cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CALRETICULIN GENE FROM RICINUS COMMUNIS L.

A full-length cDNA encoding a calreticulin-like protein was isolated by immune-screening a germinating castor bean endosperm cDNA library with antisera raised to the total lumenal fraction of purified plant endoplasmic reticulum. The calcium-binding properties of the recombinant protein were characterized and shown to be essentially identical to those reported for the mammalian calreticulin. Calcium overlays and immune blot analysis confirmed the endoplasmic lumenal identity of this reticuloplasmin. Probing protein blots of endoplasmic reticulum subfractions with radio-iodinated calreticulin showed specific associations with various polypeptides including one identified as the abundant reticuloplasmin protein disulfide isomerase. Characterization of the corresponding genomic clones revealed that calreticulin is encoded by a single gene of 3 kb in castor. The full genomic sequence reveals the presence of 12 introns, 12 translated exons, and one exon containing the last three amino acids of the translated sequence and the 3′-untranslated region of the gene. Northern blot analysis of RNA isolated from various organ tissues showed a basal constitutive level of expression throughout the plant, but more abundant mRNA being detected in tissues active in secretion. This was confirmed by analysis of transgenic tobacco plants containing 1.8 kb of 5′-untranslated genomic sequence fused to the β-glucuronidase reporter gene (GUS) showed a more localized pattern of expression. Activity being localized to the vasculature (phloem, root hairs and root tip) in vegetative tissue, and being strongly expressed in the floral organs including the developing and germinating seed.
Application of natural polymers and herbal extracts in wound management

Abstract The chapter critically surveys some of the significant advances in the use of natural polymers and herbal extracts for effectively treating wounds. Herbs such as coffee and green tea have been used as encapsulation in the preparation of an adhesive tape made from 100% natural bamboo nonwoven materials to achieve better antibacterial activity. Sodium alginate has been used as outer shell. No allergic reaction has been observed on skin upon testing with the entire two samples on different age and skin types. Woven bamboo fabric has been used as base material for developing wound dressing by coating with various compositions of aloe vera, curcumin and chitosan enhanced with rhEGF for wound healing applications. The coated fabric samples have been analysed for wound healing efficacy adopting the in vivo method. To improve antibacterial activity, cotton fabric has been treated with neem oil, aloe vera and tulsi. The fabric so treated offers the advantages that include selective activity to undesirable microorganisms, safe to user and environment, easier application with durability, resistant to body fluids and disinfections/sterilization. Wound dressings from natural polymers have been reviewed and provide a perspective for skin tissue engineering. The effectiveness of collagen, gelatin, alginate, chitosan, keratin, cellulose, antimicrobial cellulose, silk sericin, etc., has been critically assessed. The challenges and strategies relating to biopolymers as wound healing materials have been examined. These include collagen, alginic acid and its salts, hyaluronic acid and its derivatives, chitosan, fucoidan and poly- N -acetyl glucosamine. With different varieties of polysaccharides in modern wound dressings, the effective utilisation of polysaccharide fibres such as alginate, chitin and chitosan for the medical application, specifically for wound management, have been studied. The current research status relating to these and findings of various researchers have been highlighted.
Hepatic stellate cell activation: A source for bioactive lipids

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are non-parenchymal liver cells that characteristically contain multiple retinoid (vitamin A)-containing lipid droplets. In this study, we addressed the metabolic fate of non-retinoid lipids originating from lipid droplet loss during HSCs activation. UPLC/MS/MS and qRT-PCR were used to monitor the lipid composition and mRNA expression of selected genes regulating lipid metabolism in freshly isolated, overnight-, 3- and 7-day cultures or primary mouse HSCs. A preferential accumulation of specific C20-C24 fatty acid species, especially arachidonic (C20:4) and docosahexaenoic acids (C22:6), was revealed in culture-activated HSCs along with an upregulation of transcription of fatty acid desaturases (Scd1, Scd2) and elongases (Elovl5, Elovl6). This was accompanied with an enrichment of activated HSCs with 36:4 and 38:4 phosphatidylcholine species containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and associated accumulation of selective lipid mediators, including endocannabinoids and related N-acylethanolamides, as well as ceramides. An increase in 2-arachidonoylglycerol and N-arachydonoylethanolamide concentrations was observed along with an upregulation of Daglα mRNA expression in HSCs during culture activation. N-palmitoylethanolamide was identified as the most abundant endocannabinoid-like species in activated HSCs. An increase in total ceramide levels and enrichment with N-palmitoyl (C16:0), N-tetracosenoyl (C24:1), N-tetracosanoyl (C24:0) and N-docosanoyl (C22:0) ceramides was detected in activated HSC cultures and was preceded by increased mRNA expression of ceramide synthesizing enzymes (CerS2, CerS5 and Smpd1). Our data suggest an active redistribution of non-retinoid lipids in HSCs underlying the formation of low abundance, highly bioactive lipid species that may affect signaling during HSC activation, as well as extracellularly within the liver.
Recent global warming as confirmed by AIRS

