cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuropilin-1 associates with c-Met and modulates hepatocyte growth factor actions

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 410 Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a leading cause of cancer death, harbors several key genetic alterations and is characterized by the overexpression of multiple tyrosine kinase receptors and their ligands, including c-Met and its ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Neuropilin-1 (Np-1), a co-receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), does not have intrinsic signaling capabilities but is expressed at high levels in PDAC. In this study we sought to determine whether there is an interaction between Np-1 and c-Met. Methods: COLO-357 pancreatic cancer cells, which express relatively low levels of Np-1, were stably transfected with the Np-1 cDNA. Invasion and signaling studies were then performed, localization was assessed by confocal microscopy and the role of c-Met was evaluated by siRNA-based strategies. Results: Overexpression of Np-1 was associated with enhanced invasiveness of the cells across a Matrigel membrane in response to HGF, and these effects were abolished by siRNA-mediated down-regulation of c-Met. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed that Np-1 associated with c-Met but not with EGFR family members. By confocal microscopy, this association occurred on the plasma membrane, and HGF promoted the internalization of Np-1-c-Met complex. HGF greatly increased c-Met tyrosine phosphorylation and p-38 MAPK phosphorylation in Np-1 overexpressing clones by comparison with its effects in sham-transfected cells. SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, suppressed HGF-induced invasion in Np-1 overexpressing cells, whereas U0126, a MAPK inhibitor, was without effect. PP2 and LY294002, which inhibit Src and PI-3Kinase, respectively, also suppressed HGF-induced invasion in these cells. Conclusions: Np-1 is a co-receptor of c-Met that modulates HGF/c-Met signaling pathways; HGF promotes invasion via a p38 MAPK pathway that is also dependent on Src and PI-3Kinase; targeting Np-1 may lead to novel therapeutic strategies in PDAC.
Influence of food supply and shore height on the survival and growth of the barnacle Balanus glandula (Darwin)

Abstract The contribution of energy limitation to patterns of intertidal zonation and vertical range limits is not well understood. Higher vertical positions on an intertidal shore are typically associated with greater temperature and desiccation stress during emersion; yet, organisms at higher shore heights also experience reduced feeding time and thus also face greater energy limitation than their lower shore counterparts. Disentangling the roles of abiotic stress and food limitation is critical to accurately predicting intertidal species' responses to climate change. This experiment manipulated food supply and shore height for the intertidal barnacle Balanus glandula (Darwin 1854). Adults were maintained in the field for 39 days at one of four shore heights spanning the species' upper vertical range limit, with or without supplemental feeding during high tides. Higher shore animals showed significantly lower growth and higher mortality relative to those lower on the shore. Across all shore heights, fed animals had significantly higher overall growth (20–27% greater final body mass), but not survival, than animals in the control treatments. No significant interactions between height and feeding treatment were detected, although the benefits of supplemental feeding tended to be smaller at higher shore heights. Our results suggest that food limitation occurs across a large portion of B. glandula's vertical range and that it can influence the success of barnacles at and above the current upper vertical limit. As such, energy limitation may play an important role in the vertical limits of many high intertidal species, and in distributional limits more broadly.
Networked Hybrid Dynamical Systems: Models, Specifications, and Tools

Models, specifications, and tools for networked hybrid dynamical systems are presented. The proposed modeling framework allows the agent, the network , and the algorithms to have hybrid dynamics. Notions that properly capture key specifications for networked systems, namely, formation, synchronization, safety, and security, are provided. Tools for analysis of the closed-loop hybrid system and for the design of distributed hybrid algorithms are presented. Applications of the methods to estimation, consensus, and synchronization over complex networks are presented throughout the chapter.
Manganese limitation as a mechanism for reduced decomposition in soils under atmospheric nitrogen deposition

Abstract Long-term atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has been shown to reduce leaf litter and lignin decomposition in temperate forest soils, leading to an accumulation of soil carbon (C). Reduced decomposition has been accompanied by altered structure and function of fungal communities, the primary decomposers in forest ecosystems; however, a mechanistic understanding of fungal responses to chronic N enrichment is lacking. A reduction in soil and litter manganese (Mn) concentrations under N enrichment (i.e., Mn limitation) may help explain these observations, because Mn is a cofactor and regulator of lignin-decay enzymes produced by fungi. We conducted a laboratory study to evaluate the effect of Mn availability on decomposition dynamics in chronically N-enriched soils. We measured litter mass loss, lignin relative abundance, and lignin-decay enzyme activities, and characterized the litter fungal community by ITS2 metabarcoding. We observed a significant positive correlation between Mn availability and lignin-decay enzyme activities. In addition, long-term (28 years) N enrichment increased the relative abundance of ‘weak’ decomposers (e.g., yeasts), but this response was reversed with Mn amendment, suggesting that higher Mn availability may promote fungal communities better adapted to decompose lignin. We conclude that Mn limitation may represent a mechanism to explain shifts in fungal communities, reduced litter decomposition, and increased soil C accumulation under long-term atmospheric N deposition.
Associations of Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Assault, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder With Menopause Symptoms Among Midlife and Older Women.

