cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congenital heart defects and major structural noncardiac anomalies, Atlanta, Georgia, 1968 to 2005

Objective To identify the proportion of major structural noncardiac anomalies identified with congenital heart defects (CHDs). Study design Records of infants with CHDs in the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program who were born during the period 1968 through 2005 were classified as having isolated, syndromic, multiple CHD (ie, having an unrecognized pattern of multiple congenital anomalies or a recognized pattern of multiple congenital anomalies of unknown etiology), or laterality defects. Frequencies of associated noncardiac anomalies were obtained. Results We identified 7984 live-born and stillborn infants and fetuses with CHDs. Among them, 5695 (71.3%) had isolated, 1080 (13.5%) had multiple, 1048 (13.1%) had syndromic, and 161 (2.0%) had laterality defects. The percentage of multiple congenital anomalies was highest for case with atrial septal defects (18.5%), cardiac looping defects (17.2%), and conotruncal defects (16.0%), and cases with atrioventricular septal defects represented the highest percentages of those with syndromic CHDs (66.7%). Conclusions Including those with syndromes and laterality defects, 28.7% of case infants with CHDs had associated major noncardiac malformations. Thus, infants with CHDs warrant careful examination for the presence of noncardiac anomalies.
The Stream of Consciousness: XVII. James in Recent Context (1991–1996)

By examining work published in this Journal, I bring present-day issues to bear on my ongoing exploration of William James's stream of consciousness. How do knowledgeable psychological scientists demonstrate or acknowledge the relevance to their own work of their illustrious predecessor's introspectively grounded theses and arguments? In installments number XV, XVI, and XVII of the present series, I consider in units of five the initial fifteen volumes of Imagination, Cognition and Personality—the final five of these volumes in the present article. I inquire here into what specifically it was that each of five particular teams of psychologists who published in this Journal from 1991 to 1996 explicitly drew from James; and I address the corresponding topic from James's perspective insofar as space allows. Thus, the topics of the present article turn out to be these: 1) two kinds of self-awareness, 2) consciousness as impulsive in its very nature, 3) how the self is comprised, 4) the scope of psychology, an...
Structure and hydrolysis of the U(IV), U(V), and U(VI) aqua ions from ab initio molecular simulations.

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations at 300 K, based on density functional theory, are performed to study the hydration shell geometries, solvent dipole, and first hydrolysis reaction of the ur...
Accurate computation of Stokes flow driven by an open immersed interface

We present numerical methods for computing two-dimensional Stokes flow driven by forces singularly supported along an open, immersed interface. Two second-order accurate methods are developed: one for accurately evaluating boundary integral solutions at a point, and another for computing Stokes solution values on a rectangular mesh. We first describe a method for computing singular or nearly singular integrals, such as a double layer potential due to sources on a curve in the plane, evaluated at a point on or near the curve. To improve accuracy of the numerical quadrature, we add corrections for the errors arising from discretization, which are found by asymptotic analysis. When used to solve the Stokes equations with sources on an open, immersed interface, the method generates second-order approximations, for both the pressure and the velocity, and preserves the jumps in the solutions and their derivatives across the boundary. We then combine the method with a mesh-based solver to yield a hybrid method for computing Stokes solutions at N^2 grid points on a rectangular grid. Numerical results are presented which exhibit second-order accuracy. To demonstrate the applicability of the method, we use the method to simulate fluid dynamics induced by the beating motion of a cilium. The method preserves the sharp jumps in the Stokes solution and their derivatives across the immersed boundary. Model results illustrate the distinct hydrodynamic effects generated by the effective stroke and by the recovery stroke of the ciliary beat cycle.
Care in the emergency department: how crowded is overcrowded?

Objectives To examine how emergency department (ED) overcrowding has been defined in the medical literature. Methods Using the National Library of Medicine's PubMed and MEDLINE databases (1966 to 2002), a comprehensive review of the English-language medical literature was conducted to identify explicit criteria for defining ED overcrowding. Inclusion criteria were original articles, editorials, and reviews; news articles and letters to the editor were excluded. Using a standardized extraction form, publications were described as primary if the title or an objective statement in the introductory or methods paragraph referred to crowding or overcrowding; all other citations were categorized as secondary. Each report was then evaluated to determine whether crowding or overcrowding was defined explicitly or implicitly. Explicit definitions included phrases such as "Crowding was defined as ..." or "Overcrowding occurred when ..."; other definitions were characterized as implicit. Results A total of 231 candidate articles were identified; 91 met inclusion criteria, and 53 (58%) were primary articles about ED crowding or overcrowding. Among these primary articles, 23 (43%) had explicit definitions of crowding or overcrowding. The definitions varied widely in content and focus, including ED, hospital, or external (nonhospital) factors. Conclusions Although ED overcrowding has been a topic of frequent investigation, current definitions of the problem are often implicit or focus on factors outside of the ED itself. A more consistent approach to defining ED overcrowding would help to clarify the distinctions between causes, characteristics, and outcomes of overcrowding.
Liquid-phase epitaxy grown PbSnTe distributed feedback laser diodes with broad continuous single-mode tuning range

