cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glutamate regulates intracellular calcium and gene expression in oligodendrocyte progenitors through the activation of DL-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors.

Abstract Oligodendrocytes and their progenitors (O-2A) express functional kainate- and DL-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-preferring glutamate receptors. The physiological consequences of activation of these receptors were studied in purified rat cortical O-2A progenitors and in the primary oligodendrocyte cell line CG-4. Changes in the mRNA levels of a set of immediate early genes were studied and were correlated to intracellular Ca2+ concentration, as measured by fura-2 Ca2+ imaging. Both in CG-4 and in cortical O-2A progenitors, basal mRNA levels of NGFI-A were much higher than c-fos, c-jun, or jun-b. Glutamate, kainate, and AMPA greatly increased NGFI-A mRNA and protein by activation of membrane receptors in a Ca(2+)-dependent fashion. Agonists at non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors promoted transmembrane Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent channels as well as kainate and/or AMPA channels. The influx of Ca2+ ions occurring through glutamate-gated channels was sufficient by itself to increase the expression of NGFI-A mRNA. AMPA receptors were found to be directly involved in intracellular Ca2+ and NGFI-A mRNA regulation, because the effects of kainate were greatly enhanced by cyclothiazide, an allosteric modulator that selectively suppresses desensitization of AMPA but not kainate receptors. Our results indicate that glutamate acting at AMPA receptors regulates immediate early gene expression in cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage by increasing intracellular calcium. Consequently, modulation of these receptor channels may have immediate effects at the genomic level and regulate oligodendrocyte development at critical stages.
The Effects of Program Involvement and Ease of Message Counterarguing on Advertising Persuasiveness

We investigated the effect of program involvement on the persuasive impact of an advertising message placed within the program. We found that an increase in program involvement enhanced the persuasive impact of an easy-to-coun-terargue advertising message and reduced the impact of a difficult-to-coun-terargue advertising message. These findings suggest that program environments generally have similar effects on the persuasiveness of contiguously presented advertising messages, as have been observed for distractors on concurrent message presentations. The implications of these findings for advertising theory and practice are discussed.
Synthesis of electrically conductive polypyrroles at the air-water interface of a Langmuir-Blodgett film balance

Abstract Electrically conductive monolayers of polypyrroles have been synthesized at the air-water interface of a Langmuir-Blodgett film balance. This was accomplished by spreading a mixture of pyrrole monomer and a surface-active pyrrole derivative (3-octadecyl pyrrole) onto a subphase containing an oxidizing aqueous solution of FeCl3. The resultant electrically conductive films can be subsequently compressed into a condensed monolayer in which they exhibit the surface pressure- area characteristics of the 3-octadecyl pyrrole in a slightly expanded state. It has also been found that neither the pyrrole nor the 3-octadecyl pyrrole will react at the air- water interface to produce electrically conductive materials under the conditions used to polymerize the mixture. In other words, electrically conductive monolayers can only be produced from spreading solutions containing both the surface-active pyrrole and pyrrole monomer. Preliminary IR analysis indicates that the newly formed polymer monolayer comprises both pyrrole and alkyl pyrrole units.
Documented Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Wintertime.

ROCKY Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is the most severe rickettsial disease of man in North America and is generally considered to be a seasonal disease.1-3The overwhelming majority of cases occur between the months of April and October.4,5This mostly warm-weather period also happens to be the time of maximum activity of the ixodid ticks that serve as both reservoir and vector for the disease. We report a case of RMSF during a prolonged cold winter period in February 1981 in North Carolina. This case is interesting not only because of its temporal occurrence but also because the etiologic agent was isolated and there was no tick bite history associated with it. Report of a Case In early February 1981, a 6-year-old boy, a resident of rural eastern North Carolina who resides in a single-family dwelling on a partially cleared 3-acre wooded tract with his parents, two siblings
Photomask quality problems

The problems associated with photomask production are categorized as follow:© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Atomistic insights into solvation dynamics and conformational transformation in thermo-sensitive and non-thermo-sensitive oligomers

