cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of Calpain in Pathogenesis of Human Disease Processes

Calpains are a 15-member class of calcium activated nonlysosomal neutral proteases which are involved in a broad range of cellular function. Calpains are usually localized to the cytosol and within mitochondria. Calpastatin is an endogenous protein that specifically binds to and inhibits calpain. Overactivation of calpain has been implicated in a number of disease processes of the brain, eyes, heart, lungs, pancreas, kidneys, vascular system and skeletal muscle. Therefore, calpain may serve as a potential therapeutic target for a wide variety of disease processes. This review briefly outlines the current literature regarding the involvement of calpain overactivation in the pathogenesis of almost every organ in the body.
Children are Different: The Abolition of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing in Florida

This essay argues that juvenile mandatory minimum sentences violate the Eighth Amendment based on the US Supreme Court's Miller v. Alabama requirement of individualized assessment and the Iowa Supreme Court's State v. Lyle application of individualized assessment to all juvenile sentencing. This essay discusses the issue of juvenile mandatory minimum sentencing in the context of recent Florida decisions.
Characterizing the Source of Text in Electronic Health Record Progress Notes.

This study analyzes inpatient progress notes to determine the documentation practices of medical students, residents, and hospitalists.
Prespawn Mortality of Female Chinook Salmon Increases with Water Temperature and Percent Hatchery Origin

AbstractHigh rates of prespawn mortality, when adult salmon die after completing migration but prior to spawning, can lead to population declines and can impede recovery of threatened stocks. In this study, annual prespawn mortality of female Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ranged from 1% to 100% over 14 years in seven study reaches located throughout the upper Willamette River Basin, Oregon. Prespawn mortality rates were positively correlated with the annual maximum seven-day average maximum stream temperature and the percentage of spawning fish of hatchery origin. Observed prespawn mortality rates varied considerably, but where maximum temperatures exceeded 20°C and the composition of spawning fish was >80% hatchery origin, annual female prespawn mortality rates were consistently >80%. In several spawning tributaries, prespawn mortality rates generally decreased at higher elevations. The proximate cause of prespawn death was not evaluated here and observed patterns likely reflect additional fact...
Real-Time In Vivo Intraocular Pressure Monitoring Using an Optomechanical Implant and an Artificial Neural Network

Optimized glaucoma therapy requires frequent monitoring and timely lowering of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). A recently developed microscale IOP-monitoring implant, when illuminated with broadband light, reflects a pressure-dependent optical spectrum that is captured and converted to measure IOP. However, its accuracy is limited by background noise and the difficulty of modeling non-linear shifts of the spectra with respect to pressure changes. Using an end-to-end calibration system to train an artificial neural network (ANN) for signal demodulation we improved the speed and accuracy of pressure measurements obtained with an optically probed IOP-monitoring implant and make it suitable for real-time in vivo IOP monitoring. The ANN converts captured optical spectra into corresponding IOP levels. We achieved an IOP-measurement accuracy of ±0.1 mmHg at a measurement rate of 100 Hz, which represents a ten-fold improvement from previously reported values. This technique allowed real-time tracking of artificially induced sub-1 s transient IOP elevations and minor fluctuations induced by the respiratory motion of the rabbits during in vivo monitoring. All in vivo sensor readings paralleled those obtained concurrently using a commercial tonometer and showed consistency within ±2 mmHg. Real-time processing is highly useful for IOP monitoring in clinical settings and home environments, and improves the overall practicality of the optical IOP-monitoring approach.
High-temperature oxidation kinetics of sponge-based E110 cladding alloy ☆

Abstract Two-sided oxidation experiments were recently conducted at 900°C–1200 °C in flowing steam with samples of sponge-based Zr-1Nb alloy E110. Although the old electrolytic E110 tubing exhibited a high degree of susceptibility to nodular corrosion and experienced breakaway oxidation rates in a relatively short time, the new sponge-based E110 demonstrated steam oxidation behavior comparable to Zircaloy-4. Sample weight gain and oxide layer thickness measurements were performed on oxidized E110 specimens and compared to oxygen pickup and oxide layer thickness calculations using the Cathcart-Pawel correlation. Our study shows that the sponge-based E110 follows the parabolic law at temperatures above 1015 °C. At or below 1015 °C, the oxidation rate was very low when compared to Zircaloy-4 and can be represented by a cubic expression. No breakaway oxidation was observed at 1000 °C for oxidation times up to 10,000 s. Arrhenius expressions are given to describe the parabolic rate constants at temperatures above 1015 °C and cubic rate constants are provided for temperatures below 1015 °C. The weight gains calculated by our equations are in excellent agreement with the measured sample weight gains at all test temperatures. In addition to the as-fabricated E110 cladding sample, prehydrided E110 cladding with hydrogen concentrations in the 100–150 wppm range was also investigated. The effect of hydrogen content on sponge-based E110 oxidation kinetics was minimal. No significant difference was found between as-fabricated and hydrided samples with regard to oxygen pickup and oxide layer thickness for hydrogen contents below 150 wppm.
SutA is a Global Transcriptional Regulator Operating during Slow Growth in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, a major cause of morbidity and mortality for CF patients, are highly resistant to antibiotic treatment, and many lines of evidence suggest that this is due in part to slow-growing states imposed by the lung environment. In previously published work (Babin BM, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci 2016;113(5):E597-605), we identified a novel RNA polymerase-binding protein that is post-transcriptionally upregulated under such slow-growth conditions. We named this small, acidic protein SutA, and showed using RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq that it associates with RNA polymerase (RNAP) at many genomic regions, and tends to positively affect transcript levels for genes with which it associates. The genes that are affected include ribosomal RNA and protein genes, and other genes with roles in metabolism and stress survival. Furthermore, we showed that deletion of the sutA gene confers a disadvantage on cells subjected to fluctuations between growth-arrested and growth-promoting states. Thus, SutA may contribute to survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in environments like the CF lung, where oxygen and nutrient availability are likely to be heterogeneous in time and space.
Memory and Enshrining Writing: Rethinking the ethnocentrism imbedded in written vs. oral traditions