Distributed feedback (DFB) pulsed laser operation has been demonstrated in stripe geometry Pb 1-x Sn x Te double-heterostructures grown by liquid-phase epitaxy. The grating structure of 0.79 μm periodicity operates in first order near 780cm-1(12.8 μm) and was fabricated prior to the liquid-phase epitaxial growth using holographic exposure techniques. These DFB lasers had moderate thresholds, 3.6 kA/cm2, and the output power versus current curves exhibited a sharp turn-on free of kinks. Clean, single-mode emission spectra, continuously tunable over a range in excess of 20 cm-1, centered about 780 cm-1(12.8 μm), and at an average rate of 1.2 cm-1. K-1from 9 to 26 K, were observed. While weaker modes could at times be seen in the spectrum, substantially single-mode operation was obtained over the entire operating range and to over 10 times threshold. These observations have been shown to be in good agreement with published lead-salt parameter values and DFB theory, and significantly increase the attractiveness of the DFB structure for tunable lead-salt laser diodes.
Role of processing parameters on morphology, resistance and composition of laser fired contacts

Laser processing is a single step, attractive alternative to current multi-step formation of ohmic contacts between an aluminum metallization layer and a silicon substrate in solar cell devices. However, small changes in laser parameters such as pulse duration, power density and laser wavelength can result in significant differences in the contact geometry and electrical properties. Here, the effects of power density and pulse duration on the morphology, resistance and surface concentration of laser fired contacts (LFCs) are examined experimentally. The minimum fluence threshold for forming a contact with measureable resistance through the 100nm SiO 2 layer is determined to be 8 J/cm 2 . In addition, when forming the contact, an outer rim region accumulates on the surface that is comprised of aluminum and silicon. As a result, the entire contact is actually governed by the size of an inner crater region plus this outer rim material, which is in contrast to results reported in the literature for nanosecond pulse durations. These results are in good agreement with independent results reported in the literature for LFCs processed on wafers with substantially different base resistivity and using significantly different processing parameters.
Sex Differences in Atrial Fibrillation and Its Complications

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in the general population, and several studies predict a significant increase in the incidence of AF during the next decades. This review examines gender differences in the AF epidemiology, risk factors associated with AF, and gender differences in the presentation, management, and outcome of AF. In every age group, AF is less frequent in women than in men. However, the absolute number of AF cases is similar in men and women due to women’s longer lifespan. Women are more symptomatic when AF occurs, and episodes are associated with higher heart rates. Women with AF are more likely to develop stroke than men. Anticoagulants are less frequently used in women although women seem to receive a similar benefit. Studies suggest that women are referred to interventional therapies later than men and often with a more complex presentation.
Relative efficiency calibration of a Si(Li) electron spectrometer

Abstract A method for determination of the relative efficiency of Si(Li) electron spectrometers with the sources 180m Hf, 207 Bi, and 210 At is described. New measurements of some relative γ-ray (photon) intensities in 180m Hf and 207 Bi are given. Electron line intensities for all three sources, calculated from the decay schemes, γ-ray intensities, and theoretical internal conversion coefficients, are tabulated.
The determination of cell volume

THE measurement of the volume of individual cells is of importance in a variety of investigations. Some studies have been concerned with the correlation of nerve cell volume with anatomical localization (1, 2, 3, 4, 9). Others have required the measurement of volume for the estimation of chemical constituents from photometric (histochemical) data (8) and the correlation of cell growth with histochemical changes (7). Neuronal volume has been correlated with the rate of impulse conduction (11) and with susceptibility to poliomyelitis virus (6).
Sequence determinants of the intrinsic bend in the cyclic AMP response element.

The cyclic AMP response element (CRE site, ATGACGTCAT) is the DNA target for transcription factors whose activities are regulated by cyclic AMP (1). Recently, we discovered that the CRE site is bent by 10-13° toward the major groove (2). Little or no bend is detected in the related AP-1 site (ATGACTCAT), which differs from the CRE site by loss of a single, central, C‚G base pair (2, 3). Here we describe experiments designed to identify which base pairs within the CRE site induce the bent structure in an attempt to understand the origins of the dramatically different conformations of the CRE and AP-1 sites. Our data indicate that the intrinsic CRE bend results from distortion within the TGA sequence found in each CRE half site (ATGAC). These two TGA sequences are located in phase with one another in the CRE sequence but are not (completely) in phase in the AP-1 sequence. This difference in phasing leads to the overall difference in bend as detected by gel ( 2) and cyclization methods (S. C. Hockings, J. D. Kahn, and D. M. Crothers, unpublished results; M. A. Fabian and A. Schepartz, unpublished results). Our results confirm earlier predictions of altered structure within TG steps, provide insight into the structural reorganizations induced in DNA by bZIP proteins, and lead to a revision of the relationship between the structures of the free and bZIP-bound forms of the CRE and AP-1 sites.
An epidemic of presumed Acanthamoeba keratitis that followed regional flooding. Results of a case-control investigation.

