cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Go it alone no more--P2X7 joins the society of heteromeric ATP-gated receptor channels.

P2X receptors (P2XR) function as ATP-gated nonselective ion channels permeable to Na+, K+, and Ca2+, and they are expressed in a wide range of excitable, epithelial/endothelial, and immune effector cell types. The channels are trimeric complexes composed of protein subunits encoded by seven different P2XR genes expressed in mammalian and other vertebrate genomes. Current genetic, biochemical, and/or physiological evidence indicates that the extended family of functional P2X receptors includes six homomeric channels composed of P2X1, P2X2, P2X3, P2X4, P2X5, or P2X7 subunits and six heteromeric channels that involve subunit pairings of P2X1/P2X2, P2X1/P2X4, P2X1/P2X5, P2X2/P2X3, P2X2/P2X6, or P2X4/P2X6. Thus, all P2XR subtypes—with the salient exception of P2X7R— have previously been implicated in the assembly of heteromeric ATP-gated ion channels that can comprise unique pharmacological targets in different tissues. The assumed “go-it alone” function of the P2X7R has important implications because agents that target this particular receptor have been proposed as useful therapeutics in various autoinflammatory diseases or amelioration of inflammatory pain. However, this assumption and the interpretations based on it now require reevaluation in light of a new report in this issue of Molecular Pharmacology (p. 1447) that provides convincing biochemical and electrophysiological evidence for the existence of P2X4/P2X7 heteromeric receptors.
Mo1631 Comparision of Volumetric LASER Endomicroscopy and Endoscopic Confocal LASER Endomicroscopy for the Detection of Dysplasia in Barrett's Esophagus

Comparision of Volumetric LASER Endomicroscopy and Endoscopic Confocal LASER Endomicroscopy for the Detection of Dysplasia in Barrett’s Esophagus Cadman L. Leggett*, Emmanuel C. Gorospe, Gang Sun, Kaname Uno, Marlys Anderson, Lori S. Lutzke, Kenneth K. Wang Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Rochester, MN Background: Endoscope based confocal laser endomicroscopy (eCLE) allows invivo evaluation of dysplasia in Barrett’s Esophagus (BE) but its use is limited by its focal field of imaging. Volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) is a second generation optical coherence tomography device capable of wide-field crosssectional imaging of the human esophagus. The diagnostic accuracy of eCLE and VLE for BE dysplasia has not been compared. Aim: To compare the dysplasia detection rate of eCLE versus VLE in clinically indicated BE endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) specimens against standard histology. Methods: Consecutive patients with dysplastic BE undergoing routine endoscopic surveillance at a tertiary referral center with clinically indicated EMR were included in the study. EMR specimens were imaged using VLE immediately after resection and then incubated for 30 minutes in 2-NBDG, a fluorescent glucose analog with preferential uptake in dysplastic mucosa, (GIE 2012 Nov;76(5):933-8). eCLE imaging of EMR specimens was performed in four quadrants using a probe based system similar to the endoscope based system. EMR specimens were labeled for orientation and quadrant correlation with histopathology. Each EMR VLE scan was scored by an expert reviewer blinded to tissue diagnosis based on a dysplasia scoring index (GIE 2009;68:745-52) Two gastroenterologists with previous experience in eCLE, also blinded to tissue diagnosis, independently reviewed corresponding eCLE images and graded them as benign or dysplastic. EMR histology was determined by two expert gastrointestinal pathologists. We compared the dysplasia detection rate of eCLE and VLE. Results: In this study, a total of 22 EMRs were imaged with both VLE and eCLE. Histopathology showed dysplasia in 20 and no dysplasia in 2 EMR specimens. Diagnostic agreement between VLE and eCLE was found in 18 of the 22 cases. VLE found dysplasia characteristics in all (100%) patients with verified dysplasia on histology. eCLE showed dysplasia characteristics in 17 (85%) of the 20 dysplasia cases. Overall in the 22 cases, VLE showed characteristics of dysplasia in 2 EMRs diagnosed as non-dysplastic. eCLE showed absence of dysplasia characteristics in a single case of non-dysplastic BE. Conclusion: Wide-field imaging of EMR specimens with VLE shows a higher dysplasia detection rate (100%) compared to focal-field eCLE imaging (85%). The ability to view the entire specimen may be responsible for the increased yield in dysplasia detection. In-vivo comparison of VLE and eCLE is needed to confirm this advantage.
Embracing “Other”: Dialogism and the Carnivalesque in Nadine Gordimer's A Sport of Nature

Abstract With South Africa in the process of eliminating the remaining vestiges of imperialism by returning sovereignty to its indigenous population, one must hope that the course for genuine equality does not reverse itself. For South Africa to continue to make real social progress toward democracy in the immediate future remains a vision on the horizon, blurred and confounded with variables.
Magnetic fields from simulated cardiac action currents

