cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polymerization and characterization of polyfunctional amphiphilic diacetylenes

Amphiphilic diacetylenes of the type HC=C - (CH 2 ) n = C=C - C=C - (CH 2 ) 8 - COOH (n = 6 and 12) were synthesized. The solid-state polymerization of the bulk crystals, monolayers on the gas-water interface, and multilayers were investigated. The diacetylene moieties underwent polymerization upon irradiation by UV or γ-rays, showing different polymerizability depending on the material form. The polymerization of the terminal acetylene groups was not observed. Enhanced polymerizability and stability of the monolayers on subphases containing LiOH are explained by a proposed model of the monolayers. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. . characterization
Acoustic monitoring pad

The Army Research Laboratory has developed sensor technology to monitor patient condition by gathering and analyzing acoustic data. Acoustic signature analysis can indicate cessation of breathing or heartbeat. Advanced signal-processing techniques can determine the proper level of response for the indicated condition, and alert attendants via transmitter or alarm that immediate attention or resuscitation is necessary. This sensor pad can be permanently attached to an evacuation stretcher, gurney, or field hospital operating table, or it can also be placed on an injured soldier's torso to continuously monitor heartbeat and breathing. The excellent coupling between the human body and the sensor pad gives a high signal-to-noise ratio over ambient sounds, which may allow medical personnel to detect fluid in the lungs, an obstructed airway, or an irregular heart beat. This information can be transmitted by radio to more qualified medical personnel for remote diagnosis. If soldiers were equipped with a small monitoring sensor pad to carry in contact with the torso, squad performance level could be assessed or those missing in action could be medically interrogated from a remote location, for not only the heart and breathing sounds, but also some of the ambient acoustics that could include the soldier's own speech. The technology can also be used to monitor apnea or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or to alert operators of vehicles or aircraft that the pad has detected the onset of sleep, characterized by a decrease in heart and respiratory rates.
Ensuring Performance in Activity-Based File Relocation

Dynamic storage tiering (DST) is the concept of grouping storage devices into tiers based on their characteristics, and relocating files dynamically to leverage on the heterogeneity of the underlying devices. An important usage of DST is activity-based file relocation, where less active files can be stored on less expensive devices without affecting the overall perceived quality of the storage system. In activity-based file relocation, improper choices on how much activity a file should have before it is relocated introduce the potential for overcommitting the performance capability of the preferred tier. We present an approach to prevent performance degradation caused by excessive skewing of loads. Our approach enables the delineation of periods when performance requirements are different. We consider the load pattern of files and limit the total amount of loads to be placed on the preferred tier during the periods when fast response time is desirable, and increase the load limit in other periods when throughput is more important. Considering the variation of performance requirements in time enables the finer attainment of QoS goals.
Effect of 2 month controlled green tea intervention on lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, and hormone levels in healthy postmenopausal women

There have been no controlled intervention studies to investigate the effects of green tea on circulating hormone levels, an established breast cancer risk factor. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled intervention study to investigate the effect of the main green tea catechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), taken in a green tea extract, polyphenon E (PPE). Postmenopausal women (n = 103) were randomized into three arms: placebo, 400-mg EGCG as PPE, or 800-mg EGCG as PPE as capsules per day for 2 months. Urinary tea catechin and serum estrogen, androgen, lipid, glucose-related markers, adiponectin, and growth factor levels were measured at baseline and at the end of months 1 and 2 of intervention. On the basis of urinary tea catechin concentrations, compliance was excellent. Supplementation with PPE did not produce consistent patterns of changes in estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), or testosterone (T) levels. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol decreased significantly in both PPE groups but was unchanged in the placebo group; the change in LDL-cholesterol differed between the placebo and PPE groups (P = 0.02). Glucose and insulin levels decreased nonsignificantly in the PPE groups but increased in the placebo group; statistically significant differences in changes in glucose (P = 0.008) and insulin (P = 0.01) were found. In summary, green tea (400- and 800-mg EGCG as PPE; ∼5-10 cups) supplementation for 2 months had suggestive beneficial effects on LDL-cholesterol concentrations and glucose-related markers.
Oncogenic Ras requires activation for pathological levels of activity

Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Background: Previous studies have shown that the small G-protein Rab27A regulates the intracellular trafficking of secretory granules in various cell types, including islet beta cells. However, its role in mouse pancreatic acini is poorly understood. We utilized ashen mice, which lack Rab27A to investigate the function of Rab27A in pancreatic acinar cells. Aim: To investigate the effects of Rab27A deficiency on pancreatic acinar cell physiology and function. Methods: Isolated pancreatic acini were prepared from ashen or wildtype (WT) mouse pancreases by collagenase digestion and CCKor carbachol-induced amylase secretion was measured. Expression of Rab27A, Rab27B, Rab3D and digestive enzymes were measured by western blot. GTP-bound states of Rab27B and Rab3D in ashen or WT mouse acini were assessed by GST-pulldown assay. Localization of Rab27B and Rab3D in ashen and WT pancreases was shown by immunofluorescence. Results: Expression of Rab27A was detected in isolated WT mouse pancreatic acinar cells by western blot and RT-PCR. Expression of Rab27B was slightly increased in ashen mouse acini, while Rab3D and digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, chymotrypsin and elastase) were not affected. The GTP-bound states of Rab27B and Rab3D in ashen and WT mouse acini also remained constant. Acini from ashenmice showed lower basal level of amylase release but no obvious change in the entire dose response curves of CCKor carbachol-stimulated amylase release. Localization of Rab27B, Rab3D and amylase by immunohistochemistry was not obviously changed in acinar cells from both mice. Localization of Rab27A could not be determined using available antibody. Conclusions: Rab27A is present in mouse pancreatic acinar cells but not involved in the final secretory steps of zymogen granule secretion.
NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF EUDACTYLINID (SIPHONOSTOMATOIDA: COPEPODA) FROM GILL LAMELLAE OF ORNATE EAGLE RAYS, AETOMYLAEUS VESPERTILIO (MYLIOBATIDAE), COLLECTED IN THE BEAGLE GULF OFF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

Janinecaira darkthread n. gen., n. sp. (Eudactylinidae, Siphonostomatoida, Copepoda) infects gills of the ornate eagle ray Aetomylaeus vespertilio (Bleeker, 1852) (Myliobatidae, Myliobatiformes) in the Beagle Gulf (Timor Sea, eastern Indian Ocean) off northern Australia. The adult female of Janinecaira darkthread n. sp. is most easily distinguished from other eudactylinids (Eudactylinidae) by its long genital complex that comprises about 86-90% of the total body length. A diagnostic key to genera of Eudactylinidae based on adult females is provided.
Low Complexity OFDM Detector for Underwater Acoustic Channels

An adaptive algorithm is proposed for OFDM signal detection on Doppler-distorted, time-varying multipath channels. The focus of the approach is on low complexity post-FFT signal processing. The receiver performs MMSE combining of signals received across an array, using adaptive channel estimation. Non-uniform Doppler compensation across subbands is performed using a single adaptively estimated parameter representing the Doppler rate. Algorithm performance is demonstrated on experimental data, transmitted through a shallow water channel over the distance of 2.5 km. QPSK modulation with a varying number of carriers is used in a 24 kHz acoustic bandwidth. Excellent performance is achieved with up to 1024 carriers, yielding an overall bit rate of 30 kbps.
Is There Any Interaction Between Background Knowledge and Language Proficiency That Affects TOEFL iBT ® Reading Performance?

This study investigated the effect of the interaction between test takers' background knowledge and language proficiency on their performance on the TOEFL iBT® reading section. Test takers with the target content background knowledge (the focal groups) and those without (the reference groups) were identified for each of the 5 selected passages based on their self-identified academic and cultural backgrounds. The test takers were further classified into high and low proficiency groups based on their TOEFL iBT scores. Differential functioning was investigated at the item, item bundle, and passage levels. The results suggested that background knowledge interacted with language proficiency on certain items, which could be attributed to idiosyncratic passage and item characteristics (i.e., characteristics that were specific to a particular passage or item). Only 1 of the 5 passages investigated showed intermediate differential bundle functioning, favoring the focal group for both the high and low proficiency groups. There was no differential functioning at the passage level. This research sheds new light on our understanding of the effects of background knowledge and its interaction with language proficiency in the context of second language reading comprehension. It also has significant practical implications for test developers in advancing fair assessments.
The transition to high school: a prodigal analysis of developmental pathways.

This chapter explores the relationship between childhood aggressive behavior and later adjustment, with a focus on the transition to high school. Pattern-oriented prodigal analysis is used to identify four homogeneous groups, based on stability or change in risk and nonrisk status over time.
Developmental regulation of neurotransmitter phenotype.

The extraordinary scope of neuronal plasticity has been appreciated only recently. The neuron is capable not only of altering structure and function quantitatively, but also of undergoing phenotypic transformation under appropriate circumstances. It is now well established from in vivo and in vitro studies that neurons may change transmitters, and thus phenotypes, during a relatively prolonged period of life. This, of course, has raised the possibility that neurons can change a variety of functions and capabilities, and that, for example, recovery after illness or regeneration after injury may be induced by appropriate treatments. In turn, a central issue in understanding the regulation of phenotypic expression in neurons, as well as other systems, concerns the relationship of intrinsic cellular information to environmental factors.
The A1 Subunit of Shiga Toxin 2 Has Higher Affinity for Ribosomes and Higher Catalytic Activity than the A1 Subunit of Shiga Toxin 1

