cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The bld mutants of Streptomyces coelicolor are defective in the regulation of carbon utilization, morphogenesis and cell–cell signalling

Mutants of Streptomyces coelicolor blocked at the earliest visible stage of morphological differentiation are called bld mutants. These mutants fail to form aerial hyphae on rich medium and most are defective in antibiotic production. One striking feature of these mutants is that, with the exception of bldB, their morphological defect is carbon-source dependent. In our investigation of catabolite control in Streptomyces, we identified mutants that were resistant to glucose repression and were also bld. The existence of these new bld mutants led us to examine the catabolite control phenotype of the previously described bld mutants which were not known to contain defects in carbon regulation. We report here that all of the characterized bld mutants of S. coelicolor are defective in the regulation of galP1, and that at least one of the bld mutants, bldB, is globally deregulated for carbon utilization. Complementation of the morphological defect of bldA and bldB mutants with a cloned copy of the wild-type bld gene simultaneously restored normal regulation of galP1, indicating that both aspects of the mutant phenotype are caused by the same lesion. We suggest a new interpretation for the role of the bld genes in development in Streptomyces. We suggest that the primary defect in bld mutants is in the regulation of carbon utilization, not specifically in the activation of genes whose products regulate the development pathway as previously suggested. We speculate that the inability of bld mutants to initiate morphogenesis is a secondary consequence of their inability to sense and/or signal starvation.
Nature of Iron Deposits on the Cardiac Walls in β-Thalassemia by Mössbauer Spectroscopy

Abstract An identification of the nature and an estimation of the particle size distribution of the iron deposits on thalassemic heart tissue is carried out by variable temperature Mossbauer spectroscopy. Comparison of Mossbauer spectra obtained for the thalassemic heart tissue (I) with those of normal heart tissue (II) and of horse spleen ferritin (III) identifies the iron deposits to be small, superparamagnetic particles of ferritin and/or hemosiderin, two closely related iron storage proteins containing an iron core of (FeOOH) 8 (FeO · OPO 3 H 2 ). The dependence of the superparamagnetic relaxation time, τ 2 , of magnetically ordered fine particles on their volume V via the magnetic anisotropy constant K of the material and the condition τ > τ L , the Larmor precession time of the nuclear magnetic moment of 57 Fe about an effective magnetic field, for observation of hyperfine structure are used in analyzing the Mossbauer data to yield the particle size distribution. Particle diameters are estimated to be 74 ± 12 A .
Corannulene vs. C60-fullerene in metal binding reactions: A direct DFT and X-ray structural comparison

DFT calculations and X-ray crystallography were used to directly compare the reactivity of the convex carbon surfaces of C20H10-corannulene and the C60-fullerene toward the diruthenium(I,I) metal cluster.
Lady Windermere revisited: treatment with thoracoscopic lobectomy/segmentectomy for right middle lobe and lingular bronchiectasis associated with non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease.

Objective:LadyWindermere syndromeis a well-knownbut poorly understood femalepredominant phenotypeof isolatedright middlelobeand lingular bronchiectasis associated with non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection. Despite lengthy multidrug antibiotic treatment, the presence of damaged parenchymal tissue leads to symptomatic disease recurrence, often with resistant organisms. The use of surgical resection as an adjunct to medical therapy may alter this cycle, although little is known about the use of thoracoscopic lung resection in this patient population. Methods: This is a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of patients with pulmonary NTM disease from July 2004 to December 2009. All patients had focal bronchiectasis of the right middle lobe and lingula, treated with targeted antimicrobial therapy for several months prior to resection. Results: A total of 134 patients underwent 172 operations, with 38 patients having staged bilateral resections. The cohort was predominately female (96%) and Caucasian (95%), with a mean age of 59 years (range 34—81 years). Using a thoracoscopic approach in all patients, 102 middle lobectomies and 70 lingulectomies were performed. Conversion to open thoracotomy occurred in five cases (3%). Secondary procedures were performed in 20 cases (12%). There was no operative mortality. Postoperative morbidity was noted following 12 operations (7%), primarily consisting of prolonged air leak. The mean length of stay was 3.3 days (range 1—15 days). Conclusions: Although medical therapy remains the primary treatment modality for patients with pulmonary NTM disease, the selective use of pulmonary resection may reduce the incidence of symptomatic disease recurrence. The addition of thoracoscopic resection to treatment regimens for patients with Lady Windermere syndrome can be accomplished with minimal morbidity and mortality. # 2011 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The mechanism of antiferromagnetism in chromium