A digital simulation has been performed of an idealized, thin, 2D cardiac slice in the x-y plane. The slice is stimulated near the center and the resulting action potential propagates outward, developing a distribution of electrical current with nonzero curl. An anisotropic bidomain model is used for the calculation, with membrane physiology based upon either just fast sodium flues or the more complete Beeler-Reuter myocardial model. The electrical anisotropy, expressed as the ratio of longitudinal to transverse electrical conductivity, is much greater for the inner domain than for the outer one, and this results in current loops that develop ahead of and behind the wavefront and produce a B/sub z/ magnetic field of order 10/sup -9/ T 1 mm above the tissue, similar to recent experimental observations on canine cardiac tissue slices. The fields exhibit a quatrefoil symmetry which can be distorted by nonuniformities in the tissue. The field from repolarization currents is larger by almost an order of magnitude than might be predicted from considerations of rate of change of voltage. >
Selective enhancement of mid-ir quantum dot electroluminescent emissions using defect mode photonic crystal cavities

This paper concentrates on another application of photonic crystals: It shows photonic crystals can be used to selectively enhance and modify the light spectra of InAs self assembled quantum dot (SAQD) emissions in mid-IR wavelengths. Quantum dots, when used as light sources, offer unique advantages. It is therefore possible to develop new devices based solely on this property of SAQD based light sources. Before SAQD light sources could be used, however, improvements must be made on their emission spectra, which is rather broad (approximately 24 THz in our case) due to inhomogeneous broadening in SAQD energy levels. The purpose of this work is to theoretically investigate interactions between a photonic crystal and a light source placed into a central defect cavity. The photonic crystal serves to confine lateral propagation of light, which in turn interacts strongly with the central cavity and modifies emission characteristics of the light source.
The integration of psychodynamic and behavior therapies revisited: Approaching rapprochement? Implications for theory and practice

The past 10 years has seen little activity in the attempt to integrate psychodynamic and behavioral therapies. While these therapies are generally seen as incompatible, recent developments have resulted in forms of each (Control/Mastery theory and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy) that are strikingly similar in their conceptualization of psychopathology, their interventions and their outcome measures. This paper revisits the possibility of integrating these therapies from a common factors perspective. While these therapies possess many commonalties, theoretical differences still result in incompatibility. This incompatibility between two very similar treatments poses serious questions for the psychotherapy integration movement. Implications for theory and treatment are explored.
Membrane Tension Drives Expansion of Hemifusion Diaphragms Nucleated by Influenza Hemagglutinin

Infection by enveloped viruses such as HIV and influenza requires fusion of viral and host membranes. The influenza virus fuses with the membrane of the host endosome whose low pH activates the viral protein hemaggluttinin (HA). HA may initiate fusion by pulling membranes together and destabilizing bilayer stucture. Considerable evidence suggests two-stage fusion: first hemifusion where only the proximal leaflets fuse, followed by full fusion [Floyd et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2008]. Much debate surrounds the structure and dynamics of hemifusion intermediates. The hemifusion diaphragm (HD) may be produced when fused proximal leaflets are pushed aside and compressed, allowing the separate distal monolayers to meet forming a sealed diaphragm. In classic experiments by Melikyan et al [Melikyan et al, J Cell Biol, 1995] strikingly direct and quantitative observations of HDs were achieved using HA-expressing fibroblasts: they reported ∼20-micron HDs with suspended bilayers and inferred micron-sized HDs with red blood cells. Here we show membrane tension is the driving force for HD growth and determines final equilibrium size. Applying principles of membrane physics we mathematically modeled HD equilibrium and growth kinetics as observed in these experiments. The principal force resisting growth is proximal leaflet compression which generates interleaflet tension, with lesser contributions from membrane-cytoskeleton and membrane-membrane adhesion forces. HD growth is dynamically resisted by interleaflet friction. Using independently measured physical parameters, our model results for equlibrium HD size and growth rates agree closely with measurements in Melikyan et al. Applying our theory to in vivo viral fusion we propose that virus-endosome HDs equilibrate on millisecond timescales, much faster than the ∼10-s timescales for fusion pore formation seen in vitro. We discuss mechanisms whereby viruses may harness membrane tension driving HD growth and RNA release.
Lean Manufacturing: Selected Financial Performance Of Recognized Lean Manufacturers

Since the Japanese development of lean manufacturing practices after World War II, American companies have slowly begun to embrace the concepts and results offered by the lean manufacturing concept. Companies in America did not fully embrace the value of the processes until the mid to late 1990’s and some firms are finding that financial results that should have been positively impacted immediately are not showing the results promised by Japanese practitioners. Two companies, Delphi and Johnson Controls, were selected for comparative analysis because of the numerous facilities that each have had selected for the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing. Both companies have been engrained in the traditional mass-producing methods of American production from mother companies, customers, and suppliers. Both companies have adopted and implemented lean manufacturing into their organizations in the late 1990’s. Using targets set forth by the lean manufacturing leaders of Japan, a comparison will be made of both of these companies as well as comparisons of these two companies to other firms in their industry. The S&P 500 financial ratios will also be used along with those of two of the most recognized leaders in lean manufacturing, Wal-Mart and Toyota, in order to determine the effectiveness of implementation of lean practices by two of the newest leaders in manufacturing excellence. The financial ratios will be evaluated and compared along with reasons for variances that are found in the comparisons.
Oxidation behavior of Cu–Cr environmental barrier coatings on Cu–8Cr–4Nb