Solvation dynamics and conformational transformation in oligomers with varying degree of temperature sensitivity is studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Conformational transformation in three model systems namely poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), poly(acrylamide) (PAA), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are compared and contrasted to understand the origin of a coil-to-globule transformations across the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in thermo-sensitive oligomers. PNIPAM, PAA, and PEG are water-soluble oligomers. However, for the temperature range used in these simulations, PNIPAM shows an LCST whereas PAA and PEG are non-thermo-sensitive. Oligomers of PNIPAM, PAA, and PEG consisting of 30 monomer units (30-mer) each were simulated at 5 °C (278 K) and 37 °C (310 K). Conformational transformations in the oligomers are evaluated using structural and dynamical correlation functions such as radius of gyration, radial distribution function, residence time probabilities and hydrogen-bonding life-times. Our simulations suggest that the solubility, solvation dynamics, and conformation of the oligomers are dictated by two factors: (a) the local structure of proximal water and (b) the diffusion and exchange kinetics of proximal water with bulk water. In thermo-sensitive oligomer such as PNIPAM, we find that the coil-to-globule transition is closely related to the local ordering and solvation dynamics of PNIPAM. We have identified stable configurations of proximal water molecules for an oligomer undergoing conformational transition. The slow diffusional properties of proximal water molecules near PNIPAM oligomers suggests that water forms a stable network near hydrophilic groups of PNIPAM as compared to the hydrophilic groups of PAA and PEG. Thermal perturbation of this solvated structure results in significant reduction in local ordering of water, which contributes to the globular collapse and the reduced solubility of PNIPAM above its LCST. On the other hand, non-thermo-sensitive oligomers such as PAA and PEG are characterized by much faster diffusion and exchange kinetics of proximal water at the two simulated temperatures compared to PNIPAM. This faster exchange kinetics helps in maintaining higher hydration level of the oligomers and is responsible for the apparent hydrophilic character and thereby the observed solubility at the two simulated temperatures.
Hemigramicidin-TEMPO conjugates: novel mitochondria-targeted anti-oxidants.

Abstract Oxidative damage to various cellular constituents (such as, proteins and lipids) mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is thought to be an important mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of a variety of acute and chronic diseases. Mitochondria are the main source of ROS within most cells. Accordingly, there is increasing interest in the development of pharmacological ROS scavengers, which are specifically targeted to and concentrated within mitochondria. Numerous compounds with these general characteristics have been synthesized and evaluated in a variety of in vitro and in vivo models of redox stress. Among the more promising of these mitochondria-targeted anti-oxidants are those that employ various peptides (or peptide-like moieties) derived from the antibiotic, gramicidin S, as the targeting construct and employ the stable free radical, 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine- N -oxyl (4-NH 2 –TEMPO), as the ROS scavenging “payload.” One of these hemigramicidin–TEMPO conjugates, XJB-5-131, has been shown to ameliorate intestinal mucosal injury and prolong survival in rats subjected to lethal hemorrhage.
Integrin αvβ3 drives slug activation and stemness in the pregnant and neoplastic mammary gland.

Although integrin αvβ3 is linked to cancer progression, its role in epithelial development is unclear. Here, we show that αvβ3 plays a critical role in adult mammary stem cells (MaSCs) during pregnancy. Whereas αvβ3 is a luminal progenitor marker in the virgin gland, we noted increased αvβ3 expression in MaSCs at midpregnancy. Accordingly, mice lacking αvβ3 or expressing a signaling-deficient receptor showed defective mammary gland morphogenesis during pregnancy. This was associated with decreased MaSC expansion, clonogenicity, and expression of Slug, a master regulator of MaSCs. Surprisingly, αvβ3-deficient mice displayed normal development of the virgin gland with no effect on luminal progenitors. Transforming growth factor β2 (TGF-β2) induced αvβ3 expression, enhancing Slug nuclear accumulation and MaSC clonogenicity. In human breast cancer cells, αvβ3 was necessary and sufficient for Slug activation, tumorsphere formation, and tumor initiation. Thus, pregnancy-associated MaSCs require a TGF-β2/αvβ3/Slug pathway, which may contribute to breast cancer progression and stemness.
Optimal relay selections in two-way amplify-and-forward networks

Two-way amplify-and-forward (AP) relay network with both cooperative communication and analog network coding (ANC) has attracted great attention. In this paper, we formulate the fundamental issue, i.e., the optimal selection of multiple AF relays in a two-way dual-hop cooperative network, into linear fractional programming (LFP) problems. Firstly, in case of channel reciprocity, by minimizing the sum of the inverse of signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), the AF relays can be selected optimally by the LFP algorithms. Moreover, we derive a closed-form solution to this case, and prove that a node either participates relaying with full transmission power, or ceases relaying. Then, for the general (possibly channel non-reciprocity) case, by maximizing the weighted sum SNR, we show that the relay selection can be optimized by the sum-of-ratios LFP algorithms. Simulations are conducted to verify the proposed results.
“How Can I Not?”: Men’s Pathways to Involvement in Anti-Violence Against Women Work:

Despite growing male participation in ending violence against women, little is known about the factors that precipitate men’s engagement as antiviolence “allies.” This study presents findings from a qualitative analysis of interviews with 27 men who recently initiated involvement in an organization or event dedicated to ending sexual or domestic violence. Findings suggest that men’s engagement is a process that occurs over time, that happens largely through existing social networks, and that is influenced by exposure to sensitizing experiences, tangible involvement opportunities and specific types of meaning making related to violence. Implications for models of ally development and for efforts to engage men in antiviolence work are discussed.
Clearing Brain Tissue with Anethole

