testing in concussion management, suboptimal performance due to sandbagging still readily occurs without detection. The purpose of this ...