Oxidation behavior of some Cu–Cr alloys (with 8.5–25.6 wt.% Cr, in both stand-alone coupons and spray coatings on Cu–8Cr–4Nb) was studied by TGA and cyclic oxidation. Judging by the more stringent cyclic oxidation results, protection of the substrate Cu–8Cr–4Nb was effective for the whole 10-h duration of testing up to 750 °C only for coatings with 21% or higher Cr. Similar protection was exhibited by Cu–17Cr only up to 650 °C, and only for <3 h at 750 °C. In all cases the Cr2O3 subscale nucleated discretely (and always under a non-adherent scale of Cu oxides), and passive protection did not start until the nuclei joined into a continuous barrier and parabolic oxidation kinetics set in. The only protection achieved before that stage of Cr2O3 coalescence was via sacrificial oxidation of the coating.
Management of uncertainty in supply contract auctions contribution to the panel “hedging risk and uncertainty in electricity markets”

Uncertainty management becomes a key challenge in the restructured electricity industry as the implementation of market processes increases the sources of uncertainty beyond those faced in the former vertically integrated industry. We focus on the assessment and management of uncertainty in the area of contracting for short- and mid-term supply contracts. Such contracts are drawn up with the successful sellers in an auction held to determine the lowest priced supplies to meet the requirements of various classes of load. The primary focus of the analysis is the auction design product definition issues and their impacts on the resulting outcomes. The high prices attained in the 2006 Illinois Electricity Auction reflect the impacts of shifting uncertainty from the distribution companies to the sellers of the needed electricity supply. We assess the impacts and provide the insights we obtain to improve uncertainty management in short- and mid-term contracting for electricity.
Impaired emotion regulation in schizophrenia: evidence from event-related potentials.

BackgroundAlthough several aspects of emotion seem to be intact in schizophrenia, there is emerging evidence that patients show an impaired ability to adaptively regulate their emotions. This event-related potential (ERP) study examined whether schizophrenia is associated with impaired neural responses to appraisal frames, that is when negative stimuli are presented in a less negative context.MethodThirty-one schizophrenia out-patients and 27 healthy controls completed a validated picture-viewing task with three conditions: (1) neutral pictures preceded by neutral descriptions (‘Neutral’), (2) unpleasant pictures preceded by negative descriptions (‘Preappraised negative’), and (3) unpleasant pictures preceded by more neutral descriptions (‘Preappraised neutral’). Analyses focused on the late positive potential (LPP), an index of facilitated attention to emotional stimuli that is reduced following cognitive emotion regulation strategies, during four time windows from 300 to 2000 ms post-picture onset.ResultsReplicating prior studies, controls showed smaller LPP in Preappraised neutral and Neutral versus Preappraised negative conditions throughout the 300–2000-ms time period. By contrast, patients showed (a) larger LPP in Preappraised neutral and Preappraised negative versus Neutral conditions in the initial period (300–600 ms) and (b) an atypical pattern of larger LPP to Preappraised neutral versus Preappraised negative and Neutral conditions in the 600–1500-ms epochs.ConclusionsModulation of neural responses by a cognitive emotion regulation strategy seems to be impaired in schizophrenia during the first 2 s after exposure to unpleasant stimuli.
Environmental factors and kinetics of microbial degradation of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) in an aqueous medium

Environmental factors such as oxygen, temperature, and microbial species may have significant effects on decomposition of biodegradable polymers. A representative biodegradable, thermoplastic polymer, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), was decomposed in an aqueous medium under controlled laboratory conditions by soil microbes for the intrinsic degradation kinetics and the effects of the environmental factors on polymer biodegradation. The amount of proteins, including the PHBV depolymerases, that attached to the polymer surfaces was quite constant during the period of significant mass loss of the polymer specimens. The microbial polymer degradation followed a zero-order rate model, so the residual mass fraction of PHBV films declined linearly with time. The mixed aerobic microbial organisms from fertile soil showed a higher activity of polymer degradation than an aerobic PHBV-producing bacterium and the mixed anaerobes in the same soil. The mixed anaerobic microorganisms from barren soil decomposed the polymer at a slower rate than the anaerobes from fertile soil, and this was attributed to fewer microbial cells in the barren soil instead of the difference in the microbial species. The temperature effect on PHBV degradation can be described with an Arrhenius equation, and the activation energy is around 16 kcal/mol. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 205–213, 2003
Inferring the Maximum Likelihood Hierarchy in Social Networks

Individuals in social networks are often organized under some hierarchy such as a command structure. In many cases, when this structure is unknown, there is a need to discover hierarchical organization. In this paper, we propose a novel, simple, and flexible method based on maximum likelihood to infer social hierarchy from weighted social networks. We empirically evaluate our method against both simulated and real-world datasets and show that our approach accurately recovers the underlying, latent hierarchy.
Spatial and Racial Patterning of Real Estate Broker Listings in New York City