It is shown that two special properties of Cr are needed to explain its antiferromagnetism. One special property is the well known sensitivity to antiferromagnetic spin-density waves due to nesting of the Fermi surface. A second new special property comes from first-principles total-energy calculations on bcc Cr, which show that, although the lowest energy state is nonmagnetic, a small expansion of the lattice brings a second-order transition into a type-I antiferromagnetic phase with rapidly rising local moments. The combined properties provide a mechanism for stabilization of the unusual antiferromagnetic ground state, since a spin-density wave which modulates the moments of the antiferromagnetic phase can be used to compensate the strain energy of the lattice expansion. This combined mechanism also explains various properties of Cr, such as the great sensitivity of the antiferromagnetism to pressure, that are otherwise puzzling.
Panel session - pen-based computing in the engineering and science classroom: Implementation scenarios from three institutions

As digital ink technology continues to make an impact on the technical classroom, faculty members are exploring the different strategies for using this technology to improve student learning. The purpose of this panel is to demonstrate how faculty members are implementing this technology in engineering and science classrooms at three different institutions: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Vermont. The panel is designed to show both experienced pen computing users and those who are new to the field the different ways this versatile technology may be employed. In addition to the demonstrations, the presenters will discuss the pedagogical implications that result from the implementations. Faculty who are interested in both the pedagogy and assessment of pen-based computing in the classroom should find the session informative and useful.
Frontal gray matter reduction after breast cancer chemotherapy and association with executive symptoms: A replication and extension study

Cognitive changes related to cancer and its treatment have been intensely studied, and neuroimaging has begun to demonstrate brain correlates. In the first prospective longitudinal neuroimaging study of breast cancer (BC) patients we recently reported decreased gray matter density one month after chemotherapy completion, particularly in frontal regions. These findings helped confirm a neural basis for previously reported cognitive symptoms, which most commonly involve executive and memory processes in which the frontal lobes are a critical component of underlying neural circuitry. Here we present data from an independent, larger, more demographically diverse cohort that is more generalizable to the BC population. BC patients treated with (N = 27) and without (N = 28) chemotherapy and matched healthy controls (N = 24) were scanned at baseline (prior to systemic treatment) and one month following chemotherapy completion (or yoked intervals for non-chemotherapy and control groups) and APOE-genotyped. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) showed decreased frontal gray matter density after chemotherapy, as observed in the prior cohort, which was accompanied by self-reported difficulties in executive functioning. Gray matter and executive symptom changes were not related to APOE e4 status, though a somewhat greater percentage of BC patients who received chemotherapy were e4 allele carriers than patients not treated with chemotherapy or healthy controls. These findings provide confirmatory evidence of frontal morphometric changes that may be a pathophysiological basis for cancer and treatment-related cognitive dysfunction. Further research into individual risk factors for such changes will be critical for development of treatment and prevention strategies.
Will epigenetic allelic ratio analysis turn prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 18 on its EAR

In a proof of principle report elsewhere in this issue of Clinical Chemistry, Tong et al. (1) describe a novel approach to the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of a human chromosomal abnormality by analyzing the allelic ratio of a polymorphism present within the methylated promoter of a DNA sequence on chromosome 18q21.3, maspin (SERPINB5) . This method differs from other approaches to noninvasive diagnosis of aneuploidy in that it is truly diagnostic, as opposed to being a screen. The technique described in this paper relies first on the isolation of cell-free fetal DNA from maternal plasma, and second, on the fact that there is differential methylation of maspin . In a previous report from the same laboratory group (2) maspin was shown to be hypomethylated (i.e., actively expressed) in placenta and hypermethylated (i.e., silenced) in maternal leukocytes, which are the source of most circulating cell-free DNA in plasma (3). By the method of bisulfite modification, unmethylated cytosine residues in the DNA sequence are converted to uracil, but methylated cytosine residues remain unchanged. This sequence difference is then exploited via methylation-specific PCR amplification, followed by allele-specific primer extension. A single-base variation [or single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)] within the promoter sequence is then used as a focus for mass spectrometric analysis, with subsequent analysis of the ratio of copy numbers of the particular DNA sequence variation. In the present study, the U-maspin -156 SNP was used. A normal euploid fetus might be genotyped as AC at this locus. Fetuses with trisomy 18, if polymorphic, would be genotyped as having AAC or ACC. By measuring the ratio of A to …
Ruling Out Threats To Validity

The estimate-and-subtract methodfor eliminating threats to validity is described. Yeaton and Sechrest (1986, 1987b) argue that "no-difference"findings are fundamental to the process of eliminating ...
Modafinil for the treatment of diminished responsiveness in a patient recovering from brain surgery

Primary objective: This case report reviews the history and post-operative status of a 77-year-old woman who underwent transcallosal resection of an intra-ventricular haemorrhagic subependymoma and who remained in a deep post-operative state of lethargy and listlessness.Main outcome measures: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and detailed clinical observations.Results: The patient (GCS = 8) was initiated on methylphenidate 20 mg per day on the 6th day after surgery, but treatment was discontinued 2 days later due to elevated blood pressure and persistent tachycardia. Pemoline 37.5 mg per day was initiated, but treatment was stopped after 3 days due to lack of response. Treatment with modafinil 400 mg per day was initiated on the 11th day after surgery and the patient's consciousness level rapidly improved on the 14th day. On the 16th day after surgery, she was completely alert (GCS = 15).Conclusions: Modafinil appeared to be beneficial for improving wakefulness and responsiveness in a patient with central nervous ...
Facebook as a platform for health information and communication: a case study of a diabetes group.