This essay seeks to shed light on the debate about the validity of oral history, not by focusing on oral traditions but rather by addressing cultural biases within mainstream US culture that undermine non-written histories. First, I will illustrate a few of the differences between folklore and sacred / historical accounts to show that there is a problematic expectation of entertainment and make-believe that has been associated with orally transmitted folklore. Then, I will discuss the vocabulary used to describe unwritten accounts versus written ones, to show how dominant (Euro-American) cultures have a strong ethnocentric bias that honors the written text over the oral form. I will also comment on some of the hegemonic discourses and practices that defend and reproduce this bias against oral traditions. Finally, I will show that, despite a firm belief that something that has been written down has permanence, Euro-American heritage (dominant US culture) writers are part of a tradition that intentionally changes stories in new and different written and recorded forms. This documented variation in narratives (histories or just stories), subtly reinforces the hegemonic discourse that a people cannot accurately maintain a sacred history in the absence of writing.
Transplantation of Adult Rat Schwann Cells into the Injured Spinal Cord

Adult Schwann cells (SCs) can provide both a permissive substrate for axonal growth and a source of cells to ensheath and myelinate axons when transplanted into the injured spinal cord. Multiple studies have demonstrated that SC transplants can be used as part of a combinatorial approach to repairing the injured spinal cord. Here, we describe the protocols for collection and transplantation of adult rat primary SCs into the injured spinal cord. Protocols are included for the tissue culture procedures necessary for collection, quantification, and suspension of the cells for transplantation and for the surgical procedures for spinal cord injury at thoracic level nine (T9), reexposure of the injury site for delayed transplantation, and injection of the cells into the spinal cord.
Teaching systems thinking to general education students

Abstract Under the proposition that all college students are able to learn to think in more systemic ways, and understand the value of systems modeling for assisting their thinking, I designed a course for freshmen with no more than basic algebra. In this course the students were exposed to basic systems concepts with a focus on system dynamics modeling (using Donella Meadows’ Thinking in Systems) of a permaculture-based food production system. They were given a basic problem: How much land area would be needed to collect enough solar energy in food plant photosynthesis per year to feed a community of fifty vegetarians? They were told that the farm would be in the Seattle WA, USA area so they could find the average monthly insolation values. Several additional rate constants and conversion factors were provided so they could build a spreadsheet-based model to generate the number of calories needed. This paper provides anecdotal evidence that systems theory naive students were able to successfully build a model (in teams) but also were able to apply systems thinking to aspects of their own lives as demonstrated in essays (individuals). Many students reported “seeing the world differently” as a result of the course, particularly seeing how different aspects of the world are connected through various relations. As a result of these successes the course was upgraded to be a little more advanced for upper division students.
Objective cognitive functioning in self-reported habitual short sleepers not reporting daytime dysfunction: examination of impulsivity via delay discounting

In this study, our objectives were to 1) Examine performance on an objective measure of reward-related cognitive impulsivity (delay discounting) among self-reported habitual short sleepers not reporting daytime dysfunction in comparison to those reporting dysfunction and conventional sleepers; 2) Inform the debate regarding what type and duration of short sleep meaningfully influences cognitive impulsivity; 3) Compare the predictive utility of sleep duration and perceived daytime dysfunction to other factors previously shown to influence cognitive impulsivity via delay discounting performance (age, income, education, and fluid intelligence). We analyzed data from 1,190 adults from the Human Connectome Project database. Participants were grouped on whether they reported habitual short (≤ 6 hours) vs. conventional (7 to 9 hours) sleep duration and whether they perceived daytime dysfunction using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results indicated that short sleepers not reporting dysfunction evidenced increased delay discounting compared to conventional sleepers, but were not significantly different from short sleepers reporting dysfunction. Regardless of perceived dysfunction, all short sleepers exhibited increased delay discounting compared to all conventional sleepers. Of the variables examined, self-reported sleep duration was the strongest predictor of delay discounting behavior between groups and across all 1,190 participants. We conclude that individuals who report habitual short sleep are likely to exhibit increased reward-related cognitive impulsivity regardless of whether they perceive sleep-related daytime impairment. Therefore, there is reason to suspect that these individuals exhibit more daytime dysfunction, in the form of reward-related cognitive impulsivity, than they may assume. Current findings suggest that assessment of sleep duration over the prior month has meaningful predictive utility for human reward-related impulsivity.
Minorities in the Economy of the United States (Continued)

