cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Site-Directed Mutations at D1-His198 and D2-His197 of Photosystem II in Synechocystis PCC 6803: Sites of Primary Charge Separation and Cation and Triplet Stabilization†

Site-directed mutations were introduced to replace D1-His198 and D2-His197 of the D1 and D2 polypeptides, respectively, of the photosystem II (PSII) reaction center of Synechocystis PCC 6803. These residues coordinate chlorophylls PA and PB which are homologous to the special pair Bchlorophylls of the bacterial reaction centers that are coordinated respectively by histidines L-173 and M-200 (202). PA and PB together serve as the primary electron donor, P, in purple bacterial reaction centers. In PS II, the site-directed mutations at D1 His198 affect the P + -P-absorbance difference spectrum. The bleaching maximum in the Soret region (in WT at 433 nm) is blue-shifted by as much as 3 nm. In the D1 His198Gln mutant, a similar displacement to the blue is observed for the bleaching maximum in the Qy region (672.5 nm in WT at 80 K), whereas features attributed to a band shift centered at 681 nm are not altered. In the YZ¥-YZ-difference spectrum, the band shift of a reaction center chlorophyll centered in WT at 433-434 nm is shifted by 2-3 nm to the blue in the D1-His198Gln mutant. The D1-His198Gln mutation has little effect on the optical difference spectrum, 3 P- 1 P, of the reaction center triplet formed by P + Pheo - charge recombination (bleaching at 681-684 nm), measured at 5-80 K, but becomes visible as a pronounced shoulder at 669 nm at temperatures g150 K. Measurements of the kinetics of oxidized donor-QA - charge recombination and of the reduction of P + by redox active tyrosine, YZ, indicate that the reduction potential of the redox couple P + /P can be appreciably modulated both positively and negatively by ligand replacement at D1-198 but somewhat less so at D2-197. On the basis of these observations and others in the literature, we propose that the monomeric accessory chlorophyll, BA, is a long-wavelength trap located at 684 nm at 5K. B A* initiates primary charge separation at low temperature, a function that is increasingly shared with PA* in an activated process as the temperature rises. Charge separation from BA* would be potentially very fast and form PA + BA - and/or BA + Pheo - as observed in bacterial reaction centers upon direct excitation of BA (van Brederode, M. E., et al. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. 96, 2054-2059). The cation, generated upon primary charge separation in PSII, is stabilized at all temperatures primarily on P A, the absorbance spectrum of which is displaced to the blue by the mutations. In WT, the cation is proposed to be shared to a minor extent (20%) with PB, the contribution of which can be modulated up or down by mutation. The band shift at 681 nm, observed in the P + -P difference spectrum, is attributed to an electrochromic effect of PA + on neighboring BA. Because of its low-energy singlet and therefore triplet state, the reaction center triplet state is stabilized on B A at e80 K but can be shared with PA at >80 K in a thermally activated process.
Transgenic Expression of α7β1 Integrin Maintains Muscle Integrity, Increases Regenerative Capacity, Promotes Hypertrophy, and Reduces Cardiomyopathy in Dystrophic Mice

We previously reported that enhanced expression of the α7β1 integrin ameliorates the development of muscular dystrophy and extends longevity in α7BX2-mdx/utr−/− transgenic mice (Burkin DJ, Wallace GQ, Nicol KJ, Kaufman DJ, Kaufman SJ: Enhanced expression of the α7β1 integrin reduces muscular dystrophy and restores viability in dystrophic mice. J Cell Biol 2001, 152:1207–1218). We now report on the mechanism by which these mice were rescued by the integrin. As a result of increased integrin in α7BX2-mdx/utr−/− mice the structural integrity of the myotendinous and neuromuscular junctions are maintained. A twofold increase in satellite cells in α7BX2-mdx/utr−/− skeletal muscle was detected by immunofluorescence using the satellite cell marker c-met. These cells enhanced the regenerative capacity of muscle in the transgenic animals as determined by fusion of BrdUrd-labeled cells into muscle fibers. Increased integrin also leads to hypertrophy. Finally, transgenic expression of α7BX2 integrin chain in skeletal muscle secondarily reduces the development of cardiomyopathy, the ultimate cause of death in these animals. We believe this multiplicity of responses to increased α7β1 integrin collectively inhibits the development of muscle disease and increases longevity in these mice.
Genetic Regulation of Behavioral and Neuronal Responses to Fluoxetine

Despite widespread use of antidepressants, the factors underlying the behavioral response to antidepressants are unknown. It has been shown that antidepressant treatment promotes the proliferation and survival of neurons in the adult hippocampus via enhanced serotonergic signaling, but it is unclear whether hippocampal neurogenesis is responsible for the behavioral response to antidepressants. Furthermore, a large subpopulation of patients fails to respond to antidepressant treatment due to presumed underlying genetic factors. In the present study, we have used the phenotypic and genotypic variability of inbred mouse strains to show that there is a genetic component to both the behavioral and neuronal effects of chronic fluoxetine treatment, and that this antidepressant induces an increase in hippocampal cell proliferation only in the strains that also show a positive behavioral response to treatment. Furthermore, the behavioral and neuronal responses are associated with an upregulation of genes known to promote neuronal proliferation and survival. These results suggest that inherent genetic predisposition to increased serotonin-induced neurogenesis may be a determinant of antidepressant efficacy.
220-GHZ sheet-beam extended-interaction klystron design