This paper presents Atmospheric Infra-Red Sounder (AIRS) surface skin temperature anomalies for the period 2003 through 2017, and compares them to station-based analyses of surface air temperature anomalies (principally the Goddard Institute for Space Studies Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP)). The AIRS instrument flies on EOS Aqua, which was launched in 2002 and became stable in September 2002. AIRS surface temperatures are completely satellite-based and are totally independent of any surface-based measurements. We show in this paper that satellite-based surface temperatures can serve as an important validation of surface-based estimates and help to improve surface-based data sets in a way that can be extended back many decades to further scientific research. AIRS surface temperatures have better spatial coverage than those of GISTEMP, though at the global annual scale the two data sets are highly coherent. As in the surface-based analyses, 2016 was the warmest year yet.
Carrot Organelle Genomes: Organization, Diversity, and Inheritance

Cultivated carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) is one of about 25–40 related wild species in the genus Daucus depending on the classification. It is part of a widely distributed and taxonomically complex family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) containing 466 genera and 3820 species that is one of the largest families of seed plants. Members of the Apiaceae, particularly the genus Daucus, have been the subject of intensive recent molecular studies on the structure and genetics of plastids and mitochondria. This chapter summarizes organellar (plastids and mitochondria) structure, function, mutational rates, and inter-organelle DNA transfer in the Apiaceae and inheritance in the genus Daucus, with a wider focus on the Apiaceae and the sister family Araliaceae, and places these data in the context of other studies in the angiosperms.
The Nutritional Environment Influences the Impact of Microbes on Drosophila melanogaster Life Span

ABSTRACT Microbes can extend Drosophila melanogaster life span by contributing to the nutritional value of malnourishing fly culture medium. The beneficial effect of microbes during malnutrition is dependent on their individual ability to proliferate in the fly environment and is mimicked by lifelong supplementation of equivalent levels of heat-killed microbes or dietary protein, suggesting that microbes can serve directly as a protein-rich food source. Here, we use nutritionally rich fly culture medium to demonstrate how changes in dietary composition influence monocolonized fly life span; microbes that extend fly life span on malnourishing diets can shorten life on rich diets. The mechanisms employed by microbes to affect host health likely differ on low- or high-nutrient diets. Our results demonstrate how Drosophila-associated microbes can positively or negatively influence fly life span depending on the nutritional environment. Although controlled laboratory environments allow focused investigations on the interaction between fly microbiota and nutrition, the relevance of these studies is not straightforward, because it is difficult to mimic the nutritional ecology of natural Drosophila-microbe interactions. As such, caution is needed in designing and interpreting fly-microbe experiments and before categorizing microbes into specific symbiotic roles based on results obtained from experiments testing limited conditions. IMPORTANCED. melanogaster ingests microorganisms growing within its rotting vegetation diet. Some of these microbes form associations with flies, while others pass through the gut with meals. Fly-microbe-diet interactions are dynamic, and changes to the fly culture medium can influence microbial growth in the overall environment. In turn, these alterations in microbial growth may not only impact the nutritional value of fly meals but also modulate behavior and health, at least in part due to direct contributions to fly nutrition. The interactive ecology between flies, microbes, and their environment can cause a specific microbe to be either beneficial or detrimental to fly life span, indicating that the environment should be considered a key influential factor in host-microbe interactions.
Nerve Growth Factor Protects Against Pyrethroid-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress in Primary Hippocampal Neurons.

Neurotrophins are a family of growth factors crucial for growth and survival of neurons in the developing and adult brain. Reduction in neurotrophin levels is associated with reduced neurogenesis and cognitive deficits in rodents. Recently, we demonstrated that long-term exposure to low levels of the pyrethroid pesticide deltamethrin causes hippocampal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and learning deficits in mice. Here, we found that nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA and protein were selectively reduced in the hippocampus of deltamethrin-treated mice. To explore potential mechanisms responsible for this observation, we employed mouse primary hippocampal neurons. Exposure of neurons to deltamethrin (1-5 μM) caused ER stress as indicated by increased levels of C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78). These changes were accompanied by increased levels of caspase-12, activated caspase-3, and decreased levels of NGF. Inhibition of ER stress with the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) inhibitor salubrinal abolished deltamethrin-induced activation of caspase-12 and caspase-3, and restored NGF levels. Furthermore, deltamethrin decreased Akt (protein kinase B) phosphorylation, which was significantly prevented by co-treatment with NGF or SC-79 in cells. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the loss of NGF following ER stress may contribute to deltamethrin-induced apoptosis in the hippocampus through the Akt signaling pathway, and that this may provide a plausible mechanism for impaired learning and memory observed following exposure of mice to deltamethrin.
Cell therapies can bring insult to injury

