cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COMPLEMENT AND COMPLEMENT-LIKE ACTIVITY IN LOWER VERTEBRATES AND INVERTEBRATES

A purified cobra venom factor with C-inhibiting activity also promotes lysis of erythrocytes in fresh mammalian serum. Lysis-inducing activity of purified cobra venom factor was found in sera of lower vertebrates including the cyclostome hagfish and in invertebrates. Lysis-inducing activity was most effective with frog serum. Frog serum was found to be more hemolytic for E(s) in the presence of CVF than when cells were sensitized with hemolysin. The hemolysis induced by CVF with frog serum, as in the higher vertebrates, was inhibited when sera were pretreated with known C inhibitors including heat, chelators, endotoxin, immune complexes, and CVF itself. Complexes formed with CVF and either frog serum or invertebrate hemolymph promoted lysis of indicator cells in the presence of frog serum in EDTA. This lysis was most marked when the starfish-CVF complex was used and was C-dependent. Conversely, complex formed with frog serum and CVF promoted lysis of E in the presence of invertebrate hemolymph (Limulus) in EDTA. Hence, serum components were to some degree at least interchangeable between vertebrate sera and invertebrate hemolymph. Lysis-inducing activity of purified CVF occurs in a wide range of species, has revealed activities resembling those of terminal C-components in lower vertebrates and invertebrates, and provides one means for study of C and C-like activities in primitive species.
SU‐FF‐I‐56: Radiation Dose Estimation From Pediatric Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Purpose: To estimate absorbed doses and effective dose (ED) from cone beam computed tomography(CBCT) with metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor(MOSFET)detectors in an anthropomorphic phantom, and to estimate the risk of cancer incidence from CBCT.Method and Materials:CBCT was performed in the abdominal region of a 5‐year old anthropomorphic phantom using a Varian On‐Board Imager with standard (125kVp, 80mA, 25msec) and low dose mode (125kVp, 40mA, 10msec). Full‐fan mode was employed as scanning protocol and 20 MOSFET dosimeters were used to measure the absorbed doses at various organ locations. We evaluated the effective doses, the lifetime attributable risks (LAR) and relative risk (RR) of cancer induction for both standard and low dose mode. Results: Highest absorbed doses were founded in the skin, ascending colon and stomach. EDs of CBCT were 37.8±0.7 mSv for standard dose mode and 8.1±0.2 mSv for low dose mode. LAR of cancer incidence ranged from 23 to 144 for standard dose mode and from 5 to 31 for low dose mode per 100,000 exposed persons. RR of cancer incidence ranged from 1.003 to 1.053 for standard dose mode and from 1.001 to 1.012 for low dose mode. Conclusion: ED from pediatric CBCT for standard dose mode was considerably higher than that of MDCT, while the ED for low dose mode was comparable. For abdominal CBCT in the pediatric phantom, the highest LARs were for incidence of colon and bladder cancer and the highest RRs were for incidence of stomach and livercancer.
Ka-band I/Q modulator Multi-Chip Module for high data rate communications

This paper describes the development and test results of a flight qualified, hermetic I/Q modulator Multi-Chip Module (MCM) with X-band input and Ka-band output for either Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) or Deep Space Network (DSN) high data rate communications applications. The module is 0.9″ wide by 1.7″ long without the attachable coaxial connector. It draws &#60;500 mW of DC power. A Ka-band modulator MMIC previously developed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) provides the direct I/Q modulating function in the module. A Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) MMIC frequency multiplier provides either a multiply-by-three or a multiply-by-four function for the upconversion of the X-band carrier to one of the Ka-band output frequencies of choice. The multi-chip module is configurable for the desired frequency band during fabrication by installing the corresponding band-pass filter. This filter, along with the biasing of the multiplier MMIC, passes the upconverted carrier to the I/Q modulator. A COTS MMIC broadband amplifier is used following the modulator to boost the output signal level to approximately +10dBm range, suitable for driving an external SSPA or TWTA. Chip attenuators are located between each function block for level setting as well as temperature compensation. An innovative package was designed to house the circuits described. Both the TDRSS and DSN versions of this upconverting direct modulation module have been fully tested and successfully implemented in the Ka-band Exciter of both the S/Ka-band and X/Ka-band Frontier Radio developed by JHU/APL for NASA. A data rate of up to 200 Mbps has been demonstrated during radio test, with current efforts targeting beyond 300 Mbps. 1 2
Pion-deutron scattering in the Δ(1236) energy region as a three-body problem☆

Abstract We study pion-deuteron scattering in the first π-N resonance energy region, in a three-body model based on Faddeev's equations. We discuss the effects of multiple scattering, nuclear binding, and virtual excitation of the target, on the energy behavior of the cross section.
Regulation of intracellular calcium in human breast cancer cells.