The extended interaction klystron (EIK) is a compact amplifier that is well-suited to millimeter-wave and sub-millimeter-wave operation, having achieved state-of-the-art performance of 9 W CW at 218 GHz with a tightly focused 12-kV round beam [1]. By utilizing an EIK circuit in a sheet-beam topology, our goal is to produce more than an order of magnitude higher power than can be generated with a round beam. This talk describes the design of a four-cavity 220-GHz EIK circuit, completed with the code MAGIC-3D based on our sheet-beam EIK cavity topology [2]. This circuit includes an input cavity to initiate beam velocity modulation, two synchronously tuned idler cavities to enhance beam modulation, and an output cavity for RF power extraction. The input and output circuits are nearly identical with eight gaps each and an external coupling waveguide, which yields a Qext ∼ 300. The idler cavities have seven gaps with no external coupling. All cavities operate in the 2p-mode. The circuit is driven by a 520 mA, 16.5 kV sheet beam with an aspect ratio of 19. The beam is transported using a 9 kG solenoidal magnetic field [3, 4]. With these beam parameters and the large number of gaps, this circuit configuration effects a very efficient beam modulation. Output power of 453 W is achieved in MAGIC-3D with an input power of 25 mW, corresponding to an electronic gain of 41.6 dB in a circuit length of about 1.2 cm.
Theoretical Analysis of Interplay of Therapeutic Protein Drug and Circulating Soluble Target: Temporal Profiles of ‘Free’ and ‘Total’ Drug and Target

To systemically investigate, for a therapeutic protein with a circulating soluble target, how the interplay of target dynamics and drug pharmacokinetics defines the ‘total’ and ‘free’ drug and target temporal profiles. By extending the established rapid-binding target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) pharmacokinetic model to circulating soluble targets, the temporal profiles of ‘total’ and ‘free’ drug and target were simulated with varying binding affinity (KD), target baseline (Rss), target turnover, and drug dose level. Two sets of published experimental data were compared with the simulated results. Binding to a circulating soluble target could lead to a divergence of the ‘free’ drug from the ‘total’ drug. Simulations show this divergent magnitude determined by KD and Rss, with the temporal profile being defined by target turnover and drug dose level. As divergence proceeds, starting at the distribution phase, ‘free’ drug would decline faster but eventually parallel ‘total’ drug at the terminal phase, giving rise to a steeper distribution phase and comparable terminal half-life, relative to the ’total’ form. The model also allows for estimation of the dynamic change of ‘total’ and ‘free’ target in response to the treatment of a therapeutic protein drug, facilitating dose level and regimen design to achieve desired ‘free’ target suppression. Model predictions compared favorably with two sets of published experimental data. Theoretical analyses identified key variables governing the different temporal profiles of ‘total’ and ‘free’ drug and target. The rapid-binding TMDD model reasonably captured the features of the interplay of drug pharmacokinetics and target dynamics for two reported cases.
Trends in Curricular Matters for Science and Technology Journalism

Science and technology journalism encompasses a wide variety of endeavors, each involving professional communicators contributing in unique ways to a crucial understanding of contemporary society. An increasing number of educational institutions offer specialized concentrations in the separate, yet closely related disciplines of technical communication and journalism to prepare specialists sufficiently knowledgeable of the sciences and proficient with new technologies to report on complicated and often intricately related topics. This paper presents a study examining the essential characteristics of existing post-secondary educational curricula in science and technology journalism. The study specifically considered trends regarding explicit pedagogical emphases and learning objectives and how such programs are positioned within the academic community. Further, the study considered how different disciplines influence pedagogical emphases of their respective programs as well as the academic characteristics regarding internships and thesis requirements. Visual representations were developed using existing post-secondary program information. Patterns within topologically equivalent groupings were then studied to discern salient characteristics and meaningful trends regarding academic directions and pedagogical emphases.
Cache Clouds: Cooperative Caching of Dynamic Documents in Edge Networks

Caching on the edge of the Internet is becoming a popular technique to improve the scalability and efficiency of delivering dynamic Web content. In this paper, we study the challenges in designing a large scale cooperative edge cache network, focusing on mechanisms and methodologies for efficient cooperation among caches to improve the overall performance of the edge cache network. This paper makes three original contributions. First, we introduce the concept of cache clouds, which forms the fundamental framework for cooperation among caches in the edge network. Second, we present dynamic hashing-based protocols for document lookups and updates within each cache cloud, which are not only efficient, but also effective in dynamically balancing lookup and update loads among the caches in the cloud. Third, we outline a utility-based mechanism for placing dynamic documents within a cache cloud. Our experiments indicate that these techniques can significantly improve the performance of the edge cache networks
AM'FM halftoning: digital halftoning through simultaneous modulation of dot size and dot density

