cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heat stress modulates and protects hepatocyte membrane proteins during sepsis

Abstract Introduction. Hepatic failure is one of the important features of septic multiorgan dysfunction. Previous studies have shown that, in septic rats, heat stress (HS) has a protective effect on bile acid transporters in hepatocyte membranes. This study investigates the influence of HS on hepatocyte membrane proteins, including the transporters oatp and mrp2, during endotoxemia. Methods. Endotoxemia in rats was induced by intraperitoneal injection of Escherichia coli Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), while control rats received saline. Half of each group was exposed to HS, 2 h prior to LPS or saline injection, by external warming to 42°C for 10 min and half of each group was exposed to ambient temperature 2 h prior to LPS or saline injection. Membrane fractions were extracted 0, 6,12, 24, 36, 72, and 108 h after LPS or saline treatment. Extracted proteins were separated using 2D gel electrophoresis. The most dominant spots were analyzed by MALDI-TOF. Transporter proteins, oatp and mrp2, were investigated by Western and Northern blot analysis. Results. The majority of the spots developed 24 h after injection. Membrane proteins, Wnt 13, ribosomal protein L14, VLCAD, BHMT, and HIT-40, were found only in HS-LPS. Protein profiles of the groups receiving either HS, LPS, or HS-LPS returned to normal after 72 h. Western blot analysis of oatp and mrp2 showed a down regulation only in the LPS group. Additionally, mRNA of oatp and mrp2 were prolonged down regulated only in the LPS group. Conclusion. We propose that, during endotoxemia, HS is an important stimulus in modulating and protecting the hepatic membrane proteins, which are involved in metabolism and protein synthesis.
Magnetoresistance of magnetic tunnel junctions in the presence of a nonmagnetic layer

We find that electron propagation across a uniform nonmagnetic metallic layer ${d}_{i}$ in a magnetically layered structure is coherent up to a critical length ${d}_{c}$. This provides a possible explanation for the slow decay of the magnetoresistance of magnetic tunnel junctions when a layer of Cu or Ag is inserted between the magnetic electrode and the barrier. However, for many (most) structures the roughness of the interfaces breaks the coherence for ${d}_{i}\ensuremath{\ll}{d}_{c}$. While the loss of coherence is not fatal for the magnetoresistance of metallic multilayers, it is for tunnel junctions. The quantum well states arising from the insertion of a nonmagnetic layer in a magnetic tunnel junction do not promote magnetoresistance.
Mentorship in surgical training: a systematic review

Objective This review systematically examines the literature regarding mentor–mentee relationships in surgery.
Inactivation and injury of pathogens on intact beef treated with hydrodynamic pressure

Abstract The effect of hydrodynamic pressure (HDP) treatment on the inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes attached to beef surface was evaluated. Irradiated beef cubes were inoculated with these individual pathogens (ca. 4 log CFU.g −1 ) and treated with HDP. Surviving populations of E. coli O157:H7, S . Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes were determined by spiral-plating on Sorbitol MacConkey agar (SMAC), XLT4 agar, and modified Oxford (MOX) agar, respectively. The HDP treatment significantly reduced E. coli O157:H7 (0.75 log CFU.g −1 ), S. Typhimurium (1.09 log CFU.g −1 ), and L. monocytogenes (0.55 log CFU.g −1 ) from beef surfaces. HDP-induced injury as determined by plating on non-selective media revealed that ca. 0.5 log CFU.g −1 of E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium cells were injured. Most cell injury occurred at the cell membrane level as observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Industrial relevance Results obtained in the present study show that HDP treatment, primarily evaluated for meat tenderness improvement, also reduces the number of viable pathogens attached to beef surface. Additional hurdle treatment will be helpful to further reduce pathogens on beef surface.
Developing a technology base for advanced devices and circuits

Lincoln Laboratory is engaged in a wide range of research activities aimed toward the development of a technology base for advanced semiconductor eletronics. This paper is an overview of that research discusses work in the areas of submicrometer lithography and processing, materials growth, circuit testing and restructuring and device research. Specific projects in each of these areas are described in order to depict the overall thrust of the research effort. In addition, some application which successfully utilize advanced technologies are discussed to illustrate the viability of these techniques and the potential performance advantages they afford.
Establishing ion ratio thresholds based on absolute peak area for absolute protein quantification using protein cleavage isotope dilution mass spectrometry