Objectives To investigate an outbreak of presumedAcanthamoebakeratitis (AK), to identify risk factors associated with its development, and to characterize the changing epidemiology of AK. Methods We performed a pairwise-matched case-control study involving 31 patients who were diagnosed as having AK between July 1993 and December 1994. Risk factors were identified using conditional logistic regression analysis. To investigate the impact of regional flooding, we stratified counties within Iowa by whether their water facilities were affected and then calculated population-based estimates of the incidence of AK. Results During the study, 43 presumed incident cases of AK were diagnosed; 31 were included in the case-control study. Cases were diagnosed based on the clinical presentation of keratitis, positive tandem scanning confocal microscopy examination results, and confirmatory cytopathologic findings. There were no positive culture specimens. On average, cases had symptoms for 8 weeks before diagnosis, most notably photophobia (94%), red eyes (94%), and pain (80%). Contact lens use (odds ratio [OR]=44.16;P=.02) and fishing (OR=22.62;P=.04) were independent predictors of the development of AK. The presence of a humidifier in the home (OR=0.08;P=.03) and having household water that originated from a private well instead of the municipal water supply (OR=0.12;P=.08) were protective. Twenty-nine of 30 cases resided in counties in which the water supplies were affected by flooding as determined by the Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. The incidence of AK in these counties was more than 10 times higher than that in the unaffected counties (relative risk=10.83, 95% confidence interval, 1.48-79.49;P Conclusions We describe an epidemic of keratitis that, based on clinicopathologic and epidemiological evidence, is consistent with AK. As in previous outbreaks of culture-proven AK, contact lens use was the major risk factor. Both the results of the case-control study and the population-based incidence estimates suggest that the recent outbreak may be caused, in part, by the effects of regional flooding. However, because the outbreak also coincided with a change in diagnostic techniques, we cannot eliminate recognition bias as the reason for the apparently changing epidemiology.
Instead of Transcendence: Thinking Outside the Gender Dichotomy in the Work of Straus and Young

Women's liberation has led to differences in how women are allowed to move, yet many values around femininity and feminine movement remain the same. This article takes up the question of value, especially what I perceive as a problematic valuing of masculine movement over feminine movement in Iris Young's (1980/2005) “Throwing Like a Girl.” This leads into a discussion of Simone de Beauvoir's transcendence-immanence dichotomy that Young drew heavily on and which I will use to emphasize the idea that modern men are as limited by the current social norms and power structures as women.
Rapid intracoronary radiopalmitate injection and myocardial fatty acid oxidation.

Abstract A study of 14 CO 2 production by the left ventricle was carried out following rapid injection on 14 C palmitate into the left coronary artery of dogs. The results show that 14 CO 2 can be measured with precision on small blood samples with the use of five microcuries of isotope. Kinetic data obtained in this study indicate that there are rapid and slow phases of fatty acid oxidation and that the pool which is rapidly oxidized is very small but turns over rapidly. Examination of the rate constants for the rapid phase 14 CO 2 production indicates that this rate constant is inversely related to the total amount of 14 C palmitate oxidized.
Circularly polarized luminescence studies of the adducts formed between Tris(6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedionato)europium(III) and chiral amino alcohols

Abstract The adduct formation between the title compound and five chiral amino alcohols was studied using circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectroscopy. In addition, association constants for the 1:1 adducts were calculated from emission titrations. The adducts were all found to contain the amino alcohol bound to the metal ion in a bidentate manner, resulting in eight-fold coordination of the Eu(III) ion. The signs of the CPL in the various emission bands could be correlated with the absolute configuration of the chiral substrate, and the CPL is postulated to arise from a combination of chiral vicinal and conformational effects. The CPL spectra contained evidence indicating that effective axial symmetry is not present in the adducts.
Synchronizing human movement with an external clock source

Temporal information processing was studied in humans attempting to tap a key in synchrony with a metronome whose base period was subjected to subliminal random changes. Statistical measures of the sequential timing of metronome and key-tap events were compared with similar time series generated by computer-simulated models of synchronization strategies. From this analysis, synchronization appears to be a sensory-dependent second-order recursive process indexed and stabilized by a combination of internal and external resetting events, with at least two independent sources of timing error.
Experimental verification of a dynamic finger model using real-time data acquisition

The purpose of this experiment is to create a mathematical model for the function of the annular pulleys of the human finger in flexion. We have assumed that the flexion moment of the middle and proximal phalanges occurs at the proximal and distal ends of the A-2 and A-4 pulleys. The amount of force generated is dependent on the angle of flexion at the adjacent joint, the tension in the tendon and the stiffness constant of the pulley.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Mechanism Research of Short-Term Large-Disturbance Voltage Stability