Regulation of intracellular Ca2+ in breast cancer may be important in modulating cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity, as well as contributing to mechanisms of action of anticancer agents. One of these agents, the steroid hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], is intimately involved in maintaining cellular Ca2+ homeostasis. The purpose of this study was to investigate Ca2+ regulatory pathways in breast cancer cells and to determine the role of 1,25(OH)2D3 in modulating these pathways. We examined pathways for Ca2+ entry from the extracellular space and Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores in the estrogen-receptor negative human breast cancer cell line BT-20. Fluorescence digital video imaging and Ca2+ indicator fura-2 were employed to measure the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and Ca2+ responses at the single-cell level. We found that BT-20 breast cancer cells expressed nonselective, voltage-insensitive Ca2+ channels (VICC), as indicated by their permeability to Mn2+, response to elevated extracellular Ca2+ with an increase in [Ca2+]i, blockage by La3+ and Ni2+, and response to K+ depolarization with a slight decrease in [Ca2+]i and Ca2+ influx. There was no evidence for voltage- dependent Ca2+ channels in BT-20 cells. Endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores comprised a major intracellular Ca2+ pool, as was evident after application of a Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin in nominally Ca2+-free buffer to the cells with thapsigargin-depleted Ca2+ stores. Thapsigargin depletion of Ca2+ stores did not increase influx of extracellular Ca2+, implying no significant activation of the capacitative Ca2+ entry. 1,25(OH)2D3 did not induce a rapid rise in [Ca2+]i, yet Ca2+ influx through VICC was increased. Treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 for 4–72 h significantly increased the percentage of cells with a markedly elevated basal [Ca2+]i. Ca2+ response of those cells to thapsigargin was attenuated. Taken together, our findings show that VICC and the thapsigargin-sensitive endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores are the principal pathways for Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ mobilization in the breast cancer cell line used in this study. 1,25(OH)2D3 rapidly increases Ca2+ influx through VICC and after a chronic treatment, depletes endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores. Targeting of Ca2+ signaling mediated by VICC and endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores may represent a novel approach to the treatment and chemoprevention of breast cancer.
Insufficient evidence of the effect of systemic antibiotics on adults with symptomatic apical periodontitis or acute apical abscess.

Insufficient evidence of the effect of systemic antibiotics on adults with symptomatic apical periodontitis or acute apical abscess
Celebrities as Health Educators: Media Advocacy Guidelines

This report suggests that celebrities could serve as messengers of the importance of health due to mass media exposure. It uses as an example the voluntary efforts by Magic Johnson to champion the AIDS prevention campaign, highlighting the need for AIDS education. The media advocacy approach using celebrities for health education is suggested although questions concerning credibility and effectiveness may arise. This resource is part of the Public Health Advocacy Website Collection.
Error bounds for nondifferentiable convex inequalities under a strong Slater constraint qualification

A global error bound is given on the distance between an arbitrary point in then-dimensional real spaceRn and its projection on a nonempty convex set determined bym convex, possibly nondifferentiable, inequalities. The bound is in terms of a natural residual that measures the violations of the inequalities multiplied by a new simple condition constant that embodies a single strong Slater constraint qualification (CQ) which implies the ordinary Slater CQ. A very simple bound on the distance to the projection relative to the distance to a point satisfying the ordinary Slater CQ is given first and then used to derive the principal global error bound.
Sensitivity of early life stages of blueback herring to moderate acidity and aluminum in soft freshwater

The sensitivity of the blueback herringAlosa aestivalis to acidity and aluminum (AI) in reconstituted, soft freshwater (23–25 mg I−1 hardness as CaCO3) was investigated in a continuous exposure laboratory study. Mature (20–24 h postfertilization) embryos were more tolerant than 1- to 5-day-old yolk-sac larvae. Significant mortality of embryos occurred only when pH was 5.0 and the total Al concentration was 0.42 mg I−1 (predicted MIBK-extracted total monomeric AI=0.34 mgI−1). Moderate acidity dramatically decreased the survival of yolksac larvae. Mean mortality was 99% in pH 5.0 and 89% in pH 5.7 compared to 38% in pH 6.5 and 16% in pH 7.8 without AI. The toxicity of AI to yolk-sac larvae was pH- and dose-dependent. Total AI concentrations up to 0.34 mg l−1 (predicted total monomeric AI up to 0.21 mg l−1) were not toxic at pH 6.5 and 7.8. At pH 5.0 and 5.7, AI increased the rate at which yolk-sac larvae died during a 96-h exposure (i.e., time to 50% mortality decreased with increasing AI). Continuous exposure to a predicted total monomeric AI level of only 0.03 mg I−1 at pH 5.0 killed all yolk-sac larvae in <24 hours. The mechanisms of acid and AI toxicity were apparently physiological and not associated with extensive cellular damage. Acidification events measured in Chesapeake Bay tributaries may reduce survival of blueback herring yolk-sac larvae and embryos exposed to those events.
Weak coordination as a powerful means for developing broadly useful C-H functionalization reactions.