Groat (1941) called attention to the necessity of matching the refractive index of the tissue and clearer to obtain maximum transparency of in toto cleared specimens. Tissues that are refractively almost homogeneous, such as muscle, can be cleared after bleaching and dehydrating by placing in an oil of similar refractive index. Brain tissue, on the other hand, is composed of lipids and protein which have different refractive indices. Since protein forms the framework of the brain, it is, therefore, necessary to remove the lipids in order to have a tissue of a relatively uniform refractive index. The refractive index of brain tissue dehydrated in alcohol and extracted with ether, as determined on an Abbe refraetometer. is 1.560.
Prp22, a DExH-box RNA helicase, plays two distinct roles in yeast pre-mRNA splicing

In order to assess the role of Prp22 in yeast pre-mRNA splicing, we have purified the 130 kDa Prp22 protein and developed an in vitro depletion/reconstitution assay. We show that Prp22 is required for the second step of actin pre-mRNA splicing. Prp22 can act on pre-assembled spliceosomes that are arrested after step 1 in an ATP-independent fashion. The requirement for Prp22 during step 2 depends on the distance between the branchpoint and the 3' splice site, suggesting a previously unrecognized role for Prp22 in splice site selection. We characterize the biochemical activities of Prp22, a member of the DExH-box family of proteins, and we show that purified recombinant Prp22 protein is an RNA-dependent ATPase and an ATP-dependent RNA helicase. Prp22 uses the energy of ATP hydrolysis to effect the release of mRNA from the spliceosome. Thus, Prp22 has two distinct functions in yeast pre-mRNA splicing: an ATP-independent role during the second catalytic step and an ATP-requiring function in disassembly of the spliceosome.
Disequality Management in Integer Difference Logic via Finite Instantiations

The last few years have seen the advent of a new breed of decision procedures for various fragments of rst-order logic based on propositional abstraction. A lazy satisabilit y checker for a given fragment of rst-order logic invokes a theory-specic decision procedure (a theory solver) on a (partial) model for the abstraction. If the model is found to be consistent in the given theory, then a model for the original formula has been found. Otherwise, a renemen t of the propositional abstraction is extracted from the proof of inconsistency and the search is resumed. We describe a theory solver for integer dier ence logic that is eectiv e when the formula to be decided contains equality and disequality (negated equality) constraints so that the decision problem partakes of the nature of the pigeonhole problem. We propose a reduction of the problem to propositional satisabilit y by computing bounds on a sucien t subset of solutions, and present experimental evidence for the eciency of this approach.
REPRESENTING BLACK INTERESTS AND PROMOTING BLACK CULTURE: The Importance of African American Descriptive Representation in the U.S. House

Despite considerable examination, scholars have yet to definitively establish the relationship between a legislator’s racial background and his or her legislative activities. We assess the relationship between descriptive and substantive representation by discerning whether Black members of the U.S. House are more likely to promote group interests in their varied capacities as elected officials than are similarly positioned non-Black legislators. Our empirical tests utilize the most appropriate econometric models and techniques to analyze data from four Congresses spanning two distinctive districting regimes and incorporating several elements of representational behaviors. The findings are clear: Black members represent group interests more vociferously than non-Black members, including liberal non-Black Democrats from similar districts. Moreover, because Black members do not receive electoral benefits for engaging in such behavior, these legislators have policy-based motivation for representing Black interests. These results have profound practical implications for minority political representation and the future of identity politics.
Imitation in a Naturalistic Setting as a Function of Response Uncertainty

Abstract It has been suggested that individuals uncertain about the appropriateness of their behavior may imitate to reduce their uncertainty. Preschool boys and girls (N = 24) were observed in their regular classroom to test this notion. Subjects in the experimental condition (n = 12) were observed for 48 min per day (during free play) for 1 week. Subsequently, they were moved into a different classroom and observed for another week. The teacher, peers, and surroundings were unfamiliar to the children, and we hypothesized that this manipulation would create a sense of response uncertainty and, hence, increase imitative behavior. Control subjects (n = 12) were observed in their original classrooms for both 1-week periods. Imitation was scored by frequency of occurrence. Additionally, the type of social interaction engaged in by the child was recorded using the scan-sampling technique at 30-s intervals. The results indicate that mode of social interaction did not change for children in either condition fro...
The Souls of Beasts and Men

‘The organic body signifies the latent crisis of every known ontology and the touchstone of “any future one which will be able to come forward as a science.”’ —Hans Jonas‘Thales…said that the magnet has a soul in it because it moves the iron.’—Aristotle
Hybrid textons: modeling surfaces with reflectance and geometry