The right understanding of mechanism of short-term large-disturbance voltage stability is very important for further research of voltage stability. In this paper, the actuality of voltage instability research are summarized, the concepts of voltage stability and voltage collapse are expounded. The influence of load on short-term large-disturbance voltage stability is analyzed on a simple power system. The results show that the dynamic characters of load must be considered in analysis of short-term large-disturbance voltage stability. Through research of voltage stability and voltage collapse, a new mechanism of short-term large-disturbance voltage instability is presented from the engineering point of view. In the end, some solution measures preventing short-term large-disturbance voltage instability are given.
Millimeter-wave nondestructive evaluation of glass fiber/epoxy composites subjected to impact fatigue

Millimeter wave nondestructive evaluation of glass fiber/epoxy composites subjected to impact fatigueDonald Radford, Stoyan Ganchev*, Nasser Qaddoumi*, Guy Beauregard and Reza Zoughi*Composite Materials, Manufacture, and Structures LaboratoryColorado State University, Mechanical Engineering DepartmentFort Collins, CO 80523*Appljed Microwave Nondestructive Testing LaboratoryColorado State University, Electrical Engineering DepartmentFort Collins, CO 80523ABSTRACTThe useflul life of a glass fiber/epoxy composite subjected to impact fatigue loading is an important issue in the futuredesign of numerous industrial components. Lifetime predictions have been a problem particularly due to the difficultiesencountered in monitoring damage accumulation in composites. It is hypothesized that there is a build up of micro damage,such as matrix micro-cracks and micro-delaminations, even though there is no apparent change in material compliance. Acritical level is finally reached at which time the properties of the composite begin to fall and compliance change is evident.In this study the apparent compliance change and the type of damage accumulation is investigated. To measure thecompliance change, a test unit was developed that uses a dynamic load measuring system. The load cell measures the loadthroughout each impact pulse and the compliance and energy absorbed by the specimen is then related to the recordedcurve. Initially no change in the impact pulse was apparent; however, after a finite number of cycles the peak load and areaunder each impact pulse drop, indicating an increase in compliance. Unfortunately, the impact load does not provideinformation on the form and degree of damage. Thus, millimeter wave nondestructive investigation is used, in conjunctionwith impact fatigue tests, to examine microstructural aspects of damage initiation and growth.The millimeter wave scanning technique results in detectable damage growth throughout the impact fatigue test.Damage size and growth patterns specific to composites are obvious, and after significant damage can be related to theobservable macro damage. Continued development of these investigative techniques promises to enhance the ability ofdetecting defects and damage growth in fiber reinforced composite materials as well as improving the understanding ofimpact fatigue initiation in these complex materials.Keywords: composite materials, millimeter wave NDI, impact fatigue, damage growth, debonds, damage initiation1. INTRODUCTIONAs fiber reinforced composite materials mature as a technology and become more commonplace in our society they are
Golgi compartmentation and identity

Recent work supports the idea that cisternae of the Golgi apparatus can be assigned to three classes, which correspond to discrete stages of cisternal maturation. Each stage has a unique pattern of membrane traffic. At the first stage, cisternae form in association with the ER at multifunctional membrane assembly stations. At the second stage, cisternae synthesize carbohydrates while exchanging material via COPI vesicles. At the third stage, cisternae of the trans-Golgi network segregate into domains and produce transport carriers with the aid of specific lipids and the actin cytoskeleton. These processes are coordinated by cascades of Rab and Arf/Arl GTPases.
GAS-LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY OF PROPANOL, PROPYLAMINE, AND DIPROPYLAMINE

Abstract A gas-liquid chromatographic system was developed for separation and measurement of residue quantities of propanethiol, propylamine, dipropylamine, and propanol. The 9% Amine 220 on Chromosorb W column with flame ionization detection was utilized for levels of 200 nanograms.
Gal4 Mutations That Separate the Transcriptional Activation and Gal80-Interactive Functions of the Yeast Gal4 Protein

The carboxy-terminal 28 amino acids of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcriptional activator protein GAL4 execute two functions--transcriptional activation and interaction with the negative regulatory protein, GAL80. Here we demonstrate that these two functions are separable by single amino acid changes within this region. We determined the sequences of four GAL4C-mutations, and characterized the abilities of the encoded GAL4C proteins to activate transcription of the galactose/melibiose regulon in the presence of GAL80 and superrepressible GAL80S alleles. One of the GAL4C mutations can be compensated by a specific GAL80S mutation, resulting in a wild-type phenotype. These results support the idea that while the GAL4 activation function tolerates at least minor alterations in the GAL4 carboxyl terminus, the GAL80-interactive function is highly sequence-specific and sensitive even to single amino acid alterations. They also argue that the GAL80S mutations affect the affinity of GAL80 for GAL4, and not the ability of GAL80 to bind inducer.
Transition to Fatherhood An Exploratory Study