Conventional digital halftoning approaches function by modulating either the dot size (amplitude modulation (AM)) or the dot density (frequency modulation (FM)). Generally, AM halftoning methods have the advantage of low computation and good print stability, while FM halftoning methods typically have higher spatial resolution and resistance to moireartifacts. In this paper, we present a new class of AM/FM halftoning algorithms that simultaneously modulate the dot size and density. The major advantages of AM/FM halftoning are better stability than FM methods through the forma- tion of larger dot clusters; better moireresistance than AM methods through irregular dot placement; and improved quality through sys- tematic optimization of the dot size and dot density at each gray level. We present a general method for optimizing the AM/FM method for specific printers, and we apply this method to an elec- trophotographic printer using pulse width modulation technology.
Diversity of Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Attracted to Avocado, Lychee, and Essential Oil Lures

ABSTRACT The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is an exotic wood-boring insect that vectors laurel wilt, a lethal vascular disease of trees in the Lauraceae, including avocado (Persea americana) and native Persea species (redbay, swampbay). As part of research to identify host-based attractants for X. glabratus, we discovered that a diverse array of non-target ambrosia beetles was attracted to the same substrates as X. glabratus. During Sep–Dec 2009, several field tests were conducted in north Florida (in woodlands with advanced stages of laurel wilt) with traps baited with commercial lures of the essential oils, manuka and phoebe, and with freshly-cut wood bolts of avocado (a known host) and lychee (Litchi chinensis, a non-host high in the sesquiterpene αcopaene, a putative host attractant). In addition, manuka-baited traps were deployed in avocado groves in south Florida to monitor for potential spread of X. glabratus. The combined trapping res...
Stimulant Medication and Substance Use Outcomes: A Meta-analysis

Importance Psychostimulant medication is an efficacious treatment for childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, yet controversy remains regarding potential iatrogenic effects of stimulant medication, particularly with respect to increasing susceptibility to later substance use disorders. However, stimulant treatment was previously reported to reduce the risk of substance problems. Objective To meta-analyze the longitudinal association between treatment with stimulant medication during childhood and later substance outcomes (ie, lifetime substance use and substance abuse or dependence). Data Sources Studies published between January 1980 and February 2012 were identified using review articles, PubMed, and pertinent listservs. Study Selection Studies with longitudinal designs in which medication treatment preceded the measurement of substance outcomes. Data Extraction and Synthesis Odds ratios were extracted or provided by the study authors. Odds ratios were obtained for lifetime use (ever used) and abuse or dependence status for alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, nicotine, and nonspecific drugs for 2565 participants from 15 different studies. Main Outcomes and Measures Random-effects models estimated the overall association, and potential study moderators were examined. Results Separate random-effects analyses were conducted for each substance outcome, with the number of studies ranging from 3 to 11 for each outcome. Results suggested comparable outcomes between children with and without medication treatment history for any substance use and abuse or dependence outcome across all substance types. Conclusions These results provide an important update and suggest that treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with stimulant medication neither protects nor increases the risk of later substance use disorders.
The growth of information workers in the U.S. economy

Using decennial census data to trace the increase in U.S. information workers from 1950--2000 and examining the role of subtitutional and compositional effects.
Adulthood Obesity Is Positively Associated with Adipose Tissue Concentrations of Vitamin K and Inversely Associated with Circulating Indicators of Vitamin K Status in Men and Women

Increased adiposity is associated with increased storage of several fat-soluble nutrients. However, the extent to which vitamin K is stored in fat and the association between vitamin K status and adiposity are unknown. Our objectives in this study were to determine whether vitamin K is stored in human adipose tissue and the association between vitamin K status and body fat in older men and women. In study A, the vitamin K concentration of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue was quantified in samples taken from 16 gastric bypass patients [13 women, 3 men, age 40 ± 10 y (mean ± SD)] using HPLC. In study B, cross-sectional associations between percent body fat (%BF) and circulating measures of vitamin K status were examined in 260 women and 183 men [age = 68 ± 5 y]. The phylloquinone (K1) concentrations in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue were 148.2 ± 71.8 and 175 ± 112 nmol/kg, respectively, which is higher than the reported concentrations of other organs known to store vitamin K. There was an inverse association between %BF and plasma K1 in women (P-trend < 0.001). Higher %BF was associated with greater circulating concentrations of uncarboxylated prothrombin, indicative of lower hepatic utilization of vitamin K in both men (P-trend = 0.02) and women (P-trend = 0.002) but not with the percentage of undercarboxylated osteocalcin. Adipose tissue contained high concentrations of vitamin K, and increased adiposity was associated with poorer vitamin K status in older adults. Additional studies are needed to further explore the relationships among body fat, storage of vitamin K in adipose tissue, and implications for vitamin K status and function.
Regulation of monoamine oxidase A by the SRY gene on the Y chromosome