Quantitative mass spectrometry has become central to the field of proteomics and metabolomics. Selected reaction monitoring is a widely used method for the absolute quantification of proteins and metabolites. This method renders high specificity using several product ions measured simultaneously. With growing interest in quantification of molecular species in complex biological samples, confident identification and quantitation has been of particular concern. A method to confirm purity or contamination of product ion spectra has become necessary for achieving accurate and precise quantification. Ion abundance ratio assessments were introduced to alleviate some of these issues. Ion abundance ratios are based on the consistent relative abundance (RA) of specific product ions with respect to the total abundance of all product ions. To date, no standardized method of implementing ion abundance ratios has been established. Thresholds by which product ion contamination is confirmed vary widely and are often arbitrary. This study sought to establish criteria by which the relative abundance of product ions can be evaluated in an absolute quantification experiment. These findings suggest that evaluation of the absolute ion abundance for any given transition is necessary in order to effectively implement RA thresholds. Overall, the variation of the RA value was observed to be relatively constant beyond an absolute threshold ion abundance. Finally, these RA values were observed to fluctuate significantly over a 3 year period, suggesting that these values should be assessed as close as possible to the time at which data is collected for quantification.
Chemoselective hydrosilations. I. Synthesis and photopolymerization of 1‐propenyl ether functionalized siloxanes

The synthesis of 1-propenyl ether-functionalized siloxanes (PFS) has been achieved by the controlled, rhodium-catalyzed, chemoselective hydrosilation of 1-allyloxy-4(1-propenoxy)butane with various H-functional siloxanes. It was shown that the hydrosilation proceeds exclusively at the allyl ether group of 1-allyloxy-4(1-propenoxy)butane without participation at the 1-propenyl ether group. The photoinduced cationic polymerization of these monomers was studied using various analytical techniques and found to take place very rapidly. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Through the looking glass: evaluating the dissemination of research in cardiology

This editorial refers to ‘From abstract to impact in cardiovascular research: factors predicting publication and citation’, by S. Winnik et al. , doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehs113 In many ways, organizing any scientific conference in medicine is the same. Dates are announced, location chosen, and a call for research abstracts is made. Often, large numbers are submitted for consideration, each structured similarly—Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusions—limited to 400 or 500 words. And for every meeting, the goal is to choose the very highest quality, most promising research for presentation to conference attendees. For the best research, an oral plenary presentation may be invited; for high quality work deemed to be slightly less innovative or important, oral presentations in smaller venues or even posters within an exhibit hall may instead be offered. Others are simply rejected. Seemingly, this approach has served the scientific community well for years as a means to identify and communicate new and impactful research to clinicians and scientists. However, scientifically evaluating these abstracts poses several challenges. First, abstract reviewers are given limited instructions and simply asked to score submissions on a scale from 1 to 10, potentially making assessments more variable. Secondly, reviewers are asked to evaluate many submissions over a short period of time. With such time constraints, reviewers may rush evaluations and use criteria other than scientific merit and quality, such as investigators' reputations or affiliated institutions when this information is available.1 Thirdly, reviewers are responsible for broad categories of submissions, rather than specific topics, in which they have less subject expertise. Finally, and most importantly, abstracts—brief summaries of the full research project—contain a limited amount of information. Few methodological details are available, the rigour of the scientific approach and study limitations are less obvious, and detailed results are unavailable. How can the medical community be certain that high quality …
LEARNING DISABLED BOYS' PERFORMANCE AND SELF-ASSESSMENTS ON PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTS

30 learning disabled boys drawn from a segregated private school for learning disabled children and 22 from a public school mainstream program and 22 nondisabled boys performed two physical fitness tests, sit-ups and shuttle run in one of two conditions. While normal achievers performed significantly better on one of the tests, there were no differences between the two samples of learning disabled youngsters. However, students' comparisons of their performance with classmates' indicated that learning disabled youngsters in the private school ranked themselves more favorably than those in mainstream classrooms.
c-axis lithium niobate thin film growth on silicon using solid-source metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Textured c-axis oriented LiNbO3 films have been grown for waveguiding applications on silicon substrates by the solid-source metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method using tetramethylheptanedionate sources. Thermally grown SiO2 layers were used as cladding layers to provide optical confinement in the LiNbO3 films. The texture direction could be varied from the [006] to the [012] direction by either increasing the growth temperature and/or decreasing the growth rate. Under optimal growth conditions, 100% [006] texturing could be achieved without the aid of an electric field or by using a SiNx buffer layer. The crystallinity and surface rms roughness of c-axis oriented films were found to be strongly dependent on the growth rate. Rocking curve full-width half-maximum (FWHM) values of (006) peaks could be decreased to less than 2° by increasing the growth rate. The surface roughness also decreased with growth rate, and rms values as low as 1.5 nm were achieved. On the other hand, too high a growth rate leads to increased roughness due to gas phase nucleation. The optical losses were closely correlated with surface roughness, and the best films had optical losses near 4.5 dB/cm at a wavelength of 632.8 nm.
Verification-guided soft error resilience

Algorithmic techniques for formal verification can be used not just for bug-finding, but also to estimate vulnerability to reliability problems and to reduce overheads of circuit mechanisms for error resilience. We demonstrate this idea of verification-guided error resilience in the context of soft errors in latches. We show how model checking can be used to identify latches in a circuit that must be protected in order that the circuit satisfies a formal specification. Experimental results on a Verilog implementation of the ESA SpaceWire communication protocol indicate that the power overhead of soft error protection can be reduced by a factor of 4.35 by using our approach rather than protecting all latches.
Correlation of serum allergy (IgE) tests performed by different assay systems.