It has been well documented that Black homeseekers face discrimination in the housing market in the form of racial steering and other institutional policies and practices that are critical in limiting housing access. Less is known about the mechanisms that operate on the other side of real estate transactions to perpetuate racially segregated neighborhoods. We investigated whether White and Black brokers face segregation in the housing market. That is, to what extent do White and Black brokers differentially market property listings in neighborhoods of varying racial composition? Using real estate listings extracted from the websites of two of the largest New York City real estate brokerages, we examined whether Black and White brokers market properties primarily in Black and White neighborhoods, respectively; and whether, controlling for gender and experience level, Black brokers had a lower average price per square foot than White brokers. Results showed that Black brokers overwhelmingly marketed properties in Black neighborhoods, with fewer listings in White areas. Black brokers also marketed properties with an average price per square foot that was $197 lower than White brokers. Black brokers who worked in offices in Black neighborhoods had the lowest asking price of all brokers. Taken together, Black and White real estate brokers control a bifurcated market in NYC, perpetuating residential segregation and Black–White income and wealth disparities.
Clinical application of pharmacogenomics through clinical exercises and online resources

Abstract This article describes how to introduce pharmacy students to online pharmacogenomic resources and also to apply pharmacogenomics to clinical patient scenarios. This novel approach has been successful by integrating medical genomics into a core curriculum at a new school of pharmacy. To date, implementation of clinical exercises within a pharmacogenomics course has been well received by pharmacy students. The exercises have proven to be successful in enhancing students' understanding of the clinical applicability of pharmacogenomic concepts. As pharmacogenomics is a topic of increasing importance in the health care field, it is crucial to continue to identify successful ways in which this concept can be integrated into the pharmacy curriculum.
Anion dependence in the spin-crossover properties of a Fe(II) podand complex

We report the syntheses, characterisations, and spin state behaviours of salts of the tripodal-ligated Fe(II) complex [FeL(6-OH)]X(2) (L(6-OH) = tris{4-[(6-methanol)-2-pyridyl]-3-aza-3-butenyl}amine, X = OTf(-) (1), Br(-) (2), I(-) (3), BPh(4)(-) (4)). Covalent linking of the ligand arms is imperative as a high-spin bis(tridentate) complex (5) is formed when a non-tethered ethyl iminopyridine ligand (L(2) = 4-[(6-methanol)-2-pyridyl]-3-aza-3-butenyl) is used. For salts 1-4, thermally-induced spin-crossover (SCO) is observed in the solid state, with dependence on anion and solvate molecules. Salts with larger anions show more complete SCO centred at higher temperatures (1 > 3 > 2); the triflate salt 1 (T(1/2) = 173 K) also shows the strongest cooperativity of the compounds examined. Hydrogen bonding appears to be critical to SCO in this family of salts: limiting interactions by use of tetraphenylborate produces a high-spin complex down to 5 K. In protic solvents such as methanol, spectra of [FeL(6-OH)](2+) are largely unchanged over a period of three days, but dissociate when interrogated with strong field bidentate ligands. Compounds 1-3, and 5 remain high spin in solution down to 180 K, consistent with the data obtained in the solid state.
The role of dopamine in motivation for food in humans: implications for obesity

Obesity is a major public health problem. The increasing number of obese individuals in the US adds urgency to the efforts to understand the mechanisms underlying pathological overeating. Imaging studies using positron emission tomography implicate the involvement of brain dopamine (DA) in normal and pathological food intake in humans. In normal body weight, fasting subjects, food presentation that could not be consumed was associated with increases in striatal extracellular DA, which provides evidence of an involvement of DA in non-hedonic motivational properties of food intake. In pathologically obese subjects, the authors showed reductions in striatal D2 receptor availability that were inversely associated with the weight of the subject. The involvement of the DA system in reward and reinforcement has led to the hypothesis that low brain DA activity in obese subjects predisposes them to excessive use of food. A better understanding of the role of the DA system in the motivation for food intake will help the development of better therapeutic interventions.
An evaluation of bottom-up and top-down thread generation techniques

Presents a model of coarse grain dataflow execution. The authors present one top down and two bottom up methods for generation of multithreaded code, and evaluate their effectiveness. The bottom up techniques start from a fine-grain dataflow graph and coalesce this into coarse-grain clusters. The top down technique generates clusters directly from the intermediate data dependence graph used for compiler optimizations. The authors discuss the relevant phases in the compilation process. They compare the effectiveness of the strategies by measuring the total number of clusters executed, the total number of instructions executed, cluster size, and number of matches per cluster. It turns out that the top down method generates more efficient code, and larger clusters. However the number of matches per cluster is larger for the top down method, which could incur higher cluster synchronization costs. >
A Proteomics Approach for Identification of Single Strand DNA-binding Proteins Involved in Transcriptional Regulation of Mouse μ Opioid Receptor Gene