Reactions that convert carbon–hydrogen (C–H) bonds into carbon–carbon (C–C) or carbon–heteroatom (C–Y) bonds are attractive tools for organic chemists, potentially expediting the synthesis of target molecules through new disconnections in retrosynthetic analysis. Despite extensive inorganic and organometallic study of the insertion of homogeneous metal species into unactivated C–H bonds, practical applications of this technology in organic chemistry are still rare. Only in the past decade have metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization reactions become more widely utilized in organic synthesis.Research in the area of homogeneous transition metal–catalyzed C–H functionalization can be broadly grouped into two subfields. They reflect different approaches and goals and thus have different challenges and opportunities. One approach involves reactions of completely unfunctionalized aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, which we refer to as “first functionalization”. Here the substrates are nonpolar and hydrophobic a...
Penetration calculations and measurements for a layered soil target

A tow-dimensional finite difference wave propagation code was used to analyse the impact of a rigid, ogival-nosed penetrator with a target consisting of thin alternating layers of silt, sand, and clay. The response of the idealized target was described with an elastic-plastic constitutive model depending upon two stress invariants and the history of plastic deformation. Interfacial friction between the penetrator and target was assumed to be negligible. Comparisons are made of calculated results and those of nominally similar experiments conducted at the Watching Hill test site in Alberta, Canada. Analysis of these comparisons reveals that numerical methods like the one employed in this study can yield insight into penomena, as well as suggesting possible improvements in the calculation technique.
Transportation costs for US imports from developed and developing countries

This study measures international transportation costs for US imports in 1981 and changes in these costs from 1976 to 1981. It then examines how the levels and the changes in these costs vary with the level of development of the import‐supplying country. Transportation costs continue to be a significant barrier to US imports, but relative transportation costs have declined sharply in recent years. The ratio of transportation costs to value is greater for US imports from developing countries than for US imports from developed countries and is greatest for US imports from least developed developing countries. Furthermore, the transportation cost disadvantage of least developed developing countries has been increasing.
Effects on nociceptive threshold and blood pressure of intrathecally administered morphine and α-adrenergic agonists

Abstract In the present experiments, the time course of the analgesic response (tail flick in rats, skin twitch in cat) and blood pressure effects of intrathecally administered morphine and the α-agonists. clonidine and ST-91 were examined in rats and cats. The clonidine analogue, ST-91 has approximately 1 50 the lipid solubility of clonidine. Intrathecally administered morphine and morphine followed by naloxone had no effect on resting blood pressure in unanaesthetized cats and in rats and cats anaesthetized with chloralose-urethane. Inactive when given systemically, ST-91 had a powerful antinociceptive effect when given intrathecally. At analgesic doses, this α-agonist produced only a transient hypertension. At doses 4–6 times that required to produce a significant antinociceptive effect, a pressor effect was observed. Intrathecal injection of clonidine in smaller doses produced a transient hypotension, with significant pressor effects present with larger doses.
Redox control of endothelial NO bioactivity

Abstract The vascular endothelium regulates local homeostasis, in part, via the release of NO . NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) is an ROS-producing enzyme in the endothelium, yet its specific role in vascular function is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the role of Nox4 in endothelial cell phenotype. Hypoxia induced Nox4 expression both in vitro and in vivo and overexpression of Nox4 was sufficient to promote endothelial angiogenesis. To determine the in vivo relevance of our observations, we generated transgenic mice that overexpress Nox4 in the endothelium by using a VE-cadherin promoter (VE-Nox4 mice). In vivo, the VE-Nox4 mice had accelerated recovery from hind limb ischemia and enhanced aortic capillary sprouting. Because endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is known to be involved in mediating the angiogenic process in endothelial cells and is activated by ROS, we probed the effect of Nox4 on eNOS. In cultured endothelial cells overexpressing Nox4 we observed a significant increase in eNOS protein expression and activity. To causally address the link between eNOS and Nox4 we crossed our transgenic Nox4 mice with eNOS−/− mice. Aortae from these mice did not demonstrate enhanced aortic sprouting. Furthermore, the eNOS−/− Nox4 transgenic mice did not demonstrate enhanced recovery from hind limb ischemia. Collectively, these data implicate Nox4 in the control of endothelial NO bioactivity.
Bismarck and German Nationalism

THE Nazi revolution and the ruin which it brought have placed in doubt many of the previous assumptions of German historical thought.' Of the several problems for which new solutions must be sought one of the most important concerns the influence of Bismarck.2 Does he share responsibility for the growth of that inverted nationalism upon which Hitler rode to power and conquest? The question of Bismarck's nationalism has long been the subject of speculation and controversy. According to one school of interpretation, whose chief representatives were Heinrich Friedjung and Erich Brandenburg,3 he adopted a German national outlook early in his career, certainly after I85I when he became Prussian delegate to the German Bundestag in Frankfurt. This viewpoint has proved tenacious. Recently it appeared again in an article by Otto Becker published in the Historische Zeitschrift.4 Following the same tradition, A. 0. Meyer, author of the most recent biography, took an even more extreme position. To him it appeared axiomatic that the great Prussian Junker was motivated throughout his career by a German national patriotism which was as fundamental to his thought and action as his Lutheran faith and his monarchical loyalty.5 From the evidence, however, it is apparent that before i866 Bismarck gave his primary allegiance to the Prussian state and monarchy. Therefore, Max Lenz, Erich Marcks,6 and Friedrich Meinecke7 concluded that his con-
Imaging protein-protein interactions in vivo.