The appearance of surface texture as it varies with angular changes of view and illumination is becoming an increasingly important research topic. The bidirectional texture function (BTF) is used in surface modeling because it describes observed image texture as a function of imaging parameters. The BTF has no geometric information, as it is based solely on observed texture appearance. Computational tasks such as recognizing or rendering typically require projecting a sampled BTF to a lower dimensional subspace or clustering to extract representative textons. However, there is a serious drawback to this approach. Specifically, cast shadowing and occlusions are not fully captured. When recovering the full BTF from a sampled BTF with interpolation, the following two characteristics are difficult or impossible to reproduce: (1) the position and contrast of the shadow border, (2) the movement of the shadow border when the imaging parameters are changed continuously. For a textured surface, the nonlinear effects of cast shadows and occlusions are not negligible. On the contrary, these effects occur throughout the surface and are important perceptual cues to infer surface type. In this paper we present a texture representation that integrates appearance-based information from the sampled BTF with concise geometric information inferred from the sampled BTF The model is a hybrid of geometric and image-based models and has key advantages in a wide range of tasks, including texture prediction, recognition, and synthesis.
Immigrant Commitment to America, Then and Now: Myths and Realities

In the past four decades, a massive wave of immigration has been transforming the United States, the vast majority of the new arrivals coming from Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. As Americans grapple with understanding the newcomers in their midst, they often hark back to the triumphs and tribulations of European immigrants who came in the great ine ux a century ago. The old-time immigrants are remembered as exulting in their arrival in the promised land, eager to assimilate and become part of a growing and great America. Against this image, present-day arrivals often fail to measure up. A popular fear is that they will have trouble, indeed often resist, e tting in; that their origins in non-Western cultures are poor preparation for American life; and that they are not committed to America or its institutions. In today’s multicultural era, many worry that immigrants are not ‘Americanizing’ the way they did in the good old days—and that even when they naturalize, new forms of dual nationality are weakening the meaning of American citizenship and the integrity of American civic traditions. As is often the case, such popular images give a distorted picture of the complex realities that underlie them. A century ago, many native-born Americans viewed newly arrived eastern and southern European immigrants with fear and loathing, as ‘repulsive creatures’ who menaced the very foundations of American civilization (Nadell, 1981, pp. 274‐75). These negative attitudes—as well as the strong allegiances that many earlier immigrants retained to their homelands—have been forgotten in a haze of history, replaced by images that glorify the past. By the same token, fears that contemporary immigrants are not e tting in, not learning about American history and customs, and not forming allegiances to the United States are signie cantly overblown. This article looks beyond the myths and images to discuss the realities of the immigrant experience in both eras. The focus is on naturalization—as well as dual citizenship—and on education for citizenship. The analysis draws on e gures and studies for the United States as a whole. I also draw on my larger study of immigration to New York City, which compares immigrants today and in the last great wave at the beginning of the twentieth century (Foner, 2000).
Passive component stacking to aid power supply decoupling

This paper introduces and analyzes a novel method of printed circuit board (PCB) power distribution network (PDN) improvement. This is achieved by using stacked passive components on an integrated circuit (IC) die to improve circuit performance by providing local power supply decoupling. These stacked passives are orders of magnitude greater than what is available for die integration. The capacitors reduce PDN impedance resulting in lower system noise on the device's power supply rails. As the passive devices are located on top of the die, they are not impacted by packaging parasitics which would lessen the impact of package or board mounted decoupling capacitors.
The 2006 Race for Democratic Majority Leader: Money, Policy, and Personal Loyalty

In the week following the November 2006 midterm elections, which gave the Democratic Party control of Congress, both parties in the House held elections for various leadership offices. A total of six positions in both parties were contested, an unusually large number, but the campaign for one office—the Democratic majority leader—garnered the most attention. That race pitted two moderate Democrats against each other, threatened to split the party, and featured a remarkable intervention by the incoming speaker. Thanks to Doug Harris, Jeffrey Lewis, Keith Poole, and Eric Powers for their valuable suggestions and assistance.
Bioavailability of Aspirin from Commercial Suppositories

A comparison of the bioavailability of salicylate from five brands of commercially available aspirin rectal suppositories in an adult panel is presented. All brands show slow absorption compared to oral administration of the drug in tablet form. At best, about 40% of the dose (on the average) was absorbed when retention time in the bowel was limited to 2 hr. However, four out of the five brands gave substantially lower absorption rates so that only about 20% of the aspirin is available.
Towards dense linear algebra for hybrid GPU accelerated manycore systems

We highlight the trends leading to the increased appeal of using hybrid multicore+GPU systems for high performance computing. We present a set of techniques that can be used to develop efficient dense linear algebra algorithms for these systems. We illustrate the main ideas with the development of a hybrid LU factorization algorithm where we split the computation over a multicore and a graphics processor, and use particular techniques to reduce the amount of pivoting and communication between the hybrid components. This results in an efficient algorithm with balanced use of a multicore processor and a graphics processor.
Direct Measurement of Jitter in a JTL