Abstract An exploratory study of the transition to fatherhood for 50 first-time fathers is described. Subjects completed questionnaires within three weeks of their infant's birth and again three to five weeks postpartum on the topics of infant feeding, lifestyle changes, depression, fathering activities with their own father and those planned with their own child, marital adjustment, and infant feeding. Subjects showed no evidence of depression, were maritally well adjusted, were very involved in infant care, had experienced many lifestyle changes, and planned to continue to be very involved with their child.
Monitoring Physical Activity: Uses and Measurement Issues With Automated Counters

Background: Promotion of physical activity is a public health priority, and environmental factors influence physical activity behavior. Valid and reliable automated measurement tools of physical activity for assessment and evaluation within public settings are needed. Methods: Searches of the research literature and governmental reports from physical activity, transportation, and recreation fields were conducted to identify methods of automated counting and validation studies. The article provides a summary of (a) current methods and uses of automated counters, (b) information about validity and reliability where available, (c) strengths and limitations of each method, and (d) measurement issues. Results: Existing automated counting technology has strengths and limitations. Infrared sensors have been the most commonly used type of monitor and can mark date and time of passage, but are vulnerable to errors due to environmental conditions; cannot detect more than one person passing at a time; cannot identif...
Optimizations for vertical handoff decision algorithms

Future wireless networks must be able to coordinate services within a diverse network environment. One of the most challenging problems for coordination is vertical handoff, which is the decision for a mobile node to handoff between different types of networks. While traditional handoff is based on received signal strength comparisons, vertical handoff must evaluate additional factors, such as, monetary cost, offered services, network conditions, and user preferences. In this paper, several optimizations are proposed for the execution of vertical handoff decision algorithms, with the goal of maximizing the quality of service experienced by each user. First, the concept of policy-based handoffs is discussed. Then, a cost function is defined to judge target networks based on a variety of user- and network-valued metrics. Finally, a performance analysis demonstrates that significant gains in quality of service and a more efficient use of resources can he achieved from the proposed optimizations.
The significance of p53 isoform expression in serous ovarian cancer

Evaluation of: Hofstetter G, Berger A, Schuster E et al. Δ133p53 is an independent prognostic marker in p53 mutant advanced serous ovarian cancer. Br. J. Cancer 105(10), 1593–1599 (2011). Epithelial ovarian cancer still carries a high mortality rate and remains the leading cause of gynecologic cancer death in the USA, despite decades of research. Hence, there is considerable interest in developing biomarkers that could be used to stratify patients for subsequent treatment. Mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene occurs very frequently (∼96%) in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. However, loss of p53 has not proven to be a reliable prognostic marker. Recent evidence indicates that the truncated p53 protein isoforms can regulate activated p53 and thus may play a role in tumorigenesis. In the article by Hofstetter et al., the authors examined the relationship between the expression of two p53 isoforms (Δ133p53 and Δ40p53) and prognosis in patients with serous ovarian cancer. Their findings indicate that Δ13...
NKT Cells in Sepsis

Sepsis is currently a leading cause of death in hospital intensive care units. Previous studies suggest that the pathophysiology of sepsis involves the hyperactivation of complex proinflammatory cascades that include the activation of various immune cells and the exuberant secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by these cells. Natural killer T-cells (NKTs) are a sublineage of T cells that share characteristics of conventional T cells and NK cells and bridge innate and adaptive immunity. More recently, NKT cells have been implicated in microbial immunity, including the onset of sepsis. Moreover, apolipoprotein E (apoE), a component of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, has been shown to be protective in endotoxemia and gram-negative infections in addition to its well-known role in lipid metabolism. Here, we will review the role of NKT cells in sepsis and septic shock, the immunoregulatory role of apoE in the host immune response to infection, and propose a mechanism for this immunoregulation.
Year of Wonders: The Wonder of Leadership

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks paints a disturbing, realistic picture of life in a small village in England in the year 1666 during the outbreak of bubonic plague. The tale of the life of the villagers and how they cope with the plague provides a backdrop for the emergence of unlikely leaders, testing of the traditional leaders within the society and revealing the weaknesses that have the potential to emerge in any leader.This is an examination of the characters within the novel and how their leadership characteristics and skills emerge and are tested. A variety of leadership theories and concepts can be seen in the leaders within the novel, including trait and process leadership; assigned and emergent leadership; the concept of power in society; path-goal theory; and transformational leadership. In this article, several characters in the novel are identified as leaders. Each of these identified characters is examined in terms of leadership theory and concepts.
Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Is an Early Determinant in the Differentiation of Pathogenic Th17 Cells

