cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heating Value Sensor for Producer Gas

Today, producer gas is being utilized as a fuel gas in boilers, internal combustion engines and turbines for heat and power generation. The composition of producer gas varies depending upon the gasification parameters. For improved process control and optimum utilization of these heat and power generating systems, it is desirable to monitor the producer gas composition in real-time. A new method and apparatus has been developed and lab-tested for quantitative characterization of producer gas. Spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic measurements are performed in order to detect both — spectrally active and inactive gases. Both methods are cross-sensitive to more than one gas. The measurements are then processed using multivariate statistical methods — principal components regression and partial least squares to fit a regression model which correlates the experimental measurements to the composition and heating value of producer gas. The fitted regression model is used to estimate the properties of unknown mixtures. The measurements and data processing are done in real time using a high speed hardware control and data acquisition system. A commercialized version of this sensor is expected to cost less than half the price of gas chromatographs, which are widely used in the gas industry today.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
A Stochastic Approximation Technique for Generating Maximum Likelihood Parameter Estimates

This paper shows how stochastic approximation (SA) can be used to construct maximum likelihood estimates of system parameters. The procedure described here relies on a derivative approximation other than the usual finite-difference approximation associated with a Kiefer-Wolfowitz SA procedure. This alternative derivative approximation requires fewer, by a factor equal to the dimension of the parameter vector being estimated, computations than the standard finite-difference approximation. Numerical evidence presented in the paper indicates that this SA procedure is, relative to a Kiefer-Wolfowitz procedure, most efficient when considering large-scale systems.
OCLC's CORC Service: A User's Perspective

OCLC's CORC (Online Computer Library Center's Cooperative Online Resource Catalog) service consists of two Web-based utilities: the CORC Resource Catalog (RC) and the Pathfinder utility. The RC consists of a generator for creating MARC or Dublin Core bibliographic records for Internet resources as well as a database of such records. The Pathfinder utility features a database of research guides in a Web format and offers a straightforward method to create original research guides. Both elements of the CORC service are well wrought and should be of interest to libraries.
Contextual factors influencing health-related quality of life in African American and Latina breast cancer survivors.

This study explored the relationships between systemic- and individual-level contextual factors and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a cohort of African American and Latina breast cancer survivors (BCS). Baseline questionnaire data of 320 BCS who participated in a HRQOL psycho-educational intervention were abstracted from the parent study. Hierarchical regression analysis tested the independent effects of contextual factors on HRQOL. HRQOL was higher in BCS who: were diagnosed at < stage 2 (b = − 1.38, p < 0.05), expressed satisfaction with their health care (b = 0.20, p < 0.001), had fewer comorbidities (b = − 0.60, p < 0.001) and depressive symptoms (b = − 0.30, p < 0.001), and practiced healthy diet and exercise habits (b = 0.02, p < 0.05). Demographic and cancer-related factors accounted for 14 % of the variance in HRQOL (F[6, 274] = 7.25, p < 0.001). The socio-cultural context (i.e., ethnicity, life stress, perceived social support) explained 20 % of the variance in HRQOL (FΔ[3, 271] = 27.32, p < 0.001). The health care system context contributed an additional 8 % to explaining HRQOL (FΔ[1, 270] = 34.88, p < 0.001). Health status and behavioral factors accounted for 18 % of the variance (FΔ[4, 266] = 29.55, p < 0.001). The full model explained 59 % of the variance in HRQOL (F[14, 266] = 27.76, p < 0.001). HRQOL in ethnic minority BCS is multifaceted and is significantly influenced by cancer-related, socio-cultural, health care system, health status, and behavioral contextual factors. Therefore, survivorship research and practice must address broad multi-level domains to achieve equitable and optimal breast cancer outcomes. To enhance HRQOL, survivors must be provided the know-how and support to maintain healthy lifestyle and self-management practices. Advocates must engage the care team to consider systemic factors, including life stress and community resources, to be more patient-centered.
Effects of glucagon on hepatic glycogen and smooth endoplasmic reticulum.

The action of glucagon on hepatic glycogen and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) was studied in samples of liver taken sequentially from anesthetized rats. The physiological state of each animal was assessed by continuously monitoring aortic blood pressure and blood lactatepyruvate ratios. High hepatic glycogen levels were established by using 10--12 hr fasted control-fed rats infused continuously with glucose. In rats receiving glucose only, hepatic glycogen levels remained above 5.0% during the 4-hr period of glucose administration. Centrilobular hepatocytes displayed an abundance of glycogen which often appeared dispersed with elements of SER between the glycogen particles. Periportal cells had dense clumps of glycogen with few vesicles of SER restricted to the periphery of the glycogen masses. The addition of glucagon to the glucose infusate caused a marked stimulation of glycogenolysis. In these rats, the hepatic glycogen level (X +/- SE) was 6.74 +/- .15% 1 hr after glucose and declined after initiation of glucagon infusion as follows: 5.86 +/- .29% (15 min), 4.89 +/- .26% (1 hr), 2.16 +/- .40% (2 hr), and 1.66 +/- .29% (3 hr). The fine structure of hepatocytes showed a dramatic response to the administration of glucagon. The glycogen regions of the cells were noticeably decreased in size and number of glycogen granules 3 hr after initiation of glucagon infusion, and SER was abundant in both periportal and centrilobular hepatocytes. The interpretation offered is that glucagon induces the formation of new SER membranes which participate in glycogen breakdown and/or glucose release from hepatocytes.
A computationally efficient Multicomponent Equilibrium Solver for Aerosols (MESA)

