cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of diet and Echinostoma revolutum infection on energy allocation patterns in juvenile Lymnaea elodes snails.

Resource allocation strategies may be influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of both parasitism and diet quality on the growth, reproduction, and survival of the pond snail, Lymnaea elodes. In addition, we assessed parasite growth and reproduction. High-protein (high diet) or low-protein diets (low diet) were fed to juvenile L. elodes snails that were either exposed or sham-exposed to the castrating trematode, Echinostoma revolutum. Host growth was assessed weekly; reproduction and survival were recorded every 2–3 days. We estimated parasite development as the time to parasite release from the host (patency), and parasite reproduction as the number of larvae shed from infected snails at two time points. Diet and infection status had significant effects on snail growth. Infected snails produced few eggs and tended to grow to larger sizes than uninfected snails regardless of diet. In contrast, exposed-uninfected individuals displayed diet-dependent patterns of growth and reproduction. On the high-protein diet, uninfected and exposed-uninfected snails exhibited similar patterns of growth and reproduction, whereas in the low-diet treatment, exposed-uninfected snails exhibited reduced growth and delayed reproduction relative to uninfected individuals. Survival differed among treatments in the latter stages of the study with infected snails exhibiting reduced survival relative to snails from other treatments. Moreover, infected low-diet snails exhibited lower survival than infected high-diet snails. Parasite development and reproduction did not appear to be directly influenced by the quality of host diet. Results from this study suggest that energy allocation patterns are context-dependent in juvenile snails, influenced by parasite exposure and diet quality. Furthermore, parasite reproduction appears to depend more on host size than on the quality of host diet.
Design and Implementation of a Regional Association for the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System

The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) is being developed as one of the regional coastal ocean observing systems under the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System, which is a contribution to the Global Ocean Observing System. GCOOS will be a sustained ocean observing system that provides data, information, and products on marine and estuarine systems to a wide range of users. A GCOOS Regional Association (GCOOS-RA) has been established to develop the GCOOS. The activities of the GCOOS-RA to establish and evolve the GCOOS are described.
Mixed Convection from Vertical and Inclined Moving Sheets in a Parallel Freestream

Laminar mixed convection adjacent to vertical and inclined moving sheets in a parallel freestream is analyzed for both the uniform wall temperature and the uniform surface heat flux cases. The analysis covers the entire mixed convection regime, from pure forced convection to pure free convection. Numerical results are reported for different combinations of the velocities of the moving sheet us and the freestream u^ for Prandtl numbers of 0.7 and 7. Local Nusselt numbers as well as velocity and temperature distributions are presented for a wide range of the buoyancy* parameter. It is found that the local Nusselt number increases as the value of the buoyancy parameter increases. For the same dimensionless velocity difference \US— t£J, the local Nusselt number is larger for Us> U^ than it is for U^U^. Significant velocity overshoots occur within the boundary layer as the buoyancy parameter increases, with the low Prandtl number fluid exhibiting a more pronounced buoyancy effect than the high Prandtl number fluid. Simple correlations for evaluating local and average mixed convection Nusselt numbers are also presented and very good agreement is found between the computed results and the proposed simple correlations.
Coding Communication at the Relationship Level

A new coding scheme has been developed based on the progress made from the works of a group of family communication therapists known as system purists. This research began with Gregory Bateson, and developed through Sluczki and Beavin's attempt to operationalize Bateson's variables. Taking their progress one step further, an interaction coding scheme was developed which codes a) speaker, b) speech, and c) that speech as a response to the preceding stimulus, or mctaspeech. A set of rules has been created to reduce the resultant 89 possible categories down to nine relational codes, whose relational frequencies are derived from pairs of category codes or dyadic exchanges. The results of an exploratory study of thirty dyads discussing three topics varying in salience indicate the usefulness of this scheme. Data from this study show consistency of relational communication across the three topics and significant differences in patterns of communication by socio-economic class. Several patterns were also identified.
The cardioprotective effect of the low molecular weight isoform of fibroblast growth factor-2: The role of JNK signaling

BACKGROUND: Our laboratory showed that overexpression of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) protected the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury. FGF2 has different protein isoforms (low [LMW] and high [HMW] molecular weight isoforms) produced from alternative translation start sites. However, which FGF2 isoform(s) mediates this cardioprotection, and which signaling pathway (i.e., mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)) elicits FGF2 isoform-induced cardioprotection remains to be elucidated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Wildtype, Fgf2 KO (absence of all FGF2 isoforms) and FGF2 LMWKO (absence of LMW isoform) hearts were subjected to an ex vivo work-performing heart ischemic model of 60 minutes ischemia and 120 minutes reperfusion. There was a significant decrease in the recovery of post-ischemic contractile function as well as in creatine kinase (CK) release (p<0.05) in Fgf2 KO and FGF2 LMWKO mouse hearts compared to wildtype hearts. Following ischemia-reperfusion injury, MKK4/7, JNK, and c-Jun were significantly phosphorylated (i.e., activated), and the levels of TUNEL-positive nuclei and caspase 3 cleavage were significantly increased in vehicle-treated Fgf2 KO and FGF2 LMWKO compared to wildtype hearts (p<0.05). A novel JNK pathway inhibitor, {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"CEP11004","term_id":"758366642"}}CEP11004 (50nM), significantly restored the post-ischemic contractile function and reduced myocardial cell death, as measured by CK release and apoptotic markers, compared to DMSO-treated cohorts (p<0.05). Overall, our data indicate that the LMW isoform has an important role in restoring cardiac function after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. These results provide unequivocal evidence that inhibition of JNK signaling is involved in FGF2 LMW isoform-mediated cardioprotection and that the potential mechanism may be through inhibition of the apoptotic process.
Compensation for inhomogeneities in charged particle radiotherapy using computed tomography.