Importance Little is known about the prevalence of traumatic exposures among midlife and older women and the association of these traumatic exposures with health issues. Objective To examine the associations of intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual assault, and posttraumatic stress with menopause symptoms among midlife and older women. Design, Setting, and Participants A cross-sectional analysis of data from a multiethnic cohort of 2016 women 40 to 80 years of age in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California health care system was conducted from November 15, 2008, to March 30, 2012. Statistical analysis was conducted from June 8, 2016, to September 6, 2017. Exposures Lifetime physical or emotional IPV, sexual assault, and current symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, assessed with standardized questionnaires. Main Outcomes and Measures Difficulty sleeping, vasomotor symptoms, and vaginal symptoms, assessed with standardized questionnaires. Results Among the 2016 women enrolled, the mean (SD) age was 60.5 (9.5) years, and 792 of 2011 with race/ethnicity data (39.4)% were non-Latina white (403 [20.0%] Latina, 429 [21.3%] black, and 387 [19.2%] Asian). Lifetime emotional IPV was reported by 423 women (21.0%), lifetime physical IPV was reported by 316 women (15.7%), sexual assault was reported by 382 women (18.9%), and 450 of 2000 women (22.5%) had current clinically significant symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. In multivariable analyses adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, educational level, body mass index, menopause status, hormone therapy, and parity, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder were associated with difficulty sleeping (odds ratio [OR], 3.02; 95% CI, 2.22-4.09), vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes: OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.34-2.12; night sweats: OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.37-2.15), and vaginal symptoms (vaginal dryness: OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.37-2.18; vaginal irritation: OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.66-2.93; pain with intercourse: OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.57-2.98). Emotional IPV was associated with difficulty sleeping (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.09-1.71), night sweats (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.19-1.89), and pain with intercourse (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.14-2.25). Physical IPV was associated with night sweats (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.03-1.72). Sexual assault was associated with vaginal symptoms (vaginal dryness: OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.10-1.82; vaginal irritation: OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.04-1.95; pain with intercourse: OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.00-2.06). Conclusions and Relevance Lifetime history of IPV or sexual assault and current clinically significant symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder are common and are associated with menopause symptoms. These findings highlight the need for greater recognition of these exposures by clinicians caring for midlife and older women.
Shock index as a predictor of hospital admission and inpatient mortality in a US national database of emergency departments

Study objectives The shock index (SI), defined as the ratio of the heart rate (HR) to the systolic blood pressure (BP), is used as a prognostic tool in trauma and in specific disease states. However, there is scarcity of data about the utility of the SI in the general emergency department (ED)population. Our goal was to use a large national database of EDs in the United States (US) to determine whether the likelihood of inpatient mortality and hospital admission was associated with initial SI at presentation. Methods Data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were retrospectively reviewed to obtain a weighted sample of all US ED visits between 2005 and 2010. All adults >18 years old who survived the ED visit were included, regardless of their chief complaint. Likelihood ratios (LR) were calculated for a range of SI values, in order to determine SI thresholds most predictive of hospital admission and inpatient mortality. +LRs >5 were considered to be clinically significant. Results A total of 526 455 251 adult patient encounters were included in the analysis. 56.9% were women, 73.9% were white and 53.2% were between the ages of 18 and 44 years. 88 326 638 (15.7%) unique ED visits resulted in hospital admission and 1 927 235 (2.6%) visits resulted in inpatient mortality. SI>1.3 was associated with a clinically significant increase in both the likelihood of hospital admission (+LR=6.64) and inpatient mortality (+LR=5.67). SI>0.7 and >0.9, the traditional cited cut-offs, were only associated with marginal increases (+LR= 1.13; 1.54 for SI>0.7 and +LR=1.95; 2.59 for SI>0.9 for hospital admission and inpatient mortality, respectively). Conclusions In this largest retrospective study to date on SI in the general ED population, we demonstrated that initial SI at presentation to the ED could potentially be useful in predicting the likelihood of hospital admission and inpatient mortality, which could help guide rapid and accurate acuity designation, resource allocation and disposition.
Dynamic optical coherence elastography: Emerging tool for noninvasive quantification of mechanical properties of ocular tissues

Optical coherence elastography (OCE) is an emerging method for noninvasive quantification of tissue viscoelastic properties. The underlying technology is based on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging and analysis of external (or internal) force-induced mechanical waves propagating through the tissue. In this presentation, I will overview recent progress made in my lab on quantification of mechanical properties of ocular tissues (such as cornea and the lens of the eye) using OCE and their alternations during diseases progression. In particular, I will demonstrate that it is possible to quantify mechanical properties of the cornea and lens as a function of Intra-Ocular Pressure (IOP) and during controlled tissue modifications and treatments, such as corneal cross-linking. These results indicate that OCE is a powerful new technology that can be utilized for the nondestructive biomechanical characterization of ocular tissues in normal and pathological states and could not only assist in basic biomechanical studies but also lead to a new class of optical sensors for diagnosis of diseases. [Work supported, in part, by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Grant Nos. 2R01EY022362 and 1R01HL120140 and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) under Grant No. PR150338.]
Outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants in the NICU after initiation of a two-team care model