Background In vitro testing is commonly used to diagnose and manage allergies. Clinical reactivity has been correlated with food-specific IgE levels by using the ImmunoCAP (Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden). Objective To determine whether IgE levels derived from different assays are equivalent to those measured by ImmunoCAP. Methods Fifty patients from the Mount Sinai Pediatric Allergy practice were prospectively enrolled. For each deidentified sample, specific IgE levels were measured to egg, milk, peanut, cat, birch, and Dermatophagoides farinae at different laboratories, each using a different assay system (Phadia ImmunoCAP, Agilent Turbo-MP, and Siemens Immulite 2000). Results were analyzed to determine whether IgE measurements were equivalent. Food allergen–specific IgE levels were correlated with clinical data and around empirically determined thresholds that predict probability of clinical disease in 50% or 95% of subjects. Results Variable degrees of agreement existed among the 3 assays. Immulite 2000 overestimated all specific IgE levels compared with ImmunoCAP. Turbo-MP overestimated for egg but underestimated for birch and D farinae . Differences for milk, peanut, and cat were observed, without a trend toward overestimation or underestimation. Furthermore, several values for the food allergens were discrepant around the 50% and 95% positive predictive values for clinical reactivity. Conclusion Discrepancies in specific IgE values from 3 different assays can potentially lead to altered management and treatment. The predictive values for clinical reactivity associated with food-specific IgE levels determined by ImmunoCAP should not be applied to results from other assays.
An interactive simulator for statistical process control

Abstract An interactive program has been developed which simulates several representative industrial processes. Specifically, the program generates product quality characteristic values which are concurrently monitored by standard control charting methods. The program requires the user to specify initial process parameter values and subsequent process adjustments; the latter is necessary in the event the process is deemed to be “out-of-control”. The effectiveness of these decisions are measured by economic criteria. The use of the software promotes a “hands-on” approach, which will better prepare the students to achieve quality improvements in an industrial environment through systematic and scientific evaluation.
Synthesis, physicochemical properties, and hydrogen bonding of 4(5)-substituted 1-H-imidazole-2-carboxamide, a potential universal reader for DNA sequencing by recognition tunneling.

We have developed a chemi- cal reagent that recognizes all naturally occurring DNA bases, a so called uni- versal reader, for DNA sequencing by recognition tunneling in nanopores. (1) The primary requirements for this type of molecules are the ability to form non-covalent complexes with individual DNA bases and to generate recogniza- ble electronic signatures under an elec- trical bias. 1-H-imidazole-2-carbox- A was designed as such a recogni- tion moiety to interact with the DNA bases through hydrogen bonding. In the present study, we first furnished a synthetic route to 1-H-imidazole-2- carboxamide containing a short w-func- tionalized alkyl chain at its 4(5) posi- tion for its attachment to metal and carbon electrodes. The acid dissocia- tion constants of the imidazole-2-car- boxamide were then determined by UV spectroscopy. The data show that the 1-H-imidazole-2-carboxamide exists in a neutral form between pH 6- 10. Density functional theory (DFT) and NMR studies indicate that the imi- dazole ring exists in prototropic tauto- mers. We propose an intramolecular mechanism for tautomerization of 1-H- imidazole-2-carboxA In addition, the imidazole-2-carboxamide can self- associate to form hydrogen bonded dimers. NMR titration found that natu- rally occurring nucleosides interacted with 1-H-imidazole-2-carboxamide through hydrogen bonding in a tenden- cy of dG > dC @ dT > dA. These studies are indispensable to assisting us in un- derstanding the molecular recognition that takes place in the nanopore where routinely used analytical tools such as NMR and FTIR cannot be convenient- ly applied.
Interactive atlas of histology: a tool for self-directed learning, practice, and self-assessment.