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections can lead to life-threatening complications, including hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which is the most common cause of acute renal failure in children in the United States. Stx1 and Stx2 are AB5 toxins consisting of an enzymatically active A subunit associated with a pentamer of receptor binding B subunits. Epidemiological evidence suggests that Stx2-producing E. coli strains are more frequently associated with HUS than Stx1-producing strains. Several studies suggest that the B subunit plays a role in mediating toxicity. However, the role of the A subunits in the increased potency of Stx2 has not been fully investigated. Here, using purified A1 subunits, we show that Stx2A1 has a higher affinity for yeast and mammalian ribosomes than Stx1A1. Biacore analysis indicated that Stx2A1 has faster association and dissociation with ribosomes than Stx1A1. Analysis of ribosome depurination kinetics demonstrated that Stx2A1 depurinates yeast and mammalian ribosomes and an RNA stem-loop mimic of the sarcin/ricin loop (SRL) at a higher catalytic rate and is a more efficient enzyme than Stx1A1. Stx2A1 depurinated ribosomes at a higher level in vivo and was more cytotoxic than Stx1A1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Stx2A1 depurinated ribosomes and inhibited translation at a significantly higher level than Stx1A1 in human cells. These results provide the first direct evidence that the higher affinity for ribosomes in combination with higher catalytic activity toward the SRL allows Stx2A1 to depurinate ribosomes, inhibit translation, and exhibit cytotoxicity at a significantly higher level than Stx1A1.
Seasonal Occurrence of Wild Secondary Hosts of the Green Peach Aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), in Agricultural Systems in the Yakima Valley

Populations of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and associated weed hosts were monitored continuously from April 1978 to March 1979 on the floor of three peach orchards and the bank of a drainage ditch. Aphid populations at all sites peaked in spring and declined in summer. Although natural enemies were most active during the period of peak aphid abundance, they were not numerous enough to account for population declines at all locations. In 2 orchards, significant positive correlations were found between green peach aphid populations and the abundance of preferred host plants. No such correlation was found in the third orchard, where aphids were less abundant and patchily distributed, or in the ditch bank, where pathogens and climatic factors may have limited the aphid population.
Paper electrophoresis of duodenal fluid from patients with cystic fibrosis of pancreas.

SummaryDuodenal fluids from patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas and from control subjects were studied by paper strip electrophoresis. Components with greater electrophoretic mobility than any in normal duodenal fluid occurred consistently in cystic fibrosis duodenal fluids. The most rapidly migrating of these fractions was identical in electrophoretic mobility to the albumin fraction of normal human serum.
PVT Growth of 6H SiC Crystals and Defect Characterization

SiC single crystals have been grown by seeded sublimation method using physical vapor transport (PVT) system designed and fabricated in our laboratory. A novel multi-segmented graphite insulation has been used for improved heat containment in the hot-zone. Numerical modeling was used to obtain the temperature field and predict various growth parameters. The grown crystals were characterized using AFM, SWBXT and chemical etching.
Synthesis and Thermal Characterization of Precision Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl Amine) Copolymers

A structural investigation of linear ethylene-co-vinyl amine (EVAm) copolymers having a primary amine branch on every 9th, 15th, 19th, or 21st carbon along the ethylene backbone has been completed using step polymerization chemistry. Acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization has been used with symmetrical α,ω dienes containing protected amine groups to afford polymers with exact primary structures and constant methylene run lengths between branches. The effects of subtle structural changes such as the ethylene run lengths between amine branches can be observed and used to correlate structure property relationships. NMR and FT-IR techniques are used to characterize and verify the excellent structural control this synthetic approach provides over traditional chain polymerization techniques. Thermal decomposition of these copolymers is shown to additionally support polymer structure while differential scanning calorimetry demonstrates crystallinity in the polymers with an amine on every 15th and 21st c...
Symptoms and Treatment Responses of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Patients With High Versus Low Levels of Cardiovascular Complaints

Clinical observations suggest that patients with generalized anxiety disorder differ in somatic symptoms. The authors compared 28 patients with generalized anxiety disorder who had high levels of cardiovascular complaints with 32 patients with generalized anxiety disorder who had low levels of cardiovascular complaints on rating instruments, physiological measures, and use of anxiolytic medication. The two groups differed on somatic but not psychic symptoms on rating instruments. Patients with high levels of cardiovascular symptoms had higher levels of cardiac lability and required higher doses of alprazolam. These findings suggest that anxious patients with comparable levels of psychic anxiety may differ in levels of physical symptoms.
Test result analysis of swimming pool sanitary service and water quality in Tianhe during 2007～2008

Objective: To explore the sanitary quality of swimming pool water of Tianhe District of Guangzhou to ensure the body healthy of swimmers,prevent the breakout of infectious diseases and provide the scientific evidence for hygienic control.Methods:We tedest the hygienic indices of swimming water in Tianhe and analyzed the results from 2007 to 2008.Results:There was no obvious difference in the sanitary quality of swimming pool water from 2007 to 2008.However,the total qualified rate was very low,since the dissociate chlorine qualified rate was very low.Among the different type's swimming pools,the qualified rates had no obvious difference.Conclusion:The sanitary quality of swimming pool water in Tianhe is very poor.We should strengthen the disinfectant work in swimming pools,especially pay much attention to detect and supervise the dissociate chlorine.At the same time,we should advice relevant units to change the water and prevent contamination from excrements.
Conclusion: States of Paralysis, a Sketch