A direct technique for the measurement of jitter in a Josephson transmission line (JTL), which is similar to an approach used to measure complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor latch metastability, is presented. The experiment yields a one-sigma jitter value of 74 fs per JTL stage in 1 kA/cm2 rapid single flux quantum technology. The experimental configuration has been modeled with JSIM, and the result agrees with the experimental data. Additionally, an analytical model has been developed to assess the scaling of the jitter-to-stage delay ratio with critical current density of the Josephson junctions comprising the JTL. Finally, we compare the measured upper bound jitter per stage of a 65-nm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor inverter chain with that of a 1 kA/cm2 JTL.
SEM Quantification of Transgranular vs Intergranular Fracture

A SEM procedure for quantifying the percentage area of transgranular fracture and surface roughness was developed to study the fracture morphologies of stable and rapid crack growths in ceramics and ceramic matrix composites. The procedure utilizes software which interprets the SEM line scanning profiles. Results obtained through this procedure were correlated with the visual observation and profilometer measurements of Al2O3 and SiCw/Al2O3 fracture specimens.
Detection and Differentiation of Xylella fastidiosa Strains Acquired and Retained by Glassy-Winged Sharpshooters (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) Using a Mixture of Strain-Specific Primer Sets

Xylella fastidiosa Wells is a bacterial pathogen that causes a variety of plant diseases, including Pierce's disease (PD) of grapevine, almond leaf scorch, alfalfa dwarf, citrus variegated chlorosis, and oleander leaf scorch (OLS). Numerous strains of this pathogen have been genetically characterized, and several different strains occur in the United States. The dominant vector in southern California is the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca coagulata (Say) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). The high mobility of this insect, and its use of large numbers of host plant species, provides this vector with ample exposure to multiple strains of X. fastidiosa during its lifetime. To learn more about the ability of this vector to acquire, retain, and transmit multiple strains of the pathogen, we developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method to detect and differentiate strains of X. fastidiosa present in individual glassy-winged sharpshooter adults. Insects were sequentially exposed to plants infected with a PD strain in grapevine and an OLS strain in oleander. After sequential exposure, a few insects tested positive for both strains (7%); however, in most cases individuals tested positive for only one strain (29% PD, 41% OLS). In transmission studies, individual adults transmitted either the PD or OLS strain of the pathogen at a rate (39%) similar to that previously reported after exposure to a single strain, but no single individual transmitted both strains of the pathogen. PD and OLS strains of X. fastidiosa remained detectable in glassy-winged sharpshooter, even when insects were fed on a plant species that was not a host of the strain for 1 wk.
Age Differences in Movement Patterns Used by Children to Rise from a Supine Position to Erect Stance

From the time upright locomotor ability is acquired until the end of the human life span, standing up from the floor is a skill important to a person's physical independence. This study was designed 1) to determine whether within the rising task the movement patterns of different regions of the body vary with age and 2) to describe movements used by children to perform this task. One hundred twenty children, ages 4 through 7 years, were filmed while rising from a supine position. Movement patterns were classified using categorical descriptions of the action of three body regions: the upper extremities, lower extremities, and axial region. The incidence of each movement pattern was calculated and graphed with respect to age. Age differences were found in the incidence of movement patterns of each body region. A trend toward increased symmetry of movement with increasing age was noted. The oldest subjects, however, did not commonly use symmetric form in rising. Developmental change in movement patterns used in the rising task likely continues beyond early childhood.
Ai Siqi and the Reconstruction of Chinese Identity, 1935-1936

Ai Siqi (1910-1966), a writer and editor at Shanghai's well-known leftist journal Intellectual Life (Dushu shenghuo), was arguably the most influential popularizer of Marxist philosophy during the mid1930s. Ai's Popular Philosophy (Dazhong zhexue), first published as a book in January 1936, was by all accounts the most widely read treatise on Marxist philosophy in China before the political ascendancy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1949. The text, a collection of essays originally published in Intellectual Life, sold more than 20,000 copies in less than two years and went through 35 printings in thirteen years (Ai, 1979f: 291; Hu Sheng, 1987: 5-6; Briere, 1956: 78-79). The extraordinary popularity of Popular Philosophy is usually attributed to Ai's great skill at transmitting relatively complex philosophical ideas in a folksy, plebeian language.1 The appeal in the 1930s of Marxist thought itself is generally attributed to its apparently apt analysis of China's national economic and social problems and to its proposed political program for surmounting those problems. Consequently, the success of propagandists and popularizers like Ai Siqi is understood in terms of their ability to engage society in issues of national import (see, for example, Schwarcz, 1986). A recent recasting of this view is found in The Alienated Academy, Wen-hsin Yeh's wide-ranging study of Chinese university life in the early decades of this century. Yeh states that during the 1930s, "the
El domo generativo. Modelación morfológica y diseño parametrico. Base del estudio de ensambles modulares En la fabricación de prototipos para sistemas CAD-CAN