Most black businesses in the United States have been small businesses, and nearly all are single proprietorships in retail and service trades. The most numerous businesses have been personal services: hairdressing and barbering, luncheonettes and restaurants, and funeral services. A protected market for the provision of these services evolved within the black community. In businesses that sell to the general public, such as hardware and department stores, blacks have not made much progress. The desegregation movement of the 1960s opened most public accommodations to minorities and thereby resulted in an erosion of the position of many black businessmen. Especially hard hit were hotels and restaurants which had previously catered to Blacks (Brimmer 1970, p. 6).
Reliable transport for sensor networks: PSFQ - Pump slowly fetch quickly paradigm

We propose PSFQ (Pump Slowly, Fetch Quickly), a reliable transport protocol suitable for a new class of reliable data applications emerging in wireless sensor networks. For example, currently sensor networks tend to be application specific and are typically hard-wired to perform a specific task efficiently at low cost; however, there is an emerging need to be able to re-task or reprogram groups of sensors in wireless sensor networks on the fly (e.g., during disaster recovery). Due to the application-specific nature of sensor networks, it is difficult to design a single monolithic transport system that can be optimized for every application. PSFQ takes a different approach and supports a simple, robust and scalable transport that is customizable to meet the needs of different reliable data applications. To our knowledge there has been little work on the design of an efficient reliable transport protocol for wireless sensor networks, even though some techniques found in IP networks have some relevance to the solution space, such as, the body of work on reliable multicast. We present the design and implementation of PSFQ, and evaluate the protocol using the ns-2 simulator and an experimental wireless sensor testbed based on Berkeley motes. We show through simulation and experimentation that PSFQ can out perform existing related techniques (e.g., an idealized SRM scheme) and is highly responsive to the various error conditions experienced in wireless sensor networks, respectively.
Three-Dimensional Measurement System

We have developed a system that uses multiple radiographic views and modern survey instruments to determine the locations and sizes of hidden objects. The survey instrument is a total station that combines a transit for angle measurements and a range finder for determining the exact locations of the film plane and radiographic source for each radiographic view. This information coupled with the location of an object’s image on the film defines a line in three-dimensional space. Using two or more views, we locate the object by finding the intersection of these lines. Because of experimental error in each survey measurement, the lines may not intersect, but we use the point of nearest approach. Experience with the system has shown that we can locate objects to within a 5-mm cube and determine the sizes of objects to better than 1 mm.
Using Automatic Differentiation in Sensitivity Analysis of Nuclear Simulation Models, invited

Sensitivity analysis is an important tool in the study of nuclear systems. In our recent work, we introduced a hybrid method that combines sampling techniques with first-order sensitivity analysis to approximate the effects of uncertainty in parameters of a nuclear reactor simulation model. For elementary examples, the approach offers a substantial advantage (in precision, computational efficiency, or both) over classical methods of uncertainty quantification.
Effect of blue-light cystoscopy on contemporary performance of urine cytology

Objective To evaluate the performance of urine cytology based on contemporary data, including the effect of enhanced cystoscopic techniques. Materials and methods Individual patient data were obtained from three prospective studies: the Photocure (PC) B305 and the PC B308 studies, evaluating the use of blue-light cystoscopy with hexaminolevulinate (BLC-H), and the Cxbladder monitoring study, evaluating the Cxbladder monitor test for the detection of recurrent urothelial carcinoma. The specificity and sensitivity of cytology in each study and for the overall cohort were calculated. Results A total of 1 487 urine samples from 1 375 patients were included in the analysis; overall 615 tumours were detected correlating to 41% of the cytological specimens. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for cytology were 40.8% and 92.8%, respectively. The pooled sensitivity was 11.4% for low-grade/World Health Organization (WHO) grade 1 disease and 54.3% for high-grade/WHO grade 3 disease. There were no differences in cytology sensitivity based on the type of cystoscopy used, with sensitivity of 41.3% and 40.4% in white-light cystoscopy (WLC) and BLC-H, respectively. Subgroup analysis including carcinoma in situ ( CIS) showed a trend towards lower cytology sensitivity in BLC-H (54.5%) vs WLC (69.2%). Conclusions Based on analysis of contemporary data, the sensitivity of cytology for detecting high-grade tumours and CIS remains low. On a per-patient analysis, cytology sensitivity was not affected by the use of advanced cystoscopic techniques except in patients with CIS. The use of cytology as the main adjunct to cystoscopy in patients at high risk can lead to missed opportunities for early detection of recurrence and for determining which patients are not responding to intravesical therapies such as bacille Calmette-Guerin.
More Time on Technology, Less Happiness? Associations Between Digital-Media Use and Psychological Well-Being:

Studies using large samples consistently find that more frequent users of digital media are lower in psychological well-being than less frequent users; even data sets used as evidence for weak effe...
Automatic system to control hydraulic drill operation

Under consideration is the operation principle of the automatic control system to manage the drilling modes in terms of variable rocks in view to increase the cutting tool durability, to lower drilling costs, and to improve the new-made hole quality. The modern requirements for drilling processes imply automation of the control processes as it is impossible to achieve the above goals with manual control of a drilling machine. Automation rests on the use of high-speed automatic systems, capable to provide automatic prompt changeover from one mode to another, along with routine adjustment of drilling modes.
B-vitamins & one-carbon metabolism: Impacts on the epigenome during development

Abstract The embryonic and fetal periods of development are times of substantial programming and growth, which establish a foundation for health throughout the life-course. During this time, DNA methylation is substantially remodeled, giving rise to distinct cellular- and organ-level epigenetic signatures. Dietary methyl group donors and cofactors are instrumental for the biochemical basis of these methylation changes, contributing to a pathway known as one carbon metabolism (OCM). These dietary nutrients, specifically folate, choline, betaine, and vitamin B12, have been widely implicated in altered DNA methylation. This chapter reviews the OCM pathway, and the scientific basis for this nutrient-epigenetic relationship during development.
Analysis of epidemiological characteristics of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Zhejiang Province, China, 2010-2014

Objective To analyze the epidemic situation of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and the population distribution and virus carrying status of the hosts in Zhejiang Province, China, from 2010 to 2014, and to provide scientific evidences for establishing further prevention and control measures. Methods Data on HFRS were collected from the Chinese Disease Reporting System, and descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of HFRS. Rodents were captured by night trapping in five HFRS monitoring sites in Zhejiang Province. Lung and serum samples were collected for detection of hantavirus antigen and antibody using an immunofluorescence assay, and the distribution of rodent population and virus carrying status in Zhejiang Province were analyzed. Results Cases were reported from 2010 to 2014 in Zhejiang Province (463, 539, 498, 521 and 384 cases, respectively), and 3 dead cases were reported in 2010. The cases were mostly seen in five cities, Ningbo, Taizhou, Shaoxing, Lishui and Quzhou (611, 535, 336, 305 and 229 cases, respectively). There were two peaks of incidence, one in spring (May - June) and the other in winter (November - December). The high risk age group of HFRS was 25 - 0.05). Conclusion From 2010 to 2014, in Zhejiang Province, the situation of HFRS epidemic is relatively stable; in key districts and populations, comprehensive measures should be taken to control the epidemic. Key words: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome; Surveillance; Data analysis; Epidemiological characteristics
Time-Frequency Analysis of Gravitational Wave Data

Data from gravitational wave detectors are recorded as time series that include contributions from myriad noise sources in addition to any gravitational wave signals. When regularly sampled data are available, such as for ground based and future space based interferometers, analyses are typically performed in the frequency domain, where stationary (time invariant) noise processes can be modeled very efficiently. In reality, detector noise is not stationary due to a combination of short duration noise transients and longer duration drifts in the power spectrum. This nonstationarity produces correlations across samples at different frequencies, obviating the main advantage of a frequency domain analysis. Here an alternative time-frequency approach to gravitational wave data analysis is proposed that uses discrete, orthogonal wavelet wave packets. The time domain data is mapped onto a uniform grid of time-frequency pixels. For locally stationary noise---that is, noise with an adiabatically varying spectrum---the time-frequency pixels are uncorrelated, which greatly simplifies the calculation of quantities such as the likelihood. Moreover, the gravitational wave signals from binary systems can be compactly represented as a collection of lines in time-frequency space, resulting in a computational cost for computing waveforms and likelihoods that scales as the square root of the number of time samples, as opposed to the linear scaling for time or frequency based analyses. Key to this approach is having fast methods for computing binary signals directly in the wavelet domain. Multiple fast transform methods are developed in detail.
Factors Affecting Punitive Damage Awards

This essay reports the findings of a first-of-its-kind study designed to measure how subjective versus objective requests for punitive damages affect jury awards. The variable of whether the defendant corporation is out-of-state or in-state is also evaluated. The novel results of this study shed light on the otherwise nebulous nature of punitive damage awards and are therefore highly relevant to civil trial attorneys, legal scholars, and tort reform advocates.
The Acute Physiological Responses to Traditional vs. Practical Blood Flow Restriction Resistance Exercise in Untrained Men and Women