Monoamine oxidase A (MAO A), encoded by the X chromosome, catalyzes the oxidative deamination of monoamine neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, and plays a critically important role in brain development and functions. Abnormal MAO A activity has been implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which show sexual dimorphism. However, the molecular basis for these disease processes is unclear. Recently, we found that MAO A was a putative target gene directly regulated by a transcription factor encoded by the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene located on the Y chromosome. We demonstrated that SRY activates both MAO A-promoter and catalytic activities in a human male neuroblastoma BE(2)C cell line. A functional SRY-binding site in the MAO A core promoter was identified and validated by electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses. Coimmunoprecipitation and ChIP assays showed that SRY and Sp1 form a transcriptional complex and synergistically activate MAO A transcription. This is the first study demonstrating that the Y-encoded transcription factor SRY is capable of regulating an X-located gene, suggesting a novel molecular mechanism for sexual dimorphism in neural development, brain functions, and initiation/progression of neural disorders associated with MAO A dysfunction.—Wu, J. B., Chen, K., Li, Y., Lau, Y.-F. C., Shih, J. C. Regulation of monoamine oxidase A by the SRY gene on the Y chromosome.
Is constructivism risky? Social anxiety, classroom participation, competitive game play and constructivist preferences in teacher development

Abstract Constructivism in practice is a challenging endeavor that invites teachers and students to engage in problems that elicit uncertainty. This article investigates the relationship between preferences for constructivist approaches and other classroom behaviors that influence the development of future teachers. The theoretical premise for this relationship is that preferences for constructivist activities are associated with other behaviors that are characterized as social risks. Preservice teachers who are ‘risk averse’ may engage in behaviors that perpetuate their conservatism, leaving them ill prepared for current developments in educational reform. In addition to proposing this unique theoretical question, evidence is presented showing that social risk aversion is behaviorally pervasive, influencing preservice teachers’ willingness to participate in classroom discussions, their behavior in a socially competitive game and their natural preference for inquiry‐based mathematics problems. Given this ...
Velocity Computations from Radio-Range Measurements

A user-oriented method for generating velocity estimates based on phase measurements of radio navigation transmissions like Omega is presented. Various geometric schemes, together with numerical implementation of the algorithm, are discussed.
Frame-level pipelined motion estimation array processor

A systolic motion estimation processor (MEP) core architecture implementing the full-search block-matching (FSBM) algorithm is presented. A unique feature of this MEP architecture is its support of frame-level pipelined operation. As such, it is possible to process pixels from consecutive frames without any processor idle time. It is designed so that no data broadcasting operations are required, and achieves 100% fully pipelined computation. It compares favorably with existing MEP architectures in terms of both performance and complexity of architecture.
What can Raman spectroscopy do for criminalistics

For decades Raman spectroscopy has been used as a specialized tool in a variety of fields. Forensic science is one discipline in particular that has greatly benefited from the application of Raman spectroscopic research. Here, studies using Raman spectroscopy for analyzing criminalistic evidence, including body fluids, human tissue, bones, gunshot residue, fibers, and hair, are reviewed. Many of these methods demonstrate the significance of incorporating chemometrics for data analysis to provide more reliable and quantitative results with associated errors. Currently, there are only a few branches of forensic science that use Raman spectroscopy in practice, despite its wide range of advantages. However, many more applications have been developed in the research setting and are presented here. These studies showcase the versatility and dependability of Raman spectroscopy, specifically for criminalistic purposes. The advantages of developing and transitioning these techniques to be used in practice are also discussed, including the tremendous benefits of portable instrumentation. Raman spectroscopy can easily become an established analytical technique for many criminalistics disciplines because it allows for obtaining real-time, rapid, impartial, statistically confident results. Consequently, the improvements to forensic science as a whole will be revolutionary. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Study of Law and Religion: An Apologia and Agenda

This early Article outlines the main themes of this new field of interdisciplinary legal study, and some of the main motivations for promoting the interaction of law and religion. The two authors have expanded these early ideas in their later anthology: Christianity and Law: An Introduction (Cambridge University Press, 2008).
Statistical shape analysis of the human spleen geometry for probabilistic occupant models

Statistical shape models are an effective way to create computational models of human organs that can incorporate inter-subject geometrical variation. The main objective of this study was to create statistical mean and boundary models of the human spleen in an occupant posture. Principal component analysis was applied to fifteen human spleens in order to find the statistical modes of variation, mean shape, and boundary models. A landmark sliding approach was utilized to refine the landmarks to obtain a better shape correspondence and create a better representation of the underlying shape contour. The first mode of variation was found to be the overall volume, and it accounted for 69% of the total variation. The mean model and boundary models could be used to develop probabilistic finite element (FE) models which may identify the risk of spleen injury during vehicle collisions and consequently help to improve automobile safety systems.
Antigenicity of mycobacteriophages R1, D29, and Leo in rabbits .