As one of the largest social networking sites in the world, Facebook holds a great potential for promoting health. In this exploratory study, we analyzed 1352 messages posted to an active Facebook diabetes group to identify the characteristics of the group. The results revealed that the group was international in nature. Users overcame language barriers to communicate with people with similar conditions. Users’ interactions were structured around information, emotion, and community building. They exchanged medical and lifestyle information, and highly valued their peers’ personal experiences, opinions, and advice. They also demonstrated a positive attitude toward the reality of living with diabetes and generously provided encouragements and affirmations to one another. Great efforts were made to maintain the proper operation of the community by the administrator and a group of core members. As a result, the group was shaped as a social network where peer users share social support, cultivate companionship, and exert social influence. Based on the results, we discussed future directions for research of health communities in a highly connected world.
Porphyrin Distribution After Topical Aminolevulinic Acid in a Novel Porcine Model of Sebaceous Skin

Background and Objective: Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) depends on drug metabolism into porphyrins. Clinically, ALA-PDT has been used with a wide range of protocols for treating both epidermal and dermal targets, despite limited understanding of porphyrin biodistribution over time. We studied porphyrin accumulation after topical application of ALA in vivo, and also describe the porcine ear as a new animal model to study adnexal glands. Study Design/Materials and Methods: The microanatomy of anterior ear skin of swine was measured. Topical 20% ALA in water/ethanol was applied under occlusion. Biopsies taken after 5, 10, 15, and then every 15 minutes for a total of 3 hours were examined by fluorescence microscopy of frozen sections to assess accumulation and distribution of porphyrins. Results: Porphyrin fluorescence of digital photomicrograph images was not visually apparent until 30– 45 minutes after application, although quantitative pixel analysis showed a statistically significant increase in epidermal fluorescence only 15 minutes after ALA application. From 30 to 120 minutes, epidermis, hair follicles (HF), and sebaceous glands (SG) became progressively more fluorescent. Eccrine gland fluorescence began to be detected after 30 minutes; SG showed fluorescence starting at 45–75 minutes. Fluorescence in all sites reached maximum intensity from 75 to 180 minutes of incubation. There was a trend for HF and SG to express stronger fluorescence compared with epidermis and eccrine glands. Conclusion: Anterior pig ear skin is microanatomically similar to human sebaceous skin. The time-dependent accumulation of porphyrins in pilosebaceous units and eccrine glands in this model suggests other routes of uptake of topical ALA in addition to the trans-epidermal route. Apparently, time interval between ALA application and light exposure could be optimized for different uses of ALA-PDT. Lasers Surg. Med. 41:154–160, 2009. 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Constitutively elevated nuclear export activity opposes Ca2+-dependent NFATc3 nuclear accumulation in vascular smooth muscle: role of JNK2 and Crm-1.

The transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells) is a cytosolic phosphoprotein that accumulates in the nucleus following dephosphorylation by the calcium (Ca2+)/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase, calcineurin. A defining feature of stimuli that induce NFAT nuclear accumulation/activation is a sustained increase in global intracellular Ca2+. Contrary to expectations, we have found that a sustained elevation of intracellular Ca2+, induced by membrane potential depolarization and mediated by voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, does not result in nuclear localization of the NFATc3 isoform in smooth muscle. However, vasoconstrictors (e.g. uridine triphosphate (UTP)) and growth factors, which elevate intracellular Ca2+ and engage multiple intracellular signaling pathways, induce a robust increase in smooth muscle nuclear NFATc3. Here we show that depolarizing stimuli that normally fail to induce NFATc3 nuclear accumulation in arterial smooth muscle effectively induce nuclear accumulation under conditions in which Crm-1-dependent or JNK2-mediated nuclear export processes are disrupted. Consistent with an important regulatory role for JNK, UTP exerts a suppressive effect on JNK activity in smooth muscle. Export of nuclear NFATc3 following UTP-induced nuclear accumulation is dramatically slowed in cerebral arteries from JNK2-/- animals. These data indicate that in smooth muscle, stimulation of Ca2+-dependent, calcineurin-mediated nuclear import and suppression of Crm-1/JNK-dependent nuclear export are both required for induction of NFATc3 nuclear accumulation. These results highlight the dynamic interplay between influences that promote and oppose NFAT nuclear accumulation and suggest that in arterial smooth muscle suppression of constitutive nuclear export activity is an important property of NFAT-activating stimuli.
Potential Elevation of Tacrolimus Trough Concentrations with Concomitant Metronidazole Therapy