Abstract Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNP) have an increasing and continuous presence in most neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); a presence which has at times been perceived as at odds with the training and development of pediatric residents and neonatal fellows. This is a single-center cohort study of infants born at ≤1000 g and ≤28 weeks of gestation cared for by either a team consisting of residents and a fellow (R/F) or consisting of NNPs (NP). Groups were compared by Student's t-test or chi-square, and associations estimated by logistic regression. There were no differences in primary outcomes between the teams except for a lower incidence of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in babies on the R/F team compared to the NNP team. In this first post-duty hours cohort, clinical outcomes between the teams were similar. These data suggest that either model can be safely utilized within a level 3 NICU.
Global Concerns with B Vitamin Statuses: Biofortification, Fortification, Hidden Hunger, Interactions, and Toxicity.

The prevalence of undernutrition due to insufficient energy intake has been reduced by nearly 50% since 1990. This reduction is largely attributed to improved yields of staple crops, such as wheat, rice, and maize; however, these improvements did little for micronutrient deficiencies that affect an estimated two billion people worldwide. Starchy staple crops are energy dense but are often lacking in one or more B vitamins, making resource-constrained people who consume monotonous diets comprised predominantly of these staples at risk for developing deficiency. B vitamin deficiencies occur due to a poor overall nondiversified diet and rarely occur alone. Many B vitamins are essential cofactors involved in the metabolism of other nutrients, including other B vitamins, whereby the deficiency of one B vitamin affects the metabolism and status measurements of another. Food fortification efforts have nearly eradicated diseases of extreme B vitamin deficiency, such as beriberi from thiamin deficiency and pellagra from niacin deficiency. However, subclinical deficiency, sometimes referred to as hidden hunger, is still common especially in low-income countries. Most dietary B vitamins, due to their water-soluble nature, are not a concern for excessive intakes, but synthetic forms used for fortification and supplements sometimes can have adverse effects when consumed in high amounts. Biofortified crops offer a long-term sustainable method to increase the amount of dietary B vitamins for people who rely on staple crops for most of their caloric intake. Efforts have been made to improve B vitamin content of crops, especially for thiamin, vitamin B6 , and folate, but none have undergone human feeding trials; therefore, more research is needed to provide sustainable and scalable solutions in many parts of the world.
Microbiome and Microbiota in Rheumatic Disease

The human gastrointestinal tract is home to a complex population of microorganisms collectively known as the gut microbiota. These microbes along with their full collection of genes constitute the microbiome, which plays a vital role in the maintenance of gut immune, nutritional, and metabolic homeostasis. Changes in intestinal microbiome, or dysbiosis, have been associated with the pathogenesis of several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Rapid innovations in metagenomics and other “omics” have brought the gut microbiota to attention as a potential source of novel diagnostics and therapeutics. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the microbiome and its importance in health and rheumatic disease and its potential use in personalized medicine.
Two closely related but morphologically disparate new species of Physcia from western North America

Two new species belonging to the common and widespread lichen genus Physcia are described from western North America. One of these, P. occidentalis, is an obligately saxicolous species that reproduces by fragmentation, primarily through the production of largely terminal blastidia. Only a single very immature apothecium was observed among all collections. The species occurs from British Columbia to California, with outliers in Colorado. The other species, P. rhizinata, is a corticolous, typically fertile species lacking asexual propagules, and has often been confused with P. stellaris. It is presently known only from California. The close evolutionary relationship of these morphologically dissimilar taxa highlights the currently limited understanding of factors that lead to phenotypic divergence in lichen symbioses.
Partitions: a transnational history of twentieth-century territorial separatism: edited by Arie M. Dubnov and Laura Robson, Stanford, Stanford University Press, 2019, xvii+377pp., US$30.00(paperback), ISBN 978-1503607675