This study compared the acute physiological responses of traditional and practical blood flow restriction resistance exercise (tBFR and pBFR, respectively) and high- and low-load resistance exercise without BFR (HL and LL, respectively), as well as the potential sex differences within the aforementioned exercise methods. Fourteen men and fifteen women randomly completed the following experimental conditions: (1) tBFR, consisting of four sets of 30-15-15-15 repetitions of the bilateral horizontal leg press and knee extension exercises, at 30% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM), with a 13.5 cm wide pneumatic cuff placed at the most proximal portion of each thigh and inflated to a pressure equivalent to 50% of the participant's total occlusion pressure; (2) pBFR, which was the same as the tBFR condition, except that an elastic band wrapped around the proximal portion of each thigh at a tightness of 7 on a 0 to 10 perceived pressure scale was used to reduce blood flow; (3) LL, same as the tBFR and pBFR protocols, except that no BFR was applied; and (4) HL, consisting of 3 sets of 10 repetitions at 80% of 1-RM, with the same 1-min rest interval between sets and a 3-min rest period between exercises. At baseline, immediately post-, 5 min post-, and 15 min post-exercise, whole-blood lactate (WBL), indices of muscle swelling (muscle thickness and thigh circumference), hematocrit and plasma volume changes, were measured as well as superficial electromyography (sEMG) amplitude during exercise. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences between the tBFR and pBFR exercise protocols for any of the physiological parameters assessed. However, significantly greater (p < 0.05) WBL and sEMG values were observed for HL compared to the remaining exercise conditions. Finally, males displayed greater WBL levels than females at 15 min post-exercise. Interestingly, males also displayed significantly (p < 0.05) greater sEMG amplitude than females within the low-load trials during leg press, but no significant (p < 0.05) sex differences were observed during knee extension. In conclusion, tBFR and pBFR seemed to be capable of inducing the same acute physiological responses. Furthermore, males displayed greater responses than females for some of the physiological parameters measured.
Replacement of microglia by brain-engrafted macrophages provide protection against concussive injury

Brain resident microglia have a distinct origin compared to macrophages in other organs. Under physiological conditions, microglia are maintained by self-renewal from the local pool, independent of hematopoietic progenitors. Pharmacological depletion of microglia during therapeutic whole-brain irradiation prevents synaptic loss and long-term recognition memory deficits. Here we demonstrate that after concurrent therapeutic whole-brain irradiation and microglia depletion, macrophages originating from circulating monocytes engraft into the brain and replace the microglia pool. Comparisons of transcriptomes reveal that brain-engrafted macrophages have an intermediate phenotype which resembles both monocytes and embryonic microglia. In response to a secondary concussive brain injury, brain-engrafted macrophages display reduced phagocytic activity for synaptic compartments compared to that of microglia from normal brain. Notably, mice bearing engrafted macrophages are spared from concussive injury-induced memory loss. Taken together, our data demonstrate that replacement of microglia by brain-engrafted macrophages provides protection against concussive brain injury-induced memory deficits.
Sustainable Development, Demography and Sexual and Reproductive Health: Inseparable Linkages and Their Policy Implications

The greatest challenge today is to meet the needs of current and future generations, of a large and growing world population, without imposing catastrophic pressures on the natural environment. Meeting this challenge depends on decisive policy changes in three areas: more inclusive economic growth, greener economic growth, and population policies. This article focuses on efforts to address and harness demographic changes for sustainable development, which are largely outside the purview of the current debate. Efforts to this end must be based on the recognition that demographic changes are the cumulative result of individual choices and opportunities, and that demographic changes are best addressed through policies that enlarge these choices and opportunities, with a focus on ensuring unrestricted and universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, empowering women to fully participate in social, economic and political life, and investing in the education of the younger generation beyond the primary level. The article provides a strong argument for why the Programme of Action that was agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) 20 years ago continues to hold important implications and lessons for the formulation of the post-2015 development agenda, which is expected to supersede the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Geoarchaeology of the Dyer Site a Prehistoric Occupation in the Western Ouachitas, Oklahoma

Geoarchaeological investigations of the Dyer Site provide evidence for occupation intensity and occupation periodicity at this late Holocene locality in the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma. Geomorph...
A logical controller design algorithm for the simulation of AC-to-AC converters

A logical controller design algorithm to simulate AC-to-AC power converters is presented. This algorithm models the switches as a controller that controls the topology of the load circuit. The controller characteristic is derived from the switching criteria of the converter circuit. Depending on which switches are "on" or "off", the controller simply provides the appropriate input source to the load circuit. This algorithm is applied to simulate direct AC-to-AC converters. The simulation results based on the implementation of this algorithm are presented.
Effect of Tryptophan and Selected Analogues on Body Temperature of Endotoxin-poisoned Mice