SummaryThe antigenicity of several known mycobacteriophages was determined in rabbits. The concentration of antibody production was low (K values 100 or less). The kinetics of neutralization showed that the D29, and not the Leo or R1, phage-antiphage system was exponential. The amounts, but not the rates, of antibody produced were dependent on the route used to inject the animals. No cross neutralization occurred between the heterologous phage-antiphage systems.
Functional Gold Nanoparticles as Potent Antimicrobial Agents against Multi-Drug-Resistant Bacteria

We present the use of functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to combat multi-drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Tuning of the functional groups on the nanoparticle surface provided gold nanoparticles that were effective against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive uropathogens, including multi-drug-resistant pathogens. These AuNPs exhibited low toxicity to mammalian cells, and bacterial resistance was not observed after 20 generations. A strong structure–activity relationship was observed as a function of AuNP functionality, providing guidance to activity prediction and rational design of effective antimicrobial nanoparticles.
A Review on the Monitoring and Control of Malaria in Nanhui District of Shanghai in the Past 55 Years

Objective To understand the epidemic status of malaria in Nanhui district between 1952 and 2006.To summarize the experience of malaria control and to strengthen the control achievement.Methods This paper summarized the controlling measures applied for the control of malaria epidemic since the founding of People's Republic of China.With these controlling measures,the incidence of malaria was reduced,and the outbreaks were effectively controlled.Results Malaria is currently under control,and efficient epidemiological surveillance measures have been applied.Conclusion In the past 55 years,significant achievements in malaria control have been obtained in Nanhui county.Preventive measures for malaria control should be continued,especially on the control of imported cases from the mobile population.
The Business Negotiation Viewed from both Western and Chinese Cultures

Many features of Chinese business men have been recognized by western authors, which include that they relatively rely on the personal connection, take their faces or the social capital more seriously and pay much attention to the social status, etc. Those are here believed to be true on the basis of real observation and Chinese literature studies. Some other western authors, however, strongly connected the business style of Chinese to the political or military theory like"thick face, black heart"and"Sun Tzu on the art of war". Actually, the business differs greatly from a political or military action in the purpose. It aims to create profits for both sides, but the latter to defeat or destroy the enemy. Moreover, people's behavior is largely related to some popular creeds rather than the philosophy from certain great sages. In China, there are many well-known old sayings like"if you want to be a business man, you must firstly be a good person"and"a gentleman loves the fortune, but he only try to get it in a proper way". But those have not been introduced enough to the western readers yet. Finally, the people perception between two countries is virtually changing with the time going on, but the cultural core of a country basically remains the same, suggesting that the people’s behavior should be connected to their traditional culture only to some extent.
Renal Physiology: Impact of Recent Developments on Clinical Nephrology

Significant progress has been made in the last few years in understanding the role of the kidney in the economy of the body; most of this progress has direct relevance to clinical pediatric nephrology.
Spatially Variable Vegetation Greenness Trends in Uttarakhand Himalayas in Response to Environmental Drivers

Over the last few decades, Western Himalayas experienced high population growth and increase in exploitative land use practices. This trend coupled with influence of climatic variability has resulted in significant negative effects on vegetation cover and productivity. This study aims to understand the spatial patterns and severity of these impacts in Uttarakhand Himalayas. Specifically, the objectives of this study are twofold: first, to quantify interannual trends in vegetation greenness by conducting nonparametric Mann-Kendall trend analysis on MODIS-NDVI time series (2000–2014) and, second, to assess distribution of this trend with respect to land use land cover properties and elevation zones. The results show that out of the total vegetated area in Uttarakhand, 2,686.95 km2 (5.69 %) showed changes in the vegetation greenness and 73.64 % of this change was significant negative trend (browning). While areas with 1600 m were characterized by browning trend. Majority of intensively cultivated irrigated croplands in the Himalayan foothills and areas around growing urban centers showed widespread browning, whereas areas of rainfed cultivation showed dominant greening. Browning was also dominant in closed needle leaf forests and alpine shrublands, except areas where human impacts has led to more mixed patterns. These results highlight previously unreported fine-scale spatial variations in vegetation productivity trend with respect to both elevation and LULC properties.
The need to connect: on the cell biology of synapses, behaviors, and networks in science

My laboratory is interested in the cell biology of the synapse. Synapses, which are points of cellular communication between neurons, were first described by Santiago Ramon y Cajal as "protoplasmic kisses that appear to constitute the final ecstasy of an epic love story." Who would not want to work on that?! My lab examines the biological mechanisms neurons use to find and connect to each other. How are synapses formed during development, maintained during growth, and modified during learning? In this essay, I reflect about my scientific journey to the synapse, the cell biological one, but also a metaphorical synapse-my role as a point of contact between the production of knowledge and its dissemination. In particular, I discuss how the architecture of scientific networks propels knowledge production but can also exclude certain groups in science.
The laminar boundary layer with distributed heat sources or sinks

The structure of the thermal boundary layer with distributed heat sources or sinks is examined. The problem is reduced to the solution of an infinite system of ordinary linear differential equations. A basic connection between the problem at hand and a certain class of three-dimensional boundary layer flows is pointed out and utilized. The analysis is illustrated by an example which indicates pronounced effects on the temperature distribution due to the presence of sources or sinks.
Weight stigma, depression, and negative appearance commentary: Exploring BMI as a moderator.