In the 1990s, Chaim Kaufmann published two influential articles in support of partition (“Possible and Impossible Solutions to Ethnic Civil Wars”, International Security 20:4 (Spring 1996), pp. 136...
Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) in the NeuroICU: Identification of Risk Factors and Time-to-CAUTI Using a Case-Control Design.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) account for 25% of all hospital-acquired infections. Neuro-critically ill patients are at 2–5 times greater risk of developing CAUTI because of increased use of indwelling urinary catheters due to neurogenic urinary retention. Despite the heightened risk of CAUTI occurrence for the neuro-critically ill, there is little data on specific characteristics of CAUTIs and risk factors among this population. The aim of this study was to identify characteristics and risk factors associated with CAUTI development in the neuro-critical patient population. In this retrospective single-center case–control study in a tertiary care dedicated 30-bed neuroICU, approximately 3 controls (exact ratio—3.2) were randomly selected for each CAUTI case between January 1st, 2016 and December 31st, 2018. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected, including prospectively collected data pertaining to urinary and bowel function. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify common patient characteristics, CAUTI risk factors and duration from catheterization to developing a CAUTI (Time-to-CAUTI). Of 3045 admissions during the study period, 1045 (34.30%) had a urinary catheter at some point during their admission. Of those, 45 developed a CAUTI, yielding a CAUTI incidence rate of 1.50%, corresponding to 4.49 infections/1000 catheter days. On average, CAUTI patients were older as compared to controls (66.44 years of age vs 58.09 years; p < 0.0001). In addition to old age, other risk factors included female gender (75.60% female vs 24.20% males in case group, p < 0.0001), increased neuroICU length of stay (18.31 in cases vs. 8.05 days in controls, p = 0.0001) and stool incontinence (OR = 3.73, p = 0.0146). CAUTI patients more often carried a primary diagnosis of SAH, and comorbidities of hypertension (HTN), vasospasm and diabetes. Time-to-CAUTI was 6 days on average, with an earlier peak for patients requiring two or more catheter placements. Presence of stool incontinence was significantly associated with CAUTI occurrence. Stool incontinence, older age, female sex, longer neuroICU LOS and presence of comorbidities such as HTN and diabetes were associated with CAUTI development in the neuro-critically ill population. Average Time-to-CAUTI after catheter placement was 6 days with earlier occurrence if more frequent catheterizations. Colonization of urinary catheters without infection might contribute to CAUTI diagnosis. Prospective research is needed to determine impact of prevention protocols incorporating these factors.
Electrolyte Disturbance in an Infant with Failure to Thrive

1. Hannah Kim, MD* 2. Amanda Hesselton, MD† 3. Alicia M. Neu, MD* 4. Jeffrey Fadrowski, MD, MHS* 1. *Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 2. †Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD A 6-week-old girl was born to a healthy mother via uncomplicated vaginal delivery at full term and subsequently had a normal newborn screen. She had a birthweight of 4.48 kg (large for gestational age, 97% percentile). At her 1-month health supervision visit, she weighed 3.7 kg. Although offered 2 to 3 oz of pumped human milk each feed, she was taking approximately 1 oz every 2 hours without cyanosis, tachypnea, or sweating. She had no trouble latching onto the bottle, a normal suck and swallow, and no choking with feeds. After feeding, she had frequent nonbloody/nonbilious vomiting episodes that most often occurred soon after a feed, but occasionally a few hours later. Her primary care provider recommended fortifying the human milk with formula to 22 kcal/ounce, but it was not well-tolerated due to vomiting. On a repeat weight check 2 weeks before admission, she demonstrated continued poor weight gain and was started on a histamine 2-blocker for possible gastrointestinal reflux. Two days before admission, this was switched to a proton-pump inhibitor with no improvement in symptoms. The primary care provider obtains bloodwork, urine studies, and an abdominal ultrasound as part of an evaluation for failure to thrive. The bloodwork shows the following: sodium 115 mmol/L, potassium 8.7 mmol/L, chloride 71 mmol/L, carbon dioxide 15 mmol/L, urea nitrogen 53 mg/dL, creatinine 0.8 mg/dL, and glucose 50 mg/dL. The mother is asked to …
MANAGEMENT OF APNOEA OF PREMATURITY

Neonatal apnoea remains a frustrating problem in neonatal intensive care and frequently prolongs the hospitalisation of preterm infants. As a result, a variety of therapeutic strategies has been employed in this high-risk population. These can be characterised as accepted interventions that are relatively well studied and therapeutic approaches that need further characterisation. The mainstay of treatment for these infants is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) delivered via a variety of techniques and xanthine therapy. CPAP is effective via both splinting of the upper airway and maintenance of functional residual capacity. Xanthine therapy has been shown to be both effective and beneficial in decreasing postnatal morbidity. The mechanism by which this longer term benefit occurs is still under study. Therapeutic approaches that clearly need further study include pharmacological management of gastroesophageal reflux, which remains controversial. Other new approaches include the administration of a low inspired carbon dioxide and various behavioural interventions, such as kangaroo care and other environmental stimuli. Baseline levels of oxygen saturation are also being studied and would be expected to influence apnoea rates. Meanwhile, the long-term consequences of apnoea of prematurity on both cardiorespiratory control and neurodevelopmental outcome need clarification as this will determine the intensity with which therapeutic approaches would be employed.
Process Modeling for Intelligent Computer-Aided Instruction

Computer Aided Instructional (CAI) systems tend to execute through an inflexible sequence of tutoring and diagnostic sessions predesigned by the system builders. They do little by way of dynamicall...
On-Demand Swatcher Coat

The purpose of the design, Swatcher coat, is to raise awareness of the wide range of textile types that are compatible with digital printing available using a three-dimensional form and a sustainable apparel design framework. A total of 210 fabric swatches from two types of Contrado swatch packs (classic and natural) were used. Platforms like Contrado function as one-stop production facilities that specialize in making custom products on demand and do not hold stock or produce products beyond need. This design serves as an educational tool that promotes the application of on-demand digital printing technology (e.g., Contrado, Spoonflower, Honest Fabric) and sustainable design processes. It can also help design students to recognize the wide range of different fabric types that can be printed on (e.g., lace, velvet, neoprene, matte Lycra, leather) and the use of a traditional method of quilting.
The Antifungal Activity of HMA, an Amiloride Analog and Inhibitor of Na +/H + Exchangers