OBJECTIVE:To report the occurrence of a potential tacrolimus elevation in a renal transplant recipient after adding metronidazole to the medication regimen.CASE SUMMARY:A 24-year-old white man status post living-related renal transplant who had been stabilized on tacrolimus 4 mg twice daily (trough concentrations 7–10 ng/mL) for 2 months and prednisone 20 mg daily presented to the clinic with severe diarrhea. Stool cultures were positive for Clostridium difficile, and therapy with metronidazole 500 mg 4 times daily was initiated. Between days 4 and 14 of metronidazole therapy, the patient's tacrolimus trough concentration and serum creatinine level increased to maximum levels of 26.3 ng/mL and 3.3 mg/dL (baseline 1.6–1.8 mg/dL), respectively. Tacrolimus was withheld for one dose and then decreased to 1 mg twice daily. Two days after metronidazole discontinuation, tacrolimus trough concentrations dropped to 9.4 ng/mL and serum creatinine to 2.3 mg/dL, warranting a tacrolimus dose increase to 3 mg daily.DIS...
A Large De‡ection Model for Thin, Rectangular Plates Subjected to Blast Loading

This paper extends the single degree of freedom (SDOF) equations of motion for a rigid plastic, rectangular plate subjected to moderate pressure loading to one impacted by more intensive loading. As a result, the assumed roof shaped de‡ection pattern, with four symmetric, rigid triangular and trapezoidal regions separated by plastic hinges, becomes more box shaped. That is, a …fth centralized, rigid rectangular region forms between the �
Monitoring Employee E-mails: Is There Any Room for Privacy?

Executive Overview This paper reviews the current knowledge about e-mail monitoring and draws conclusions for practice. The discussion entails justifications for employers' e-mail monitoring along with an analysis of supporting statutory and case law, Web-based private e-mails, and international implications of e-mail monitoring. The paper also provides evidence of work outcomes of e-mail monitoring regarding employee attitudes and behaviors such as organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and performance. The paper explores these considerations within the framework of existing research evidence and presents practical implications not only for e-mail monitoring, but also potentially for the broader issue of privacy in the workplace.
Teaching Conceptual Model—Based Word Problem Story Grammar to Enhance Mathematics Problem Solving:

Borrowing the concept of story grammar from reading comprehension literature, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of teaching word problem (WP) story grammar on arithmetic WP solving that emphasizes the algebraic expression of mathematical relations in conceptual models. Participants were five students in Grades 4 and 5 with or at risk for mathematics disabilities in two urban public elementary schools in the Midwest. An adapted multiple-probe-across-participants design was used to assess the functional relation between the intervention and students' problem-solving performance. The results indicated that conceptual model—based representation prompted by WP story grammar improved students' performance on arithmetic WP solving and promoted prealgebra concept and skill acquisition. The practical implications of integrating algebraic reasoning in elementary mathematics are discussed.
Assembly of Biological Macromolecules

The study of animal tissues is complex because water, ions, cells, macro-molecules, tissues, and organs exist in equilibrium. From a structural point of view, biological tissues contain highly ordered arrays of macromolecules. One might wonder why biological structures need to be made up of highly ordered arrays of proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids. The reason is that individual polymer molecules cannot sustain the weight of gravity without rearranging. For example, if your skin were made of just collagen molecules without being cross-linked into crystalline fibers, it would sag. This is because individual molecules, in a similar manner to water molecules, can move around or diffuse. In the case of water molecules, a container is needed to shape them. In the case of tissues, the molecules need to assemble into ordered structures and be cross-linked for the shape of the tissue to be maintained. In some cases, assemblies of macro-molecules are purposely not cross-linked so that shape can be changed quickly. For example, cytoskeletal actin filaments are rapidly assembled and disassembled to allow for changes in cell shape. In this example, cross-links prevent rapid shape changes; however, actin filaments by themselves are rigid enough to maintain cell shape at any one instant. In contrast, collagen fibers in the skin must be cross-linked to form force-bearing units to prevent tearing when skin is stretched. This comparison is used to underscore the complexity of biological tissue structure and its relationship to physical properties. In some cases, rigidity is sacrificed for structural flexibility. In other cases, structural flexibility is sacrificed for permanence.
AUGMENTED BY REALITY: THE PEDAGOGICAL PRAXIS OF URBAN PLANNING AS A PATHWAY TO ECOLOGICAL THINKING*