The pharmacological actions of morphine and morphine-like drugs such as heroin are mediated primarily through the μ opioid receptor. Previously a single strand DNA element of the mouse μ opioid receptor gene (Oprm1) proximal promoter was found to be important for regulating Oprm1 in neuronal cells. To identify proteins binding to the single strand DNA element as potential regulators for Oprm1, affinity column chromatography with the single strand DNA element was performed using neuroblastoma NS20Y cells followed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. We identified five poly(C)-binding proteins: heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) K, α-complex proteins (αCP) αCP1, αCP2, αCP2-KL, and αCP3. Binding of these proteins to the single strand DNA element of Oprm1 was sequence-specific as confirmed by supershift assays. In cotransfection studies, hnRNP K, αCP1, αCP2, and αCP2-KL activated the Oprm1 promoter activity, whereas αCP3 acted as a repressor. Ectopic expression of hnRNP K, αCP1, αCP2, and αCP2-KL also led to activation of the endogenous Oprm1 transcripts, and αCP3 repressed endogenous Oprm1 transcripts. We demonstrate novel roles as transcriptional regulators in Oprm1 regulation for hnRNP K and αCP binding to the single strand DNA element.
Scalar Measurements in Bluff Body Stabilized Flames Using Cars Diagnostics

Measurements of mean and rms temperature fluctuations were performed in confined turbulent premixed methane-air flames, stabilized on a conical flameholder. A CARS system was used for these measurements. These tests employed flameholders of different blockage ratios (13% and 25%), and mixtures with different equivalence ratios (0.56, 0.65, 0.8, and 0.9) and approach turbulence intensity (2%, 17%, and 22%).It was found that the recirculation zone closely resembles a perfectly well-stirred reactor. Blockage ratio, equivalence ratio, or approach turbulence intensity did not alter the scalar field. The turbulent flame structure enveloping the recirculation zone comprises: (i) an ignition/thin flame region in the vicinity of the flameholder base, (ii) a reacting shear layer region of large-scale coherent structures, and (iii) a thick flame region where entrainment is the dominant mechanism. Finally, analysis suggests that the scalar gradient-diffusion relationship is valid and areas of non-gradient diffusion, if any, are probably small.Copyright © 1991 by ASME
NEK2 Induces Drug Resistance Mainly through Activation of Efflux Drug Pumps and Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Myeloma and Other Cancers

SUMMARY Using sequential gene expression profiling (GEP) samples, we defined a major functional group related to drug resistance that contains chromosomal instability (CIN) genes. One CIN gene in particular, NEK2, was highly correlated with drug resistance, rapid relapse, and poor outcome in multiple cancers. Overexpressing NEK2in cancer cells resulted in enhanced CIN, cell proliferation and drug resistance, while targetingNEK2by NEK2 shRNA overcame cancer cell drug resistance and induced apoptosis in vitro and in a xenograft myeloma mouse model. High expression of NEK2 induced drug resistance mainly through activation of the efflux pumps. Thus, NEK2 represents a strong predictor for drug resistance and poor prognosis in cancer and could be an important target for cancer therapy.
Juvenile Periodontitis: Report of Cases

Three daughters and a son n one family were affected by juvenile periodontitis. Findings from these cases indicate that the disease may be inherited throuth an X-linked dominant pattern.
Efficient Resource Allocation Strategies for Multicast/Broadcast Services in 3GPP Long Term Evolution Single Frequency Networks

In this paper, we consider the Single Frequency Network (SFN) operation of broadcast/multicast services, and develop resource allocation schemes to minimize the amount of resource over-provisioning. Over-provisioning is required when SFN areas are overlapping because all the cells in the SFN area should use the same resource to transmit a given MBMS service. We first develop an optimal resource allocation scheme that minimizes the over-provisioning. Due to the computational complexity of this scheme, we develop sub-optimal schemes whose complexity is quadratic in the number of services. In addition, we develop an incremental resource allocation scheme for newly arriving services that does not alter the resources allocated to existing services. We present numerical results showing the benefits of our proposed schemes. Motivated by these numerical results, we design a hierarchically overlapping SFN areas scheme that strikes the right balance between complexity and resource over-provisioning.
Hole-pair symmetry and excitations in the strong-coupling extended t − J z model: competition between d -wave and p -wave symmetry

