cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sorafenib-induced thyroid storm; ceftaroline-induced eosinophilic pneumonia; imatinib-induced osteonecrosis of the tibia; visual and auditory hallucinations with citalopram.

SORAFENIB-INDUCED THYROID STORM A 72-year-old male has a history of stage II renal clear cell carcinoma, atrial fi brillation, and a radial nephrectomy. The patient remained disease free until 9 years after nephrectomy when he manifested metastatic disease. He had been receiving amiodarone for atrial fi brillation for 1 year before his metastatic cancer diagnosis, but it was stopped preemptively to prevent drug interactions before the initiation of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. The patient received pazopanib (Votrient) for 6 months when, based on disease progression, he started receiving sorafenib (Nexavar) 400 mg twice daily. The patient deteriorated after 2 to 3 weeks of therapy and progressed over 5 weeks with anorexia, diaphoresis, fatigue, tremors, diarrhea, and intermittent confusion. After 8 weeks of sorafenib therapy, the patient was hospitalized with worsening symptoms of atrial fi brillation. He was agitated and had a pulse of 137 bpm. He had a nonenlarged, nonnodular, nontender thyroid gland and a fi ne resting tremor. He had markedly abnormal thyroid function tests (TFTs) with an undetectable thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) of less than 0.008 μIU/mL, elevated free T4 (fT4) of 4.06 ng/dL (reference range, 0.89 to 1.76 ng/dL), T4 of 19 μg/dL (reference range, 4.5 to 10.9 μg/dL), and mildly elevated free T3 (fT3) of 4.4 pg/ mL (reference range, 2.3 to 4.2 pg/mL). Thyroglobulin was elevated at 115 ng/mL (reference range, 1.6 to 59.9 ng/mL), whereas antithyroglobulin, antithyroid peroxidase, and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin were undetectable. The patient had a thyroid ultrasound that revealed a heterogenous and atrophic right thyroid lobe with no focal lesions. He was diagnosed with thyroid storm and treated with high-dose propylthiouracil, hydrocortisone, and propranolol. The patient’s confusion persisted and his atrial fi brillation remained poorly controlled with intravenous diltiazem and a beta blocker. Three days after admission, the patient had a cardiac arrest in the setting of aspiration and died. The purpose of this feature is to heighten awareness of specifi c adverse drug reactions (ADRs), discuss methods of prevention, and promote reporting of ADRs to the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) MedWatch program (800-FDA-1088). If you have reported an interesting, preventable ADR to MedWatch, please consider sharing the account with our readers. Write to Dr. Mancano at ISMP, 200 Lakeside Drive, Suite 200, Horsham, PA 19044 (phone: 215-707-4936; e-mail: mmancano@temple.edu). Your report will be published anonymously unless otherwise requested. This feature is provided by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) in cooperation with the FDA’s MedWatch program and Temple University School of Pharmacy. ISMP is an FDA MedWatch partner.
Music Enhances Sleep in Preschool Children.

Background classical guitar music was played to preschool children at naptime on alternate days in order to assess its effect on naptime sleep onset. On the music versus no music days the children fell asleep faster, and the toddlers faster than the preschoolers.
Evaluation of Shale and Organoclays as Sorbent Additives for Low-Permeability Soil Containment Barriers

A natural shale and four synthetic organoclays were compared as potential sorbent additives to containment barriers at hazardous waste sites. Trimethylphenyl ammonium bentonite (TMPA-bent) was shown in batch experiments to have the greatest sorption capacities for 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, trichloroethylene, and methyl isobutyl ketone, followed by the shale and a commercial organoclay. Sorption capacities were lowest for hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bentonite (HDTMA-bent) and hexadecyl pyridinium bentonite (HDP-bent). Operative sorption mechanisms for the organoclays depended on the size of the organic modifier, i.e., uptake by the TMPA-bent occurred via adsorption onto mineral surfaces, while that for the HDTMA-bent and HDP-bent took place by absorption into organic phases formed by their long hydrocarbon tails. The shale was found to be by far the most cost-effective sorbent, an important factor for large scale applications. Solids concentration effects (i.e., higher apparent sorption capacities at lower experimental sorbent concentrations) were exhibited by HDTMA-bent and HDP-bent. This can be attributed to aggregation of sorbent particles as a result of interactions among their hydrocarbon chains. Solids effects were observed to decline and eventually disappear as sorbent concentrations were increased. Such effects must be considered in applying batch sorption results to flow-through systems.
Patterns of transiently expressed acetylcholinesterase activity in cerebral cortex and dorsal thalamus of developing rats with cytotoxin-induced microencephaly