In this article, we present a study focused on developing students’ understanding the ecology through participation in a technology-supported urban planning simulation—specifically, 11 high school students in Madison, Wisconsin acted as urban planners to redesign a local shopping street using a Geographic Information System (GIS) model. This experimental design was situatedwithinthetheoryofpedagogicalpraxis,whichsuggeststhatmodeling learning environments on authentic professional practices enables youth to develop a deeper understanding of important domains of inquiry (Shaffer, 2004). Results presented here suggest that through participation in the project students: a) developed an understanding of ecology; and b) developed this understanding through the urban planning practices and the features of the GIS model used during the project. Thus, we propose that this augmented by reality learning environment modeled on the professional practices of urban planners extends the theory of pedagogical praxis into the domain of ecology and offers a useful method for developing ecological understanding through participation in simulations that incorporate the authentic tools and practices of urban planning.
Selenium Supplementation and Prostate Cancer Mortality

Background: Few studies have evaluated the relation between selenium supplementation after diagnosis and prostate cancer outcomes.
Median Cleft of the Upper Lip: A Rare Case

Median cleft lip is a midline vertical cleft through the upper lip. This is a rare anomaly with very few cases described in the literature. Median cleft lip has been thought to be associated with hypertelorism or hypotelorism. It is caused by the failure of fusion of the medial nasal prominences. In this case report, a 4½-year-old girl with a median cleft is presented. The patient has no other anomalies of the nose or alveolus. The patient has normotelorism. A shortened bifid frenulum of the upper lip is present. A technique using an elliptical excision of the cleft with muscle approximation is described.
Stent-within-a-Stent Technique for the Treatment of Dissecting Vertebral Artery Aneurysms

Subarachnoid hemorrhage from dissecting vertebral artery aneurysms is a well-known phenomenon. With the advent of navigable intracranial stents, these aneurysms are now amenable to endovascular stent placement. However, immediate aneurysm obliteration is often not accomplished, and current covered stents have poor short-term patency rates. We report a series of three patients with intradural dissecting vertebral artery aneurysms treated with a novel endovascular stent-within-a-stent construct using currently available stent technology.
DESIGN OF A BIOMIMETIC DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE DIAPHRAGM

A miniature silicon condenser microphone diaphragm has been designed that exhibits good predicted directionality, sensitivity, and reliability. The design was based on the structure of a fly’s ear (Ormia ochracea) that has highly directional hearing through mechanical coupling of the eardrums. The diaphragm that is 1mm x 2mm x 20 microns is intended to be fabricated out of polysilicon through microelectromechanical micromachining. It was designed through the finite-element method in ANSYS in order to build the necessary mode shapes and frequencies into the mechanical behavior of the design. Through postprocessing of the ANSYS data, the diaphragm’s response to an arbitrary sound source, sensitivity, robustness, and Articulation Index - Directivity Index (AI-DI) were predicted. The design should yield a sensitivity as high as 100 mV/Pa, an AI-DI of 4.764 with Directivity Index as high as 6 between 1.5 and 5 kHz. The diaphragm structure was predicted be able to withstand a sound pressure level of 151.74 dB. The sound level that would result in collapse of the capacitive sensor is 129.9 dB.. The equivalent sound level due to the self-noise of the microphone is predicted to be 30.8 dBA.
The Impact of Marijuana Legalization on Youth and The Need for State Legislation on Marijuana-Specific Instruction in K-12 Schools

State legalization of marijuana is a divisive and polarizing issue that has resulted in fragmentation between governments and citizens. In contravention of federal law, voters in Colorado and Washington in 2012 and voters in Alaska and Oregon in 2014 approved ballot initiatives that legalized the state-regulated sale of marijuana to adults for their recreational use and possession. All of these measures continue to make marijuana unlawful for anyone under twenty-one, which is reflective of the shared understanding of the myriad harms that occur when non-adults access marijuana. Based on this understanding, this Article argues that any state that fully legalizes marijuana has a concomitant duty to amend its K-12 public school drug and alcohol instructional statutes to explicitly include marijuana education. Although none of these four states has enacted such legislation, this Article provides two, straightforward and necessary statutory alternatives to do so. These statutes would provide the predicate for the development of correlative marijuana-specific educational regulations and academic content standards in these states. This legislation is necessary as alternative current attempts to educate about marijuana in these states do not provide sufficient safeguards for their youth. Additionally, this legislation will help to ease the fracturing between federal and state governments as it would expressly comply with the federal funding conditions of the recent 2015 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Due to the Rawlsian overlapping consensus about the need to prohibit non-adult access to marijuana, this statutory amendment would not require a herculean political effort and could be a bridge between the partisan opponents on the issue of marijuana reforms. These legislative actions could also provide a model for future states that may legalize marijuana in the future. Finally, by enacting these statutes, these states will take strides to cure a significant legal deficiency that has the potential to cause irreparable harm to their children and greater populaces.
Preliminary protein corona formation stabilizes gold nanoparticles and improves deposition efficiency