We analytically calculate the ground state pairing symmetry and excitation spectra of two holes doped into the half-filled $t\ensuremath{-}{t}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}{t}^{\ensuremath{''}}\ensuremath{-}{J}_{z}$ model in the strong-coupling limit $({J}_{z}⪢\ensuremath{\mid}t\ensuremath{\mid},\ensuremath{\mid}{t}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\mid},\ensuremath{\mid}{t}^{\ensuremath{''}}\ensuremath{\mid})$. In leading order, this reduces to the ${t}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}{t}^{\ensuremath{''}}\ensuremath{-}{J}_{z}$ model, where there are regions of $d$-wave, $s$-wave, and (degenerate) $p$-wave symmetry. We find that the $t\ensuremath{-}{J}_{z}$ model maps in lowest order onto the ${t}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}{t}^{\ensuremath{''}}\ensuremath{-}{J}_{z}$ model on the boundary between $d$ and $p$ symmetry, with a flat lower band in the pair excitation spectrum. In higher order, $d$-wave symmetry is selected from the lower pair band. However, we observe that the addition of the appropriate ${t}^{\ensuremath{'}}l0$ and/or ${t}^{\ensuremath{''}}g0$, the signs of ${t}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ and ${t}^{\ensuremath{''}}$ found in the hole-doped cuprates, could drive the hole-pair symmetry to $p$-wave symmetry, implying the possibility of competition between $p$-wave and $d$-wave pair ground states. (An added ${t}^{\ensuremath{'}}g0$ and/or ${t}^{\ensuremath{''}}l0$ generally tend to promote $d$-wave symmetry.) We perturbatively construct an extended quasipair for the $t\ensuremath{-}{J}_{z}$ model. In leading order, there are contributions from sites at a distance of $\sqrt{2}$ lattice spacings apart; however, contributions from sites two lattice spacings apart, also of the same order, vanish identically. Finally, we compare our approach with analytic calculations for a $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2$ plaquette and with existing numerical work, and discuss possible relevance to the physical parameter regime.
For and against [Debate]

This month we ask two high-profile figures whether there is a cause for optimism for the future of young women in engineering.
Mucolipidosis III GNPTG Missense Mutations Cause Misfolding of the γ Subunit of GlcNAc‐1‐Phosphotransferase

The lysosomal storage disorder ML III γ is caused by defects in the γ subunit of UDP-GlcNAc:lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase, the enzyme that tags lysosomal enzymes with the mannose 6-phosphate lysosomal targeting signal. In patients with this disorder, most of the newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes are secreted rather than being sorted to lysosomes, resulting in increased levels of these enzymes in the plasma. Several missense mutations in GNPTG, the gene encoding the γ subunit, have been reported in mucolipidosis III γ patients. However, in most cases, the impact of these mutations on γ subunit function has remained unclear. Here, we report that the variants c.316G>A (p.G106S), c.376G>A (p.G126S), and c.425G>A (p.C142Y) cause misfolding of the γ subunit, whereas another variant, c.857C>T (p.T286M), does not appear to alter γ subunit function. The misfolded γ subunits were retained in the ER and failed to rescue the lysosomal targeting of lysosomal acid glycosidases.
Aneuploidy Screening: The Ongoing Role of First-Trimester Ultrasound

ACOG recommends that all women be offered aneuploidy screening prior to 20 weeks gestation. The landscape of prenatal aneuploidy screening has evolved from assessing a single parameter (maternal age) to incorporating a myriad of different ultrasound and serum markers, to the most current and direct method of analyzing fetal DNA within maternal circulation. Although the performance of aneuploidy screening has undoubtedly improved over the years, there continues to be discussion surrounding the best use of these technologies in clinical practice. With new technologies we can now screen for additional aneuploidies beyond trisomies 21, 18, and 13. While screening for aneuploidy via circulating cell free fetal DNA (ccffDNA) has become increasingly popular, the benefits of first-trimester ultrasound in the detection of genetic conditions and fetal anomalies cannot be understated. With the expansion in available screening methodologies, we must continue to evaluate the practical implications including clinical utility, patient autonomy, and the ability to provide informed consent for an ever-growing number of chromosomal conditions.
Evaluation of algorithms for recommending intelligent tutors to computer science students

Computer science students often need help with discovering and learning how to use APIs, such as when working on homework. Prior research showed that students can learn APIs faster and more effectively from intelligent tutors, compared to either textbooks or searching for examples online. Yet to date, no facility has been available to help students learn from a sequence of tutors, for the common situation where they need to learn multiple APIs. This paper describes a system that provides API tutor recommendations; it integrates two alternative algorithms that determine, for a given user at a given moment in time, what API tutors to recommend for that user's consideration. One algorithm is a content-based recommender, which builds a graph reflecting relationships among APIs (in terms of how they call one another) to determine an order in which it makes sense to learn the APIs. The other algorithm is a standard collaborative filtering algorithm, which identifies which users tend to give similar ratings as one another, then uses the ratings from users to recommend tutors to similar users. In an empirical study, 25 students used the system for two weeks, worked through recommended tutors, and gave ratings to the tutors. The study tracked which of the two algorithms gave each recommendation, making it possible to statistically determine which algorithm tended to give recommendations that obtained higher ratings. The results showed that ratings of content-based recommendations were significantly higher than ratings of collaborative-filtering-based recommendations. Further analysis of study data suggested that the reason for this difference was that the first algorithm's recommendations were more relevant and provided at points in time when the students felt more ready to learn each API.
An Algorithm of Large Linear Equations Based on Block Matrix for Whole Process Dynamic Simulations