Some cell therapies increase the risk of thromboembolism in trauma patients due to high tissue factor expression.
Pacman Game Benefit Analysis on Decision Making Speed

Pacman game is able to train the child concentration and decision making speed. This Research use respondent children ages 6 up to11 years as a player who will take the data. Every respondent must play Pacman game and then they can answer 10 questions. Resulting data are analyzed with a statistical method; it is “product moment" in correlation technique. The result turns out 8 of the 10 children get correlation values above 0.632. From the results of these research demonstrate that children who play the Pacman has the ability to quick in decision making and to have high concentrations. Because playing the game using the right brain or our imagination so that when applied in real life we are trained to improve concentration and have a strategy in solving the problem. Keyword: decision making, respondent children, statistical method, product moment
A 75-Year-Old Woman with Hand Grip Weakness

This chapter is an overview of the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common compressive neuropathy of the upper limb with reported population prevalence of 3–6%. This syndrome can present with disturbing and aggravating neuropathic symptoms of the hands, affecting females slightly more than males. Symptoms may worsen to include subjective weakness in hand strength and eventually may lead to intrinsic wasting in the thenar muscles of the hand. Signs and symptoms result from compression of the median nerve as is traverses the “carpal tunnel” into the hand. The condition needs careful evaluation to avoid missing other pathologies mimicking carpal tunnel syndrome. Diagnosis may further be supported by a combination of physical exam maneuvers and supplemental diagnostic studies. These studies include nerve conduction and electromyography, and diagnostic ultrasound. Treatments range from conservative measures including bracing/splinting to injections of corticosteroid to platelet-rich plasma, and lastly surgical interventions including open and endoscopic techniques. The challenge for those treating this condition continues to be the variable outcomes that patients experience with all interventions just mentioned, and determining which interventions may be most effective for patients with moderate severity CTS.
Severe Postmenopausal Genital Pain Treated Successfully With Prolonged Estrogen Therapy: A Case Series and Narrative Review.

Objective The aim of the study was to describe a debilitating postmenopausal condition of continuous burning genital pain that remitted with prolonged estrogen focused on the vulvar vestibule. Materials and methods Postmenopausal patients with constant genital pain seen by the author in a specialty vulvar health clinic comprised an institutional review board-approved descriptive case series. Examinations to localize pain used 4% lidocaine topical solution. Each patient received estradiol nightly as vestibule creme or constantly by transdermal route and was followed by serial examinations and follow-up telephone contact. Statistical tests included Student t test, Fisher exact test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results Between 2008 and 2016, 16 women presented with constant genital pain that was partly or fully extinguishable with topical vestibular lidocaine, and their pain slowly responded to prolonged vestibule-directed estradiol therapy. The mean age was 66.8 years (± 11.2). The mean pain score was 5 (range = 2-10 on a 0-10 scale). Seven (44%) characterized their pain as debilitating, and 13 (81%) had accompanying urinary symptoms. In 9 patients (56%), ovaries had been removed before natural menopause at ages 27-50 years (mean = 39), followed by minimal or no estrogen therapy. Prolonged estrogen therapy eliminated constant pain in 69% and mitigated it in 31%. Conclusions Information about this severe but remediable condition that is associated with lack of estrogen may guide specialists who are treating complex vulvar pain. The patients' clinical histories and therapeutic courses invite a review of estrogen receptor physiology related to urogenital pain conditions.
Social Behaviors Associated with a Positive COVID-19 Test Result

Abstract Objective To compare behaviors of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 relative to non-infected individuals. Methods We sent COVID positive cases and age/gender matched controls a survey regarding their social behaviors via MyChart (online patient portal). We called cases if they did not complete the electronic survey within two days. Data was collected from May-June 2020. Survey responses for cases without a close contact and controls were compared using Pearson chi-square or Fisher’s Exact tests as appropriate. Results A total of 339 participants completed the survey (113 cases, 226 controls); 45 (40%) cases had known contact with COVID-19. Cases were more likely to have recently traveled (4% vs. 0%, p=0.01) or to work outside the home (40% vs. 25%, p=0.02). There was no difference in the rates of attending private or public gatherings, mask/glove use, hand-washing, cleaning surfaces and cleaning mail/groceries between cases and controls. Conclusions Sixty percent of cases had no known contact with COVID-19, indicating ongoing community transmission and underlining the importance of contact tracing. The greater percentage of cases who work outside the home provides further evidence for social distancing.
A High-Speed Charge Injection Circuit for Nanosecond-Scale Electrochemical Measurements