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity is expressed transiently by thalamocortical neurons of primary sensory systems in developing rat pups. In the present study, prenatal treatment with methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) on embryonic day 15, 16, or 17 resulted in rat pups with cerebral cortices markedly reduced in thickness and areal extent. Histochemical studies demonstrated that AChE staining occurs in fiber-like plexuses in primary visual, auditory, and somatosensory regions of developing cerebral cortex of MAM-treated animals, just as in normal developing rats, but that the transient patterns of AChE are found more superficially than normal and they occur in an abnormal patchy distribution. Neuronal somata in thalamic lateral geniculate, medial geniculate and ventral basal nuclei of MAM-treated animals show transient AChE staining indistinguishable from that seen in normal animals. These data indicate: 1. (1) AChE is expressed transiently by thalamocortical neurons in MAM-treated animals, 2. (2) intensity of the transiently expressed AChE is not affected by MAM-induced loss of cortical neurons, and 3. (3) the abnormal AChE patterns in cortex likely reflect the abnormal distributions of thalamocortical terminal fields that are characteristic of MAM-treated animals.
Physical properties of the atmosphere in relation to laser probing

This paper is concerned with the properties of the atmosphere that limit the effectiveness of laser probing. We analyse the fluctuations in amplitude and phase of a laser signal that are induced by propagation through the irregular refractive-index structure of the atmosphere.
Cleavage of BID by Caspase 8 Mediates the Mitochondrial Damage in the Fas Pathway of Apoptosis

Abstract We report here that BID, a BH3 domain–containing proapoptotic Bcl2 family member, is a specific proximal substrate of Casp8 in the Fas apoptotic signaling pathway. While full-length BID is localized in cytosol, truncated BID (tBID) translocates to mitochondria and thus transduces apoptotic signals from cytoplasmic membrane to mitochondria. tBID induces first the clustering of mitochondria around the nuclei and release of cytochrome c independent of caspase activity, and then the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cell shrinkage, and nuclear condensation in a caspase-dependent fashion. Coexpression of Bclx L inhibits all the apoptotic changes induced by tBID. Our results indicate that BID is a mediator of mitochondrial damage induced by Casp8.
Discordant effects of the aldose resuctase inhibitor, sorbinil, on vascular structure and function in chronically diabetic and galactosemic rats

Effects of sorbinil, an aldose reductase inhibitor, were examined on renal glomerular structure, urinary albumin and IgG excretion, and vascular albumin permeation in eyes and aorta of 8-month diabetic, galactose-fed, and age-matched control rats. Sorbinil was added to the diet of one-half of the rats in each group at the time of induction of diabetes and galactosemia. Weight gain was impaired in diabetic and galactose-fed rats versus controls and was improved slightly in corresponding sorbinil-treated groups. Plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels, food consumption, and 24-hr urine volume were increased in diabetic rats and were unaffected by sorbinil treatment. Food consumption and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were increased in galactose-fed rats, although the increases were smaller than in diabetic rats; glycosylated hemoglobin levels were decreased by sorbinil. Diabetes- and galactosemia-induced increases in albumin permeation in eyes and aorta were prevented by sorbinil. Urinary excretion of albumin and IgG was increased by diabetes and decreased by sorbinil, although differences between the two diabetic groups were not statistically significant for albumin. Galactosemia was associated with an increase in urinary albumin and IgG excretion that did not reach statistical significance. Glomerular capillary basement membrane width (GBMW) was increased in diabetic versus age-matched control rats but was unaffected by galactose feeding. GBMW was increased in controls fed sorbinil and glomerular capillary basement membrane thickening in diabetic rats was not prevented by sorbinil. The fractional volume of the glomerulus occupied by mesangium (Vvmes) was increased in diabetic and galactose fed rats versus age-matched controls, and was unaffected by sorbinil.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
AC gas discharge panels: some general considerations

This introductory paper attempts to provide some perspective on the key technology issues associated with ac gas panel displays to set the stage for a series of nine technology and physics-oriented papers that follow. It uses the cathode ray tube as a reference for comparison and defines some of the unique technological features of matrix-addressed displays generally and ac gas discharge panels specifically.
Adolescent Sexual Risk: Factors Predicting Condom Use Across the Stages of Change

This study examined factors associated with high-risk adolescents’ movement toward or away from adopting consistent condom use behavior using the Transtheoretical Model Stages of Change. Participants drawn from the inactive comparison condition of a randomized HIV prevention trial (Project SHIELD) responded to items assessing pros and cons of condom use, peer norms, condom communication, and perceived invulnerability to HIV. Participants were categorized based on their condom use behavior using the Transtheoretical Model. Multiple logistic regressions found that progression to consistent condom use was predicted by continuing to perceive more advantages to condom use, reporting greater condom use communication with partners, and less perceived invulnerability to HIV. Movement away from adopting consistent condom use was predicted by a decrease in perceived advantages to condom use, increased perceived condom disadvantages, and fewer condom discussions. Future interventions may be tailored to enhance these factors that were found to change over time.
Communication: Where do we go from here?