Present paper explores morphological application to develop modular creative processeswith CAD-CAM systems. For this, authors took challenger of working a new way to aboardclassic problem of architectural domo, working with fractal and iterated system to modelbasic pattern. In this process, new problem of design was aboard as morphologicaland algorithmic-parametric issues in design, or no geodesic character of final model ofdomo, or problem of double curves, or who to standardize cutting of panels and prototypes ensemble. Finally, authors discuss about relevance of modeling morphologicalfragmentation or growing process in contemporary architecture
Development of Microalgae Cultivation and Biomass Harvesting Systems for Biofuel Production

Algae-based technologies for mass production of cheap biofuels, that need to reach cost parity with fossil fuels, require to redesign the cultivation system, as to increase light distribution and photosynthetic productivity, and to cut down production costs. Open ponds and photobioreactor configurations are compared, as well as biomass harvesting technologies, that weighs on the economic sustainability of the system. In addition to dedicated industrial cultivation, the concept of an algae-powered building integrates algae cultivation into bioenergy-dependent urban planning.
Effect of Temperature on the Efficacy of Methyl Bromide Against Adults of Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Soft and Hard Wheats

Toxicity of methyl bromide gas to Sitophilus granarius (L.) adults in ‘Soft Red Winter’ wheat (SW) and ‘Hard Red Winter’ wheat (HW) was tested at three different temperatures (26, 15, and 5°C). Temperature and toxicity of methyl bromide were negatively correlated. LD50’s at 26, 15, and 5°C for SW and HW increased by 20 and 14% as the temperature decreased from 26 to 15°C and 29 and 44% from 15 to 5°C, respectively. The efficacy of the fumigant on S. granarius was influenced by the type of wheat. Methyl bromide was more effective in HW than in SW when both were tested under the same conditions. The SW sorbed more methyl bromide than HW irrespective of the temperature and the presence or absence of insects. Methyl bromide sorption decreased as the temperature decreased from 26 to 15°C and the difference in sorption between the SW and HW increased as the temperature decreased from 26 to 5°C.
( He 3 , α ) Pickup Reaction in S 32

The (${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$,$\ensuremath{\alpha}$) pickup reaction was studied in ${S}^{32}$ with a 15-MeV ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ beam from the University of Pennsylvania tandem accelerator. Angular distributions of the strongly excited low-lying states in ${\mathrm{S}}^{31}$ were measured. Distorted-wave Born approximation analysis was performed to give $l$-value assignments and to extract spectroscopic factors. $J$ dependence of the $l=2$ angular distributions was observed.
New Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of C difficile

Drs Shapiro and LeLeiko have disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device. The American College of Gastroenterology recently released evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI).1 CDI is the leading cause of hospital-associated diarrhea in the United States and represents a significant burden on health care costs.2 Rates of community-acquired disease are also on the rise, due in part to the recent emergence of a hypervirulent strain, NAP1. C difficile is a …
Abstract 351: Downregulation of Connexin43 by MicroRNA-130a Results in Cardiac Arrhythmias

MicroRNAs (miRs) are endogenous ~22 nucleotide RNA molecules that are now recognized as critical regulators of diverse physiological and pathological processes; however, studies of miRs and arrhythmogenesis remain sparse. Connexin43 (Cx43), a major cardiac gap junction protein, is critical for maintaining normal cardiac electrical conduction. One aspect of arrhythmia pathogenesis that has elicited great interest has been changes in Cx43 expression. Computational analysis of messenger RNAs predicted Cx43 to be a target for miR-130a. We hypothesized that overexpression of miR-130a in adult cardiomyocytes would result in cardiac arrhythmias. To study this, we used an inducible (tetracycline-off) bigenic system to study miR-130a overexpression in the adult mouse heart. 12 weeks after induction of miR-130a, 100% (16/16) of transgenic mice demonstrated a loss of sinus rhythm and irregular ventricular activity suggestive of atrial fibrillation on surface electrocardiograms (ECG). Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia was also observed during ECG recordings. Atrial contractions could not be detected by pulse wave Doppler. Intracardiac electrocardiography confirmed the presence of atrial arrhythmias. Western blot analysis demonstrated a 90% reduction in Cx43 levels and immunofluorescent staining confirmed a near complete loss of Cx43 in transgenic compared to littermate control hearts (n=12). Morphology of the intercalated disc was evaluated by electron microscopy and showed a loss of gap junctions in transgenic hearts. To validate Cx43 as a direct target of miR-130a, we performed in vitro target assays in 3T3 fibroblasts, known to express miR-130a. Using a luciferase reporter fused to the 3’UTR of Cx43 compared to a control (SV40) 3’UTR, we found a 55% ± 6% reduction in luciferase activity with the Cx43 3’UTR (p In conclusion, we have identified an unappreciated role of miR-130a as a direct regulator of Cx43. Overexpression of miR-130a results in the development of a variety of important cardiac arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.
Washington, Booker T. (1856–1915)