Abstract The use of computed tomography (CT) for planning radiation therapy is discussed with an emphasis on the requirements for charged particle beams. A technique has been developed for analyzing CT scans which takes into account multiple scattering of the particles, beam divergence and patient motion. This technique yields pairs of dose distributions which define regions of uncertainty and regions within high or low doses may be confidently expected.
Suppression of Stellate Cell Type I Collagen Gene Expression Involves AP-2 Transmodulation of Nuclear Factor-1-dependent Gene Transcription

Abstract The regulation of collagen gene expression was studied in culture-activated rat hepatic stellate cells, the fibrogenic effector cell involved in hepatic fibrogenesis. Treatment of cells with a 5-lipoxygenase-specific inhibitor caused a reduction in αI(I) collagen mRNA transcript abundance, which suggested that leukotriene production was involved in maintaining the activated cell's high level of collagen mRNA production. The underlying mechanism involved a decrease in collagen gene transcription. Suppression of gene transcription was localized to an nuclear factor-1 (NF-1) binding domain in the proximal promoter and an AP-2 binding domain adjacent to it. Gel retardation assays demonstrated that an increase in AP-2 binding adjacent to the NF-1 site was likely to be the transmodulator responsible for the suppression of the NF-1-dependent gene expression. The data suggest that post-translational alterations in AP-2 activity are responsible for this unappreciated mechanism of regulating the collagen gene.
Source-adaptation-based wireless video transport: a cross-layer approach

Real-time packet video transmission over wireless networks is expected to experience bursty packet losses that can cause substantial degradation to the transmitted video quality. In wireless networks, channel state information is hard to obtain in a reliable and timely manner due to the rapid change of wireless environments. However, the source motion information is always available and can be obtained easily and accurately from video sequences. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a novel cross-layer framework that exploits only the motion information inherent in video sequences and efficiently combines a packetization scheme, a cross-layer forward error correction (FEC)-based unequal error protection (UEP) scheme, an intracoding rate selection scheme as well as a novel intraframe interleaving scheme. Our objective and subjective results demonstrate that the proposed approach is very effective in dealing with the bursty packet losses occurring on wireless networks without incurring any additional implementation complexity or delay. Thus, the simplicity of our proposed system has important implications for the implementation of a practical real-time video transmission system.
Factors involved in the regulation of proteoglycan metabolism in articular cartilage

Discussion sur l'homeostasie des proteoglycanes articulaires. Role des facteurs du serum de veau fœtal, des facteurs de croissance insuline-like, du transforming growth factor B, de l'interleukine 1 et de l'acide hyaluronique. Complexite des interactions entre les differents mediateurs en jeu. Importance d'une meilleure comprehension de la modulation des reponses des chondrocytes
MTCP1 (MATURE T‐CELL PROLIFERATION‐1)

Although most mature, postthymic T-cell proliferations and leukemias contain chromosomal inversions or translocations at 14q32.1 (see TCL1 in LYMPHOID NEOPLASIA), a small number of tumors also demonstrate recurrent translocations at Xq28. These Xq28 translocations result from rearrangements with distinct T-cell receptor (TCR) gene loci at 14q11 and 7q35 and lead to aberrant expression of the MTCP1 (mature T cell proliferation-1) gene (1–7). MTCP1 was originally identified from rearrangements detected in a benign clonal T-cell proliferation in a patient with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) and from an adult with T prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL; 1). In AT patients, clonal premalignant T-cell proliferations with 14q32.1 or Xq28 rearrangements may persist for years before the emergence of leukemia, indicating that these rearrangements are early transforming events that require additional genetic alterations to progress to malignancy. The normal physiologic functions of Mtcp1 proteins, of which there are two due to alternate splicing, and their tumor-promoting mechanisms with aberrant expression are not known.
Beyond Coercion: A New Paradigm for Understanding Donor Motivation and Informed Consent in Living Donor Transplantation (Ldt)