IT is customary in reviewing the entire subject of communication to start with the Greeks. I should prefer, however, to go back to a somewhat earlier period when the first prosimian, or whatever our ancestor may have been, climbed down out of the trees, began to use tools, and most notably began to apply his curiosity with practical effect. For many reasons he became the progenitor of the dominant race, but one powerful reason was that he learned to communicate and to use symbols for the purpose. From that time an individual's struggle with his environment was based, not on his own limited experience alone, but on the far sounder basis of the experience of his fellows and his forebears. All that is called civilization resulted from the fact that man learned to record, transmit, and consult the record of his perceptions and his reasoning about their interrelationships. At first he did this roughly and inadequately with a small vocabulary. Later he turned to more and more elaborate means of communication.
Anesthetic properties and toxicity of bupivacaine and lidocaine for infiltration anesthesia

The purpose of this study was to measure the toxicity and anesthetic properties of two anesthetic agents, bupivacaine and lidocaine. These anesthetic agents did not damage tissue defenses or invite infection in experimental animals. In addition, the pain of subdermal injection, the onset of anesthesia, and the frequency of satisfactory anesthesia in human volunteers were remarkably similar. Because the duration of anesthesia induced by bupivacaine was nearly four times longer than that by lidocaine, bupivacaine is recommended for infiltration anesthesia of lacerations treated in the emergency department.
Abraham Joshua Heschel's Theology of Judaism and the Rewriting of Jewish Intellectual History

Abraham Joshua Heschel's oeuvre deals with the continuum of Jewish religious consciousness from the biblical and rabbinic periods through the kabbalistic and Hasidic ones with regard to God's concern for humanity. The goal of this study is to show how such a “Nachmanidean” reading has partially displaced the discontinuous “Maimonidean” reading promoted by Yehezkel Kaufman, Ephraim Urbach, and Gershom Scholem. The result is that Heschel's understanding of the development of Jewish theologizing is more influential now than it was during his lifetime. This study traces the growth of that development and explores how Heschel became the scholar-theologian who most succeeded in bridging the gap between scholarship and constructive theology.
The specialized locomotory apparatus of the freshwater hatchetfish family Gasteropelecidae

High-speed video (200 frames/second) and kinematic analysis of the specialized locomotion of the Gasteropelecidae reveal a take-off mechanism from water to air with highly stereotyped components: a bilateral pectoral fin abduction and a C-start. With variations in timing between components of the take-off mechanism, a wide range of trajectories, all consistent with projectile motion, can be elicited. Correlated with studies of pectoral and caudal osteology and myology, the analysis indicates that active flight in the gasteropelecids is unlikely. Rather, the mechanism produces a jump, a modified startle response, achieved through the activation of powerful abductor muscles through the Mauthner mediated cell complex.
Convergent metamorphism of eclogite and garnet-bearing ultramafic rocks at Lien, West Norway

Convergent metamorphism of eclogite and garnet-bearing ultramafic rocks at Lien, West Norway
Ulnar-nerve compression syndromes at and below the wrist.

A classification of three specific syndromes of ulnar-nerve compression at the wrist and hand with representative cases is presented and reported cases have been classified according to the location of compression. In Type I (proximal lesion), there is sensory loss in the ulnar distribution as well as some distal loss. In Types II and III (distal lesions), there is, respectively, only pure motor or pure sensory deficit. An outline for preoperative evaluation is suggested for more accurate localization of the site of the injury. Surgical decompression of the usual reversible ulnar neuropraxia is the suggested treatment.
Adaptive Multiresolution Modulation for multimedia traffic

Future wireless communication systems and networks will be required to support a multitude of services with different reliability requirements. However, achieving such flexible systems are challenging in Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET) due to limited battery resources at mobile nodes. However, by employing adaptive signaling techniques with Unequal Error Protection (UEP), we strive to improve the energy efficiency and increase the data rate (spectral efficiency) over a fading channel. In this article, we demonstrate the efficacy of the exponential approximation for the Adaptive Multiresolution Modulation (AMM) scheme in terms of PER using the asymmetric Phase-Shift Keying (PSK) and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM).
Thinking Anew: Trends in the Education of Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Their Implications

In this article, the author describes three trends currently impacting the education of students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, including service delivery, students who are deaf or hard of hearing with additional disabilities, and evidence-based practice. Implications of these trends are discussed as they relate primarily to teachers of students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, but speech-language pathologists as well. The article concludes with recommendations for improving practices used with this population.
Intelligent gamma-ray spectroscopy using 3-D position-sensitive detectors

The performance of gamma-ray spectrometers at high energies (several MeV) can be greatly improved through intelligent spectroscopic analysis if spatial information is obtained for each energy deposition. In position-sensitive detectors, the energy and three-dimensional (3-D) position of each interaction in the detector are determined. Recognizing the signatures of multiple interactions in the detector can help to reconstruct the energies of the initial gamma-rays even when the full energies are not deposited. Experimental work by our research group has demonstrated the feasibility of carrying out spatially resolved measurements of individual gamma-ray interactions throughout the volume of a CdZnTe spectrometer. We present the results of a simulation study for gamma-rays incident upon a 6-cm/sup 3/ CdZnTe detector using two reconstruction methods: high-efficiency intelligent spectroscopy (HEIS) in which the peak-to-total ratio is greatly improved relative to traditional spectroscopy while maintaining almost the same intrinsic peak efficiency; and peak-only intelligent spectroscopy (POIS) in which the peak-to-total ratio can approach 0.9, assuming realistic values for energy resolution. Although POIS reduces the intrinsic peak efficiency, it will significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio for many measurements. The predicted performance is unprecedented for a detector of such small volume and illustrates the gains that can be expected by exploiting 3-D information.
Effect of dietary calcium on stone forming propensity.