Protein-protein interactions are a hallmark of all essential cellular processes. However, many of these interactions are transient, or energetically weak, preventing their identification and analysis through traditional biochemical methods such as co-immunoprecipitation. In this regard, the genetically encodable fluorescent proteins (GFP, RFP, etc.) and their associated overlapping fluorescence spectrum have revolutionized our ability to monitor weak interactions in vivo using Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET)1-3. Here, we detail our use of a FRET-based proximity assay for monitoring receptor-receptor interactions on the endothelial cell surface.
KIBRA, Aging, and Gene by Environmental Interaction: An Effect to Remember?

In this issue of Biological Psychiatry, Muse et al. (1) examine the relationship between a single nucleotide polymorphism in the WWC1 gene and normal age-related decline in declarative memory. WWC1 expresses the KIBRA protein, which is a known binding partner with dendrin, a putative modulator of synaptic plasticity, and also with multiple proteins involved in vesicular transport and neuronal plasticity (2). Using an agnostic genomewide association (GWA) approach, Papassotiropoulos et al. (3) initially associated this specific WWC1 polymorphism (rs17070145) with performance on a verbal learning and memory test in a Swiss cohort of healthy young adults. In that same article, these authors replicated the finding that individuals with a T allele have significantly better memory performance than C homozygotes in two independent samples. However, as with many initial highprofile GWA results, the findings of Papassotiropoulos et al. (3) suffered from the winner’s curse (or potentially the Proteus phenomenon) where the original finding appears to have been an overestimation of the true statistical effect size. Although several studies did not replicate the association between WWC1 and declarative memory, a recent meta analysis found that rs17070145 variation explains a small amount ( .5%) of memory task variance (4), consistent with other observations between common polymorphisms and complex phenotypes. It is quite possible that genetic heterogeneity explains findings of statistically significant but very weak effects in relation to population attributable risk or variant-specific heritability. Indeed, for many human geneticists, trying to find the missing heritability within GWA studies has become a cottage industry. In this context, Muse et al. (1) propose that the age of the organism could be construed as a specific environmental factor that modulates the influence of KIBRA on declarative memory and related brain activation. This assertion is based, in part, on evidence that genetic deletion of WWC1 in mice impairs long-term depression and long-term potentiation of hippocampal neurons, ostensibly leading to profound memory impairments that worsen as the animal ages (5). The study by Muse et al. (1) challenges us to think of how weak single nucleotide polymorphism effects and nonreplication might arise and provides us the opportunity to reflect further on optimal methodologies to detect gene by environment interactions. It is accepted that the interaction of genetic and environmental factors (G E interaction) plays an important role in the etiology of complex diseases and normal variation. Generally, a significant G E interaction is evidence for a heritable basis of a biological response to environmental change. Early work by Robertson (6) formalized G E interaction models by pointing out that the additive genetic variance in response to
Hormonal control of precopulatory sebaceous scent marking and ultrasonic mating vocalizations in male rats

The effects of testosterone (T) and its major metabolites, estradiol (E2) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), on the restoration of sebaceous scent marking and 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in male rats were measured in two studies (Experiments 1 and 2) employing different hormone levels. Silastic capsule administration of high and low doses of T (10 and 20 mm) or E2 (5%; 5 and 10 mm) completely restored marking to precastration levels. Both doses of DHT (30 and 40 mm) or no hormone replacement were without effect when tested in presence of estrous odor cues. In our testing paradigm, males appeared to mark glass objects with a sebaceous secretion rather than urine. Only the high dose of T (20 mm) restored vocalizations to intact levels, while animals receiving the high or low dose of E2 or DHT showed no restoration of behavior. In Experiment 3, habituation to estrous odor cues over weekly tests was not observed for marking or vocalizations. These results are discussed with respect to similarities and differences in the hormonal control of signaling behaviors by androgen metabolites in male rodents.
SU-E-T-691: On the Use of Multiple Beam Angles to Minimize the Impact of High Density Fiducial Markers in the Prostate Proton Radiotherapy

Purpose: Fiducial markers are commonly used in prostate radiotherapy to improve accuracy of target localization. However, in proton therapy, since the proton range is sensitive to the material it travels through, under‐dose to the prostate has been reported in conventional passive scattering treatment and 3D‐modulation based intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT), in the presence of high density fiducial markers inside the prostate. This study investigated the ability of using multiple beam angles to minimize the dosimetric impact of fiducial markers in 3D‐modulation and distal edge tracking (DET) based IMPT. Methods: CTimages of a typical prostate patient with three gold markers (3mm by 1mm, density = 19.3 g/cc) were used in this study. 2‐field lateral and 4‐field box type 3D‐modulation proton treatment plans as well as DET plans with evenly spaced 18, 10, and 6 beam angles were generated to deliver 70Gy to 95% of the PTV. Geant4 Monte Carlo code was used for dose calculation. The plan was performed on images with fiducial markers artificially removed. Then the delivered dose distribution was calculated with fiducial markers present in the patient. The dose distributions between the planed and delivered were then compared to evaluate the efficacy of using multiple beam angles to minimize the dosimetric deviations. The tumor control probability (TCP) was also used to quantify the dose variation. Results: The preliminary result shows all the 3D‐modulation and DET plans yielded equivalent PTV coverage. The planned and delivered D98% of prostate was 68.68Gy vs. 68.32Gy in 18‐field DET, 67.83Gy vs. 65.53Gy in 10‐field DET, and 67.82Gy vs. 58.19Gy in 2‐field 3D‐Modulation. No significant dose change to rectum and bladder was observed. Conclusions: With high density fiducial markers present in the target, multiple beam angles are recommended in proton treatment plans to avoid significant under‐dose to the target.
Reassessment of teratogenic risk from antenatal ultrasound