Purpose: An interactive atlas of histology was developed for online use by chiropractic students to enable them to practice and self-assess their ability to identify various histological structures. This article discusses the steps in the development, implementation, and usefulness of an interactive atlas of histology for students who take histology examinations.
A new reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method for accurate quantification

Background: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is a very sensitive technique to measure and to compare mRNA levels among samples. However, it is extremely difficult to maintain linearity across the entire procedure, especially at the step of PCR amplification. Specific genes have been used as baseline controls to be co-amplified with target genes to normalize the amplification efficiency, but development or selection of reliable controls itself has created a new challenge. Results: Here, we describe a new quantitative RT-PCR to compare two mRNA samples directly without the requirement of synthetic control DNAs for reference. First, chimeric RT primers carrying gene-specific and universal PCR priming sequences with or without a linker for size distinction were utilized to generate cDNAs. The size-different cDNAs were then combined in a single reaction for PCR amplification using the same primer set. The two amplified products were resolved and detected with gel electrophoresis and fluorescence imaging. Relative abundance of the two products was obtained after a baseline correction. Conclusion: This methodology is simple and accurate as indicated by equal amplification efficiency throughout PCR cycling. It is also easily implemented for many existing protocols. In addition, parameters affecting RT linearity are characterized in this report.
Genetic relationships and epidemiological links between wild type 1 poliovirus isolates in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Background/Aim: Efforts have been made to eliminate wild poliovirus transmission since 1988 when the World Health Organization began its global eradication campaign. Since then, the incidence of polio has decreased significantly. However, serotype 1 and serotype 3 still circulate endemically in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both countries constitute a single epidemiologic block representing one of the three remaining major global reservoirs of poliovirus transmission. In this study we used genetic sequence data to investigate transmission links among viruses from diverse locations during 2005-2007. Methods: In order to find the origins and routes of wild type 1 poliovirus circulation, polioviruses were isolated from faecal samples of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) patients. We used viral cultures, two intratypic differentiation methods PCR, ELISA to characterize as vaccine or wild type 1 and nucleic acid sequencing of entire VP1 region of poliovirus genome to determine the genetic relatedness. Results: One hundred eleven wild type 1 poliovirus isolates were subjected to nucleotide sequencing for genetic variation study. Considering the 15% divergence of the sequences from Sabin 1, Phylogenetic analysis by MEGA software revealed that active inter and intra country transmission of many genetically distinct strains of wild poliovirus type 1 belonged to genotype SOAS which is indigenous in this region. By grouping wild type 1 polioviruses according to nucleotide sequence homology, three distinct clusters A, B and C were obtained with multiple chains of transmission together with some silent circulations represented by orphan lineages. Conclusion: Our results emphasize that there was a persistent transmission of wild type1 polioviruses in Pakistan and Afghanistan during 2005-2007. The epidemiologic information provided by the sequence data can contribute to the formulation of better strategies for poliomyelitis control to those critical areas, associated with high risk population groups which include migrants, internally displaced people, and refugees. The implication of this study is to maintain high quality mass immunization with oral polio vaccine (OPV) in order to interrupt chains of virus transmission in both countries to endorse substantial progress in Eastern-Mediterranean region.
Nanofoam Porosity Measured by Infrared Spectroscopy and Refractive Index

Infrared spectroscopy and optical waveguide were used to determine the porosity of polymer nanofoams produced from block copolymers of an aromatic polyimide endcapped with either poly(propyIene oxide) or poly(a-methylstyrene). The infrared absorption bands and film thickness were compared to those of the neat homopolymer to yield an accurate measure of the void content. The porosity was also determined by measuring the refractive index and using the Maxwell-Garnett effective medium theory for spherical particles. Both techniques are in quantitative agreement with density gradient methods.
An Experimental Approach to Mathematical Modeling in Biology.

Abstract The simplest age-structured population models update a population vector via multiplication by a matrix. These linear models offer an opportunity to introduce mathematical modeling to students of limited mathematical sophistication and background. We begin with a detailed discussion of mathematical modeling, particularly in a biological context. We then describe Bugbox-population, a virtual insect laboratory that allows students to make observations and collect quantitative data easily, thereby learning mathematical modeling in the context of its use in scientific research. Creating a mathematical model for boxbugs involves the same intellectual work as creating a mathematical model for real insects, but without the difficulties involved in collecting real biological data. The analysis of the Bugbox-population data leads to the development of the eigenvalue problem for population projection matrices.
Forming foci of transmission: the effects of resource utilization, species interaction, and parasitism on molluscan movement

Animal aggregation to environmental cues provides opportunities for parasite transmission between individual hosts of the same or different species. Better characterization of host behavioral respo...
A three-dimensional computational study of the aerodynamic mechanisms of insect flight

A finite element flow solver was employed to compute unsteady flow past a three-dimensional Drosophila wing undergoing flapping motion. The computed thrust and drag forces agreed well with results from a previous experimental study. A grid-refinement study was performed to validate the computational results, and a grid-independent solution was achieved. The effect of phasing between the translational and rotational motions was studied by varying the rotational motion prior to the stroke reversal. It was observed that, when the wing rotation is advanced with respect to the stroke reversal, the peak in the thrust forces is higher than when the wing rotation is in phase with the stroke reversal and that the peak thrust is reduced further when the wing rotation is delayed. As suggested by previous authors, we observe that the rotational mechanism is important and that the combined translational and rotational mechanisms are necessary to describe accurately the force time histories and unsteady aerodynamics of flapping wings.
Genetic characterization of bovine viral diarrhea viruses isolated from persistently infected calves born to dams vaccinated against bovine viral diarrhea virus before breeding.