Despite major medical and technological advances in living donor transplantation (LDT) in recent decades, comparatively little advancement has been made in the area of donor informed consent. Concerns about donor coercion continue to vex the transplant and bioethics communities, which struggle to make sense of donors' motivations and decision-making. Failure to comply with objective criteria for "informed consent" is assumed to negate the possibility of autonomy with regard to the decision to donate. And yet, research suggests that actual donor decision-making does not correspond to the gold standard model of informed consent. Potential donors report making the decision to donate immediately when the subject of donation is first mentioned and well before the start of the "informed consent" process. This variance between ideal and actual donor decision-making poses a seemingly intractable problem for the transplant community: if donors are not making the decision to donate in accordance with the informed consent requirements, on what basis are their decisions being made? We suggest the way out of this problem is through reconceptualizing donor decision-making and the role donors' motivations play therein. Specifically, an explanation for the discrepancy between the gold standard ideal of informed consent and actual donor decision-making is that donors have most information relevant to make the decision to donate immediately available when the issue of donation is first raised. Using work by Fellner and Marshall, Freedman, and others, we suggest this information constitutes "recognizable reasons" for donation: awareness of the consequences of the decision to donate or not; ascription of responsibility related to these consequences to themselves; awareness of moral norms; and information about the presumed risks and benefits of donation. Such a conception of donor decision-making allows for recognition that donors are legitimately influenced by considerations that the gold standard process of "informed consent" cannot accommodate.
Wahlsysteme in Theorie und Praxis

Der Mann aus dem Volke, der zur Wahlurne geht, vollzieht damit die fur die moderne Politik charakteristische Handlung. Konige, Revolutionen, Verfassungen und grose Burokratien gibt es seit undenklichen Zeiten; die Erscheinung des Wahlers in der Masse gehort erst der neuesten Zeit an. Fur Aristoteles bedeutete die Demokratie (Politeia), das wichtige Entscheidungen von der Versammlung der gesamten Burgerschaft auf dem Marktplatz gefallt werden. Heute versteht man darunter, das die Gesamtheit der Burger zur Wahl geht, um Vertreter zu bestellen, nachdem man in den Zeitungen uber ihre Programme gelesen und sie selbst in Versammlungen oder uber den Rundfunk hat sprechen horen. Wie wir im letzten Kapitel gesehen haben, sind Wahlen zwar nicht die einzig mogliche Methode, um Vertreter zu bestimmen; sie werden jedoch fur die am meisten der Demokratie angemessene gehalten. Was bedeutet nun aber „Demokratie“ in diesem Zusammenhang ? Sollen alle die, deren Interessen zu vertreten sind, sich an der Auswahl von Vertretern beteiligen1 ? Ein zahlenmasig nicht geringer Prozentsatz des Volkes besitzt ganz offensichtlich nicht die Eignung, einen fur die Schaffung von Gesetzen geeigneten Mann auszuwahlen. Diese selbstverstandliche Wahrheit anerkennen heist keineswegs, das man fur eine Regierung durch Intellektuelle eintritt.
The effect of saliva on dental caries

ABSTRACT Background The multiple functions of saliva play a significant role in the prevention of dental caries. Methods Chewing gum is known to stimulate salivary flow, and the results of studies of the role of stimulated saliva in the oral clearance of food particles, neutralization of dental plaque acids and reduction of the incidence of dental caries have been reported. The author reviews the results of these clinical caries trials. Results Seven clinical trials have evaluated the impact of chewing gum on caries incidence. These studies have shown that chewing sugar-free gum after meals results in a significant decrease in the incidence of dental caries and that the benefit is due to stimulating salivary flow rather than any chewing gum ingredient. Conclusions Stimulating salivary flow through the chewing of sugar-free gum after meals has been shown to reduce the incidence of dental caries. Clinical Implications Practical measures for stimulating salivary flow after meals or snacks should be considered in caries prevention programs.
Advanced superconducting MHD magnet design for a retrofit power plant

A magnet has been designed for an MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) topping cycle retrofit of a conventional power plant. The channel power output will be approximately 35 MWe. The magnet which will have 4.5-T peak on-axis field, will be constructed of an unusual NbTi superconductor wound into four subunits per dipole half. These will consist of three 45 degrees saddle coils with circular or ellipsoidal end turns and a single planar coil with a modified racetrack shape that will serve principally as a field-shaping coil. This planar coil also allows a substantial reduction in the ratio of peak to central field strength. Among the unique features of this design will be the use of flexible bands in tension as the primary element of the transverse force containment structure. The conductor will be of the cable-in-conduit type with a cable having a low copper-to-superconductor ratio and a thick-walled aluminum conduit sheath. The sheath will support the axial loads on the saddles and will also provide thermal mass for protection against overheating in the event of an energy dump. The analysis and design of this magnet system and its projected advantages in both performance and economics are discussed. >
Excitatory glutamate is essential for development and maintenance of the piloneural mechanoreceptor