[1] Development and application of a new Multicomponent Equilibrium Solver for Aerosols (MESA) is described for systems containing H+, NH4+, Na+, Ca2+, SO42−, HSO4−, NO3−, and Cl− ions. The equilibrium solution is obtained by integrating a set of pseudo-transient ordinary differential equations describing the precipitation and dissolution reactions for all the possible salts to steady state. A comprehensive temperature dependent mutual deliquescence relative humidity (MDRH) parameterization is developed for all the possible salt mixtures, thereby eliminating the need for a rigorous numerical solution when ambient RH is less than MDRH(T). The solver is unconditionally stable, mass conserving, and shows robust convergence. Performance of MESA was evaluated against the Web-based AIM Model III, which served as a benchmark for accuracy, and the EQUISOLV II solver for speed. Important differences in the convergence and thermodynamic errors in MESA and EQUISOLV II are discussed. The average ratios of speeds of MESA over EQUISOLV II ranged between 1.4 and 5.8, with minimum and maximum ratios of 0.6 and 17, respectively. Because MESA directly diagnoses MDRH, it is significantly more efficient when RH 240 K) in which both accuracy and computational efficiency are critical.
Solar wind control of magnetospheric pressure (CDAW 6)

The CDAW 6 data base is used to compare solar wind and magnetospheric pressures. The flaring angle of the tail magnetopause is determined by assuming that the component of solar wind pressure normal to the tail boundary is equal to the total pressure within the tail. Results indicate an increase in the tail flaring angle from 18 deg to 32 deg prior to the 1055 substorm onset and a decrease to 25 deg after the onset. This behavior supports the concept of tail energy storage before the substorm and subsequent release after the onset.
"Meet the expert interviews," an integrative learning experience for microbiology and anatomy & physiology undergraduate students.

An important goal of higher education is to encourage students to integrate learning and apply skills to different situations. In the “Meet the Expert Interviews” students interviewed authors of research papers on Shiga Toxin Producing E. coli (STEC) outbreaks. Students attended seminars, analyzed STEC publications, created questions, and interviewed authors. We hypothesized that the project would enhance student understanding of STEC and encourage students to integrate and apply information to real world problems. The project was assessed by student surveys. The majority of 129 students surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that the seminar enhanced their understanding of E.coli transmission, diagnosis, and treatment; that the interview enhanced their understanding of epidemiology; and made them more aware of the steps involved in determining the cause of the outbreak. The project was engaging for students and faculty and provided a unique way for professional outreach to biology students. The project is an innovative example of an integrative method to enhance student learning and interaction with microbiology and epidemiology professionals.
Hyperpolarized 83Kr and 129Xe NMR relaxation measurements of hydrated surfaces: implications for materials science and pulmonary diagnostics.

In this proof of principle work, a technique is introduced to study hydrated surfaces using hyperpolarized (hp) 83Kr NMR spectroscopy. The longitudinal (T1) relaxation of hp-83Kr is shown to be extremely sensitive to the presence of adsorbed water on hydrophilic borosilicate and hydrophobic siliconized glass surfaces. The krypton surface relaxation is found to be largely independent of the total gas pressure applied to the studied materials, and the presented technique is therefore fairly robust. However, the relaxational properties of hp-83Kr can be “tuned” by adjusting the composition of the optical pumping gas mixture. This effect may be important for practical applications such as hp-83Kr MR imaging and can be achieved without sacrificing signal intensity. Complementary information to that of hp-83Kr surface relaxation data can be obtained from hp-129Xe relaxation measurements that are sensitive to the presence of paramagnetic surface sites. In contrast to the signal decay of hp-129Xe, the longitudina...
Dopamine-Dependent Interactions between Limbic and Prefrontal Cortical Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens: Disruption by Cocaine Sensitization

The prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus exhibit converging projections to the nucleus accumbens and have functional reciprocal connections via indirect pathways. As a result, information processing between these structures is likely to be bidirectional. Using evoked potential measures, we examined the interactions of these inputs on synaptic plasticity within the accumbens. Our results show that the direction of information flow between the prefrontal cortex and limbic structures determines the synaptic plasticity that these inputs exhibit within the accumbens. Moreover, this synaptic plasticity at hippocampal and prefrontal inputs selectively involves dopamine D1 and D2 activation or inactivation, respectively. Repeated cocaine administration disrupted this synaptic plasticity at hippocampal and prefrontal cortical inputs and goal-directed behavior in the spatial maze task. Thus, interactions of limbic-prefrontal cortical synaptic plasticity and its dysfunction within the accumbens could underlie complex information processing deficits observed in individuals following psychostimulant administration.
Self-Association and Dynamin Binding of Arc/Arg3.1

Long-term changes in synaptic strength, such as those which occur during long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP) are thought to underlie learning and memory. A key event in both LTP and LTD is the change in the number of AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) expressed at the postsynaptic membrane, which is accomplished through activity-dependent regulation of receptor exocytosis and endocytosis. The Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein, Arc, promotes endocytosis of AMPA type glutamate receptors and regulates cytoskeletal assembly in neuronal dendrites. Both of these functions may be mediated by its reported interaction with dynamin 2 (Dyn2) (Chowdhury et al., 2006, Neuron 52, 445-459), a large GTPase that participates in receptor-mediated endocytosis, actin polymerization, and microtubule stabilization. Here we present evidence that Arc accelerates the polymerization of Dyn2 and stabilizes Dyn2 polymers against GTP-dependent disassembly. As a result of this stabilization, Arc prolongs assembly-dependent GTP hydrolysis catalysed by Dyn2. Arc also prolongs the high GTPase activity state of Dyn3, an isoform of dynamin implicated in dendrite remodeling and in stabilization of clathrin-coated pits near the postsynaptic density, but not that of Dyn1, a neuron-specific isoform involved in synaptic vesicle recycling. We further show in this study that Arc has a tendency to form large soluble aggregates, which may function as a scaffold for dynamin assembly and self-activation.This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grant GM076665 (DMJ)
Pneumatic Actuated Robotic Assistant System for Aortic Valve Replacement Under MRI Guidance

We present a pneumatic actuated robotic assistant system for transapical aortic valve replacement under MRI guidance in a beating heart. This is a minimally invasive procedure that is currently performed manually inside the MRI bore. A robotic assistance system that integrates an interactive real-time MRI system, a robotic arm with a newly developed robotic valve delivery module, as well as user interfaces for the physician to plan the procedure and manipulate the robot, would be advantageous for the procedure. An Innomotion arm with hands-on cooperative interface was used as a device holder. A compact MRI compatible robotic delivery module was developed for delivering both balloon-expandable and self-expanding prostheses. A compact fiducial that can be placed close to the volume of interest and requires a single image plane was used for image-based robot registration. The system provides different user interfaces at various stages of the procedure. We present the development and evaluation of the components and the system in ex-vivo experiments.
Learning about Individual and Collective Decisions: All for One and None for All

Two hypothetical decision-making situations were transformed into an ecologically valid and personally meaningful activity to enhance introductory psychology students' understanding of the principles governing individual and collective decisions. This activity promotes knowledge of psychology, develops scientific values and skills, and stimulates personal development.
Desire for post bariatric body contouring in South East Scotland.

Summary The past 20 years has seen a doubling in the worldwide prevalence of morbid obesity (usually defined as a body mass index BMI, >40 kg/m 2 ). Scotland has one of the worst obesity records amongst developed countries. In 2010, 65.1% of all adults aged 16 and over were overweight or obese. Morbid obesity rates (BMI 40 kg/m 2 or more) increased from 1.2% in 1995 to 2.7% in 2003, and fluctuated between 2.2% and 2.7% between 2008 and 2010 (Figure 1). Morbid obesity is associated with twice the mortality compared with the general population. The National Audit Office (NAO) estimated that in 1998 over 30,000 deaths a year in England were attributable to obesity, approximately 6% of all deaths in that year. Obesity is associated and with other conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and cancer, as well as increased rates of psychiatric illness.
First-principle calculations of solid solubility of titanium in aluminium alloys

Abstract Solid solubility of titanium in Al alloys with respect to D022 Al3Ti ordered compound is calculated by the linear muffin-tin orbitals method in conjunction with the cluster variation method with a restricted isothermal isobaric partition function scheme. The contribution of vibrational entropy to total energy is considered by incorporating the Debye-Gruneisen analysis in the results of band calculations. The resulting Al solvus line shows fair agreement with experiment. In addition, the solvus line exhibits a linear dependence on hydrostatic pressure. The solubility of Ti in the Al alloy decreases 11 % for every 10kbar of compressive stress
A Simple Wireless Batteryless Sensing Platform for Resistive and Capacitive Sensors