One path toward identifying effective and easily accessible antifungals is to repurpose commonly used drugs. Amiloride, a widely used diuretic, inhibits different isoforms of Na+/H+ exchangers, Na+ channels, and Na+/Ca2+ exchangers. Here, we found that amiloride had poor antifungal activity against isolates of Cryptococcus prompting the examination of the amiloride analog, HMA [5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride]. HMA possesses strong activity against Na+/H+ exchangers (NHEs) and little K+-associated toxicity since HMA has only minimal inhibitory effects toward epithelial sodium channels (ENaC), the diuretic and antikaliuretic target of amiloride. Although HMA produced a robust dose-dependent growth inhibition of several fungal isolates, susceptibility assays revealed modest MICs against isolates of Cryptococcus. A checkerboard dilution strategy resulted in fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC) < 0.5, suggesting that HMA displays synergy with several antifungal azole drugs including posaconazole, voriconazole, and ketoconazole. Itraconazole and ravuconazole showed moderate synergy with HMA across all tested fungal isolates. In combination with HMA, ravuconazole had MICs of 0.004-0.008 μg/ml, a ∼16-fold reduction compared to MICs of ravuconazole when used alone and significantly more effective than the overall MIC90 (0.25 μg/ml) reported for ravuconazole against 541 clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans. In combination with azole drugs, MICs of HMA ranged from 3.2 μM (1 μg/ml) to 26 μM (16 μg/ml), HMA was not cytotoxic at concentrations ≤ 8 μg/ml, but MICs were above the reported HMA Ki of 0.013-2.4 μM for various Na+/H+ exchangers. Our results suggest that HMA has limited potential as a monotherapy and may have additional targets in fungal/yeast cells since strains lacking NHEs remained sensitive to HMA. We determined that the hydrophobic substituent at the 5-amino group of HMA is likely responsible for the observed antifungal activity and synergy with several azoles since derivatives with bulky polar substitutions showed no activity against Cryptococcus, indicating that other 5-substituted HMA derivatives could possess stronger antifungal activity. Moreover, substitution of other positions around the pyrazine core of HMA has not been investigated but could reveal new leads for antifungal drug development.
Metallo-inhibition of Mnx, a bacterial manganese multicopper oxidase complex.

Abstract The manganese oxidase complex, Mnx, from Bacillus sp. PL-12 contains a multicopper oxidase (MCO) and oxidizes dissolved Mn(II) to form insoluble manganese oxide (MnO2) mineral. Previous kinetic and spectroscopic analyses have shown that the enzyme's mechanism proceeds through an activation step that facilitates formation of a series of binuclear Mn complexes in the oxidation states II, III, and IV on the path to MnO2 formation. We now demonstrate that the enzyme is inhibited by first-row transition metals in the order of the Irving-Williams series. Zn(II) strongly (Ki ~ 1.5 μM) inhibits both activation and turnover steps, as well as the rate of Mn(II) binding. The combined Zn(II) and Mn(II) concentration dependence establishes that the inhibition is non-competitive. This result is supported by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, which reveals unaltered Mnx-bound Mn(II) EPR signals, both mono- and binuclear, in the presence of Zn(II). We infer that inhibitory metals bind at a site separate from the substrate sites and block the conformation change required to activate the enzyme, a case of allosteric inhibition. The likely biological role of this inhibitory site is discussed in the context of Bacillus spore physiology. While Cu(II) inhibits Mnx strongly, in accord with the Irving-Williams series, it increases Mnx activation at low concentrations, suggesting that weakly bound Cu, in addition to the four canonical MCO-Cu, may support enzyme activity, perhaps as an electron transfer agent.
Algorithm for Limited Angle CT Reconstruction with U-net Based Regularization

We propose an algorithm for limited angle CT which extends the LEARN algorithm of Chen et al. [IEEE TMI, 2018]. The algorithm is based on a superiorized [Herman et al., Med Phys, 2012] version of the simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART), in which a convolutional neural network (CNN) is used to perturb the solution between SART iterations. Specifically, by assuming a fixed number of iterations and unrolling the iteration, it can be trained in end-to-end fashion as a neural network with untrained layers (representing forward and back projection) in addition to trained convolutional layers. Additionally, we replace the three-layer CNN used in LEARN with a U-net-based architecture to achieve multilevel decomposition and precise localization during the iterative training. The algorithm is implemented in Python using the Pyro-NN library [Syben et al., Med Phys, 2019] and trained on simulated limited angle data generated from lung CT images. Our numerical experiments indicate that the superiorized SART algorithm with U-net-based CNN significantly reduces artifacts arising in limited angle scenarios. In particular, it is able to recover internal features that similar methods using the three-layer CNN are unable to recover, such as edges of ribs and soft tissue.
Initiation of worker-soldier trophallaxis by the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Starved workers of the Formosan subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanus shiraki, initated trophallactic exchanges with soldiers regardless of soldier nutritional status. Starved soldiers did not solicit food from workers and were not fed when workers had been fed previously. The laboratory results suggest that worker-soldier trophallacticexchange is a worker-initiated behavior and essentially independent of the nutritional state of the soldier.
Evaluation of four serological tests for bovine paratuberculosis.