The piloneural collar in mammalian hairy skin comprises an intricate pattern of circumferential and longitudinal sensory afferents that innervate primary and secondary pelage hairs. The longitudinal afferents tightly associate with terminal Schwann cell processes to form encapsulated lanceolate nerve endings of rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors. The molecular basis for piloneural development, maintenance and function is poorly understood. Here, we show that Nefh-expressing glutamatergic neurons represent a major population of longitudinal and circumferential sensory afferents innervating the piloneural collar. Our findings using a VGLUT2 conditional-null mouse model indicate that glutamate is essential for innervation, patterning and differentiation of NMDAR+ terminal Schwann cells during piloneural collar development. Similarly, treatment of adult mice with a selective NMDAR antagonist severely perturbed piloneural collar structure and reduced excitability of these mechanosensory neurons. Collectively, these results show that DRG-derived glutamate is essential for the proper development, maintenance and sensory function of the piloneural mechanoreceptor.
Memory card address bus design

The interaction of signal line impedance, crosstalk, chip capacitive loading and driver circuit output impedance on the operation of a memory address bus is demonstrated. The ASTAP circuit simulation program is used for detailed studies. The results of three parallel address lines connected to memory chips for unterminated far ends are discussed. Signal-line impedance decreases when adjacent lines are introduced. Choosing the correct driver circuit output impedance and terminating resistance affects the signal-line voltage and switching. The memory chips add capacitive loading to the line, which also reduces the impedance and affects the delay of the line. Simultaneous switching of the address lines adds delay to the system as well. Some design parameters based upon these interactions are discussed. >
Determination of Copper and Zinc in Biological Material

Copper and zinc are readily determined in biological material by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Two procedures are presented for the quantitative estimation of these metals in serum. One of these involves simple dilution and aspiration into the burner of the instrument. Suitably prepared standards must be used. The other method involves trichloroacetic acid preparation of the proteins prior to aspiration. With both methods satisfactory results in precision and recovery of added metals are obtained. Urinary copper determinations require chelation of the metal with ammonium pyrrolidino dithiocarbamate or some similar sequestering agent and concentration by extraction of the chelate into a suitable organic solvent. A similar procedure must be used in analyzing cow's milk for copper. Tissue analysis requires heating with boiling nitric acid and removal of the acid under reduced pressure prior to aspiration into the burner. It has been shown that procedural errors in such determinations are very much smaller than biological variation.
Studies of transport limitations in the dextran layer of the BIACORE optical biosensor

Surface plasmon resonance based biosensors have become increasingly popular for the measurement of the kinetic constants in a wide variety of biomolecular interactions. One of the most popular biosensors based on this principle is the BIACORE instrument. A mathematical model is presented describing biomolecular interactions in the flowcell of the BIACORE. The model accounts not only for mass transport limitations due to the concentration gradient directly above the sensor's dextran hydrogel matrix, but also for the effects of hindered transport of the mobile reactants into the dextran hydrogel matrix while diffusing towards their immobilized counterparts. Experiments have been also conducted on a BIACORE 2000 instrument that validate the proposed model.
A Determination of the Molecular Weight of the Aroid Alternative Oxidase by Radiation Inactivation Analysis

Cyanide-resistant respiration occurs in a variety of plants and fungi and has been shown to be due to an “alternative” electron transfer pathway located in the mitochondrion. The alternative pathway accepts electrons from the ubiquinone pool of the main pathway and, like cytochrome oxidase in the main pathway, uses these reducing equivalents to reduce oxygen to water.1,2 The components of the alternative pathway are unknown, although it has been proposed that the pathway consists of a single complex, termed the “alternative oxidase,” which functions as a ubiquinol:oxygen oxidoreductase. In aroid spadix mitochondria, duroqulnol can be used as a water-soluble ubiquinol analogue to donate electrons to this oxidase in a cyanide-resistant, SHAM-sensitive manner. Because the detergent-solubillzed duroquinol oxidase activity has proven difficult to fractionate, we decided to investigate this enzyme using radiation inactivation analysis.
Mesoscale Circulation Growth under Conditions of Weak Inertial Instability