CD4+ T cells are critical for host defense but are also major drivers of immune-mediated diseases. The classical view of Th1 and Th2 subtypes of CD4+ T cells was recently revised by the identification of the Th17 lineage of CD4+ T cells that produce IL-17, which have been found to be critical in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and other diseases. Mechanisms controlling the differentiation of Th17 cells have been well described, but few feasible targets for therapeutically reducing Th17 cells are known. The generation of Th17 cells requires IL-6 and activation of STAT3. During polarization of CD4+ T cells to Th17 cells, we found that inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) blocked IL-6 production, STAT3 activation, and polarization to Th17 cells. Polarization of CD4+ T cells to Th17 cells increased by 10-fold the expression of GSK3β protein levels in Th17 cells, whereas GSK3β was unaltered in regulatory T cells. Diminishing GSK3 activity either pharmacologically or molecularly blocked Th17 cell production, and increasing GSK3 activity promoted polarization to Th17 cells. In vivo inhibition of GSK3 in mice depleted constitutive Th17 cells in intestinal mucosa, blocked Th17 cell generation in the lung after Francisella tularensis infection, and inhibited the increase in spinal cord Th17 cells and disease symptoms in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mouse model of multiple sclerosis. These findings identify GSK3 as a critical mediator of Th17 cell production and indicate that GSK3 inhibitors provide a potential therapeutic intervention to control Th17-mediated diseases.
One size does not fit all - Impact of the one liter tidal volume breathing protocol on indices from nitrogen multiple-breath washout in children

Background Nitrogen multiple-breath washout (N2MBW) is a useful tidal breathing lung function test to assess ventilation inhomogeneity (VI), e.g. in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. One liter tidal volume (VT) breathing protocols are regarded to improve comparability of results between subjects breathing at different VT and are widely used in adults. The impact of protocols using fixed VT on results in children is unknown. We assessed whether breathing at fixed VT impacts N2MBW indices in school-aged children. Methods Ten children with CF and 16 healthy children performed six N2MBW tests using a validated setup (Exhalyzer D, Eco Medics, Switzerland). Children performed three baseline N2MBW at free tidal breathing and three N2MBW at increased VT with a target of one liter using an incentive. Outcomes were size and variability of lung clearance index (LCI), functional residual capacity (FRC), Scond and Sacin. Results All 26 children achieved six N2MBW. Mean (SD) VT at free tidal breathing was 0.5 (0.1) L, at fixed VT 1.2 (0.2) L. Comparing free tidal breathing with the one liter VT N2MBW, LCI increased on average (95% CI) 2.3 (0.6-3.9) in CF children and 1.4 (0.5-2.3) in healthy children. LCI increased by more than one LCI unit in 9 out of 10 CF children and in 14 out of 16 healthy children. FRC decreased, Scond and Sacin increased significantly. Variability within tests and between subjects increased for all MBW outcomes. Conclusion Fixed tidal breathing protocols impact N2MBW indices as shown for the one liter VT protocol in school-aged children. Underlying physiological mechanisms and applicability in adult patients require further study.
Nonrelativistic planar double-stream equilibria in magnetically insulated diodes

The study of magnetically insulated electron flow is a topic of relevance to the startup state of magnetrons, cross-field amplifiers, and magnetically insulated line oscillators, as well as to the operation of magnetically insulated transmission lines and ion diodes. In a recent paper, Christenson and Lau explored double-stream equilibria in magnetically insulated diodes analytically for the case of vanishing injection electron velocities at the cathode and numerically for the case of nonzero injection velocities. Here, the analytical results are generalized to the case of nonzero injection velocities to allow the calculation of the equilibrium current density and electron sheath thickness as functions of the voltage, magnetic field, and gap width. An interesting outcome of the analysis is that it is shown that space-charge limited electron emission from the cathode is no longer possible for equilibria in which the electrons are monoenergetic with vanishing canonical momenta. In addition, for the special case of zero injection energies, but not necessarily zero electric field at the cathode, closed-form expressions are derived for the orbital quantities of the electrons-positions and velocities-as a function of time measured from the moment of emission from the cathode. Unfortunately, a spatial variation is not apparently available in closed form; however, one can express these quantities alternatively in terms of a generalized potential with an implicit spatial variation.
Phosphorus(III) Chloride

[7719-12-2] Cl3P (MW 137.32) InChI = 1S/Cl3P/c1-4(2)3 InChIKey = FAIAAWCVCHQXDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reactive chlorinating agent;1, 2 strong oxo, aza, thio, and dienophilicity; reactive with organometallics and metal salts; phosphorus source for metal ion ligand synthesis28) Alternate Name: phosphorus trichloride. Physical Data: mp −112 °C; bp 76 °C; d 1.586 g cm−3. Solubility: sol benzene, CHCl3, CH2Cl2 ether, CS2; dec in water or alcohols. Form Supplied in: water-white liquid; widely available. Purification: generally used as received without further purification. To purify, heat under reflux to expel dissolved hydrogen chloride, then distill at atmospheric pressure under N2. Further purification is possible by vacuum fractionation several times through a −45 °C trap into a −78 °C receiver. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: the liquid is highly toxic by ingestion and slightly toxic by single dermal applications. Inhalation can cause delayed, massive, acute pulmonary edema and death. Contact with water will be violent and result in sufficient gas evolution to rupture closed or inadequately vented containers. Acids produced by contact with water can evolve hydrogen on contact with metals. This reagent must be used in a fume hood.
Responses of single auditory cortical neurons to tone sequences.