The standard complement fixation (CF) test, a commercial agarose gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test (ImmuCell Corporation, Portland, Maine), and two commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs; Allied Laboratories, Glenwood Springs, Colo. [Allied ELISA], and the CSL, Limited, [Parkville, Victoria, Australia] enzyme immunoassay [CSL ELISA]) were evaluated by using sera from the Repository for Paratuberculosis Specimens. The case definition of subclinical bovine paratuberculosis was isolation of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis from fecal samples or internal organs of dairy cattle without diarrhea or weight loss. Animals designated as free of the disease originated exclusively from certified paratuberculosis-free herds in Wisconsin. None of the cattle evaluated had been vaccinated for paratuberculosis. Among 177 M. paratuberculosis-infected cattle, the CF test, the AGID test, the Allied ELISA, and the CSL ELISA had test sensitivities of 38.4, 26.6, 58.8, and 43.4%, respectively, and specificities of 99.0, 100.0, 95.4, and 99.0%, respectively. Only 108 of the infected cattle were confirmed by culture or by a commercial DNA probe (IDEXX Corporation, Portland, Maine) to be shedding the organism in fecal samples at the time of serological testing. Among the 108 M. paratuberculosis fecal shedders, the CF test, the AGID test, the Allied ELISA, and the CSL ELISA were positive for 54.6, 40.7, 65.7, and 56.5% of the cows, respectively; and among the 69 cows that were nonshedders, the tests were positive for 14.5, 4.3, 47.8, and 24.6% of the cows, respectively. There was a significant difference (P /- 1.8 was classified as a positive test result.
Ukrainian Canadians, 100 Years Later

The year 1991 was certainly an historic one for Ukrainian Canadians. The centennial year of the arrival in Canada of the first two Ukrainian settlers was also marked by momentous political changes in Ukraine. These historic events con tributed to various festivities and commemorations, often celebrated at the same time. A number of academic conferences and seminars were held and these two publications were part of this commemoration. Ukrainian Canadian identity is still influenced by interpretation of events in Ukraine as well as one hundred years of historical experience in Canada. It is now possible to examine this experience in a historical perspective and raise fundamen tal questions about the role of Ukrainians in Canadian society. At the same time, it is an opportunity to study the larger question of Canadian identity. The history of an ethnocultural group is often the result of negotiations conducted in the community and also at the personal level among the competing and often contradic tory demands between North American society and one's ethnocultural experience. Negotiating and Identity is an appropriate title and a suitable framework for the various themes in Ukrainian Canadian history. In the introduction, the editors, Lubomyr Luciuk and Stella Hryniuk, claim that, "This volume was not intended to be a definitive or even exhaustive treatment of the Ukrainian-Canadian ex perience over the past hundred years." Instead the editors solicited essays which explored Ukrainian Canadian history and geography and sought to provide new insights into the experiences of Ukrainian Canadians. They claim that several of the present studies are "at the cutting edge" of research in the field. The volume is a collection of essays organized into three sections that deal with immigration and settlement, internal community politics, and the relations of the community with
Advances in elastic matching theory and its implementation

Computational anatomy via the deformable modeling or elastic matching paradigm is gaining increased prominence in medical imaging research. Our work in atlas-based localization of neuroanatomy has progressed toward statistical approaches that subsume the original elastic matching while retaining its practical flavor. In view of the complex geometries involved and the sparsity of image features in the localization problem, elastic matching is reformulated using variational principles to facilitate its numerical solution by the finite element method. The variational formulation in addition exposes the means by which Gibbs modeling and, thus, Bayesian analysis can be applied to the problem. In this paper, we review these developments and demonstrate the methods on MRI data, including the computation of interval estimates.
Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Potassium-Associated Cholestasis

Amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium, a semisynthetic penicillin-beta-lactamase inhibitor combination drug, is a widely used oral antibiotic. Since the marketing of this drug in 1984, more than nine million prescriptions have been dispensed. Several cases of jaundice and hepatic dysfunction have been observed and reported to the Food and Drug Administration and the pharmaceutical company (Beecham Laboratories). A review of 18 of these cases revealed a predominantly cholestatic syndrome in 7 cases, a mixed hepatocellular-cholestatic picture in 6 cases, a hepatocellular pattern in 4, and in 1 case the injury could not be clearly defined. No fatalities were observed, and all cases had reversal of hepatic dysfunction upon cessation of the drug. Fever was present in 2 patients and eosinophilia in 6 of 10 patients tested, suggesting a hypersensitivity phenomenon contributing to hepatic dysfunction in some of the cases. A percutaneous liver biopsy had been performed in 7 of 18 patients and four of these were reviewed by the authors. Prominent centrizonal cholestasis was seen in all four biopsies. Additionally, 1 patient had periportal and another had midzonal cholestasis. Although infrequent, recognition of an often benign cholestatic syndrome associated with amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium will help avoid unnecessary, invasive, and expensive diagnostic studies and also ameliorate symptoms upon withdrawal of the drug.
The evaluation of ceramic turbine stators