In this paper, a simple wireless platform to transduce data from sensors without the need for a battery in the sensors is introduced. The sensor can be either resistor-or capacitor-based. The sensing systems adapt RFID operation principles including a reader and a transponder. Our platform is fully analog and contains few components making it easy to implement with existing ICs and sensors. The platform for temperature sensing has been demonstrated. The device includes a 1times2.5 cm2 coil antenna and a thermistor. The read range is 4 cm using a 6times6 cm2 reader antenna powered at 970 kHz. A temperature range of 5-90degC is monitored resulting in read frequencies from 6 to 10 kHz.
Networked control of distributed systems

In this paper we develop results for analysis and synthesis of networked control systems. Specifically, we consider distributed control in a so-called linear parameter-varying setting. Operator theoretic tools for working with these systems are developed, and lead to sufficient convex conditions for analysis and synthesis with respect to the l/sub 2/-induced norm.
High temperature superconductivity in (M1−xM′x)2CuO4−δ and related compounds (M = Y, La, Eu, Sm; M′ = Ba, Sr)

Abstract Compounds of the form (M 1−x M′ x ) 2 CuO 4−δ and related compounds where M and M′ are Y, various rare earths from La to Lu, and the alkaline earths Sr and Ba, have been investigated in connection with high temperature superconductivity. High temperature superconductivity is confirmed for the system (La 1−x Ba x ) 2 CuO 4−δ , (La 1−x Sr x ) 2 CuO 4−δ and (Y 1−x Ba x ) 2 CuO 4−δ with superconducting transition temperature T c onsets of 30 K, 38 K and 90 K, respectively. We have found that the related systems (Eu 1−x Ba x ) 2 CuO 4−δ and (Sm 1−x Ba x ) 2 CuO 4−δ also exhibit high temperature superconductivity with T c onsets of 95 K and 65 K, respectively. The highest T c onset observed in this investigation was 97 K for a sample with the nominal composition of the spinel structure Y 0.33 Ba 0.67 Cu 2 O 4−δ . Measurements of the specific heat C as a function of temperature T on a La 0.8 Sr 0.2 CuO 4−δ sample reveal a break in slope in the C/T vs T curve at the T c midpoint, but no clearly discernable jump in C at T c . A linear term ≈ λ′T in C was observed at low temperature in the superconducting state.
Adolescents' first and most recent use situations of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes : similarities and differences

This study compared first and most recent use situations of adolescent smokeless tobacco experimenters with those of adolescent cigarette experimenters. Structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with 320 seventh and tenth grade youths in 16 Southern California schools. Students were categorized as nonusers (those who had never experimented with any tobacco product), minimal experimenters (those who had experimented with smokeless tobacco or cigarettes between 1 and 9 times), and persistent experimenters (those who had experimented with smokeless tobacco or cigarettes 10 or more times). The situations reported by smokeless tobacco were similar to those reported by cigarette experimenters. The most important differences between the two groups are highlighted. In particular, smokeless tobacco users seemed less concerned about negative social consequences of use than cigarette smokers. In addition, nonusers' observations of use and implications for prevention and cessation are discussed.
An efficient analytical model of coupled on-chip RLC interconnects

In this paper, we present a new decoupled model for two coupled transmission lines with consideration of the inductive effect. It maps two coupled lines into two completely isolated lines with separated drivers and receivers, and has no loss of accuracy during the decoupling procedure. Further, we derive a closed-form time domain response for an isolated transmission line using a one-segment RLC /spl Pi/ model. Combining the two models, we have an analytical time-domain solution to two coupled transmission lines. The model gives satisfied results for up to 5000 /spl mu/m long lines when compared to SPICE simulation over an accurate distributed RLC circuit model, and can be used to model on-chip wires in the layout design, logic synthesis and high level design.
Latency variability of responses to visual stimuli in cells of the cat's lateral geniculate nucleus

We constructed average histograms from responses evoked by flashing stimuli and noted previously described variations in the shape of the response profile, particularly with respect to sharpness of the peak. To express this variable, we measured the half-rise latency, which is the latency from stimulus onset required to reach half the maximum response. A short half-rise latency, which is characteristic of nonlagged cells, is associated with a brisk response and sharp peak; a long half-rise latency, characteristic of lagged cells, is associated with a sluggish response and broad peak. Nonlagged cells were readily seen; we attempted to identify cells with long latencies as lagged, but we were unable to do so unambiguously due to failure to observe lagged properties other than latency. We thus refer to these latter cells as having “lagged-like” responses to indicate that we are not certain whether these are indeed lagged cells. In addition to the histograms, we analyzed the individual response trials that were summed to create each histogram, and we used spike density analysis to estimate the initial response latency to the flashing spot for each trial. We found that lagged-like responses were associated with more variability in initial response latency than were nonlagged responses. We then employed an alignment procedure to eliminate latency variation from individual trials; that is, responses during individual trials were shifted in time as needed so that each had a latency equal to the average latency of all trials. We used these “aligned” trials to create a second, “aligned” response histogram for each cell. The alignment procedure had little effect on nonlagged responses, because these were already well aligned due to consistent response latencies amongst trials. For lagged-like responses, however, the alignment made a dramatic difference. The aligned histograms looked very much like those for nonlagged responses: the responses appeared brisk, with a sharply rising peak that was fairly high in amplitude. We thus conclude that the slow build up to a relatively low peak of firing of the lagged-like response histogram is not an accurate reflection of responses on single trials. Instead, the sluggishness of lagged-like responses inferred from average response histograms results from temporal smearing due to latency variability amongst trials. We thus conclude that there is relatively little difference in briskness between nonlagged and lagged-like responses to single stimuli.
Trying to Restore Justice: Bureaucracies, Risk Management, and Disciplinary Boundaries in New Zealand Criminal Justice