In the last chapter I outlined the visual rhetorics and resulting constructions of semiparalysis in Bram Stoker’s Victorian horror novel Dracula. As a conclusion to this book I will suggest that the modernist writer James Joyce also engages the same intensely allegorical representation of Irish physical difference in his early short-story collection, Dubliners. In Dubliners Joyce unfolds the disabled body in modern Irish culture, transforms it completely into a metaphoric vehicle of political commentary so that it becomes the location of cross-cultural interconnection and a kind of potential newness or way out of the binaries of paralysis and volition, or disability and ability. Joyce builds these representations on the work and the cultural produce from over 100 years of an Irish history officially in union with Britain. Though I will only be able to just begin to touch on it here in this sketch, I believe that in his work James Joyce attempts to shift and finally succeeds in shifting the representation of the Irish body into something outside of that binary of Irishness and Englishness, or abnormalcy and normalcy, or disability and ability, and, again, into something remarkable, extraordinary, and entirely new or beyond those seemingly inescapable binaries organizing modernity.
The FDA, Juno Therapeutics, and the ethical imperative of transparency

Despite deaths, investigational new drugs are still protected trade secrets of the manufacturer
Diagnosis of subglottic stenosis in a rabbit model using long-range optical coherence tomography.

Objectives/Hypothesis Current imaging modalities lack the necessary resolution to diagnose subglottic stenosis. The aim of this study was to use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate nascent subglottic mucosal injury and characterize mucosal thickness and structural changes using texture analysis in a simulated intubation rabbit model. Study Design Prospective animal study in rabbits. Methods Three-centimeter-long sections of endotracheal tubes (ETT) were endoscopically placed in the subglottis and proximal trachea of New Zealand White rabbits (n = 10) and secured via suture. OCT imaging and conventional endoscopic video was performed just prior to ETT segment placement (day 0), immediately after tube removal (day 7), and 1 week later (day 14). OCT images were analyzed for airway wall thickness and textural properties. Results Endoscopy and histology of intubated rabbits showed a range of normal to edematous tissue, which correlated with OCT images. The mean airway mucosal wall thickness measured using OCT was 336.4 μm (day 0), 391.3 μm (day 7), and 420.4 μm (day 14), with significant differences between day 0 and day 14 (P = .002). Significance was found for correlation and homogeneity texture features across all time points (P < .05). Conclusions OCT is a minimally invasive endoscopic imaging modality capable of monitoring progression of subglottic mucosal injury. This study is the first to evaluate mucosal injury during simulated intubation using serial OCT imaging and texture analysis. OCT and texture analysis have the potential for early detection of subglottic mucosal injury, which could lead to better management of the neonatal airway and limit the progression to stenosis. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 2016
The Effect of Molecular Rapid Diagnostic Testing on Clinical Outcomes in Bloodstream Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background Previous reports on molecular rapid diagnostic testing (mRDT) do not consistently demonstrate improved clinical outcomes in bloodstream infections (BSIs). This meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the impact of mRDT in improving clinical outcomes in BSIs. Methods We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and EMBASE through May 2016 for BSI studies comparing clinical outcomes between mRDT and conventional microbiology methods. Results Thirty-one studies were included with 5920 patients. The mortality risk was significantly lower with mRDT than with conventional microbiology methods (odds ratio [OR], 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], .54-.80), yielding a number needed to treat of 20. The mortality risk was slightly lower with mRDT in studies with antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, .51-.79), and non-ASP studies failed to demonstrate a significant decrease in mortality risk (0.72; .46-1.12). Significant decreases in mortality risk were observed with both gram-positive (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, .55-.97) and gram-negative organisms (0.51; .33-.78) but not yeast (0.90; .49-1.67). Time to effective therapy decreased by a weighted mean difference of -5.03 hours (95% CI, -8.60 to -1.45 hours), and length of stay decreased by -2.48 days (-3.90 to -1.06 days). Conclusions For BSIs, mRDT was associated with significant decreases in mortality risk in the presence of a ASP, but not in its absence. mRDT also decreased the time to effective therapy and the length of stay. mRDT should be considered as part of the standard of care in patients with BSIs.
Response to David Grann’s 'The Mark of a Masterpiece,' published in The New Yorker: From a Legal Perspective

I will leave it to the other editorials to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of science or connoisseurs. Rather, I want to focus particularly on the troubling aspects of the art trade that Grann’s article reveals. A flawed trade artificially elevates the importance of forensic authenticators like Peter Paul Biro. There are good reasons why works are lost to history and rediscovered. Yet unscrupulous dealers and sellers rely on the shroud of secrecy that envelops the art trade. Art sellers do a spectacularly poor job of determining and guaranteeing the history of an object.
100-P: ROLE OF ANTI-HLA ANTIBODY DETECTED BY A BEAD-BASED SOLID PHASE ASSAY IN HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION

Aim The impact of anti-HLA antibody detected by solid phase assays in stem cell transplant is not well defined. Since late 2008 we have tested serum from recipients of allogeneic stem cells at the time of HLA typing for anti-Class I antibody (n=94), and serum was still available for Class II analysis from 89 recipients. Methods Allele level HLA typing for A-DQ was performed for all; HLA-DP typing retrospectively performed. Antibodies were detected by Luminex® phenotype and SAB. The predominant cell source for transplant was PBSC (93%); six received double CBU. Most received 10/10 matched cells, but eighteen (20%) were 9/10 matches, mostly at A and C; cords matched at 6-10 antigens, but were allele matched for DRB1 and DQB1. The majority of cases were AML and MDS (>65%). Results [ Table 1 ] An association between relapse and the presence of both classes of antibody, particularly among AML patients was observed. Only one recipient exhibited DSA to a mismatched HLA-C antigen, and died within 1 month of transplant. Interestingly, 5/10 recipients with only weak Class II antibody to DP +/- DQ also died. Conclusions Presence of alloantibody even in the absence of DSA may have clinical relevance. Sera for this study were obtained an average of 3 months (range: 1d-6 months) prior to transplant so do not fully represent the antibody status at transplant. Based on these results, we will collect serum at transplant for further evaluation.
Working Class Strategies for World Peace

This paper takes the position that behavior analysts who propose programs for eliminating war-threatening behavior (promoting war-preventing behavior) need to take into account the global political context which, in turn, req uires an empirically-b ased (materialistic) and nonreductionistic conceptual framework. It is argued that the Marxist sociohistorica l p erspective (historical materialism) provides such a framework. It characterizes the global political context as a world-wide struggle between the forces of imperialist domination and the forces of world socialist revolution. Implicit in this framework is the necessity for a consistant class-struggle strategy for achieving a just and lasting world peace . Key words: behavior analysis, Marxism, class-struggle , nuclear war, world peace.
Increased Field Accessibility Through Prismatically Displaced Images.

The Low Vision Clinic at the Veteran Administration's Eastern Blind Rehabilitation Center is using Fresnel press-on prism lenses to aid veterans with extremely restricted visual fields. These prism...
The Wounded Brain Healed: The Golden Age of the Montreal Neurological Institute, 1934–1984, by William Feindel and Richard Leblanc

Wilder Penfield and the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) that he created loom large in the history of modern neuroscience. Beginning with his surgeries for epilepsy in the 1930s and climaxing ...
What caused the decline in breast cancer incidence rates

1513 Background: Recently, a sharp 7% decline in breast cancer incidence rates among women over the age of 50 was noted in 2003. It has been speculated that this may be due to changes in mammograph...
Understanding the motivation and transformation of White culturally responsive professors

The purpose of this study was to examine the motivation for White professors in higher education to become culturally inclusive in their teaching practices and the transformational experiences that...
What Can Disaster Epidemiology Contribute to Building Resilient Communities

Abstract The use of epidemiologic methods and study designs during a disaster response can generate data that can be used to identify vulnerable populations, quantify disaster-related morbidity and mortality, and determine the effects of a disaster event on predisaster health status. However, as the number and intensity of natural hazards increase, along with the number of people who are vulnerable, and new hazards and threats such as climate change are added, we must put increased attention on using epidemiologic data to build resilience to the impacts of future disasters. Several major challenges make this difficult, including defining community resilience as more than the ability to return to a predisaster state, but rather as the capacity to take proactive steps to minimize future risk; the time compression postdisaster, which requires rapid decision-making about the use of financial and other resources that expire after a short period of time; and the need to build long-term relationships with engaged individuals, community organizations, and policy makers so that findings are translated into action.
The Optogalvanic Effect

Every scientist since Albert Einstein has been taught about the photoelectric effect (1), by which photons more energetic than the binding energy of the outer electrons on the surface of a material are capable of producing ionization. The production of ions by collisional processes in plasmas is a familiar phenomenon as well (2). With the benefits of hindsight, it is therefore reasonable to postulate a hybrid ionization process for free atoms or molecules in a plasma, whereby the outer electron is promoted to the ionization potential by a sequence of collisional and optical excitations (3) utilizing discrete electronic energy states as “stepping stones.” One would expect the presence of photons tuned to a transition to increase the ionization rate in such a system.
“La Polimigra”: A Social Construct behind the “Deportation Regime” in the Greater Northwest Arkansas Region

This article examines the use of a presumption of illegality by local police officers to enforce a deportation regime in the Northwest Arkansas region. We employed an integrated racialized legal vi...
Flip the Switch: Virtue, Programming, and the Prospect of Automatic Agency in WALL•E

Critiques of the Internet age often place technological change in contest with social virtues. This essay analyzes the 2008 Pixar film WALL•E to better understand how the interplay of these positio...
Changes in psychotropic prescription medication use and their relationship with mortality among people with traumatic spinal cord injury.