Due to their advantageous characteristics, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are being increasingly utilized in a vast array of biomedical applications. However, the efficacy of these procedures are highly dependent upon strong interactions between AuNPs and the surrounding environment. While the field of nanotechnology has grown exponentially, there is still much to be discovered with regards to the complex interactions between NPs and biological systems. One area of particular interest is the generation of a protein corona, which instantaneously forms when NPs encounter a protein-rich environment. Currently, the corona is viewed as an obstacle and has been identified as the cause for loss of application efficiency in physiological systems. To date, however, no study has explored if the protein corona could be designed and advantageously utilized to improve both NP behavior and application efficacy. Therefore, we sought to identify if the formation of a preliminary protein corona could modify both AuNP characteristics and association with the HaCaT cell model. In this study, a corona comprised solely of epidermal growth factor (EGF) was successfully formed around 10-nm AuNPs. These EGF-AuNPs demonstrated augmented particle stability, a modified corona composition, and increased deposition over stock AuNPs, while remaining biocompatible. Analysis of AuNP dosimetry was repeated under dynamic conditions, with lateral flow significantly disrupting deposition and the nano-cellular interface. Taken together, this study demonstrated the plausibility and potential of utilizing the protein corona as a means to influence NP behavior; however, fluid dynamics remains a major challenge to progressing NP dosimetry.
Fetal contribution to amniotic fluid

Abstract Diodrast-I 131 was injected into the fetal circulation of rhesus monkeys with the fetus in utero and the amniotic sac intact. When the fetus was alive, radioactivity appeared promptly in the amniotic fluid and then gradually diminished. With a dead fetus there was virtually no transfer from fetus to amniotic fluid. Since iodide is normally excreted by the kidney in the adult, the data suggest that fetal micturition constitutes an appreciable source of amniotic fluid.
IgA protease production as a characteristic distinguishing pathogenic from harmless neisseriaceae

IgA proteases are extracellular enzymes of bacteria that have human immunoglobulin A of the IgA1 subclass as their only known substrate. The identification of this enzyme in neisseria prompted us to determine whether IgA protease production correlates with pathogenicity within this genus. Multiple clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis and eight species of non-pathogenic neisseria that commonly colonize the normal human nasopharynx were examined for IgA protease activity. All N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis strains were enzyme positive; all non-pathogenic strains were negative. Among meningococci, the enzyme occurred in strains carried harmlessly in the nasopharynx as well as those isolated from systemic infections. Because mucosal immune defense is largely mediated by antibodies of the IgA isotype, the finding that IgA protease activity is linked specifically to the pathogenic neisseria suggests that the enzyme may be involved in the pathogenesis of neisserial infection.
Cramer-Rao bound and approximate maximum likelihood estimation for non-coherent direction of arrival problem

In previous work we proposed a direction of arrival (DOA) estimation method from non-coherent measurements taken by an array of sensors. Here, it is shown that the non-coherent measurements in the form of magnitude squared of array observations measured in the presence of additive white Gaussian noise are distributed according to a non-central chisquare distribution. It is further shown that, under certain conditions, the non-coherent measurements may be approximated by a Gaussian distribution. With this approximation, we develop the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) on the non-coherent DOA estimation of a single source as well as an analytical expression of the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) of the DOA. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the performance of the non-coherent DOA estimator. For example, non-coherent DOA estimation outperforms coherent DOA when the standard deviation of the phase errors exceeds 15 degrees and the signal to noise ratio (SNR) exceeds 5 dB.
Parametric Design of Spur Internal Gear Based on Pro/E

Taking Pro/E Wildfire2.0 as a development environment,taking spur internal gear as research object,the author made use of stretch and mirror method,the entity of gear is attained.Then taking Pro/program as development tool,the 3D-solid parameterized design for the spur internal gear is attained.Inputting some basic parameters of the gear,the strict 3D-solid of the spur gear is automatically generated.So it can shorten the period of development and improve the efficiency.
Determination of lead in baihua sheshecao injection by graphite furnace atomic Absorption spectrometry(GFAAS)

Aim Injection of the lead content in Baihua Sheshecao visit,in order to more effectively control the quality of its inherent.Methods The samples were digested with microwave and the lead content in Baihua Sheshecao injection were determined by GFAAS.Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and has magnesium nitrate as matrix modifier.Results The method showed a good linear relationship between range of 5～40 μg·L-1(r=0.999 2),the average recovery(n=6)was 99.27%,RSD=0.73%.Conclutions The method is simple,accurate,specific,and can be used for controling the lead content in Baihua Sheshecao injection.
Science and Strategy: How Scientific and Technical Information Are Used in Disputes Over Landslide Regulations in Seattle, WA