New Zealand is well known for its restorative justice conferences in the youth justice system. However, restorative justice has yet to overwhelm the adult criminal justice system. Based on interviews in New Zealand with correctional staff, restorative justice providers, and others, this article explores the reason for the modest inroads that restorative practice has made, and suggests that the general context may explain the limits of restorative justice in other places. The article argues that bureaucratic silos make it challenging to determine if restorative practice might fit within a rehabilitation or reintegration framework. In addition, because of the dominance of psychological modes for assessing and treating criminal behavior, an overarching preoccupation with risk management orients correctional practice toward treatment. Moreover, restorative justice’s affiliation with victims’ perspectives has made its placement within offender reintegration difficult to imagine. Finally, the penal populism tha...
Short term labour market consequences of teenage pregnancy

Pregnancies by unwed teenagers leading to either a birth or an abortion lead to fewer years of completed education. Less education translates to lower wages and a corresponding decrease in labour supplied to the market. The empirical results for young women who give birth are similar to the findings of other studies. The results for young women who have abortions are original. This research indicates that young women who become pregnant as teenagers have poorer short-term labour market outcomes than other young women who do not become pregnant.
Predicting the Spatial Distribution of Aspen Growth Potential in the Upper Great Lakes Region

One way to increase aspen yields is to produce aspen on sites where aspen growth potential is highest. Aspen growth rates are typically predicted using site index, but this is impractical for landscape-level assessments. We tested the hypothesis that aspen growth can be predicted from site and climate variables and generated a model to map the spatial variability of aspen growth potential across the upper Great Lakes region. The model predicting aspen growth from climate and site characteristics performed nearly as well as the site index model. Sites currently growing aspen have a somewhat lower growth potential than do nonaspen upland sites. The mean growth potential of national forest sites is lower than on other ownerships, except in Michigan. Upland sites with the highest aspen growth potential had higher growth potential than sites currently growing aspen, suggesting that productivity could be increased by shifting the location of aspen production. Only 6.7% of the highest growth sites are located on national forests across the region. The spatially explicit nature of these results may facilitate cooperative planning to better optimize where aspen will be managed across a subregion to enhance regional productivity and to focus management where the potential for production is the greatest.
Human immunity to M. tuberculosis: T cell subsets and antigen processing

A hallmark of M. tuberculosis infection is the ability of most (90-95%) healthy adults to control infection through acquired immunity, in which antigen specific T cells and macrophages arrest growth of M. tuberculosis bacilli and maintain control over persistent bacilli. In addition to CD4+ T cells, other T cell subsets such as, gammadelta, CD8+ and CD1-restricted T cells have roles in the immune response to M. tuberculosis. A diverse T cell response allows the host to recognize a wider range of mycobacterial antigens presented by different families of antigen-presenting molecules, and thus greater ability to detect the pathogen. Macrophages are key antigen presenting cells for T cells, and M. tuberculosis survives and persists in this central immune cell. This is likely an important factor in generating this T cell diversity. Furthermore, the slow growth and chronic nature of M. tuberculosis infection results in prolonged exposure to antigens, and hence further T cell sensitization. The effector mechanisms used by T cells to control M. tuberculosis are poorly understood. To survive in macrophages, M. tuberculosis has evolved mechanisms to block immune responses. These include modulation of phagosomes, neutralization of macrophage effector molecules, stimulating the secretion of inhibitory cytokines, and interfering with processing of antigens for T cells. The relative importance of these blocking mechanisms likely depends on the stage of M. tuberculosis infection: primary infection, persistence, reactivation or active tuberculosis. The balance of the host-pathogen interaction in M. tuberculosis infection is determined by the interaction of T cells and infected macrophages. The outcome of this interaction results either in control of M. tuberculosis infection or active disease. A better understanding of this interaction will result in improved approaches to treatment and prevention of tuberculosis.
The effects of paternal disengagement on women’s sexual decision making: An experimental approach.