This paper describes a GaNFET-based high-speed charge injection circuit to study fast redox processes at electrode-electrolyte interfaces. The circuit allows the rates of electrode processes, which are much faster than those accessible with a conventional potentiostat, to be measured. It is able to inject charge across the interface within a few nanoseconds, and also to hold the potential generated across the cell following injection for up to 1 s without appreciable (less than 1%) decay. In addition, the circuit can still monitor the current flowing through the cell, as in a conventional potentiostat. Preliminary test results with both a dummy load and a custom two-electrode electrochemical cell confirm the functionality of the proposed circuit.
Ex-situ measurement of thermal conductivity and swelling of nanostructured fibrous electrodes in electrochemical energy devices

Abstract Nanostructured electrodes are widely used in electrochemical energy devices, such as batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors. This paper presents an ex-situ experimental study to measure the thermal conductivity and volume change of nanostructured fibrous electrodes that are based on multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) buckypaper. Two typical interstitial liquids are investigated, including deionic water and ionic liquid (BMIM-PF6), along with oil (HM32 hydraulic oil) for comparison. It is found the buckypaper electrodes can be a poor through-plane thermal conductor with a conductivity around 0.2 W/m K despite of highly-conductive CNTs. External compression enhances the conductivities of wet samples up to 80–90%, and after that, further compression shows no evident impacts. Adding interstitial liquids significantly increases the sample’s conductivity by up to about 10 times with liquid water exhibiting the largest enhancement. The results are compared favorably with two popular correlations established for wet soils. In addition, buckypaper swelling is observed upon liquid absorption with a thickness change as much as 70%, comparable to the literature data of cotton and viscose rayon fibers. External compression greatly reduces the swelling. The work is valuable to the thermal management and durability studies of nanostructured fibrous electrodes for fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitor applications.
Low Job Satisfaction as A Lived Experience for Experienced Middle School Teachers in Rural Tennessee: A Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of rural experienced middle school teachers in Tennessee with low job satisfaction. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (EST) was the theoretical framework guiding this study. EST is composed of five environmental systems: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem. This study included participation from 10 experienced teachers with 5 or more years of teaching experience who demonstrated low job satisfaction in Tennessee according to the results of a questionnaire given prior to conducting the study. The central research question guiding this study was, what are experienced middle school teachers’ perceptions of job satisfaction as a lived experience in rural Tennessee? The four sub questions were designed to investigate how teacher workload, collegial experience, administrative leadership and support, and student behavior impact job satisfaction. Data for this study were collected through individual interviews, an online focus group interview, and a reflective journal, and produced four major themes: (a) unrealistic expectations, (b) middle school environment, (c) students, and (d) middle school teacher challenges. The findings revealed participants’ perceived administrators and policy makers had unrealistic expectations on their teachers due to being disconnected from their teachers. The findings also indicated participants’ environment at the middle school level was challenging as they dealt with the basic needs of students before educating them. Participants expressed that collegial support was vital to the profession and that they loved teaching but had negative perceptions about the challenges they often encounter on the job.
The moon, the ghetto and artificial intelligence: Reducing systemic racism in computational algorithms

Abstract Computational algorithms and automated decision making systems that include them offer potential to improve public policy and organizations. But computational algorithms based on biased data encode those biases into algorithms, models and their outputs. Systemic racism is institutionalized bias with respect to race, ethnicity and related attributes. Such bias is located in data that encode the results and outputs of decisions that have been discriminatory, in procedures and processes that may intentionally or unintentionally disadvantage people based on race, and in policies that may discriminate by race. Computational algorithms may exacerbate systemic racism if they are not designed, developed, and used–that is, enacted–with attention to identifying and remedying bias specific to race. Advancing social equity in digital governance requires systematic, ongoing efforts to assure that automated decision making systems, and their enactment in complex public organizational arrangements, are free from bias.
Vaginal mesh hysteropexy: a review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Pelvic organ prolapse surgery is performed via native tissue or graft augmented repair. Graft augmentation with synthetic mesh was introduced to improve long-term surgical outcomes compared with vaginal native tissue repairs. Vaginal hysteropexy has recently become increasingly popular due to patient preference and an improved morbidity profile over hysterectomy, while maintaining comparable efficacy. As long-term outcomes remain unanswered, mesh augmentation to vaginal hysteropexy has sought to improve efficacy while minimizing complications. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have demonstrated superiority of vaginal mesh hysteropexy to vaginal hysterectomy with native tissue vault suspension. Short-term follow-up of vaginal mesh hysteropexy has also demonstrated lower blood loss and operative time with improved vaginal length compared with hysterectomy. Mesh exposure rates across studies were low and comparable to those of abdominally placed prolapse mesh. SUMMARY Vaginal mesh hysteropexy is a comparably well tolerated and effective surgical treatment option for women with uterovaginal prolapse. Although vaginal mesh kits are not commercially available, this procedure may be a viable treatment option in select patients.
Gait Appearance for Recognition