Objective—To collect and partially characterize strains of bovine viral diarrhea viruses(BVDVs) isolated from persistently infected (PI) calves born to vaccinated dams, determine genetic diversity of the isolated viruses, and identify regional distribution of genetically similar virus subpopulations. Sample Population—17 noncytopathic (NCP) BVDVs from PI calves from 11 herds of beef or dairy cattle. Procedures—Viral RNA was extracted from infected cell cultures, and BVDV-specific PCR primers were used to amplify > 1,000 bases of the viral genome. Derived sequences were used for molecular phylogenetic analyses to determine the viral genotype and viral genogroup and to assess genetic similarity among BVDVs. Results—Analysis of the 17 NCP strains of BVDV failed to detect a viral genotype or viral genogroup not already reported to exist in the United States. One virus was classified as genotype 1, genogroup 1b, and 16 viruses were classified as genotype 2, genogroup 2a. Genotype 2 strains were genetically div...
Stochastic integral equations controlled by collor processes

A new definition of solutions of stochastic differential equations driven by COLLOR (continuous on the left, with finite limit on the right) processes is given. A generalization of solutions in Stratonovich sense is obtained. Existence, uniqueness and some properties of these solutions are discussed.
Analyzing Clustered Data: Why and How to Account for Multiple Observations Nested within a Study Participant?

A conventional study design among medical and biological experimentalists involves collecting multiple measurements from a study subject. For example, experiments utilizing mouse models in neuroscience often involve collecting multiple neuron measurements per mouse to increase the number of observations without requiring a large number of mice. This leads to a form of statistical dependence referred to as clustering. Inappropriate analyses of clustered data have resulted in several recent critiques of neuroscience research that suggest the bar for statistical analyses within the field is set too low. We compare naive analytical approaches to marginal, fixed-effect, and mixed-effect models and provide guidelines for when each of these models is most appropriate based on study design. We demonstrate the influence of clustering on a between-mouse treatment effect, a within-mouse treatment effect, and an interaction effect between the two. Our analyses demonstrate that these statistical approaches can give substantially different results, primarily when the analyses include a between-mouse treatment effect. In a novel analysis from a neuroscience perspective, we also refine the mixed-effect approach through the inclusion of an aggregate mouse-level counterpart to a within-mouse (neuron level) treatment as an additional predictor by adapting an advanced modeling technique that has been used in social science research and show that this yields more informative results. Based on these findings, we emphasize the importance of appropriate analyses of clustered data, and we aim for this work to serve as a resource for when one is deciding which approach will work best for a given study.
Biologic activity of African lymphoma extracts.

SummaryExtracts of African lymphomas (Burkitt's tumor) frequently induced morphologic alterations in cultured primary human amnion cells. The changes were associated with resistance to infection by several viruses.
How to Be a Successful Classroom Teacher

Taking a well-known set of guidelines for effectively rehabilitating criminal offenders, we present a unique twist on how to create an effective classroom environment. Based on our 30 years of coll...
Programmed cell death with a necrotic-like phenotype

Programmed cell death is the process by which an individual cell in a multicellular organism commits cellular 'suicide' to provide a long-term benefit to the organism. Thus, programmed cell death is important for physiological processes such as development, cellular homeostasis, and immunity. Importantly, in this process, the cell is not eliminated in response to random events but in response to an intricate and genetically defined set of internal cellular molecular events or 'program'. Although the apoptotic process is generally very well understood, programmed cell death that occurs with a necrotic-like phenotype has been much less studied, and it is only within the past few years that the necrotic program has begun to be elucidated. Originally, programmed necrosis was somewhat dismissed as a nonphysiological phenomenon that occurs in vitro. Recent in vivo studies, however, suggest that regulated necrosis is an authentic classification of cell death that is important in mammalian development and other physiological processes, and programmed necrosis is now considered a significant therapeutic target in major pathological processes as well. Although the RIP1-RIP3-dependent necrosome complex is recognized as being essential for the execution of many instances of programmed necrosis, other downstream and related necrotic molecules and pathways are now being characterized. One of the current challenges is understanding how and under what conditions these pathways are linked together.
2011 APSA Teaching and Learning Conference Track Summaries: Track: Internationalizing the Curriculum II: Study Abroad and Institutional Strategies