The current study investigated body mass index (BMI) as a moderator of the relationship between negative weight-based attitudes and depressive symptoms and between negative attitudes and the impact of negative appearance commentary in a sample of college women. Examining BMI as a moderator in these relationships, we hypothesized that individuals with more negative weight-based attitudes would report a stronger negative impact from negative weight or shape commentary and higher levels of depressive symptoms if they had higher BMIs. Two moderated multiple regression analyses were conducted using hierarchical models. Study hypotheses were supported. Results indicated that BMI moderated the relationship between negative weight-based attitudes and depressive symptoms and between negative attitudes and the impact of negative weight or shape commentary. Individuals with highly negative weight-based attitudes and high BMIs showed high levels of depressive symptoms and reported a strong negative impact of negative weight or shape commentary, whereas those with lower BMIs showed lower levels of depressive symptoms and reported a weaker negative impact of negative weight or shape commentary. The presence of this moderation effect extends current research on the negative impact of weight stigma on mental health. Future research should examine additional moderators in the relationships among these variables to identify areas to target in weight stigma interventions.
Freezing of Foods: Mathematical and Experimental Aspects

Freezing is a widely used method to extend the shelf life of foods. However, the frozen products are subjected to temperature fluctuations during storage and shipping, which cause events such as ice recrystallization and moisture/mass migration that further damage food quality. This paper reviews the mechanisms of ice crystal formation, propagation, and glass transition and presents experimental results about the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on ice recrystallization. The mathematical models for prediction of freezing time and description of heat and mass transfer during the freezing process are also addressed. The crystal formation and moisture/mass mobility involve multiscale characteristics, while the traditional modeling can only describe single-scale averaged effects. Therefore, the hybrid mixture theory (HMT), which is based on multiscale balance laws and entropy inequality, is also discussed in the context of the freezing problem to predict phase change, crystal growth, and thermomechanical effects.
Subdivision design and stewardship affect bird and mammal use of conservation developments.

Developing effective tools for conservation on private lands is increasingly important for global biodiversity conservation; private lands are located in more productive and biologically diverse areas, and they face accelerated rates of land conversion. One strategy is conservation development (CD) subdivisions, which cluster houses in a small portion of a property and preserve the remaining land as protected open space. Despite widespread use, the characteristics that make CD more or less effective at achieving biodiversity conservation are not well understood. We investigated CD's ability to successfully protect animal populations by examining bird and mammal occurrences in 14 CD subdivisions and four undeveloped areas (range: 14–432 ha) in northern Colorado, USA. Using point count and camera trap data in an occupancy modeling framework, we evaluated the relative importance of nine subdivision design factors (e.g., housing density, proportion of CD protected) and 14 stewardship factors (e.g., presence of livestock, percent native vegetation cover) in influencing the overall community composition and the probability of use by 16 birds and six mammals. We found that habitat use by 75% of birds and 83% of mammals was associated with design characteristics that maximized the natural or undisturbed land area both within and near the development (e.g., proportion of CD protected, total area of protected open space, proportion of natural land cover in the surrounding landscape). These factors were also associated with an increasing dominance of human-sensitive bird species, larger-bodied mammals, and mammals with larger home ranges. Habitat use by birds was also influenced by local land use composition and quality, and use by several bird and mammal species decreased with increased localized disturbances. We found few differences in habitat use between sampling sites in undeveloped areas and in CD subdivisions. These similarities indicate that, if CDs are large enough or located within a matrix of undeveloped land, they can provide habitat that supports similar use patterns as protected areas without housing development. By incorporating characteristics that promote the persistence of sensitive birds and mammals on private lands, CDs have potential to preserve native biodiversity in areas threatened by expanding residential development.
Measurement of Murine Single-Kidney Glomerular Filtration Rate Using Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI.