The effect of endotoxin on the body temperature of mice was studied in animals housed without bedding at an environmental temperature of 15 C. Rectal temperatures were measured during the initial 3 to 5 hr of exposure. Doses of endotoxin ranging from 0.01 to 1 ld(50), as determined for mice maintained at 25 C, produce a hypothermia in proportion to dose. Concurrent injection of tryptophan magnified this response in a dose-dependent manner. Cyproheptadine, an antiserotonin drug, antagonized both the hypothermia produced by serotonin alone, and the augmentation of hypothermia produced by tryptophan in endotoxin-poisoned mice. alpha-Methyltryptophan, an analogue of the amino acid that is known to induce tryptophan pyrrolase, also antagonized the increased hypothermia produced by tryptophan. These data support a previous suggestion that inhibition of tryptophan pyrrolase in endotoxin-poisoned mice has the effect of funneling injected tryptophan into the serotonin pathway.
One Strike, You're Out: The Ninth Circuit Denies Second Chance for First-Time Drug Offenders

On July 14, 2011, in Nunez-Reyes v. Holder, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit filed an en banc opinion overruling LujanArmendariz v. INS in holding that, for immigration purposes, constitutional equal protection did not require treating state drug crime convictions that are expunged under state law the same as federal convictions expunged under the Federal First Offender Act. The court also overruled Rice v. Holder, holding that being under the influence of a drug is not a lesser offense than simple possession. In so doing, the Ninth Circuit frustrated Congress’s intent in enacting the Federal First Offender Act, and hindered courts’ ability to ensure equal protection of similarly situated aliens.
The influence of core size on electronic coupling in shell–core nanoparticles: gold clusters capped with pyrenoxylalkylthiolate

The mean size of the metallic core of monolayer-protected gold clusters densely capped with 9-(1-pyrenoxyl)octane-1-thiol or 1-dodecanethiol can be adjusted by controlling the thiol/HAuCl4 ratio during synthesis. Upon reduction of tetrachloroaurate by NaBH4, lower mean metal core diameters were attained in those composites prepared from mixtures with higher thiol/Au ratios. The efficiency of electronic coupling between the core metal cluster and pyrenyl groups appended as an outer shell in this size-graded family was studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The observed emission intensity from the bound fluorophores is independent of the gold core size.
Appearance of Modulated Bilayer Morphology for Coexisting LD and LO Phases is Correlated with Line Tension

Giant Unilamelar Vesicles (GUVs) appear uniform for the brain-SM/POPC/Chol bilayer mixture, whereas GUVs exhibit macroscopic domains of coexisting liquid-disordered + liquid-ordered phases for the brain-SM/DOPC/Chol mixture. We can travel through composition space in order to study this transition from nanodomains with POPC to macrodomains with DOPC. Using ρ defined as the ratio [DOPC]/[DOPC]+[POPC], the domain morphology undergoes a transition regime where “modulated phases” appear as a function of ρ. The formation of these different morphologies on a GUV can be understood as a competition between line tension, which favors large domains, and bending energy, which favors small domains (Amazon et al). We measured the ρ values where modulated phases appear for different 4-component mixtures, using brain-SM, or egg-SM, or palmitoyl-SM as the high-melting lipid, and DOPC/POPC or DOPC/SOPC as the low melting lipids, for a total of six different 4-component mixtures. We then measured the line tension of the macroscopic domains vs ρ, and found the same line tension at ρ values at the transition between modulated phases and macroscopic phases. This finding implies that line tension has major control over domain morphology. We are currently studying how the transmembrane peptide, GWALP-23, changes the morphology by changing the values of the competing interactions.
Conformational Characteristics of Poly(d-β-hydroxybutyrate)

We present characteristic ratios of the unperturbed dimensions Cr = 〈r2〉o/n〈l2〉, where 〈r2〉o is the mean-square unperturbed end-to-end distance and n is the number and 〈l2〉 is the mean-square lengt...
Workspaces of Cable-Actuated Parallel Manipulators

This paper develops analytical techniques to delineate the workspace boundaries for parallel mechanisms with cables. In such mechanisms, it is not only necessary to solve the closure equations but it is also essential to verify that equilibrium can be achieved with non-negative actuator (cable) forces. We use tools from convex analysis and linear algebra to derive closed-form expressions for the workspace boundaries and illustrate the applications using planar and spatial examples.
Imaging-neutral camera (INCA) for the NASA Cassini mission to Saturn and Titan