This paper describes a set of representations of gait appearance features for the purpose of person identification. Our gait representation has two stages: the first stage computes a set of image features that are based on moments extracted from orthogonal view video silhouettes of human walking motion; the second stage applies three methods of aggregating these image features over time to create the gait sequence features. Despite their simplicity, the resulting gait sequence feature vectors contain enough information to perform well on human identification. We demonstrate the accuracy of recognition using gait video sequences collected over different daysa nd times, under varying lighting environments an d explore the differences in the three time-aggregation methods for the purpose of recognition.
Electronics Without Lead

In conventional consumer electronics such as cell phones, lead-containing interconnects provide the conductive path between different circuit elements. Environmental concerns have led to a search for lead-free alternatives. In their Perspective, Li et al. review these efforts, which have focused on lead-free alloys and electrically conductive adhesives. Both of these approaches are showing promise, but no one lead-free interconnect material can serve as a substitute for the conventional tin-lead solder in all devices.
RSV specimen collection methods: nasal vs. nasopharyngeal.

Purpose To compare two types of specimen collection methods for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus): nasal wash and nasopharyngeal wash. Methodology An exploratory descriptive research design was used to examine nasopharyngeal wash and nasal wash methods of collecting specimens for RSV to determine if one method gives more consistently accurate results. Sample size was 66. Findings Using chi square analysis on a contingency table, there was no significant difference between the two collection methods. Only 2 of the 66 samples showed a difference in the two collection methods by giving a positive result with the nasopharyngeal method. Conclusions There is no significant difference between using nasal wash and nasopharyngeal wash methods for collecting specimen for RSV testing. Nasal wash is a safe and accurate method for obtaining specimen for RSV.
Intrathecal Long-Term Gene Expression by Self-Complementary Adeno-Associated Virus type 1 Suitable for Chronic Pain Studies in Rats:

Intrathecal (IT) gene transfer is an attractive approach for targeting spinal mechanisms of nociception but the duration of gene expression achieved by reported methods is short (up to two weeks) impairing their utility in the chronic pain setting. The overall goal of this study was to develop IT gene transfer yielding true long-term transgene expression defined as ≥ 3 mo following a single vector administration. We defined "IT" administration as atraumatic injection into the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) modeling a lumbar puncture. Our studies focused on recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV), one of the most promising vector types for clinical use. Conventional single stranded rAAV2 vectors performed poorly after IT delivery in rats. Pseudotyping of rAAV with capsids of serotypes 1, 3, and 5 was tested alone or in combination with a modification of the inverted terminal repeat. The former alters vector tropism and the latter allows packaging of self-complementary rAAV (sc-rAAV) vectors. Combining both types of modification led to the identification of sc-rAAV2/l as a vector that performed superiorly in the IT space. IT delivery of 3 × 10e9 sc-rAAV2/l particles per animal led to stable expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) for ≥ 3 mo detectable by Western blotting, quantitative PCR, and in a blinded study by confocal microscopy. Expression was strongest in the cauda equina and the lower sections of the spinal cord and only minimal in the forebrain. Microscopic examination of the SC fixed in situ with intact nerve roots and meninges revealed strong EGFP fluorescence in the nerve roots. sc-rAAVl mediates stable IT transgene expression for ≥ 3 mo. Our findings support the underlying hypothesis that IT target cells for gene transfer lack the machinery for efficient conversion of the single-stranded rAAV genome into double-stranded DNA and favor uptake of serotype 1 vectors over 2. Experiments presented here will provide a rational basis for utilizing IT rAAV gene transfer in basic and translational studies on chronic pain.
The effects of the exogenous provision of lactate and the endogenous production of lactate on protein synthesis in the heart

We have investigated the effects of exogenous addition of lactate and of the stimulation of endogenous production of lactate on protein synthesis in the anterogradely perfused rat heart. In the absence of exogenous lactate, hearts release lactate into the perfusate. At lactate concentrations of 0.2 mM and greater, the heart takes up lactate. The best fit for lactate uptake plotted against exogenous lactate concentration is a rectangular hyperbola with a maximal rate of 220 mumol/2 h per heart (wet wt. about 1 g). Uptake is half-maximal at about 1.3 mM-lactate. The stimulation of protein synthesis also exhibits a rectangular-hyperbolic dependence on exogenous lactate concentration, with maximal stimulation being about 38%. Half-maximal stimulation occurs at about 0.9 mM-lactate. We stimulated endogenous lactate production by perfusion with 2-cyanocinnamate (an inhibitor of mitochondrial pyruvate transport) at concentrations up to 70 microM. Cardiac outputs, intracellular pH and the concentrations of phosphocreatine and the adenine nucleotides were not altered. Atrial protein-synthesis rates were unchanged, but ventricular rates were decreased. We conclude that endogenous lactate production is unlikely to stimulate protein synthesis and that the stimulation of protein synthesis by exogenous lactate is related to its uptake.
Exploring a three-equation R-k-ε turbulence model