PURPOSE To develop and validate a method for measuring murine single-kidney glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). METHODS This prospective study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. A fast longitudinal relaxation time (T1 ) measurement method was implemented to capture gadolinium dynamics (1 s/scan), and a modified two-compartment model was developed to quantify GFR as well as renal perfusion using 16.4T MRI in mice 2 weeks after unilateral renal artery stenosis (RAS, n = 6) or sham (n = 8) surgeries. This approach was validated by comparing model-derived GFR and perfusion to those obtained by fluorescein isothiocyanante (FITC)-inulin clearance and arterial spin labeling (ASL), respectively, using the Pearson's and Spearman's rank correlations and Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS The compartmental model provided a good fitting to measured gadolinium dynamics in both normal and RAS kidneys. The proposed DCE-MRI method offered assessment of single-kidney GFR and perfusion, comparable to the FITC-inulin clearance (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = 0.95 and Spearman's correlation coefficient ρ = 0.94, P < 0.0001, and mean difference -7.0 ± 11.0 μL/min) and ASL (r = 0.92 and ρ = 0.84, P < 0.0001, and mean difference 4.4 ± 66.1 mL/100 g/min) methods. CONCLUSION The proposed DCE-MRI method may be useful for reliable noninvasive measurements of single-kidney GFR and perfusion in mice. Magn Reson Med 79:2935-2943, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Effects of Race Are Rarely Included in Clinical Prediction Models for Cardiovascular Disease.

Racial/ethnic status is frequently a strong predictor of clinical outcomes for an array of conditions, including cardiovascular disease (CVD).1 Several popular clinical prediction models (CPMs) that help guide common medical decisions, such as equations for 10-year atherosclerotic CVD risk, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and pulmonary function, include terms for race. Nevertheless, the use of racial classifications in medicine and biomedical research has been contested based on evidence that there are few biological or genetic differences between races and concern that encoding racial/ethnic differences may reinforce discrimination, racism, and health disparities. To date, there has been no systematic evaluation of the role of race and ethnicity in CPMs. Our objective was to conduct a field synopsis of the role of race/ethnicity in a registry of CVD-related CPMs.
Mycobacterial Etiology of Crohn’s Disease: How to Prove Causation

It has long been suspected that the inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, have infectious etiologies. Over the last 60 years, there have been a number of candidate etiologic agents for each disease (1). Recent evidence has focused on a mycobacterial etiology. In 1932, Crohn, Oppenheimer, and Ginzburg separated Crohn’s disease from intestinal tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (2) but interest in a possible etiologic role of other mycobacteria in Crohn’s disease continued. Provocative results were produced from several laboratories but no real progress was made until the isolation of what were initially described as uncharacterized mycobacteria from 2 tissues from patients with Crohn’s disease (3). The incubation periods were quite long and each isolate went through a cell-wall defective phase before reverting to traditionally cultivatable mycobacteria. These organisms were initially isolated as cell-wall defective organisms and were very fastidious (4–6). Our group was the first to identify the isolates as M. paratuberculosis and this has been confirmed (7,8). Since then a series of papers describing the isolation of M. paratuberculosis from Crohn’s disease patients have been published (9–11). M. paratuberculosis is the cause of a chronic intestinal disease in animals (similar to Crohn’s in humans) called ruminant paratuberculosis or Johne’s disease and also has been associated with gastrointestinal disease in primates (12,13). These reports rekindled interest in a mycobacterial etiology for Crohn’s disease because they provided plausible explanations (extreme fastidiousness due to existence as cell-wall defective organisms and to mycobactin dependence) for difficulties previously encountered in culturing mycobacteria from involved tissues.
Are universal statements falsifiable

In diesem Beitrag wird ausgefuhrt, das Poppers Falsifikationskriterium einen logischen Fehler enthalt. Die Regeln deduktiver Ableitung sind selbst fur ihre Durchfuhrung von induktiver Ableitung (z. B. Erinnerungsvermogen) abhangig. Um das “Criterion of Falsification” fur gultig zu erklaren, beruft sich Popper auf diese Regeln deduktiver Ableitung.
Regulation of Human Airway Epithelial Tissue Stem Cell Differentiation by β-Catenin, P300, and CBP

The wingless/integrase-1 (WNT)/β-catenin signaling pathway is active in several chronic lung diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although this WNT/β-catenin pathway activity is associated with an increase in mucus cell frequency and a decrease in ciliated cell frequency, a cause and consequence relationship between signaling and cell frequency has not been established. We previously demonstrated that genetic stabilization of β-catenin inhibited differentiation of mouse bronchiolar tissue stem cells (TSC). This study determined the effect of β-catenin and its co-factors P300 (E1A-binding protein, 300 kDa) and cAMP response element binding (CREB)-binding protein (CBP) on human bronchial epithelial TSC differentiation to mucus and ciliated cells. We developed a modified air-liquid interface (ALI) culture system in which mucus and ciliated cell frequency is similar. These cultures were treated with the β-catenin agonist CHIR99021 (CHIR) and antagonists to β-catenin (XAV939), P300 (IQ1), and CBP (ICG001). We report that human TSC differentiation to mucus and ciliated cells can be divided into two stages, specification and commitment. CHIR treatment inhibited mucus and ciliated cell commitment while XAV939 treatment demonstrated that β-catenin was necessary for mucus and ciliated cell specification. Additional studies demonstrate that a β-catenin/P300 complex promotes mucus cell specification and that β-catenin interacts with either P300 or CBP to inhibit ciliated cell commitment. These data indicate that activation of β-catenin-dependent signaling in chronic lung disease leads to changes in mucus and ciliated cell frequency and that P300 and CBP tune the β-catenin signal to favor mucus cell differentiation. Stem Cells 2018;36:1905-12.
Compressive Hyperspectral Microscopy of Nanomaterials