Power system whole process dynamic simulation is such a method in which the electro-mechanical transient,mediumand long-term dynamic phenomena are organically unified.During the whole process of dynamic simulation,it is one of the key steps to solve sparse systems of linear equations composed of two kinds of equations:difference equations from dynamic equipment and algebraic equations from power network.Because of its very high order and large numbers of solving,the algorithm for fast solving is very important for this kind of dynamic simulation.This paper proposes a new method based on the block matrix for fast solving this linear equation and has developed an electric sparse solver(ESS).It first divides the sparse matrix into four big blocks.Many decoupled diagonal smaller blocks which are related to the equipment on buses in the power system are further divided from the largest diagonal block.Next,by utilizing the same structure among these small blocks, these diagonal blocks are symbolically and numerically LU factorized one by one.Finally,the equations are solved block by block using conventional forward and backward substitution.This algorithm has been implemented in a new linear system solver called ESS.The results from several linear equations in power system whole process dynamic simulations show that compared with other solvers,ESS can achieve higher computational efficiency,especially in the factorization phase.
An initial life cycle assessment of rare earth oxides production from ion-adsorption clays

Abstract Rare earth elements (REEs) have found applications in the aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics and lighting industries, among others. A special class of REEs known as heavy rare earths (HREEs) is of particular importance to energy applications. With the growing clean energy technologies incorporating HREEs, it is valuable to examine their environmental emissions and energy requirements. Currently, extraction of HREEs is mainly carried out in China, where they are extracted mainly via open pit mining of bastnasite and/or monazite and leaching of ion-adsorption clays. Leach mining varies significantly from open pit mining technique in that the ores have much lower REE content but REEs stay as cations thus there is no need for physical and chemical beneficiation. To date limited life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have been done on REEs production and all of them are for the bastnasite/monazite route. This paper presents the first LCA of in-situ leach mining of REEs from ion adsorption clays in southern China. The function unit was defined as production of 1 kg of mixed rare earth oxides (REOs) of purity 92%. Ecoinvent 3.0 database was adopted for inventory analysis with material and energy flow information gathered from Chinese literature. To facilitate the use of results in U.S. and EU, TRACI and ILCD in SimaPro 8 were used for environmental impact assessment and cumulative energy demand was also considered as one additional category. The results showed that the environmental impacts for REOs derived from ion adsorption clays are similar in categories such as global warming and cumulative energy demand, but differs significantly in categories of eutrophication and acidification. Since the content of high value HREEs is much higher in ion adsorption clays, when economic value based allocation is used individual REO from in situ leaching has lower environmental impacts across all categories considered. With estimates of HREEs derived from ion-adsorption clays accounting for approximately 35% of the Chinese output, this LCA is a step towards getting a full understanding of the true environmental impact of technologies incorporating HREEs.
Effect of protein deprivation on immunoregulatory cells in the rat mucosal immune response.

Secretory IgA antibody responses such as those directed against respiratory and enteric pathogens, may be impaired in protein-calorie malnutrition. In previous studies using a rat model of the mucosal immune response to cholera toxin, as little as 2 weeks of severe protein deprivation markedly impaired mucosal anti-toxin production. The present studies examined the effect of protein deprivation on lymphocyte populations which adoptively transfer either priming or suppression of a mucosal anti-toxin response from malnourished donor rats to syngeneic well nourished recipients. Either 2 or 8 weeks of protein deprivation severely impaired the development of thoracic duct lymphocytes which could transfer priming or suppression after intraduodenal priming, and impaired splenic suppressor cell development after s.c. priming. The abrogation of suppression by protein deprivation was dependent on the dose of s.c. antigen used to induce suppression. Refeeding rats after two months of protein deprivation led to recovery of both priming cell and suppressor cell function. Severe protein deprivation induces a reversible defect in both priming and suppressor cell populations; the net effect is an impaired mucosal immune response.
Control of inter-area oscillation with noise corrupted wide area measurement

There is increased research trend towards the use of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) for real-time stability monitoring and active feedback control of power system. In this paper, we address the problem of control of inter-area oscillations when the measurements from Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) are corrupted with noise. Unlike existing results, we assume that the noise enters multiplicatively in system measurements. We provide systematic procedure based on the solution of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI) for the mean square stochastic stability verification of power system with measurement uncertainties. Furthermore, an optimization-based procedure is proposed for the synthesis of measurement-based feedback controller robust to wide area measurement noise. Finally, simulation results are provided to demonstrate the application of the developed framework on WSCC 9 bus system.
Ear Acupuncture for Immediate Pain Relief-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective. To systematically review the literature on the effectiveness of ear acupuncture (EA) for immediate pain relief. Data sources. AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane Reviews, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus Web of Science, from inception through March 2015. Study selection. English publications, randomized controlled trials on human subjects involving EA as a treatment for pain, with outcomes recorded within 48 hours. Data extraction and design. Two authors independently assessed trial eligibility, quality, results, and side effects, and extracted data; a third author checked final data. Effect size (d), mean difference (MD), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scoring system was used to assess study quality. Meta-analysis was performed for two primary outcomes measures—pain intensity score and analgesic requirements. Results. Ten studies met inclusion criteria. Quality per PEDro scores: four excellent, four good, two fair. Based on their primary outcome measures, six studies showed EA being superior to its comparator, three showed no difference to comparators (which in all cases were analgesics), and one study showed significant pain decrease at the first time point and no significant decrease at the second. Meta-analysis was completed for the three studies that evaluated pain intensity as a primary outcome measure, and EA was superior to comparator (MD = -0.96, 95% CI = -1.82– -0.11), but the MD was small. Meta-analysis was completed for the six studies that evaluated analgesic requirements, and EA was superior (MD = -1.08, 95% CI = -1.78– -0.38]), again with a small MD. Six studies reported side effects; all were minor and transient. Conclusions. Ear acupuncture may be a promising modality to be used for pain reduction within 48 hours, with a low side effect profile. Rigorous research is needed to establish definitive evidence of a clinically significant difference from controls or from other pain treatments.
Nitrite isotopes as tracers of marine N cycle processes