Science has shown that risk of cavitation and hyperthermia following prenatal ultrasound exposure is relatively negligible provided intensity, frequency, duration of exposure, and total numbers of exposures are safely limited. However, noncavitational mechanisms have been poorly studied and occur within what are currently considered “safe” levels of exposure. To date, the teratogenic capacity of noncavitational effectors are largely unknown, although studies have shown that different forms of ultrasound-induced hydraulic forces and pressures can alter membrane fluidity, proliferation, and expression of inflammatory and repair markers. Loose regulations, poor end user training, and unreliable ultrasound equipment may also increase the likelihood of cavitation and hyperthermia during prenatal exposure with prolonged durations and increased intensities. The literature suggests a need for tighter regulations on the use of ultrasound and further studies into its teratogenicity.
Microfluidic devices for label-free and non-instrumented quantitation of unamplified nucleic acids by flow distance measurement

Timely biomarker quantitation has potential to improve human health but current methods have disadvantages either in terms of cost and complexity for benchtop instruments, or reduced performance in quantitation and/or multiplexing for point-of-care systems. We previously developed microfluidic devices wherein visually observed flow distances correlated with a model analyte's concentration (Chatterjee et al., Anal. Chem., 2012, 84, 7057). Here, we significantly expand over this prior result to demonstrate the measurement of unamplified DNA analogues of microRNAs (miRNAs), biomarkers whose levels can be altered in disease states. We have developed a method for covalently attaching nucleic acid receptors on poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchannel surfaces by silane and cross-linker treatments. We found a flow distance dependence on target concentrations from 10 μg mL−1 to 10 pg mL−1 for DNA in both buffer and synthetic urine. Moreover, flow time in addition to flow distance is correlated with target concentration. We also observed longer flow distances for single-base mismatches compared to the target sequence at the same concentration, indicating that our approach can be used to detect point mutations. Finally, experiments with DNA analogues of miRNA biomarkers for kidney disease (mir-200c-3p) and prostate cancer (mir-107) in synthetic urine showed the ability to detect these analytes near clinically relevant levels. Our results demonstrate that these novel microfluidic assays offer a simple route to sensitive, amplification-free nucleic acid quantitation, with strong potential for point-of-care application.
Core Self-Evaluations: A Review and Evaluation of the Literature

Core self-evaluation (CSE) represents the fundamental appraisals individuals make about their self-worth and capabilities. CSE is conceptualized as a higher order construct composed of broad and evaluative traits (e.g., self-esteem and generalized self-efficacy). The authors review 15 years of CSE theory and research, focusing in particular on the outcomes, mediators, and moderators of CSE via qualitative and quantitative literature reviews. Meta-analytic results support the relation of CSE with various outcomes, including job and life satisfaction, in-role and extra-role job performance, and perceptions of the work environment (e.g., job characteristics and fairness). The authors conclude with a critical evaluation of CSE theory, measurement, and construct validity, highlighting areas of promise and concern for future CSE research. Key topics requiring further research include integrating CSE within an approach/avoidance framework, ruling out alternative explanations for the emergence of the higher order...
Estrogen–serotonin interactions: implications for affective regulation

A burgeoning literature documents the convergence of reproductive endocrine and central serotonergic systems in the regulation of a variety of behaviors. This review will focus on one element of this interaction, the modulation of serotonergic function by estrogen. After describing the manifold neuroregulatory effects of gonadal steroids, we summarize the effects of estrogen on central serotonin systems in animals and humans as inferred from studies demonstrating the impact of gender, estrus (or menstrual) cycle, or hormone manipulation. Finally, we summarize the putative roles of estrogen and serotonin in two reproductive-endocrine-related mood disorders: premenstrual syndrome and perimenopausal depression.
STER: a look at sensor-triggered communication for wireless network

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) have become powerful tools for gathering and monitoring environmental data. These networking systems can be utilized for many different applications due to their autonomy, ability to withstand harsh conditions, and the reduced cost associated with their collection of data. These characteristics are beneficial across a wide range of applications including those specific to the military, environmental, industrial, and medical industries. Additionally, they become increasingly more relevant in remote sensing applications where size weight and power trade-offs are of particular importance. Conversely, these applications also demonstrate the Achilles heel of a large percentage of WSNs in that they run on limited power sources. Thus, energy efficiency is a major concern and therefore a significant amount of research has been dedicated to identifying methods of making WSNs as energy efficient as possible. The purpose of this paper is to detail a reactive wireless sensor network protocol that will minimize network overhead and energy consumption in an effort to provide longevity to the overall network. The underlying components of the Sensor-Triggered Efficient Routing protocol, STER, will be covered and the asynchronous handshaking method used to transmit data between the sending and receiving nodes will also be described. The power consumption performance results of STER will then be compared to those obtained from other protocols in the current literature. The data will show that implementation of the STER protocol should result in a wireless sensor network with an increased life span.
Immunotherapy of Type 1 Diabetes: Where Are We and Where Should We Be Going?