Prospective cohort study. To identify the relationship of frequency of prescription medication use to treat pain, spasticity, sleep, and depression/stress, and change in prescription medication use with risk of all-cause mortality. This study was initiated at a specialty hospital in the Southeastern USA, with follow-up and data analysis at an academic medical center in the Southeastern United States. Prospective data were collected in 1997–1998 (Time 1) and 2007–2009 (Time 2), with mortality determined as of 31 December 2014. The initial participant cohort was comprised of 1386 participants with traumatic SCI who were adults and a minimum of 1-year post-injury at enrollment in 1997–1998. Of these, 863 participated at follow-up and 861 were included in the current mortality analysis. The frequency of taking prescription medication increased over the 10-year timeframe, particularly for sleep and pain. Each type of prescription medication at Time 1 was associated with later mortality, and an increase in medication use over time was associated with a greater risk of mortality for three of the four conditions (all except spasticity). A decrease in the frequency of pain medication use over time was associated with a decreased risk of all-cause mortality. More frequent use of prescription medication to treat pain, sleep, and depression/stress is related to all-cause mortality, and increases in the use of medications to treat these conditions is associated with elevated risk of all-cause mortality.
Piecewise Polynomial Approximations for Cauchy Singular Integrodifferential Equations

Cauchy singular integral equations arise in a variety of applications; consequently their numerical solution is of considerable interest. In addition to various classical approaches, such as orthogonal polynomial approximations and Gaussian quadrature methods, approximations by piecewise polynomials have been studied. This paper shows how piecewise polynomial approximations can be used to solve singular integrodifferential equations.
Validating Self-reported Trends Using WiFi Tracking

Observational data gathering is expensive as it traditionally relies on human intervention and intuition. However, with advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) machines are gaining the capacity in making sense of the unstructured data observational methods yield [1]. With these advances in technology there is a new push to create innovative ways of gathering observational data to give context to self-reported user feedback.
Immunization with Sperm Antigens to Induce Contraception

Contraceptive vaccines (CV) may provide a viable and valuable alternative that could fulfill most, if not all, of the properties of an ideal contraceptive. The molecules for CV development target either gamete production [luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)/GnRH, FSH], gamete function [sperm antigens and oocytes Zona pellucida (ZP)], or gamete outcome (HCG). Sperm are an exciting target and several antigens have been actively explored for CV development. Vaccines based on recombinant sperm proteins, synthetic peptides, and naked DNA have shown reversible contraceptive effects without any serious side effects in various species of animals. No sperm vaccine has been tried in humans so far. Besides these specific concerns associated with each contraceptive vaccine, progress has been restricted due to the variability of immune response after active immunization, attain reasonably high antibody titers, especially in the genital tract and uncertainty regarding how long the bioeffective antibodies will remain in circulation. It is envisaged that these concerns may be obliterated by the passive immunization approach using the performed antibodies. The antibody therapies are successful against various infectious diseases, both in animals and humans. Phage display technology has been widely used to obtain a variety of engineered antibodies, including single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies. Using this technology, recently, our laboratory has isolated, produced, and characterized fully functional human scFv antibodies against specific human sperm antigens. These human antibodies are being examined for their utility as novel immunocontraceptive.
Release of Hypothalamic Hormones under in Vivo and in Vitro Conditions

The presence in hypothalamic tissue of extractable substances, called releasing factors or hormones, which can either stimulate or repress the release of hormones from the adenohypophysis is well established. Moreover, the activities of these hypothalamic substances have been demonstrated under in vivo as well as in vitro conditions. At least three of these factors, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), and somatostatin, have been isolated in pure form and found on analysis to be small peptides (1–4). Their amino acid sequences have been determined, and each has been synthesized. The availability of these synthetic compounds has made it possible to develop sensitive immunoassays for each peptide. As a consequence, it is now feasible to address critically the issue of secretion of these hypothalamic hormones and to test with rigor the question of whether these peptides have significant roles in the physiological regulation of the adenohypophysis.
Application of Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) Indexing to Remote Sensing Photogrammetry

In photogrammetry, radial displacement occurs when the point being imaged is not at the elevation of the mean datum. It is standard practice in photogrammetric mapping to provide 60% forward overlap and 30% sidelap between adjacent photographs. Such overlap is often required as the aircraft is subject to altitude variations, tip, and tilt as the flight proceeds. Differential GPS is used to minimize 3-D positional variations and provide precise indexing of the photographic exposures. This paper reports on the application of differential GPS to scientifically map the “uplight” emanating from the Ames, IA area, which serves to provide preliminary photogrammetry for Iowa State University engineering students working on Aerial Integrated Platform (AIP) senior projects. The data and it’s acquisition technique also serves as a model for low cost mapping of non-downward municipal and business lighting practices contributing to light pollution.
Inside contracting at the Sargent Hardware Company: A case study of a factory in transition at the turn of the century

Four major points emerge from the events at the Sargent factory. First, the image of inside contracting as a system pitting owners against contractors is simplistic and incomplete. Rank and file workers constituted an important third force and were involved in a complex set of changing relationships with each group and within their own group. Shifts of power in this three-way straggle led to the organizational transition away from inside contracting.
The Effect Of The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program On Readmission And Observation Stay Rates For Heart Failure.