Track participants engaged in rich discussions about “internationalization” in college and university curricula. We began by considering contending definitions of central concepts and educational objectives associated with internationalization. Participants discussed different possible avenues of internationalization, including the development of new classes, an infusion of subjects linked to global affairs in existing classes across the curriculum, cultural programming, and the creation of new interdisciplinary classes. We also addressed study abroad programs, language and cross-cultural training, and partnerships and exchanges.
The Prevalence of Food Security and Insecurity Among Illinois University Students.

Abstract Objective This study aims to define the food security status of Illinois university students and whether sociodemographic characteristics are related to that status. Design A cross-sectional research design was used to analyze the food security status of undergraduate Illinois university students, employing a survey containing the Household Food Security Survey Module that was distributed via e-mail to student participants. Setting Four public Illinois universities were highlighted, including Eastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University. Participants A total of 1,882 undergraduate students participated in the research study in April, 2013. Main Outcome Measure Variables include food security status and sociodemographic characteristics such as age, sex, race, and academic standing. Analysis Statistical analysis included frequencies and chi-square tests. Results The percentage of student respondents in the total sample who were considered food insecure was 35.0%. There were significant relationships between food security status and sociodemographic variables including race, grade point average, loan use, and living location. Conclusions and Implications This study suggests that 35% of respondents were food insecure based on quantitative assessment. Understanding the significant relationship between food security status and race, grade point average, loan use, and living location may be useful in developing services for those in need.
Most Local Officials are Satisfied with Law Enforcement Services, But Almost Half from Largest Jurisdictions Say Their Funding is Insufficient

This report examines Michigan local government leaders’ opinions on law enforcement services in their community, including the perception of problems with crime in the community, satisfaction with law enforcement performance, and funding of law enforcement at the local level. The findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the Fall 2015 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS).
Control strategy for water wall overheat in a 1000MW ultra supercritical unit

To solve the over temperature problem of water walls in ultra supercritical boilers,a control strategy that prevents the water wall from being overheated by regulating the ratio of feed water flow to desuperheater water was proposed,on the basis of the investigation on an ultra supercritical 1 000 MW unit.Moreover,this control strategy was applied on this unit and achieved good control effect.Repeatable load increasing and decreasing tests were carried out under each condition that water wall overheat easily occurs.The results show that,this control strategy can regulate the water flow in advance,so it can inhibit the overheat of water walls.However,regulations on the boiler feedwater flow had little effect on the unit load and main steam pressure.
LINGUISTIC EVIDENCE AND HISTORICAL RECONSTRUCTION

A Green Place, a Good Place: Agrarian Change, Gender and Social Identity in the Great Lakes Region to the Fifteenth Century. By David Lee Schoenbrun. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann: Oxford: James Currey, 1998. Pp. xiv+301. £40 (ISBN 0-325-00041-7); £15.95, paperback (ISBN 0-325-00040-9).An African Classical Age: Eastern and Southern Africa in World History, 1000 B.C. to A.D. 400. By Christopher Ehret. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia; Oxford: James Currey, 1998. Pp. xvii+354. £35 (ISBN 0-8139-1814-6).Recently several historical reconstructions based on linguistic evidence and dealing with ancient times have been published in African history. In 1998 alone there are the two books reviewed here as well as a major work by Gerda Rossel. Linguistic sources contribute much to the recovery of aspects of the past, which would otherwise remain out of reach, and the standard methodologies of historical linguistics are well known to readers of this journal. Yet in practice many historians remain all too often disconcerted by such studies because they have great difficulty in evaluating them: i.e. in linking assertions made to the evidence provided and so to establish the credibility of such statements. This is not just because many historians are unfamiliar with linguistic evidence but because all the evidence necessary for evaluation is usually not available in the work studied, and often enough authors do not clearly indicate where it can be found. Indeed sometimes it is not available at all. In such cases one has to take the statements made by the authors on faith: one believes the author or not. That is clearly unacceptable. For is it not a fundamental rule in history writing that assertions must be substantiated and hence evidence must be cited or provided? Any work without substantiation cannot be considered to be a work of history at all.
Analysis of differential gene expression mediated by clozapine in human postmortem brains