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Many broad-based immunosuppressive and antigen-specific immunoregulatory therapies have been and are currently being evaluated for their utility in the prevention and treatment of T1D. Looking forward, this review discusses the potential therapeutic use of antigen-specific tolerance strategies, including tolerance induced by "tolerogenic" antigen-presenting cells pulsed with diabetogenic antigens and transfer of induced or expanded regulatory T cells, which have demonstrated efficacy in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Depending on the time of therapeutic intervention in the T1D disease process, antigen-specific immunoregulatory strategies may be employed as monotherapies, or in combination with short-term tolerance-promoting immunoregulatory drugs and/or drugs promoting differentiation of insulin-producing beta cells from endogenous progenitors.
Ambient backscatter: wireless communication out of thin air

We present the design of a communication system that enables two devices to communicate using ambient RF as the only source of power. Our approach leverages existing TV and cellular transmissions to eliminate the need for wires and batteries, thus enabling ubiquitous communication where devices can communicate among themselves at unprecedented scales and in locations that were previously inaccessible.To achieve this, we introduce ambient backscatter, a new communication primitive where devices communicate by backscattering ambient RF signals. Our design avoids the expensive process of generating radio waves; backscatter communication is orders of magnitude more power-efficient than traditional radio communication. Further, since it leverages the ambient RF signals that are already around us, it does not require a dedicated power infrastructure as in traditional backscatter communication. To show the feasibility of our design, we prototype ambient backscatter devices in hardware and achieve information rates of 1 kbps over distances of 2.5 feet and 1.5 feet, while operating outdoors and indoors respectively. We use our hardware prototype to implement proof-of-concepts for two previously infeasible ubiquitous communication applications.
Seat & footrest vibrations in manual wheelchairs

Newer manual wheelchairs have incorporated suspension systems in the hopes of decreasing harmful shock and vibration transmission. This study examined differences in the shock and vibration transmitted to a manual wheelchair occupant with and without suspension caster forks and with and without rear suspension systems. Significant differences were found in the peak accelerations at the seat (p = 0.0004) and footrest (p = 0.0007) between the wheelchairs when using the OEM caster forks versus the suspension casters. The wheelchairs with suspension had significantly different frequencies at which the peak accelerations occurred for both the seat (p = 0.01) and footrest (p = 0.0001). The wheelchairs that had the suspension caster forks had lower total power per octave than the wheelchairs with the OEM caster forks. For the footrest vibrations, significant differences were found between the types of caster forks for all octaves except those associated with frequencies above 78.75 Hz. There were significant differences for wheelchairs with and without rear suspension for total power per octave of seat vibrations in the octaves between 7.81 Hz and 9.84 Hz (p = 0.01), and 12.40 Hz. and 15.63 Hz (p = 0.008). Suspension caster forks reduce the shock and vibration exposure to the user of a manual wheelchair. Rear suspension systems reduce some of the factors related to shock and vibration exposure, but they are not clearly superior to traditional designs.
Flowability parameters for chopped switchgrass, wheat straw and corn stover

Abstract A direct shear cell to measure the shear strength and flow properties of chopped switchgrass, wheat straw, and corn stover was designed, fabricated, and tested. Yield loci (r2 = 0.99) determined at preconsolidation pressures of 3.80 kPa and 5.02 kPa indicated that chopped biomass followed Mohr–Coulomb failure. Normal stress significantly affected the displacement required for shear failure, as well as the friction coefficient values for all three chopped biomass types. Displacement at shear failure ranged from 30 to 80 mm, and depended on preconsolidation pressure, normal stress, and particle size. Friction coefficient was inversely related to normal stress, and was highest for chopped corn stover. Also, chopped corn stover exhibited the highest angle of internal friction, unconfined yield strength, major consolidation strength, and cohesive strength, all of which indicated increased challenges in handling chopped corn stover. The measured angle of internal friction and cohesive strength indicated that chopped biomass cannot be handled by gravity alone. The measured angle of internal friction and cohesive strength were 43° and 0.75 kPa for chopped switchgrass; 44° and 0.49 kPa for chopped wheat straw; and 48° and 0.82 kPa for chopped corn stover. Unconfined yield strength and major consolidation strength used for characterization of bulk flow materials and design of hopper dimensions were 3.4 and 10.4 kPa for chopped switchgrass; 2.3 and 9.6 kPa for chopped wheat straw and 4.2 and 11.8 kPa for chopped corn stover. These results are useful for the development of efficient handling, storage, and transportation systems for biomass in biorefineries.
The contribution of Fe(III) and humic acid reduction to ecosystem respiration in drained thaw lake basins of the Arctic Coastal Plain