The INCA sensor is the first energetic neutral atom (ENA) imager funded for flight by NASA. It is a part of the Magnetrospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) on the Cassini mission to Saturn, where it will be well suited to monitoring the global dynamics of the Saturn-Titan magnetospheric system throughout the orbital tour. INCA will perform remote sensing of the magnetospheric energetic ion plasmas by detecting and imaging charge exchange neutrals, created when magnetospheric ions capture electrons from ambient neutral gas. The escaping charge exchange neutrals were detected by the Voyager-1 spacecraft outside Saturn's magnetosphere, and can be used like photons to form images of the emitting regions, as has been done at Earth. Since Cassini is 3-axis oriented, INCA is designed as a 2D imager with a field of view of 90 by 120 degrees. The technique involves sensing the position of the ENA as it penetrates an entrance foil and again ont he back-plane microchannel plate, thereby establishing the ENA's trajectory and time- of-flight. Along with rough composition determined by pulse- height analysis, the sensor produces images of the hot plasma interaction with the cold ambient neutral gas as a function of species and energy, from approximately 20 keV to several MeV. A large geometric factor allows sufficient sensitivity to obtain statistically significant images in approximately 1 to 30 minutes, depending on conditions and location. We will discuss several of the design details unique to this instrument, as well as recent calibration results.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Two epochs in the development of γ‐aminobutyric acidergic neurons in the ferret thalamus

These studies chart the development of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons in the three divisions of the thalamus (ventral thalamus, dorsal thalamus, and epithalamus). GABAergic neurons were identified by in situ hybridization to localize mRNA for 67-kDa glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) and related to the morphological maturation of the thalamus in fetal and postnatal brains and to expression of transcription factors Gbx-2 and Tbr-1. Origins of GABAergic neurons were sought in in vitro slice preparations incubated in bromodeoxyuridine or injected with a carbocyanine dye. GABA neurons of ventral thalamus (reticular nucleus, ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, zona incerta, and nucleus of the fields of Forel) and of epithalamus appear at least 14 days before those intrinsic to dorsal thalamus. Ventral thalamus GABA cells are derived from a region connecting the ventricular zone of the third ventricle to the caudal ganglionic eminence. This region is delimited ventrally by the Tbr-1-expressing prethalamic eminence and dorsally by the Gbx-2-expressing part of the dorsal thalamus. GABA neurons of epithalamus are derived from the embryonic pretectum. Neurons continue to be added to the ventral thalamus, perireticular nucleus, entopeduncular nucleus, and substantia nigra from the ganglionic eminence as development proceeds. GAD67-expressing cells of dorsal thalamus become detectable only at birth and populate the thalamus from posterior to anterior over the first week of life. Although a very small number reaches the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus from the caudal ganglionic eminence, there is no obvious new source of proliferating neurons at this stage. Intrinsic GABA cells of dorsal thalamus may, therefore, derive from an early generated population of cells that turns on a GABAergic phenotype only late in development. J. Comp. Neurol. 463:45–65, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Amphotericin B removal by plasma exchange

This case report adds pharmacokinetic knowledge regarding amphotericin B. Amphotericin B is highly protein bound. Plasma exchange removes 50-75% of a substance in plasma within 1-2 h, corresponding to an elimination half-life of 30-40 min. Amphotericin B reduction ratio by plasma exchange was 40% in this patient who had both liver and renal failure.
The Great Recession and State Unemployment Trends

The recession that began in January 2008 was the deepest business downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. This recession has been referred to as The Great Recession due to its severity an...
Studies of transition boiling heat transfer with saturated water at 1–4 bar☆

Abstract Additional steady-state and transient transition boiling heat transfer tests were conducted using a loop in which hot mercury was the heat source. The new steady-state data, plus steady-state data from the literature, were used to derive an improved transition boiling heat transfer correlation for saturated liquid and net quality conditions. The correlation so obtained was found applicable to the transient observations.
Current status of models in determining optimum chlorination practices

Abstract Interest in mathematical models for predicting the fate of chlorine in natural waters arose in the 1970's, and evolution of these models has proceeded rapidly. The crudest of the models incorporate empirical estimates of chemical reactions in a single term to predict generic chlorine products such as total residual chlorine or free residual chlorine. A second order of model complexity includes use of multifactor predictor variables to approximate losses of chlorine via chemical reaction, but predictions are still couched in terms of generic chlorine products. The most sophisticated of the current models are based on specific chemical reactions and predict the identity and quantity of some (but not all) of the products resulting from chlorination of natural waters. None of these models have been sufficiently verified, but each has some potential value for assessment of environmental effects of chlorinated discharges. Evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of existing models is presented to stimulate further model development and to direct the focus of chemical studies toward collection of data most critical for derivation of input parameters.
Modeling and Analysis of Laws Using BPR and Goal-Oriented Framework

Recently, two complementary approaches are pro- posed to represent, model, and analyze laws: the Nomos and VLPM approaches. Nomos is a goal-oriented approach to effectively capture high-level principles in terms of goal realization for requirements guided by satisfiability of normative propositions obtained from rules embedded in a law. The latter offers a tool supported (re-)engineering methodology to extract laws represented in XML and build models using a subset of UML diagrams. Both allow traceability between laws and their respective models. This paper proposes an integration of these two approaches. We believe that this provides a framework that allows to trace and reason either top-down, from principles to their implementation or, viceversa, bottom-up, from a change in the procedure to the principles. It is exactly this connection that adds value to the solution we propose and makes our approach more significant than a simple juxtaposition of the two techniques.
Sfrp5 Modulates Both Wnt and BMP Signaling and Regulates Gastrointestinal Organogensis in the Zebrafish, Danio rerio