An abundance of research demonstrates a robust association between father absence--or low-quality paternal involvement--and daughters' accelerated sexual development, promiscuity, and sexual risk taking. Although recent natural experiments provide support for fathers playing a causal role in these outcomes, these effects have not been examined using a randomized experimental design to eliminate genetic and environmental confounds inherent in previous studies. We redressed this empirical gap by experimentally testing the effects of primed paternal disengagement cues on women's sexual decision making. Across 5 experiments, reminders of paternal disengagement increased women's activation of sexual thoughts (Experiment 1), sexual permissiveness (Experiments 2-4), and negativity toward condom use (Experiment 5). Moreover, these effects were specific to women's sexual decision making, as paternal disengagement cues failed to influence women's willingness to take nonsexual risks (Experiment 4) or men's risky sexual attitudes (Experiment 5). These results provide the first true experimental evidence supporting a causal relationship between paternal disengagement and changes in women's psychology that promote risky sexual behavior.
Eosinophil major basic protein increases membrane permeability in mammalian urinary bladder epithelium

The eosinophil granule protein major basic protein (MBP) is toxic to a wide variety of cell types, by a poorly understood mechanism. To determine whether the action of MBP involves an alteration in...
A d-Amino Acid at the N-Terminus of a Protein Abrogates Its Degradation by the N-End Rule Pathway

Eukaryotes have evolved the ubiquitin (Ub)/proteasome system to degrade polypeptides. The Ub/proteasome system is one way that cells regulate cytosolic protein and amino acids levels through the recognition and ubiquitination of a protein’s N-terminus via E1, E2, and E3 enzymes. The process by which the N-terminus stimulates intracellular protein degradation is referred to as the N-end rule. Characterization of the N-end rule has been limited to only the natural l-amino acids. Using a cytosolic delivery platform derived from anthrax lethal toxin, we probed the stability of mixed chirality proteins, containing one d-amino acid on the N-terminus of otherwise all l-proteins. In all cases, we observed that one N-terminal d-amino acid stabilized the cargo protein to proteasomal degradation with respect to the N-end rule. We found that since the mixed chirality proteins were not polyubiquitinated, they evaded N-end-mediated proteasomal degradation. Evidently, a subtle change on the N-terminus of a natural prote...
Team-Based Development of Medical Devices: An Engineering–Business Collaborative

There is a global shift in the teaching methodology of science and engineering toward multidisciplinary, team-based processes. To meet the demands of an evolving technical industry and lead the way in engineering education, innovative curricula are essential. This paper describes the development of multidisciplinary, team-based learning environments in undergraduate and graduate engineering curricula focused on medical device design. In these programs, students actively collaborate with clinicians, professional engineers, business professionals, and their peers to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. In the undergraduate senior capstone courses, teams of biomedical engineering (BME) and business students have produced and delivered numerous functional prototypes to satisfied clients. Pursuit of commercialization of devices has led to intellectual property (IP) disclosures and patents. Assessments have indicated high levels of success in attainment of student learning outcomes and student satisfaction with their undergraduate design experience. To advance these projects toward commercialization and further promote innovative team-based learning, a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Design and Commercialization was recently launched. The MEng facilitates teams of graduate students in engineering, life sciences, and business who engage in innovation-commercialization (IC) projects and coursework that take innovative ideas through research and development (R&D) to create marketable devices. The activities are structured with students working together as a "virtual company," with targeted outcomes of commercialization (license agreements and new start-ups), competitive job placement, and/or career advancement.
First Experience With Percutaneous Mitral Valve Plication as Primary Therapy for Symptomatic Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

AbstractBackground: Few therapeutic options exist for patients with severe heart failure due to obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who are at unacceptable surgical risk. We hypothesized ...
The Immature Stages of Aedes Infirmatus Dyar and Knab with Notes on Related Species (Diptera: Culicidae)

The mosquito, Aedes infirmatus , was described by Dyar and Knab (1906) only from larvae that had been collected at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The original description was not a formal one, but the species was included in a key with other larvae; the features used in the key were considered to be of sufficient diagnostic value for a determination of the species. The larvae and adults were described in more detail later (Howard, Dyar and Knab, 1917, Vol. 4).
Reversible graphene-metal contact through hydrogenation

We use x-ray spectroscopy and density functional theory to investigate the hydrogenation-induced electronic structure changes in graphene on Pt(111). The atom-specific properties of the spectroscopy allow for a direct projection of the band structure onto the carbon atoms; this was compared with the calculated density of states. Instead of the generally expected band opening behavior, we observe states at the Fermi level in the carbon-projected density of states. Hydrogenation is accompanied by pinning of the graphene to the substrate through the formation of local C--Pt bonds which cause the graphene layer to become metallic upon hydrogenation.
Serum levels of high mobility group box 1 in the infectious brain injury of infant rats and the protective effects of ethyl pyruvate on the infectious brain injury