The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program reduces Medicare prospective payments for hospitals with excess readmissions for selected diagnoses. By comparing data for patients who were readmitted o...
Revealing the Biological Attributes of N-Glycan Isomers in Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis Using Porous Graphitic Carbon (PGC) Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Breast cancer is a leading cancer in women and is considered to be the second-most common metastatic cancer following lung cancer. An estimated 10-16% of breast cancer patients are suffering from brain metastasis, and the diagnostic cases of breast cancer brain metastasis are increasing. Nevertheless, the mechanisms behind this process are still unclear. Aberrant glycosylation has been proved to be related to many diseases and cancer metastasis. However, studies of N-glycan isomer function in breast cancer brain metastasis are limited. In this study, the expressions of N-glycan isomers derived from five breast cancer cell lines and one brain cancer cell line were investigated and compared to a brain-seeking cell line, 231BR, to acquire a better understanding of the role glycan isomers play in breast cancer brain metastasis. The high temperature nanoPGC-LC-MS/MS achieved an efficient isomeric separation and permitted the identification and quantitation of 144 isomers from 50 N-glycan compositions. There were significant expression alterations of these glycan isomers among the different breast cancer cell lines. The increase of total glycan abundance and sialylation level were observed to be associated with breast cancer invasion. With regard to individual isomers, the greatest number of sialylated isomers was observed along with significant expression alterations in 231BR, suggesting a relationship between glycan sialylation and breast cancer brain metastasis. Furthermore, the increase of the α2,6-sialylation level in 231BR likely contributes to the passage of breast cancer cells through the blood-brain barrier, thus facilitating breast cancer brain metastasis. Meanwhile, the upregulation of highly sialylated glycan isomers with α2,6-linked sialic acids were found to be associated with breast cancer metastasis. This investigation of glycan isomer expressions, especially the unique isomeric expression in brain-seeking cell line 231BR, provides new information toward understanding the potential roles glycan isomers play during breast cancer metastasis and more clues for a deeper insight of this bioprocess.
Glycerol not lactate is the major net carbon source for gluconeogenesis in mice during both short and prolonged fasting.

Abstract Objective Fasting results in major metabolic changes including a switch from glycogenolysis to gluconeogenesis to maintain glucose homeostasis. However, the relationship between the length of fasting and the relative contribution of gluconeogenic substrates remains unclear. We investigated the relative contribution of glycogen, lactate, and glycerol in glucose production of male C57BL/6 J-albino mice after 6, 12, and 18 h of fasting. Methods We used non-perturbative infusions of 13C3 lactate, 13C3 glycerol, and 13C6 glucose combined with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and metabolic flux analysis to study the contribution of substrates in gluconeogenesis (GNG). Results During infusion studies, both lactate and glycerol significantly label about 60% and 30–50% glucose carbon, respectively, but glucose labels much more lactate (∼90%) than glycerol carbon (∼10%). Our analyses indicate that lactate, but not glycerol is largely recycled during all fasting periods such that lactate is the largest direct contributor to GNG via the Cori cycle but a minor source of new glucose carbon (overall contribution). In contrast, glycerol is not only a significant direct contributor to GNG but also the largest overall contributor to GNG regardless of fasting length. Prolonged fasting decreases both the whole body turnover rate of glucose and lactate but increases that of glycerol, indicating that the usage of glycerol in GNG become more significant with longer fasting. Conclusion Collectively, these findings suggest that glycerol is the dominant overall contributor of net glucose carbon in GNG during both short and prolonged fasting.
Experimental Research on the Response Time of Three-Phase Inverter on Grid Coupled to Photovoltaic Panels