This thesis investigates the ways in which scientific and technical information are used to challenge policies regarding development in landslide-prone areas in Seattle, Washington. It examines the values that underlie actor arguments within those challenges, using the theoretical lens of Science, Technology, and Society. Twelve case studies are selected from a set of 90 permitting appeals, court cases, and growth management hearings board appeals between the years of 1990 and 2015, and analyzed to identify the complex ways in which scientific information is used to further actor positions. A narrative analysis approach is used to analyze the case studies, archived news coverage, and interviews with geologists and planners in order to identify actor values and narratives. The results of this project suggest that, despite the science-centered arguments of developers and government, actor decisions are highly influenced by values. Neighbors who oppose development draw their arguments from aesthetic values; developers draw their arguments from values that center on property rights and right to accept risk; and all actors, including government, base arguments on potential economic gains or losses. What can be concluded is that despite hillside development policy being based upon science and technical knowledge, actor arguments and concerns are often based upon values, which cannot be articulated through science and technical information. Though well-resourced actors can influence policy through the leveraging of science and technical information, the prominence of values in debates about landslide regulation indicate that science-based policy approaches that do not consider values may encounter more challenges from the public.
Early glucose normalization does not improve outcome in the critically ill trauma population.

Strict control of serum glucose in critically ill patients decreases morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of early normalization of glucose in our burn and trauma intensive care unit. From January 2002 to June 2005,290 patients were admitted with serum glucose 150 mg/dL or greater and 319 patients with serum glucose less than 150 mg/dL. The patients with hyperglycemia were more severely injured and more often required operative intervention within the first 48 hours. The patients with hyperglycemia were at increased risk for infection and mortality. Of those 290 patients in the hyperglycemic cohort, 125 patients had early normalization of serum glucose, whereas 165 patients required more than 24 hours to normalize. The early normalization cohort was younger in mean age than the late group, but these 2 groups were similar in injury severity. Correspondingly, there was no difference in the rate of infection. Although hyperglycemia on admission appears to correlate with a worse outcome, early glucose normalization did not affect morbidity and mortality in our critically ill population.
The effect of beryllium on bone. A morphological study of the progressive changes observed in rabbit bone.

A series of fourteen rabbits were studied by roentgenograms made twice a month after injection of zinc beryllium silicate. After death or sacrifice, twelve long bones from ten rabbits were studied by microradiography and celloidin-embedded contiguous sections stained by hematoxylin and eosin. Spalteholz preparations of bones from four additional rabbits were also studied after injection of the arterial tree with a mixture of gelatin and India ink. The following observations were made: Medullary formation of bone was detected from the roentgenograms made eight to sixteen weeks after the last injection in all fourteen rabbits. Microradiography disclosed that this bone had a higher mineral content than the surrounding normal bone. In certain areas in this medullary bone, the lacunar spaces were blurred or indistinct on microradiography. Contiguous histological sections revealed that similar areas in sections stained by hematoxylin and eosin were devoid of cells. Therefore, it is postulated that the blurred lacunae evident in the microradiograms represent areas where the cells have died and mineralization of the empty lacunar spaces has occurred. Part of this phenomenon may be due to the direct cytotoxic effect of the zinc beryllium silicate seen in marrow spaces adjacent to the apparently non-viable, acellular bone on the surface of viable trabecular bone. Also, this phenomenon may be due to a decrease in vascularity caused by blockage of the blood supply by the abnormal bone. The decrease in vascularity, however, could be due purely to the cytotoxic effect of beryllium. Osteogenic sarcoma made its appearance thirty to fifty-two weeks after the last injection of beryllium. The morphological appearance of this phase is commented on, particularly the differences between the timorous bone and the abnormal medullary bone of beryllium poisoning and the similarity between this tumor and human osteogenic sarcoma.
Ontogeny of cationic amino acid transport systems in rat placenta

Gestational regulation of the placental transfer of amino acids from maternal to fetal circulations is essential for the proper development of the fetus. The cationic amino acid transport systems of the microvillous (maternal facing) and basal (fetal facing) membranes of the rat placental syncytiotrophoblast were examined. Inhibition analysis documented the presence of three kinetically distinct cationic amino acid transport mechanisms: a single Na(+)-dependent mechanism in the microvillous membrane, which increased in activity from 14 to 20 days gestation but was absent from the basal membrane throughout the entire gestational period (system Bo,+), and two Na(+)-independent transport systems in both membrane domains, one that is completely inhibited by leucine, which increased in activity in both the microvillous and basal membrane domains, and the other that is leucine insensitive, which remained fairly constant in the basal membrane and increased throughout gestation in the microvillous membrane (system y1+). Northern analysis with the system y1+ cDNA revealed a specific band of approximately 7.4-7.9 kb, which increased with increasing gestational age.
Impasse in North-South Policy Formulation

The preceding three chapters have shown that the analytic base underlying the free-trade argument is not appropriate to situations in which the underlying conditions change at a rate which exceeds the capability of nations to adjust benignly. A free-trade or passive posture may not be the best policy for industrialised countries in turbulent periods. Moreover the process of change could be sufficiently severe that it invokes episodes of anarchy (as in British coalmines and the French steel industry in March and early April 1984). The process of adjustment and adaptation cannot be considered independently of the political process.
The Abuse Sharing Economy: Understanding the Limits of Threat Exchanges