Abstract The responses of single neurons in the primary and secondary auditory cortex of cat were recorded during the presentation of sequences consisting of five tones of different frequencies. Discharges to tones within these sequences usually (84%) exhibited a dependence on the ‘direction’ of the sequence (ascending, descending, or mixed frequencies). For sequences consisting of 5 tones of identical frequency (monotone) the response often depended on serial position, including cases in which the neuron only responded to later tones in the sequence. Comparison of responses to heterogeneous and monotone sequences showed that response dependence on serial position was a factor in response dependence on sequence direction. Auditory cortical neurons can exhibit stronger responses to a tone presented in a sequence than to the same tone presented alone. Hence, the responses to tones within sequences may not be highly predictable from the responses to isolated tones.
New FDA Partnerships: Creating a Space for Innovative Device Development

On December 3, 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)3 announced the establishment of the new Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC). This nonprofit public–private partnership, the first for medical devices, is designed to advance regulatory science and combine the resources of their members to speed patient access to new medical device technologies (1). The founding members of the …
The conjunction of feature and depth information

By inducing feature-contingent depth aftereffects, we show that the human visual system combines feature information with depth information. These contingent aftereffects were revealed through the use of a novel selective adaptation paradigm whose stimuli required the combination of feature and depth information in order to segment two interleaved, transparent surfaces. We argue that this combined processing exemplifies the remarkable resourcefulness of a visual system that has adapted to exploit conjunctions of cues that can aid in the segmentation of visual surfaces.
Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis: a rapid method for differentiating BoLA-DRB3 alleles

The products of the BoLA-DRB3 locus are important molecules in the bovine immune response. Several techniques have been used to study and define this locus but they are generally time consuming and limited in their ability to detect novel alleles. In this study we used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and direct sequencing, for BoLA-DRB3-typing. First, modified locus-specific primers were used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify a 240 bp fragment of exon 2 of BoLA-DRB3 from the genomic DNA of 22 cattle and one pair of twin calves. The reverse primer included a GC-rich clamp to improve the physical separation of the BoLA-DRB3 alleles by DGGE. The denaturing gradient needed to produce separation of alleles was determined using perpendicular DGGE, and this gradient was then applied to parallel denaturing gels. The optimal time for producing allele separation was determined using a time-series analysis. The bands representing individual BoLA-DRB3 alleles were excised from the gels, reamplified, and the nucleotide sequence determined using fluorescent-based automated cycle sequencing. The nucleotide sequences of the separated bands were then compared to published BoLA-DRB3 alleles. A gradient of 10-15% acrylamide combined with a 15-50% ureaformamide gradient was successfully used to separate BoLA-DRB3 alleles in all individuals examined. Nucleotide sequencing showed that the 24 animals possessed 13 BoLA-DRB3 alleles, all of which have been previously described. The BoLA-DRB3 genotypes included 20 heterozygotes and two homozygotes. Three BoLA-DRB3 alleles were seen in each of the twin calves, possibly due to leukochimerism. The technique is reliable and rapid, and avoids cloning alleles prior to nucleotide sequencing and therefore offers distinct advantages over previous techniques for BoLA-DRB3-typing.
Synchronous CMC and Pragmatic Development: Effects of Oral and Written Chat

This study systematically examines the strength of the connection between synchronous CMC and pragmatic instruction by measuring the effects of three types of synchronous group discussion (written chat [WC], oral chat [OC], and traditional face-to-face [FF] discussion) on the acquisition of the speech act (refusals of an invitation) in the target language. Zhao (2003) notes that CMC research is limited in terms of investigating the effects these types of discussions have on other features of language development. Even so, the existing research indicates a positive connection between the use of written chat and oral production (e.g., Healy-Beauvois, 1997; Payne & Whitney, 2002). However, no other investigations specifically address the effects of CMC (written or oral) on pragmatic acquisition. In this study, two classes of third-semester Spanish students (N = 27) participated in small group discussions as well as pre and post role-play tasks that elicited the invitation refusal. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of these role plays illustrate that synchronous discussion type does have an effect on pragmatic development. The WC groups outperformed the others in terms of both complexity and variety of strategies used. A discussion of the results and implications for future research and pedagogy is included.
Migration and Fate of Transplanted Astrocytes