Purpose: Epidemiological studies have reported that high calcium diet protects against kidney stone formation in normal subjects. This metabolic study was designed to elucidate the physiological and physicochemical effects conferring this apparent protection.Materials and Methods: A total of 21 normal volunteers underwent 2 phases of study in a crossover, randomized design, wherein they consumed constant metabolic diets that matched the estimated highest and lowest quintiles of calcium intake from published epidemiological studies.Results: Urinary calcium was significantly greater on the high calcium diet (148 ± 55 versus 118 ± 43 mg. daily, p <0.01, p <0.01) but urinary oxalate did not differ between diets. There was no difference in relative saturation ratio of calcium oxalate between the 2 diets. The high calcium diet significantly increased saturation of brushite and decreased that of uric acid. Due to the other differences between the diets (more fluid, potassium, magnesium and phosphate in the high ...
En bloc kidney and whole pancreaticoduodenal transplantation with bladder drainage in the rat: microsurgical technique and outcome

A microsurgical technique for en bloc kidney and whole pancreaticoduodenal transplantation with bladder drainage employing triple vascular anastomoses without the need for a vascular cuff is described. Nineteen combined isografts were performed using this technique in inbred male Lewis (RT1:I) rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Six recipients died within 1 month from early complications (two from uremia, two from pancreatitis, one from bleeding, one from peritonitis); the other 13 survived more than 1 month after transplantation with both the pancreas and kidney grafts functioning. Four of the 13 rats died after 1 month (one from uremia secondary to an obstructed ureter, one from unexplained uremia, one from peritonitis after a biopsy, and one of unknown causes). The pancreas isografts of two animals were excised at 1 and 3 months to confirm dependence on the graft; both animals became hyperglycemic after graft pancreatectomy and had immediate declines of urine amylase activity to normal. One animal was sacrificed at 3 months to determine the insulin content of its native and transplanted pancreas; insulin was very low in the former and normal in the latter. The remaining rats survived with both grafts functioning for at least 6 months (normoglycemic, high urinary amylase levels, normal or near-normal plasma creatinine concentrations), before being sacrificed within the context of other experiments and for histological observations. Both the kidney and pancreas isografts were well preserved microscopically.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Energy Cost and Enjoyment of Active Videogames in Children and Teens: Xbox 360 Kinect.

Abstract Objective: New active videogames (AVGs) may provide youth an alternative to traditional play. The purpose of this study was to compare the physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), intensity, and enjoyment of AVGs with those of seated videogames (SVGs). Materials and Methods: Youth (8–17 years old) volunteered to play a random selection of six (two SVGs, four AVGs) videogames for 6–10 minutes each. Prior to participation, height, weight, and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were measured. A portable metabolic analyzer was worn during the games to measure total energy expenditure, and PAEE was calculated as (total energy expenditure – measured RMR). An accelerometer was worn on the right hip to measure intensity in counts/minute and steps/minute. Youth were classified as child (8–12 years old) versus teen (13–17 years old), healthy weight (body mass index [BMI] <85th percentile) versus overweight (BMI ≥85th percentile), and male versus female. A three-way mixed-model analysis of variance was used t...
Model-based version and configuration management for a web engineering lifecycle

During a lifecycle of a large-scale Web application, Web developers produce a wide variety of inter-related Web objects. Following good Web engineering practice, developers often create them based on a Web application development method, which requires certain logical models for the development and maintenance process. Web development is dynamic, thus, those logical models as well as Web artifacts evolve over time. However, the task of managing their evolution is still very inefficient because design decisions in models are not directly accessible in existing file-based software configuration management repositories. Key limitations of existing Web version control tools include their inadequacy in representing semantics of design models and inability to manage the evolution of model-based objects and their logical connections to Web documents. This paper presents a framework that allows developers to manage versions and configurations of models and to capture changes to model-to-model relations among Web objects. Model-based objects, Web documents, and relations are directly represented and versioned in a structure-oriented manner.
Enceladus Plume Density Modeling and Reconstruction for Cassini Attitude Control System