The purpose of this paper is to study the response time of SMA Sunny Tripower 5.5 inverters. Material and method: The photovoltaic generator consists of 21 polycrystalline photovoltaic panels totaling 5000 W, which directly feeds an STP 500TL-20-5.5kW Sunny Tripower grid inverter. Experimental research was conducted to test the possibility of using these inverters designed for solar systems coupled with wind turbines. As MPPT (maximum power point traking) inverters used for the above purpose, and delivering voltage to the national grid, they have an operating algorithm that allows them to adapt the impedance so that the group of photovoltaic panels delivers maximum power, indifferent to and the angle of incidence of the solar panels. The maximum voltage at which the panels work is 1000V, which allows the insertion of a large number of panels on the same string (virtually $1000/42 = 24$ monocrystalline panels or $1000/37 =27$ polycrystalline panels). The algorithm mentioned above probes the power curve at various impedances, and then positions itself on the impedance at which the calculated power was the maximum. After a while, the process is resumed, since it is possible that the power received by the Sun panels has changed. The same algorithm is also respected by wind turbine inverters, with the observation that the sweep of the power curve and the positioning to the maximum value takes much less. This is necessary because the value of the wind speed is much faster than the sun. In addition, the safety of the turbine requires this, as it could lead to a wind turbulence. In conclusion, SMA Sunnny Tripower inverters are very slow in terms of loading and calculating the optimal operating point.
Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk by the Combination of Clinical Risk Scores Plus Platelet Expression of FcγRIIa.

Platelet expression of FcγRIIa was quantified after myocardial infarction (MI) and we found that patients with high platelet FcγRIIa expression (>11,000/platelet) had a fourfold greater risk of subsequent MI, stroke, and death. This analysis of the original cohort of 197 patients was designed to determine whether platelet expression of FcγRIIa could be used in combination with clinical risk scores (GRACE [Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events] and DAPT [Dual Antiplatelet Therapy]) to refine cardiovascular risk assessment. Platelet expression of FcγRIIa quantified with the use of flow cytometry was broadly distributed in patients stratified into high and low risk groups based on clinical risk scores. In patients identified as high risk by the GRACE score, 62% had high platelet FcγRIIa expression. Similarly, in patients identified as high risk by DAPT, 55% had high platelet FcγRIIa expression. High platelet FcγRIIa expression discriminated high and low risk cohorts in patients with high cardiovascular risk defined by either the GRACE score (high platelet FcγRIIa 18.9% vs low platelet FcγRIIa 0%; odds ratio = 15.7, p = 0.06) or the DAPT score (high platelet FcγRIIa 15.4% vs low platelet FcγRIIa 3.7%; odds ratio = 5.6, p = 0.03) assessment. Platelet expression of FcγRIIa merits additional study to determine whether low platelet FcγRIIa expression can be used to guide early transition to aspirin monotherapy and high platelet FcγRIIa expression can be used to guide continuation of DAPT.
Efficient neuronal targeting and transfection using RVG and transferrin-conjugated liposomes

Effective transport of therapeutic nucleic acid to brain has been a challenge for the success of gene therapy for treating brain diseases. In this study, we proposed liposomal nanoparticles modified with brain targeting ligandsfor active brain targeting with enhanced BBB permeation and delivery of genes to brain. We targeted transferrin and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by conjugating transferrin (Tf) and rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) peptide to surface of liposomes. Liposomal formulations showed homogeneous particle size and ability to protect plasmid DNA against enzymatic degradation. These nanoparticles were internalized by brain endothelial cells, astrocytes and primary neuronal cells through energy-dependent endocytosis pathways. RVG-Tf coupled liposomes showed superior ability to transfect cells compared to liposomes without surface modification or single modification. Characterization of permeability through blood brain barrier (BBB) and functionality of designed liposomes were performed using an in vitro triple co-culture BBB model. Liposome-RVG-Tf efficiently translocated across in vitro BBB model and, consecutively, transfected primary neuronal cells. Notably, brain-targeted liposomes promoted in vivo BBB permeation. These studies suggest that modifications of liposomes with brain-targeting ligands are a promising strategy for delivery of genes to brain.
Valenced appearance-behavior cues affect the extent of impression memory

Prior work has often shown higher memory for impressions of valenced verbal cues when such valence is congruent with valence conveyed by actors’ facial characteristics. The current work examined sp...
Molecular switch architecture drives response properties

A wide range of signaling pathways consist of molecular switches, which are proteins that transition between two states - on and off. Upon perception of a stimulus by its cognate receptor, signal transduction through a molecular switch can occur by one of the following mechanisms: activation, where the transition rate from the off state to the on state increases; derepression, where the transition rate from the on state to the off state decreases; and concerted, where both activation and derepression operate simultaneously. Here we use mathematical modeling to compare and contrast these signaling mechanisms in terms of their dose response curves, response times, and abilities to process upstream fluctuations. Our analysis elucidates two general principles. First, activation makes the switch response more sensitive than the receptor response whereas derepression does the opposite. Second, activation operates by speeding up the switch response, as opposed to derepression which slows it down. Consequently, the concerted mechanism is not only able to align the switch dose response with that of the receptor but also to decouple the response time from the stimulus level. Interestingly, activation and derepression perform similarly in terms of processing upstream fluctuations, but better than the concerted mechanism. In addition to these three metrics, we also examine the effect of receptor removal, a common feature of many signaling pathways, on switches governed by activation and derepression. We find that if inactive (active) receptors are preferentially removed then activation (derepression) leads to a sustained response whereas derepression (activation) adapts. In total, we show how a molecular switch architecture governs its response properties. We also discuss biological relevance of these findings.