Booker Taliaferro Washington was one of the most influential and controversial black American leaders in US history. Washington, head of Tuskegee Institute, was an educator, author, power broker, and spokesman for the black community. Moreover, he was a sophisticated racial diplomat who operated across the well-defined color line that deeply separated black and white America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Washington was both a man of ideas and action who had a lasting influence and a social philosopher of black agency and self-sufficiency whose views are often echoed by black leaders today. His educational program, which enabled thousands of schools for blacks to be built across the South in the early 1900s, established the initial educational infrastructure for many black communities. Indeed his many accomplishments left an impressive legacy, especially when considering the historical moment and social environment in which he and his ideas emerged. Keywords: African American; community; Du Bois, W. E. B; labor history; reconciliation
Contemporary Pharmacotherapies Involving Nitric Oxide, Prostacyclin, and Endothelin Receptor Signaling Pathways

The progressive disorder of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is marked by a complex pathobiology of pulmonary vascular remodeling, including dysregulated cellular proliferation and inappropriate local and systemic inflammatory responses. The various approved therapies for PAH currently target some of these pathways and have collectively led to improvements in symptoms and overall survival. Specifically, each approved therapy targets one of either the prostacyclin, endothelin, or nitric oxide pathways, respectively. Moreover, each of these broad classes of drugs and the individual drugs within each class has been studied in a variety of contexts and each has unique characteristics relevant to the clinician caring for the PAH patient. In this chapter we provide an in depth review of the currently available pharmacotherapies targeting the prostacyclin, endothelin, and nitric oxide signaling pathways.
Warrant Valuation with Skewed GARCH Pricing Model under Lévy Processes

To describe the nonnormality of stochastic process in GARCH models,we provide Levy-GARCH models which can simulate skewed and leptokurtic financial data.First we build Levy-GARCH models under physical measure and transform the model into equivalent martingale measure.Then we empirically examine the pricing performance of BlackScholes model,Levy stochastic models and Levy-GARCH models with China warrants market data.Although the market price of these warrants is far beyond their theoretical value,Levy-GARCH is still superior to other models.
Comparative Experiment of Finger Flow of Homogeneous Soil and Layered Soil

To fully explore the reason of finger flow and its change law,taking three kinds of soil,which is wildly distributed in northwest of China,as experiment material,the finger flow experiment of layered soil and homogeneous soil under the condition of sufficient water supply indoor is conducted in this paper.The results show that all layered soil have finger flow phenomenon but homogeneous soil have not finger flow.The reason is simply analyzed in the end.
Examining the Effects of I-Sharing for Future White-Black Interactions

Abstract. Research shows that I-sharing, or sharing subjective experiences with an outgroup member, positively shapes attitudes toward that outgroup member. We investigated whether this type of social experience would also promote a positive interracial interaction with a novel outgroup member. Results showed that White and Black participants who I-shared with a racial outgroup member (vs. I-sharing with a racial ingroup member) expressed more liking toward that outgroup member. However, I-sharing with an outgroup member did not reduce anxious behavior in a future social interaction with a novel racial outgroup member. Therefore, although sharing subjective experiences may increase liking toward one individual from a racial outgroup, it remains to be seen whether this positive experience can influence behaviors in future interactions with other racial outgroup members. Future directions are discussed.
How Bacteria Find the Optimal Oxygen Concentration for Nitrogen Fixation

Biological nitrogen fixation occurs under low oxygen concentrations since high oxygen concentrations inactivate the nitrogenase. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria employ different strategies in order to maintain low intracellular oxygen concentrations. Rhizobia take advantage of the low oxygen concentration inside the plant roots where they fix nitrogen. Azotobacter vinelandii cells have a high concentration of respiratory complexes and intensive respiration that significantly lowers the intracellular oxygen concentration. Bacteria of the genus Azospirillum quickly move away from high oxygen concentrations by means of the aerotactic response. Aerotaxis is a migratory response that guides bacteria to niches where the oxygen concentration is optimal for their metabolic life style (Taylor 1983a). Azospirillum brasilense is a microaerophilic bacterium, whose growth is enhanced at low oxygen concentrations under nitrogen-fixing conditions as well as in the presence of combined nitrogen. We have recently demonstrated that A. brasilense cells are attracted to a specific oxygen concentration (4 µM dissolved oxygen; extracellular concentration) (Zhulin et al., 1996). Cells placed in a capillary tube, where a spatial oxygen gradient was created, accumulated at the optimal oxygen concentration within 30–60 seconds. Direct measurements of the proton motive force revealed that the bacteria generated a maximum energy level at the same oxygen concentration that causes positive aerotaxis (Zhulin et al., 1996). Both attraction to a specific oxygen concentration and generation of the maximal energy level occured under nitrogen-fixing conditions as well as in the presence of combined nitrogen.
On an additive partial correlation operator and nonparametric estimation of graphical models