In 2005, Cassini detected jets composed mostly of water, spouting from a set of nearly parallel rifts in the crust of Enceladus, an icy moon of Saturn. During an Enceladus flyby, either reaction wheels or attitude control thrusters on the Cassini spacecraft are used to overcome the external torque imparted on Cassini due to Enceladus plume or jets, as well as to slew the spacecraft in order to meet the pointing needs of the on-board science instruments. If the estimated imparted torque is larger than it can be controlled by the reaction wheel control system, thrusters are used to control the spacecraft. Having an engineering model that can predict and simulate the external torque imparted on Cassini spacecraft due to the plume density during all projected low-altitude Enceladus flybys is important. Equally important is being able to reconstruct the plume density after each flyby in order to calibrate the model. This paper describes an engineering model of the Enceladus plume density, as a function of the flyby altitude, developed for the Cassini Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem, and novel methodologies that use guidance, navigation, and control data to estimate the external torque imparted on the spacecraft due to the Enceladus plume and jets. The plume density is determined accordingly. The methodologies described have already been used to reconstruct the plume density for three low-altitude Enceladus flybys of Cassini in 2008 and will continue to be used on all remaining low-altitude Enceladus flybys in Cassini's extended missions.
Tuning amphiphilicity/temperature‐induced self‐assembly and in‐situ disulfide crosslinking of reduction‐responsive block copolymers

New poly(ethylene oxide)-based block copolymers (ssBCs) with a random copolymer block consisting of a reduction-responsive disulfide-labeled methacrylate (HMssEt) and a thermoresponsive di(ethylene glycol)-containing methacrylate (MEO2MA) units were synthesized. The ratio of HMssEt/MEO2MA units in the random P(MEO2MA-co-HMssEt) copolymer block enables the characteristics of well-defined ssBCs to be amphiphilic or thermoresponsive and double hydrophilic. Their amphiphilicity or temperature-induced self-assembly results in nanoaggregates with hydrophobic cores having different densities of pendant disulfide linkages. The effect of disulfide crosslinking density on morphological variation of disulfide-crosslinked nanogels is investigated. In response to reductive reactions, the partial cleavage of pendant disulfide linkages in the hydrophobic cores converts the physically associated aggregates to disulfide-crosslinked nanogels. The occurrence of in-situ disulfide crosslinks provides colloidal stability upon dilution. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 2057–2067
Physical Modeling and Data Analysis of the Dynamic Response of a Flexibly Mounted Rotor Mechanical Seal

The dynamic behaviour of mechanical face seal has been an active area of research for the past three decades. Analytical and experimental work was exclusively devoted to the flexibly mounted stator seal (FMS). Recent theoretical work on the dynamics of the noncontacting flexibly mounted rotor (FMR) seal proved that it is superior in every aspect of dynamic behaviour compared to the FMS seal. The FMR seal is inherently stable regardless of operating speed, the maximum relative misalignment is smaller, and the critical stator misalignment is larger. These are measures of superior performance. Yet, no experimental investigation of the noncontacting FMR seals has been reported. This work describes the design and construction of a noncontacting FMR mechanical face seal test rig. Features of the rig design and data analysis will be introduced. Finally, experimental results will be compared with theory.
A Combination Therapy for Cystic Fibrosis

The most prevalent form of cystic fibrosis arises from an amino acid deletion in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, CFTR. A recently approved treatment for individuals homozygous for this mutation combines a chemical corrector, which helps CFTR fold, and a potentiator that increases CFTR channel activity.
Bilateral bone loss of the maxilla.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 34-year-old woman reported to her general dentist in April 1994 with a chief complaint of “painful oral ulcer, upper left.” A clinical and radiographic examination revealed a vertical bony defect measuring approximately 4 to 5 mm on the mesial aspect of the left maxillary second molar. The patient had been seen regularly for 15 years, had always demonstrated excellent oral hygiene, and had no history or evidence of periodontal disease. She practiced as a physical therapist, and it was noted that she had treated many patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In May 1994, the patient began experiencing symptoms of chronic nonproductive cough, hectic fever, and general malaise. A purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin test and chest radiograph were ordered by her physician. The PPD test result was positive ( 22 mm); however, her chest film was negative. She presented to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in June 1994. He performed gingival curettage of the left maxillary posterior area and discarded the tissue. Later that month, another positive PPD test result was obtained ( 12 mm) and the patient was placed on a 6-month course of isoniazid (300 mg daily) despite 2 negative sputum cultures. In July 1994, a similar pattern of focal periodontal bone loss was detected in the right maxillary posterior quadrant (Fig 1). Later that month, the oral surgeon performed curettage of this area, with the tissue again discarded. Shortly thereafter, the left maxillary second molar was extracted because of extensive local bone loss. In August 1994, an endodontic procedure was performed on the right maxillary second bicuspid and the right maxillary second molar was extracted. In September 1994, the patient was referred to a second oral surgeon, who performed an incisional biopsy of the right maxillary posterior gingival tissues. The differential diagnoses at the time included periodontal disease, oral tuberculosis (TB), and possible HIV-related periodontitis. A histopathologic evaluation of the tissue revealed the presence of multiple well-formed granulomas with minimal central necrosis (Fig 2, A and B). No foreign material was seen, and no microorganisms were identified through the use of acid-fast, periodic acid–Schiff, and Gomori’s methenamine silver staining. The diagnosis was noncaseating granulomatous inflammation.
Chlamydia trachomatis protein CT009 is a structural and functional homolog to the key morphogenesis component RodZ and interacts with division septal plane localized MreB