Clozapine is the only medication indicated for treating refractory schizophrenia, due to its superior efficacy among all antipsychotic agents, but its mechanism of action is poorly understood. To date, no studies of human postmortem brain have characterized the gene expression response to clozapine. Therefore, we addressed this question by analyzing expression data extracted from published microarray studies involving brains of patients on antipsychotic therapy. We first performed a systematic review and identified four microarray studies of postmortem brains from antipsychotic-treated patients, then extracted the expression data. We then performed generalized linear model analysis on each study separately, and identified the genes differentially expressed in response to clozapine compared to other atypical antipsychotic medications, as well as their associated canonical pathways. We also found a number of genes common to all four studies that we analyzed: GCLM, ZNF652, and GYPC. In addition, pathway analysis highlighted the following processes in all four studies: clathrin-mediated endocytosis, SAPK/JNK signaling, 3-phosphoinositide synthesis, and paxillin signaling. Our analysis yielded the first comprehensive compendium of genes and pathways differentially expressed upon clozapine treatment in the human brain, which may provide insight into the mechanism and unique efficacy of clozapine, as well as the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Muscle Regeneration in Animal Models

As emphasis on research in skeletal muscle regeneration has increased during the past four decades, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of animal models used to study the phenomenon. Not all animals are the same, nor are all animal models the same. The goal of this chapter is to outline the major animal models used in experimental studies of skeletal muscle regeneration and to point out the advantages and limitations of each model.
Perfect matchings and cluster algebras of classical type

In this paper we give a graph theoretic combinatorial interpretation for the cluster variables that arise in most cluster algebras of finite type. In particular, we provide a family of graphs such that a weighted enumeration of their perfect matchings encodes the numerator of the associated Laurent polynomial while decompositions of the graphs correspond to the denominator. This complements recent work by Schiffler and Carroll-Price for a cluster expansion formula for the $A_n$ case while providing a novel interpretation for the $B_n$, $C_n$, and $D_n$ cases.
A flourescence based assay for secreted PLA2 activity reveals diversity in the intestinal tract of inbred mouse strains

5125 The secreted type II nonpancreatic phospholipase A2 (Pla2g2a) gene was previously identified as a modifier of intestinal adenoma multiplicity in Apc Min/+ mice. To determine if intestinal secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA 2 ) activity was also attenuated in susceptible strains, we developed a sensitive assay to characterize sPLA 2 activity utilizing a fluorescent BODIPY-labeled phospholipid substrate. Here we report assay conditions that can distinguish between secreted and cytosolic PLA 2 enzyme activities in extract of intestinal tissue. The small intestine of wildtype mice exhibited higher activity levels than the large intestine. Consistent with predictions from the Pla2g2a gene sequence from inbred strains, we detected low levels of enzyme activity in inbred strains containing Pla2g2a mutations; these strains were also associated with greater numbers of intestinal polyps. In contrast, the assay was able to distinguish differences in levels of secretory PLA 2 activity between neoplasia-resistant strains which carry wildtype Pla2g2a alleles. Immunohistochemical analyses of intestinal tissues were consistent with activity levels. This studies will further our understanding of the role of Pla2g2a in the development of intestinal and colorectal tumorigenesis in both mice and humans. Research supported in part by NIH grant RO1 DK60369 to SAF and NCI grant PO1 CA72027 and CA89560 to LDS and AMB.
Design of a 1 mw, 280 Ghz gyrotron oscillator

The design of a 1 MW, 280 GHz gyrotron suitable for ECR heating is complete and under construction at MIT. A highly overmoded cylindrical cavity with linear tapers at each end will operate in the whispering gallery mode; TE 42,7,1 . The magnetron injection gun (MIG) was optimized to produce a 90 kV, 50 A annular electron beam with an α = υ/υ|| =1.6 and a perpendicular velocity spread of approximately 5 %. The MIG and a 12 Tesla superconducting magnet with a 5 inch warm bore are presently under construction. Initial operation is planned for early next year.
Whole-organ atlas imaged by label-free high-resolution photoacoustic microscopy assisted by a microtome

In biomedical imaging, all optical techniques face a fundamental trade-off between spatial resolution and tissue penetration. Therefore, obtaining an organelle-level resolution image of a whole organ has remained a challenging and yet appealing scientific pursuit. Over the past decade, optical microscopy assisted by mechanical sectioning or chemical clearing of tissue has been demonstrated as a powerful technique to overcome this dilemma, one of particular use in imaging the neural network. However, this type of techniques needs lengthy special preparation of the tissue specimen, which hinders broad application in life sciences. Here, we propose a new label-free three-dimensional imaging technique, named microtomy-assisted photoacoustic microscopy (mPAM), for potentially imaging all biomolecules with 100% endogenous natural staining in whole organs with high fidelity. We demonstrate the first label-free mPAM, using UV light for label-free histology-like imaging, in whole organs (e.g., mouse brains), most of them formalin-fixed and paraffin- or agarose-embedded for minimal morphological deformation. Furthermore, mPAM with dual wavelength illuminations is also employed to image a mouse brain slice, demonstrating the potential for imaging of multiple biomolecules without staining. With visible light illumination, mPAM also shows its deep tissue imaging capability, which enables less slicing and hence reduces sectioning artifacts. mPAM could potentially provide a new insight for understanding complex biological organs.
Preparation and Use of Rodent Hippocampal Slices