This program is supported by the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the Component Development Technology Program. Administered by the NASA Lewis Research Center (Contract DEN3-00019), this program’s objectives are to evaluate the durability of ceramic stators over a highly dynamic automotive gas turbine duty cycle and to assess the capability of current ceramic design methodology to predict the durability of the stators over the selected duty cycle for times in excess of 200 hours. The program also provides an assessment of the ability of the ceramic industry to fabricate complex geometry monolithic stators by near-net-shape forming processes.
Chronic hemolytic anemia in a white child due to thalassemia and sicklemia; with a genealogic survey.

The authors have described the second case in the United States of chronic hemolytic anemia resulting from the genetic factors for sicklemia and thalassemia minor in combination. A complete hematologic study of 37 relatives of the propositus is presented. The four possible theories, as proposed by earlier investigators, which may explain the severe clinical manifestations, are given.
The Impacts of Mid-level Biofuel Content in Gasoline on SIDI Engine-out and Tailpipe Particulate Matter Emissions

The influences of ethanol and iso-butanol blended with gasoline on engine-out and post Three-Way Catalyst (TWC) particle size distribution and number concentration were studied using a GM 2.0L turbocharged Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) engine. The engine was operated using the production ECU with a dynamometer controlling the engine speed and the accelerator pedal position controlling the engine load. A TSI Fast Mobility Particle Sizer (FMPS) spectrometer was used to measure the particle size distribution in the range from 5.6 to 560 nm with a sampling rate of 1 Hz. US federal certification gasoline (E0), two ethanol-blended fuels (E10 and E20), and 11.7% iso-butanol blended fuel (BU12) were tested. Measurements were conducted at ten selected steady-state engine operation conditions. Bi-modal particle size distributions were observed for all operating conditions with peak values at particle sizes of 10 nm and 70 nm. Idle and low speed / low load conditions emitted higher total particle numbers than other operating conditions. At idle, the engine-out Particulate Matter (PM) emissions were dominated by nucleation mode particles, and the production TWC reduced these nucleation mode particles by more than 50%, while leaving the accumulation mode particle distribution unchanged. At engine load higher than 6 barmore » NMEP, accumulation mode particles dominated the engine-out particle emissions and the TWC had little effect. Compared to the baseline gasoline (E0), E10 does not significantly change PM emissions, while E20 and BU12 both reduce PM emissions under the conditions studied. Iso-butanol was observed to impact PM emissions more than ethanol, with up to 50% reductions at some conditions. In this paper, the issues related to PM measurement using FMPS are also discussed. While some uncertainties are due to engine variation, the FMPS must be operated under careful maintenance procedures in order to achieve repeatable measurement results.« less
Effect of contact ratio on spur gear dynamic load

A computer simulation is presented which shows how the gear contact ratio affects the dynamic load on a spur gear transmission. The contact ratio can be affected by the tooth addendum, the pressure angle, the tooth size (diametral pitch), and the center distance. The analysis presented was performed using the NASA gear dynamics code, DANST. In the analysis, the contact ratio was varied over the range 1.20 to 2.40 by changing the length of the tooth addendum. In order to simplify the analysis, other parameters related to contact ratio were held constant. The contact ratio was found to have a significant influence on gear dynamics. Over a wide range of operating speeds, a contact ratio close to 2.0 minimized dynamic load. For low contact ratio gears (contact ratio less than 2.0), increasing the contact ratio reduced the gear dynamic load. For high contact ratio gears (contact ratio = or greater than 2.0), the selection of contact ratio should take into consideration the intended operating speeds. In general, high contact ratio gears minimized dynamic load better than low contact ratio gears.
Morse indices and exact multiplicity of solutions to semilinear elliptic problems

We obtain precise global bifurcation diagrams for both one-sign and sign-changing solutions of a semilinear elliptic equation, for the nonlinearity being asymptotically linear. Our method combines the bifurcation approach and spectral analysis.
Why are there so few working-class people in political office? Evidence from state legislatures

Why do so few working-class Americans go on to hold political office? This paper uses data on state legislatures to assess several common (and often untested) explanations. Contrary to the widespread view that workers are less likely to hold office because they are less qualified, I find no relationship between the qualifications of workers in a given state and their representation in the state legislature. The shortage of the working class in office appears to have far more to do with structural characteristics of the political landscape such as parties, interest groups, and institutions. Scholars who want to understand why there are so few working-class Americans in political office – and people who want to do something about it – should probably focus on these kinds of “demand-side” forces, not on the supposed “supply-side” shortcomings of the working class.
Uranyl phosphate sheet reconstruction during dehydration of metatorbernite [Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2·8H2O]