A low Reynolds number extension of the k-∈ model is proposed and evaluated. This version has the following attributes: (a) it does not involve wall distance or normal-to-wall directionality; (b) it enforces time scale realisability by preventing it from falling below the Kolmogorov (dissipative eddy) scale, (v/∈) 1/2 ; (c) it employs a simple wall boundary condition for ∈. The current approach requires an additional transport equation for the undamped eddy viscosity, R, thus the resulting model is of the three-equation variety. Since wall distance is not used, the proposed model is applicable to arbitrary flow topologies.
Integration of a social skills training: a case study of children with low social skills

This study explores changes in children's social skills after a cognitive-social skills model intervention. The intervention was conducted over a period of 12 weeks within a regular preschool setting. Sixteen children including four considered to have low social skills participated in the study. Data analysis revealed that the four children with low social skills demonstrated changes in social skills through positive play behaviours such as asking positive questions, offering suggestions, initiating play episodes, and sharing play materials, although they had limited ability to maintain play episodes.
Determination of iodide clearance and exit rate constants in incubated thyroid lobes.

Propylthiouracil (PTU)-blocked thyroid lobes were incubated in Krebs-Ringerphosphate for different times with 2 isotopes of iodine. On the basis of an open 2-compartment model, the one-way iodide clearance (C/m) from the medium as well as the iodide exit rate constant (KTM) were determined directly and simultaneously. When oxygen concentration was reduced from 100 to 20.9 or 12%, KTM significantly increased but C/m was unchanged. Incubation under 100 % nitrogen effected a further increase in KTM as well as a reduction in C/m. Addition of NaC104 or excess iodide to the medium caused an elevation in KTM and a reduction in C/m. In the iodide experiments, however, the decrease in C/m was interpreted to result primarily from a reduction in the specific activity of medium radioiodide. Exposure to increased endogenous thyrotropin effected by feeding a low iodine or a 0.3 % PTU diet for 7 or 14 days significantly reduced KTM (p <0.001). C/m was increased on the low iodine diet but unchanged on the PTU diet. (Endo...
Portal serum constituents possible determinants for anatomical localization ofSchistosoma mansoni during maturation and reproduction.

Coupled adult pairs ofSchistosoma mansoni were incubated in medium containing either peripheral or portal serum from rat, rabbit, hamster, or man, and egg production was measured daily. In all cases egg production was significantly increased for pairs in the presence of portal sera compared with that in the presence of peripheral sera. Fractionation of rabbit portal serum according to molecular weight demonstrated that the most active component(s) were in the range of 2000 to 50,000. Similarly, a rat portal serum fraction in the range of 2000 to 30,000 molecular weight was most stimulatory. These fractions were as effective in stimulating oviposition as whole portal serum. Conclusions: (1) portal serum factor(s) exist that stimulateS. mansoni oviposition in vitro; (2) they are present in susceptible and nonsusceptible hosts; and (3) the molecular weight range for the active components is larger than would be expected for simple carbohydrates, amino acids, or free fatty acids absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
A Meta-Analytic Review of Graphic Organizers and Science Instruction for Adolescents with Learning Disabilities: Implications for the Intermediate and Secondary Science Classroom

This article presents a meta-analysis of experimental and quasi-experimental studies in which intermediate and secondary students with learning disabilities were taught science content through the use of graphic organizers (GOs). Following an exhaustive search for studies meeting specified selection criteria, 23 standardized mean effect sizes were extracted from six articles involving 271 participants in grades 6 through 12. Findings included that, across immediate posttest and maintenance conditions, the use of GOs was associated with increased vocabulary knowledge and factual comprehension measured by researcher-generated multiple-choice tests in science. Conclusions, implications for future research, and practical recommendations are presented.
Correlations between amino acid concentrations in brains of seizure-susceptible and seizure-resistant rats.

Abstract We have examined the relationship between free amino acid concentrations in the brains of genetically seizure-susceptible and seizure-resistant rats. The concentrations of free amino acids in the two strains do not differ significantly in the inferior colliculus or the cortex. However, animal-to-animal variations in the concentrations of numerous amino acid pairs are highly correlated. Glutamic acid decarboxylase activities did not vary between the two strains. We conclude that the strong correlations reported between glutamate and taurine levels in several species are not unique to this amino acid pair. Furthermore, unlike the situation with some experimentally-induced epilepsies, genetic epilepsy is not associated with major disturbances in free amino acid concentrations. The high correlations between amino acid pairs in some cases may reflect variations in cellular and subcellular compartment sizes that are shared by several amino acids.
Is remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) a subset of rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives To contrast and compare the spectrum of remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using an illustrative case. Methods The relevant English literature of RS3PE was searched using the keywords "RS3PE" alone and in combination with terms such as neoplasia and rheumatic disease. Original and review articles were reviewed and the clinical setting was exemplified with a case report. Results RS3PE initially was reported to represent a form of RA. However, RS3PE has clinical features that are different from both early- and late-onset RA, such as lack of bony erosions and rheumatoid factor. RS3PE is thought to involve vascular endothelial growth factor, suggesting an infectious etiology, generally has an excellent prognosis, and is associated with neoplasia not commonly seen in RA, and the RA associated human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1 genotype is absent. Conclusions Based on the clinical, laboratory, suspected infectious etiology, genetic differences, and types of associated malignancies, RS3PE appears to be a distinct entity rather than a subset of RA.
Pump Replacement for Left Ventricular Assist Device Failure Can Be Done Safely and Is Associated With Low Mortality