[1] Previous research showed that anaerobic respiration using iron (Fe) oxides as terminal electron acceptor contributed substantially to ecosystem respiration (ER) in a drained thaw lake basin (DTLB) on the Arctic coastal plain. As DTLBs age, the surface organic layer thickens, progressively burying the Fe-rich mineral layers. We therefore hypothesized that Fe(III) availability and Fe reduction would decline with basin age. We studied four DTLBs across an age gradient, comparing seasonal changes in the oxidation state of dissolved and extractable Fe pools and the estimated contribution of Fe reduction to ER. The organic layer thickness did not strictly increase with age for these four sites, though soil Fe levels decreased with increasing organic layer thickness. However, there were surprisingly high levels of Fe minerals in organic layers, especially in the ancient basin where cryoturbation may have transported Fe upward through the profile. Net reduction of Fe oxides occurred in the latter half of the summer and contributed an estimated 40–45% to ecosystem respiration in the sites with the thickest organic layers and 61–63% in the sites with the thinnest organic layers. All sites had high concentrations of soluble Fe(II) and Fe(III), explained by the presence of siderophores, and this pool became progressively more reduced during the first half of the summer.Redoxtitrationswith humic acid(HA)extracts and chelatedFe support our view that this pattern indicates the reduction of HA during this interval. We conclude that Fe(III) and HA reductions contribute broadly to ER in the Arctic coastal plain.
Workplace Civility: A Confucian Approach

We argue that Confucianism makes a fundamental contribution to understanding why civility is necessary for a morally decent workplace. We begin by reviewing some limits that traditional moral theories face in analyzing issues of civility. We then seek to establish a Confucian alternative. We develop the Confucian idea that even in business, humans may be sacred when they observe rituals culturally determined to express particular ceremonial significance. We conclude that managers and workers should understand that there is a broad range of morally important rituals in organizational life and that managers should preserve and develop the intelligibility and integrity of many of these rituals.
Remote Control of A-Band Cardiac Thin Filaments by the I-Z-I Protein Network of Cardiac Sarcomeres

A conventional view of the role of sarcomeric thin filaments in cardiac function is that they react with cross-bridges that translate them toward the center of the sarcomere in a reaction triggered by Ca 2+ and powered by ATP. However, thin filaments also engage in a complex network of protein–protein interactions in the Z-disc. Thus, in the modern context, understanding of what thin filaments do in the heart must take into account not only A-band regions that react with cross-bridges, but also I-Z-I regions that rarely, if ever, react with cross-bridges and dwell near and within the Z-disc. To highlight these multiplex functions of the thin filament, I discuss the hypothesis that physical and chemical reactions at the interface of the thin filaments with Z-disc proteins control the docking and activity of kinases and phosphatases that control the levels of phosphorylation of thin filament regulatory proteins. Testing this hypothesis has taken on new significance with the identification of multisite phosphorylation of thin filament proteins as a critical element in the control of cardiac contraction and relaxation reserve and in maladaptive mechanisms in heart failure. Moreover, multiple mutations in Z-disc proteins that link to prevalent cardiomyopathies are likely to alter this remote control of A-band thin filament function.
Constructing family: A typology of voluntary kin

This study explored how participants discursively rendered voluntary kin relationships sensical and legitimate. Interpretive analyses of 110 interviews revealed four main types of voluntary kin: (i) substitute family, (ii) supplemental family, (iii) convenience family, and (iv) extended family. These types were rendered sensical and legitimated by drawing on the discourse of the traditional family. Except for the extended family, three of four voluntary kin family types were justified by an attributed deficit in the blood and legal family. Because voluntary kin relationships are not based on the traditional criteria of association by blood or law, members experience them as potentially challenging, requiring discursive work to render them sensical and legitimate to others.
Enabling and scaling matrix computations on heterogeneous multi-core and multi-GPU systems

We present a new approach to utilizing all CPU cores and all GPUs on heterogeneous multicore and multi-GPU systems to support dense matrix computations efficiently. The main idea is that we treat a heterogeneous system as a distributed-memory machine, and use a heterogeneous multi-level block cyclic distribution method to allocate data to the host and multiple GPUs to minimize communication. We design heterogeneous algorithms with hybrid tiles to accommodate the processor heterogeneity, and introduce an auto-tuning method to determine the hybrid tile sizes to attain both high performance and load balancing. We have also implemented a new runtime system and applied it to the Cholesky and QR factorizations. Our approach is designed for achieving four objectives: a high degree of parallelism, minimized synchronization, minimized communication, and load balancing. Our experiments on a compute node (with two Intel Westmere hexa-core CPUs and three Nvidia Fermi GPUs), as well as on up to 100 compute nodes on the Keeneland system, demonstrate great scalability, good load balancing, and efficiency of our approach.
A contribution to the biology, phenology and host specificity of Chaetorellia hexachaeta Loew (Dipt., Tephritidae), a possible candidate for the biological control of yellow starthistle (Centautea solstitialis L.)