In the important and exciting field of plasmonics, dark field characterization of metal nanoparticles is particularly insightful. In this case, the spectrum of the scattered light directly reveals the plasmon absorption in the various nanoparticles. However, the common strategy first involves acquiring a wide field image and then centering the particular particle of interest before acquiring the spectra of that particle. When there are only a few particles, this is not so difficult but it becomes increasingly onerous as the number of particles on the surface increases or the nanoparticles become spatially extended. There are now academic [1, 2] and commercial systems [3] that use pushbroom spectroscopy to speed up this process but need a scanning slit coupled to a very expensive CCD camera. More recently, there exist other strategies for hyperspectral microscopy, both compressive such as the computational CASSI system developed at Duke University [4] and the hardware solution of the Image Mapping Spectrometer developed by Tomas Tkaczyk at Rice University [5]. However these too at their heart are still essentially pushbroom hyperspectral imaging systems. There has been an explosion over the last decade in applying computational imaging techniques such as compressive sensing (CS) to radically alter the way various technologies acquire data.
Controlled tungsten doping of vanadium dioxide grown through alternating-target pulsed laser deposition

Thin films of vanadium dioxide were grown with various fractions of tungsten doping controlled during growth through alternating-target pulsed laser deposition. A range of V1−x W x O2 films were grown on (0001) sapphire substrates with x values on intervals from x = [0, 0.025]. The metal-insulator transition temperature was measured through the change in infrared transmission, and the change in transition temperature as a function of the dopant-fraction x was found to be −18.89 °C per atomic percent tungsten, consistent with studies using various other forms of growth.
Research on DC Component Decay Time Constant of 1000 kV AC Filter Circuit Breakers in UHV Converter Station

In hierarchically connected UHV DC projects, the 1000 kV AC filter sub-bank in converter station is provided with two 500 kV circuit breakers. To determine the test DC component decay time constant when breakers break short-circuit current, relevant DC project was modelled in electromagnetic transient program (EMTP) for calculations. It is pointed out that for UHV AC filter circuit breakers, the decay time constant of DC component of short-circuit current should be determined solely based on the single-phase to earth fault current. Calculations and analyses were made of the AC and DC components and the DC component decay time constant of filter single-phase to earth fault current, and the time constant calculated was converted to the test value of breakers with rated short-circuit breaking current of 63 kA. According to the research results, a time constant of 75 ms or 90 ms is recommended for the two 500 kV circuit breakers, and it is lower than 120 ms as required by the relevant standards, providing technical support for future breaker tests.
Extent and Origins of Functional Diversity in a Subfamily of Glycoside Hydrolases.

Abstract Some glycoside hydrolases have broad specificity for hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds, potentially increasing their functional utility and flexibility in physiological and industrial applications. To deepen the understanding of the structural and evolutionary driving forces underlying specificity patterns in glycoside hydrolase family 5, we quantitatively screened the activity of the catalytic core domains from subfamily 4 (GH5_4) and closely related enzymes on four substrates: lichenan, xylan, mannan, and xyloglucan. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that GH5_4 consists of three major clades, and one of these clades, referred to here as clade 3, displayed average specific activities of 4.2 and 1.2 U/mg on lichenan and xylan, approximately 1 order of magnitude larger than the average for active enzymes in clades 1 and 2. Enzymes in clade 3 also more consistently met assay detection thresholds for reaction with all four substrates. We also identified a subfamily-wide positive correlation between lichenase and xylanase activities, as well as a weaker relationship between lichenase and xyloglucanase. To connect these results to structural features, we used the structure of CelE from Hungateiclostridium thermocellum (PDB 4IM4 ) as an example clade 3 enzyme with activities on all four substrates. Comparison of the sequence and structure of this enzyme with others throughout GH5_4 and neighboring subfamilies reveals at least two residues (H149 and W203) that are linked to strong activity across the substrates. Placing GH5_4 in context with other related subfamilies, we highlight several possibilities for the ongoing evolutionary specialization of GH5_4 enzymes.
Information Scrambling and Loschmidt Echo

We demonstrate analytically and verify numerically that the out-of-time order correlator is given by the thermal average of Loschmidt echo signals. This provides a direct link between the out-of-time-order correlator---a recently suggested measure of information scrambling in quantum chaotic systems---and the Loschmidt echo, a well-appreciated familiar diagnostic that captures the dynamical aspect of chaotic behavior in the time domain, and is accessible to experimental studies.