Background Although continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are durable and reliable, device replacement will be inevitable in some patients. We evaluated the incidence and outcomes of pump replacement procedures with the HeartMate II (Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA) LVAD. Methods Data were obtained from 1,128 patients implanted from March 2005 to January 2010 with the HeartMate II during the clinical trials for bridge to transplant and destination therapy. The operative mortality associated with the replacement procedure was determined. Results The mean duration of HeartMate II support was 568 ± 535 days (cumulative duration: 1,755 patient-years, longest: 6.5 years). A total of 72 (6.4%) patients underwent 79 LVAD replacements (0.045 events/patient-year) of which 2 were in the initial operation and 77 in separate procedures. Reasons for replacement were percutaneous lead damage (36 events, 3.0%), device thrombosis (25 events, 2.1%), infection (7 events, 0.6%), and miscellaneous other (11 events, 0.9%). The median time to pump replacement was 428 days (range 0 to 1,474). Of the 77 replacement procedures, there were 5 (6.5%) operative deaths within 30 days. The causes of death were device thrombosis, right heart failure, multisystem organ failure, and bleeding. One year after exchange (median 2.1 years after initial implant), 30% had died, 5% were transplanted, and 65% were ongoing and alive. Conclusions HeartMate II device failure requiring pump replacement is infrequent, but when required can be done safely. These data continue to provide encouraging evidence supporting HeartMate II use for long-term circulatory support.
The effect of aluminum in soft water at low pH on osmoregulation and ionic balance in the dragonfly Libellula julia uhler

Abstract 1. 1. To determine the physiological impact of Al on an organism stressed by low pH, the acid tolerant Libellula Julia was exposed to 30 mg/l Al at a pH of 2.3, 0.3 of a pH unit above its 96 hr lc 50 . 2. 2. Aluminum at low pH, in comparison to low pH alone, caused highly significant losses of wet and ash weight and of body burdens of Na + and Ca 2+ . 3. 3. Since at the test pH Al exists as the ion, it would seem that a biological impact can be exerted not only by the ionized and unionized hydroxides, but also by Al 3+ .
The Riometer-A Device for the Continuous Measurement of Ionospheric Absorption

A sensitive, self-balancing, noise-measuring equipment, known as the riometer, is described. This instrument has been designed for routine measurement of ionospheric absorption during the IGY, using the cosmic noise method. Application of this technique in the auroral zone has resulted in quantitative measurements of ionospheric absorption, even during polar blackouts. The riometer has the advantages over a simple total-power cosmic noise receiving system of 1) linear response to changes of input noise power, 2) high accuracy in the presence of narrow-band RF interference, and 3) good long-term stability.
Time-Domain Ab Initio Simulation of Electron and Hole Relaxation Dynamics in a Single-Wall Semiconducting Carbon Nanotube

The electron and hole relaxation in the $(7,0)$ zigzag carbon nanotube is simulated in time domain using a surface-hopping Kohn-Sham density functional theory. Following a photoexcitation between the second van Hove singularities, the electrons and holes decay to the Fermi level on characteristic subpicosecond time scales. Surprisingly, despite a lower density of states, the electrons relax faster than the holes. The relaxation is primarily mediated by the high-frequency longitudinal optical (LO) phonons. Hole dynamics are more complex than the electron dynamics: in addition to the LO phonons, holes couple to lower frequency breathing modes and decay over multiple time scales.
Growth of Government and the Politics of Fiscal Policy

Abstract US government expenditures increased rapidly during the post-war period, then slowed in the 1980s and began falling in 1992. To examine the dynamics of the growth and subsequent reduction in government spending, we present a general equilibrium growth model in which politicians chose government spending to maximize support by their constituents. That is, output and government spending are endogenous and jointly determined. The model predicts that government expenditures will initially mimic Wagner's law—the tendency for government spending to increase with GDP—but eventually diverge from output due to the growth of the welfare state. After government expenditures become large, we identify an endogenous threshold on the economy's growth path where it is optimal for politicians to shrink the welfare state, cut taxes, and stimulate output growth. We show that the policies chosen by politicians are Pareto suboptimal and cause endogenous cycles in output. Such cycles are of several types, and we characterize when the equilibrium growth path will result in a reduction in the size of the welfare state, as well as when the welfare state cycles between small and large.
Electronic trading in financial markets