During morphogenesis in the CNS extensive migration of cells occurs from the germinative zones toward the areas being formed (Boulder Committee, 1970). No one knows when it stops or even if it does stop. Migration becomes more and more limited during postnatal development in the brain. Telencephalic (Schmechel and Rakic, 1979; Benjelloun et al.,1984) and spinal cord (Hirano and Goldman, 1988) astrocytes form from radial glia. Although most astrocytes arise from radial glia some may well be generated directly from ventricular or sub-ventricular zones during late gliogenesis (Goldman and Vaysse, 1991). The pathways of migration used by the glial cells during normal morphogenesis have not been identified. However, it has been shown that migration along blood vessels would account for the distribution of the astrocytes in the retina (Ling and Stone, 1988). This is compatible with the observation that astrocytes are absent from avascular retinas (Stone and Dreher, 1987). The time and place at which divergent phenotypes are determined is unknown. Local factors might play major roles in establishing such characteristics as cell shape and antigenic specificity. Thus, the population of descendents of a single astrocyte progenitor in the ventricular zone may well be heterogeneous, depending upon the site of residence.
The possibility of a human-borne with bioagent (HBBA) terrorist at foreign FOB ECPs: the perceptions of U.S. military or security personnel, a preliminary report.

Background The global war on terrorism has prompted an increase in the deployment of security personnel from multi-national forces on foreign lands, especially in places where known terrorist groups are based. The aim of this study was to obtain U.S. military and security personnel’s perceptions of the possibility of encountering a human-borne with bioagent (HBBA) terrorist at an entry control point (ECP).
Chronic Pain, Chronic Opioid Addiction: a Complex Nexus

Over the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the prescribing of opioids, with associated increases in opioid addiction and overdose deaths. This article reviews the evidence for the effectiveness and risk of developing an opioid use disorder (OUD) in those patients treated with chronic opioid therapy (COT) for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP). Rates of development of OUD range from 0–50 %, and aberrant drug related behaviors (ADRBs) are reported to be 20 %. Health care providers must properly assess, screen, and carefully monitor patients on COT utilizing evidence-based tools.
Correlation of Heme Binding Affinity and Enzyme Kinetics of Dehaloperoxidase

Chemical and thermal denaturation of dehaloperoxidase-hemoglobin (DHP) was investigated to test the relative stability of isoforms DHP A and DHP B and the H55V mutant of DHP A with respect to heme loss. In thermal denaturation experiments, heme loss was observed at temperatures of 54, 46, and 61 °C in DHP A, DHP B, and H55V, respectively. Guanidinium hydrochloride (GdnHCl)- and urea-induced denaturation was observed at respective concentrations of 1.15 ± 0.01 M DHP A and 1.09 ± 0.02 M DHP B, and 5.19 ± 0.05 M DHP A and 4.12 ± 0.14 M DHP B, respectively. The binding affinity of heme appears to be significantly smaller in both isoforms of DHP than in myoglobins. This observation was corroborated by heme transfer experiments, in which heme was observed to transfer for DHP A and B to horse skeletal muscle myoglobin (HSMb). GdnHCl-induced denaturation suggests a threshold of 1 mM for stabilization by binding of the inhibitor 4-bromophenol (4-BP). Concentrations of 4-BP greater than 1 mM caused destabilization....
A Relict Species of the Burrowing Rodent, Mylagaulus, from the Pliocene of Florida

Mylagaulus kinseyi n. sp., from Middle Pliocene sites in central Florida is distinguished by its relatively simple premolars, low crown height and small size. It represents a late survival of the Mylagaulus laevis group which must have become established in Florida during Miocene time. The zoogeography and adaptations of mylagaulids are discussed.
Relation on the abdominal obesity and Metabolic syndrome and the Comparative analysis between pre-and post-intervention in middle-aged and older people in a community

Objective To analyze the relation between abdominal obesity and the prevalence rate of MS and its related-abnormalities in middle aged and older people in a community of Guiyang City.To analyze the obesity-related indicators before and after that and evaluate the intervention effects by carrying on the comprehensive interventions for the crowd.Methods 1524 community inhabitants in 2001,35 years old and above,were chosen by three stages stationary sample and stratified according to waistline.We made a analysis of the prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome and its related indicators in different waistline people.Then rechecked 1141 people in 2006 after five year intervention.Results The prevalence rate of MS、abdominal obesity、hypertension、abnormal glucose and hypertriglyceridemia in middle-aged and older people have been decreased from 12.0% to 9.6%、42.6% to 30.6%、23.1% to 19.1%、29.0% to 21.3% and 34.3% to 27.4% respectively.There is a significant difference(P0.05or 0.01) between pre-and post-intervention.The prevalence rate of MS rises along with WL increasing if WL is above 90㎝.Obesity related index such as waistline and waist-hip ratio were significantly decreased after intervention(P0.01).Conclusion The prevalence rate of MS rises along with WL increasing.The prevalence rate of MS and abdominal obesity are high in middle-aged and older people in a community of Guiyang City and they could be significantly decreased by comprehensive interventions.