Sfrp5 belongs to the family of secreted frizzled related proteins (Sfrp), secreted inhibitors of Wingless-MMTV Integration Site (Wnt) signaling, which play an important role in cancer and development. We selected sfrp5 because of its compelling expression profile in the developing endoderm in zebrafish, Danio rerio. In this study, overexpression of sfrp5 in embryos results in defects in both convergent extension (CE) by inhibition of non-canonical Wnt signaling and defects in dorsoventral patterning by inhibition of Tolloid-mediated proteolysis of the BMP inhibitor Chordin. From 25 hours post fertilization (hpf) to 3 days post fertilization (dpf), both overexpression and knockdown of Sfrp5 decrease the size of the endoderm, significantly reducing liver cell number. At 3 dpf, insulin-positive endodermal cells fail to coalesce into a single pancreatic islet. We show that Sfrp5 inhibits both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling during embryonic and endodermal development, resulting in endodermal abnormalities.
Characterizing the intelligence analysis process: Informing visual analytics design through a longitudinal field study

While intelligence analysis has been a primary target domain for visual analytics system development, relatively little user and task analysis has been conducted within this area. Our research community's understanding of the work processes and practices of intelligence analysts is not deep enough to adequately address their needs. Without a better understanding of the analysts and their problems, we cannot build visual analytics systems that integrate well with their work processes and truly provide benefit to them. In order to close this knowledge gap, we conducted a longitudinal, observational field study of intelligence analysts in training within the intelligence program at Mercyhurst College. We observed three teams of analysts, each working on an intelligence problem for a ten-week period. Based upon study findings, we describe and characterize processes and methods of intelligence analysis that we observed, make clarifications regarding the processes and practices, and suggest design implications for visual analytics systems for intelligence analysis.
Stress Optimization of a Piezoelectric-Controlled Curved Beam

A composite curved beam is used to represent a multitude of structures in piping, such as O-Rings, that undergo dynamic warping as a result of long term usage, thermal changes, and high pressures. A piezoelectric material can be used to design an auto-corrective process that senses the dynamic warping and induces forces to restore the shape through the Piezoelectric Effect. The orientation and placement of the piezoelectric material on a composite curved beam directly affects the deflection and stress applied to that beam. The optimal placement of the actuator in terms of these two factors was researched.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The Economics of Property Rights and Human Rights

. Human rights and property rights are rights of the person, with the former being numbered among the latter. The property rights school of economics analyzes the impact of maximizing behavior within alternative sets of institutional structures defined in terms of the definition and distribution of property rights. Property rights are tools or parameters, not goals of economic policy in themselves. It is useful to view human rights in the same way. The ‘optimal’ structure of human rights in an exchange economy, like property rights, depends on the nature of market imperfections such as transactions costs. The views of Rawls, Arrow and Sen can be interpreted in the light of this analysis. It makes a tentative case for some communal human rights (aimed at moderating the effects of an unequal ditribution of resources) within a system of private human rights vested in individuals rather than the State. This conclusion depends, however, on the distribution of transactions costs in human rights and the chosen role of human rights as tools of public policy.
AURORAL INFRASONIC AND IONOSPHERIC ABSORPTION SUBSTORMS.

Abstract The median global pattern for the progression of auroral absorption onsets is compared with the distribution of auroral infrasonic waves along the auroral oval. There is agreement between the directions of auroral motions as determined on one hand by the pattern of absorption onsets and on the other hand by the infrasonic wave morphology. The distribution in infrasonic wave trace velocity with respect to the auroral oval is consistent with the distribution in wave-front velocity as derived from the pattern of absorption onsets.
The d and f resonances in the core level absorption spectra of TeF6

Abstract The post-edge resonant features observed in the Te p and d core level absorption spectra of TeF 6 have been characterized with stabilized bound state and continuum multiple scattering Xα calculations. The nature of the resonances above the Te 4p edge is similar to that observed in SF 6 and can be attributed to excitations into quasibound channels with substantial k d character. The localization of the continuum channel is due to strong interactions between the Te d and F p and d orbitals. The origin of the resonances above the Te 4d edge is different. It is better described as a manifestation of the atomic-like d→ k f delayed onset as a consequence of the Te centrifugal potential.
Fear of Crime and Quality of Life: A Test of Garofalo and Laub's Model:

This paper examines the issue of whether fear of crime is distinct from, or part of, quality of life. Through a factor analysis of data taken from a police foot patrol evaluation study conducted (1...