Abstract The hypothesis that inertial instability plays a role in the upscale development of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) is explored by sampling environments that supported the growth of MCSs in the Preliminary Regional Experiment for STORM (Stormscale Operational and Research Meteorology) (PRE-STORM) network with high quality special soundings. Secondary circulations that occurred in the presence of inertial instabilities were analyzed and documented using rawinsonde data with high spatial and temporal resolution from the PRE-STORM field program. Additional examples of MCS environments were examined using data from the Mesoscale Analysis and Prediction System. Results show strong divergence and cross-stream accelerations occurred at upper-tropospheric levels where inertial instabilities were present. These accelerations were not uniform over the domain but were focused in the regions of instability. Also, the analyses of these data showed that regions of inertial instability may be more commonpla...
Tractography patterns of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation therapy is an effective symptomatic treatment for Parkinson's disease, yet the precise mechanisms responsible for its therapeutic effects remain unclear. Although the targets of deep brain stimulation are grey matter structures, axonal modulation is known to play an important role in deep brain stimulation's therapeutic mechanism. Several white matter structures in proximity to the subthalamic nucleus have been implicated in the clinical benefits of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease. We assessed the connectivity patterns that characterize clinically beneficial electrodes in Parkinson's disease patients, after deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus. We evaluated 22 patients with Parkinson's disease (11 females, age 57 ± 9.1 years, disease duration 13.3 ± 6.3 years) who received bilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus at the National Institutes of Health. During an initial electrode screening session, one month after deep brain stimulation implantation, the clinical benefits of each contact were determined. The electrode was localized by coregistering preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and postoperative computer tomography images and the volume of tissue activated was estimated from stimulation voltage and impedance. Brain connectivity for the volume of tissue activated of deep brain stimulation contacts was assessed using probabilistic tractography with diffusion-tensor data. Areas most frequently connected to clinically effective contacts included the thalamus, substantia nigra, brainstem and superior frontal gyrus. A series of discriminant analyses demonstrated that the strength of connectivity to the superior frontal gyrus and the thalamus were positively associated with clinical effectiveness. The connectivity patterns observed in our study suggest that the modulation of white matter tracts directed to the superior frontal gyrus and the thalamus is associated with favourable clinical outcomes and may contribute to the therapeutic effects of deep brain stimulation. Our method can be further developed to reliably identify effective deep brain stimulation contacts and aid in the programming process.
Modeling Magnetic Fields from a DC Power Cable Buried Beneath San Francisco Bay Based on Empirical Measurements

The Trans Bay Cable (TBC) is a ±200-kilovolt (kV), 400 MW 85-km long High Voltage Direct Current (DC) buried transmission line linking Pittsburg, CA with San Francisco, CA (SF) beneath the San Francisco Estuary. The TBC runs parallel to the migratory route of various marine species, including green sturgeon, Chinook salmon, and steelhead trout. In July and August 2014, an extensive series of magnetic field measurements were taken using a pair of submerged Geometrics magnetometers towed behind a survey vessel in four locations in the San Francisco estuary along profiles that cross the cable's path; these included the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (BB), the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (RSR), the Benicia-Martinez Bridge (Ben) and an area in San Pablo Bay (SP) in which a bridge is not present. In this paper, we apply basic formulas that ideally describe the magnetic field from a DC cable summed vectorially with the background geomagnetic field (in the absence of other sources that would perturb the ambient field) to derive characteristics of the cable that are otherwise not immediately observable. Magnetic field profiles from measurements taken along 170 survey lines were inspected visually for evidence of a distinct pattern representing the presence of the cable. Many profiles were dominated by field distortions unrelated to the cable caused by bridge structures or other submerged objects, and the cable's contribution to the field was not detectable. BB, with 40 of the survey lines, did not yield usable data for these reasons. The unrelated anomalies could be up to 100 times greater than those from the cable. In total, discernible magnetic field profiles measured from 76 survey lines were regressed against the equations, representing eight days of measurement. The modeled field anomalies due to the cable (the difference between the maximum and minimum field along the survey line at the cable crossing) were virtually identical to the measured values. The modeling yielded a pooled cable depth below the bay floor of 2.06 m (±1.46 std dev), and estimated the angle to the horizontal of the imaginary line connecting the cross-sectional center of the cable's two conductors (0.1143 m apart) as 178.9° ±61.9° (std dev) for Ben, 78.6°±37.0° (std dev) for RSR, and 139.9°±27.4° (std dev) for SP. The mean of the eight daily average currents derived from the regressions was 986 ±185 amperes (A) (std dev), as compared to 722 ±95 A (std dev) provided by Trans Bay Cable LLC. Overall, the regressions based on fundamental principles (Biot Savart law) and the vectorial summation of cable and geomagnetic fields provide estimates of cable characteristics consistent with plausible expectations.
Hyperspectral imaging in SWIR: from stain-free microscopy to deep tissue imaging(Conference Presentation)

Recent advances in relatively unexplored short wave infrared (SWIR) range from 800-1600 nm detectors make wide-field imaging in this spectral range attractive to biology. The distinct advantages of SWIR region over the visible and near infrared (NIR) in tissue analysis are two-fold: (i) high abundance endogenous chromophores (i.e. water and lipids) enable tissue component differentiation based on wavelength-dependent absorption properties and (ii) the weak scattering of tissue permits better resolution of imaging in thick specimens. When combined with high spectral resolution, SWIR imaging produces a spectroscopic image, where every pixel corresponds to the entire high-resolution spectrum. This hyperspectral (HS) approach provides rich information about the relative abundance of individual chromophores and their interactions that contribute to the intensity and location of the optical signal. The presentation discusses the challenges in the SWIR-HS instrument design and data analysis and demonstrates some of the promising applications of this technology in life science and medicine.
An Investigation of the Great Wall Orientation Built in Longxi County,Gansu Province by Qin State in Warring States Period

The Great Wall built in Longxi County,Gansu Province was one of the earliest Great Walls built in ancient time in our country.Its relic can still be found today.The academic world was not clear about the orientation of this part of Great Wall although it had done previous scrutinies.Through on-the-spot survey,the specific route was determined,this part of Great Wall extended to the south of Wulonggou and that there was no man-made walls found in the section of Wulonggou.
Related Theory and Teaching Methods of Open Education