The metatorbernite [Cu(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2} {center_dot} 8H{sub 2}O] structure comprises autunite-type sheets of corner-sharing uranyl square bipyramids and phosphate tetrahedra, with the interlayer region occupied by Cu{sup 2+} ions and molecular water. Previous studies have shown that heating induces stepwise dehydration and reduction in basal spacing. Structures of the lower hydrates have not been determined previously because suitable single crystals of these phases have yet to be prepared. We have used synchrotron X-ray diffraction data collected during in situ, continuous heating of powdered metatorbernite to elucidate structures of its lower hydrates. Using Rietveld analysis, we have determined that autunite-type sheets remain intact through the first dehydration event above room temperature (onset 102 C). We have discovered that the second dehydration event (onset 138 C) triggers a major reconstruction to uranophane-type sheets, composed of chains of edge-sharing uranyl pentagonal bipyramids linked to one another by sharing edges and vertices with phosphate tetrahedra. This reconstruction enables the structure to overcome steric constraints on the minimum possible basal spacing, while maintaining Cu within the interlayer. Four distinct phases have been identified with increasing temperature: Cu(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2} {center_dot} 8H{sub 2}O, space group P4/n, a = 6.96519(23), c = 17.3102(8)more » {angstrom}; Cu(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2} {center_dot} 6.1H{sub 2}O, space group P4/n, a = 6.95510(29), c = 16.6604(9) {angstrom}; Cu(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2} {center_dot} 3H{sub 2}O, space group P2{sub 1}, a = 14.4979(23), b = 7.0159(9), c = 6.6312(10) {angstrom}, {beta} = 107.585(14){sup o}; and a lower hydrate with monoclinic or triclinic symmetry, a 6.7, b 7, c 11 {angstrom}, {beta} 100{sup o}. As shown here, in situ heating experiments and the Rietveld method provide fundamental insights into the crystal chemistry and structural behaviors of the important meta-autunite mineral group.« less
Buffer-induced anomalies in the Fenton chemistry of iron and copper

Abstract The ability of various buffers to interfere with the detection of ·OH generated by the Fenton chemistry of FeIII and CuII reacting aerobically with ascorbate or oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) has been investigated and quantitated in two systems: (i) FeIIINTA + HbO2 and (ii) FeIII or CuIINTA + ascorbate. The widespread use of phosphate buffer in ·OH detection has been predicated on the assumption that it does not interfere. However, in the HbO2, system phosphate prevented ·OH formation by blocking the binding of FeIIINTA to the protein and preventing its reduction. In this system, there was a clear ranking of buffer inhibition effects on ·OH detection: HEPES > MOPS > Tris. Buffer concentrations ranging from 1 to 50 mM were examined. At 1 mM buffer dihydroxybenzoate detection was inhibited by 50% in HEPES, 40% in MOPS and 12% in Tris relative to the control. With Fe or Cu as the redox metals in the ascotbate system, the same order of buffer inhibition was observed. Phosphate had no effect on detection in this system. We demonstrate that the selection of a buffer system critically influences the ability to detect 'OH radical formation. Of the buffers tested, phosphate is the best choice for measuring 'OH formation unless phosphate interferes with metal binding. Then, Tris may be used at very low concentrations (1 mM or less), but its inhibitory effect must be quantitated. Additionally, a single electrochemical detector parameter has been established for all buffers and ascorbate to minimize interference in measuring salicylate hydroxylation.
Paleotemperatures in the southwestern United States derived from noble gases in ground water

A paleotemperature record based on measurements of atmospheric noble gases dissolved in ground water of the Carrizo aquifer (Texas) shows that the annual mean temperature in the southwestern United States during the last glacial maximum was about 5°C lower than the present-day value. In combination with evidence for fluctuations in mountain snow lines, this cooling indicates that the glacial lapse rate was approximately the same as it is today. In contrast, measurements on deep-sea sediments indicate that surface temperatures in the ocean basins adjacent to our study area decreased by only about 2°C. This difference between continental and oceanic records poses questions concerning our current understanding of paleoclimate and climate-controlling processes.
New solvable renormalization-group equations

A new set of renormalization-group equations based on the renormalization procedure of 't Hooft and Veltman used in conjunction with the dimensional regularization scheme is presented. These equations have in common with the renormalization-group equations recently introduced by Weinberg the property of being solvable before passing to the high-energy limit. But unlike Weinberg's equations, which are valid only for theories without scalar fields, they are applicable to all renormalizable theories. It is shown that for theories to which Weinberg's approach is applicable, they take the same form as Weinberg's equations. The properties and solution of the equations are discussed.
Welcome or not, here they come: Unaffiliated users of academic libraries

Imagine you are working at the reference desk of a major university library on a busy weekday afternoon. As you say, “How may I help you?” to your next client, you notice that he is wearing a high school letterman's jacket and is sporting fuzz on his upper lip that he would proudly call a mustache.