Technological innovations such as electronic communication networks bypass human intermediaries, increasing competition and reducing transaction costs for electronic trading in financial markets.
Millimeter wave mixing using plasmon and bolometric response in a double-quantum-well field-effect transistor

Heterodyne mixing characteristics of a double-quantum-well field-effect transistor (DQW FET) from 94 to 145GHz are reported. The DQW FET exhibits two physically distinct mixing responses. Near pinch-off, the device behaves as a broadband bolometric mixer with intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth of 620MHz. Away from pinch-off it shows an electrically tunable resonant plasmon response. Mixing on a plasmon resonance yields an IF with significant harmonic distortion, signaling a complicated nonlinear mechanism, and shows a wide IF bandwidth >2GHz.
Distance: A critical aspect for environmental impact assessment of hydraulic fracking

Abstract Public concerns about hydraulic fracking are growing and scientists continue to analyze and evaluate its associated environmental impacts. However, a rigorous spatial analysis of environmental impacts is necessary to provide a perspective on risk based on proximity to fracking wells. This comment describes the environmental impacts of fracking within a spatial context. It emphasizes five key points: (1) the closer to a hydraulic fracking well, the higher the risk of groundwater and drinking water well contamination; (2) residents living nearest to a fracking well experience a higher human health risk due to exposure to gas emissions during the fracking process; (3) huge and high density gas emissions are detected and recorded close to fracking wells; (4) fracking induces seismicity and small earthquakes are recorded close to fracking wells; and (5) hydraulic fracking directly changes local environment and landscape characteristics. Spatial impact assessments are critical for improving understanding of the impacts of hydraulic fracking on the environment and society.
A yeast telomere binding activity binds to two related telomere sequence motifs and is indistinguishable from RAP1.

Telomere Binding Activity (TBA), an abundant protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was identified by its ability to bind to telomeric poly(C1–3A) sequence motifs. The substrate specificity of TBA has been analyzed in order to determine whether the activity binds to a unique structure assumed by the irregularly repeating telomeric sequences or whether the activity recognizes and binds to subset of specific sequences found within the telomere repeat tracts. Deletion analysis and DNase I protection assays demonstrate that TBA binds specifically to two poly(C1–3A) sequences that differ by one nucleotide. The methylation of four guanine residues, located at identical relative positions within these two binding sequences, interferes with TBA binding to the substrates. A synthetic olignucleotide containing a single TBA binding site can function as a TBA binding substrate. The TBA binding site shares homology with the binding sites reported for the Repressor/Activator Protein 1 (RAP1), Translation Upshift Factor (TUF) and General Regulatory Factor (GRFI) transcription factors, and TBA binds directly to RAP1/TUF/GRFI substrate sequences. Yeast TBA preparations and the RAP1 gene product expressed in E. coli cells are both similarly sensitive to in vitro protease digestion. Affinity-purified TBA extracts include a protein indistinguishable from RAP1 in binding specificity, size, and antigenicity. The binding affinity of TBA for the two telomeric poly(C1–3A) binding sites is higher than its affinity for any of the other binding substrates used for its identification. In extracts of yeast spheroplasts prepared by incubation of yeast cells with Zymolyase, an altered, proteolyzed form, of TBA (TBA-S) is present. TBA-S has a faster mobility in gel retardation assays and SDS-PAGE gels, yet it retains the DNA binding properties of standard TBA preparations: it binds to RAP1/TUF/GRFI substrates with the same relative binding affinity and protects poly(C1–3A) tracts from DNase I digestion with a “footprint” identical to that of standard TBA preparations.
Determinants of Female Employment Patterns in U.S. Cities: A Time-Series Analysis

Employment data from 23 U.S. cities over nine years is used to explore the proposition that women in high-level political and administrative positions increase the female share of the better-paying...
Integrated refractive index optical ring resonator detector for capillary electrophoresis.

We developed a novel miniaturized and multiplexed, on-capillary, refractive index (RI) detector using liquid core optical ring resonators (LCORRs) for future development of capillary electrophoresis (CE) devices. The LCORR employs a glass capillary with a diameter of ∼100 μm and a wall thickness of a few micrometers. The circular cross section of the capillary forms a ring resonator along which the light circulates in the form of the whispering gallery modes (WGMs). The WGM has an evanescent field extending into the capillary core and responds to the RI change due to the analyte conducted in the capillary, thus permitting label-free measurement. The resonating nature of the WGM enables repetitive light−analyte interaction, significantly enhancing the LCORR sensitivity. This LCORR architecture achieves dual use of the capillary as a sensor head and a CE fluidic channel, allowing for integrated, multiplexed, and noninvasive on-capillary detection at any location along the capillary. In this work, we used el...