This paper introduces the conceptual framework and related theory of open education.Then several present teching methods adequated for open education are collated and analyzed.
Applied Servant Leadership Strategies: A Case Study on SAS

The emergence of servant leadership has considered to have a positive impact on employee behavior and organizational performance. While the theory and approach has not been adopted to scale, organizations that have implemented these principles have been able to astound the competition with greater financial performance. To affirm this viewpoint, a review of literature and case analysis was conducted on a leader global company to determine, which principles of servant leadership were apparent throughout the process of human capital hiring and engagement.
Feasibility study of energy storage technologies for remote microgrid's energy management systems

Energy storage improves system reliability and efficiency in remote microgrid by optimizing the power demand and generation to reduce operational costs. A lead acid battery is widely used as an energy storage device in remote microgrid due to its low cost; however, the response rate, short life cycle and depth of discharge (DoD) lead to high operational costs. Although, the ultracapacitor has considerably longer life cycle, its energy density is low and the initial cost is very high. Lithium-ion and hybrid ion batteries may have comparatively better economical prospective in terms of DoD, life cycle, and operational cost. In this paper, different energy storage technologies are considered for remote microgrid energy management systems. Results showed that the wear cost is an important factor to consider while designing the energy management system.
Computational Modeling of Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Models of auditory signal processing have been used for many years to provide parsimonious explanations for how the normal auditory system functions at the physiological and perceptual levels, as well as to provide useful insight into the physiological bases for perception. Such models have also been used in many applications, such as automatic speech recognition, audio coding, and signal-processing strategies for hearing aids and cochlear implants. Here, an application framework is considered that is motivated by the long-term goal of using computational models to maximize the ability to apply physiological knowledge to overcome auditory dysfunction in individual patients. This long-term goal motivates the present ­chapter’s focus, which is on physiologically based computational models of auditory signal processing that have been used to explore issues related to sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Specifically, this chapter considers phenomenological signal processing models (rather than biophysical models) that predict normal and impaired peripheral responses to complex stimuli. These types of models are likely to be most useful in the specific applications needed to achieve the stated long-term goal, such as explaining the physiological bases for perceptual effects of SNHL, diagnosing the underlying physiological cochlear status of individual patients, and fitting and designing hearing-aid algorithms in a quantitative physiological framework.
Application of computer simulation to decision–making in an employee takeover

This paper discusses a viable approach to improving decision–making in the event of an employee takeover. The multi–faceted technique of simulation is presented here as a viable technique in such an event situations. Once enacted, the model is demonstrated through sensitivity analysis to be a critical asset in long–range planning. The usefulness of simulation modelling is enhanced by its widespread applicability to any mergers or acquisitions, foreign or domestic. Specifically, a 'real–world' example of these methodologies is presented in this paper. The Volkswagen Stamping Plant located in the south–east region of the United States provided the focus of this research effort. A simulation model was developed to improve the decision–making capabilities of the employees during a proposed takeover. Further, sensitivity analyses were then conducted to demonstrate the enhanced usefulness and viability of long–range planning efforts.
Beyond the stony veil: Reconstructing the Earth’s earliest large animal traces via computed tomography X-ray imaging

Abstract Trace fossils are superb lines of evidence for examining the ancient biologic world because they offer an opportunity to infer behavioral ecology of organisms. However, traces can be difficult to parse from their matrix, which leads to the loss of important morphological and behavioral data. This is especially true for the earliest marine animal traces from the Ediacaran Period (635–541 Ma), which are usually small (
‘Off the wall’: reading community mural making as a contestable site of urban youth governance

This paper weighs in on discussions contemplating the current state of arts programing targeting ‘at risk’ youth as handmaiden to a strategic neoliberal cosmopolitanism. I examine a City of Toronto...
Within-Subject Analysis of the CS1-CS2 Interval in Sensory Preconditioning with Rats

Rats were trained to lever press on a variable-interval water reinforcement schedule prior to receiving sensory preconditioning (Spc) training, which consisted of 16 CS1-CS2 pairings followed by 16 CS2-footshock Us pairings and then by 10 Csralone trials. Magnitude of Spc was assessed by the amount of lever-press suppression to CS1 alone. Two distinct interstimulus intervals (Isis) between CS1 and CS2 were used with the relative proportion of each Isi varied across groups. Since mean Isi covaried with proportion, additional groups were exposed to fixed Isis of intermediate value. It was found that Spc magnitude increased directly with proportion to the more optimal Isi, although no differences were found between each proportion group and its fixed Isi counterpart.
Neurologic event–free survival demonstrates a benefit for SCID patients diagnosed by newborn screening

TO THE EDITOR: Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) may be diagnosed via newborn screening (NBS) by measuring T-cell receptor excision circles.[1][1],[2][2] The incidence of SCID has risen, and this is rise attributed to the identification of patients who would have previously died of infections
Predictability, force, and (anti)resonance in complex object control.