Brain slicing is a laboratory technique in the study of the central nervous system. Among the many different brain slices described, the hippocampal slices prepared from rodents have been widely used in electrophysiology and basic neuroscience because of the well-known cytostructures and fiber connections in the hippocampus. To be successful in subsequent experiments, it is essential to prepare the brain slices with minimal damage. This chapter describes the methodologies used in our laboratory in the preparation of hippocampal slices from rodents.
Challenges in verifying communication fabrics

Functional and performance correctness of on-die communication fabrics is critical for the design of modern computer systems. In this talk we will examine some challenges and open problems in functional verification communication fabrics and in their quality of service analysis and optimization. We will also review some progress that has been done in liveness verification of communication fabrics.
Towards a Theory of HtDP-based Program-Design Learning

Program-design is an essential skill students in introductory computing courses must learn, but which continues to be difficult for students. Many introductory curricula focuses on low-level constructs, even when students are expected to gain higher-level problem-solving and program-design skills. How to Design Programs (HTDP) is a curriculum that teaches a multi-step approach to program-design, promoting multiple, interrelated program-design skills. My research explores how novice programmers use HTDP-based techniques to design programs, the design-related skills students learn and use, the factors that drive their design decisions, and how these weave into a conceptual framework of HTDP-based program-design.
Size-Dependent Cortical Compaction Induces Metabolic Adaptation in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Aggregates.

Spontaneous assembly of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into three-dimensional aggregates enhances stem cell properties and enables formation of heterotypic organoids, which has significant im...
Social Security Retirement Benefit Claiming-Age Combinations Available to Married Couples

The rules for claiming Social Security retired-worker benefits are complex in large part because they offer a potential claimant flexibility in choosing a claiming age most to his or her advantage. The complexity of those rules is multiplied for a married couple, as the potential eligibility for spousal benefits, the couple’s age difference, and other factors must also be considered. The number of claiming-age combinations available to a married couple varies widely for couples with different circumstances. This note explores the claiming rules, contingent situations, claiming-age combinations, and benefit amounts available to married couples across a range of respective birth years and benefit levels based on respective earnings histories.
The Social and Cognitive Transformation of Older Adult Women: an Analysis of Community Well-Being for a University-Based Lifelong Learning Community

Lifelong learning is a social and cognitive process that helps individuals build on their knowledge, skills, and abilities throughout their lives. This process is transformational for older adults. This study examines the social and cognitive transformation of older adult women involved in a large lifelong learning institute in the United States. Sense of community and gerotranscendence are used as measures of social and cognitive transformation, respectively. The relationships of these concepts with life satisfaction and quality of life are quantitatively and qualitatively investigated. Findings indicate that sense of community positively relates to life satisfaction and quality of life, while gerotranscendence only relates to life satisfaction. The qualitative findings support these connections as well as demonstrate the transformative effects of lifelong learning. This study concludes that a social and cognitive perspective on transformation will be beneficial to future investigations of life satisfaction, quality of life, and other measures of individual and community well-being.
Test track evaluation of headlight glare associated with adaptive curve HID, fixed HID, and fixed halogen low beam headlights

Adaptive curve headlights swivel with steering input and are linked to reduced insurance claims and improved visual performance. This study assessed glare experienced from adaptive curve high-intensity discharge (HID), fixed (non-swiveling) HID and fixed halogen headlights - all tested in low beam mode. Twenty participants rated glare from vehicles' headlights using the DeBoer visual discomfort scale as a test driver drove towards them from five approaches on a test track. Participants rated the fixed halogen condition as less glaring than the adaptive curve and fixed HID conditions. There was no significant difference in ratings between the HID low-beam conditions. Collapsing across roadway approaches, the mean subjective ratings for the fixed halogen, adaptive curve HID and fixed HID low-beam conditions indicated 'satisfactory' levels of glare. Differences between subjective ratings were supported by illuminance data. Differences among the three low-beam systems appear minor, relative to their differences from a benchmark high-beam condition. Practitioner Summary: Insurance data indicates reduced claims associated with adaptive curve lighting. The current effort was to study how such lighting affects discomfort glare of oncoming drivers relative to conventional headlights. Participants rated halogen headlights as less glaring than fixed and adaptive curve HID low beams. Differences among systems were small and associated with acceptable levels of discomfort glare.