Nitrite (NO2) is a key intermediate in the marine nitrogen (N) cycle. It is produced and consumed throughout the ocean by the dominant processes driving the distribution, availability and speciatio...
Cosmetic Neurotoxin Injection

Ever since the first published report of the application of botulinum toxin for cosmetic use by Carruthers et al. in 1990, the practice quickly expanded, taking only a few years to gain widespread acceptance and adoption. There now exist numerous different drug preparations, using one of multiple different toxins, with more popular trade names including Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin, to name a few. A number of different applications for these neurotoxins have also expanded in the past few decades. This chapter aims to provide a brief overview of the indications, possible complications, and essential steps involved in cosmetic neurotoxin injection. It also provides an example of the operative dictation.
Measurement of interfacial thermal conductance in Lithium ion batteries

Abstract Increasing usage and recent accidents due to Lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries exploding or catching on fire has inspired research on the thermal management of these batteries. In cylindrical 18650 cells, heat generated during the charge/discharge cycle must dissipate to the surrounding through its metallic case due to the poor thermal conductivity of the jelly roll, which is spirally wound with many interfaces between electrodes and the polymeric separator. This work develops a technique to measure the thermal resistance across the case-separator interface, which ultimately limits heat transfer out of the jelly roll. Commercial 18650 batteries are discharged and opened using a battery disassembly tool, and the 25 μm thick separator and the 200 μm thick metallic case are harvested to make samples. A miniaturized version of the conventional reference bar method (ASTM D5470 ) combined with infrared thermal microscopy to map the temperature profile including the interfacial temperature jumps enables measurement of the interfacial thermal conductance across a range of case temperatures and interface pressures. The mean thermal conductance across the case-separator interface is 670 ± 275 W/(m2 K) and no significant temperature or pressure dependence on is observed.
Probing Induced Structural Changes in Biomimetic Bacterial Cell Membrane Interactions with Divalent Cations

Biological membranes, formed primarily by the self-assembly of complex mixtures of phospholipids, provide a structured scaffold for compartmentalization and structural processes in living cells. The specific physical properties of phospholipid species present in a given membrane play a key role in mediating these processes. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), a zwitterionic lipid present in bacterial, yeast, and mammalian cell membranes, is exceptional. In addition to undergoing the standard lipid polymorphic transition between the gel and liquid-crystalline phase, it can also assume an unusual polymorphic state, the inverse hexagonal phase (HII). Divalent cations are among the factors that drive the formation of the HII phase, wherein the lipid molecules form stacked tubular structures by burying the hydrophilic head groups and exposing the hydrophobic tails to the bulk solvent. Most biological membranes contain a lipid species capable of forming the HII state suggesting that such lipid polymorphic structural states play an important role in structural biological processes such as membrane fusion. In this study, the interactions between Mg2+ and biomimetic bacterial cell membranes composed of PE and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) were probed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The lipid phase transitions were examined at varying ratios of PE to PG and upon exposure to physiologically relevant concentrations of Mg2+. An understanding of these basic interactions enhances our understanding of membrane dynamics and how membrane-mediated structural changes may occur in vivo.
College-Related Alcohol Beliefs and Problematic Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies as a Mediator

ABSTRACTBackground: College-related alcohol beliefs, or beliefs that drinking alcohol is central to the college experience, have been shown to robustly predict alcohol-related outcomes among college students. Given the strength of these associations, it is imperative to understand more proximal factors (i.e., closer in a causal chain leading to alcohol-related outcomes) that can explain these associations. Objectives: The current research examined alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) as a potential mediator of the association between college-related alcohol beliefs and alcohol outcomes among college student drinkers. Method: Participants were undergraduate students from a large southeastern university (Sample 1; n = 561) and a large southwestern university (Sample 2; n = 563) in the United States that consumed alcohol at least once in the previous month. Results: Path analysis was conducted examining the concurrent associations between college-related alcohol beliefs, PBS use (both as a single f...