Daily actions involve manipulation of complex nonrigid objects, which present a challenge since humans have no direct control of the whole object. We used a virtual-reality experiment and simulatio...
Interplay of proton and electron transfer to determine concerted behavior in the proton-coupled electron transfer of glutathione oxidation

Glutathione (GSH), whose thiol group dictates its redox chemistry, is oxidized to the thiyl radical (GS˙), which rapidly dimerizes to GSSG. Previously, we found that the oxidation rate of GSH by IrCl62− depends on the base (B) concentration and the pKa of its conjugate acid BH+, so that collateral to a stepwise mechanism, the concerted pathway GSH + IrCl62− + B = GS˙ + IrCl63− + BH+ was proposed as the rate determining step. Herein, this investigation is extended to include oxidant-base pairs that render exothermic and endothermic conditions of ΔG°′ for electron transfer (ET) and proton transfer (PT). Experiments were conducted by the reaction of GSH with an electrogenerated oxidant M+ and using digital simulations to infer the mechanism. Data analysis shows that despite parallel mechanisms, the concerted one seems to predominate for the oxidant-base pair that renders the most isoenergetic coupled state, whereby a PT with is capable of producing an ET with , as a result of the Nernstian shift of with pKa. In contrast, the stepwise PT–ET appears to dominate when GS− grows in stability as becomes more negative. Understanding the interplay between ET and PT will help in the design of catalysts for energy harvesting processes that rely on proton-coupled electron transfer.
Designing Learning Control that is Close to Instability for Improved Parameter Identification

Iterative learning control (ILC) uses an iteration in hardware adjusting the input to a system in order to converge to zero tracking error following a desired system output. Convergence is sensitive to model error, and errors that are sufficiently large to cause divergence, produce inputs that particularly excite unmodeled or poorly modeled dynamics, producing experimental data that is focused on what is wrong with the current model. A separate paper studied the overall concept, and specifically addressed issues of model order error. The first purpose of this paper is to develop modified ILC laws that are intentionally non-robust to model errors, as a way to fine tune the use of ILC for identification purposes. And the second purpose is to study the non-robustness with respect to its ability to improve identification of system parameters when the model order is correct. It is demonstrated that in many cases the approach makes the learning particularly sensitive to relatively small parameter errors in the model, but sensitivity is sometimes limited to parameter errors of a specific sign.
Adhesion of Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells to Extracellular Matrix Proteins Roles and Distribution of Integrin Receptors

PURPOSE To examine the adhesion of human trabecular meshwork cells with various extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and to evaluate the roles and distribution of integrin receptors. METHODS Cultured human trabecular meshwork cells were added to 96-well plates either uncoated or coated with proteins including fibronectin, laminin, and vitronectin, as well as collagen types I, III, IV, V, and VI. After incubation for 1 hour, the adhesion of cells was measured. Expression of cell surface integrins was determined by cell enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoprecipitation. Distribution was visualized by immunofluorescence staining using integrin-specific antibodies. For function perturbation and peptide inhibition studies, cells were preincubated with either integrin antibodies or synthetic peptides before the adhesion assays. RESULTS Human trabecular meshwork cells attached to plates coated with ECM proteins in a dose-dependent manner. Fibronectin, vitronectin, and collagen types I and IV were the preferred ECM substrates. Cell ELISA revealed the presence of integrins alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha 6, alpha v, beta 1, beta 3, beta 5, alpha 5 beta 1, and alpha v beta 3 and the absence of beta 2 and beta 4 on human trabecular meshwork cells. Results from immunostaining experiments were consistent with those from cell ELISA studies. Attachment of cells to ECM proteins was blocked by specific integrin antibodies. Cell adhesion to fibronectin and vitronectin was inhibited by peptides containing the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence. CONCLUSIONS Extracellular matrix proteins mediate the adhesion of human trabecular meshwork cells in culture. Integrin receptors appear to have functional roles in the cell-matrix interactions.
Polymerization of Propylene

For a long time, the polymers of propylene, an inexpensive petroleum derivative, were known only as viscous oils of little commercial usefulness. These oils, with a viscosity range dependent upon the molecular weight of the polymer, were not crystallized by the methods of polymerization known to produce a crystalline structure in such materials as ethylene, vinylidene chloride, and perfluoroethylene. However, in 1954, Professor G. Natta discovered a new polymerization mechanism which could transform the random structural arrangement of these “non-crystallizable” polymers into structures of high chemical and geometrical regularity. These polymers, consisting of linear molecules in which the chemical groups are regularly arranged along the macromolecule, are highly crystalline and consequently exhibit outstanding physical properties compared to their amorphous counterparts.
Partial-cell irradiation.