Cell division in Chlamydiae is poorly understood as apparent homologs to most conserved bacterial cell division proteins are lacking and presence of elongation (rod shape) associated proteins indicate non-canonical mechanisms may be employed. The rod-shape determining protein MreB has been proposed as playing a unique role in chlamydial cell division. In other organisms, MreB is part of an elongation complex that requires RodZ for proper function. A recent study reported that the protein encoded by ORF CT009 interacts with MreB despite low sequence similarity to RodZ. The studies herein expand on those observations through protein structure, mutagenesis and cellular localization analyses. Structural analysis indicated that CT009 shares high level of structural similarity to RodZ, revealing the conserved orientation of two residues critical for MreB interaction. Substitutions eliminated MreB protein interaction and partial complementation provided by CT009 in RodZ deficient Escherichia coli. Cellular localization analysis of CT009 showed uniform membrane staining in Chlamydia. This was in contrast to the localization of MreB, which was restricted to predicted septal planes. MreB localization to septal planes provides direct experimental observation for the role of MreB in cell division and supports the hypothesis that it serves as a functional replacement for FtsZ in Chlamydia.
El Niño floods and culture change: A late Holocene flood history for the Rio Moquegua, southern Peru

The 1997–1998 El Nino generated large floods throughout southern Peru, especially in inland locations along Rio Moquegua. Using remote sensing, hydraulic modeling, field surveying, and stratigraphic analyses, we estimate the magnitude and frequency of this flood and determine a late Holocene flood history for main- stem and tributary sections. Modeling indicates a peak discharge of 450 m3/s for the 1998 flood, with an estimated recurrence interval between 50 and 100 yr. Flood deposits for two large events, dated to A.D. 690 and A.D. 1300, respectively, exist in a small tributary system. Tiwanaku site abandonment (ca. A.D. 1000) predates the younger flood, indicating that stratigraphically recognizable El Nino–driven floods were not a causal mechanism for abandonment. Although possessing three flood units, main-stem alluvium is considerably younger (<320 14C yr B.P.) than tributary alluvium, evidencing the major channel widening and lateral reworking of the main stem.
Introducing Students to Psychological Research: General Psychology as a Laboratory Course

For 6 years, we have offered an integrated weekly laboratory focusing on research methods as part of our general psychology course. Through self-report measures and controlled comparisons, we found that laboratory projects significantly increase students' knowledge and comfort level with scientific approaches and concepts, sustain interest in psychology, and increase critical thinking about psychological research. Implementing a laboratory component in the introductory course increases students' scientific literacy, reinforces psychology's claim to scientific status, encourages active learning, promotes quantitative reasoning, and benefits multiple constituencies.
Growth Curve Analysis and Visualization Using R

Learn How to Use Growth Curve Analysis with Your Time Course Data An increasingly prominent statistical tool in the behavioral sciences, multilevel regression offers a statistical framework for analyzing longitudinal or time course data. It also provides a way to quantify and analyze individual differences, such as developmental and neuropsychological, in the context of a model of the overall group effects. To harness the practical aspects of this useful tool, behavioral science researchers need a concise, accessible resource that explains how to implement these analysis methods. Growth Curve Analysis and Visualization Using R provides a practical, easy-to-understand guide to carrying out multilevel regression/growth curve analysis (GCA) of time course or longitudinal data in the behavioral sciences, particularly cognitive science, cognitive neuroscience, and psychology. With a minimum of statistical theory and technical jargon, the author focuses on the concrete issue of applying GCA to behavioral science data and individual differences. The book begins with discussing problems encountered when analyzing time course data, how to visualize time course data using the ggplot2 package, and how to format data for GCA and plotting. It then presents a conceptual overview of GCA and the core analysis syntax using the lme4 package and demonstrates how to plot model fits. The book describes how to deal with change over time that is not linear, how to structure random effects, how GCA and regression use categorical predictors, and how to conduct multiple simultaneous comparisons among different levels of a factor. It also compares the advantages and disadvantages of approaches to implementing logistic and quasi-logistic GCA and discusses how to use GCA to analyze individual differences as both fixed and random effects. The final chapter presents the code for all of the key examples along with samples demonstrating how to report GCA results. Throughout the book, R code illustrates how to implement the analyses and generate the graphs. Each chapter ends with exercises to test your understanding. The example datasets, code for solutions to the exercises, and supplemental code and examples are available on the author’s website.
Crystal structure of QscR, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing signal receptor.

Acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum sensing controls gene expression in hundreds of Proteobacteria including a number of plant and animal pathogens. Generally, the AHL receptors are members of a family of related transcription factors, and although they have been targets for development of antivirulence therapeutics there is very little structural information about this class of bacterial receptors. We have determined the structure of the transcription factor, QscR, bound to N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-homoserine lactone from the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a resolution of 2.55 A. The ligand-bound QscR is a dimer with a unique symmetric "cross-subunit" arrangement containing multiple dimerization interfaces involving both domains of each subunit. The QscR dimer appears poised to bind DNA. Predictions about signal binding and dimerization contacts were supported by studies of mutant QscR proteins in vivo. The acyl chain of the AHL is in close proximity to the dimerization interfaces. Our data are consistent with an allosteric mechanism of signal transmission in the regulation of DNA binding and thus virulence gene expression.
Towards Spike-Based Speech Processing: A Biologically Plausible Approach to Simple Acoustic Classification

Shortcomings of automatic speech recognition (ASR) applications are becoming more evident as they are more widely used in real life. The inherent non-stationarity associated with the timing of speech signals as well as the dynamical changes in the environment make the ensuing analysis and recognition extremely difficult. Researchers often turn to biology seeking clues to make better engineered systems, and ASR is no exception with the usage of feature sets such as Mel frequency cepstral coefficients, which employ filter banks similar to cochlear filter banks in frequency distribution and bandwidth. In this paper, we delve deeper into the mechanics of the human auditory system to take this biological inspiration to the next level. The main goal of this research is to investigate the computation potential of spike trains produced at the early stages of the auditory system for a simple acoustic classification task. First, various spike coding schemes from temporal to rate coding are explored, together with various spike-based encoders with various simplicity levels such as rank order coding and liquid state machine. Based on these findings, a biologically plausible system architecture is proposed for the recognition of phonetically simple acoustic signals which makes exclusive use of spikes for computation. The performance tests show superior performance on a noisy vowel data set when compared with a conventional ASR system.
The use of direct temperature-resolved mass spectrometry (DTMS) in the detection of organic pigments found in acrylic paints used by Sam Francis

When analyzed in the dry, powdered form, most of the hundreds of modern synthetic organic pigments that have been introduced throughout the 20th century can be effectively characterized by direct temperature-resolved mass spectrometry (DTMS) [S.Q. Lomax, M. Schilling, T. Learner, in: T. Learner, P. Smithen, J.W. Krueger, M. Schilling (Eds.), Modern Paints Uncovered, Getty Conservation Institute, Tate Modern, London, 2007, p. 105]. However, their detection in paint formulations is often far more difficult, as these pigments are usually present in only very low concentrations, due to their relatively high tinting strengths. The situation is also more complex when one attempts to identify these pigments from microscopic samples of paint taken from actual works of art, due to the frequent manipulation, mixing, or adulteration of paints by artists during their application. A project aiming to characterize the wide range of pigments found in the paints of Sam Francis (American, 1923–1994) prompted work to investigate more fully the sensitivity of a DTMS system by comparing various ionization conditions, including electron impact (EI) at 70 and 16 eV, and chemical ionization (CI) with iso-butane in both positive- and negative-ion modes. Overall, it was found that negative-ion CI conditions showed the best results for detecting the majority of synthetic organic pigments tested: the very limited fragmentation it produced in most of the pigments resulted in a much stronger and more readily detectable molecular ion that could be more easily distinguished from the lower m/z-value ions typically coming from other components in the paints.
Pentoxifylline attenuation of experimental hepatopulmonary syndrome

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) following rat common bile duct ligation results from pulmonary molecular changes that may be influenced by circulating TNF-α and increased vascular shear stress, through activation of NF-κB or Akt. Increased pulmonary microvascular endothelin B (ETB) receptor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels contribute to nitric oxide production and the development of experimental HPS. Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase and nonspecific TNF-α inhibitor, ameliorates experimental HPS when begun before hepatic injury. However, how PTX influences the molecular events associated with initiation of experimental HPS after liver injury is established is unknown. We assessed the effects of PTX on the molecular and physiological features of HPS in vivo and on shear stress or TNF-α-mediated events in rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. PTX significantly improved HPS without altering portal or systemic hemodynamics and downregulated pulmonary ETB receptor levels and eNOS expression and activation. These changes were associated with a reduction in circulating TNF levels and NF-κB activation and complete inhibition of Akt activation. In rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells, PTX inhibited shear stress-induced ETB receptor and eNOS expression and eNOS activation. These effects were also associated with inhibition of Akt activation and were reproduced by wortmanin. In contrast, TNF-α had no effects on endothelial ETB and eNOS alterations in vitro. PTX has direct effects in the pulmonary microvasculature, likely mediated through Akt inhibition, that ameliorate experimental HPS.
ISOSCALAR MESON MIXING AND GLUEBALLS