Objective To investigate the serum levels of high mobility group box 1(HMGB1) in the infant rats of infectious brain injury.Methods One hundred and fifty normal healthy 1-month-old Spragne-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: LPS group(n=50),in which rat was injected LPS via external carotid; NS group(n=50),injected NS via external carotid; EP group(n=50) after injecting LPS,immediately administrated EP intraperitoneally.Venous blood samples were collected at 6,12,24,48 and 72 h following drug injection.Their serum levels of HMGB1 and NSE were measured by ELISA.Results After LPS was given,serum levels of HMGB1 and NSE started to rise significantly.Compared with NS groups at each time point,the difference was significant(P0.05).In EP group,the levels of HMGB1 and NSE were decreased,the difference was significant(P0.05).Positivecorrelation were still gotten among HMGB1 and NSE in LPS and EP groups.Conclusion HMGB1 seems to act as a late mediator in the process of infectious brain injury,detection of serum HMGB1 can better reflect its expression in infectious brain injury.EP has neuroprotective effect on infectious brain injury,which maybe relevant to decreasing the levels of HMGB1 and suppressing inflammation action.
A Profession in Process

HEALTH CARE CHAPLAINCY TODAY is what sociologists Rue Bucher and Anselm Strauss called a “profession in process” or a professional group with many segments in transition. Much like the 2001 document, “Professional Chaplaincy: Its Role and Importance in Healthcare,” the proposed standards of practice show leaders trying to articulate to each other, to other health care professionals and to the public who they are and what they do. This articulation is an important step in the development of chaplaincy as a profession though the standards are best read as what leaders think chaplains in acute care should do, rather than what they actually do. I support the development of these standards, but I see several challenges to putting them into practice based on my research about what chaplains actually do (and may do) in the health care institutions where they work.
Learning to Love the Bomb: The Cold War Brings the Best of Times to American Higher Education

American higher education rose to fame and fortune during the Cold War, when both student enrollments and funded research shot upward. Prior to World War II, the federal government showed little interest in universities and provided little support. The war spurred a large investment in defense-based scientific research in universities, and the emergence of the Cold War expanded federal investment exponentially. Unlike a hot war, the Cold War offered a an extended period federally funded research public subsidy for expanding student enrollments. The result was the golden age of the American university. The good times continued for about 30 years and then began to go bad. The decline was triggered by the combination of a decline in the perceived Soviet threat and a taxpayer revolt against high public spending; both trends culminating with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. With no money and no enemy, the Cold War university fell as quickly as it arose. Instead of seeing the Cold War university as the norm, we need to think of it as the exception. What we are experiencing now in American higher education is a regression to the mean, in which, over the long haul, Americans have understood higher education to be a distinctly private good.
Nonmedical Stimulant Use in College Students: Association With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Other Disorders

Objective The nonmedical use of stimulants (misuse) in the college setting remains of utmost public health and clinical concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate comprehensively the characteristics of college students who misused stimulants, attending to rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), other psychopathology, and substance use disorders. Methods The data presented are from a cross-sectional study of college students who misused prescription stimulant medications (not including cocaine or methamphetamine) and controls (college students without stimulant misuse). Between May 2010 and May 2013, college students were assessed blindly for psychopathology and substance use disorder by way of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders, Research Version, Patient Edition (SCID-I/P) and completion of self-report questionnaires. Results The analysis included 198 controls (mean ± SD age = 20.7 ± 2.6 years) and 100 stimulant misusers (20.7 ± 1.7 years). Misusers, when compared to controls, were more likely to endorse alcohol, drug, alcohol + drug, and any substance use disorder (all P values < .01). When a subset of stimulant misusers (n = 58) was examined, 67% had a full or subthreshold prescription stimulant use disorder. Misusers also had higher rates of conduct disorder (10% vs 3%; P = .02) and ADHD (including subthreshold cases; 27% vs 16%; P = .02) in addition to lower Global Assessment of Functioning score (P < .01). Higher rates of misuse of immediate-release—relative to extended-release—stimulants were reported. Conclusions Our data suggest that, compared to controls, college students who misuse stimulant medications are more likely to have ADHD, conduct disorder, stimulant and other substance use disorder, and overall dysfunction.
The Effect of Pediatric Palliative Care Policy on Hospice Utilization Among California Medicaid Beneficiaries

Abstract Context California implemented pediatric palliative care legislations that allowed children to receive curative and supportive care from diagnosis of a life-threatening serious illness in 2010. Palliative care policies may improve access to hospice care as children near end of life. Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the palliative care policy on hospice utilization for children and their families was investigated. Methods Using 2007 and 2010 California Medicaid data, a difference-in-difference analysis was conducted to analyze hospice use (i.e., hospice enrollment, hospice length of stay) changes for children who resided in pediatric policy counties relative to those who did not. The sample of children in California who died with a life-threatening serious illness in 2007 and 2010 equaled 979 children. Results More than 10% of children enrolled in hospice care with an average of less than 3 days of hospice care. The palliative care policy did not have any effect on hospice enrollment. However, the policy was positively associated with increasing days in hospice care (incidence rate ratio = 5.61, P Conclusion The pediatric palliative care policy was associated with longer lengths of stay in hospice once the children were enrolled. Policies promoting palliative care are critical to ensuring access to hospice care for children.
A randomised controlled trial of a digital learning game in the context of a design-based research project