Techniques for partial-cell irradiation and the preparation of radiation sources for use both inside and outside the cell are described. Applications of partial-cell irradiation techniques in studies of normal cell functions and as a radiobiological tool to yield information about the mechanisms by which radiations produce their effects on living systems are discussed. Results are summarized for recent studies which employed this technique. (71 references.) (C.H.)
Bcl-xl downregulation using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) sensitises HCT-116 colon cancer cells to topoisomerase I inhibition

5343 Bcl-xl is an anti-apoptotic protein from the bcl-2 family, overexpressed in 40-80% of colorectal cancer, which has been implicated in drug resistance. Downregulation of bcl-xl may increase the sensitivity to anticancer agents by allowing cells to undergo apoptosis. ShRNAs targeting bcl-xl were expressed in HCT-116 cells and G-418 resistant populations selected. Bcl-xl and bcl-2 mRNA levels were determined by qRT-PCR and results normalised by 18S expression. In stable transfectants expressing shRNA#3 (HCT-116 shxl3) and shRNA#4 (HCT-116 shxl4), a downregulation of bcl-xl was observed: bcl-xl/18S = 0.4 ± 0.03 and 0.5 ± 0.03, respectively compared to cells expressing the empty vector (HCT116 NG) in which bcl-xl/18S = 1 ± 0.09. Bcl-2 was also downregulated in HCT-116 shxl3: bcl-2/18S = 0.4 ±0.03 compared to HCT116 NG (1.1 ± 0.1). The cytotoxic effect of topoisomerase I inhibitors SN-38 and CPT and also the topoisomerase II inhibitor doxorubicin was evaluated. Both HCT-116 shxl3 and 4 were more sensitive to SN-38 (IC50: 2.2 and 2.1 nM, respectively vs 3.2 nM in HCT-116 NG cells) and CPT (IC50: 5.2 and 6.1 nM, respectively vs 8.3 nM for HCT-116 NG cells) but equally sensitive to doxorubicin (IC50: 24 and 26 nM, respectively vs 27 nM in HCT-116 NG cells). The cytotoxicity of antimycin A3, a small molecule inhibitor of bcl-xl was also determined: HCT-116 shxl3 and 4 showed increased sensitivity (IC50: 0.33 and 0.50 μM) compared to HCT-116 NG (IC50: 0.97 μM). Decrease in membrane permeability potential evaluated by JC-1 staining was greater in HCT-116 shxl3 following exposure to SN-38: JC-1 red fluorescence decreased by 51% compared to 42% in HCT-116 NG cells. HCT-116 NG and HCT116 shxl3 were established in vivo as xenografts in immunodeficient Nu/Nu mice. When tumours reached 50-100 mm 3 , animals were treated with CPT-11 25 mg/kg dx5. Tumour growth inhibition was greater in HCT-116 shxl3 (median doubling time, 14 days) compared to HCT-116 NG xenografts (median doubling time, 10 days). This delay was sustained: Median time to reach five times the initial tumour volumes was 25.5 days for HCT-116 shxl3 vs 20 days for HCT-116 NG xenografts. Downregulation of bcl-xl and bcl-2 using shRNA in HCT-116 cells sensitised cells, both in vitro and in vivo , to the topoisomerase I inhibitor SN-38. Increased loss of mitochondrial permeability potential was noted in vitro and ongoing experiments will confirm if this mechanism is also relevant in vivo .
From my own flesh and blood: An exploratory examination of discrimination from family for Black/White Multiracial people:

This qualitative study examined instances of racial discrimination from family members among 36 Black/White Multiracial individuals. Forms of discrimination included stereotyping, identity invalida...
Bladder Distension and Cardiovascular Depression During Recovery from Epidural Anesthesia

Hypotension and bradycardia following conduction anesthesia is common, generally due to sympathetic blockade. Three cases of sudden profound cardiovascular depression during recovery from epidural anesthesia associated with marked distension of the urinary bladder are described. The suggested mechanisms include afferent atimulation from bladder distension and efferent reflex loss of peripheral resistance, decreased venous pressure, and bradycardia. The key to restoration of autonomic balance is bladder drainage. Adjunctive therapy should include augmentation of venous return by position change, and administration of anticholinergics, vasopressors, and fluids.
Diverse Cell Types, Circuits, and Mechanisms for Color Vision in the Vertebrate Retina.

Synaptic interactions to extract information about wavelength, and thus color, begin in the vertebrate retina with three classes of light-sensitive cells: rod photoreceptors at low light levels, mu...
Phonological memory problems are magnified in children from language minority homes when predicting reading disability

Children from language minority (LM) environments speak a language at home that differs from that at school, are often from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, and are at risk for reading impairment. We evaluated the main effects and interaction of language status and phonological memory and awareness on reading disorder in 352 children from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. A significant phonological memory by language status interaction indicated that phonological memory problems were magnified in predicting reading impairment in children from LM versus English dominant (ED) homes. Among children without reading disorder, language minority status was unrelated to phonological processing.
Applied Behavior Analysis: Dispelling Associated Myths.

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a widely studied and often used approach to working with human behavior. However, there are numerous myths surrounding what ABA is, who is it for, and how it is i...