I diagonalize the meson mass matrix to evaluate meson mixing angles for 0−+, 0++, 1−−, 1++, 2++, 3−−, 4++ nonets. The existence of glueballs may be necessary due to the meson mass spectrum alone, in order to retain consistency in the meson mixing scheme. I evaluate several decay rates of light mesons to test the mixing angles obtained in this nonorthogonal mixing model. The agreement is very good for all but the scalar nonet, which cannot be explained within such a scheme. I extend the mixing scheme toSU4 and evaluateΓ(ψ → πγ) usingΓ(ψ → ηγ)/Γ(ψ → η′γ). I also evaluateΓ(ηc →ϕϕ), Γ(ηc → p\(\bar p\)) andΓ(ηc). With regard to glueballs, I expectι andθ to be quarkonium states. My calculations, using meson masses, give a minimum mass of 1885 MeV for the tensor glueball. I expect glueballs to contribute little to the decay rates of mesons, however the meson masses do depend on the presence of nearby glueballs. Moreover, I expect the ψ → γ + glueball decay rate to be small.
On large deformation granular strain measures for generating stress–strain relations based upon three-dimensional discrete element simulations

Abstract Generating stress–strain relations based upon three-dimensional discrete element simulations, for hierarchical multiscale constitutive modeling of granular materials at finite strain, requires measures of stress and strain in the reference and current configurations. The Cauchy stress tensor calculated from interparticle forces and branch vectors resulting from discrete element simulations, is well-established, but the various finite strain definitions existing in the literature are not as well studied or accepted. Thus, the paper develops seven finite strain measures in three-dimensions (Cartesian coordinates assumed): two are calculated in the reference configuration, and five are calculated in the current configuration. In the process, a time-integrated deformation gradient is formulated, with which the Cauchy stress tensor can be mapped to either the Kirchhoff stress, first Piola–Kirchhoff stress, or second Piola–Kirchhoff stress. The difficulty in calculating strain measures for granular materials is the discrete particulate nature of the materials. In the paper, strain measures are motivated by the equivalent continuum method, but are extended to finite strain in three-dimensions. Simulations are conducted to test the finite strain measures, and it is found that these strain measures are independent of rigid body rotation of a particle assembly. Granular Cauchy stress is also calculated for these discrete element simulations to be able to plot stress–strain curves in the current configuration. Finally, two numerical examples with large deformation are simulated: (1) cavity expansion, and (2) pile penetration; and their results are analyzed.
Failure of single phenolic chains and cross-links: Energetics, mechanisms, and alternative linker design

Abstract The stretching of a single chain of phenolic polymer is studied using density functional theory (DFT) and the reactive force field (ReaxFF) potential. The most detailed studies are performed at 0 K, which shows the breaking of the C(ring)-CH2 bridge bond can be delayed to longer polymer length by a ring opening mechanism that relieves the strain. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, using the DFT approach, show that C–CH2 bridge bond breaking occurs much more frequently than the ring opening. The stretching potentials determined using ReaxFF compare favorably with the DFT results. Using ReaxFF, stretching of cross-linked systems were considered and compared to single chains. The effect of changing the linking group on the bond stretching portion of the potential is found to be relatively small, but the effect on the bond energies can be significant.
Jianshuiite in oceanic manganese nodules at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary

Synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy examinations of manganese oxide concretions/nodules (~0.3–1.0 mm diameter) from ODP Site 1262 on Walvis Ridge in the Southeastern Atlantic Ocean revealed that they consist primarily of the layered Mn oxide phase jianshuiite [(Mg,Mn,Ca)Mn34+O7·3H2O]. The nodules are from an interval with severe carbonate dissolution that represents the Paleocene/Eocene (P/E) thermal maximum (~55.8 Ma). Most nodules from the middle of the carbonate dissolution interval contain internal open space, and consist almost entirely of euhedral plate-like jianshuiite crystals, 2–4 μm in diameter and ~0.1–0.5 μm thick. Backscattered electron images and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses revealed stacks of interleaved Al-rich and Al-poor jianshuiite crystals in some nodules. The crystals in other nodules contain predominantly Mg (with trace K and Al) in addition to Mn and O, making them near “end-member” jianshuiite. Rietveld refinements in space group R 3 confirmed the isostructural relationship between jianshuiite and chalcophanite, with Mg occupying the interlayer position above and below the vacant sites in the Mn/O octahedral sheet, and coordinated to 3 octahedral layer O atoms (1.94 A) and 3 interlayer water O atoms (2.13 A). Final refined occupancy factors suggest that small quantities of Ni and possibly Mn2+ are located on the Mg site. The transient appearance of the Mg-rich birnessite-like phase jianshuiite, probably abiotically produced, must indicate an exceptional transient change in the chemistry of the pore fluids within deep ocean sediments directly following the P/E boundary, possibly as a result of decreasing oxygen levels and pH, followed by a return to pre-event conditions.