The underground commoditization of compromised hosts suggests a tacit capability where miscreants leverage the same machine—subscribed by multiple criminal ventures—to simultaneously profit from spam, fake account registration, malicious hosting, and other forms of automated abuse. To expedite the detection of these commonly abusive hosts, there are now multiple industry-wide efforts that aggregate abuse reports into centralized threat exchanges. In this work, we investigate the potential benefit of global reputation tracking and the pitfalls therein. We develop our findings from a snapshot of 45 million IP addresses abusing six Google services including Gmail, YouTube, and ReCaptcha between April 7–April 21, 2015. We estimate the scale of end hosts controlled by attackers, expose underground biases that skew the abuse perspectives of individual web services, and examine the frequency that criminals re-use the same infrastructure to attack multiple, heterogeneous services. Our results indicate that an average Google service can block 14 % of abusive traffic based on threats aggregated from seemingly unrelated services, though we demonstrate that outright blacklisting incurs an untenable volume of false positives.
Depression Is a Deadly Growing Threat to Our Youth: Time to Rally.

In this month’s issue of Pediatrics , Mojtabai and colleagues1 sound an alarm with 2 critical public health updates; depression is significantly on the rise in adolescents, with a 12-month prevalence of 11.3% in 2014 versus 8.7% in 2005. Furthermore, despite this disturbing development, the percentage of young people with a history of past-year major depressive episodes seen by primary care providers for depression care is only ∼10% and has not appreciably budged in the past decade. The second point is disappointing because it occurs despite a 2007 American Academy of Pediatrics statement,2 which could have possibly had an impact on the comparison between 2005 and 2014. This statement strongly encouraged all pediatricians to recognize and identify the risk factors for suicide, then the third leading cause of death for adolescents 15 to 19 years old, of which depression was and remains … Address correspondence to Anne Glowinski, MD, MPE, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, 4444 Forest Park Ave, St Louis, MO 63108. E-mail: glowinsa{at}wustl.edu
Estimation of indirect effect when the mediator is a censored variable

A mediation model explores the direct and indirect effects of an initial variable ( X) on an outcome variable ( Y) by including a mediator ( M). In many realistic scenarios, investigators observe censored data instead of the complete data. Current research in mediation analysis for censored data focuses mainly on censored outcomes, but not censored mediators. In this study, we proposed a strategy based on the accelerated failure time model and a multiple imputation approach. We adapted a measure of the indirect effect for the mediation model with a censored mediator, which can assess the indirect effect at both the group and individual levels. Based on simulation, we established the bias in the estimations of different paths (i.e. the effects of X on M [ a], of M on Y [ b] and of X on Y given mediator M [ c']) and indirect effects when analyzing the data using the existing approaches, including a naive approach implemented in software such as Mplus, complete-case analysis, and the Tobit mediation model. We conducted simulation studies to investigate the performance of the proposed strategy compared to that of the existing approaches. The proposed strategy accurately estimates the coefficients of different paths, indirect effects and percentages of the total effects mediated. We applied these mediation approaches to the study of SNPs, age at menopause and fasting glucose levels. Our results indicate that there is no indirect effect of association between SNPs and fasting glucose level that is mediated through the age at menopause.
Thomas Jefferson’s Role in Transforming Higher Education Curriculum in the United States

For decades, public administrative scholars and historians have maintained that while Thomas Jefferson had an extraordinary substantive mind, he was not a formative figure within the intellectual, institutional, and constitutional development of public administration theory and practice. Thoroughly investigating Jefferson’s early political career does reveal that he was not interested in the daily operations of government, but as time progressed his lengthy career in public service began to transform his opinions on the relationship between good government and good administration and how sound administrative practice complemented many of the republican values espoused in The Federalist. Upon a careful examination of Jefferson’s retirement years, when he dedicated the remainder of his life to establishing the University of Virginia, the administrative genius of his mind takes center stage. In this role, Jefferson not only created Virginia’s first public institution for higher education but also dramatically reformed liberal arts curriculum standards for colleges and universities across the nation. Twenty-first century public administration scholars and practitioners should welcome this exceptional contribution to the intellectual history of American public administration with openness and with a renewed commitment to the institutional legitimacy of our field.
Advances in Ngram-based Discrimination of Similar Languages.

We describe the systems entered by the National Research Council in the 2016 shared task on discriminating similar languages. Like previous years, we relied on character ngram features, and a mixture of discriminative and generative statistical classifiers. We mostly investigated the influence of the amount of data on the performance, in the open task, and compared the two-stage approach (predicting language/group, then variant) to a flat approach. Results suggest that ngrams are still state-of-the-art for language and variant identification, and that additional data has a small but decisive impact.