We introduce an additive partial correlation operator as an extension of partial correlation to the nonlinear setting, and use it to develop a new estimator for nonparametric graphical models. Our graphical models are based on additive conditional independence, a statistical relation that captures the spirit of conditional independence without having to resort to high-dimensional kernels for its estimation. The additive partial correlation operator completely characterizes additive conditional independence, and has the additional advantage of putting marginal variation on appropriate scales when evaluating interdependence, which leads to more accurate statistical inference. We establish the consistency of the proposed estimator. Through simulation experiments and analysis of the DREAM4 Challenge dataset, we demonstrate that our method performs better than existing methods in cases where the Gaussian or copula Gaussian assumption does not hold, and that a more appropriate scaling for our method further enhances its performance.
Serum Leptin Is a Biomarker of Malnutrition in Decompensated Cirrhosis.

Background and Aims Malnutrition is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis. There is no consensus as to the optimal approach for identifying malnutrition in end-stage liver disease. The aim of this study was to measure biochemical, serologic, hormonal, radiographic, and anthropometric features in a cohort of hospitalized cirrhotic patients to characterize biomarkers for identification of malnutrition. Design In this prospective observational cohort study, 52 hospitalized cirrhotic patients were classified as malnourished (42.3%) or nourished (57.7%) based on mid-arm muscle circumference < 23 cm and dominant handgrip strength < 30 kg. Anthropometric measurements were obtained. Appetite was assessed using the Simplified Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) score. Fasting levels of serum adipokines, cytokines, and hormones were determined using Luminex assays. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine features independently associated with malnutrition. Results Subjects with and without malnutrition differed in several key features of metabolic phenotype including wet and dry BMI, skeletal muscle index, visceral fat index and HOMA-IR. Serum leptin levels were lower and INR was higher in malnourished subjects. Serum leptin was significantly correlated with HOMA-IR, wet and dry BMI, mid-arm muscle circumference, skeletal muscle index, and visceral fat index. Logistic regression analysis revealed that INR and log-transformed leptin were independently associated with malnutrition. Conclusions Low serum leptin and elevated INR are associated with malnutrition in hospitalized patients with end-stage liver disease.
Gatekeeping and the FDA's Role in Human Subjects Protection.

The FDA bears the responsibility to monitor clinical trials and protect human subjects from harm. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Using a Mindfulness-Oriented Academic Success Course to Reduce Self-limiting Social Stereotypes in a Higher Education Context

Inequity in higher education is a persistent social problem. Challenges with recruitment, lower retention, and graduation rates, and underrepresentation in science and engineering majors disproportionately affect students of color, lower-income students, and women. Institutional factors contributing to inequity include lack of support services and campus cultures that do not encourage multicultural awareness. At the individual level, social psychological factors such as stereotype threat and other self-limiting beliefs can impede success. Although institutional policies and practices are critical for ultimate success, institutional support can be limited by fiscal constraints and lack of vision. An adjunct or alternative strategy is application of best practices in the classroom, using existing university courses as support resources to augment institutional reform. Every faculty member has the potential to promote student success and contribute to social equity in this fashion. One specific example, an undergraduate general-education academic success course, is considered. The objective of the course is to enhance academic self-efficacy through teaching essential skills, including a variety of mindfulness-oriented practices, that can increase self-awareness and resilience, support personal goal achievement, and promote social justice.
Patient goals in rheumatoid arthritis care: A systematic review and qualitative synthesis.

Objective During the clinical encounter, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient goals for care often go unexplored. The aim of the present systematic review was to identify needs, goals and expectations of RA patients in order better to guide systematic elicitation of patient goals in clinical encounters. Methods An academic librarian searched MEDLINE, PsychINFO and the Cochrane Library using a specialized algorithm developed to identify articles about patient goals for RA care. Investigators screened search results according to prespecified inclusion criteria and then reviewed included articles and synthesized the evidence qualitatively, utilizing an inductive approach. Results A total of 909 titles were retrieved in the literature search, of which 871 were excluded after a title/abstract screen. Of the remaining 38, 22 papers were included in the final review. Investigators identified four major themes in the literature: (a) the bodily experience of RA; (b) achieving normalcy and maintaining wellness; (c) social connectedness and support; and (d) interpersonal and healthcare system interactions. Conclusion Patients' goals when receiving care for RA are multidimensional and span several facets of everyday life. Goals for RA care should be collaboratively developed between patients and providers, with particular attention to the patient's life context and priorities.