The biology and host specificity of the tephritid Chaetorellia hexachaeta Loew, the larvae of which live in the flower heads of Centaurea solstitialis and some related Centaurea spp. was studied in Northern Greece. The species has at least three generations per year. Previous research revealed that under laboratory conditions adults lived up to 60 days and up to 243 eggs were deposited by a female. Under cage conditions, particularly under oviposition pressure, the threshold of acceptance was lowered and eggs were laid into the flower heads of several non-host plants. However, the larvae did not survive on 3 non-hosts tested (Cirsium spp., Zinnia elegans). When caged with safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) and yellow starthistle heads (two—choice test), adults showed a 100% preference for yellow starthistle (YST). On the average, a single larva destroys 86.3% of the achenes of the attacked YST flower head. The species is recommended for consideration as a candidate for the biological control of Centaurea solstitialis but additional host specificity studies are needed before a definitive decision as to its introduction to North America can be made. Zusammenfassung Ein Beitrag zur Biologie, Phanologie und Wirtsspezifitat von Chaetorellia hexachaeta Loew (Dipt., Tephritidae) und ihre potentielle Eignung fur die biologische Bekampfung von Centaurea solstitialis Die Bohrfliege Chaetorellia hexachaeta Loew ist in Nordgriechenland, wo sie in 3 oder mehr Generationen jahrlich auftreten kann, eine wichtige Art im Phytophagenkomplex von Centaurea solstitialis. Im Freiland ist ihr Wirtskreis auf einige zumeist nah verwandte Centaurea-Arten beschrankt. Im Labor lebten die adulten Tiere bis zu 60 Tage und legten bis zu 243 Eier/Weibchen. Die Eiablage erfolgt unter die Brakteen der Wirtspflanze. In Labortests konnte auch an verschiedenen, nicht zum Wirtskreis der Art gehorenden, Compositen eine Eiablage induziert werden, jedoch waren die Larven nicht in der Lage, sich in den drei eingehender untersuchten Testpflanzen (Cirsium creticum, C. vulgare und Zinnia elegans) zu entwickeln. Es konnte gezeigt werden, das das Fehlen geeigneter Wirtspflanzen die Akzeptanzschwelle der Weibchen senkt und zur Eiablage in “Nicht-Wirten” fuhren kann. Im Durchschnitt zerstort eine einzige C. hexachaeta-Larve uber 80% der Achanenproduktion eines Centaurea solstitialis-Blutenkopfes. Im Zweifach-Wahlversuch bevorzugen die Weibchen zu 100% ihre Wirtspflanze gegenuber Carthamus tinctorius. Damit sprechen die biologischen Befunde sowie die Ergebnisse unserer Versuche zur Wirtsspezifitat dafur, diese Art zur biologischen Bekampfung von Centaurea solstitialis einzusetzen, jedoch sind noch weitere Sicher-heitstests notwendig, bevor uber eine Einfuhr dieser Art nach Nordamerika entschieden werden kann.
Efficient "Void" Handling in Contention-Based Geographic Routing for Wireless Sensor Networks

Due to its scalability and simplicity, geographic routing1 has gained much research attention as a basic routing primitive in wireless sensor networks (WSN). However in geographic routing, due to ad hoc or random deployments and network dynamics of WSN, communication holes may exist in a network area, where no next hop candidate is closer to the destination than the node currently holding the packet. Recovery strategies are applied to help packets move out of the void areas provided a path does exist between source and destination nodes. Current void recovery schemes include increasing the transmission power, employing right/left handle rule or distance update etc. In this paper, we propose a contention-based geographic routing (CGR) protocol using a novel on-line "void" avoidance technique. We combine forwarding area determination, void handling, and load balancing in a single back-off function that is used as a cost metric to effectively locate the next hop node. Packets can be delivered to the destination along paths that are near optimal from depth first search (DFS) perspective. We term the new protocol as CGR-D, in which "D" represents DFS. Simulation results show that the new routing protocol outperforms existing algorithms in terms of total packets delivered, lifetime, and path length when voids exist in the network.
Device-Detected Atrial Fibrillation: Perils and Pitfalls

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, and has an estimated prevalence as high as 9% in elderly people. The risk of stroke is increased 5-fold in patients with nonrheumatic AF and 17fold in patients with rheumatic AF. One of the foremost goals of managing AF is the reduction of thromboembolic strokes and systemic embolism. Implantable heart rhythm devices, such as implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices (pacemakers [CRT-P] and defibrillators [CRT-D]), and permanent pacemakers (PPMs) are increasingly being used worldwide. These devices are capable of sensing intrinsic atrial activity and often detect spontaneous atrial high rate events (AHREs) in asymptomatic patients. Barring any spurious causes, AHREs seen by these devices are supposedly tantamount to having AF or atrial flutter (AFL), because several studies have documented a correlation between AHRE and electrocardiogram (ECG)-documented episodes of AF/ AFL with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. However, the critical duration, frequency, or overall burden of AHRE that increases stroke risk is still unknown, and thus the threshold level of AHREs that warrants anticoagulation is still unclear. This article reviews the current literature on the risk of stroke with device-detected AHREs and raises questions that need further clarification.