This paper reports the findings of a randomised control trial of The Mars Game, an immersive 3D digital learning game designed to teach mathematics and programming to students in secondary schools. The study demonstrated that The Mars Game treatment group's engagement with learning was significantly greater than the control group. It also showed significantly greater learning outcomes, with the increase coming mainly from programming. This study was preceded by four studies, conducted over two years, as part of a design-based research project. Through reflection on the broader project, we observe how key events influenced our design decisions, and how these decisions impacted the intricate yet inextricable relationship between students' active engagement and their achievement. We explore why this connection is critical to improving learning.
Relationship between sleep characteristics and measures of body size and composition in a nationally-representative sample.

Short sleep has been linked to obesity. However, sleep is a multidimensional behavior that cannot be characterized solely by sleep duration. There is limited study that comprehensively examined different sleep characteristics in relation to obesity. We examined various aspects of sleep in relation to adiposity in 2005–2006 NHANES participants who were 18 or older and free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and depression (N = 3995). Sleep characteristics were self-reported, and included duration, overall quality, onset latency, fragmentation, daytime sleepiness, snoring, and sleep disorders. Body measurements included weight, height, waist circumference, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measured fat mass. Snoring was associated with higher BMI (adjusted difference in kg/m2 comparing snoring for 5+ nights/week with no snoring (95 % confidence interval), 1.85 (0.88, 2.83)), larger waist circumference (cm, 4.52 (2.29, 6.75)), higher percentage of body fat (%, 1.61 (0.84, 2.38)), and higher android/gynoid ratio (0.03 (0.01, 0.06)). The associations were independent of sleep duration and sleep quality, and cannot be explained by the existence of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. Poor sleep quality (two or more problematic sleep conditions) and short sleep duration (<6 h) were also associated with higher measures of body size and fat composition, although the effects were attenuated after snoring was adjusted. In a nationally representative sample of healthy US adults, snoring, short sleep, and poor sleep quality were associated with higher adiposity.
Inverse lichenoid drug eruption associated with nivolumab.

Nivolumab is a fully human IgG4 anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) receptor antibody that is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, refractory non–small cell lung cancer, angiogenesis inhibitor–resistant renal cell carcinoma, and stem cell transplant–resistant classical Hodgkin lymphoma. The blockade of the PD-1 and programmed cell death ligand 1 pathway, as well as other immune checkpoint receptors, functions to inhibit a negative regulator of T-cell activation, thereby activating T cells and promoting antitumor activity.1 Along with pembrolizumab, another PD-1 receptor inhibitor, these agents are promising in the treatment of many different cancer entities but have been associated with a wide array of cutaneous adverse effects. We report an unusual case of a lichenoid drug eruption, with a distinct inverse distribution in the groin area secondary to nivolumab.
Folding in Pieces

Circulating inhibitory serpins regulate important physiological processes including inflammation. Misfolding and polymerization of serpins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can lead to both loss-of-function and gain-of-function diseases. The topology of the two-domain, non-sequential serpin fold is complicated with both the αβ and mainly β domains containing regions from near the N- and the C-termini. Despite these complications recent molecular dynamics simulations of serpin folding suggest that significant amounts of local secondary structure forms and rearranges for long-range contact formation resulting in the folded, active serpin. This folding pathway requires a balance between local structural stability and the flexibility/dynamics needed for long-range contact formation. To help test this proposed mechanism, we expressed and characterized N- to C-terminal fragments of the canonical, 394 residue serpin α1-antitrypsin (Alpha1). Even the shortest, 150 residue long, fragment showed cooperative unfolding and surprising stability with a denaturation midpoint of 1.9 M guanidinium hydrochloride. Nonetheless, the far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectra differ from the spectra predicted for the full-length, native protein. Similarly, fluorescence emission of the longest fragment, 1-323, exhibited the hyper-fluorescent signature of the unfolding/folding intermediate observed during equilibrium denaturation or refolding of full-length Alpha1. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) was used to better define the structure of the fragments. After 10 seconds of deuteration, significant protection is observed in parts of the N-terminal region of the αβ domain, and for longer fragments in some of the β strands that form the core of the β domain. These results suggest that surprisingly stable local structures can be formed by fragments of the serpin Alpha1 and are consistent with models for serpin folding derived from molecular dynamics simulations. The results also suggest that significant amounts of serpin structure might form co-translationally.